Greg Crawford

Category: Defining Apostles

  • Apostolic and Apostle Defined: Rediscovering the Authentic

    As I look around today, it seems the words apostle and apostolic are used almost interchangeably. The problem is one is a grace and the other is a function coming forth from that grace. One is a divinely placed person and the other is a function of members of the body. What is needed for today is clarity of how grace works.

    Paul begins with striking clarity

    “Paul, called to be an apostle of Jesus Christ through the will of God…” (1 Corinthians 1:1)
    “Paul, an apostle, (not of men, neither by man, but by Jesus Christ, and God the Father, who raised him from the dead;)” (Galatians 1:1)

    Right away, we see: apostles are not appointed by men or prophetic words or someone saying it over you, but by Jesus Christ Himself. This divine call is not about title, popularity, or organizational hierarchy. It is a governing call, grounded in spiritual authority and spiritual purpose. It has a set grace that is divined, seen and tangible. This is what men should be affirming of those called as apostles. 

    The Marks of Apostolic Grace

    Authentic apostles carry a grace for:

    • Doctrine: guarding and clarifying the doctrines of Christ.
    • Kingdom: revealing and guiding the formation of the Kingdom.
    • Function: activating faith into action.
    • Order: setting divine order among gifts, gatherings, and lives.
    • Vision: carrying a vision broad enough to encompass the visions of many.

    Paul writes:

    “According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation…” (1 Corinthians 3:10–11)

    This is the heart of an apostle: a master builder, laying Christ as the only foundation. The difference between those who walk in an apostolic grace and those who carry the grace as an apostle is like the difference between working within an anointing and being entrusted to release that grace for others. Many think they are apostles because of doing spiritual things, but are really under an unrecognized or unseen grace an apostle released in the spiritual atmosphere.

    If someone claims apostleship yet doesn’t carry these marks—doctrine, order, function, vision, kingdom stewardship—they may hold a title without the grace.

    The Era of Authenticity

    We are now in what I call the Era of Authenticity.
    Era means a distinct period marked by something defining. And what defines this moment is not style, branding, or methods—but authenticity: the real, the original, the tested, the true.

    Authenticity means more than copying acts or principles. It means conforming to the origin—bearing the image of Christ Himself. Even Paul was tested on this:

    “And when Saul was come to Jerusalem… they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.” (Acts 9:26)

    They doubted his authenticity—until his life and fruit proved it. This then is apostleship. It is what remains when you are not around. It is legacy being created. It is others carrying the same message on the same assignment. It is the empower of the Body that creates a fullness in them. When I ask many saying they are apostles, about apostleship, they have a hard time answering.

    Today, there’s a cry in the spirit for what’s real—not promotional, but substantial; not trendy, but eternal. Not prophetic acts alone, but apostolic acts: present-tense, redemptive, and rooted in the now word of God.

    Something I see happening in the Body of Christ today is what I would describe as the difference between an old understanding of apostles and the apostolic, and what is now emerging as a revelatory understanding of the apostolic.

    What do I mean by that?

    Many are still teaching about apostles from the framework that first began to define the apostolic restoration more than thirty years ago. At that time, much of the emphasis was simply on recovering the biblical reality that apostles still exist and giving the apostolic gift a legitimate place again within the Church. Teaching focused on defining the role, explaining its function, and helping people understand how apostles fit practically within church structures. These were important introductive truths. They opened eyes and created room for the apostolic gift to operate again in ways that had been largely forgotten.

    But much of that early teaching defined the apostolic primarily by function, structure, and terminology. In many cases what developed was a recognition of apostolic calling, yet not always the full expression of apostolic functioning. When our understanding remains framed by those earlier definitions, not everything we call “apostolic” actually carries the nature or weight of the apostolic grace.

    What we are seeing now, however, is that the apostolic has continued to unfold.

    The apostolic has evolved immensely, and you can clearly see different degrees of maturity among apostles and in apostolic expressions. The apostolic today is emerging with a progressive revelatory wisdom—an understanding that continues to expand as the Spirit reveals more of Christ’s intention for His Church.

    We are beginning to recognize that the apostolic is less a list of functions and more a living grace. It is not primarily measured by gathering large numbers but by influence that shapes and establishes. True apostolic grace builds things that are unshakable, rather than systems that require constant tending and maintenance.

    It carries more than a knowledge of Scripture. It carries a revelatory unveiling of hidden mysteries—insights into the purposes of God that unlock pathways for others to walk in. And it is more than being a skilled administrator. Apostolic grace creates opportunities that release others into responsibility, empowering people and structures to function without constant oversight.

    In this way the apostolic matures—from something defined primarily by role, to something recognized by the weight of grace, revelation, and enduring fruit that it produces.

    Beyond Seasons: Stepping into an Era

    Many talk of “new seasons,” but what God is giving is an Era—an apostolic era marked by regeneration, restoration, and the authentic acts of God among His people. We are moving:

    • From mere doctrine of the Kingdom to living in the manner of the Kingdom.
    • From principles to governance.
    • From institutional maintenance to authentic expression.

    Paul says:

    “If ye have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which is given me to you-ward…” (Ephesians 3:2)

    This grace isn’t for self-promotion—it’s toward others, for maturing and equipping the Body.

    The Living Grace of an Apostle

    An apostle carries a living grace—not just giftings or charisma. It’s something that changes people and places. Paul writes:

    “Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all… ye all are partakers of my grace.” (Philippians 1:7)

    This grace is territorial—it affects the atmosphere and spiritual climate of regions, not because of personality but because of divine assignment.

    Apostles don’t exist to control or centralize power, but to release, activate, and father. The heart of a father is felt, not just heard. This is the difference: apostles have the vision and grace to implement; the apostolic serve and build within that grace.

    Strategic vs. Tactical

    Apostles carry a strategy—a heaven-breathed blueprint to shift cultures and build foundations that last. The apostolic function is tactical: training, equipping, sending. It is intentional and even calibrated looking for cause and effect. Reproducible. It is not based on numerical involvement but on numerical influences.

    Many confuse leading or training with apostleship itself. But the apostle’s role is broader: to establish doctrine, order, and future vision for the Body. These things play into the role of individuals, but apostles are looking more wholestic.

    The Ancient Understanding: Sent as the Sender

    The Hebrew word Sheliach shows the depth of what “apostle” means:

    “The Sheliach of a man is as the man himself.”

    Jesus used the Greek apostolos but filled it with Hebrew meaning: a fully authorized representative, carrying not just words but the authority and heart of the Sender.
    To receive an apostle is to receive the One who sent them. To reject them is to reject the one who sent Him.

    The Corporate Dynamic

    True apostles speak “we,” not “me.” Their doctrine isn’t just local but universal, setting order for the global Body of Christ. They see beyond one congregation to the corporate Bride.

    Paul’s letters overflow with corporate language: “we,” “us,” “our.” Apostolic ministry is never self-contained—it is always for the whole ecclesia.

    Authentic Community and Regeneration

    Finally, this era will restore authentic community—a sacred, interdependent life. We are in an Exodus: coming out of institutional religion and into the foundations of the Kingdom.

    Regeneration—new birth, renewal, restoration—will mark this era.

    “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but… by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost.” (Titus 3:4–7)

    The apostle carries the spirit of regeneration, creating spaces where lifes, families, and even regions are reborn.

    In Conclusion

    We’re entering not just another season but an Era of Authenticity. An era where apostles will:

    • Govern the mind of God for the Body’s future.
    • Establish order, doctrine, and Kingdom culture.
    • Release grace that empowers, not controls.
    • See the Kingdom advance through authentic, tested lives—not by words alone,  but by the Acts of the Apostles alive in our generation.

    May we embrace what is real, reject what is counterfeit, and together build what remains.

    Amazon or Kindle

  • Do All Apostles Have Large Works?

    Let’s talk about something that quietly but deeply affects the way many in the Church think—especially in the West. There’s this lingering, often unspoken assumption that apostolic ministry is measured by the size of one’s structure. If it’s big, if it’s visible, if it’s functioning like a well-oiled machine, then surely—surely—that must mean there’s an apostle at the helm, right?

    Not necessarily.

    We’ve entered a time where titles are handed out like business cards, and large churches are seen as automatic qualifications for apostleship. But what I’ve found, again and again, is that many of these so-called apostles are actually brilliant administrators. Gifted managers. Skilled builders of systems and programs. But apostles? That’s another matter.

    A true apostle doesn’t have to build something big—but they will always carry something weighty. Apostolic grace isn’t about the magnitude of your structure; it’s about the magnitude of your influence. That’s the mark. That’s the fruit. That’s the separating line. Myself I have been dismissed multiple times because I don’t have a “visibly” large ministry. The conclusion comes by measuring by worldly success, not having many bodies in seats, then there must not be much offered. Yet my greatest impact is not in a room but in multiplied “Rooms” all over the globe. How immature we are to measure by a worldly standard.

    When I sit with leaders, I often ask a simple question: “Tell me about your apostleship.” What have you put in place that keeps moving without you being present? What has been established under your leadership that doesn’t collapse when you leave? What order have you brought from chaos? What foundations have been laid in equipping verses teaching?

    Apostles don’t just plant—they align, they correct, they instruct, and they guard the truth. They are fiercely loyal to sound doctrine, deeply studied, and grieved when the Church begins drifting into error. Their heart isn’t to be the face of a movement—but to make sure that what is being built actually reflects the King and His Kingdom. They don’t want to be seen, but an apostolic people to be made known.

    Consider Paul. He planted thirteen churches—but honestly, you might expect more from someone of his caliber. But here’s the thing: Paul’s influence didn’t stop with those thirteen. His epistles are still forming the foundation of the global Church today. His words are shaping faith in nations he never stepped foot in. That’s apostolic impact.

    Or look at John the Revelator. He didn’t start a single church. He didn’t have a large following. But his heavenly vision brought the Church out of complacency and back into the reality of eternity. He stirred the Bride toward martyrdom and mission. He carried eternal influence, not institutional reach.

    Real apostles don’t operate in time—they function from eternity. They see what’s not yet visible. They labor for a future expression of the Church, a people formed in the image of Christ. They send the right people into the right places at the right time. They see the whole work and move toward its completion.

    They aren’t interested in building vast networks for name recognition. They’re building people into the fullness of Christ. Often hidden, they labor in the secret places. They test, they discern, they train. They look beyond charisma to character. They know that what’s sown in sound doctrine will reproduce for generations.

    And let’s not forget the Apostle of all apostles—Jesus. He didn’t plant a single church in the traditional sense. But He birthed a movement that spans the globe and ages. His work wasn’t about building structures—it was about transforming lives and building a Kingdom. His influence is still the most potent on the earth today.

    So, do all apostles have large works? Not always. But they will always have lasting fruit, eternal influence, and a legacy that outlives them.

  • Thought Life & And Paul’s Resurrection

    2 Corinthians 10:3–6 — 3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh: 4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;) 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

    Philippians 4:8 – Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

    Isaiah 26:3 – Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.

    In the past few weeks many people have been in their thoughts and head space. When you’re in headspace you’re not in faith. The kingdom and its principles only work by faith not by emotional health or intellectual thought process. When our thoughts or emotions dominate then the kingdom becomes dormant. If the kingdom is dormant or asleep then spiritual awakening is not present.

    Our thoughts create the world we decide to live in. Our thoughts are so powerful they can make us believe things that are not true, and even distract us from the truth. Our thoughts can even create things that hold greater value to us than what God is creating. This wrong thinking causes our faith to activate to form what is temporal and even leads us to not be committed to Gods truth.

    I want to turn to the account of Paul’s life in Acts 14. Paul and Barnabas come to Iconium and have opposition. This opposition is coming from unbelieving Jews who are stirring up gentiles. Look at what the verse says:

    Acts 14:2 — 2 But the unbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles, and made their minds evil affected against the brethren.

    They made their minds evil. What caused this was because they were unbelieving. The word unbelieving means to be unwilling to be persuaded or to withhold belief and to withhold obedience. All of these are intentional decisions to do the opposite of what they knew to do. They were in rebellion that was coming directly from their thought life. The outcome was the Gentiles minds were made evil. The word evil means to do evil, to ill-treat, to embitter, to exasperate. It was so bad they turned on the brethren. The outcome of the offense was a divided city V.4

    Acts 14:3 — 3 Long time therefore abode they speaking boldly in the Lord, which gave testimony unto the word of his grace, and granted signs and wonders to be done by their hands.

    But Paul continued in the midst of division birthing, to continue in his assignment. Eventually the division formed pitting some with religious people —- some with the Apostolic kingdom group. It was so bad they wanted to stone Paul, which means execute him. So, Paul goes to Derbe and Lystra only a day’s journey on foot. Lystra is where Paul will choose Timothy for the mission (Acts 16) and it is here he first meets him.

    At Lystra Paul continues preaching and heals a crippled man. This time instead of praying and seeing healing he activates the man’s faith to stand. He has figured how to go beyond the minds and thoughts he just experienced, and to see faith supersede it.

    Image the thoughts going through Paul’s mind concerning all he is experiencing and seeing. Most people would draw back but Paul pressed forward. Not only is Paul fighting his own thinking he is also fighting people’s unbelief and a group of people wanting to kill him. But he is also fighting sickness in his own body as he touches on this in Galatians 4:13 as he speaks of first preaching to them having much infirmity!

    The crowd calls them gods specifically Jupiter and Mercurius which they worshipped because of what they saw. The miracle was so great they wanted to offer the sacrifice of an oxen instead of just small animals. But here came the group from Antioch seeking to kill Paul and kill people’s faith. This group followed Paul for a season.

    Acts 14:19–27 — 19 And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead.

    Stoning was for blasphemy, among other things. It was not seen as a punishment by hitting someone with a few stones but was a form of execution. The person stoned would be checked for 3-5 minutes to be sure they were not breathing. Then the person was drugged outside the city to rot. Paul states in 2 Cor. 11:25 he was stoned and in verse 23 he was “in deaths often.” Paul could be stating he died and was resurrected many times.

    20 Howbeit, as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe.

    The disciples at this time were Eunice, Barnabus and a young emerging son called Timothy who was 15 years old. From this moment of resurrection Paul then writes later:

    Philippians 3:10 — 10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.

    The word conformable means to take on the same form or likeness, to come to be like him in his death. Paul after such an experience returns to the city and continues to preach and tells the disciples “Through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.”

    We in the west do not want to enter tribulation to see the kingdom come. Tribulation means trouble, affliction, anguish. It means to be pressed up hard like grapes to get wine. But the outcome was that Paul established the church in that region. He ordained city elders. Paul also now had a working model of the church to be formed all over the globe coming out of the Acts 15 Apostolic counsel meeting.

    The deepest places of the power of resurrection is where the deepest tribulations occur. Looking back at how the thoughts of others could have stopped Paul. Paul’s own thoughts and infirmity could have stopped him. Anywhere along the way it would have been easy to quit and be justified in doing it. Yet without this confrontation of others thoughts and influences, the model of ecclesia God desired would not have the right foundations.

    Today let us not draw back when other people’s thinking opposes our kingdom assignments. Let us not allow opinions to dictate. Nor let our own thoughts of inadequacies or sufferings talk us out of our assignment. If you suffer because of your own poor choices is one thing, but to suffer for righteousness’ sake releases the power of resurrection.

  • Apostolic Burden of the Lord Part 2

    Last time we covered what is the Burden of the Lord. If you didn’t read it go back so you have a foundation to launch into part 2. In this writing we will see how burdens from the Lord come. For the most part they are not our ideas or extensions of ideas of ministry we have. Many times, they are contrary to our plans and maybe even our desires. They will take us off our typical course into a course of Gods ultimate plan unfolding. We will look at Nehimiah, an apostolic builder and restorer. A mobilizer of workers and one who sets things in order.

    Nehemiah 1:3 (KJV 1900) — 3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.

    The first thing is he heard. He heard a report. But it was not just idle talk but factual and not with speculation or assumption. Something in this report pricked his heart having a profound effect upon him. Many times, we hear things, and the hardness of our heart keeps us from really hearing. Sometimes something catches our spirit, and we react. This was what occurred to him.

    Nehemiah 1:4 (KJV 1900) — 4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,

    The words were heard by others but no one else responded. The words were actually reserved to have an effect upon one person and that was Nehemiah. The others had become accustomed to hearing reports. But probably because of hardness of heart and loss of faith and hope accepted the state of things. But the words caused Nehemiah to take time to process as he sat. the more he processed the more he wept. A burden doesn’t accept the current situation but has come to change the situation. His weeping went to mourning and mourning turned into fasting and prayer to find the solution.

    Nehimiah 2: 11-16   The burden will cause you to evaluate the true conditions firsthand. Burdens take us from secondhand knowledge to first-hand experience. He went by night to examine the assignment. What he saw was different from what others saw. He saw through promise not circumstances. He did not deny what he saw but looked beyond and saw the ramifications. He sees how it affected Gods glory and Gods people. He was seeing with his spirit.

    He then is burdened with reality. The reality the burden has within it is holy. It bears the weight of Gods glory and the work that must be accomplished. He sees beyond the natural. Part of this reality is the personal responsibility that comes with burden. Those with a burden see not only the problem, but the role they play in the solution. The only solution or answers that work is from God and you must hear clearly. Because very burden for God will have those who are critical coming from your own camp. Nehemiah 4:10–11. He is able to share the reason for the burden.

    Nehemiah 4:14.  (KJV 1900) — 14 And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.

    Every burden form God is also connected to Legacy.Moses was burdened for the people of Israel. Others had burdens as well like David, Paul, Samuel, all the ones we talk about doing exploits, but seldom do we talk of their burden. Without Gods burden our faith is in vain. Our prayers are lacking, and our impact is greatly diminished. A true burden form God cannot be stopped. It is fulfilling a plan that is required. To me the burden is the key to active faith that produces results. We really only see spiritual changes when we tap into the burden of God, or we get burdened for people where we finally fully engage ourselves. Burden is about transferring. Transferring people from the power of darkness into the kingdom of His son Jesus.

    Every burden will create your apostolic vision. Without a true burden then vision is hard to define, and mission is even harder to operate. We see Ezra in chapter 10:1-4 having a burden before he had vision. We see Nehimiah as well in Chapter 1:3-4. Daniel prayed and fasted for 3 full weeks. What God is looking for is not anointing, which is borrowed from him, or giftedness, which is birthed by him, but the greatest need is who will carry His burden. What is your burden today?

    Those who carry a God given burden are the ones who will do exploits. There may be suffering but the suffering will bring greater glory. Paul was driven by apostolic burden. Building is also coming from burden. Burden touches almost all things we do and reforms values. The burden just has to be from God to be effective. Jeremiah 20.8 says it was like fire in his bones and he had no choice but to respond. Burden brings you into service. Burden makes you go.

    In Galatians 6:1 it says we carry each other’s burdens which the word means heavy crushing loads. But in verse 4 it says each man is to carry his own burden. This burden is “phorton” and is used to designate the pack a marching soldier carries. It also means carrying the ships cargo, which has connotations of being connected apostolically. Paul says you must prove your work, or it must be authenticated to see if it is genuine. He was speaking if your burden is from god or just a good idea.

    Then as we look at spiritual fathering, we also see Sons and Daughters are to carry the burden of the Lord spiritual fathers carry. Many times, we seek spiritual fathering, and we only pick and choose what that fathering is carrying and offering. But we neglect that there is more than the positive fun side of spiritual fathering. In Phil. 3:10 Paul speaks of the “manner of Life”. Paul was saying what Timothy received encompassed how Paul carried and exercised his burden as well. The activation of Paul’s burden in Timothy’s life brought him into his own apostolic journey. Timothy as a son was not disjointed from Paul’s burden but embraced it with the assignments given to him.
    Paul said he was like-minded in Phil. 2:20. That like-minded was also concerning how  the burden would be completed.

    Burden will create a message in you. It will take you on a mission as well. It will give others a vision, so they qualify to have their own. Burden will take you from a second hand knowledge to a first-hand experience. Burden summons us into the destiny we are longing for. Burden has a sense of urgency. It has a sense of responsibility. The size of your burden will also determine your impact on the earth. But because you have a burden doesn’t mean everything is automatic. It requires your response and others as well.

    In the book I wrote “Awakened Heart” has a prophetic word coming from Habakkuk. It encompasses an entire chapter. As I was researching for this blog, I found the word burden spoken 45 times in this prophetic word. It seems it must be important to God.

    If you want to stay updated please hit the FOLLOW button in the right column for weekly blogs.

    Blessings

  • Apostolic Burden of the Lord Part 1

    I want to speak on the to topic of burden. Having the right burden will activate your faith, allow you to find purpose, bring you into your destiny and create your future. Without a true burden from God you will go through life and ministry aimlessly wandering.

    Jesus was burdened for what would become the church. Paul was burdened for the church. A burden is not pity or feeling sorry for someone. A burden for the Lord is an extension from heaven. When you have Gods burden you will give yourself to it, both like Christ and Paul.

    2 Corinthians 11:28 (KJV 1900) — 28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

    Paul said daily this burden was present. The words come upon is associated with pressure, anxiety and comes from a word describing the force a riotous crowd carries. Without a burden for something you don’t have the perspective to speak into it. Paul was burdened for the church so he could address the issues. Today we move out of need-based perception and seldom burden focus. We have a lot of good suggestions but little change. Burdens from the Lord are catalyst for change.

    For myself I am burdened to see Gods people in fullness, I am burdened to see stronger leadership come forth. I am burdened to see those who are disillusioned about God, be shifted.  I am burdened to see us live at a higher spiritual life. You see the message you carry, the way you minister, the things that drive you all come from the true Burden of the Lord you’re stewarding.

    Paul was also burdened for his family, and especially his fellow Roman kinsmen. Romans 9:1–5.  He also was burdened for Israel to find salvation. Because of these burdens his teaching reflected upon it and also his energy in travel. Romans 10:1–4. His burden influenced his prayer life. Romans 1:8–12 . And even caused internal conflicts with himself. Colossians 2:1–5. But those burdens would active him into great faith, passion, and spiritual determination. Maybe today what we lack is not more teaching but a real God given burden we are to accomplish with our lives.

    Your burden will cause a motivation in your faith to occur. It is actually where true ministry occurs and how new ministries are to be birthed. Burdens from the Lord have the Love from the Lord within them. Without the love behind it there is no sacrifice. Without love there is not willingness to suffer. But with love you will to do extreme faith things.

    The burden and the love within it are what forms vision. A vision that has no burden is a religious structure. I feel today we have a lot of structures based around ideas or seeing needs but no real burden. We may have compassion, or sympathy but that is not the burden I’m talking about. The burden is the why you do things and defines the motivations behind actions.

    Answering the call is really answering the Burden. A calling without a Burden has no destination. But when burden is acted on it will also release Grace … the ability of God to create change. Think of how many times a burden in prayer receives an answer. It’s because Grace was released. The fullness of grace is present were burden is being nurtured. This is why some do exploits and others don’t. Colossians 4:12–13, 1 Thessalonians 3:10. Burden is a pure form of activating grace!

    Burdens will cause us to come out of complacency. We will come into new depths. We will study to find answers to the burden. We will take action, whiles others don’t. We will bring new truth to open ears. We may even find those of like faith, which is really finding faith that is active in the same burden we carry. Burdens always create and build for longevity. The burden of the Lord takes us on a fantastic journey! A journey of apostolic building.

    Part 2 we will cover how to acquire the Apostolic Burden of the Lord.

  • Fathering Grace Vs Apostolic Grace

    What is the difference between apostolic grace and fathering grace? We seem to have a lot of people overlapping of what is fathering grace and apostolic grace. Apostolic grace is a grace to an apostle to help ministry leaders be effective towards the Body of Christ, but fathering grace is more towards an individual. Apostolic grace comes to reorder, realign and redefine. Fathering grace comes to form and mature. So, the foundations of both are very different. Apostolic grace is a foundation based on doctrine. Fathering grace is a foundation based on love, acceptance and trust. Apostolic is visionary, for a larger picture for ministry, and the fathering grace is visionary for the individual.

    Many times, we see that apostles are also fathers. But not all fathers are apostles. It’s two distinct different types of grace. Sometimes those two things overlap in an individual’s life. We need to understand which grace is actually working. Everybody needs both in their lives but for different reasons.  You’re drawing from a different Grace for different outcomes. Sometimes one is more dominate in your life and other times you need both to impart into your life.

    Spiritual fathering has a divine connection that aligns you to a spiritual father. There’s a grace for connecting to that father. There’s a grace of how your hearts would be connected. The alignment you have with an apostle is around your assignment and mission in the earth. Your specific assignment needs that apostle’s insight. So, the difference is apostolic grace deals with ministry and its issues while fathering grace deals with living life out together and doing life together. One is equipping you to do ministry, and the other is equipping you to do life.

    Apostles are very transparent about their life and ministry, where spiritual father is transparent about what is going on in their heart decisions. They both will impact a life giving flow, it is just coming from a different source with a differnet expectation of result. Both will champion your call, giftings and your abilities. But a spiritual father is going to champion your heart.

    It is the role of the son our daughter to pursue the spiritual father and what that father has experienced.  The same with the Apostle, but the pursuit is drawn upon the grace and revelation of what the apostle is carrying. Spiritual Fathers create opportunities so spiritual sons and daughters can see what’s really setting inside of them. Apostles create assignments, to move the kingdom of God forward and pull those under them into that assignment.

    Many times, these things may overlap because the assignment may also demand some changes in the heart, and the changes in the heart will also release you into assignment. So, everyone needs to determine who is your apostle, and who is your spiritual father. I’m an apostle too many right now probably 20 or 30 different ministries and people are looking at me as an apostle helping them and giving oversight into their ministries. But I also have about that many spiritual sons and daughters that I’m raising and causing to come into their fullness. It is a season for me of more sons and daughters coming towards me.  

    I believe the early church looked at their sons and daughters and saw the grace gift of fivefold ministry upon them. And as they did, they decided this person has a calling or a grace gift into a certain function. Today, we have been training people basically backward. We’ve been training them in a school of ministry to teach them a grace gift, when a grace gift is actually something that’s occurring inside your heart. I believe the early church picked and chose fivefold ministry out of sons and daughters. This foundation of sonship meant discipline, obedience, loyalty, sacrifice, commitment, and long list of things was already in place that didn’t cause the problems we see today. It was a heart that had been formed not forming after coming into a five fold grace. From that point they further trained them to understand all of the fivefold graces. Notice I didn’t say trained them into a grace but to understanding those graces. They trusted the Holy Spirit to make them be who God wanted them to be.

    Both the apostolic and fathering grace is present upon the earth. Both have certain outcomes. Both are needed. Let’s not get confused and make them the same thing. By doing so we step around the processes and demands both require. The process of Spiritual fathering produces the foundation of a prepared heart. The Process of an Apostle builds upon the heart and demands a response of action from the heart. The Fathering process is a time process while the Apostolic is an action process. The Spiritual father allows for growth to occur over time. Eternal values are formed. Decisions are not just spontaneous but well thought out and contemplated.

    The apostolic now takes the authentic sure belief formed in a spiritual son or daughter and says time to activate you into the destiny your father saw in you. The apostle places things in the pathway of the person to find and encounter to finalize their value and worth in ministry. They bring people into destiny by discovery while the spiritual father raises them by assurance.

    I will say this both graces are not a one, two, three, step type process, but more a spiritual artform of knowing each person individual life and who God says they are. Both are probably the greatest degree of empowering and working with the Holy Spirit in a process. Both have setbacks and pitfalls. But both are the highest degree of honor and value we can give to others, to believe in them how God does and to see them how God sees them in fullness.

  • The Test of Grieving The Lost Sovereign Moments

    I decided to write on this topic to help other leaders who possibly experience what I have had happened several times. I have had to answer a lot of questions with other leaders as well about being in or out of spiritual flow of meetings and how to handle these situations as they arise. From people taking over meetings, saying mixed prophesy, prophesying out of their own heart or imaginations, missed responses, doctrinal error present, manipulation of a body, and doing things that are perfectly correct and doctrinally sound but maybe in wrong timing. It is one thing to miss something in a meeting that has only an effect for that meeting. That happens probably almost every time we gather. That is not what I’m talking about. I’m talking about meetings that have a sovereign intentional release of something required for the corporate bodies mission to succeed. In other words, what is missed carries a key component to affect from that point forward to unlock the future. For me this is probably the greatest time of discouragement is when I know a meeting has shifted from Gods intentions of a great deposit. Thank God He is merciful, but that still does not take away the feelings that occur or the knowing of what could have been.

    The Test Described

    This test occurs when you realize an intentional sovereign moment of God has been missed that would deposit a much-needed element that is missing. This occurs when a meeting seems to shift direction away from an opening into a heavenly realm. This may be because of others stepping out of spiritual flow affecting a corporate body and taking the meeting in a different direction. It could be because of mixture or prophesy that is assumed to be prophecy when in reality it isn’t, or a host of things. It could be as simple as the hearing of things may be right, but the timing or implementation may be what affects the shift that occurs. It shows well-meaning intentions outside of the timing of God will not create the intentions of God.

    The Effects

    This test has both frustrations, disappointments, discouragement, feelings of failure, and an overwhelming feeling of loss. This causes a  grieving with it. The grieving is not being able to rescue the moment as the spiritual climate or atmosphere has shifted. This is magnified when only the leader has these feelings and no one else is aware of it. It is as if the pathway to the next thing has been removed. I would liken it to a bridge from one bank to the next. The bridge has been removed, and you see the other bank but have no means to get there. You know it will take time to build the bridge again.

    A leader will feel out of sync with the meeting they are in and the feeling can carry on into the next day or several days. Restlessness as they wrestle with the why’s, and if that moment can be recaptured. It will cause deep inner reflection and analysis of their preparation, leadership abilities, and even the call. It will cause a re-examining to find the moment it was derailed or what lead to the shifting so they can see how it could be stopped in the future. A leader will look at themselves first, assuming they did not hear correctly. They will evaluate to see if they are too critical or their expectations were too high or wrong. It has nothing to do with the leader’s role being fulfilled, but what the Body of Christ did not receive. The leader will see the far-reaching ramifications of the missed moment and will try to figure out a pathway forward.

    Paul felt this many times with the churches he oversaw. He was constantly having to go backward and relay foundational doctrines instead of advancing deeper into the things of God. He was having to sort out what people did as accurate, verses speculations. He was sorting the mixtures of flesh, doctrines, reasoning etc. He had to address the Corinthians concerning the use of spiritual gifts and the overabundance of what was being released. He had to put in place a structure to facilitate the spiritual flow that seemed to always be open. A lot of this was training. But when there was not training you do not see this overabundance. When you see directives from God given you see precise sovereign moments with little to no input.

    What Does the Test Show?

    This test is a hard test to get beyond. The easiest route is to say the leader is too serious but this requires them to embrace a mindset they have to compromise in what they knew to be true. To not allow it to affect them or deny the moments importance also diminishes that they heard God correctly. This test puts a leader into multiple dimensions of overlapping conflicts making it hard for them to move forward not knowing what exactly needs addressed. Most everyone doesn’t want to make mistakes and their heart keeps them in check. That is what makes this test so hard to sort out. You cannot find false truth or mixture. But it comes down to timing. Just because a person hears or sees does not mean it needs to be shared instantly. Many times, the opportunity for others to be trained can outweigh the results attained.

    This test also shows the interconnectedness of the Body and how each person is to function in unison with the others. Without us being led by the spirit you soon see that the body lacks a full understanding and even missing elements that can make it healthy. This test shows the different maturity levels. I have seen the most screwed up meetings and some people still get touched by God. Again, this makes for a conflicting evaluation by the leader of the meetings impact. We have and still show grace for the body to develop and grow. These opportunities are not taken away but are better monitored and given oversight.

    This grieving will test your tenacity to stand against the opposition and even good intentions that have created a false finish line. It reinforces the seriousness of God and it forms a finish anointing. The impasse is being able to stay on course long term in the midst of missing the mark in the short term. The resetting of values is a delicate game of weighing in the scales and not coming up wanting. I have had to weight this in the training of people. Training people will cause mistakes. The mistakes are how we grow. I have sacrificed forward vision unfolding for the sake of giving opportunity. In hindsight I would do it again, but not to the degree I did. I felt it caused the vision to be delayed and kept us always feeling slightly behind or not quite in sync. My conclusion is there are meetings for training and then are some meetings for a sovereign moment of God to come forth. These meetings are not times of training, or it could be derailed. These sovereign moment meetings are setting new courses.

    This test also causes deepening of values to occur. As you realize you cannot simply recreate the exact moment or conversion point as almost all factors are beyond your control. This is because the moment was  a sovereign moment. You look forward with a different mindset to not allow the missed moments to be allowed. As a leader that knows Gods intention realizes also how far reaching the value is and holds a greater love for Gods intentions and how much He believe in us.

    What is to be Formed?

    Having others to share the moment with or to talk about it will help divide the burden. The more who understand the burden and are willing to help carry the less the leader feels isolated in the grieving. The bible says to carry each other’s burdens but this is not natural or our feelings but also our spiritual burdens. This is why there is to be team leadership. This will help bring others into greater spiritual awareness and sensitivity. This plays into the scripture of mourning with those who mourn and laugh with those who laugh. We think of natural things, but can we mourn with those who mourn with spiritual things. The Holy Spirit can be grieved, can we also feel that grieving as well. This test softens our heart to God and allows our spiritual feelings to begin to override our natural feelings.

    A leader will be more intentional next time and not allow feelings to get in the way to maintain the flow of a meeting. They will also not allow as much freedom and will monitor what is said or done. The verse of all things being done decently and in order also comes into this. The decently is probably not the issue as much as the order. I have found after working through all the processes associated with this test, I have to come to conclusion, that moment may never occur again or will have to be ramped back up to that place. You come to the realization you are going forward with a piece of the overall plan sitting, still available as it was Gods intention, but not fully in your possession yet. A pathway will need to be built towards it again, but then at the possible expense of other things. You also realize God can bring that portion again, it just will have to look different as all the factors have now shifted.

    The other thing I have learned is I can’t depend on others to help carry those intentions. Which means I need to not allow the opportunities that I have done at other times. At the end of the day, I’m responsible and I need to take on that responsibility. As leaders we live in enough repercussion of people’s choices! We need to live in the repercussion of our choices more so. Those come as we lead to advance. What we create or form we can shift. What others create or form we are sometimes on the receiving end.

    If you have experienced this missing of a moment, you’re the leader God is looking for. Sounds strange doesn’t it? Will its not the reason you missed the moment but that your spirit is sensitive that a moment was missed. Its that you value those moments and cherish them that when they don’t materialize your heart-broke for the people of God and even God himself. It just goes to show how serious you are as a leader. Imagine what would be revealed when leaders gather, that same honor was shown to the atmosphere God was present in. Imagine the body so protecting the atmosphere that it causes their senses to be heightened to it. If you can relate to this then I say to you be encouraged. Your heart is right.

  • Frustrated Apostles and Prophets

    The building process for many apostles and prophets in this hour is very frustrating. Not only do we have many false concepts, wrong commissioning, self-appointed, network appointed and just plain out of Biblical order and alignment of being commissioned; we also have a frustration being carried by these two foundation gifts who are truly apostles and prophets. The frustration comes by not seeing the fruit of the efforts in what we are building after much hard labor has been invested. Building is not speaking at a microphone, nor doing a scheduled meeting. That does not make you an apostle. Apostles are by nature builders, and it’s not building churches, networks, or platforms. Apostles prefer to speak into hearts than to large audiences. That takes time to know what needs invested.

    Both apostles and prophets have differing roles in building but desire the same outcome, the Kingdom established and its apostolic people functioning in destiny. What both gifts do is sustain and speak into the second heaven and create atmospheres for the people of God to enter. The prophet is mainly focused on intercession and then worship. The apostles are mainly focused on worship and then intercession. Both are positioned before the throne of God, one to hear a word and the other to implement that word.

    Hebrews 3:1–6 (KJV 1900) — 1 Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus; 2 Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house. 3 For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hath more honour than the house. 4 For every house is builded by some man; but he that built all things is God. 5 And Moses verily was faithful in all his house, as a servant, for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken after; 6 But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we, if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm unto the end.

    Moses was called by God to build a house and people for the Lord. In Exodus 19:6, it states this people will be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. The primary thing required in building is faithfulness. Apostles and prophets must be faithful in staying before God’s throne and in stewarding worship and intercession and the revelations and visions they receive. This faithfulness is also required in the people they are building and building with. Faithfulness is the building mortar that is proven which holds everything together. To build with those who are unfaithful, you risk the chance of having weakness in the body being built and the possibility that it will not hold the weight of what is put upon them. It’s setting up for a possible structure failure.

    The same word seen in Hebrews 3 for building is also seen in Ephesians 4:13 equipping the saints for the work of ministry. It means ‘to furnish, equip, prepare, make ready, to construct, erect, with the included idea of adorning and equipping with all things necessary’. It comes from a root word meaning ‘according to the vessel, the implement, the man of quality, a chosen instrument’. In other words, God chooses specifically the building blocks being used to cause the corporate man to rise in maturity and fullness of function.

    Frustration #1 Not valuing the same things.

    Moses built by delivering the instructions he received on the Mount. He expected the people to be faithful with what was given and make those instructions reality in their lives. The apostles and prophets build the same way today. What they give out has had a high price paid for it to be received and then to be delivered. They expect no less with the Body of Christ. They expect the same valuing as they have. People may not all have the same passion, but they certainly must have the same value systems or there will be chaos and individual belief systems formed. Building without faithfulness will end in building a religious structure and not a living single corporate man expression. Without heavenly instruction, the building will only be in an earthy dimension and understanding.

    The way people shift is by teaching on values and then they will change how they function once they see it. They also need those values modeled and implemented as a part of the life of a fellowship. There will always be new people coming along needing instructed but those who are settled on the values should automatically instruct new disciples on those values, not losing anything in the conversations as they are transferred along. God did not need any interpretation to the Ten Commandments or the law He gave to Moses. He expected them to follow it and so did Moses. Values maintain our foundations and enable right decisions to be made concerning assignments, vision, and implementation. Frustrations are formed from not valuing the same things, instructions given by God.

    Frustration #2 Frustrating the Grace of God

    Paul talked of not frustrating the grace of God from working in His life (Gal. 2:21). Many of us see that verse as pertaining to Paul’s actions. But perhaps he was really speaking to what he allowed himself to build with and how much investment he really did with certain people. He did not want that grace to be ineffective and wasted, nor did he want people to take advantage of it. In other words, Paul tried to steward other people’s actions affecting his life! But Paul not only said he was an administrator of that grace (Eph. 3:2) but that it has been given to be wise in the way he built.

    1 Corinthians 3:10–11 (KJV 1900) — 10 According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon. 11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.

    Paul said he was a wise master builder; this is where we get the word ‘architect’. The root meaning of it is ‘the origin, beginning, first place, active cause’. In other words, what is built is traceable to an origin point in God. He said this grace (ability of God to create change, either by positive or negative actions) was given or commissioned. Grace commissions a person into building wisely and the execution of a strategic plan. I believe many prophets and apostles are frustrated by the frustration being applied by those who don’t fully engage, commit, don’t try to understand or are unwilling to take action.

    Frustrations #3 Not Entering Creative Atmospheres

    Along with maintaining their position before the throne, the Lord gives them both two things. Prophets receive visions primarily and revelation secondary. Apostles receive revelation primarily and visions secondary. God honors the prophet by using them to bring the visions into words for the Body of Christ. The same way God honors apostles by giving them revelation for the Body of Christ. Both are creating atmosphere to build the people of God, just in different ways and dynamics. Everyone has access to the spiritual realms including 2nd and 3rd heaven. But what sets prophets and apostles apart is that they can influence those realms. Prophets generally ask questions in those realms and apostles engage conversations in those realms. Both are affecting the atmosphere they step into and both are affecting the atmosphere they steward upon the earth. As it is in heaven, so isn’t it supposed to be in the earth? The frustration both have is creating atmospheres and opening them to the Body of Christ to participate in yet the Body doesn’t step into those atmospheres. These are heavenly patterns coming to the earth and the alignment of heaven with earth.

    When the saints step into these realms, they begin to be qualified for God’s promotion in their lives and ministries. It causes deeper flow in meetings and brings great activation of the Body of Christ. When these atmospheres open, a supernatural breath of God begins to flow! When people step into these creative eternal atmospheres, they begin to move in the same fashion as the apostle or prophet is operating while they are in that atmosphere. Apostles and Prophets love these atmospheres. But what they love more is when others join them and move with them. This is the forerunner activation for awakening that we are yet to see. We haven’t trained people while they are in these atmospheres because so few are coming along and so few apostolic and prophetic people even understand how to bring people into these eternal realms. Frustrations occur because created realms are not taken advantage of.

    Perhaps this blog did not encourage prophets and apostles with any real answers concerning frustrations except to maybe understand the valuable role they play and how God honors them. But my intention was to bring into the light and address the people of God more so and challenge them not to add to frustrations but participate in a willing, pleasing way to eliminate frustration. We can all have as little or as much of God as we desire. Apostolic and prophetic leaders are given to lead. They first go to places in the Spirit and then after blazing the trail, expect the people of God to also come down that path and hold that ground in the Spirit.

  • “The ACTS of the Apostles”

    The Lord recently spoke to me about the book of Acts, specifically the title. He said “You’re about to see the acts of the apostles.”This had my attention and He said “True apostles are going to do true acts.” As I thought on it, I was reminded of how we define the apostolic and affirm many who are not true apostles. Looking at our current definition and comparing it to the early apostles, there is very little real similarity, at least in America. We have little suffering for the Gospel, or if there is, it is just life. No confrontations of government leaders. No imprisonment. No giving away of abundant finances. Few confrontations with demonic strongholds, or moral issues, or occultism, no teaching all night, or travailing in prayer with no agenda but for Christ to be formed, etc. We seem to do things from a distance within an arm’s length environment. I was just at a conference and the statement was given in a teaching setting that perhaps in America, we are living in a pre-Christian era as we have not seen true apostolic Kingdom Christianity fully formed in our nation and it is yet to come.

    The Lord recently sent me on a journey. It was not a prophetic act but a redemptive act to close a gate of hades and open a new era over a region in the United States. He told me this is the acts of the apostles coming. They will be bringing forth the new that God desires and paying little attention to the past and even the controlling forces. I am not going to get into the significance of what I did but God told me He would give me a sign that the cleansing of the land has begun. I saw a green tarnished brass marker become polished clean and like new before my eyes. A real sign and wonder! Where are the signs and the wonders of the acts of the apostles? I tell you it is not running a ‘church’ like a pastor would and calling yourself an apostle.

    I have started another book to address all of these things. The apostolic is not about list fulfillment but about living life in apostolic grace. It is seeing, living, and approaching things so differently it may seem odd to everyone. If we are in a type of pre- New Testament Christianity, then doesn’t that mean the apostles will be more on the outside of the status quo instead of being grafted into what is currently happening through our Christian ‘productions’? Maybe I’m the only one tired of all the confusion and devaluing of this grace over the last twenty years.

    True apostles don’t need the accolades of men or men’s approval. They do demand order. They do expect action. They desire oneness. They refuse false doctrine. They speak truth that redefines. They will risk everything to advance. They are sought after for affirmation but many times their voice is not welcome. They are rejected for revelation. They are more prophetic than most prophets and they are always seeing a larger vision, working with greater clarity and perceiving with accuracy. They don’t have time for foolish things as these things are childish to them. They don’t build networks but build Christ. They don’t manage ‘churches’ but raise sons. They are pioneers more than revivalists.

    The “Acts of the Apostles” is not a history book but a lifestyle book. Read it and see the interaction of the five fold grace gifts. See how the apostles advanced The Church by the endangerment of their reputation risking all as they died to gain Christ. It’s a book of how the character and nature of Christ was formed in the apostles to be formed in the Body to release the Ecclesia. It is a book of sending not gathering and hoarding. It is about infiltration into culture to change pockets of people, not gathering masses to convince them. They are Master builders of God’s expression through His Son. Isn’t it time for the “Acts of the Apostles” again?

  • Iniquity Affecting Awakening

    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..