Category Archives: Leadership Principles

Seed or Heart of Awakening?

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Today the Lord was speaking to me and said, “Do you have the seeds of awakening within you?” I thought on this for a few minutes but did not respond. Internally I could say yes. The seeds are definitely there. The word has been awakened to me, even for years. I have seen and experience Gods spirit and presence in very tangible ways. I even wear a ring with a drop of oil in it that came down from heaven in a meeting. Surely the seeds are there.

Then the Lord asked “Or do you have the heart of awakening?” I pondered this question. Much like many God asked in times past. The Lord then said to me “many can have the seeds of awakening. These are the ones who plant the concepts, the desires for, and the expectations that moves faith.  Many can carry the seeds but can they carry the heart of awakening?”

As I pondered this I came to these conclusions. The heart of awakening is the burning passion and even burden that cannot live without it. It is carrying something that brings life to the seeds planted. The heart of awakening has the life flow within it. It has the seed, the watering and the knowing how to step aside as only God can bring the increase. Many that have the seeds might try and birth forth only what God can truly bring to life. But for those who have the heart of awakening they are being seed planters in this hour, waiting for hearts as fertile soil to allow the seeds to take hold. The real call for those who have the heart of awakening is to water the seeds that awakening would spring forth in the earth.

The Lord then spoke to me and said “You have the heart of awakening inside you. The heart of awakening is formed as many seeds of awakening have been planted. These seeds have taken over not just a part of your heart but your whole heart. In this hour the internal struggle is you have been a seed planter and this has been your first season. Your second season will be your heart releasing awakening. The transition is moving from releasing seed to releasing water, the flow of the spirit. Awakening is not just seeds, but spiritual life flow. Many are thinking the seeds is the awakening. The awakening will come from the seeds. It will not look like the seed. It will spring forth but take different shape. Even as it appears it will not yet be seen what it shall truly look like. Is this not how my heart is? You know it but its appearing on the earth is different than expected.”

Culture is defined by the adoption of values and beliefs!

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“US culture has been defined by less than 500 intellectual cultural philosophers who influence 7 gates and supporting networks since our birth as a nation.” – Randall Collins, a sociologist and author of Discovery of Society

Culture is defined by the adoption of values and beliefs. These values are accepted or rejected by who resolves the problems and issues of the day. The greater the problem resolved the greater the influence a person gains. We must learn how to reframe the debate! It is not about donkey and elephant, it’s about lion and lamb. No political candidate will EVER resolve the current problems.

With a  national debt that would require $180,000 per individual to retire the debt of 16 trillion, and total debt obligation of 202 trillion, do you honestly think any person, any candidate has the wisdom to make any difference. There is only one who can shift all things and the economic woes of America will disappear when awakening occurs. Entitlement mentality will go, an industrial revolution will occur as witty inventions are formed at alarming speeds. A shift of values will shift culture. Abortions will end, poverty will be met with. Crime will drop and loss of property will stop through natural disasters as God’s blessing will rest upon a nation once again.

The political divide that has occurred in the body of Christ over this election is appalling to say the least and damaging to the unsaved to say the most. I have seen so many take a political stance with more passion than they have for their Lord and savior and the only one true answer. How foolish we appear in the eyes of God. How soulish we have become for our comfort. The world is looking to us and they see us once again divided at times. We should be crying out from mercy from above and a move of God. All things we are upset with in this hour are because of lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes and pride of life. All things we need fixing is because of an unwillingness to live a disciplined life. As I just heard this week “Awakening is intentional and not something we wait for” It comes when we start doing what God requires of us. Instead of say if God tells me to fast, to pray, etc, we align with His word and do what he has said. He said WHEN  you fast and pray, when ….. then God will react and move. We become the portal though which heaven can move through.

The greater the problem resolved the greater the influence. Body of Christ we are not having influence because we are not bringing answers to the table. We must both value and believe we have answers. We must not just give lip service and some well thought out dissertation from the tree of knowledge, like we are hearing now. We must be willing to put action to words which requires the tree of life. Amazing how many are voicing so many things politically but no real action. I don’t know if they are trying to convince masses without deeds, or trying to convince themselves the compromises they must make are justified.

The same things needing answered in the government is needed in the church. Leaders with integrity and wisdom. Structure. Disciplined lifestyle etc. We have the greatest of all answer to touch all things. The one for the longing of the soul. The one who will fill every need, every desire and bring peace in the midst of storms, acceptance in rejection and friendship in loneliness.  Let us vote for kingdom principles. Let us vote for the greatest place heaven can have a chance of flowing through! Let us also realize the spiritual government of our Lord and creator, the one we say we have our rights truly from, supersedes any man made government that has evolved. Seek the Kingdom first and all these things will be added to you!

Hold Fast Oh Voices of God

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We must not lose heart in this hour. We must not give into the spirit of “dismay.” ( Ezekiel  2:6) We must not allow fathers to consume their sons by undue demands beyond true relationships. And sons to be in a place of consuming their fathers with lives not redeemed in areas. ( Ezekiel 5:10 )Our Faces must be set at this time before cities (Ezekiel 4:3) we must prophecy against it. We must know there is a spirit of deception meeting in cities to plan how to deceive. There are many rebellious in His house and in the nations. (Ezekiel 8:6) We have blown the trumpet to sound the trumpet of preparedness, but not many have responded. ( Ezekiel 7:14) Our nation rest in economic collapse ( Ezekiel 7:12-13).

Though they are rebellious and stiff necked. (Ezekiel 3:14)    Though the idol of music called worship and baal and other abominations that have defiled the temple and made it unholy. ( Ezekiel  8:8-12 ) has not shifted His glory resting over it. It is standing still at times stable, as the throne over whatever transitional place we are at. (Ezekiel 3:23)   It is moving at times, to move us further. (Ezekiel 10:4)

The hand of the Lord is strong upon us. (Ezekiel 3:14)  Stronger than we realize. We can access the courts of heaven of our God. (Ezekiel 8:16)   He has made our foreheads and faces stronger then the faces and foreheads of our enemy. ( Ezekiel 3:8) We will hear his voice, (Ezekiel 3:16)receive his breath (Ezekiel 3:27) and see his glory. (Ezekiel 3: 10) His glory will shift us and move us and finish in us what His dabar over us has declared. (Ezekiel 3:17) We will find the hidden doors of God and revelation and mystery’s will unfold. (Ezekiel 8:8) We have authority over cities (Ezekiel 9:1) As we exercise our authority, then God can move in our cities.

God will siege the cities to the degree we decide to siege the cities. We must prophecy and decree. (Ezekiel 4:7) He will bring coals from the alter and scatter them in our cities. (Ezekiel 10:2)  He will show His glory. (Ezekiel 10:4) We will hear the sounds of heaven. (Ezekiel 10:5)    He will open ancient ways to us. He will open his word as honeycomb to us. (Ezekiel 3:3) He will bring the mark upon our heads, as we cry out against the abominations. (Ezekiel 9:4) He will cleanse, He will speak. He will do as He sees fit.

We must go both in bitterness and the heat of the sprit in this hour. The bitterness of a rebellious house and sinful world, the heat of His spirit burning within us wether they listen or not. ( Ezekiel 3:14) We must eat the roll that he has provided, so a sweetness is in our mouth. ( Ezekiel 3:3)The ancient house of God has not moved or dissolved. Its elders remain. The court is in place. The door of invitation still remains.  Draw near. Come close. Go through. Be marked for God. Be His Voice!!!

Heartaches of Spiritual Fathering

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This post is for those spiritual fathers who have invested time and life into spiritual sons and daughters. Many of us have had great disappointments and frustrations at times over the low or no return on all that is invested in persons live. There is an expectation, and rightfully so, of a return on the investment. But many times we either do not see it or the return is slow in coming.

Coming from experience in this area there are several reasons a person does not seem to produce fruit with what we teach or invest. The lack of movement on a son or daughter is not due so much to a father teaching something wrong but what that son or daughter is willing to do with it. Many times we are looking for them, as the hope of a spiritual father, to excel in spiritual dynamics. We need to be realistic and ask if what is asked of them is within their potential? Is it out of their understanding or gifting? Or are they in rebellion or pride etc. Probably more than the lack of fulfillment of seeing sons or daughters excel is the heart ace of abandonment in relationship.

This has happened to me many times and as a spiritual father it is one of the most gut wrenching things that can happen to you. It is easy to say with words one thing but far different when words have to be backed by actions. In the relationship of those who did walk away I wish I could say they have been restored or the people went on to great things for God. But the majority of the time it is the opposite. I have seen those who walk away go backward in their walk with God. A lose of anointing and even spiritual understand seems to cloud them at times. Some ended up self deceived, while others became a part of worldliness again. When these things occur spiritual fathers reexamine what happened, why it happened and does a self examination of the relationship.

What we as spiritual fathers must realize is for every 1 that stops process or walks away there are 10 more desiring a chance of investment. Will we continue to mourn for the one when 10 more really want it? Jesus had multitudes following and it came down to 12. Paul had a great following but in the end only a handful stood with him. God always reduces things to what is most precious and valuable. Those that remain, though it seems unlikely, will be the ones to keep all things sustained.

I will leave you with this encouragement. I have seen some heartfelt repentance from sons and daughters who were at one time connected. Though it took years for God to work things in hearts the relationship was restored. This has to be the greatest joy a Spiritual father can experience as those who are prodigal and self orphaned request to be adopted again in fellowship.

Worship Leading not Performing, Selahs, Moravians

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I felt like I needed to write some things about worship and specifically worship leading. Just like a leader who oversees a service so a worship leader is overseeing a segment of that service. Worship is about 50% of every service and good flowing worship will either prepare hearts or make hearts distant from God.

Worship is to be an expression of the heart and for a worship leader their heart must be right to lead others and release others hearts as well. If a worship leader is distant from God or not connected then the only place you can lead people is into that disconnect as well. As my son says the only place you lead people is to the place you are at.

In scripture the worship leaders in David’s Tabernacle were called “masters of the song”. This in Hebrew translates “Carries of the prophetic burden” Worship is more than songs being sung or a time for a person to perform or showcase themselves, but worship is fulfilling an ongoing plan of God of connecting with His people and His people connecting with him.

The practical’s need to be in place before we go into deeper veins of spontaneous free flowing worship. Some of these are introducing new songs after familiars songs are sung. Avoid long instrumentation, unless an atmosphere of reflection has been established. Seeing what songs are “connecting’ or have an anointing upon them for that time and then working around these. Also songs with lots of words, or musical transitions, a lot of times stop the flow of worship in a person heart. This has more to deal with selection and song writing but is something to be aware of. Also knowing when a set is over by judging the room and if people are connected or not. Just because there is a song set does not mean that set has to be done.

The goal of worship is not to practice worship, perform worship, or get your own way as a worship leader, but to bring people into an encounter with God and make an atmosphere that people can express their hearts. In other words the practical’s need done before we move onto greater things.

There are three descriptions about what we sing in scripture. A psalm is a prewritten set piece of music. A hymn is a spontaneous singing of past songs. A spiritual song is spontaneous singing of a new song. A new song is the place of life, and the breath of God is released into people’s hearts.

Once we are doing the practical’s we then can move on into spontaneous songs and specifically the technique of the Selah’s. The word Selah is generally translated a pause or reflection. A further examination of the word we actually see it has those descriptions but it means to hold the musical pause or reflection under tension until the next prophetic dimension is released. It actually has nothing to do with mediating upon what has been said etc.  Since worship leaders are carriers of a prophetic burden it would make sense that prophetic tensions would be part of leading in songs. Worship leaders need to learn to hold these tensions until the next one is released to maintain an ongoing ever expanding dynamic of worship in a worship set.

The Moravian’s were skillful in both creating these spontaneous songs and also in holding prophetic tensions with instruments. Their understanding of these tensions made them seek ways to hold tensions with instruments and hence they invented the pipe organ and the trombone among others.  The Moravian’s were the first to establish 24 hour worship and maintained it for almost 100 years! To be a worship leader in their meeting you had to be able to connect 15 hymns in a row with a spontaneous song in between each one! This creative flow they operated in, led them to building instruments for musical tensions, and the spontaneous creative flow opened a door way of 3500 new songs being released yearly. Because of the heart of worship being so deep in them they memorized both the music and words to all of these. Think of that next time you have to look at an overhead while in worship and let’s open up greater dimensions of worship in our hearts much like the Moravian’s and their followers.

Common, Unclean, Dishonoring

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Hebrews 12:14 —14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:

Today we have so many topics we hear preached on but one, holiness. We just did a weekend in this area and for many it was an eye opener. We are just not as holy as we think we are. The Bible says to follow holiness which without no man will see God. A current generation is desiring to see God. The word “See” means with the actual eye. It is the word we get optometrist from. And following means to purse, run after, to press into.

For the most part we view holiness by definition. Holy means to be set part, consecrated etc. It is a process we enter into at salvation. But holiness means the process has come to a point of existence or is completed. The main reason we seem to be stuck in consecration or sanctification is because we remain at the cross instead of desiring to go to the throne. The cross is more than salvation and freedom from sin. If that was the totality of what it represents then we are hopeless indeed. The cross is the beginning of living a holy life to become holiness before God. The cross focuses on us and the throne on Him. For the most part we want to continue in sin or in what we know to be unclean or profane, knowing there is a provision of forgiveness, mercy and grace. The cross starts a process of becoming clean before God. As were the throne is a present tense cleansed.

So the question is why are we not moving from cross to throne, from a process of being holy to a process of holiness. There e is a very simple reason. When we see holy and holiness in scripture we also see other words along side, unclean and profane. We immediately jump to the simple conclusion we know what is unclean, or profane and thus we know what holiness is. It is the opposites of these. But the definition of these words carries far more weight. You see what has happened is we have taken holy things and polluted them. We have made holy things common and thus made them unholy. We do not have reference for God, His spirit, His word, His worship, His leaders etc. We have grown accustomed to things and we no longer hold them as valuable. The words unclean also means to take away honor were honor was once given. It means to take away the purity of something and make it COMMMON!

Even the cross has become common place. Salvation has become simple and all-inclusive instead of exclusive. We have 2 main types of meetings as believers, cross and spirit. Cross being son, self and overcoming problems and sin. Spirit being gifts, manifestations and teaching. We do not have “Father God” type meetings. (Fathers loves – Toronto is cross meetings) I am talking about the holiness of God, awe-struck, sovereign presence, breath of God type meetings. We love to hang in cross and spirit meetings because nothing is really required out of us. We don’t have to live a disciplined life to participate. But Father meetings requires only the holy approach. We have seen revivals and moves of God around the cross and spirit but not fully around the Father. The awakening that is coming will encompass all three and bring the fullness of Holiness.

The most defining thing of why we no longer see holiness, is things that should be holy are treated as common. We believe meetings and gatherings will just be “common” so we don’t attend. We believe there is no value in attending, or if we do go we don’t really participate whole heartedly. Our conversations are unholy in Gatherings as we talk not about kingdom but what is common. Our actions, our thoughts, drift into worldly things Even that which should be holy we treat as common, such as communion, preaching, worship.  When we look upon the world we have no standard of holiness, so we view the world differently and define what is unclean not by Biblical terminology but by cultural acceptable terminology. As Leonard Ravenhill put it, “it is no longer adultery, it is having an affair. It is no longer fornication; it is sex outside of marriage. We have taken the sting out of sin”. Sin has become to familiar with and common as well.  We no longer call things in the world unholy or unclean. We open the door to all to come and join in with a meeting that is supposed to be Holy and we wonder why God is not showing up.

We need to search our hearts and see the places we have made God common. Where have we not showed honor and thus allowed unholiness or that which is unclean to come in.  Leaders preach a message on holiness and see what God will do as you restore things back to being uncommon and clean again.

What Does God Say?

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Today I woke up fighting overwhelming discouragement. I have fought this before but today it was so much stronger than any time in the past. As I wrestled with this, the desire to just quit was the thing I was fighting. I was remembering the prophetic words over my life. The mandate for the state the Lord had spoken. I was also reflecting on the suffering over the years and the things I have had to endure. I know another race is in front of me. Do I have the strength to run it? Will the words be fulfilled or would another end up finishing for me? Am I truly a wise master builder? If others are not running with me I just don’t know if I can do this next leg. Where are the prophets who are to be standing alongside me?  Will anyone run with me? Am I going alone? I know what God has said but it sure seems to be not unfolding. I guess today like David I must encouragement myself again in the Lord.

As I started to write this and got the first paragraph typed out the phone rings. A prophet from another state calls me directed by God to call at that exact moment. He speaks prophetically to me for 20 minutes. He knows nothing and I have had no conversation with him for some time. He starts by a warning of the prophetic attack now started against those young ones under me. (confirming what God was showing me last night)That I have been appointed to pray for them (God spoke this in the night for me to step things up)and this is why I today have felt such an attack.  He speaks the exact scripture God called me with Luke 4:18. He speaks of who I am to minister to. He sees a vision and gives this to me. He speaks of the forerunner call, the investment of God and the Holiness needed. (Holiness is my focus and God is giving me much deep revelation on it recently).  When it is all done the discouragement is lifted and I am ready to face the day.

Some times when we hit the wall like this God steps in and bring you back on course. He knows what we can endure and the breaking point as well. He also can send anyone, at anytime, from any distance, to speak directly to us with a sure word, on time and filled with Him. If you are fighting discouragement God knows your heart and he will send His voice to you once again. He will never give up on the destiny of our lives. It is the carnal mind that fights against God. The warfare rest there. Let your heart connect with His heart and there will be no room for discouragement.

Running to Finish or Obtain?

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Today I have been thinking on the race I am starting, the second of my life. First race seem to be filled with great accomplishments. I have wondered will I accomplish the same things in the second race. Will I traveled to more nations, the greater exploits, see God do the miraculous in greater power, or with the second leg of the journey of my life not be as productive as the first. I feel I am starting out slow and hope to pick up speed. I was reminded of Paul who said to run as to obtain.

1 Corinthians 9:24 (KJV 1900) — 24 Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.

He never even thought about saying run as to finish.  I know that we are always telling people that they must run as if to win, but I believe we don’t really understand what Paul’s talking about.

The word prize strictly relates to character being built in person. Paul is referring to the race that was to be ran was not just something that we could see an accomplishment at the finish line, but realize there was character and things being built in our life and spirit in the process of running. This hidden prize was more important than any accomplishment that people could see. Most people want to cross the finish line, but many don’t want to run a race that requires a dealing in their life and character. The prize is something that is given to show that something has been attained. Paul did not say that when you finish you receive the prize, but was referring to something greater being obtained than trophy at the end of the race.

Paul goes on to say that you obtain. The word obtain means to apprehend or comprehend something. It means to literally be overtaken, seize upon and take possession of your own. It refers to Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit influencing and laying hold of our mind and will in order that he could govern it. Paul both told us what the prize was and how the runner was to run the race that was set before him. As all runners run in a race many times it comes down to the will of the person if they will decide to finish strong. Of over 400 men in the Bible only 80 are recorded as finishing strong in the race they were given. We look at the three missionary journeys that Paul took in his life as great accomplishments of races that he has ran. We see churches birthed, converts, deliverances, and yet  what Paul is referring to is not his accomplishments of  traveling to nations, or confronting religious structures of the day. Paul was referring to a hidden work that was being accomplished in his heart as he was yielding his will to the will of the father. If we look at Paul’s journeys not so much as a journey of travel, but a journey of the dealings of God concerning Paul’s will being yielded to the fathers, we can see a deep work that was accomplished as Paul saw the prize that was laid before him and ran  in such a way to obtain!

Every athlete goes into intense training for years, and that training is lengthened based on the importance of the race that’s to be ran. It’s easy to run some simple short races, when they aren’t really that important to the overall scheme of life. Obtaining  requires a mindset of discipline, training, and understanding of the race you are on, the things that are competing against you, and a strategy of exactly how you will run that race.

Fathering, Sufferings, Restoring Hearts

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I just want to share my heart on some things as I reflect today of all those invested into. I am reflecting back on the multitude of pastors overseas, the students in our school of ministry and the current group of connections. One thing that seems to happen is different people connect in different season and for some reason then disconnect I have to honestly say I don’t see a kingdom pattern for the disconnect. Paul connected with Timothy for a life time. The 12 apostles hung around  together. Paul had certain teams who were still connected with him. But still Paul had those who abandoned him while in prison. It was only a handful who remained with him to the end! So what causes the disconnect?

As I am going to my 35 class reunion this weekend, I just got word of the death of a man who was a classmate of my son, who graduated from the same high school I did. He did not see his 15 reunion.  A young life taken so quickly and unexpected. I thought of the parents and grief their heart must be feeling. I thought of the wife and young child left. How does a heart go forth without becoming callused? How do you not become disheartened with life?

I know Paul and Jesus felt this same type of lost concerning those they had invested in and a nurtured in  spiritual growth. We say it is not permanent like a natural death when one walks away. But in many ways the eternal consequences could be the same.  The Father of the prodigal son must have felt some of the same feelings of lose as he stated my “son who once was lost is now found”. He had hope of the return as he was looking for him, but I imagine his faith had to supersede his disheartened state.  He was suffering as he carried the lose of his son daily. Yet through suffering we learn obedience. We see to the obedient state he responded with, when his son came home. He was able to reveal the heart of restoration to his son.

I have felt the disheartened state as sons and daughters have disconnected and seemingly become “dead” towards me. For those spiritually fathering it is very real feeling like the lose of a son or daughter. In some ways the grief is very similar. All those who spiritually father know what I am talking about. The desire to go on with life and keep trying can be overwhelming. But then God sends another towards you to minister to.

That is what happened again this week as I talked with a young woman this past Wed night. She is 20 years old and wants to serve God with her life. She is moving into full time ministry and taking training.  In the conversation I just heard  the Holy Spirit to say, “you need to be healed of your father’s wounds as this is hindering your identity.” She then told me her dad had left her a few years back and she has no contact with him. My heart again reached out. I think this is the key to fight dis-heartedness, to reach outward and not keep looking inward. There are those in need of answers and truly desiring help.

The hope all Spiritual fathers have, is not only the fulfillment of their sons and daughters fully functioning and impacting, but also a hope exist in all those who have disconnected to reconnect. This reconnecting helps ignite faith again and gives hope back. It I believe it helps heal the loses we suffer. This to in the last week has happened as I re-connected with a spiritual daughter who was out of contact with for almost 4 years. We talked as if there was no gap in relationship. This to has encouraged my heart greatly.

Anointing Is Not A Function

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What crowds in on, and takes away the anointing, is business of life. I have seen it time and time again. I have experienced it myself. I believe all believers fight it. But if the anointing is truly the divine enablement of God to do what we cannot do then how does business affect the degree of anointing? The real definition of anoint means to be set apart, consecrated, smeared or marked. It is more a state of being than a function God performs through us. Many I believe are saying “it’s the anointing” when in reality anointing is a past tense reality walked out in a present tense moment. What we are to be seeing is the outcome of being anointed. The outcome of being set apart! The outcome of consecration!

We say things like “wow that was anointed”! The reality is it was anointed way back before it was seen. What we are commenting on it’s the manifestation of the anointing! Something that has been through a long process. If we are waiting on a certain anointing to come in a meeting we will be waiting a long time. This is why we do not see things like in other nations. We are not going through the consecrating actions before we speak or minister. Anointing is not an indicator of character fully developed. So a person can be anointed in certain areas and in other areas have zero anointing. In other words anointing is a private act of God working out a person’s walk and not a corporate moment. Hence business in life crowding out God time and moments of dealing will decrease the process time required and diminish the anointing. What we have been calling anointed is only a glimpse into a person’s personal secret moments with God. It is the overflow that we minister from, and not so much a new flow we are trying to find!