Greg Crawford

Category: Discipleship

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • When God Highlights Relationships

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

    The Strain in the Spirit

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

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

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

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

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

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

    A War of Spirit vs. Flesh

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

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

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

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

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

    Boundaries, Not Breaks

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • But I’m a “Christian”

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

    Breaking Free from Self-Deception

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • The Godhead -Three as One

    The doctrine of the Trinity is one of the most important doctrines of the Christian faith. But also, it is one of the hardest to comprehend. There is one God and there are three distinct persons of God. All are fully God in doing the overall will, but they are not 3 Gods merged as one. For me as a young believer I found this hard to follow or understand. So, I will try to give some insights to help us.

    Let us start with the word “trinity” means “tri-unity” or “three-in-oneness.” The word “Trinity,” is the theological word Christians use to refer to the Godhead. But the word trinity is not found in Scripture. The real word is the term “Godhead” (theiotes) is used three times in Scripture, Acts 17:29; Romans 1:20; Colossians 2:9.

    Romans 1:20 — 20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

    The word Godhead means divine nature, the state of being, deity, divine and it refers to all three people of Godhead. So how does this Godhead work? So, we see the trinity as three distinct personalities. Each has contrasting functions and even types of approaches. Each with distinct roles to accomplish a set purpose. We see them not conflicted with each other but in harmony with each other. They move as one interconnected force but are also sperate forces. But for me the easiest way to see the Godhead is all are heading to the same outcome, a relationship with creation. We see this in one of the great commissions.

    Matthew 28:19-20, “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have  commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

    Here he states to baptism them or submerge them into the Godhead. Specifically, each one. Submerge them into the power of the Holy Spirit, the redemption of the son and the sovereignty of the father.

    1 John 5:7 “For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.”

    This is the clearest verse showing the three as one as it is stated plainly. Here we see all three bear record in heaven or testify. They all have the same task but the individual interactions with us are different.

    “Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God is one LORD” (Deuteronomy 6:4, Mark 12:29).

    The verse says, “Hear, O Israel: Jehovah our Elohim is a united Jehovah.” The Hebrew word for one is Echad which stresses unity while recognizing diversity with that oneness. Now how does this look in function?

    Looking at creation, the father decided a plan, the son (the word) carried out the decree while the Holy Spirit empowered both plan and decree to manifest. We also can see evidence of this in many places in the scripture of how they work both separately but together. God the Father planned redemption (John 3:16; Gal. 4:4; Eph. 1:9-10) God the Son accomplished redemption for us (John 6:38; Hebrews 10:5-7) God the Holy Spirit was applied redemption, sent by the Father and the Son (John 14:26; 16:7; 15:26)

    When we begin to understand each role, we see no competition but collaboration. Father is typically understood as the originator and creator. He sustains spiritual laws, is sovereign and is the essence of glory. The Son (Jesus Christ) is the redeemer who came to earth to sacrifice for humanity, is the example of the father’s nature, shows how spiritual laws and doctrines are applied through love, mercy and forgiveness. The Holy Spirit is the sanctifier who dwells within believers, guiding and empowering them. The one who is the comforter, teacher and guide. All three are fully complimentary to each other. And all three are working towards the same outcomes. All three have the power to perform what is needed. All three are acting as one!

    Now lest look at some examples.

    The Father testifies of the Son.

    Matthew 3:17 — 17 And lo a voice from heaven, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

    The son testifies to the Father.

    John 5:19 — 19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise.

    The Son testifies to the Spirit.

    John 14:26 — 26 But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.

    The spirit testifies to the Son.

    John 15:26 — 26 But when the Comforter is come, whom I will send unto you from the Father, even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father, he shall testify of me:

    Another example is:

    • The father sent his son —- he was the decision maker of the plan.
    • Jesus was conceived with the aid of the Holy spirit — the working of the plan.
    • The son became the redeemer upon the earth — the Sons fulfilment of the plan.

    But we also can see the Godhead at work in specific sections of scripture.

    Ephesians 4:12 — 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

    When I see three things in a verse or a section, I ask can I see the Godhead? Most of the time I can simply apply the functions and what each carry. In the above verse the question is who perfects the saints? JESUS.  Who does the work? HOLY SPIRIT. Who is concerned with the body? FATHER. The Godhead is involved in the government of God concerning his creation!

    Here is another example:

    Hebrews 1:3 — 3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;

    The brightness of his glory – the father. Express image of his person – Jesus. Upholding by word of his power – Holy Spirit.

    1 Corinthians 12:4–6 — 4 Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. 6 And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God which worketh all in all.

    Now this verse is more obvious as it spells it out. Diversity of gifts – Holy Spirit. Administrations – Jesus. Operations – father. The Godhead understanding is not just a New Testament theology, but we can also see the Godhead in the Old Testament as well. We already talked about Genesis and creation but let us look at another verse.

    Haggai 2:7 — 7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: And I will fill this house with glory, saith the Lord of hosts.

    Again, asking simple questions. Who does the shaking? HOLY SPIRIT.  Who is the desire of nations? JESUS. Who brings the glory? FATHER.

    It is amazing to see the pattern and as they say, once you see it, you cannot unsee it. This insight early on in my walk with God helped me see that God is not 3 Gods but is one made up of three very distinct personalities with very distinct functions. I hope this helps you in a better perspective of just how dynamic God is and his multi-dimensional abilities.

  • The Lost Art of Tarrying

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

     

  • Doubt and Unbelief

    Today I was in a restaurant having breakfast with some dear friends before I took off to the airport. I spoke about doubt and unbelief. As I was thinking on this later, I decided it would make a really good post.

    The bible tells us to not have doubt and unbelief. But what is doubt and what is unbelief? For some they assume they are one in the same. But they are two different areas that have two different outcomes in our life. If we are not to have doubt and unbelief, then we must have the opposites which are understanding and believing.

    We all have times of doubt and unbelief in our lives. One of scriptures that always has stood out to me is in Romans 4 were it talks of Abraham. It says when he became fully persuaded, he believed the promise of God not doubting. Which means there was a time he wasn’t fully persuaded and had to go through a process to shift out of doubt. Being persuaded occurs in both the areas of doubt and unbelief. One deals with how we think of applying promise and the other of activation of the promise and the outcome if it. ,

    Many people can have great faith but still have doubts if things will come to pass as promised. Others have deep assurance of promise, but their faith is lacking and hope the promise will come. If we are honest with ourselves, we all have been on both sides of this having doubt and great faith,  and also times having no doubt but lacking in faith.

    When we think of doubt we are dealing with assumed facts in the mind and how we perceive those facts working out. Facts are only conclusions based on inputs. We may or may not have all the inputs because facts are the best educated guess. When we think of unbelief, we are thinking of truths not fully developed. Truths of God that are sovereign and even can be spiritual law’s and promises. I see these truths as non-negotiables. This means doubt cannot and should not negotiate the outcome truth is trying to bring.

    We see Abraham became fully persuaded, meaning the facts he was faced with, which are stated as the deadness of both his and Sarahs bodies, had to give way to the truth promised by God. God wasn’t moved by the facts and could even create new facts to dismiss doubt, hence their bodies were regenerated into the ability to bring forth a child of promise. But this was created by faith. It came down to what was going to rule and how Abraham would submit. He had to bring the final doubts under his spirit believing what God said was true. When this occurred, he was fully persuaded. It’s amazing of the power both the mind and the spirit have to create or deny. 

    Doubt occurs in your mind while unbelief occurs in your spirit. Doubt comes by your thoughts and the imaginations of your mind. It is how you perceive things and what you do with random thoughts. It is what you assume and what you fear. Doubt has a foothold in what we think on consider and ponder.

    Doubt comes to diminish hope and even to dismantle hope. It comes to put hope aside. If hope is removed, then faith has nothing to create the evidence of things hoped for. You see doubt is as powerful as faith but has the opposite result. While doubt occurs in the mind, unbelief occurs in your spirit. Unbelief is not believing or engaging in spiritual truths that governor all things. Unbelief stops your faith working as well. It does this by not fully embracing truth by faith. Unbelief working hand in hand with doubt diminishes the possibilities of God and causes us to contemplate instead of engaging.

    This is why Apostle Paul tells us to be careful what we hear. He also said to take every though captive to the obedience of Christ. Casting down imaginations and everything that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. The knowledge of God is found in the truth of God. The imaginations are found in our mind. The real stronghold we are fighting is in our thought life. Whatever we allow to dominate will also create our reality. We can have facts, or we can have truths. We can have information, or we can experience life. We can have intellectual ascent or spirit ascent.

    I hope this short teaching will provoke you to take a look at the possibility of your own areas of doubt and unbelief and turn them around to be assurance and full faith believing. Like Abraham its time we become fully persuaded of some things in our own lives.

  • Hubs, Centers, Prayer Centers, Revival Centers

    This morning, I woke up and the Lord told me to write about kingdom centers, hubs, revival hubs, prayer hubs etc. I have written on this many times and even have a book on it many use as a handbook. All of these are titles for expressions of ministries outside of a typical church setting. Churches are places of nurturing for life. These centers are more for the advancement of Kingdom causes. Most offer more than a church can offer as well. In the 1970’s these were called parachurch ministries, meaning they stood alongside churches and did what churches refused to do, but more like what they couldn’t do or did not have the capability to do.

    I started ministry with a church expression. That really was all there was in the 1990’s. If you were called to fulltime ministry, then you went this path. But after seeing the conflict in my people and coming to my own realization of my true call of apostle, I resigned from the church I started and told the people we were going to become an Apostolic Kingdom Center. Our current center has stood the test of time, first as a regional center in a corner of our state and now with a state wide call in the center of the state at the capital.

    We started out as a center in 1995. At that time there was no center in my state of Iowa and few in the United States. I was persecuted by people, churches distanced themselves, people thought we were starting a spin off cult. I paid a high price to work through what I knew God wanted to do. But there were people who came. We started a accredited school, traveled our state doing meetings and helped places and people who had struggled with real answers. We invested into many cities and towns. We helped with church splits, churches dissolving and a host of issues. At the same time we were pressing for an awakening to come forth. But many rejected the apostolic and the center we had established.

    I began traveling the United States speaking at conferences and finding others with this same heart. Over the years this has led me helping probably no less that 30-40 people start centers and give words to what they had in their heart. Some started Bbile schools as well for training. We helped with that as well, having an accredited school at one time. Today as I travel and speak I literally spend time talking to someone at every conference desiring to start a center or hub for their region. Some contact me later to discuss things in detail. This is the history I have to speak to the following.

    So here is a description of Kingdom Centers, Hubs, Revival Hubs, Prayer Hubs or whatever title might be used. I’ll just call them Hubs since this is the current word being thrown around.  Hubs first should have a large vision that encompasses all the other visions of those attending. Unlike a church you go to serve the vision of the church, a hub has a vison for the person who attend. The vision of the hub is large enough to encompass all the other visions people carry into the hub. Hubs are looking to see how to release the hidden potential in a person. Some offer opportunities that cannot be found in a local church.

    Centers all carry certain dynamics. These are just a few.

    1. Deep kingdom teaching with generally a set teacher or a series of teachers. This comes many times by a school of ministry being formed from the teaching grace. Some have leadership training. Life skills and worship team development. Others may be focused on a specific area of culture. But all have teaching, and it is not just regular teaching of foundations. It is a kingdom focused revelatory teaching. This sets the hub as the standard.
    2. Solid doctrine. Teaching is paramount but solid doctrine is more. Of all the things the early church fathers were concerned about was solid doctrine. The second generation of apostles were constantly fighting for authenticity. By the third-generation men were drawing people to themselves by words that sounded good but had mixture. You will find no mixture in a Hub. There is great focus upon a solidness in what is taught as it will be reproduced over and over.
    3. Activation. If you are teaching, then you also need activation into what has been taught. This is making things have a certain reality that moves from concepts to practical application. Hubs look at each person as having  a place to be productive. There are not consumers but investors.
    4. Opportunity. To activate there must be opportunity. With opportunity comes privilege. A hub creates opportunities of activation and responsibility. This generally comes through the activation of the dreams of the people. Their vision gets empowered, and the hub begins to branch outward in ministry.
    5. Empowerment is by seeing the value in each person and who they can become. It is having a vision for them as an individual and also in a corporate body. It is believing in the person and knowing them.
    6. Grace Dynamics. This is seen as all five graces of Ephesians 4 are seen to some degree or another. This mix causes a balanced approach and forms a true kingdom community of believers whose hearts are knit in love and concern. These graces are the catalyst to a creative atmosphere as well.

    These are just a few of the ways Hubs operate. But most churches see them as competitive to their own vision, culture and community. Hubs are formed to bring and do what most churches may not have capacity for. Churches have boundaries to protect their culture. Hubs have boundaries to protect doctrine and truths. Some churches act like Hubs and probably will develop into them. I have helped many make this transition, to help them realize the struggles that come. Many times, you lose people due to the standard being raised. Commitment to a Hub and possibly a church also occurs. People become conflicted. Money is indeed another problem as most give to an institution than a Hub. Most Hubs fail due to lack of finances.

    Many times, people who attend Hubs have no real church home and become the core group of a center. This will help with some of the problems and may create others. Why did they not fit in a local church. Are there areas in their life needing to be addressed? Possibly. Sometimes they come thinking it is a place they will shine or stand out.

    Hubs each seem to have a specific assignment, and many have personal preferences of styles of worship, certain causes people rally around and maybe even a prayer focus. I don’t look at these as hubs because the vision is too singular and not all inclusive. Hubs are aware of all cultural issues and are looking at ways to shift or affect the culture. They are not looking for easing the problem but finding the root issues and addressing them. They encompass all the concerns and causes but hold them balance. The word and kingdom are foremost focus with Christ as the one orchestrating.

    Many look at the church in Antioch as a model of a center or hub. But the real Kingdom center was Ephesus. Antioch was a culture crossroads and was filled with idolatry. It was actually a demonic center. Paul taught there and established a solid group of kingdom people. But Ephesus influenced Rome with its idolatry. Ephesus was also a place of cultural influence but was a crossroads to the rest of the known world. From Ephesus Paul would branch out and spread the kingdom.

    Hubs should have an apostle overseeing them. All should be apostolic but that does not mean that an apostle is resident. It means they have come under an apostles grace a set apostle carries. That is key because apostles have been given authority to them within regions, territories states and even nations. They carry a certain grace pertaining to their assignment. Regions have graces to draw on that hold the answers people and leaders need. To deny this grace is to deny Christ set order.  Myself I know I carry certain graces, one being an advancing grace. I also carry an atmosphere shifting grace. This grace brings the Spirit of Understanding as well. These are just a few. These dynamics are what cause expansions for those who engage and embrace it. If people don’t the grace is still present, just inactive or not to fullness.

    Hubs are started not by a need for them, nor are they started because of being offended at churches. They are not started because of opportunity, nor because you cannot find a place to minister. They are God ordained and spiritually confirmed by other leaders. Most require the apostles active grace to even begin properly on solid doctrinal foundations. Of the dozens and dozens of hubs and centers I have seen and helped the ones who made it were truly ordained by God. The others seemed to fade away over time. It takes a pioneering spirit, a building anointing, a prophetic visionary type person. It requires great faith as well. Hubs and centers become great places of resources to a region, especially in spiritual activity, equipping and teaching. They extend these activities into other regions as well.

    What I have experienced is many times church leaders don’t want to embrace what hubs and centers have to offer. It can reveal lack in their own ministries and the fear of losing people seems to keep them at a distance. Yet what centers and hubs offer is a great resource to make the role of pastor easier because people have been matured. Centers and hubs maintain high standards and are places of doctrinal security. Especially if they have a ministry school, they realize what is taught will be reproduced over and over. They don’t want more error being taught so doctrinal standards are maintained. If centers and hubs were embraced, the whole Body of Christ will be better off. It becomes the training ground for future leaders.

  • Defining Biblical Church

    Today we have many different concepts of church. We have the biblical definition of the ecclesia. We then have differing opinions of the original Greek word. We then have denominationalism and the 45,000 flavors and branches and splintering’s. Yes, you read right 45,000. Then we have the moral mixture of LGBT etc. We then have the different tags of seeker friendly, hyper grace, Pentecostal, Charismatic, Kingdom, Apostolic etc. As we look at each of these how do we really know if it is a church by Gods standards. After all that is what really counts.

    In each of these can be found a measure of truth. Some are closer to full truth than others. Some have mixed truth with personal preferences. Others have a mixture of truth and man-made doctrines. Still others just have manmade structures. An unbeliever is becoming increasingly confused about what to believe as we keep allowing cultural influences to define what we believe. We are close to going over the edge of just having an open believe system.

    Part of this is due to no apostolic bible-based accountability. Another part is secondhand truth due to a busy society that demands more time than we have, so our pursuit of studying Gods truths is secondary. It also is due to so many translations of the bible which have moved from word to word to thought to thought to paraphrased and finally opinion.

    So, I want to endeavor to give you what the Holy Spirit said to me on this. I have tried to define the church we see or should see many times. I see the unbalance and not conformity of one new man in the body of Christ as well. I start the journey looking at the original intentions of God in the church birthed at Pentecost. The first church everyone was truly born again, truly water baptized and received the mind of Christ, truly was filled with the spirit. This way they saw the kingdom John 3.3 and entered the kingdom John 3.5. These three things were foundational and authentic. They also brought union with Christ and formed one body around the understanding of these truths and the experiences these truths brought. No one in the early church had a belief of not being spirit filled.

    Just because the name church is on the name and the IRS papers are filed does not automatically make something Bible based. It does make them recognized as a religious organization or institute. I believe this definition would cover the majority of what we see with signage and religious rituals and practices. The question I have is do we think Jesus and the early apostles would approve the current definitions of church?

    Many people are in pre-new birth, seeking and practicing religion, but not placed in the true one body. Religion binds the individual to a hopelessness of sin. “The Faith” frees the person into a kingdom destiny and purpose. What seems to go on is people deciding what is the best fit for what they belief vs being fit by how God would fit them in. The early apostles would die for “The faith”. Wonder how many leaders of religion and faith are willing to die for what they believe? Maybe that sorts some things out as well.

    The church today is like the church of Thyatira in Rev. 2:18. We have done many things and have kept people busy doing things. Works, charity, service, faith and patience are all listed in the Rev. 2:19. But works is listed twice. We have gotten caught up in the activity of ministry. The superstardom of ministry. We have allowed Jezebel, which is a spirit, room in our activities. We have created false prophets and even false ministries. We have not solid doctrine V.24. But I think most of us can sort out what is wrong. But can we find answers that are correct or give better definition?

    1 Corinthians 12:12 — 12 For as the body is one, and hath many members, and all the members of that one body, being many, are one body: so also is Christ.

    The Christ is the Head and we are the members of one Body. Christ does not join himself to a harlot, or a prostitute. He joins himself with those who have been redeemed. The body is not all who say they are even Christian. The body is all those born again and have started the journey of salvation, walked away from sin, and embraced the provision of the finished work of the cross. This defines the activity of redemption that leads to the infilling of the spirit. These two are the beginning definition of the church or ecclesia as we know it. As we remove church from our vocabulary of what we currently say is church and say Body of Christ it becomes even more evident of how God may view what He is building. His goal is to build a body into a governing dimension he called ecclesia. Now we have a third definition.

    Ephesians 4:1–7 — 1 I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2 With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3 Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4 There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5 One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6 One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all. 7 But unto every one of us is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ.

    The Holy Spirits focus is not just on the individual as separated from others but as connected to the whole corporate one new man being created. The Holy spirits role is to build “One New Man”. The Holy Spirit knows this will be the full expression of Christ. This new man is created in holiness, because of the process of redemption and Holy spirit infilling and activity. This is not embracing any and all belief systems for the sake of unity. Unity is no concern to God but union with Christ. This is the fourth definition, who is reflecting union with Christ and reflecting his image, and not a tainted image of our preferences or own belief system.

    Ephesians 1:23 — 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

    His body is the expression of his fulness. This fullness fills each other as we gather. The whole connected body that is filled to full with Holy Spirit is “The church” and there is no other church. So, what Holy Spirit showed me is the biblical definition of church is:

    A redeemed body that is reflecting and evolving, regenerating and reproducing the very image of Christ not just each individually but corporately. This is done by the regenerating work of the Holy Spirit forming the exact image of Christ individually for a corporate expression. Once that image is formed, they become an ecclesia that is ruling and reigning. This is the only church that God recognizes, which is first a living Body filled with the life of God according to biblical president and truth. The Holy Spirit first introduces Christ into the believer, and in so doing He is forming in all who believe one Christ, constituting one Body, and that is the Church as in the New Testament. It must be redeemed, it must be filled with Holy Spirit, it must come into governing, it must reflect Christ image.

    You see it not the things you do…. It is the reflection of Christ and the Holy spirits activity. Without these you are apostate. It is the battle between Freedom verses Religion and Life verse Ritual.

  • The Power of Words

    1 Corinthians 14:9 “So likewise ye, except ye utter by the tongue words easy to be understood, how shall it be known what is spoken? For ye shall speak into the air.”

    In today’s culture, we have so many slang terms. If you are like me, you might find yourself looking them up online in the slang dictionary! Words carry power, yes, but each word also has a specific meaning that we are trying to convey.

    In the body of Christ, we often interchange words loosely, thinking we are saying the same thing, but we’re not. Many have joked that we need a dictionary for our “Christianese.” When you call out the exact meaning of a word someone used out of context, they might brush it off saying, “Well, you know what I mean.” Yes, I think I know, but actually, I don’t.

    When Jesus and the apostles spoke, they did so with precision, having carefully thought out what they wanted to say. They were slow to speak and quick to hear. They chose their words carefully, understanding that what was said or written would be scrutinized to grasp its exact meaning.

    Today, we often rely on a second-hand gospel that does not compel us to study to show ourselves approved. We simply accept whatever doctrine is passed down and do not verify its truth. Consequently, many interpretations of scripture are inaccurate, and some are even untrue. This leads to a loss of meaning, causing us to come to our own conclusions, often misled. We have lost the art of deductive reasoning and replaced it with Google, creating an open belief system.

    The problem we face is a loss of vocabulary. During William Shakespeare’s time, the average person had a vocabulary of about 57,000 words. Many were very descriptive to convey the thought presented. Today, that number has dwindled to about 3,500. Even I did not like to read. I barely passed English, vocabulary, and speech classes in school. Yet, here I am today, authoring books, blogs, creating content, and speaking at conferences. What changed when I got born again was that I started a new life—a life of excellence, defining who God is and how I fit into His plan.

    This new life required me to pursue excellence in everything. It required study, discovery, meditation on God’s word, and many other disciplines. But overall, it birthed in me a desire to delve deep into the origin of words, understanding their development, and unlocking the mysteries they held about the creator. Ezekiel described his heavenly vision as “like unto” and having “the appearance of,” indicating his struggle to find words. Paul said he saw things he could not speak of. Both men lacked the words to convey the grandeur of God. Today we too lack the vocabulary to properly convey spiritual truths. This happens to me sometimes as I come to not having the right vocabulary.

    2 Timothy 2:15 “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”

    Today, we have so many “experts” on what the Bible says. Most are not learned in hermeneutics, exegesis, or other theological disciplines. Many do not even know what these words mean, yet they want to correct those who are well-studied. I have discovered that many words mean something completely different than the sentences we form around them. Before I introduce a new, misunderstood area, I engage in extensive study. Topics like Eschatology, Kingdom, Apostolic, and the Realms of God have required over 150 hours of study each before I felt ready to teach on them. I find if I study the words used in scripture, I find hidden meanings never mentioned that sheds new light onto the overall truth. We have a responsibility in what we reproduce.

    The reality of reproduction hit me hard when we had our international school network with sixty schools and 3,000 students graduating yearly. Most graduates started churches, often before even graduating. If each church averaged one hundred people, that is 300,000 people influenced yearly by the words spoken. Over ten years, that is 3 million people. Talk about feeling the weight of responsibility!

    Matthew 12:36-37 “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”

    Words do carry meaning, but often, the definition is mixed with human reasoning, religious doctrines, and personal preferences. Terms like repent, kingdom, apostolic, revival, awakening, reformation, born again, salvation, water baptism, spirit baptism, and adoption are frequently used out of context. This lack of precision hinders spiritual growth and maturity. Accurate definition of these terms and others is crucial for proper understanding and spiritual development.

    Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he: Eat and drink, saith he to thee; But his heart is not with thee.”

    Like all hard questions, understanding the meaning of words requires a kingdom perspective. We use Greek and Hebrew to define words, but the language of Jesus’ time was Aramaic. The kingdom had come, and words were used to describe it. The Kingdom perspective brings a whole new meaning to the words used and the thought expressed. Like the word Ecclesia. Jesus used the term from the surrounding culture. It meant governmental rule to the Romans and to conquer and bring new territories into their culture. To others it was the senate who set laws. And still others it was city elders who settled disputes. Look how far away we are from this definition today.

    I want to encourage those in ministry to deepen their understanding and study to find the meaning of the words they convey. Define what needs to be said with clarity. Invest in tools that help create depth in you. As leaders, we reproduce what we do—the good, the bad, and the ugly. Mis-defined truths lead to future battles and pride, while correctly defined truths create freedom for others. It is about the living legacy we are all responsible for passing on accurately.

  • Pressing Forward

    Galatians 6:9  And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

    Many times, as leaders the desire to quit comes upon us. Recently several national leaders have been exposed for immorality and have stepped down from ministry. Some are resigning from ministry as they are sighting things that occurred decades ago in their lives. But if true repentance occurred, does it take such a drastic move as to resign now? Or as leaders are they just tired of the battles? Are they ready to step away and don’t know how? I makes me wonder, even though it maybe self-exposing, there is a “I just don’t care anymore attitude” and this is a way out ?

    Every leader faces the moments of quitting. Looking at the cost and weighing the fruitfulness. Even if things are fruitful is there appreciation for the sacrifices that have been given? If appreciation is there, are the results too small to justify all that is required. I’ve been there many times. Early in the ministry my wife was the admin for our school and ministry. We went through seasons of going to each other’s offices and resigning. It became a joke between us but had some truth to it. There are several moments in ministry they have actually documented when a decision of going forward or walking away occurs. At 5 years the first zeal and excitement of ministry is fading and reality sets in. At 15 years the mundane is setting in. 25-30 years the toil of ministry is now wearing ministry leaders down. The percentages are extremely high (90% or so) of ministry leaders walking away at these time factors. What happens is we lose strength of youth and the wisdom and experience of the aged. The problem is separating ministry from personal walk, even though they overlap. The ministry is the assignment of God and not the actual life of the leader. Your private life is separate from ministry life and over time the boundaries become blurred.

    What I feel is the primary reason leaders get discouraged is they become the only one working the original vision gave. A leader can get discouraged as the product they are trying to finish (people) is constantly eluding them and unwilling to change or to work the vision. A certain complacency sets in during the absence of true excitement, and a natural routine emerges. It is inevitable that when there is no breakthrough the mundane becomes the norm and the heart loses hope. Many see Jeremiah this way as the weeping prophet. If anyone fought quitting it was him. He prophesied and did not see his words heeded or come to pass. He even was instructed by God to buy land knowing he to would come under the judgment of God by doing so. Yet to me he is the greatest example of hope. His hope was God would turn all things, even if he didn’t see the final result. He knew his effort would have an impact. If we all could just see our efforts this way. It’s having eternal vision.

    If you need the satisfaction at the end of the day like a typical builder of a home, or a painter etc. of a finished product to feel accomplished then ministry is maybe not a good fit for you. The product is in process, it just never reaches the point of finished. The results may be unfolding but at a slow pace.

    Every leader comes to a point of decision in the journey of the vision. Is the original vision from the Lord still a viable vision for the moment of time I’m living in? The answer is yes! The vison does not change but the players and workers might. The vision doesn’t change but the mission and steps of fulfillment may need adjusted.

    Habakkuk 2:3  For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.

    Waiting is what gets hard. Its hard to stay focused and stay in faith. But true faith is from the point of receiving vision to the point of its completion. During this time, all manner of things will come to derail faith. But the promise is it will not just come to pass but “surely come to pass”.

    But in the waiting many things are being perfected. Faith is the main thing getting perfected because all the others are flowing from this maintained action. Revelation comes and is released. Hearts are dealt with. Motives are exposed and tested. Commitments and willingness to sacrifice also comes into play. A long list of things that matures the body carrying vision and the leader presenting vision. Sometimes there is disobedience that slows the vision’s actions. But sometimes there is great obedience that accelerates it.

    A vision does not have to come to pass to be important. What is important is the journey the vision takes you on. The journey I have been on has been rewarding at times and others times challenging, even to the point of wanting to walk away. But the vision is still there beckoning. And along with the vision is a grace to fulfill it. If you quit and walk away, you come out from under the grace that is resting on your life in that area. That goes for a leader, and for those sent and placed by God to fulfill vision.

    If you feel like quitting today stop and evaluate your personal journey not the fulfillment of what you set out to do. What was formed in you that could not be formed any other way? What revelations did you gain and who did you meet in this pathway? A fulfilled vision is a moment of success. A person changed is a lifetime of re-living a victorious pursuit. Once you separate the assignment from your personal walk you then can appreciate your personal relationship with God even more. This is what has been happening to me over the last 2 years. I’m amazed at what has occurred in the ministry but still feel disappointed as well. But in my personal life I’m just simply amazed. I am thankful to see my grandchildren raised in a Godly atmosphere and seeing them have encounters. I am thankful for my health. I’m thankful for the journey and amazed at who I have met, places I have been and things I have seen. I have seen every miracle in the bible. Storms standing still and being subject to our command. Witches crying out for salvation. Limbs growing, eyes opening, deaf hearing and the dead raised. I have seen portals of hell closed and curses over land and people not just broken but reversed. I have experienced God in many ways people would love to have opportunity, but I not only got opportunity, it went way beyond that. My final thoughts lately are I may not have fulfilled the vision, I may not show the success by which some judge, but God has been successful in my life having His way!