Category Archives: Culture

The Battle

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We all have had a lot of teaching concerning spiritual warfare. Much has been useful and much has little bearing on things. The spiritual realm is real and the warfare and activity in that realm heavily affects the earth realm and more specifically the hearts, attitudes, thoughts and longings of men.

We all battle things in our regions and yet it seems at times, we don’t know if we are gaining ground or losing it. We also don’t know exactly what we should be pursuing in a practical way to confront demonic forces. First, let me say demonic forces work through openings in men by way of influences, misdirection, partial truth, lies and a host of subtle voices. These forces are real and the outcome of their actions is felt by culture.

I have taught about all the demonic strongholds, how to do deliverance ministry in depth in our many different schools of ministry. I have had to confront witches in other nations, stared a witchdoctor down to stop human sacrifice, and broke curses off of people that in the American Church we won’t even agree could exist. I recently put together the two main spirits almost everyone is dealing with over regions and territories. I taught this in our night of intercession for our state and this blog will be the first time it will be public.

The obvious main spirit we all know is the religious spirit. It could also be called the spirit of anti-Christ, yet many spirits qualify for this title as the word ‘anti’ means ‘in place of’. Many things are taking the place of Christ but the religious spirit is an organized spirit to replace relationship with obligations, grace with law, and replace freedom with bondages to man-made doctrines.  Most of us can see a religious spirit a long way off. We have combatted this spirit for some time as Kingdom focused apostolic people, yet it seems we still struggle. The reason is this spirit is only the holding bin for those held captive by a different named spirit that captures peoples desire for spirituality.

This second spirit is also at work and it is the spirit of Nicolaitan that Jesus spoke of in Rev. 2:15. Now not many know of this spirit, but it works in partnership with the religious spirit and is the one feeding converts to religious systems. You see this spirit can be traced back to Acts 6:5 “and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch”. He was a pagan then converted to Judaism, then finally to Christianity. But the mixture of belief he carried is the same mixture of a Nicolaitan spirit. It is a blend of paganism, being under law and worldliness that does not have an absolute belief system of truth. In other words, truth is not the driving force but more likely past experiences, and a more open interpretation of scripture shape the follower. It holds no sanctification process, no finished holiness , nor a emphasis of change required. In other words, nothing is really expected or demanded of those participating. It breeds a noncommitment and an attitude that I’m fine the way I am and the way culture is. Yet the meaning of the name Nicolaitan means “to conquer or overcome the people.” It creates a ruling class of leaders who form a hierarchy over people instead of being equal to them.

Jesus spoke to the church of Ephesus. A church that is not growing but only sustained. (More on this in a few paragraphs). They despised the false apostles emerging and could discern them as false. (Rev.2:2) They had patience and labored faithfully holding fast. (Vs. 3) But they were rebuked for not doing the first works. (Vs. 5) But in verse 6, Jesus stated they hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans. The word ‘deeds’ speaks of the works and the word “deeds” is associated many times concerning things that make for weak faith.  It is doing things on your own strength and ability and not by the spirit of God. I think these things describes much of the apostolic church today.

In Rev. 2:12-17, He addresses the church that is a heretic. Specifically, in verse 15, He told them they hold fast to the doctrine of the Nicolaitans. They refuse to be corrected or even consider the possibility of their mixture with the world. In other words, this was the source of the deeds talked about a few verses prior. Now its time to begin to connect things up.

First, let me say the spirit of religion reinforces the Nicolaitan spirit as that’s where the converts come from. The Nicolaitan spirit points to the religious spirit to help hold the converts. The religious spirit is spiritually dead, holding captive. The Nicolaitan spirit captures those seeking spiritual understanding and holds them captive. The Nicolaitan spirit creates the religious spirit. The religious spirit brings the law and traditions to a more advance stage. Without addressing the Nicolaitan spirit, we will never conquer the religious spirit. So how do we do that?

There are six areas the Nicolaitan spirit operates through and are easily seen working in the souls of men daily. Here are the six problems associated with the Nicolaitan spirit and what it works through. Sin, lack of Disciplines, dead works, church decline, the natural mind and false spirituality. These all work at capturing the totality of a person’s spiritual being and desires. Paul saw the problems the Church would have to face and wrote specific letters to address each problem and brought forth answers. He left a way of stopping the religious spirit by stopping the source, the spirit of Nicolaitans.

Here are the six letters (books) addressing the six problems:

  1. The letter to the Romans is the answer to the problem of sin.
  2. The two Corinthian letters are the answer to lack of disciplines.
  3. Galatians provides the answer to dead works.
  4. Ephesians is the answer to church decline.
  5. Philippians is the answer to the natural mind.
  6. Colossians is the answer to false spirituality.

We probably look at the list and know people who fit some of these to a tee. Combating the spirit of Nicolaitan is addressing these six issues in people’s lives. The answers for these six problems are found in each of these corresponding books. Now this is becoming a key to a practical way of preaching, teaching and confronting. These six areas are both capturing people and eventually holding them captive. Simply find which of the six problems are going on in a person life, read the book associated and minister the answers! Still not convinced? Let’s look at one more place.

Look at the seven churches in Revelation; we can easily see six of the churches had issues that were addressed. Each had come to the full and a decision point moment. Each was confronted to repent. All six had different issues and was presented as unable to continue a healthy path until an issue was resolved. They were examples of these 6 problems become mature in a body and how because of certain things being done people felt they were in right standing with God. That’s the spirit of Nicolaitan for sure. So, looking at a couple we see the church of Ephesus fits to a tee. That’s the church in decline losing first love and not doing first works. The church with Jezebel teaching in it and having a platform, fits false spirituality. I’m not going to give you the entire list laid out, but challenge you to do your own study and see how each fit. John, like Paul saw the outcome of the spirit of Nicolaitans working on the churches and saw the opportunity for repentance before the religious spirit could hold a grip. This gives hope to all gatherings of the body of Christ that they are not in a hopeless place but can shift and change.  Examine your own life first. Examine your own minsitry second. Then begin to minister to people with understanding and save them from the Nicolaitan spirit and let’s defeat the religious spirit. It’s time we begin to fight, not as one beating the air, but in a strategic and practical manner.

Loving Righteousness / Hating Iniquity…. Qualified for the Oil of Gladness

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As God’s created beings and as His begotten sons and daughters, we have such a privilege of being in right standing with the Father through the Son. As sons and daughters, we were “begotten” while all other beings were “created”. We were begotten to rule and reign within His Marvelous Kingdom.
Hebrews 1:8 (KJV 1900) — 8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

Now we all know a lot about righteousness and being in right standing with God. We know we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. We know we started this journey into righteousness when we were born again. But we also make assumptions that we have it in fullness which is far from being correct. The fullness is attainable but not just automatic. I have come to find that as iniquity is confronted with righteousness, then righteousness takes hold and expands into the areas where iniquity was once found. The above verse says the scepter of righteousness is the scepter of the kingdom and this scepter of righteousness is how the kingdom governs and rules. The supreme rule is not done through an anointing but through righteousness. So, righteousness is actually where authority comes from and also how the kingdom rule is expressed. Why do we not see so much more authority moving things and shifting things? The very next verse in Hebrews gives us an amazing clue.

Hebrews 1:9 (KJV 1900) — 9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

The word for loved (righteousness) Agapeo means ‘to welcome, be fond of, to be pleased’. The word for hate (iniquity) means ‘to detest, to dislike strongly to the point of being hostile’. It goes so far as ‘to reject and disown what is evil’. So, two questions now come: do we really love righteousness? Do we really detest iniquity?

If we love something we:
 cherish it
 value it
 prioritize it
 make room for it
 make time for it
If we hate something we:
 Refuse to walk in sin or transgression and iniquity
 Despise it in our heart
 We work against it
 We help others to avoid it
 We free people from it

So, do we honestly get up in the morning and say, “I really love my righteousness today, I honor it, cherish it, value it and esteem it? I’m prioritizing it and making room for it in my life today. And boy do I hate iniquity! I really despise what it does to people and will take action against it today. I want nothing to do with it and want to free others from it.” Now is that really our attitude?
Hate and love is both an attitude and an action. The attitude comes first and then the action will follow. Because Jesus hated iniquity and loved righteousness, He could DESTROY the works of the devil! Our love of righteousness and hatred of evil will increase by two means:
(1) By experiencing greater intimacy and oneness with the Lord Jesus who loved righteousness and hated iniquity
(2) By growing in love and compassion for our brethren and those whose lives are being destroyed by sin.

Psalm 94:16 (KJV 1900) — 16 Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?

Now the outcome is to be anointed with oil of gladness. Gladness means ‘an extreme joy, to rejoicing exceedingly’. This gladness is part of the Body of Christ’s inheritance. The oil of gladness is for those who will pass the test of loving righteousness and hating iniquity. The level to which you love righteousness must register in the measure to which you hate iniquity….it is an equal exchange. In other words, love and hate walk together. For love to be powerful, there must be a dimension of hate. But the qualifier of the anointing of the oil of gladness it is to hate iniquity and love righteousness, it’s not automatic. This oil of gladness was nothing less than the Holy Spirit. It was the fullness of the Holy Spirit coming upon sons and daughters. It was an anointing of sacred Presence!

John 16:5–11 (KJV 1900) — 5 But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? 6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

Hebrews 1:9 says Jesus was anointed above His fellows. Who are the fellows, the disciples? The word “fellows” means ‘sharers, or companions’. In other words, this is anyone who truly knew Him and walked with Him. (Proper attitude and proper actions). This means that if we just didn’t receive righteousness as a provision but truly engaged into it with corresponding actions we too could experience greater and greater degrees of the Holy Spirit upon us. He wants us to share in this joy of the Holy Spirit’s gift living in us!

So do you really, I mean really, love righteousness? Then when you get up in the morning, decide with a conscious decision to engage in that righteousness and begin to make the same conscious decision to hate and despise iniquity. Iniquity is running rampant in the Body because we don’t truly love our righteousness. My prayer for you is that a new anointing will come upon you, an anointing you have never experienced yet. An anointing reserved for a select group, those who love righteousness and hate iniquity. That His anointing will bring a smearing of gladness upon you.

Iniquity Affecting Awakening

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I have been looking at why the awakening that so many are contending for is seemingly delayed. Also, why is there reluctance to fully receive the Kingdom of God, apostles, prophets, creative music, and all the other things God is emphasizing in this hour? A recent sharing I did on Facebook from another site was interesting in the varied comments on the topic. It was revealing of the iniquities we have in the Church. Today I inform you of part of the battle and I warn you not to contribute to the problem.
The reason so many things seem delayed is because of what people believe. The root of unbelief is iniquity which is twisted thinking or wrong thinking or lawlessness. It believes something in error that needs to have repentance. A wrong belief can cause the fruit of lawlessness or having your own belief system to interpret what you think to be true. This can even lead to being in self-deceived states and becoming unrighteous. Lawlessness is the outcome of iniquity and it can be defined as being unrighteous.

2 Corinthians 3: 16-18 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 4:4 (KJV 1900) — 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

The veil that is to be taken away is iniquity. It blinds the mind or removes illumination, choosing to believe in error. Many are living in the reality of seeing the Glory of God in things around them, but the clear majority, even though participating in some great meetings, are still not seeing the glory of God. The reason is the veils of iniquity that have not been removed neither from understanding nor from their spiritual senses. Iniquity is not just a single iniquity but can be many different types of iniquities.
• Interpretation of truth
• How you view your position
• How you receive the Word of God
• How you perceive your assignment in the earth
• If you’re received or feel rejected
• How you understand any topic God is highlighting in this hour.
The main iniquities are working strongly against what God is emphasizing in this hour and what God is emphasizing is the truth needed to remove the iniquity. Iniquity is not just an overall veiling but there are degrees of iniquity. We get saved living in iniquity and acting upon it as sin. Sin is forgiven but iniquity is purged with mercy and truth. A person can get saved or be saved a long time in the Body of Christ and still be filled with iniquity. It is just being acted out in the Church and not in the world. These iniquities can be a vast number and all affecting many different things. Iniquity’s outcome is spiritual death. It can be all consuming and even rob strength from you.

Psalm 31:9–10 (KJV 1900) — 9 Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: Mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly. 10 For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: My strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed.

Iniquity is the distortion of God’s message over time and then passed to future generations. Iniquity is the place we process our thoughts to come to conclusions. Iniquity can even cause a righteous person to fall away believing they are fine with a mixture of the world thus creating a self-deceived state.
Righteousness is tied to the throne of God, while iniquity is tied to a principality trying to pervert or twist thinking to separate a person from God’s design for them. Righteousness is an attribute of the Lord that aligns everything up with the Kingdom of God. Righteousness of God contains within itself a powerful force that continually judges iniquity and fights against it to align everything with God.
Righteousness opens our way into heaven’s abundance and pulls everything connected with the Kingdom of heaven and all that it holds. This is because righteousness is intimately tied to the glory of God; because they go hand in hand, manifesting them simultaneously. So, righteousness and iniquity are in a constant pull or battle with ultimately iniquity battling against God’s glory!

The righteousness of God will remove iniquity from our being. The glory of God immerses us in everything God is and comes to the degree of righteousness is present. Glory requires holiness and righteousness produces holiness which draws God’s glory. The Glory burns and destroys everything that separates us from God. To achieve our sanctification, iniquity must be identified and eliminated.

Isaiah 60:1–5 (KJV 1900) — 1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, And the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. 2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And gross darkness the people: But the LORD shall arise upon thee, And his glory shall be seen upon thee. 3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, And kings to the brightness of thy rising. 4 Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: All they gather themselves together, they come to thee: Thy sons shall come from far, And thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. 5 Then thou shalt see, and flow together, And thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; Because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, The forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.

This verse is actually all God is emphasizing in this hour. This light is your righteousness that draws the glory of God. This glory can only manifest itself when righteousness has begun its transforming power in a child of God. It is the drawing of spiritual sons and daughters and kings for cultural transformation.

In this hour, true apostolic teaching releases revelation and is confronting iniquity and purging mindsets. The Apostles did not just give knowledge but actually brought people into relationship with Christ, their righteousness. Today we have so many meetings transferring knowledge but not confronting iniquity. When you are confronted with whether you are righteous or not, you must examine your life and this allows the Holy Spirit to sift you. Why are apostles not received in this hour? Because people want their iniquities!

2 Timothy 2:19 (KJV 1900) — 19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

Here is a simple iniquity we all participate in. We pray “in Jesus’ Name” not realizing we are doing it as an official representative of that Name. It is not an ending to a prayer; we simply tag it at the end. It is calling on all that Name represents to come and perform that which we just stated. When we pray a simple prayer over a meal, do we really need all of heaven to bless our food? It actually is the beginning of the invitation of Christ to come and unite with your spirit to accomplish together what you just prayed. If there is iniquity within you in an area, God cannot unite with you in that area.
Isaiah 59:2–4 (KJV 1900) — 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, And your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. 3 For your hands are defiled with blood, And your fingers with iniquity; Your lips have spoken lies, Your tongue hath muttered perverseness. 4 None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: They trust in vanity, and speak lies; They conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.

It is a heart decision to give up iniquity and embrace truth – thus repentance. Repentance is not spoken of in the Church very often. We believe our knowledge of God is taking care of repentance. But there must be repentance – not in general but specifically confronting each area of iniquity. The response of righteousness will create greater degrees of righteousness. Again, we take the scripture that we are righteous in Christ as finished work. This is true after we have gone through a process creating righteousness. Again, this is another iniquity of removing a process to get the final results. Righteousness will bring holiness and holiness will reveal the glory of God.
Read the account of the Emmaus Road in Luke 24:25-32. Both groups were slow of heart and needed their eyes opened. These were Jesus’ own disciples. Even after all the time He invested, they still were not convinced. Jesus removed the iniquity of His disciples in a certain area by bringing truth that produced righteousness. Once the iniquity was removed, they returned and told everyone. It produced a true cultural awakening revealing God’s glory. I hope I’ve challenged you to search your hearts and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the places of assumptions you might have formed..

Transitional Tarrying

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This blog will be kind of different than many I write. It’s been a long time since I blogged and you probably noticed my Face Book posting is less often as well. Hopefully the following will explain some things. I am sharing how I have tarried through about a one year transition within my spirit. I hope you will see how God’s dealing occurred and how He formed things in me. Anything of any true value takes time to build. Anything that occurs quickly may have shallowness to it. Many have asked me to travel and speak. Many of you reading this have even asked me. I have either not responded or have been vague in my answer. You see, I just don’t want to go do another meeting. I enjoy the fellowship, the friendship and even the traveling. I love meeting new people and really enjoy teaching the Body of Christ the revelation given to me. I decided about a year ago to slow way down almost to a halt in traveling until I felt I really could leave an impact. I’ve been doing a long stretch of tarrying and waiting on the Lord. I could have pushed forward opening my own doors like many do, but I knew I would miss what God wanted to do deep in me of developing something of eternal weightiness.

I have been concerned about how much energy we put into so many meetings and yet still do not get lasting breakthrough. We are engaging with the Omnipresent God in a room but have not developed an atmosphere for the manifest presence of God dropping heaven to earth with holiness and power. This has been the journey I have been on for a year now. A pursuit in the ways of God that many in the past season found. When I see and hear of those who have gone before us and the legacy they brought, I have to ask God what is lacking in how we do things. This has caused me to come to a conclusion, we are having good meetings but they may not be what we claim them to be. I have watched from afar and seen many people touched for possibly the first time by God. I have seen a lot of money spent, time used, and even hope be applied to only come up to an invisible ceiling that seems to be the finish line.

It also has set me on a private journey with myself and my BASE family for almost a year. We are Kingdom minded, apostolic driven and have formed a holy community, yet things are still missing. This journey was to possibly find the “missing” things the early Church seemed to have to impact culture. As revelation has come to me, my ministry became the place of the “holy experiment”. As I occasionally spoke at different places, I would release these different revelations and saw the impact upon people and even the atmosphere of the rooms change drastically. I have seen the fear of God come as people trembled under His presence without getting prayer (from an altar ministry setting). I have seen holy silence and a holy hush. I have also seen people crying out to God. I can honestly say with all sincerity, I don’t have all the answers and in the same breath, I know I have some of the answers.

During this past season, I did what was at hand, building relationships, teaching in our Awakening School of Leadership, and overseeing the ministry. I did speak at some places as asked. But during this time as God was forming in me, He was confirming things I knew to be true. I have had several prophetic words about being in hiding and coming out. Words about traveling and impacting and an overwhelming amount of affirmation of carrying something the Body of Christ really needs in this hour. Many cannot believe I am not out already. Yet I have held fast and told God unless I really know I am carrying something, something to impact and not just perform at another meeting, I won’t be going. In this last season, I did travel but usually just to see sons and daughters and occasionally I would speak. This has caused me to go through many tests as a leader. A word test, a time test, a patience test, a motive test and a host of others. God has dealt with me in some very pointed ways. He has dialogued with me very strongly about the deposit He has given me and what I’m truly doing with it. He also has told me it is time to run the next race and everything to this point has only been training for what I’m about to do. Visitations are increasing for me and a few months back, I had an angelic visitation with a healing angel. At first it appeared I did not receive my healing, but over time it has proven I did indeed and in an over- the-top type of way. I also am having increased visitations from the Holy Spirit manifesting and preaching to me, and the Spirit of the Lord coming to speak to me.

One prophetic word I received in this past year had 3 distinct dates. The month of May is the first one as a type of on- ramp to the next season. Now May is about finished and after almost a year of wrestling, I have decided to step into the next season. I asked God to give me a specific thing to confirm the next season being here and He did. I know more will unfold as the next 2 dates unfold, but they are several months out and even over a year away. Obedience in tarrying is part of the key the early Church knew that we have abandoned. We are allowing schedules to drive us and not always letting the Spirit lead us. The early Church waited until the right timing. We believe the timing is always in the moment we receive revelation. But revelation takes time to grab hold of in the heart and spirit. I know from serving in a prophetic office for 8 years (years ago) that the longer you hold something, the greater it becomes in your spirit. The revelation I have has been released some but is still developing as well.

I will continue to tarry, but the overall season of tarrying for the transition is coming to an end. This means this next season for me will be to begin to travel, not to do meetings, but to shift atmospheres, release needed revelation and bring God’s sovereign ways into people’s lives. The Lord has indeed brought me into a “next level” of things and He is now really pushing me to make this transition. I feel unprepared in many ways while at the same time feeling totally prepared. My desire to see the Body of Christ truly grow up and become manifest sons far outreaches any fears or insecurities I may have. I really covet your prayers as I step forward as I sense much of the way of what I will do will look very different than what might be expected. I will maintain my lead role at the BASE in Iowa and also teach in the Awakening School of Leadership that we have established. I will expand relationships in the state of Iowa even more, as The BASE is called to do a statewide work. I am writing a new book right now and plan on producing more written materials in the next transition. Right now I have a business that takes a lot of my time as it is my main income stream. I am in the process of selling it and living a life of faith once again.

So I am now planning a summer/ fall schedule of traveling and imparting revelation. I already have several ministries I will be traveling to and have been asked to speak at a national conference in October. Along with this, an apostle has asked me to speak to several pockets of his spiritual sons to impart to them. If you think I can benefit your ministry and you’re interested (not in another meeting) but really pursuing to bring something fresh into existence, then give me a call and let’s partner together for the Kingdom. In the past, I have not contacted anyone to speak and only go where I have been invited. I will continue this policy in the future as well.

What are you looking for?

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What are you looking for as you surf endlessly through all the Face Book posts? Is this where you think you will find God? Is this the place that holds your answers? We waste so much time trying to find revelation in the wrong places. We look at others’ posts and lives and think “boy, those are interesting insights” not realizing the person may have labored over what was posted for a long time perfecting and polishing those thoughts.

What are you looking for? We sit here and watch video after video of ministries doing things, saying things and speaking to things, yet it appears with all the social media tools, we are seeing little change at all. With all the technology, it appears we are basically ignorant how and when to use it. It fills us with every type of gospel and every type of belief system. It fills us with such a mixture of the world.

What are you looking for? What exactly did you want to get out of Sunday’s service anyway? Some good music, some good teaching, someone else to dig out the nuggets of truth since after all, you have had such a busy week. We look for fellowship; we look for connection to God. We look for something to ease the pain of the week instead of living above it. Perhaps we are looking for a greater reality and we think it will be found as we gather.

What are you looking for? What exactly is filling all your free time? Is it your hobbies, camping, boating, fishing, sports, movies, reading books, watching TV? We do these things and hope we can find God in these things to justify the time spent. Occasionally we hear a testimony of God showing up. But it seems like the testimony does not ignite our faith into the future very much.

What are you looking for? Are you looking to see a man come under the Spirit of God so much that the fire of God can be seen from him? Are you looking for the spiritual show to become better and better and finally you will be convinced enough to join in? Do you want others to do the praying and “the fasting” and the “spiritual warfare” and the “studying” so you can then look upon what they have found and become?

What are you looking for? If you’re looking for awakening, then what exactly does awakening look like? How do we know we have found it? Because what we see sure isn’t producing the shift in hearts we desire. Are we chasing a dream or God’s reality? Are we seeing like He sees and taking a hard look at our own lives and the lack of holiness? Are we seeing the places of darkness in the heart that need the light to shine into? Can we actually be honest for just a moment as the Body of Christ and admit our great need for God’s Spirit to deal with us before anything of any substance can happen through us?

What are you looking for? I’ll tell you what I’m not looking for! I’m not looking to find my encounter with God in a book, a meeting, a man, a worship set, an anointing, a past move, a present move or a future move. I’m not looking for someone else to take away my privilege of a fasted lifestyle, my warfare, my determination nor my destiny because I was too spiritually lazy. I’m not looking for another man’s revelation to be my message, another ministry’s vision to be incorporated into mine, nor another nice prophecy to tickle my ears and cause my heart to have a false hope.

What are you looking for? I’ll tell you what I’m looking for: an encounter with God that comes because of my face to the floor and my heart exposed. I’m looking for a people who would give their lives for holiness and not the gifts, or fivefold offices or the accolades that men would give. I’m looking to be hidden in Him and the greatest works I do for Him no one would know. I’m looking for those who have like faith and like passion, not of my faith or passions, but the faith and passions of the Christ. I’m looking for the breath of God to come and speak cleansing into the recesses of souls confronting the false doctrines men have established to build their ministries upon. I’m looking for the conviction of the Holy Spirit to come into a nation and the Church so strongly that men’s hearts fail them, fear of God grips them, and they are held in suspension until decisions are made within them.

I’m not looking for what we are currently calling fivefold, awakening, revival, or whatever tag that has to be the center piece of attention but the Lordship of Christ would put all such nonsense into an eternal grave and resurrect a people who are under Lordship’s power first in their heart. I’m looking for competition to be replaced with esteem and honor. I’m looking for national prophets to carry a true national word. I’m looking for apostles to be allowed to function so we can sort out the mess and find the true apostles. I’m look for real sons and daughters willing to walk a journey in life together with a spiritual father and willing to pay the price to do so. I’m looking for the foolishness of being “spiritual” to cease as an excuse for a person’s unwillingness to change or hear truth. I’m looking for messages that come from heaven not the Internet, Google, books, etc. that shakes the unredeemed portion in believers’ lives to step into light and out of the darkness. I’m looking for demons to scream out in meetings because holiness is present. I’m looking for something like John, the revelator, that has “not yet been seen but is required for what must be”.

A Sovereign People

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We seem to be missing another ancient path of understanding of the Church. I hope this short blog will begin to bring forth some truth we really need to embrace. I will be taking this blog and expanding upon it for my new book, Restoring Ancient Paths.

We all desire to be like the Church in Acts. We have studied, preached it and tried to make it happen. Yet we seem to fall short every time. We rely on the Holy Spirit and the gifts and have them operational but don’t seem to impact or shift culture. We are having affects but not influences. We are maintaining but not advancing. When we advance is when we see the outpourings, revivals and the great harvest of souls we all desire. Advancing has to have more than moving in gifts. It even has to have more than great faith. It requires a new perspective of how we see God and how we see ourselves in the plan of God.

The early Church had such a perspective. They possessed a willingness to pay any price and go anywhere required in order for the Kingdom to advance. This mindset came down to one thing, sovereignty. They first had a great understanding of how sovereign God is that certain events in time could not be escaped. Not only did God’s sovereignty have spiritual laws that held things in place, but it also had set actions God had predetermined would come into existence. Of course, the birth of Christ after 400 silent years was a sovereign move of God. What they saw and what we see of this moment of time is a totally different viewpoint of this sovereignty.

We see the birth of Christ as sovereign concerning sin, redemption, mercy, grace, God’s love, forgiveness and a new and living way of salvation. They saw that but did not stop there. They also saw it as a set time that had opened, a window of opportunity that they had been invited to go through. They knew a messiah was coming and when He came, they saw they were in a sovereign moment upon the earth. That the birth and resurrection had not ended a season but opened a season. They saw sovereignty not just governing the universe but also managing time- both chronos and kairos. They also saw that it carried assignments and a sovereign or set group of people.

Here is the point. They did not see the sovereignty of God as an event or spiritual law but a co-partnering of God with them. They saw themselves in a sovereign moment and because of that, they were actually a sovereign people: birthed, placed and positioned, like Esther for such a time as this. We love to speak that verse but have little to no concept of the sovereignty behind it. It was God’s plan unfolding through a people. If this is the case, then those people were also mantled with a sovereign grace that holds greater purpose than the daily grind of being a Christian or as a leader leading a group of people. It holds authority to advance. It holds a sense of destiny coming to be fulfilled. It holds a challenge but along with that, a greater understanding of God’s paths and ways. You see, the early Church discovered a sovereign moment, a sovereign grace and a sovereign strategy to fulfill God’s desire upon the earth. They saw themselves as sovereign!

How does this apply to today? Just like in the early Church, they knew one was coming and we too, know a move of God is coming. They had a time of preparation and we are in that season now touching into some things but not yet the fullness of those things. The timing had come to fullness for the early Church and it is about there for us as well. So if we know that what is coming is going to be more than a visitation of God but a dwelling of His Presence, more than ‘feel good’ meetings but life impacting and shifting, then we are saying something sovereign is coming! If that is true, it will require a sovereign people! YOU are that sovereign person put upon the earth for the moment that is upon us now and coming into fullness now.

As I have begun to get the revelation of this, it is giving me a wider and deeper perspective of who I am to God and the importance my life carries. Many of us are like the earlier apostles, pioneering and forerunning. Yes, the move of God is here, the awakening has started, but it is not yet in fullness. It’s much like the apostles sitting at Jesus’ feet, for the most part that’s what we are doing, still getting our teaching and instructions. But then time shifted and they stepped into what the fullness of sovereignty brought: the outpouring and advance of the Kingdom to the world. This revelation truly settles it for me that what I do does carry a truly far reaching weight of glory. It is preparing for something that though we are waiting for it, it is surely coming. It has enabled me to see from a higher perspective. See yourself as a sovereign person and reach into the grace that comes and walk in that fresh grace.

This is just an overview. In my book, I will be showing this in-depth as an ancient path we must restore.

 

Accusations

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How exactly should a person respond to accusations in the Church that are false? Many times people who are accusing others are responding from hurts and disappointments. Others times they are lashing out because of unmet expectations. I have been on the receiving end recently of the “accuser spirit” and we must realize we are indeed dealing with a demonic spirit. So when these things come, I know how to walk through them, but right now several in our ministry are having this accuser spirit come after them. So I use these times as teaching moments to help others.

Even our judicial system recognizes the damage accusations can cause: the defaming of character and releasing serious doubt and trust issues into others. Suffering of reputation that has been put in print on an open media forum can be a cause for libel. Slander and libel are serious accusations having the potential for lawsuits to be filed for damages incurred. The main goal in accusations is the damaging of a person’s reputation and character. Most accusations are focused into these areas.

But for the Church, there is a proper process of accusation to be dealt with. If the accusations hold any weight of validity, then the facts can be presented and presented to the spiritual oversight such as a leadership team, board , or the spiritual covering. Accusation is always a time for a re-evaluation and a searching for the Holy Spirit. If there is no conviction, then there is nothing to shift or change or repent of. You keep moving forward knowing that your heart is clean. If facts cannot be presented, then the accusation is more of a private interpretation of events or conversations and this is where the waters really become muddy. These types of accusations are not meant to correct things nor are they sent as warnings. They are simply sent to inflict pain.

I have had many accusations come against me and most of them slide off like water off a duck’s back. Those that seem to bring the biggest struggle come from those that you pour your life into and then they falsely accuse you. But we must remember we are dealing with a spirit and the person is simply the tool the accuser spirit is using. The carrier of this spirit has a real or imagined offense that has not been dealt with. They lash out in their desire to inflict that pain of offense towards someone else. It is usually directed toward a leader of a ministry or their team.

The word ‘offended’ is not so much the action of a person against someone as it is the spoken attitude of the heart of the one bringing the accusation. They never safeguarded their heart or had never been convicted to come into alignment with God’s love. The word ‘offended’ actually means I am willing and going to spread slander about you. It has nothing to do with the words or actions of the one supposedly causing the offense, but has everything to do with the one saying they are offended. It is an attitude of the heart that is unwilling to change so it tries to discredit others to justify their current position. Offenses are held in the place of bitterness in the heart even for months and years before the opportunity is finally seen to unleash it by accusations.

Many times, the accusation is the very thing God is dealing with the accuser in their own lives. They project it outward instead of dealing with it inward. It is definitely a place of being self-deceived and playing right into demonic activity. It is giving yourself to the spirit of the accuser of the brethren. You end up submitting yourself to demonic influences and those demonic forces know right when to unleash the accusations.

The accuser spirit works hand in hand with the religious spirit. The bulk of accusations I hear of come in the Full Gospel circles, rather than the denominational circles. It is a religious spirit that comes against freedom and truth. It is a religious spirit that won’t recognize fivefold gifting and their function opposing specifically apostles and prophets. You see, the accuser spirit comes and convinces a person their actions will save others. It comes masked in godliness but the words have no lasting fruit of the Spirit. It comes to speak not truth but falsehood. Not only does it bind the person doing the accusing but also tries to bring others into the same accusation. It looks for the disgruntled and unhappy ones. It preys upon those not solid in faith. It’s amazing to me the power it holds over a person for such a length of time. A person offended once can be found to be offended again, even years later as it stirs the deposit left behind that was not dealt with.

It is under a religious spirit that it will have a form of godliness and deny God’s power (His nature) to be formed in them. The religious spirit is the principality at work and the accuser spirit is the power to go along with it. It is a religious spirit that is trying to steal the potential from a person and their spiritual inheritance. The religious spirit keeps the person bound by the accuser spirit working through them. Every accusation, every wrong judgmental word keeps freedom from them and the deception is that they believe it is the person/people  they are accusing that’s binding them when in reality, it is the bitterness and hurt in their own hearts.

The accuser comes at key pivotal moments of spiritual advance and growth: Times immediately after breakthrough meetings, times of God’s Spirit moving, Spiritual advance in a region, etc. They also come when the future is about to open up before you. They come to discourage and even come against the promises of God and His plan. At the time of this writing, I had four written slanders about me come to my attention. At the same time, the ministry is growing, we have advanced and expanded into new areas, opportunities are opening, new plans are given, we are experiencing healings every service, people are starting new ministries that will impact culture and the Lord spoke to me that it is time to start writing the next book. Why wouldn’t accusations come in written form? I hope you see what I mean. Last week another ministry just had a large breakthrough. Things were shifting and guess what- accusations came, disagreement, a refusal to talk or be teachable. One thing I found to be true, those who leave a ministry without a face- to-face talk will fall into the accuser spirit.

The best example for handling accusations is Nehemiah building the wall. His assignment was sure, the opposition was great, and breakthrough was occurring. The voices rose up against him but he stayed focused on the promises and the task before him. He did not empower the voices by giving them much recognition but recognized them for what they were, a demonic force trying to stop forward motion.

Sadly some who accuse think they are helping others see faults but are actually moving in extreme evil that inflicts deep pain. The devil knows that to simply accuse from afar off has no real effect upon us. But to accuse close to the heart will cause disappointment, discouragement, and hurt. We need to be aware of his devices and not fellowship with the accusing spirit or those who carry it, or those who support them. If we look, we actually see so little fruit (the way we are to judge) and a dissatisfaction of life, it actually saddens me that someone could fall prey to this.

The pain the person feels of being falsely accused is real. It does not come from the accusations themselves. The accusation actually holds no real weight, it only holds weight because it comes from someone we know and love. If the same accusation came from someone we don’t know, we would never even consider it. The pain comes from disappointment in the person we thought we knew. We were walking out life together and investing into each other and then suddenly the accusation comes. It is a pain of feeling deceived. It is what the Bible says: Proverbs 27: 6 Faithful are the wounds of a friend, but the kisses of an enemy are deceitful. Friends will point to things in your life but will remain friends, willing to walk out and help correct issues. But the unwillingness to walk out the issues means the wounding was not to help change but to pass judgment and the accuser has moved from being a friend to a place of opposition. So how does a person work through this process?

  1. First of all, remember this is a spirit at work. The same accusing spirit is making accusation before the throne of God night and day. Meaning it is relentless and accusations will be coming again in the future. The same spirit that wrongfully accused Jesus is the same spirit at work against you. The man, Jesus, understood that He was in a plan of God far more reaching than an accusation. He stayed focused on the course before Him. He did not take the accusations personally, but saw them as an accusation against God Himself and His plan upon the earth. Nehemiah did the same thing refusing to stop the work he was called to do and entertain or fall prey to the accusations requiring a defense. He simply stated the promise of God again and declared the purpose for which caused the accusations to come.
  2. Secondly, realize God is your defense. He will defend His beloved and He will defend His word and His actions. God does not like being mocked and an accuser spirit is mocking what God is doing. In some forms, it is bordering on blasphemy. Most accusations attack the work of God and call it demonic, wrong, unbiblical, or not doctrinally correct, etc. The Bible says blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is the only sin not forgiven. That’s pretty heavy but consider what the word means. ‘Blasphemy’ means ‘to declare that something that God is doing is not from Him but is from the devil’! When you consider the word ‘offended’ meaning ‘slander’, accusation is opposing what God is doing; we are getting very close to blasphemy. So God will defend what He is doing. It might take years before a person runs into the conviction of God to cause change, but conviction will one day come and their eyes will be open and they will see the damage their words have caused to others and the plan of God upon the earth.
  3. Thirdly, you break fellowship with the person. The Bible says in the last days men will be false accusers (2 Timothy 3:3. The Bible also states in 2 Thes. 3:6 to “draw yourself away from any brother or sister who is walking disorderly.” ‘Disorderly’ means ‘not with the rule of spiritual law, out of rank, out of order, those who do not show up, those who are refusing to do the work’. In other words, we are not to associate with evil. Most of the time we still fellowship with them. When in reality, they should feel shame for their actions and learn to realize the hurt they have done the Body of Christ and will break free from the accuser spirit. You see Apostle Paul when he was still Saul, had the accuser spirit operating under a religious spirit. The only way to be free from this is the Holy Spirit needs to reveal truth while having an encounter with Christ! Our convincing will not do it.
  4. Fourth, confess daily Isaiah 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; And every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, And their righteousness is of me, saith the Lord. This is a very powerful promise. When accusation comes to my attention, I confess this daily, several times a day for several weeks. Accusations come to nothing.
  5. Fifth, if the accusation is given publicly before others, then the accusation needs to be addressed publicly. When we address private accusation publicly, we become victims of the same spirit. Jesus only addressed public accusations publically with truth. He wanted others to see that truth was greater than presumptions.
  6. Sixth, operate at a higher place of character and honor. Do not lower yourself and come to their level but maintain the standard by which you want to be known. The Bible says in 2 Tim 3:9 that their folly will be made known to all men. The word ‘folly’ is interesting. It comes from two words “son” and “one lacking understanding and madness expressing itself in rage”. The root words of both of these means “the offspring of those incapable or unwilling to understand.” This is how God sees them and this is how we should see them. This is why they end up being numbered with the spiritually poor that we would have with us always.

I have had people call me years after their accusations with such urgency in their voice to talk. They had held things against me in their hearts for years. They had spread slander and now had come under the conviction of God’s Spirit. One poor woman soon realized everything that was going wrong in her life was because of this judgmental attitude she operated in. It finally piled on her and God began to deal and convict. She was in a most miserable place and had to make amends with a long list of people. Once she did, everything turned for her and the blessing began to flow. No one had cursed her; she had cursed herself by her words. You see accusation is a pronounced curse. If not accepted it returns back on the person. Their own words could end up cursing them.

There was another person who spoke slander about me to leaders in my state for years. I did not know what to do and even went to their covering to see if they could step in. They basically refused. I held my voice and continued with the assignment I had been given. A few years passed and people saw my heart was right. Many had been convinced I was like the accusations from this other person. At a corporate gathering of about 120, the conviction of the Holy Spirit fell and the person stood and asked me publicly for forgiveness for the damage done. I forgave them and made sure things were clean before us publicly in front of everyone. Were things delayed?  Yes. Did God prevail, YES! With the accusation exposed and removed publicly that had been done publicly, people saw me in anew light as who i was and not through the eyes of accusation.

A person is known more by their actions than their words. How we respond is important. Do we still love? (You can still address things in love). Do we maintain an open door once repentance is seen? Do we cut off the vehicle or the way accusations come? For me, when someone begins to accuse me, I distance myself from them. Many times this can be seen as rejecting a person, when it is rejecting the accusation.

Here is my post from Face book again:

Today I come against every accusation you are experiencing. Isaiah 54:17 No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; And every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, And their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD.
The weapon of accusation will not produce, advance or have any effect, upon you, your family, your calling, your ministry or what you believe in God! Every person, every voice, every written word that rises, judging your actions, heart, motives, and mandate from God, coming to not just wrong but evil conclusions, we and God have condemned. We say these voices are guilty of coming against the servants of God and God Himself. May God have His vengeance. May God have His defense. May God have His convicting power loosed upon their lives. May God have mercy upon their souls for the harm they have done, the evil they have released and the pain in the heart they have done. May they come to the end of demonic voices and truly hear the voice of the Holy Spirit.

Saints of God hold fast you your convictions. Hold fast to the pure word of God. Hold fast to the assignment given. Hold fast in faith believing. All will be made know and revealed. All will be seen openly. A day of reckoning is coming when some will suffer shame for their actions. Some will suffer reproach, yet the faithful will have the full reward, both here upon the earth and in eternity. We count it all joy to be ridiculed and mocked and despised. We are accepted by God for what we endure. His Glory will be seen upon the saints who have been tried, not accusers of the faith. His glory will be upon the saints who have held fast, unwavering and voices, and not the ones used by demonic influences. I use my authority and LOOSE this word over your LIFE!!! NOW LET GOD BE SEEN AND HEARD!

How Does Jesus Measure Success?

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Coming out of a leadership meeting recently, I found myself somewhat in a quandary. We had talked about many different changes we could make to help facilitate the ministry. Many were God inspired ideas and many were just plain practical. Like everyone’s meetings, the underlying tone was that each idea would help us to grow numerically as well as spiritually.

Change is always hard and requires lots of effort. As a ministry, we have had some very high moments of both numerical growth and spiritual understanding established. But these did not happen in a moment, it took time. Each person was taken from a starting point and eventually ended in fruitfulness. Each person was hungry for God and that made the transformation easy. What we see as success is the finished product. We don’t see the work as the success even though it is the true success and the finished product is only the by-product of the work or success.

Many can say if you did this or that, I would come, or if the meeting was held at a different time, or you had child care, or you had… we have all heard these excuses before. The thing that makes lasting change is desperation for change and hunger to find answers. When you get desperate enough, you will do anything and pay any price to find change that will last.  The hidden place of the heart is where success is only seen by God. I have always said the number of people who come is only the number of those interested. The hearts that are changed are the numbers who are serious. As leaders, our role is to grow people in Christ, not grow large administrative works. We are trying to get a lot of people interested, so we can grow our works and in the process, we may be losing our success.

It appears that most people don’t want to really do the work of the ministry unless there is a guarantee of a finished product or measured success. I see many pastors desiring change but uncertainty of the outcome stops them from every trying or making an attempt. The emerging generation has this perception as well not knowing what to do, but at least more willing to attempt. Human natures DNA has within it a willingness to do the work, as long as a guarantee of result is given. But many times the results can be lacking, so do we still look at that as success or failure? Thank God Jesus did the work of the Cross and put into place the success of it for us, even though others would deny the cross! In many ways it could be looked upon as a failure, like how the early disciples saw it, it’s all in your perceptions.

We have all kinds of ways today that we measure ourselves to see if we are attaining our goals. Much of this is how we compare ourselves with each other; this is a much skewed way of measuring. It is measuring different gifts, callings, assignments, personalities, strengths, weakness, understandings, revelations, etc. against each other and expecting the same results or outcome. Paul was right when he said in II Corinthians 10:12,13  “For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves are not wise. But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.”     The measure of the rule of Christ is the measurement of His righteousness established in our lives. It is looking at our lives and seeing how we are in measurement of the righteousness of Christ. Where is righteousness lacking? Where is it strong and settled? What is Christ desiring of me in areas? Now that is how we are to be looking: not outward but inward.

I talked to a neighbor just yesterday who has left the organized church about 8 years ago. He is discipling people in his home who have been so burned by religion and are hurting. He said “It does not matter to me if I have 2000, 200, 20, or even 2. If this is what God has given to me in my hand then so be it, then this is what I will pour my heart into!”

My perception had begun to change. I talked with a spiritual son yesterday and he gave me some good perspectives.  As an apostolic work, I have a desire to see the Body grow up but also to see the organized religious structure limiting. As a Kingdom center, we have always tried to maintain a position of neutrality, even holding meetings at different times than the organized church, etc. But after all is said and done, we have not seen those leaders support or help promote what we are doing. We did not want to compete with them, but now I am coming to a point of saying ‘perhaps we should be meeting at the same time and allow people to make a choice where they put their time, commitment, and resources’. Have I compromised for the sake of not being offensive? Could I not be fulfilling the will of God for the sake of helping keep the organized structure thriving by not having a choice or option for those seeking at the typical Sunday morning time? Am I doing and using everything available in my decision making to best put a tool in place that would change hearts?

What I do know is this; I must fulfill the things in my heart. That means even if no one else wants to participate or the number of followers seems low. Just because others deny, does not mean what you are doing is any less or more. It’s like preaching, if you are preaching the Word and you don’t see the results, it does not mean what you preach is wrong, but what people are doing with it is probably lacking.  The bottom line will not be the size of our ministry or the amount of people we produced or succeeded with. Nor is success how busy we are, thinking that equals results. Jesus told Martha that Mary had chosen the better thing to simply sit at his feet. When we stand before God, we will be asked something similar to this: “What did you do with my Son and His righteousness in your life as you fulfilled what I asked of you?” The work of success is righteousness and the outcome of righteousness is God’s will fulfilled!

Building Antioch

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There are three distinct churches being built. This is also reflective in three distinct types of ministry styles that have been birthed from these influences. Though each has things to offer, only one is truly the more Biblical approach. These three styles are seen in Acts as the Church at Jerusalem, the Church at Ephesus and the Church at Antioch. Let’s make this more real. These three are the people assembled to conduct spiritual government and implement the intentions of God at Jerusalem, Ephesus and Antioch. These are not necessarily structures but are people.

Jerusalem was the place the Church was birthed but it was not until Antioch that they received their identity. As grand as the birthing was, the people were not without problems. They were reluctant to spread the gospel of the Kingdom being more focused on their city than even their region. Yet the command was to be witnesses to Jerusalem, Samaria and the uttermost parts of the world. Jesus had given them their assignment but also was describing the transitions that would be occurring.

The Church in Jerusalem was single culture focused. They went ever deeper in their own culture and never truly reached out in the community. Yes, the outpouring came and yes, many were added, but the Church in the years following never did have another major move of God. You see we become stagnate when we interpret through cultural perception and not through scriptural interpretation. If a ministry is singular in culture or focused on culture itself such as blacks, whites, Hispanics, Asians, etc., they have taken on the Jerusalem model of church.

This means it is personality centered and relies on the person who has the greatest charisma or ability to hold the church or ministry in place. The people are followers with very little activity and influence affecting the future destiny of the Church. Most of these models are pastoral driven under a central form of government. Board meetings and meetings in general are the norm. Conformity and not creativity is a major pressure point. Unity as a goal, programs to engage and relationship that are more obligation than genuine. Most in this model are looking at temporal solutions and not permanent ones.

The Jerusalem church was very weak in developing leadership and leadership teams. We see this in Acts 5 of not being able to meet the needs and having to resolve it by putting into place leadership that they had not raised up but God has raised up. Mostly the focus is not on raising people beyond thier problems through a death process, but more so trying to restore them out of an unrepentant heart. Over time, they lost the Kingdom lifestyle and even more so, world missions outlook. This is why there was a scattering from Jerusalem instead of a sending. God waited long enough and stepped in.

Perhaps one the biggest things I see overall today is our constant desire and longing for another outpouring like we see in Acts 2. I believe this is due to us not reaching towards maturity and longing for another experience to solidify our faith. For the most part, denominations fall into the Jerusalem model. But so do many charismatic, Full Gospel, and Pentecostal churches. I see most of the ministries to homeless, jail ministry, and especially pastor group meetings falling into this model. It is easy to see the lack of response when a God- inspired moment comes and even less response when something is required of the people.

Building around its own activities, dates and programs, the Jerusalem church spent all its resources and manpower to maintain the existing church as a caretaker. Today’s pastoral driven churches either fall under the Jerusalem or Ephesus model, both are churches we should not be modeling to build after.

The Ephesus church was a church in proper focus but not properly aligned with apostles and prophets. There may or may not be a willingness to align and relate. We see the Ephesus Church doing much warfare and had much demonic activity allowed in its sphere of influence in the region. The Temple to Diana was set in strongly along with other occultism. Perhaps the meaning of Diana could best describe the Ephesus church. It means ‘fully enlightened but flow restrained’.

We see this in the Epistle to the Ephesians that Paul wrote where he addressed their spiritual enlightenment, their activation, demonic battles, Kingdom government, stewardship of grace, the power of God for transformation, and a host of other things that were lacking. These were things not so much in place but lacking! The Ephesus church is a church who will hear the heart and direction of apostles and prophets and be slow to implement it or possibly not at all. The apostolic thrust of Paul was available to shift the culture and impact society, but it hinged on them becoming active in the instruction given to them.

The Ephesus church is rebuked in Revelation 2. They are hardworking and many times have made it on their own merits. They have preserved and even tested the apostles and prophets and when they found a false one, they rejected not just that one but all of them from that point forward. But they have lost their first love. The excitement of God is hard to find and the zeal has been replaced with programs. The Spirit is no longer leading but is found along the way. The passion has been lost. The apostolic has come to bring renewed passion if accepted.

Many times the Ephesus type church will hold to a past move of God or a past truth that was brought forth to be dominant for a season. They are reluctant to embrace new revelation and will pick and choose what to embrace and what prophetic words to engage with. They focus more on the dominant gift and gifting that is present and dismiss any others. Under the Ephesus structure, an apostle will not be effective in bringing these churches together for instruction to establish them in greater faith and truth. The apostles’ hands are basically tied and the gifting is dismissed. The prophetic gifting will be embraced as long as it affirms the vision already in motion.

The Ephesus church today is the Spirit filled churches not connected or aligned with apostolic and prophetic voices. This again is the House of Prayer movement, many missions’ organizations and especially Spirit filled churches under pastoral leadership. Many times these types of churches have experienced great growth and success and believe they do not need any governmental guidance from apostle and prophets. Yet these foundational gifts have been given to expand and advance the works already in place. The Ephesus church again is not the model by which we should be building.

This leads us to the Antioch model. Antioch is where the Church or ecclesia received their identity and were called Christians or Christ like or little Christ. To have this name, they were required to be flowing in revelation, performing healings and miracles, casting out demons and to be connected in Holy Community with a culture of love and honor. If a person slipped from one of these things, then he was no longer looked at as being a Christian but being a disciple again.

Antioch had a defined ordered structure and a way of advancement that all could participate in. Plurality of leadership and a defined mandate were present. World mission and Kingdom advance require everyone to work together for the common cause of Christ. When it was time to send out people, they did not send who they could get by without having around but they sent the best they had to offer. This was reflected in the lifestyle lived and the functional expression of it.

They were a group that prayed, fasting and ministering to the Lord. They worked as a team that heard the Holy Spirit and then acted on it. The structure allowed for team expression, growth and development. There was no fear of others, no restrictions or limitations placed upon people. This enabled each ministry gift to develop more fully and move in their calling at a greater capacity than any other model of Christianity.

They had not only a culture of honor for each other, but also respect and honor for leadership and their authority. They were break through believers who broke free of cultural restraint and fear of men. The believers became the force to implement the vision and assignments laid out by the apostolic leadership. They had a “let’s make this happen” attitude.

As Antioch grew, it birthed other apostolic expressions. Each was autonomous and was allowed to have an individual expression but all related to Paul as an apostolic father they were in covenant relationship with. Paul helped bring a holistic spiritual perspective and brought in the ministry gifts based on need. The relationships were not in name only but functional and accountable. Antioch churches became regional bases of resources and have a region and even a state focus, not protecting its local expression but reaching out to others to bring the Kingdom. Antioch churches carry the burden for an entire region and will release people to impact where they are planted.

The commitment level is deeper than an Ephesus or Jerusalem model and since it is apostolic driven, the Antioch model requires a response to the truth spoken, the assignment given and the vision presented. Antioch churches know the destiny of each other is interconnected and will only be released through a corporate means.

Antioch churches are functionally connected and aligned with prophetic and apostolic oversight. They are regionally focused and many times much of the real work is not done within the walls of the local gathering but outwardly. They will travel anywhere there is a desire for the Kingdom. This final model is the pattern we are to build with to advance the Kingdom. Though small in number now, perhaps this teaching will enable us to drop the Jerusalem and Ephesus patterns and portions we have allowed to attach to us and fully come into the Kingdom expression we know is deep in our hearts!

Full Gospel or Apostolic Kingdom

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I have been asked several times about the difference between an apostolic or kingdom church and a Full Gospel charismatic church. After all, they are the same, aren’t they? No, not at all. Here are some comparisons. (Full Gospel Charismatic church will be FGC. Apostolic Kingdom will be AK.)

Vision

Generally an FGC church will be focused like most other churches on outreach of winning the lost and discipling. The discipling is more into the tenets of their expression. The AK will be more focused on the development of people and their placement into effective function in the local assembly. FGC will focus on conversion of all souls and will focus on presenting the gospel of salvation. AK will be focused that all people will feel the weight of the Kingdom and its influences. AK knows the Kingdom automatically demands an answer and decisions will have to be made.

Structure

The structure of an FGC is more traditional and will be composed of a board and elders who make decisions. It may or may not have a voting system. Involvement in the ministry is generally attained after several months and is based more on attendance. AK will be composed of a team of leaders making decisions together. A board may exist but only to be a legal corporation. Involvement is generally very quick and is based on discernment and heart connection with the overall vision.

Alignments

FGC generally align to a network of churches connected by doctrine. Many times this is a denomination. Outside alignments are seldom seen and this is reflected in the ministries coming through. Most of the time they are from the same camp. AK will align apostolically and prophetically and not so much doctrinally. AK will be relationship driven and the ministries coming through will be in relationship more so than the same camp. AK does not fear the variety of ways of ministry as much as the FGC.

Leadership

This is probably one of the greatest differences. FGC has a senior pastor. Generally they are charismatic and probably have a certain degree of a teaching gift. As I stated earlier, it is an eldership driven leadership made up of those of the congregation and decisions are made based more from a business perspective than a faith position. AK will have an apostolic leader (not necessarily an apostle) who has a certain grace to lead others into Kingdom dynamics. A team is formed of fivefold type leaders who will speak by visionary perspectives and lead by faith.

Focus

The focus in an FGC will be more on life discipling and family focuses. Programs will be put in place to minister to the needs of the family and this will be reflected in special gatherings for men and women, youth and kids. The AK will be focused more on the Kingdom than the family and trust that if Kingdom dynamics are put in place, then the family will automatically be taken care of. The outworking of this is the family being together to experience spiritual life as a unit. Activation is put upon the family and development of gifts started at a young age.

Messages

FGC messages are culturally relevant and again family focused. Removing injustice is part of the message but ends up being more about ministering to injustice than removing it.  AK will have more revelatory messages and of course Kingdom dynamics. Messages will be on reforming culture to remove injustices instead of ministering within culture. While FGC will be “culturally relevant” (trying to relate to culture) AK will be “counter cultural” (knowing that Kingdom culture will change current culture).

Worship

FGC will have more of a standard approach to worship. Songs will have more of a focus about God instead of Who He is. Songs will also have a self focus and will be better known. Song services are more planned and have a set time. With AK, the songs are more focused on God Himself and His great works. Very few songs are about self. Songs are more from unknown artists because the message they carry is fresher. Spontaneous worship and creating of songs is what AK is known for. The worship has no real set time factor.

Prayer

FGC has a group set aside and recognized as the intercessors. AK looks at every person as called to intercede. Prayer for people at altar calls may have a team in a FGC, but generally it is the senior leader and their spouse. AK will have a team or see everyone as being able to pray and minister to others.

Activation

FGC will take people through classes associated with what they believe before they truly activate people. Time factors and certain things need to be attained before a person is released or put in place, to reduce possible mistakes. AK will activate people pretty quickly and will train them as they do ministry. They are not concerned about mistakes but are more concerned about a person trying than being perfect in how they do things.

Spiritual Community

FGC has spiritual community based on relationships around the belief system. Most spiritual communities are pretty healthy but can also be more surface type relationships. Smaller churches will have greater community. In larger churches, the community will be several communities within it based around the programs. AK will develop a community of honor and tightness in relationships that can be enlarged as it grows. They will have solid, deep meaningful relationships that build a sense of family. This family is more than those in the room but also extends to those outside of the local gathering and into all those they are in relationship with in other ministries.

Missions

The outward expression of FGC will be set missionaries they help support in part. Locally missions will be a helps type ministry of feeding the homeless, crisis pregnancy centers, and other outreach programs. This could also extend into foreign mission trips where the same types of ministry occur such as erecting/repairing church buildings, working in orphanages, etc. The AK approach in missions is not so much as supporting but sending. They too, might be involved in the same local outreaches but are looked at as more of being sent with an assignment. This is extended to the foreign missions as well. Being sent with a specific assignment, the helps ministry is not seen in other nations but leadership training, conferences and educational thrusts are primary.

As we can see, there is a difference to both types of ministries. There needs to be more of a balance. As I see it, the main thing to be added to the AK model is local outreach. I think many Apostolic Kingdom Churches are hesitant because of associating with an old model. The main thing that stands out in the apostolic / Kingdom churches that I did not cover is a more consistent life-giving flow. To me, this is the primary difference and is why so many churches need to transition to this model.