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Where do Doctrines Come From?

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Today we have lots of beliefs and much more even some open belief system. Where do doctrines we practice come from? Are they biblically based? What really makes a doctrine? Ill try to just give a quick overview and you can do some more digging.

The word doctrine is actually a Latin word, doctrina, meaning “teaching, and instruction”. It is defined as a belief system that has a body of teachings or instructions, which has principles in how that belief system is operated. Again, all belief systems have a foundation that comes from a doctrinal statement of what they truly belief.

Men have categorized biblical doctrine into class of study. You have heard of these as these are the main classifications.

  • Anthropology           Doctrine of Man
  • Angelology              Doctrine of Angels
  • Hamartiology           Doctrine of sin
  • Soteriology              Doctrine of salvation
  • Christology              Doctrine of Christ
  • Ecclesiology            Doctrine of the Church
  • Eschatology            Doctrine of future things
  • Pneumatology         Doctrine of the Holy Spirit

Now all these help us see what we truly believe and to also see just how broad and all-encompassing certain topics are. Before we set these in place we looked at experiences that happened in belief systems. We looked for expressions of these experiences and these became sources of early doctrine. These are seen in orthodoxy:

  • Revelation.
  • Tradition.
  • Bible.
  • Liturgy.
  • The Councils.
  • The Fathers.
  • The Saints.
  • Canons.

Now both of these sources can have lots of pitfalls and over emphasis. They also are coming from how men decided to categorize or what they felt was valuable. Many times, this is based on personal preference or even opinions.

But the bible is noticeably clear only speaking of “Doctrines” through five distinct areas.

  • Doctrines of men    Man made rules to help maintain disciplined life. Generally, ends in control or intellectualism.
  • Doctrine of devils     False doctrines detrimental to all humankind
  • Doctrine of God       Foundational spiritual laws governing all existence, as we know it.
  • Doctrine of Apostles    Guidance of the church into understanding the above two doctrines
  • Doctrine of Christ     How the spiritual principles of God affect humankind.

Doctrines of men is everything we listed out in the above two sections as truth is put into a man-made structure for interpretation. The belief statements in a ministry can include their own perspectives. Rules verses freedom or a heavy focus on certain actions. If there is manipulation you are seeing doctrines of men.

Colossians 2:22 (KJV 1900) — 22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?

Mark 7:7 (KJV 1900) — 7 Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.

Ephesians 4:14 (KJV 1900) — 14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive;

The doctrine of demons is the mixture of Biblical truth and occultism or practices. It is the worship of angels, or deities and even men. It is the enshrining of relics, altars and burning of incense. It is focusing upon departed saints as well. The doctrine of demons comes through men and many times is mixed with the doctrines of men. Much of the time it works with a religious spirit as well. It is where eastern meditations come from, astrology, yoga, new age, wicca, magick, Qabalah, Chaos magic, satanism, freemason, Daughters of Eastern Star, Astro project, ceremonial magic, Transcendental Meditation, and a host of others that are embrace and even promoted in church structures.

1 Timothy 4:1 Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils;  Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;

2 Timothy 4:2-42 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 43 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.

Next, we have doctrines that come from God. These would be sovereign actions or laws. They show forth his creative position as the creator and the covenant keeping God.

Deuteronomy 32:2 — 2 My doctrine shall drop as the rain, My speech shall distil as the dew, As the small rain upon the tender herb, And as the showers upon the grass:

God’s doctrines show forth his righteous position as a righteous judge. As the lord of his creation. As one who is providential and works in the hearts of men and humanity. That he is supreme in love, authority, and decision. Paul’s said it best in:

2 Timothy 3:16–17 — 16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Next, we see the doctrines of Christ in Heb 6:1. There is much to say about this as most people do not even realize these doctrines are something we should have a firm grip on.

Hebrews 6:1–4 — 1 Therefore leaving the principles of the doctrine of Christ, let us go on unto perfection; not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works, and of faith toward God, 2 Of the doctrine of baptisms, and of laying on of hands, and of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. 3 And this will we do, if God permit. 4 For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted of the heavenly gift, and were made partakers of the Holy Ghost,

Notice it says plural dead works, baptism and laying on of hands. This section of scripture would take many blogs to understand, and I suggest you study this out on your own. I do have a video on it in the Pathway Discipleship Video series on YouTube.

But Jesus came as one to model what the doctrines of God were and how they were to be placed in our lives. John 7:16  Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me. His doctrine was only an extension of the fathers. But he made the fathers doctrines his very own. Mark 4:2 And he taught them many things by parables, and said unto them in his doctrine… 

They were very adamant to maintain the right doctrine and did not take it lightly if the doctrine was getting off or was false. To have right doctrine was a sign that you truly belonged to God the Father and the Son. But if the doctrine someone had was off it was not to be allowed the privilege of entering your house nor was the person carrying it.

2 John 9 -10 Whosoever transgresseth, and abideth not in the doctrine of Christ, hath not God. He that abideth in the doctrine of Christ, he hath both the Father and the Son. 10 If there come any unto you, and bring not this doctrine, receive him not into your house, neither bid him God speed:

So, the help maintain the Doctrine of God and Christ we have the Apostles Doctrine. It was a governing of both doctrines and a further explanation of how to walk it out between us.

Acts 2:42 — 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.

It was how the kingdom of God and the interaction of the king redeemed man. It was a doctrine of cause and effect, and a doctrine of actions. The expectation was believers would do what Jesus, and the father had already determined. There would be heart felt devotion and self-courage. So, it was a doctrine of:

  1. Doctrine of Governmental Oversight of the Kingdom and the Church
  2. Reinforcement of the Teaching of Jesus and the working of the Holy Spirit
  3. The advancement of the Kingdom
  4. Establishment of new doctrines based on the current moving and advancement of the church through the Holy Spirits activity.

This can best be summed up in the following verse Paul spoke of to the Ephesian church.

Ephesians 4:4-6 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.

  • One Body               Kingdom thinking not denominationalism.
  • One spirit                The Spirit does not contradict Himself.
  • One hope                Only one way of eternal life
  • One calling               To be conformed into the image of Christ.          
  • One faith                 Only one belief system
  • One baptism           Repentance (metanoia)
  • One God                 The Most High God

The Lost Art of Tarrying

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

 

International Ministry

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Defining Biblical Church

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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

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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

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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!

The Name of Jesus

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          Like most Christians, we use the name of our Savior very loosely. We tack “Jesus” on the end of our prayer or request so it’s official and somehow makes what we just prayed justified. Yet, if we truly understood our actions, we would be filled with awe and wonder. Jesus means ‘Jehovah is salvation’ and Christ means ‘anointed one’. These are not titles but functions! Even at the time of Jesus birth, God determined his name “He shall be called Jesus” or his function, anointed.  He also took on the name of His father Jehovah is salvation.

This name or function carries with it the ability to steward grace and eternity. 

          Let’s look at a word definition in John 3:18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God .

Name means = the name is used for everything which the name covers, everything the thought or feeling of which is aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing, remembering, the name, i.e. for one’s rank, authority, interests, pleasure, command, excellences, deeds,, etc.

The Bible enjoins us to pray “in the name of Jesus.” The invoking of Jesus’ name is not a magical incantation; its significance lies deeper. In the culture in which the Bible was written, a person’s name indicated the sum total of his attributes and character. To ask for something in Jesus’ name is not to tag on a phrase at the end of a prayer. Rather, it means that we believe that our request is what Jesus himself would ask for. We are showing that we are so closely aligned with the mind of Christ that we can make our request in his stead.

          Looking at John 14:13-14  And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son . If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it .  We see this is a legal birthright of sons and daughters. This is asking without restrictions. But the one thing I want to point out is the name of Jesus is always associated with the Glory of God. WOW!

          When we speak the name or accept the name, we are accepting not just a savior but we are identifying with the creator of the entire cosmos. It means we accept our own existence as a son or daughter of that name and we make a demand based on relationship with the creator of everything. The early church recognized the power of the name. They believed that when it was spoken it put into motion a power that would release something created based on what was spoken prior to the name. In other words, the name was not the conclusion of the matter prayed but the beginning or starting point of the answer.  It was the extension of God now brought to bear into the earth. This would mean an answer was surely coming. God’s Glory was going to be revealed. A shifting was about to occur.

          The name of Jesus was recognized by others. They knew an authority had to perform the miracles and that a name always carried association to a higher power.  Acts 4:7-10

7 And when they had set them in the midst, they asked, By what power, or by what name, have ye done this ? 8 Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them, Ye rulers of the people, and elders of Israel , 9 If we this day be examined of the good deed done to the impotent man, by what means he is made whole ; 10 Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole . 11 This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner . 12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved .

Peter declares the authority the name holds and we see the glory of God revealed because of it. The leaders then determined an amazing thing. They were told in Acts 4:18-20 not to speak or teach in this name. The unbelievers realized the power of the name and what would be released if spoken or taught. When they told them not to speak, the word ‘speak’ is defined more as the sound wave that is carried than the content spoken. In other words, they were commanded not to release the power and Spirit behind the name that would cause a vibration in the hearts of men to be set off.

          Then the apostles prayed this prayer: Acts 4:29-30  And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word , By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus . They actually asked for more of an increase of the creative ability of the name! The outcome is God infuses the vibration of his Spirit into their midst and the place is shaken. This was an impartation of the Spirit associated with the name. (Remember the word “speak” means the sound wave over content)The prayer was a simple one but because the name is the beginning and not the end, a new chapter is about to open – Ananias and Sapphira. The church now moves to unified Acts 5:12, Magnified Acts 5:13, to multiplied  Acts 5:14. And the apostles are jailed again, only to be released the same night because they are given orders Acts 5:20 to go speak the words of this life. The name of Jesus also holds life!

          The apostles are beaten and told not to speak in the name again and they rejoice that they were counted worthy. You see the problem today is we use the name so loosely almost as a guarantee of our request. The early church used the name to touch lives not to get things. To bring the kingdom to bear into the earth. I will not go intothe other areas of the name such as Paul was called to bear or carry the name. How we take on the name as Christians, etc. But I want us to see why the harvest is not coming into the church yet.

          The great commission has mandates we are to fulfill as The Church. A mandate is non-negotiable. It is something we do not have to pray about. Mark 16:17-18  And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues ; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover .

THE NAME IS PART OF THE GREAT COMMISSION! Without us understanding the release and creativity of the name, we will never fulfill the great commission. Why was the early church so fearless, so radical? They understood that they represented the name and if they got into a tight spot, the name also had the ability to create whatever was needed for the moment! If we look at Acts and see everything they did, we see it was all listed in the great commission. Casting out demons, drinking poison, etc. and it was all associated with the name. You see everything was not based on faith, or education but an understanding of the power behind the name.

Now let’s look at one more point in conclusion. Today much emphasis is placed upon the prayer movement, harp and bowl (crown is missing) and 24/7 Davidic worship, etc. An answer of why we are not seeing breakthrough results is seen in scripture.

Acts 15:14-17  Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name . 15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written , 16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up : 17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things .

We as God’s people have to first associate with His name, the name of Jesus, not a denomination or organization. Remember the name is associated and brings Gods glory. Much of what we are seeing is not based on the name of Jesus but based on the name of an organization. Then Verse 16 says “after this” after what? When a people exist for his name, then God, not men, will reestablish a place of dwelling. Then the residue of all men will run into it to call upon his name. Here is the final thing. The tabernacle of David so many are trying to build is not about our worship or our prayers but is supposed to be about His name! It is not to bring The Church into intimacy or get them excited but it is to be the greatest evangelism tool the world will ever see.  It is a place were the Glory of God dwells because the name is being continually released creating and touching the needs of all men! When this occurs the name of Jesus will not be a conclusion but a release of creative power bringing the beginning of the future!

Fullness of Christ

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I’m wanting to take a moment and write on the theme from our last conference “Pursuing the Fullness”. I never really taught, due to the flow of the conference, so I decided to briefly touch on some things from my notes I had prepared. I want to start with some background of the book of Colossians. Paul writes to the church because the environment they are in is full of Gnostics. They believed in different lengths of time called eons and divided power into these time segments. They were saying Christ had his time of power and that power no longer existed as he has passed. They were trying to lessen his spiritual position making him equal to deities they worshiped in times past. As Gnostics they worship a huge number of deities. It was a type of demonic worship of Christ. Paul opens the book talking about the supremacy of Christ and how he is above all principalities and powers and is the supreme creator whose power and fullness has always been. He was separating hm away form Gnostic theology.  Paul states in Colossians 1:16 -17

  1. By him all things were created
  2. All things are created for him.
  3. He was before all things.
  4. By Him they consist or are held together
  5. V.18 he has preeminence — or holds first place amongst all suprem or the supreme being.

Paul states that Christ power from the Godhead is the total of all lengths of time. Fullness is directly connected to eternity which has no time as we know it. He brings the point out that fullness of Christ is not dependent upon time but upon decisions. It is all available in fullness at any moment.

Fullness has a focus of eternity, and all eternity holds. Eternity is impacting all things because all things are held by and are part of eternity. Within eternity is fullness or completeness. God sent His Son so that we could partake of heaven’s fullness and all that it offers. When we step into eternal things, we are stepping into a grand fullness of God. All that He has and things we don’t even know exist, are now available. The impossible becomes normal and what we need is already done and finished. We are finding an ancient path that many others have found. That path is that when we step into fullness in Christ we hit overflow of heaven or eternity upon the earth.

Colossians 1:9 (KJV 1900) — 9 For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.

Paul uses the word “Filled” for how he is praying for them. Filled here is the Greek word pleroo which is a verb means to cause something to be filled. His desire is for them to be filled with knowledge of His will concerning the sovereignty and power of Christ.

Colossians 1:19 (KJV 1900) — 19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;

Then in Verse 19 he uses a different word coming from filled, fullness. Fullness is slightly different in the Greek – pleroa which is a noun meaning to fill up completely. He said this completeness is dwelling or established and settled in Christ. This word is the end result of pleroo or the action of filling. In other words, Christ has attained this fullness already.

Paul states: He was Head of all principality and power in the sense that He was the Son of God’s love, and that He was one eternally with God in the Godhead. The fullness of the Godhead was in Him in bodily form. This means not only is Christ present in us but also the Holy Spirit and the Father.

Colossians 2:6–10 (KJV 1900) — 6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. 8 Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. 9 For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. 10 And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:

Paul then uses both words for fullness again. Pleroma of the Godhead. Meaning complete fullness. It means that there is no longer a need for filling because it has reached full capacity, so the action is no longer needed. Then he says we are complete in him. Complete is pleroo is a verb meaning an action is happening. It means accomplishment, bring to realization, to perform, to render perfect. We are lacking nothing because of this fullness is in us. If Christ is in us then the fullness he is, is also within us. If Christ is in us the deity of God is living in us!

Paul talks of the fullness as he talks of the Godhead in Colossians as he explains the sovereignty and fullness of Christ.

Colossians 2:9 says, “For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily.”

Godhead in these verses is the word Theotes denoting the deity of Christ. It describes the sum total of deity and the fullness that is no longer needing added to but already has attained. It describes to the highest degree of what is available as we see Paul writing about Jesus being above all things. It really is a state of being. So as the Godhead was resident in Christ so was the state of being of the deity. Then as Christ is in us the power to sustain the state of being is also present. 

The Greek word for Godhead is theotes, which is very similar to the Greek word theiotes used in Romans 1:20 for divine characteristics with only a one-letter difference. Now this becomes important as we read the following verse.

Romans 1:20 (KJV 1900) — 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:

Here the word Godhead is Theiotes which denotes the divine characteristics manifested through the created things. His divine character, not His deity, created all things. That same creative nature is resident within us, the nature of Christ. This aspect of divine nature is the activity of fullness or the act of measure upon measure happening until fullness is attained. We see this in creation and is ongoing today. Some aspects of creation have reached fullness and others are still moving towards it. This is the power of then nature or Dunamis, Paul talks of working in us.

But also in Christ is the deity of God, the fullness and completeness of a finished work. As Christ was upon the earth the finished work of God or fullness of the deity had come to the earth. That portion is also within us. When we received Christ, we received his fullness. As we live our life in Him, we are unlocking measures leading us to fullness. This is indeed the greatest mystery we have that is unfolding in our lives.

Ephesians 4:13Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

The role of five-fold graces is to bring the body of Christ to fullness. But fullness comes in measures. But many never reach this fullness because they have settled for measure. When wereceived or accepted Christ, we didn’t just accept provision for sin. Nor did we accept an eternal destination, or even sonship, inheritance, or holy spirit activity. Though these things are true there is still more. We accepted HIS FULLNESS!

Fullness is Gods ending concerning anything! But we seldom pursue the ending, we settled for the relief. We can stop at false finish lines or false fullness. It’s really stopping at a measure and not fullness.

  • Many stop at conversion.
  • Some stop at knowledge.
  • Some become content with how their life has changed.
  • Many stop at traditions.
  • Many stop at truth or portions of truth.
  • Many stop at an experience in God.

Many of these stopping points are moments or moves in God and become a false finish line that is constantly being resurrected. The fullness of God is a result of discipleship by God’s Holy Spirit that produces a transformational anointing. That transformation is taking a measure (metron=limited portion of Christ’s nature) into the fullness (pleroma=the totality of divine powers at work in the transformation of a believer). We are progressively trained, equipped, and maturing in the nature and character of Christ while on this earth through discipleship and impartation of grace coming from the 5 gifts of Ephesians 4. Paul alludes to this operation at the end of Ephesians 1.

Fullness is not our future, but it shapes our future. The outworking of the degree of our fullness is the fruitfulness of ministry we will accomplish. Fullness can be described as our present level of living in the presence of the Lord, as we live in obedience to His voice and his written word. We need to allow the function of the five-fold graces to operate under a different paradigm that we currently have. This is a current weakness in the Apostolic and Prophetic graces. We still have dysfunction of operations because we are trying to fit apostles and prophets into current ecclesiastical structures. Still building in traditional approaches and not through true apostolic and fathering grace. Apostolic is the release of the creative forces of the fullness to make the shifts required in culture. Our current context and focuses upon apostolic structures does not bring or mature the body into the fullness we need.

But God manifest when we decide to pursue the next measure of fullness he wants to bring. We keep in motion from measure to fullness and from glory to glory. So, the key to living in fullness is to never settle for the current measure or level of fullness that we are experiencing, but we must move with God each time he moves in our lives. We need to contend for the fullness that rest in Christ.  

John 1:16 (KJV 1900) — 16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.

The Burden of the Lord

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This blog could be the most important blog I have ever written. I am always looking for keys and challenges to present before the body of Christ. Many want the dynamics of the church in Acts but don’t know the mindsets they had, nor the seriousness of purpose. They did not live compartmentalized lives but lived their faith and then inserted life into it.

What I see is today’s body is so fixated on themselves and their needs getting fulfilled week after week in meetings. We have made a self-perpetuating focus on ourselves with not much focus on the kingdom work at hand of creating image barriers. We have causes and programs associated with them. We pray and maybe even act upon so many moral and social convictions and yet seem to see such hard-faced battles with some results and maybe low to no results. What is missing? The answer is a God-sent burden.

The early church had a very intense burden they carried for the work of God to advance. They had a burden for souls. This burden was so much part of their faith walk, that they only acted upon what they were burdened for. Today’s church has causes without burden, prayer with no burden, and programs with no burden. In all honesty, I see we don’t have much of a burden for anything. If we did much of what we do would have a huge impact.

What you’re burdened with is what you will invest yourself into. It is what you will give time, resources, and even your heart. Without this burden, we are not aware of the spiritual climates and conditions around us. We also miss opportunities each day because we are not tuned in to the spirit realm, which is another thing a true burden from God will do, get us focused.

I’m not talking about your pet projects or your passions. I’m talking about an apostolic burden, or a burden sent by God to send you out from it. I’m talking about something that you cannot accomplish unless there is a dependency upon God. A true burden will be an activator of true faith. It will reveal God’s righteousness and create His justice.

Paul was burdened for the church:

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

The word “comes upon” means something clearly identified, anxiety, pressure and concern, responsibility, oversight. He was not pushing off the burden God had assigned him.

Paul was burdened for his kinsmen:

Romans 9:1–5 (KJV 1900) — 1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost, 2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. 3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh: 4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises; 5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.

Paul was a Roman and wished other Romans would come to salvation.

Paul was burdened for Israel:”

Romans 10:1–4 (KJV 1900) — 1 Brethren, my heart’s desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved.

Paul was burdened for fullness to come:

Colossians 4:12–13 (KJV 1900) — 12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a servant of Christ, saluteth you, always labouring fervently for you in prayers, that ye may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God. 13 For I bear him record, that he hath a great zeal for you, and them that are in Laodicea, and them in Hierapolis.

A burden will take you from secondhand knowledge to firsthand experience. A vision that has no burden attached is a religious structure. Just like a call with no burden has no destination. When you answer the call, you are accepting and answering the burden of God. But when burden is acted on it will also release Grace … the ability of God to create change. Many times, a burdened prayer will receive a quick result. It is because the burden activates grace for change.

Galatians 6:1–5 (KJV 1900) — 1 Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, ye which are spiritual, restore such an one in the spirit of meekness; considering thyself, lest thou also be tempted. 2 Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. 3 For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself. 4 But let every man prove his own work, and then shall he have rejoicing in himself alone, and not in another. 5 For every man shall bear his own burden.

These verses seem to be double-minded. But if we look at the word meanings we see a different thought is being given. Bearing each other’s burdens is to help carry the load a person is under. The definition of burden in verse 2 means there is too heavy, crushing, loads (barē)—more than a man could carry without help.

But Paul then says something in verse 5 that seems contradictory. We are to bear our own burdens. This second burden is “phortion”: It is used to designate the pack usually carried by a marching soldier. It is the “burden” Jesus assigns to His followers (Matt. 11:30). It comes from the word meaning of carrying the ship’s cargo, which is tied to an apostolic work. (An apostle was also the commander of a fleet of ships.) A further definition likens it to a soldier carrying what the commander or apostle saw as necessary or valuable for the mission. When we help each other carry the first burden it enables each person to carry the second burden. It is not taking care of the first for our relief. It is helping with the first so we can be effective in service with the second burden.

The burden will release God’s glory as well. As we look back on every great outpouring it was started by prayer. But it wasn’t just prayer it was burdened prayer. There is something about giving ourselves to the burden that releases the Glory of God connected to it. The greater the burden the greater the glory. Deep travail is the revealing of someone beginning to be caught in the burden.

Burdens are not man-made nor even man inspired but are given by God to bring glory to His name. They are heaven-sent and are part of a corporate plan for the Body of Christ. In this hour God is looking to and foe to see who will carry His burden that will release grace, create change, remove injustice, and let His name be glorified.

Light of Genesis

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The following is from my book “Return to Eden” available on amazon and Kindle.

…….Both of these lights are called great. But He said one was greater light. The word great means large in magnitude and extent. But what is interesting is these lights were set to rule. Light has a rulership. The word rule means to have dominion. Now at first glance, we would assume the greater light of day would be the sun, and the lesser light would be darkness. But he also speaks of making the stars. He does not say the lesser light is void of light but is lesser. The lesser means younger, smaller, or less important. What is important is that both lights are ruling, one rules the day and one the night. Both have dominion. This began the rule or reign of light. It was set in motion that light would always rule, and the lesser light would always submit to the greater light. This is further explained in the following verse.

Psalm 136:7–9 (KJV 1900) — 7 To him that made great lights: For his mercy endureth for ever: 8 The sun to rule by day: For his mercy endureth for ever: 9 The moon and stars to rule by night: For his mercy endureth for ever.

The earth is ruled by something in Heaven and is always under its rule which is light, be it greater or lesser. This light rules all creation in the heavens. Now we all know that what is lesser is always submitted to what is greater. So, what is void of light submits to the smallest light. The smallest light is swallowed up in ever-increasing brighter light. It is progressive submission to what has the ultimate rule.

Matthew 13:43 (KJV 1900) — 43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

The Garden was a place for the righteous. It was also a place to rule from. The original design was for us to “shine forth” as the sun or the greater light. That all other lights would be submitted to this light, the light of righteousness. The word shine in the original definition is made up of two words. Ek Lamp0. Ek means the origin point at which actions proceed and Lampo to give light, to radiant brilliance or to give light, something attractive and richly colorful. Again, this light is from the origins of the same light of creation shining upon Eden, the place of the righteous. This ruling light is directly connected to our righteousness and also to creation and the Garden of Eden being set aside for the righteous or for the shining lights. That light is Christ and the Father.

We are an extension of that original light. The Bible says that light is dwelling in us and that “light” is Christ and he is the light of all men. He is the supreme light, the greater and greatest light which means all other lights have to come under His lordship. Even a sinner has a degree of light. It’s just that darkness is crowding or overshadowing the light within. When we come with greater light, the darkness has to submit to our light and the light of Christ begins to penetrate the heart of the sinner. Our light encourages and engages the light within the person and empowers them to step into greater light. Eventually, that light grows and pushes the darkness out and the person makes a conversion to allow the rule of greater light to take place.

This transformational process is present in natural light. It’s amazing that even natural light has such power of transformation. Natural sunlight hits our bodies and takes what is dormant in us and transforms it into Vitamin D. Sunlight doesn’t carry vitamin D as we think but has the power to produce or make it. This same sunlight also can touch a plant and allow photosynthesis to occur. Taking different elements and bringing life from them. If God can transform our natural bodies and all plant life with the light he created we call the sun. He can also transform our spiritual bodies and all life around us with the SON.