Greg Crawford

Category: Culture

  • THE SPIRIT OF A PIONEER LEADER

    Poineers Are Heaven Sent

    A pioneer leader is not called to maintain what exists — they are called to birth what Heaven desires but earth has not yet seen. Maintenance is predictable. It preserves what has already been built. But pioneering disrupts limitation, advances purpose, and reaches into the unseen realm of God’s intention until something new begins to take shape.

    We have many managers, but it takes apostolic grace to build what has never been built. It takes a sent grace to establish new territory, new models, new wineskins, and new expressions of the Kingdom. Pioneers are not motivated by comfort. They are compelled by calling.

    Pioneers are Heaven’s answer to stagnation. They break cycles, ceilings, and ground. They do not simply adjust what already exists; they carry a divine assignment to build what obedience requires.

    The Apostolic DNA of a Pioneer

    Pioneering is inherently apostolic because apostolic grace is a sent grace. It is a mandate to establish, build, and advance what Heaven has authored. A pioneer does not simply carry inspiration; a pioneer carries assignment, structure, burden, and momentum.

    Apostolic characteristics in pioneers are seen in how they think and build. They think in terms of foundations, not events. They build systems, not moments. They carry long-term vision, not short-term excitement. They see the Church as a Kingdom movement, not merely a weekly gathering.

    Pioneers carry the architectural mind of Heaven. They are blueprint carriers, foundation layers, and culture shifters who understand that the work is bigger than a moment, a meeting, or a platform. They are sent to establish something strong enough to carry future generations.

    Scripture reminds us in Ephesians 2:20, “And are built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the chief corner stone.” This means apostles do not just preach; they establish. In the same way, pioneers do not just dream; they build.

    Pioneers See First

    Before pioneers build, they see. Their sight comes before their structure, because revelation always precedes construction in the Kingdom. Pioneers see before others see, beyond current reality, and into what will be rather than what is. They see the invisible becoming visible and the future becoming present.

    This sight is not natural; it is revelatory. Hebrews 11:1 declares, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Faith gives pioneers permission to see what others call impossible. Revelation becomes their compass, and vision becomes their language.

    Revelation births movement, but religion preserves monuments. This is why pioneers must protect their sight from the dulling effect of tradition. If vision is not guarded, what began as movement can become memory, and what was once alive can become merely familiar.

    The Burden of Seeing What Others Don’t

    Seeing first is both a blessing and a burden. Pioneers often wrestle with frustration when others do not see it yet, impatience with slow movement, the weight of carrying a vision alone, and the tension between “now” and “not yet.” The burden of sight is that you may carry conviction before you carry confirmation.

    Habakkuk 2:3 says, “For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.” Just because God showed it to you first does not mean He will release it fast. Pioneers must learn to walk at Heaven’s pace, not their own.

    Pioneers Walk Alone First

    Before anyone follows a pioneer, the pioneer must walk alone. This solitude is not rejection; it is refinement. God often allows isolation to sharpen hearing, purify motives, strengthen conviction, detach the pioneer from approval, and build inner resilience.

    Jesus said in John 16:32, “…and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.” Pioneers must learn to be comfortable being misunderstood, unseen, and uncelebrated. If you need a crowd to obey, you are not ready to pioneer.

    The Cost of Being First

    Being first means you face what others never had to face, fight battles others may never know, carry weight others may never feel, and endure criticism others may never hear. Pioneers are often celebrated after the work is done, rarely before, because people usually honor the fruit before they understand the process.

    The hidden cost of pioneering can include emotional weight, spiritual warfare, financial sacrifice, relational strain, and internal pressure. Luke 14:28 asks, “For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost…” Pioneers must count the cost and still say yes.

    Resistance Is Normal

    Every pioneer must settle this truth: resistance is not always a sign you are wrong; many times, it is a sign you are early. Pioneers face misunderstanding, opposition, criticism, spiritual warfare, and institutional pushback, but resistance cannot become the voice that replaces revelation.

    Joshua 1:9 says, “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” Courage is the currency of pioneers. They must confront what others avoid and continue forward when fear tries to negotiate with obedience.

    The War Against Revelation

    Religion always resists revelation because revelation disrupts what comfort wants to preserve. Mark 7:13 warns about “Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye.” Tradition can silence revelation, systems can suffocate the Spirit, and information without encounter produces knowledge without transformation.

    The symptoms of lost revelation are seen in stagnant believers, powerless Christianity, shallow discipleship, the absence of hunger, and the absence of movement. Pioneers must guard what God has shown them fiercely because the enemy does not always attack revelation by contradiction; sometimes he attacks it through familiarity.

    Pioneers Create Pathways

    Pioneers do not follow paths; they establish them. They build what others will later walk on, create models others will later adopt, open spiritual territory others will later inherit, and break ceilings others will later stand beneath. Their obedience becomes a road for someone else’s breakthrough.

    Isaiah 43:19 declares, “Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.” Apostles establish foundations, pioneers build frameworks, and together they create Kingdom movement. Pioneers are Heaven’s architects, designing what others will eventually occupy.

    Pioneers Carry Responsibility

    Before pioneers are recognized publicly, they carry weight privately. They carry responsibility before reward, burden before breakthrough, pressure before promotion, and warfare before witness. The private place forms the pioneer before the public place reveals the work.

    Matthew 5:6 says, “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Hunger keeps revelation alive, revelation keeps movement alive, and movement keeps the Kingdom advancing. When hunger dies, pioneering becomes performance; but when hunger lives, obedience stays pure.

    The Fruit of a True Pioneer

    Pioneers produce new pathways, transformed people, fresh insight, Kingdom expansion, apostolic foundations, and generational impact. Their fruit is not measured only by what happens in the moment, but by what continues to multiply after them. Their legacy is not measured in applause, but in territory gained and people transformed.

    John 15:8 says, “Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples.” The signs of a true pioneer are visible in what they leave behind. They build what outlives them, raise others to go further, create systems that multiply impact, and leave a blueprint for the next generation.

    Activation and Application

    This is where revelation becomes transformation. A pioneer does not read truth simply to agree with it; a pioneer receives truth until it becomes obedience, action, and construction. Ask yourself honestly if you are willing to go where there is no path, be misunderstood for obedience, carry weight before recognition, choose revelation over tradition, protect hunger above comfort, build what does not yet exist, and walk alone if necessary.

    Father, awaken the pioneer within me. Give me eyes to see what Heaven is revealing, courage to walk where others will not go, and grace to build what does not yet exist. Make me a carrier of Your blueprints, a breaker of old cycles, and a builder of new Kingdom territory. In Jesus’ name, amen.

    Next Step

    Identify the territory God is calling you to pioneer and take the first step. Do not wait for the crowd. Do not wait for comfort. Do not wait until every question is answered. If Heaven has spoken, move in obedience. Your first step may feel small, but obedience is the first brick in every foundation God builds.

  • Jesus, the Twelve, and the Reality of Relational Conflict

    Jesus and the twelve disciples lived within constant relational tension. When we look at the many different expressions of church today, it becomes clear that various church structures create different kinds of community—and different kinds of relational interaction within the Body of Christ.

    In larger churches, it is often possible to attend without ever truly interacting with others at a deep level. But once you step into a smaller group, a leadership role, or a specific assignment, relational conflict almost inevitably emerges. The reality is this: the smaller the ministry, the more exposed we become to one another—and the more conflict surfaces.

    As I was thinking about this, I began to reflect on Jesus and the twelve disciples. I wondered how much relational conflict must have existed among them. When you truly think about it, it is remarkable that anything was accomplished at all—or that we even have Christianity today.

    These men came from vastly different backgrounds. Their educations varied. Their life experiences were nothing alike. Their value systems often clashed. Matthew, for instance, was a tax collector—employed by Rome. Surely there was suspicion surrounding him. At the same time, fishermen and common laborers were likely looked down upon by others within the group. If you really consider it, every form of extreme thinking probably existed among the twelve.

    Scripture shows us that they were frequently conflicted—and at times openly argumentative. Each man held tightly to what he believed, what he valued, and what he thought was right. They fought to have their perspectives heard, embraced, and validated. We see Peter’s lack of understanding. We see Thomas wrestling with doubt. Later, we see conflict between Paul and John Mark—and even between Paul and Peter.

    Like us today, they were on a journey—discovering truth and deciding what they would ultimately believe about that truth.

    At that point in history, there was no centralized doctrine. Doctrine was being formed in real time. Each apostle was at a different level of maturity, experience, and understanding—both in relation to the Holy Spirit and in how they interpreted the words Jesus spoke to them.

    Today, we at least have a completed Bible that is meant to bring us into unity. Yet even now, we are deeply divided over doctrine, truth, and interpretation. These divisions inevitably surface in how we relate to one another. And those relational exposures reveal where we are still lacking in understanding and truth.

    Just as it was then, culture was constantly trying to shape and distort truth. And that is no different in our present hour. Culture now dictates how truth is interpreted—asking whether it is politically correct, non-offensive, or acceptable to personal preference. We guard our own interpretations fiercely. We add layers to support what we already want to believe rather than submitting ourselves to what truth actually is.

    We often attempt to fix spiritual issues through unbiblical means—through intellectual ascent, emotional reasoning, or worldly practices wrapped in biblical language. The result is a mental mixture: truth diluted, compromised, and reshaped to fit comfort rather than conviction.

    Yet in the midst of all the conflict the early apostles faced, they still managed to accomplish the mission. They set aside unresolved differences and continued moving forward toward the Kingdom goal. What empowered them was their perception of what held the greatest value.

    Today, however, we often fight for our own preferences, our pet doctrines, and our personal projects—rather than yielding to the larger Kingdom plan trying to unfold.

    The very fact that relational conflict exists—and that it can slow us down or even derail a move of God—should alert us to something important: the journey of truth we are on must be of great value, or it would not be attacked so fiercely.

    Looking back over the years, I have noticed a pattern. Whenever a genuine move of God begins to emerge, one of the most common things that stops it is relational conflict—especially among leaders or those actively serving. There is a difference between disagreement over understanding and a refusal to resolve conflict. The latter is what causes damage.

    Many times, we leave the Word of God out of the process. Other times, we ignore or resist the prompting of the Holy Spirit. Often, we are not seeking God’s conclusion—we are seeking our own. What I have learned is that resolution frequently takes time, because it is ultimately a heart issue. And the heart must change its position.

    Emotions can interfere. Pride can block conviction. And unresolved wounds can prevent transformation. Most of us are probably living with some level of unresolved conflict at any given time. The real question is whether we are trusting God to work it out—and whether we are willing to obey when the Spirit prompts us to act.

    Returning again to the twelve apostles, I am sure they lived for long periods with unresolved tension, waiting for truth to fully come and clarify their direction. But until that truth was revealed, they chose mission over division. They set aside their differences and committed themselves to advancing the Kingdom in the earth.

    Yes, they argued over who would be the greatest. Yes, they debated who would sit at the right hand. But when the Holy Spirit came, something shifted. At Pentecost, the Spirit of understanding was released. After that moment, they were no longer fighting over position—they were willing to die for one another.

    There is an action of the Holy Spirit that must occur to truly resolve relational conflict. When the Spirit comes, it reveals that what we were fighting for was never as important as we believed. A greater weight enters the room—the King and His Kingdom. And when that happens, everything else falls into its proper place.

  • Where Does Time Go? The Mental Battle

    Today I found myself thinking about… well, everything I’m thinking about. My mind wandered through thoughts of family—children, grandchildren, close friends. And if you’re in ministry, you know how quickly the mind shifts toward other ministries and ministry leaders: how they function, how healthy they are, what’s working, what’s failing. You think about your own past, the future you hope to build, and all the space in between.

    In other words—you’re thinking about life.

    If we’re not careful, all these layers of thought begin pulling more and more time and energy out of us. I catch myself so loaded with thoughts that it becomes difficult to find space for the things I want to do, or even room to explore new ideas God is stirring. Our thoughts jump from one category to another, and often we never reach a conclusion. Every unresolved thought demands more time, more emotional investment, more processing.

    This morning, as I was contemplating what is actually consuming my time in ministry, I realized something surprising: it isn’t my actions that take the most energy—it’s my thinking. It’s how much time I spend mentally visiting all these different areas.

    When you oversee a ministry, you are constantly thinking about what needs to change, how to move people forward, how to rightly discern the season and the future. Your heart weighs past prophetic words, current understanding, and what God is revealing next. You’re navigating the daily needs that keep a ministry functioning smoothly. And woven through all of this is the continual examination of your own calling—making sure you are on track, while also ensuring the ministry is on track. These are separate, yet deeply intertwined.

    Then there’s the mental and spiritual load of ministering to people. When teaching or preaching, I often hear the thoughts of those I’m ministering to. Sometimes you hear their internal questions as you speak; sometimes you hear them later in counseling sessions. The bigger the person’s problem, the more mental space it occupies as you seek wisdom, clarity, and the right counsel.

    All of this began to reveal something to me: many of these thoughts are pushing out the space I need for meditation on the Word of God. The noise of a day begins to crowd out the eternal whisper.

    And then the question comes:

    How much time do we spend meditating on what is eternal compared to what is temporary?

    At the core, this is about the focus of our heart. We love people—so naturally we carry their burdens, their needs, their decisions. But we also love the eternal realm and the things of God. And it can feel like we are constantly living with a divided heart between the temporal needs of people and the eternal voice of God.

    So the real question becomes:

    How do we navigate the daily flood of thoughts and remain effective without burning out?

    Paul gives us the key: “Take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ.”
    That means we have the ability—and the responsibility—to bring order to our thought life.

    Paul also instructs us to “think on things that are pure, holy, lovely, and of good report.” Part of taking control of our thoughts is learning to bring them to a conclusion. Many thoughts keep spinning because we haven’t yet heard God concerning them. We keep analyzing, hoping new information will come, when what we actually need is the wisdom of God.

    We need to pause. Step aside. Sit with the Father and the Holy Spirit.
    Let our spirit be renewed.
    Enter that place where the depths of His wisdom have no end.

    Some problems simply have no answer outside of that place.

    We think on past failures hoping not to repeat them. We try to help people make right decisions, but their answers can’t come from our intellect—they must come from the eternal realm and the wisdom of God.

    I’m also convinced that we must return to meditating on the Word and the mysteries God is revealing. Those mysteries carry answers that settle the noise, calm the racing mind, and anchor us in truth. They quiet the mental chaos because they draw us back to what is eternal.

    I have an analytical mind, and that can get me in great trouble if I’m not careful. But what I’ve learned is this:
    If I take that analytical nature and aim it toward the Word of God, it becomes a gift—not a burden.

    In the end, the question “Where does time go?” often brings us back to this simple truth:

    Time is often lost not in what we do, but in what we allow our mind to carry. And God invites us—daily—to lay those thoughts down, listen for His wisdom, and live from the eternal place where clarity replaces chaos

  • Church and Culture: The Great Divide

    Over the years in ministry, through seasons of change and decades of serving in the calling, I’ve watched the landscape of the Church shift—again and again. New strategies rise, new expressions emerge, and cultural waves crash at the gates of the Body of Christ. There is always this desire to be “relevant,” to meet the world where it is. And yet, deep within the soul of the Church is a cry to recover the DNA of the early apostolic company. What we have is not just a tension—it’s a tug-of-war.

    Relevance has become a buzzword. But relevance, when not anchored in truth, requires compromise. And compromise—though subtle—is deadly. To be relevant to culture often means we must absorb part of it. To speak to modern issues, we immerse ourselves in them. To communicate faith on the level of the hearer, we water it down. I’ve watched it happen slowly, incrementally. But over time, relevance begins to redefine our values.

    But here’s the truth: the Church was never called to mirror culture. It was called to confront it. The early Church did not try to “relate” to Roman rule, or blend with religious traditions, cultic practices, or distorted values of life. They were unapologetically counter-cultural. They understood the call to be in the world, but not of it—and they lived it.

    What’s disturbing is how far we’ve drifted. We’ve tried to attract the world by looking like it, thinking we can rescue people from worldliness while using worldly methods. We justify our compromises as “relatable.” Social drinking, carnal environments, and a diluted holiness have all found their way into our sanctuaries. But relevance without holiness produces confusion. We’ve normalized immaturity and called it maturity because someone knows both sides. Yet many of these are still babes—stuck at salvation, never maturing into discipleship, let alone Christ-likeness.

    Who let these false ideas in?

    Even well-intentioned efforts, if not grounded in truth, open the door to private interpretation. Jesus never spoke in vague language. He confronted error, exposed darkness, and raised a standard that was not only high but clearly understood. His invitation wasn’t to blend in—it was to follow Him. That meant dying to self, abandoning personal wisdom, living by faith, and ministering to souls, while not making friends with the world.

    Today, everything is labeled “Christian” or “church,” even when the foundational truths are absent. Maybe the issue isn’t culture invading the church—but the Church lowering her standards.

    I recently found myself reflecting on the early Church’s demands: the qualifications for elders, the weight of fivefold ministry, and the expectation that saints would do the work of ministry. There was an assumption that the life of Christ within the people would be so vibrant, it would require spiritual oversight by mature elders—those who carried God’s heart.

    And they weren’t living in a vacuum. Their world was far more corrupt than ours: idols at every turn, public temples to demons, open witchcraft, Baal worship, the cruelty of Rome, the celebration of depravity. And yet in the midst of it all—they stood. Separated for the work. The Church didn’t just survive—it multiplied.

    They had a clear vision: manifest the Kingdom of God.
    They had a clear mission: preach the gospel of the Kingdom to the ends of the earth.
    They had apostolic oversight: men who set doctrine and brought what was lacking into fullness.
    They had eldership in cities who preserved what the apostles had established.

    And still, through every age, with all the cultural pressures, false teachings, ego-driven ministries, and shifting models—the Church, the ekklesia, stands. Bruised, stretched, and reshaped at times—but never destroyed. She is still being refined. And yes, she will become the glorious Bride. She will be the one who delivers the Kingdom to the Father. She will rise in apostolic and prophetic order. She will become the ruling, reigning ones.

    This is my hope.
    This is my assignment.
    This is my call.

    To reveal the King and His Kingdom. To unveil the mystery: Christ in you, the hope of glory.

  • When God Highlights Relationships

    There are moments when God puts His finger on something in a way that’s unmistakable. Right now, that something is relationships. It’s a time of divine connecting—where God is emphasizing the importance of healthy, spiritually aligned relationships while also allowing the unproductive ones to be sifted out.

    The Strain in the Spirit

    Many people are experiencing strained relationships right now. And strain almost always reveals weakness. It’s easy to assume we’re on the same page with someone—same desires, same values—until the moment of difference comes, and that difference introduces tension. Conflict creeps in. Harmony fades. Internal battles emerge, and suddenly, we find ourselves trying to control what feels like a spiritual slide.

    This is the heart of why divorces happen, why dating relationships implode, and why so many friendships feel shallow and disappointing. We formed these relationships around circumstantial compatibility or emotional convenience rather than around a foundation built on Christ. When the foundation shifts—or proves faulty—the whole structure begins to crack.

    What’s especially tragic is when this happens among believers. If Christians find themselves in relational chaos, it often means someone’s spiritual standard has dropped. Once the spiritual commonality erodes, the relationship naturally suffers. The strain is not just emotional—it’s deeply spiritual. It’s when the flesh gains dominance over the spirit that true connection breaks down.

    Paul said he knew no man after the flesh. Our connections are meant to be spirit-to-spirit. When Christ, salvation, and the Kingdom are our shared center, then we find stability in relationships. But when those pillars are ignored or slowly abandoned, the relationship suffers. I’ve seen this repeatedly over years of ministry. And for those who choose to keep the standard, it can be incredibly painful.

    Why? Because when someone walks away from a spiritually bonded relationship, they aren’t just walking away from a person. They’re walking away from a covenant and a grace that was available. And that covenant wasn’t based on preference—it was a spiritual agreement to walk together for the sake of Christ and His Kingdom. The grace was given to perform the assignment together. This is why it cuts so deep. It’s not just about compatibility; it’s about co-laboring with God and each other. That’s why when someone walks away, it can feel like a silent message saying, “You, and what you’re doing, have no value.”

    And yet, this isn’t new. I’ve had to navigate this type of grief time and again. You never fully get used to it. The key is guarding your heart so it doesn’t become hard. I’ve had to remind myself that when someone breaks fellowship, it’s often out of unresolved hurt, pride, or spiritual confusion. But I’ve also seen the mercy of God restore those same people—sometimes years later when they hear God, repent, and return.

    A War of Spirit vs. Flesh

    The greatest strain in any relationship happens when the spirit and the flesh collide—whether it’s within one person or between two people. That internal war becomes external. What was once cherished turns contentious. The enemy loves to use these moments to isolate us and discourage us, and if we’re not careful, we begin to mistrust future relationships and harden our expectations.

    But with the right spiritual lens, we can see the truth: it’s a battle of dominion. Will the Spirit of God define how we relate to others? Or will we keep building around personal preference, emotional needs, and shared hobbies?

    Common interests might make friendships feel fun, but they’ll never sustain a spiritual bond. Without spiritual unity—without Christ at the center—disappointment is inevitable. And we set ourselves up for it when we blur those lines.

    The Bible is clear: we’re to steward our relationships intentionally. Relationships with unbelievers exist, yes, but mostly for the sake of bringing the gospel of the kingdom to them. Within the Body, however, we are meant to have deeper, more meaningful connections—relationships that carry counsel, support, accountability, and shared purpose.

    But not every Christian relationship is healthy. I always ask: Is this someone I’d want my children to follow? Is their life a model I’d want reproduced? Because who we allow close will always shape us. You don’t seek marriage advice from someone with a broken marriage. You don’t ask spiritual counsel from someone who refuses to walk in fellowship with the Body. Relationships may be ordained by God—but their maintenance is our responsibility.

    Boundaries, Not Breaks

    2 Thessalonians 3:6-7 gives us a bold directive: “Withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly.” That’s a hard word for our modern ears, but it’s straight from the Word. The Greek idea of “withdraw” is not to fully sever ties but to reorder the relationship. It’s about setting boundaries.

    That word “disorderly” speaks volumes. It’s not about someone struggling—it’s about someone who refuses to submit to the structure and order of God. They walk independently, unaccountable, out of step with the Body, and in opposition to sound doctrine. That’s the person Scripture warns us to distance from—not to punish, but to give space for God to bring repentance.

    Immature Christians think boundaries are rejection. But boundaries actually protect what’s valuable. They determine how much of our heart, our time, our spiritual energy we invest. Relationships must be measured by spiritual maturity, not just sentiment.

    Paul takes it further in 1 Corinthians 5, saying we shouldn’t even eat with a believer who lives like the world. Not the sinner outside the Church—but the brother inside it who refuses to be transformed. This is about spiritual stewardship. If we keep close ties with unrepentant believers, we enable their dysfunction and invite confusion. Sometimes, the most loving thing we can do is let go. Yes, it’s hard. I’ve walked it. I’ve had to limit connections with uncorrectable believers, disengage from those choosing worldliness.

    The Kingdom of God is relational at its core. God places us in the Body not just for function, but for fellowship. True koinonia isn’t about coffee and casual talk—it’s about sharing spiritual life, helping one another become who God intended.

    Take an honest inventory: Who are you walking with? Who’s helping you grow in Christ? Who are you helping in return? Are your leaders truly discipling you, or are you stuck in a cycle of peer mentoring with no real transformation?

    God-ordained relationships will challenge you, stretch you, and grow you. Cultivate those. Guard those. And be willing to release what no longer carries His breath.

  • But I’m a “Christian”

    I want to address something that everyone encounters at some point: the person who claims to be a Christian yet lives with a mixture of worldly influences. As I write this, I can think of numerous examples, as I’m sure many of you can. But the real question is: do they truly know HIM?

    The worst deception is self-deception. When a person is self-deceived, they live in a constant cycle of justifying themselves, never truly changing. Self-deception is particularly dangerous because the individual has placed themselves into it. It is not a demonic force, nor a wrong doctrine they believe, but a doctrine they have created. Without a willingness to take a hard look at oneself, engage in deep humility, confess, and genuinely repent, it becomes almost impossible to break free.

    At its core, self-deception is rooted in an open-belief system that resists true transformation. This system contains just enough truth to convince the individual that all their beliefs are valid. An open belief system is built on personal decisions about what to accept or reject regarding God and faith. Consequently, actions are self-justified and explained away rather than measured against biblical truth.

    One of the most dangerous aspects of self-deception is that it creates a self-induced spiritual coma. A person can live in this state for years, believing a lie they are unwilling to acknowledge. When confronted, they debate from the perspective of their personal belief system and intellect rather than from biblical truth. As a result, they twist scripture to fit their mindset, allowing iniquity to settle into their hearts. Iniquity is both twisted thinking and lawlessness. The only way to purge it is through mercy and truth—God’s mercy that allows us to see the truth and be set free.

    This deception stems from being neither hot nor cold but lukewarm. Instead of being fully committed to Jesus, these individuals engage more with Christian concepts than with Christ Himself. Their approach is intellectual rather than spiritual, leading them to compartmentalize their faith, feeling good about certain aspects while refusing to surrender areas of their flesh that remain unredeemed.

    Perhaps the most sobering reality is found in Scripture: “God gave them over to a reprobate mind” (Romans 1:28, 2 Timothy 3:8). This is the tragic consequence of self-deception—becoming reprobate. A reprobate mind is one that is morally unprincipled, transgressing against God’s moral law, and ultimately rejected by Him. It is not that God actively does this to a person; rather, the person places themselves in a position where rejection of truth becomes their own undoing.

    A secondary form of self-deception is even more dangerous: presenting a compromised version of Christianity to others. Those who are self-deceived often act like chameleons, changing based on their surroundings and who they are with. They don’t live a set apart faith publicly. Their faith lacks value and conviction because they are unstable in its expression being double minded. Because their foundation is not built on solid spiritual truths but rather on personal interpretation, they convey a message that faith can be mixed with worldliness. They send a message that it is acceptable to believe whatever one wants, ultimately denying absolute truth. Over time, they become adept at justifying their actions, influencing others to follow their example into self-deception. A self-deceived person can only lead others into self-deception.

    Breaking Free from Self-Deception

    There is hope for breaking free from this bondage, and it is found in 2 Corinthians 13:5 — 5 Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove your own selves. Know ye not your own selves, how that Jesus Christ is in you, except ye be reprobates?

     True self-examination requires humility and desperation. Often, it takes a crisis to shake someone out of their deception. If we struggle to see the truth ourselves, we may need spiritual leaders we trust to help us recognize where we truly stand. However, we must be willing to hear and accept their counsel objectively.

    God has given us a ministry of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:17-18). Reconciliation is more than resolving disputes; it means restoring harmony. Many divisions in the Body of Christ stem from self-deception and disunity. We fail to recognize and value what others bring because of personal feelings of inadequacy. Instead of embracing truth and revelation, we deny it to remain in our comfort zone of deception.

    A key aspect of self-deception is the false belief that relevance in ministry is determined by status, achievements, or followers. This misconception breeds jealousy and strife, all of which stem from self-deception. It causes the self-deceived to hold value in their perspectives to maintain self-esteem rather than see themselves and accept that God has something greater for them.  Every believer has a unique function and role in God’s plan, unfolding according to His timing.

    To truly reconcile, we must understand what harmony looks like in our spiritual lives. Harmony means being in right standing with God, with others, and with ourselves. Deception always leads to disharmony. Throughout the Bible, deception brings division, both between individuals and between people and God. True harmony is restored when we examine ourselves, embrace the truth, and allow it to set us free. This process often requires putting others before ourselves and eliminating selfishness.

    In all the counseling I do, I have found that if individuals are willing, they can break free from seld-deception and step into the ministry of reconciliation. It starts with self-examination, humility, and an openness to truth. May we all take the time to seek the Lord earnestly, allowing Him to reveal any areas where we have been self-deceived so that we can walk fully in His truth and freedom.

  • The Pursuit of Gods Glory

    In our spiritual journey, we often find ourselves yearning for something more. We look at the body of Christ, seeing good works and sincere efforts, yet sensing that something crucial is missing. I recently attended a service and at the end saw believers’ earnest seeking prayer and earnestly praying for people. Yet in my spirit it seemed something was missing. I have discovered the thing that has plagued me for along time in why I’m discontented. It is I’m seeing partial glory and not a full glory. Even as I look at my own ministry I see times when the fullness of Glory was moving and times of partial glory. That missing element is a degree of glory missing. The full, tangible manifestation of God’s presence in our midst.

    Glory isn’t just a concept, or a manifestation.  It’s the essence of God’s nature. The Greek word “doxa” describes it as brilliance, splendor, and radiance. The Hebrew “kabod” speaks of honor, majesty, and weightiness. This glory isn’t meant to remain distant or theoretical. Scripture repeatedly emphasizes God’s desire for the earth to be filled with the knowledge of His glory, as the waters covering the sea.

    This glory isn’t waiting to invade from the outside. It already resides within every believer. Christ in us is the hope of glory. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead dwells in us. We were created from Glory to return to glory. Glory should not be foreign to us since it is part of our makeup.

    So why aren’t we seeing more of this glory manifested? The key lies in revelation and faith. Revelation is the unveiling of spiritual truths, while faith is the trust and conviction that leads to action. We need both. Revelation without faith remains theoretical. Faith without revelation can be misguided. When we combine deep revelation with activated faith, we create the conditions for glory to flow.

    Consider the early church. Peter’s very shadow brought healing as he walked by. This wasn’t the shade created by the sun on an object. It was the radiance of glory emanating from within him, touching lives wherever he went. Charles Finney carried Gods presence onto a train and outbreak of glory occurred, leading to spontaneous repentance and salvations. These weren’t isolated incidents, but examples of believers who understood the glory they carried and learned to release it.

    We’re entering a new season where God is restoring the manifestation of His glory to those earnestly seeking it. This isn’t just about signs and wonders, and miracles, though those will certainly be present. It’s about a creative glory that will confound human wisdom and understanding. We’re moving from partial experiences to fullness, from individual pursuits to corporate destiny.

    This glory isn’t meant to be hoarded but released. It’s not about waiting for a special “cloud” to descend in a meeting. Or to see certain manifestations as a sign of God presence. These are only the fruit of Glory more than the Glory. The glory is in us, waiting to be activated and shared. When we grasp this truth, our approach to ministry and prayer shifts dramatically. Instead of merely asking God to heal someone, we can release the healing presence of God that resides within us. Where His presence is, sickness cannot remain. Where His glory dwells, the kingdom of God

    dwells. But where the glory is manifest the kingdom is manifest and vice versa.

    We’re called to glory and virtue – not just as distant ideals, but as a present reality to be lived out. This call comes with Gods divine enablement. God has given us everything pertaining to life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us. We’re raised in incorruption, glory, power, and spiritual vitality – not just in some future state, but here and now as we learn to access and live from these realities.

    But maybe most important it’s glory that creates true oneness among believers. Our best human efforts at unity often fall short, but when we encounter and release God’s glory together, we find ourselves supernaturally aligned. We become one as Jesus and the Father are one. This was the prayer in John 17 and Jesus said he would give us the exact same glory so we could be one with him and the father.

    How do we step into this glory-filled life? It begins with recognizing that Jesus, the living Word, is our access point to realms of glory. He was the word made flesh. He was glory incarnate. Every scripture is a potential gateway into heavenly dimensions because it carries glory within it. As we meditate on scripture, allowing the Holy Spirit to illuminate truth, we position ourselves to both receive revelation and exercise faith. This combination becomes the catalyst for releasing glory in tangible ways.

    The journey into glory is the birthright and calling of every believer. We were created for glory, to be carriers and releasers of God’s tangible presence. As we pursue this high calling, we’ll find ourselves moving from hope to faith, from asking to declaring, from waiting to activating. This pursuit will challenge our comfort zones and stretch our understanding. It requires letting go of secondhand, intellectual faith and embracing firsthand encounters with the living God.

    Will we answer the urgent call to glory and virtue? Will we allow revelation and faith to work together, creating the conditions for God’s glory to flow freely through us? As we do, we’ll find ourselves part of a movement that’s bringing heaven to earth in unprecedented ways, touching lives and transforming communities with the tangible presence of God.

  • Christmas Story Through Revelatory Eyes

    The Christmas story has much more to it than shepherds, wise men and a manger. We all know the birth of Christ and the amazing moment of time not only for the earth but all creation. Emmanuel, God is with us. But what lead up to this moment most don’t know and the spiritual activity we assume was normal when it was far from it. During this time:

    Prior to Christ birth there was the 400 silent years The Jews returned from Babylonia captivity. Israel did give up their mixture but didn’t spend the time in preparation for the Messiah to come. Aaron’s priesthood was restored but the temple was neglected and so was the teachings of God to the people. Because of this the people stopped tithing, began to mistreat their wives and married pagans.

    The language shifted from Hebrew to Aramaic and Greek. Along with this some of the customs were adopted as well. Antiochus the Great captured Israel and sold the priesthood which Desecrated the Holy of Holies.

    Then the Maccabees Revolution BY Judas Maccabeus came in 165 BC. Called the “hammer” of Maccabee it was to break the walls of darkness and restore light back to temple practices. But 1oo years later in 63 BC Rome gained control of Israel.  Pompey entered the Holy of Holies and desecrated it.

    From here the new priesthood would become politically motivated and 2 groups were formed. The Sadducees who were liberal and practiced Greek ideas. They did hold to the Torah – first 5 books. The other group the Pharisees were conservative, and long with scribes made laws without regard to the effect upon the people. Multiple synagogues were erected for worship and social activity. Religious and civil matters governed by Sanhedrin who was the Chief priest with 70 lesser priests.

    The Daniel 8:14 prophecy of desecration of the temple was fulfilled over 2400 days. All of these events caused the bulk of the Jews to doubt a messiah was coming and felt abandoned by God. They never pursued what Malachi had instructed them.

    In this state Jesus is birthed.

    Jesus’ birth was one of great events the earth had seen. Born of a virgin, God incarnate. The supernatural was unleashed upon the earth in a new dimension. Suddenly the silence broke. God was speaking and speaking with great signs and wonders. Spiritual dreams, signs in the sky, prophecy, angelic visitation and supernatural conception all showed a new season had come to the earth. A supernatural season. A new birth of freedom was upon all.

    We have Joseph and Mary, but we also have Elizabeth with John the Baptist in her womb. Whose spirit communicated with Jesus before birth causing Elizabeth to feel the supernatural excitement. We have wise men who came to Jesus following a supernatural sign. They believed when a new star appeared a new king was born.

    Zacharias who was a priest in the temple who had been believing for the Messiah just happened to be in the temple and the angle of God spoke to him. Incense was offered one time a year as it symbolized the prayers of the nation. That’s why it said he was waiting for his moment. Who was given the privilege to offer the incense was by casting lots and you were only allowed one time in your life this privilege. So, this is his only time in his entire life to do this! ALL EYES ARE ON HIM. During this time a large number of people are praying at times of incense. He had an angelic visitation from Gabriel like Mary did and He lost his ability to speak because he doubted God but gained it back at the birth of John.

    There is also Simeon who the Holy Spirit was upon him as well and he was waiting for the Messiah. He had the highest title of honor being a Rabbi. He also was a great Sanhedrin and the president of a college. Along with Anna, a prophet who was an intercessor serving God in prayer and fasting, she was a widow of 44 years who spoke of the coming messiah. She was 84 years old, which was very special to live that long, but what she knew in her spirit of the coming Messiah was keeping her alive.

    Elizabeth who brought forth John went into hiding for 5 months, the number of grace. It was the hiding of God like the 400 silent years before the revealing of God. John was birthed before Jesus. The prophet before the Apostle. The prophet pointing to the next office. John’s name means Jehovah has graced. The word birth means genesis! Both john and Jesus were “genesised” coming from the origin point. John was in the lineage of priesthood so later in the wilderness he would be seen as a prophet priest.

    The Angel Gabriel comes to Mary in the 6th month, representing the month of humanity and mankind. Luke 1:26. She is told she is highly favored. It is not the angels opinion but Gods, which the angel is convey the message to her. Mary has to wrestle with this message. It is a new identity she has to receive. She has fear and the angel comes back and says fear not. She was fearing being an outcast and possibly stoning being pregnant out of marriage. But when she accepts the angels’ words she has found favor (past tense) she then conceives! She conceives after she has accepted her identity.

    Now Mary brings forth the savior.  But also brings forth the Chief Apostle and High priest of a new order of priesthood after the order of Melchizedek. Our savior is born. Our apostle is born. Our high Priest is born.

    So, what am I saying? There was so much symbolism, so much supernatural activity, so much God intervention, angelic activity, signs and wonders in this moment of time. Yes Jesus was born with all of heaven invading the earth. A new course was being set for us today. A new and living way had life surrounding it.             

  • The Lost Art of Tarrying

    As I began to do an in-depth study into the early Church, I wanted to discover the ancient paths that we have lost and they obviously had found. Amazingly, I discovered a very old but seldom taken path, the art of tarrying. For some it might be contemplative prayer, for others it is silent prayer and for others, it is meditation. Some would say it is the harp and bowl model and others would call it soaking prayer. But tarrying is more than any of these types of descriptions. Most of these are primarily focused around the presence of the Lord. But tarrying has both presence and divine purpose associated with it.

    Luke 24:49 (KJV 1900) — 49 And, behold, I send the promise of my Father upon you: but tarry ye in the city of Jerusalem, until ye be endued with power from on high.

    Jesus commanded them to tarry until a certain aspect would occur, to be endued with power from on high. The word ‘endued’ means to be wrapped in light or to be totally enveloped. It also can mean to be mantled. The word ‘power’ is the word dunamis and means grace, but also means the nature of God himself. He told them to tarry until this wrapping of God’s character and mantle was upon them.

    The definition of tarrying is to wait with anticipation and expectation, not to sit idle. Tarrying is worship, prayer, decree, studying, but all these are outward actions. Anticipation and expectation are issues of the heart. Jesus was essentially saying to them ‘go position your heart and keep it positioned until My character is mantled upon your life’!  The actions of worship, prayer, decrees, etc. help keep our heart positioned correctly but are not actually ways of tarrying. Tarrying is sitting with expectation at the feet of Christ.

    In the account of the upper room, they were given this commandment to go tarry. However, earlier, Jesus had asked them to come with Him as He tarried before the Father. Mark 14:34  My soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch.   He asked them after finding them sleeping, could they not watch one hour, verse 37. He modeled tarrying as He had deep conversation with the Father concerning the destiny of His life and the redemption of the world. He was in agony as He poured Himself out before heaven’s throne and received final instructions. Yet when He returned, He found them all sleeping. This is much like the Church today. In our prayer meetings, 24-hour worship and prayer, etc., we tend to go through the motions but our hearts are far from Him. We need to be awakened and that is what true tarrying will do. It awakens you to God’s purposes.

    In the garden, Jesus invited them to tarry but at the upper room, He commanded it. This command was a necessary one as their hearts had proven in the garden to be far from the things of God. I believe God is again, not inviting us to this ancient path, but commanding us to come and tarry. The first invitation was for one hour. Imagine His disappointment then, but also even today, as many cannot pray for an hour even when giving God their wish list, all He wants is for us to come and sit and hear His heart.

    In Acts in the upper room, they went, not knowing how long they would be in the process. We know it to be about 10 days. A quick work was being accomplished. When it was finished, the purpose of God was formed inside of them and the nature of Christ was upon them enabling them to fulfill the assignment. You see, true tarrying has nothing to do with you and your needs and everything to do with God’s plan and purposes. It is a deep cleansing process and deep gut- wrenching moments as He reveals both our inadequacies and His divine nature. It is as if we are at odds with them and all our so called “prayer requests” hold no real value of being answered compared to the glory He is revealing to us.

    As we look at this time of tarrying, we see Peter arising and preaching the first message after being endued with power. It is roughly ten to fifteen minutes in length by what we see written and 3,000 converts were made. How many of us would be willing to tarry for 10 days, speak 10 minutes with such power from His nature, and see 3,000 added? Within 24 hours of the answer, there were 3,000 converts. We have lost the ancient path of tarrying before the Lord!

    Most of our messages are powerless and hold no real revelation. They do not prick men’s hearts and shift culture. We spend time in study and prayer but we must spend time in tarrying. Tarrying forms His nature within us, which empowers us. Tarrying enables our plans and message to be discarded and His picked up. Tarrying allows us to not just preach with enticing words, but to preach with power and signs and wonders.

    When Jesus slipped away to pray to the Father, He modeled tarrying more than any other things. He was having a dialogue with the Father and conveying His heart as He received the Father’s heart. He then came forth out of these times and moved in great power.  

    Acts 1:7–8 (KJV 1900) — 7 And he said unto them, It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power. 8 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

    These verses in Acts say again, what will happen in the tarrying.

    Times in the Greek is chronos meaning ‘measurable time, like minutes, hours, days’

    Seasons in the Greek is kairos meaning ‘divine moments in God He has ordained’

    (Own) Power in the Greek is exousia, which means ‘authority or the legal right’

    (Receive) Power in the Greek is dunamis, which is ‘the origin of the very nature residing’

    As we look at this, we can see that tarrying is going to produce something that is more important than even knowing times and seasons or even the legal rights because it will produce the living nature of Christ within us. Tarrying conforms our nature to His nature thus enabling us to move in the full power of the Holy Spirit.

    We have often pondered on what they did as they gathered for all those days. Did they reflect on scriptures? I believe they did, trying to find answers and explanations to what this power would be. We see Peter speaking from the book of Joel as a fresh revelation, which was possibly a recent place he had just read. Did they sing and worship? Probably, as they were excited to be counted worthy of this new dimension creating questions none of them could answer. Did they pray? I’m sure of it. They needed answers and I’m sure they were full of questions. Did they discuss Jesus’ words? Absolutely! His words were why they gathered. They probably had in-depth conversations about them and the possible meaning. The one thing we know happened is that they created an atmosphere to draw the Holy Spirit and created one accord. The act of tarrying has all these elements in it, not in the mechanical processes we tend to do, but in a living, life- giving and flowing purpose. The tarrying was for a reason, not just because it was something needing to be done. It was a container built by human spirits hungry for God.

    You see, their approach was not seeking results; this is called ‘search theology’, which is constantly looking for results to validate God. They knew there would be results. He had promised and commanded and spoke with authority that this would come to pass. They had a ‘harvest theology’, which means they understood the promise’s ultimate result would occur. Their seeking and the difference in tarrying over simply praying is; praying is searching while tarrying is knowing. Instead of them searching God, they were allowing God to search them. They were in a quickened process of obstacles being removed from their lives so they would not block the intentions of God. Now that’s real tarrying! They were at a critical moment of time, the second time the word ‘tarrying’ was asked of them. Let us go back to the garden and look at that time again to help us see the importance of tarrying.

    Matthew 26:38 (KJV 1900) — 38 Then saith he unto them, My soul is exceeding sorrowful, even unto death: tarry ye here, and watch with me.

    Tarry means “to continue”, “tarry”, “endure”, and translated miscellaneously five times. 1 to remain, abide. 1a in reference to place. 1a1 to sojourn, tarry. 1a2 not to depart. 1a2a to continue to be present. 1a2b to be held, kept, continually. 1b in reference to time. 1b1[1] to continue to be, not to perish, to last, endure. 1b1a of persons, to survive, live. 1c in reference to state or condition. 1c1 to remain as one, not to become another or different. 2 to wait for, await one.

    They had not become one yet. They definitely were not of one heart and soul and they still were not one with Christ. Jesus saw the lack in the human nature to understand spiritual things and the process needed to create that oneness. Imagine His disappointment as He came and saw them sleeping.

    Matthew 26:40 (KJV 1900) — 40 And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?

    Here He is at the most critical part of His assignment upon the earth and He desires to share this moment with those closest to Him. Yet they are sound asleep. As I said earlier, this is the state of the Church and few in this hour are awakened. Even among those already awakened, few are tarrying and we wonder why things are not exploding. We are again at the most crucial moment in the life of Christ in the Church upon the earth. We are at a real point of death to self unlike anything we have ever seen before. Dying to self has become so cliché and has no meaning unless combined with tarrying before the Lord to receive His instructions. However, for those who do tarry like Christ did with His Father, there will be loosed a resurrection power that will far exceed anything we have seen and done. Our later years will be greater than our former and we will do greater works!

    Luke 24:29–30 (KJV 1900) — 29 But they constrained him, saying, Abide with us: for it is toward evening, and the day is far spent. And he went in to tarry with them. 30 And it came to pass, as he sat at meat with them, he took bread, and blessed it, and brake, and gave to them. 31 And their eyes were opened, and they knew him; and he vanished out of their sight.

    Another time the word ‘tarry’ is used is after the Resurrection and Jesus is on the road to Emmaus and meets two followers. They asked Him to abide but Luke wrote that He tarried with them. He did not spend much time yet suddenly their eyes were opened. You see the actions of Jesus tarrying created awakening. His tarrying had corresponding actions.

    We see another time that Jesus left the normal actions of life and tarried at a well. (John 4) The other disciples went to get food but as Jesus told them later in John 4:34 My meat is to do the will of him that sent me, and to finish his work”.  His tarrying at the well was intentional and had a specific result; it confronted a woman’s heart and brought healing with the overall results being the conversion of multitudes of Samaritans.

    As we begin to look further, we see times that Apostle Paul tarried as well. He specifically states that his tarrying would produce a certain result.

    1 Timothy 3:14–15 (KJV 1900) — 14 These things write I unto thee, hoping to come unto thee shortly: 15 But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

    Paul tarried so the reverence he had would come upon others. He believed his tarrying would be a living example for others to follow. We might interpret this as his length of stay, but I see it as his length of time spent before God. After all, he could stay for a long length of time but if they did not see His actions before God, they would not have reverence. It was a specific type of tarrying that Paul did and he invited others into it to experience it.

    We know Jacob wrestled all night for God’s blessing. In my opinion, he was tarrying before the Lord. He did not know how the blessing would come or what it would look like but he did know not to give up. The scripture says he wrestled but the wrestling was probably more with himself and his responses before God. His act of both wrestling and tarrying allowed him to walk away marked by God for the rest of his life, a reminder of a turning point in his life.

    Daniel also tarried and fasted for 21 days to get an answer. Interestingly, his words were heard from the first day, but his tarrying was enabling the spiritual realm to be cleared so his answer could come. It appears tarrying faith can both put into motion and hold in motion the angelic host until the answer is brought forth upon the earth. Perhaps much of our spiritual warfare is not effective because we don’t really tarry in faith. Maybe it also has to do with our lack of fasting, another ancient path that has been lost or at least greatly diminished.

    Like all things, ancient paths require the right heart attitudes and motives to be effective. If our heart condemns us not, then we have confidence before God. If we are feeling condemned or are walking in sin, rebellion, or lack a desire to live a fully committed lifestyle of true faith, our confidence will reflect this. Confidence does not just come for us to feel good about ourselves but it comes to empower the desire to abide in God … to pursue His presence, to tarry until He comes.

    However, what else keeps us from tarrying before God? A prayer less life. Prayerlessness keeps us from tarrying because we might be confronted about areas of our life in need of change. God wants to deal with your heart BEFORE you tarry with Him. Notice I said with Him. Tarrying is about a discussion of partnership of God’s intentions into the earth. Prayer tends to be a more one-sided discussion as we make requests of God. Tarrying is God making requests of us! God wants to shift things in our personal lives and before tarrying can truly be effective, things must be confronted with prayer and worked through in our own walk with Him. Tarrying is for the corporate Body as prayer is for the individual. God does not want our times of tarrying to deal with our personal sin issues but the sin issues of a region, people group or nation.

    When we tarry before God, we are also tarrying before His holiness. We are seeing the beauty of holiness of which David so beautifully described. We are at a place of awe and reverence. If our heart is right, then tarrying shifts our position from entering into His holiness to tarrying in His holiness. We stay sustained in this place as a supernatural exchange occurs. We receive more of His nature and our nature fades. We understand His ways and paths because they are holy. We see the ravages of sin upon humanity and God’s overall love and plan. We are truly coming under His Lordship to be a tool empowered to make change. The actual degree of Lordship we see exercised today is directly related, I believe, to the amount of time spent before the Lord simply tarrying. When Lordship is lacking, a deep relationship is not in place. As you study the scriptures, the overall plan of salvation has little to do with the actual act of forgiveness and more about Lordship and the walking out of forgiveness under Lordship. I am not demeaning the work of the cross but simply stating it is the invitation and not the final destination of our walk with God!

    Tarrying is not about spending time to find or receive a blessing. God may or may not reveal that portion to us. Tarrying is about a transformation process. It is about a journey with Him. If you are struggling in tarrying and it is hard for you to simple sit for a length of time of say, two hours, then possibly you are still coming to the Lord with a blessing mentality. You will know you have made the true transition into fully tarrying when it becomes a joy instead of an obligation. When it becomes an expectation. The reality is, the ones who can tarry a long time have found a real secret ancient path. That is the tarrying is the blessing! This is the joy of being with Him, not asking anything of Him but His dialogue! Now that is joy unspeakable and full of Glory and the half has not been told!

    Micah 7:7 (KJV 1900) — 7 Therefore I will look unto the Lord; I will wait for the God of my salvation: My God will hear me.

    What we are tarrying for can be summed up in this “that a portion of His holiness would rest upon us.”

    1. Tarrying before God will enable us to be kept by the power of God.
    2. Tarrying transforms our nature.
    3. Tarrying before God will release hidden mysteries.
    4. Tarrying before God will cause clarity to come concerning spiritual truth.
    5. Tarrying can become a lifestyle and not an event.

     

  • International Ministry

    I am just getting back from another trip to Nigeria in West Africa. I am not going to make this blog about typical mission’s report because I don’t do typical missions when I go overseas. I go to equip and train leaders. I go to give leaders council about critical situations going on in ministry and the nation. I release kingdom dynamics through apostolic and father graces.

    The nations of the world are no different than America even though their cultures are different. The same problems exist in different levels and degrees. Some are masked and packaged differently. Some are at extremes that make them easy to see while others are deeply hidden. But when it is all done there is a root problem, a root demonic force is activity, that is crushing against humanity.

    As I have now done over 24 trips into the nation over 20+ years I have seen a metamorphous take place. I must say in many ways the Nigeria church that I first saw with great faith and miracles has been diminished and discouraged by the new standards of the measurement of success that has come from the west. The same problems we face as kingdom people they face as well. The true Kingdom is in smaller places as they hold the greater revelation. As I do each time coming from a trip, I contemplate the comparisons both good and bad. Here are some of them.

    In Nigeria there are new problems that exist. Problems created by seeker friendly prosperity driven ministries. These ministries I am ashamed to say patterned themselves after what they saw in the America church and specifically as defining success. Large ministries, large crowds and lots of entertainment driven programs. These have become the pinnacle of arriving at the top. The prosperity gospel and seeker friendly approach have created places of a powerless church. Some large churches do multiple offerings. Offerings for health, husbands’ health, children’s health, prosperity in business, prosperity in life, and on and on, all in one service.  People are desperate as they suffer in poverty, they are reaching out to anything that appears could help, even if it is has twisted the word of God. The people are in poverty as leaders are prospering. Forms of religion but denying the power.

    The embrace of the kingdom of God is present and operational but not widespread but growing. Apostles and prophets are in place but there are excesses like in America. Many claim apostleship and to be prophets but actions are contrary to the word of God and the grace needed is not there. Currently there is a movement unfolding on university campuses. Students and young adults claiming to be apostles and gaining following through all kinds of means including voodoo. Voodoo is also being practiced by scammers into America, and by boys desiring sex with girls. The witchcraft in America is subtle but still here, just disguised in other forms of manipulation. Any form of manipulation is a form of witchcraft.

    The false positioning of leaders has made them take on titles to hold, without the grace that comes with it to release. Like the American church everyone desires a title to be affirmed and feel important. Most do not go through the process of suffering and development. A real doctrine understanding of Biblical government is needed and a house cleaning of true from false is needed. Sounds like America. The Kingdom churches that are in place are healthy and stable. The excesses are the fringe churches and even large networks of churches.

    Since 85% of current church structure worldwide is made up of less than 80 people, the real barometer to look at is these smaller churches more so than the less than 3% of mega churches and 5-8% of medium churches. The same holds true in Nigeria and other nations as America. Senior leaders of larger churches have no need of the fivefold graces available and have done building by charisma, good administration and possible compromising to be relevant. Their programs and technics have brought them accomplishment. The smaller churches are willing to embrace the Ephesians 4 graces, and the impact when they do is very high in spiritual growth and kingdom vitality. The bulk of the work needing to be done is the investing into the hearts of the leaders of these kingdom expressions. They are open, teachable, honoring and willing to steward the church properly in biblical alignment. We are to advance the kingdom as God builds His church. As God builds the ecclesia, we then have the rulership of the kingdom. If we are building a church, then we for the most part we are building our ministry or our own kingdom at times. Steward the church – build the kingdom.

    As I have travelled all these years I have invested in the leaders of ministries as it will affect a multitude under them. Let’s say a conference of 300 leaders who each have 80 members is an influence on 24,000 people! That influence is more than most mega churches. This is why I do leadership training. These leaders are highly appreciative of the sacrifice in going and giving of yourself. If you are a gifted teacher, I encourage to consider how you can invest into these leaders. I find it very rewarding each time I go that I know there is a lasting and eternal impact.

    The people of Nigeria have a deeper joy than the church in the west.  Their joy is deeper because it is based on faith in Christ, and not over how circumstances are around them. They can be living under great distress and an unknown future, yet they are resolute when it comes to life and expressive of heart when it comes to worship. Something the America church could really learn from. These types of things always make it hard to come home, as they are pieces of authentic faith. These people are experiencing real life traumas and events and have found a way through Christ to indeed overcome. In the west we embrace the traumas and hold them higher than the freedom we could have. We allow them to affect our worship, thoughts and how we see life. That is why it takes time for me to process back into western faith and what we consider normal, even though it might not be authentic.

    In the west we have so much. Because of this we lose value of what we have available to us. We have excellent sound, worship, teaching, electricity, buildings, hot showers and luxury items to do life. We have lost honor for the journeys true men and women went on to be formed and discard their words taking them lightly. In other nations the opposite is true. A seasoned man or woman of God is treated with respect and honor. It is knowing the process that was required to bring forth wisdom. The years of service and the sacrifices made are held in esteem. In America all of these holds no real value. What seems to only gain respect is if the person has met my need, or if they have placed me in a position to be recognized, or if their ministry is a certain size. In Nigeria a person’s honor is held as part of how they are seen. Honor is in the culture both in and out of the church. I am not talking about making people idols or putting on pedestals but giving honor where honor is truly due.

    I tell you the work in nations is great and the response is even greater. America is in need as well but is blind in contentment. We believe we do not need the fullness of God but are willing to live in portions of fullness. We live compartmentalized lives of faith. We decide what we will or not believe and do. We take time to process truth to fit our lives while in nations truth is embraced with faith and understanding comes as they walk it out.

    I believe if all I did was ministry in America, I surely would be discouraged. The change is slow and at times unappreciated. I am thankful that he has counted me worthy to go to nations. I am thankful that I am not wasting what I have been given. I am thankful to be part of the Body of Christ universal and can see the kingdom amongst the nations as well as here in America.