Monthly Archives: December 2011

Prophetic Insight for 2011

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Yes, you read it correctly…2011.

There is something inherent with the human race…we do not care much for change, but we really do like a cover-up. Do you remember the various prophetic words that were spoken to you in 2011? What about 2010? Keep going back to the last thing you heard God say to you that you participated with and saw come to pass.

Oftentimes our hope in a new year is that the old year goes away, all of its problems, woes and even the stuff left undone or done incorrectly. God actually created time for us, not for Him. Consequently, since He is an eternal God and lives in eternity, thinks and speaks from eternity, what we did not finish or get done in 2011 and further back is not a closed book in His book. We think we are starting over again when we are just picking up from where we left off.

Daniel was more concerned about an unfulfilled prophetic word received seventy years before than seeking a new word. This is so significantly overlooked that we have, now, a Daniel Fast without a recognition of its core purpose.

It is scriptural to consult the word of God when His will is not known or clear. David is an example of one who consulted God concerning different battles because God’s will was not obvious or known. However, David did not consult the Lord concerning Bathsheba for the law was clear concerning his actions. He did not need a prophetic word for that. Nathan did not come to David because he was seeking a word. David thought the ordeal was covered up. Nathan was sent to David by God to give David opportunity to face his sin and come clean (Psalm 51). Whenever David did consult God he received an answer. He then followed the directions he received.

When our consultation with God results in answers but we do not respond with the directed actions what is the purpose of consulting? Have we been diligent to obey the word we have already received? If not, whatever He says about the following year is still going to require obedience to the word already given.

What do you think would happen if we did not wait until December to hear what God is saying for the next year. What if we listened daily to hear what His proceeding word is for today? And actually obeyed? In this process, we might get to see into the future, not just yearly, but generationally. What God may show you today, whether it is personal direction, regional, nationally or local church direction, will have an impact in generations to come.

This is true of ALL prophetic direction. If what satan does impacts for generations, it would stand to reason that this is true with God. After all, satan is not original in any of his thoughts. He needs something that already exists to pervert it. Look at the impact Madeline O’Hara had on our children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Since that time there has been this fight for prayer in school and other public places. The need for the fight was not realized by the church at large until the church began to see the effect of the court’s decision concerning prayer in school. So an entire generation took the initial blow of this woman’s crusade. As a result another generation had to bear the burden of what one generation in the body of Christ did not do. Though we have been fighting about this ever since I do not think the way we have fought is the strategy of the Lord. The decision the church made (not Madeline O’Hara) continues to affect the church. I am still not convinced that we have realized the real fight. Nor are we sure how to fight. Stop and think for a moment. While we constantly fight the government for the right to pray, when do we start praying instead of depending on those few who do pray to carry the burden of the entire body of Christ…and the entire nation?

The simple solution to this overbearing problem is for each household “who is called by His name, to humble themselves, and pray, and seek His face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will He hear from heaven, and will forgive our sin, and will heal our land. (2Ch 7:14)

It does not say to bombard Washington D.C. with our problem. It does not say that only those who feel called to be an intercessor should pray. It does not even say that the nation’s sins will be forgiven…it says OUR SINS (body of Christ) will be forgiven and then OUR LAND will be healed.

Psalms 51 says it like this:

Ps 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me… And sinners will be converted to Thee

Here He says to listen diligently to His voice and purposely set to do all of His commands

And it shall come to pass, if thou shalt hearken diligently unto the voice of the LORD thy God, to observe and to do all his commandments which I command thee this day, that the LORD thy God will set thee on high above all nations of the earth: Deuteronomy 28:1

Are we seeking to be set on high above all nations of the earth WITHOUT diligently hearing the voice of the LORD, or observing and doing ALL His commandments…?

The prophetic word is God’s word and has been spoken. Why are we looking for more direction than that which we have already been given? The directions on what to do, how to behave, how to treat others, etc.

Could it be that we keep hoping for a silver bullet that will end all of the pain and cause some really good stuff to happen that will continue our comfort and not interfere with our convenience?

We enjoy prophecies that talk about our prosperity. How we will be blessed even more. More than what?

What should we do with these verses in the bible?

1Co 4:9 For, I think, God has exhibited us apostles last of all, as men condemned to death; because we have become a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men.

vs 10 We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are prudent in Christ; we are weak, but you are strong; you are distinguished, but we are without honor.

vs 11 To this present hour we are both hungry and thirsty, and are poorly clothed, and are roughly treated, and are homeless;

vs 12 and we toil, working with our own hands; when we are reviled, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure;

vs 13 when we are slandered, we try to conciliate; we have become as the scum of the world, the dregs of all things, [even] until now.

Most of the current prophetic words that I have read or heard seem to be the result of the choices we have made by not obeying the scriptures.

This is not doom and gloom. I believe more than most that we are a blessed people. We need to define “blessed.” Being blessed does not eradicate problems, pain or suffering. Being blessed is how we will get through them. Tell Paul he was not blessed when he was shipwrecked. Tell the martyrs in Hebrew 11 that as they were sawn in half that they were not blessed. Tell Jesus as He hung on the cross that He was not blessed. What made them all blessed is that they were all obeying the Father.

My prophetic word for 2012?

  • Obey His word that has already been set before you. Spend time and make the effort to learn what it is; how to apply it.
  • Stop trying to find an easy way around God’s commandments…His ways, His will, His very nature.
  • Get your houses in order – honor the covenant you made with God and your mate.
  • Give up your right to yourself and surrender completely to Him.
  • Stop allowing the enemy to trick you into a warfare God did not call you to. Instead fight for your children by living for the Lord.
  • Concerning your stuff – Seek FIRST the Kingdom of God…and His righteousness (in other words, the right way to live in the Kingdom) and all of these things will be ADDED.
  • Listen to the authority God has placed in your life. They will help you learn how to walk it out. By the way…we do not choose our own authority.

 

 

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Covenant of Significance – Siblings

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Probably, of all of the “covenant people” in my life the relationship I have with my oldest sister is one of great significance. Our relationship as sisters was one that neither of us had a say about. As my pastor always says, we do not get to choose our parents.

I come from a pretty large family. We lived in a house of seven children and three adults. I also come from a long line of a mixture of cultures that produced strong minds, unrelenting opinions and extreme over-achievers. In other words we were a group of bull-headed people who just don’t quit…children and adults alike. And, like the Apostle Paul was cited for saying, “among the sinners I was the chief.” Over the years there were many hurt feelings, misunderstandings and some serious issues that were never reconciled, even after some went to their grave.

I like to call it “dysfunctional love.” The truth of God’s covenant love was not known or understood by any of us at that time. The broken places in our parents caused broken places in the relationship between the siblings. Consequently my oldest sister and I went for years without a real “sister” relationship. We just belonged to the same family. Secretly we both yearned for that relationship but, honestly, was not sure what to do.

As life would have it, my sister and I found ourselves nursing our mother together during her last months with us. In one of those moments when my mother was resting and my dad was able to look after her, we went into my dad’s office and just kind of breathed a sigh of relief for the much needed physical and emotional rest. If you have ever been a care-giver you know exactly what I am talking about. God used that moment as my sister sat in my dad’s big office chair and we looked at each other across the desk. We realized that this was the closest we had been in years. Doing the same things at the same time in the same place with each other.

At that moment we made a very serious decision. We decided to bury all of the dead horses: the skeleton’s in the closets, the arguments not won, the misunderstandings as well as the likes and dislikes. We decided to be sisters in fellowship as well as relationship regardless of what had taken place in our lives. Sounds a little like something out of a “warm your heart” Christmas movie, right? Well, needless to say, this decision was challenged along the way. However, we did not pay any attention to the challenges; we held on to our decision. She still votes differently than I do, cooks better than me, and belongs to a different church and denomination than I do. My relationship with her is more important than our differing opinions. What she does is not as important to me as who she is. She is not only a sister by birth; she is my sister by decision.

The rest of our siblings did not do any of this. We have sat back over the years and sadly watched their painful lives just literally dwindle away. We talk often of how much it could be if… And then we move on because there is one thing both of us know without a shadow of a doubt: If it were not for the grace of God we would be in the same condition. This would not have ever happened for us without a decision on our part. A decision to covenant. A covenant that supersedes all hurts and misunderstandings. We are literally free from the opinions and thoughts of others…and sensitive to the opinions and thoughts of each other.

This is what Christ is after. To captivate us so we are free from the opinions and thoughts of others and sensitive to the opinions and thoughts of each other: His thoughts and our thoughts!

  • I and my Father are one. (John 10:30)
  • And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are. (John 17:11)
  • That they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us: that the world may believe that thou hast sent me. (John 17:21)

 

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Covenant of Significance

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I have had a dog all of my life. There is one thing that I have noticed about all of my dogs, regardless of their pedigree. If I forget to feed them; or if I show them displeasure as they chew my favorite shoe; if I am in a bad mood and do not want to play with them or even if I am a little sharp and impatient with them for one reason or another…when I come home they always wag their tails and are glad to see me. I’ve often wished that I had these kind of friendships in people. For some reason dogs have a handle on how God operates in covenant much better than us humans.

Over the years there have been people in my life who verbally expressed the fact that we had a covenant relationship. I have watched many fade into the background of life, never to be heard from again. Then there are those who have never said anything, but their actions and attitude have proven that their heart toward me is one that would take a bulldozer to tear away. All in all, the people who have either expressed it verbally or their actions imply covenant and still remain an active part of my life are only as few as the fingers on my hands.

Do I rate covenant only by the amount of time spent together in fellowship? Absolutely not. More than half of the people on “my list” live busy lives and are geographically distant from me. An occasional phone call, text or email is many times the only contact with these people. Yet, when we do get a chance to talk or visit, it is as if time or distance never existed. You and I know when people have purposely distanced themselves from us or have cut us off. This group of people never tell you verbally that you are no longer part of their lives. They just go away. If you attempt to contact them they tell you that you are still friends. However, you know that something is wrong, even if they are not brave enough to tell you. So that tells me that covenant is a “heart issue.” It is not an “action issue.” We do covenant out of being covenant in our hearts.

In reality covenant is that bridge over troubled waters that keep people together when there is conflict. The only way for God’s people to understand covenant from God’s perspective requires knowing the heart of God.

God never made utilitarian covenants with man. These were not actions of convenience, for God IS love; consequently, his covenants came from a heart of love. He made covenants with us that were beneficial to us, even if we do not receive them, walk in them, or understand them. His covenants continue to reach for us regardless of how often we walk away from His love and promises…or how far we walk away…nor how long we are gone. God’s covenant with man meant that God would get something out of the covenant as well. He is always after our heart. When He does not get our hearts, He does not walk away from us. We always have access to His heart!

There are times when God is disappointed in the choices that we make. He simply does not like some of the things that we do. However our actions do not hinder His love for us. Our lack of trusting Him does not hinder His hand working on our behalf. Why? Because His word is His covenant…and He said He would never leave us nor forsake us.

When I look over the years spent with the people who are in covenant with me I realize that there were enough “legitimate” reasons to walk away from each other. A covenant from love demands that we stay and work things out. Our love for each other far surpasses the misunderstandings that will come.

I know some people that used to belong to the church where I was the pastor. We were friends before they ever came to the church. When they made the decision to become sheep in my pasture we made a covenant. We decided that if it did not work out at the church that we would not let it affect our friendship. Every covenant made by you, me and God will always have opportunity to be tested. After years at the church they believed it was time for them to leave. After they left, there was a conflict of some kind. I cannot even remember what it was. But I remember the day that the wife came to my house on purpose to “set things straight.” We realized that there was a misunderstanding in our actions…but not a misunderstanding in our hearts toward each other. We are still close friends today. The covenant caused our memories to be washed clean and to move on in the development of our relationship through right heart fellowship.

God does the same thing with us. He makes a bee-line to our house (heart) to “set things straight.” We have opportunity to change our thinking about what has moved us from fellowship with Him and to move on. He does not remember what it was. He only remembers His covenant with us.

As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. (Psalms 103:12)

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Are You Biting the Hand that Feeds You?

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And he sat down, and called the twelve, and saith unto them, If any man desire to be first, the same shall be last of all, and servant of all. Mark 9:35

Anyone that has been in ministry for any length of time can tell you that leading people has its challenges. I have seen some ministries devastated by the very ones they were leading.

For a moment, though, can we look at some things from the perspective of those God has placed in our care? Some of you are leading churches or Para-church ministries with people helping you and supporting you, whether on a small or large scale.

I often think about the sheep God has allowed in my life. I have not been the pastor over a church for nine years…yet I still find myself being a spiritual parent to some of God’s leaders and ministers. Sometimes I just sit with them and let them talk; sometimes they laugh and more times than not they cry. I believe that in order to be a healthy minister, all three expressions are needed. Just the other day I spent time with a young minister and some of the stories I heard were horrendous.

Sometimes, while reading some of the posts from ministers on Facebook I find myself cringing from the unkind comments made about the lack of knowledge of the people in the church.

Do we realize how much blame is placed on the sheep today for the condition of the church? So many prophets and apostles are angry at the church and pretty much call the people stupid.

Without the fall of Adam we would not have these type of ministries…and we certainly would not have anything without the people.

I have been in church all of my life and have been in the ministry thirty-six years and have seen much in the church. The one thing that I see more than I see anything else is that sheep, as a whole, are doing what sheep are supposed to do. They are following. Most are doing what they see the leaders doing.

While we, as leaders, revel in our newfound revelations of the word of God do not forget when we were ignorant and did not know much ourselves. Much of the church world has taught what it knew and understood. As a result we have raised up sheep who are either living the way we taught them or, like many, are pretty confused from hearing so many voices speak so many different things.

The next time you receive an offering from these sheep think about what they are doing to help your ministry continue. We say that the tithe belongs to the Lord…but, please let us be real. Are you not using what belongs to the Lord to keep your ministry running?

I heard about a pastor who was upset with the sheep because they did not give him on his anniversary what he saw other pastors were receiving.

I know of a church that went through a tremendous loss of people. The pastor was depressed and constantly bemoaning all of those that had left. I told him that he was focused on the wrong people. The cream of the crop stayed, regardless of how few they were.

While you are always going to have rebellious people who refuse to do what is right, the majority of God’s people are not trying to be ignorant or stupid. Many are more faithful than the ministers themselves. I have seen more sheep show up for prayer than ministers. And, I have seen very few pastors show up for prayer meetings held at their own churches. I have seen more sheep behave as servants than I have ministers.

Do we realize, yet, that an armor bearer is not called to wash our hands? Neither are they called to carry our coat and our bible unless our hands are filled with some other items. The next time it is Clergy Appreciation Month (October) why not bless the sheep instead of letting them bless us? Many in our ministries work hard (and some harder) behind the scenes to support us in finances and prayer, even while juggling jobs, families and a continuously changing world.

Listen, I know that ministry is difficult and many ministers go unnoticed, mishandled, etc. I just want us to realize that the sheep God has given to us should not be mishandled in retaliation. Our position as a leader does not give us the right to overlook the luxury of leadership by servant-hood.

Everybody is someone’s sheep, including you and me!

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How Old Are You?

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Most people are aware of the fact that chronological age and emotional maturity do not always happen at the same time. I am often surprised by the maturity of one so young and the immaturity of one so old.

1 Corinthians 13 is often called the “Love Chapter.” We look at the actions of love and find ourselves failing in them before we begin them. We attempt to love others and make commitments that we will love, regardless, only to find ourselves incapable of holding to our commitment. It is absolutely impossible to love without becoming love. 1 John says that God IS Love. Out of who He is flows what He does. The words, He loves us, flows from love. He does not have to work at it because it is who He is. We spend much effort trying to love those who seemingly make it difficult to love them. I do not see anywhere in Scripture where God found it an effort to love you or me. He may not like what we do, but He is committed to being who He is in all of our lives…God IS love. It does not say, ‘Love does Kindness.’ It says, ‘Love IS kind.’

I would like to say that 1 Corinthians 13 clearly separates the children from the adults; the immature from the mature. It is more about maturity than showing forth the acts of love. Love is actually the characteristic of maturity in Christ…becoming sons of God by growing in the nature and character of Christ who is our pattern son.

The question of maturity lies in the answer to this question: Have I become love? 1 John 4:17 says that:

…as He is so are we in this world.

He was completely abandoned to His commitment toward you and me. He is love. Jesus gave up His right to Himself (Philippians 2:7) to become everything to you and me. For us to “walk as He walked” (1 John 2:6) we, too, must give up our right to ourselves and become everything to Him. This is how we abide and dwell in Him. This is how we allow Him to abide and dwell in us.

Oswald Chambers says this in one of his writings:

Jesus Christ is always unyielding to my claim to my right to myself. The one essential element in all our Lord’s teaching about discipleship is abandon, no calculation, no trace of self-interest. Disciples Indeed, 395 L

We may be quick to ascertain our maturity based upon our intellect. We may also think that our knowledge of the word of God is our maturity. Jesus told the scribe in Mark 12 that his intellectual understanding of the greatest commandment brought him close to the Kingdom. However, until he put action to his understanding, he was not in the kingdom. He was intelligent yet lacked maturity because he had not yet entered into becoming.

How do I become love? By purposefully moving my heart, my worship, my very being toward God. Mark 12 says to love God with my whole heart, my whole mind, my whole soul, my whole strength. I cannot do this until I abandon my right to myself, leaving nothing for myself and realize that I only have a right to Him and I give Him all rights to me. I become what I worship. Whatever (or whoever) I worship is the one or what to whom I have abandoned my rights.

Remember: Doing love moves us into works. Becoming love moves us into a mature relationship with the Father. Then our actions will bring life to others. As a leader in the body of Christ where do you fit on the chart?

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