Random Thoughts 6/30/08 1:20 am
Man-O-Man, God is so awesome! Midnight prayer was something else. I went in with somewhat of heaviness on me but after some time in repentance it was lifted off. This evening, it was raining all night and my mind tried to get me to use that as an excuse not to go to prayer. Because of that battle alone, I went with some expectation and that was blown out of the water.
In my previous journal entry, I shared about my experience this morning at the beginning of 8:45 service. And tonight at prayer I realized why I had to go through that, because if I didn’t then I would not have been able to receive what God showed me on tonight. As I was praying, I was asking God to help me take the limits off of him, take him out of the box. All things are possible with him and without him nothing is possible. This means that EVERYTHING is possible with him; there is not a single thing that we face or desire that is too hard for our God. I don’t think we always realize that or our prayers would be bolder, our actions would be bolder. I’m not talking about asking him for a bunch of stuff, I’m talking about souls. Why is it that we aren’t bolder in our prayers for the salvation of the lost? Why are we not more bold in approaching those who are lost and presenting them with the Gospel? Do we not believe God is able? Are we looking at it as something we can do or can’t do? The scripture says, “with God”, all things are possible; meaning we can’t do it ourselves. We confuse our ability with his ability. I’ll speak for myself…I would get nervous and reclusive when God tells me to share the Gospel with someone. I did that because I thought “I” was the one who would be speaking, “I” felt inadequate to bring someone to salvation. I was right in that but wrong in the one who was speaking. I’m just a vessel and in Luke 12:12 Jesus says that the Holy Spirit will give you the words to say. Just open your mouth. I pray that God’s people would get a revelation of what it means to take the limits off of God and all things are possible with him. I pray that it would spark a new boldness in us to go and proclaim his Gospel and pray like never before. TAKE THE LIMITS OFF!!! NO LIMITS, NO BOUNDARIES!!
As I began to quiet down in my prayer time, I heard the Holy Spirit say, “let her pray”, referring to my prayer partner Ms. Kim. Since it has only been the two of us at prayer, I have taken the role to lead us in corporate prayer at the end. I didn’t really question it, I just remained quiet, waiting for clarity; and then it came. He said, I’m going to use her to confirm what you prayed tonight, it will be a confirmation of what you said and heard. I heeded to it and allowed her to pray and sure enough the very thing I wrote about above, he confirmed through her, along with some other things pertaining to ministry. Then she turned it back over to me to close us out. When I finished praying, I was just in astonishment. Looking at where God has brought me in my prayer life and relationship with him, oh my goodness. As we ended, I remember saying to myself, I’m not ready to go. I guess God heard me and put me back to work because no sooner than I said that, Ms. Kim asked me to pray over her son. Talk about stepping up and stepping out…without hesitation I was obedient. As they were leaving, Gregory said, “bye Pastor Emmanuel”. I can’t explain how it felt but I’m embracing what God spoke….
God Bless!
Jun 30, 2008
Jun 29, 2008
Best of June: Part 3
Random Thoughts 6/26/08 1:01 am
Tonight was a quiet night in prayer. I had a very difficult time getting and keeping my focus and that gave place to negative and doubtful thoughts. Eventually I got up and began to walk around the sanctuary meditating on the words that I got that day and some things I shared with Denicia. One in particular that wound up becoming my focal point was removing distractions from between us and God; more specifically God removing distractions from between us. I saw it happen in my own life and wondered if the same thing was happening at the Embassy Church. Once the distractions were removed, I found a renewed and deeper relationship with God; deeper commitment, deeper roots, deeper desire, etc. Then its at this point where I am growing to go and produce more fruit. I was looking at the possible future of the ministry and how a lot of people have left, numbers are down, money is down, etc. I’m wondering if God is removing things that have been distractions so that we can get back to his heart. As if we are being pruned and prepared to go and bear more fruit. That’s the word I walked away with on tonight, we are being pruned so that we can go and bear more fruit.
God gave me a glimpse of where I will ultimately be and then he scaled me back or pruned me to prepare me for what he showed me. he realized that I was not ready to walk in what he showed me so he put it back up on the shelf, keeping it in view but out of reach. My roots are being deepened so that the storms and persuasions ahead will not uproot what is planted. My priorities are being deepened so no matter how high he takes me, I will never become proud and forget what got me there.
Random Thoughts 6/29/08 5:32 pm
I guess I can start last night with prayer. I remember praying for today’s services, specifically praying that the praise team would worship in spirit and in truth and not out of self. Then on this morning as we began praise and worship, I was fighting the thoughts that those on the praise team were not singing from their spirit but out of flesh. Then God convicted me with the question, did I believe that God could rend their hearts and prepare them for this morning’s service? I prayed for it last night but then on this morning I didn’t act as if He heard my prayer and answered my prayer. He brought to remembrance, Hebrews 10:23, “let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess because he who promised is faithful”. I was not being faithful to the prayer that I prayed and in essence doubted what God could and would do. After repenting, God showed that he was still faithful and his presence filled the sanctuary. We had a young lady who saw our early morning broadcast on television and came to service and gave her life to Christ. She said she wanted to get delivered from getting drunk and high and we prayed it in. God is faithful! He confirmed his word throughout service when Pastor’s message was specifically dealing with God being faithful.
One more thing from the 8:45 service; before Pastor began to preach he looked at me and called me Pastor. He told everyone to stop calling me Emmanuel and begin to call me Pastor until I am confident in it. I wasn’t caught off guard because I had heard that spoken before and over the last few weeks a few of the sisters in the ministry started calling Pastor E. If that’s where God is taking me, I’ll follow.
Tonight was a quiet night in prayer. I had a very difficult time getting and keeping my focus and that gave place to negative and doubtful thoughts. Eventually I got up and began to walk around the sanctuary meditating on the words that I got that day and some things I shared with Denicia. One in particular that wound up becoming my focal point was removing distractions from between us and God; more specifically God removing distractions from between us. I saw it happen in my own life and wondered if the same thing was happening at the Embassy Church. Once the distractions were removed, I found a renewed and deeper relationship with God; deeper commitment, deeper roots, deeper desire, etc. Then its at this point where I am growing to go and produce more fruit. I was looking at the possible future of the ministry and how a lot of people have left, numbers are down, money is down, etc. I’m wondering if God is removing things that have been distractions so that we can get back to his heart. As if we are being pruned and prepared to go and bear more fruit. That’s the word I walked away with on tonight, we are being pruned so that we can go and bear more fruit.
God gave me a glimpse of where I will ultimately be and then he scaled me back or pruned me to prepare me for what he showed me. he realized that I was not ready to walk in what he showed me so he put it back up on the shelf, keeping it in view but out of reach. My roots are being deepened so that the storms and persuasions ahead will not uproot what is planted. My priorities are being deepened so no matter how high he takes me, I will never become proud and forget what got me there.
Random Thoughts 6/29/08 5:32 pm
I guess I can start last night with prayer. I remember praying for today’s services, specifically praying that the praise team would worship in spirit and in truth and not out of self. Then on this morning as we began praise and worship, I was fighting the thoughts that those on the praise team were not singing from their spirit but out of flesh. Then God convicted me with the question, did I believe that God could rend their hearts and prepare them for this morning’s service? I prayed for it last night but then on this morning I didn’t act as if He heard my prayer and answered my prayer. He brought to remembrance, Hebrews 10:23, “let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess because he who promised is faithful”. I was not being faithful to the prayer that I prayed and in essence doubted what God could and would do. After repenting, God showed that he was still faithful and his presence filled the sanctuary. We had a young lady who saw our early morning broadcast on television and came to service and gave her life to Christ. She said she wanted to get delivered from getting drunk and high and we prayed it in. God is faithful! He confirmed his word throughout service when Pastor’s message was specifically dealing with God being faithful.
One more thing from the 8:45 service; before Pastor began to preach he looked at me and called me Pastor. He told everyone to stop calling me Emmanuel and begin to call me Pastor until I am confident in it. I wasn’t caught off guard because I had heard that spoken before and over the last few weeks a few of the sisters in the ministry started calling Pastor E. If that’s where God is taking me, I’ll follow.
Best of June: Part 2
Random Thoughts 6/20/08 11:14 pm
This is a continuation of the previous entry dealing with Paul and Timothy. I’ve learned that all good study of God’s word, you have to read before and after to get full understanding. In the last entry I came from Acts 16, so I went to Acts 15 first. In this chapter Paul is meeting with the assembly discussing how people are distorting God’s word. The assembly then wrote letters to others and sent some of their own men to be a witness with the letters that were written. As the chapter comes to an end Paul and Barnabas have a disagreement. Barnabas wanted to take John with them but Paul disagreed because he remembered how John deserted them the last time.
What caused their disagreement to be so great that co-laborers in the faith had to part ways?
Chapter 16 starts off with Paul going out and finding a new leader to replace Barnabas. There was not a period of sulking or stagnation in what he was called to do. He simply took it as part of the ministry and kept moving; it wasn’t personal.
The previous journal entry will fill you in on what I got from the first part of chapter 16. I took a look forward to see where Paul Timothy’s relationship went to and in 1 Corinthians 4:17, Paul refers to Timothy as a son and faithful in the Lord.
So as we go forth to disciple and mentor those people we must not dwell on the past and who is no longer there. Dwelling on the past can prevent you from embracing what God has in the future. When they those who used to walk with you leave don’t feel as though you have to wait before you begin looking for someone else just to keep them from feeling whatever. Keep your eyes on what’s in front of you, keep moving. There were numerous times when Jesus had followers and co-laborers leave him but he did not dwell on who left, he just continued to move forward and develop people to take their place.
Great leaders don’t just develop other great leaders but develop great people. By allowing those you disciple to walk closely with you and see all aspects of your living then you develop them holistically. You never develop just leaders but people so allow them to follow your example in every area of life.
Random Thoughts 6/22/08 7:27 am
I am currently on a train on my way back to Greensboro from Raleigh. I spent Saturday at a business meeting in Sunset Beach on the coast. On the drive up there I can’t remember if I was praying or if I was just having some quiet time but God dropped something in my spirit. I want to become contagious. When I first heard it, I immediately started thinking about verbally telling people about my zeal for God but He checked me. He told me to look at someone who has a contagious virus or anything, they do not tell people they’re contagious, they’re lives or their appearance speaks for them. Others see a distinguishable difference with someone who is contagious. That’s how we must be, it’s time out for talking, and we have to have lives where people notice a distinguishable difference. The only time you tell someone you’re contagious is when you don’t want them to catch what you have and it keeps them from getting too close to you. We have to stop talking because when we tell people we’re on fire for God or serious about our walk then it keeps them away. How is it transferred? A person who is not contagious gets close enough to the one who is and it automatically transfers. We have to allow people to get close enough to us to have what we have transfer to them. If we’re truly contagious than there is nothing the other person can do to not be affected by being close to us. Notice I said affected, not infected. We have infected too many people with church, religion, and a distorted view of a true relationship with Christ. Let’s get contagious and start affecting people and make it impossible for them to stay the same.
This is a continuation of the previous entry dealing with Paul and Timothy. I’ve learned that all good study of God’s word, you have to read before and after to get full understanding. In the last entry I came from Acts 16, so I went to Acts 15 first. In this chapter Paul is meeting with the assembly discussing how people are distorting God’s word. The assembly then wrote letters to others and sent some of their own men to be a witness with the letters that were written. As the chapter comes to an end Paul and Barnabas have a disagreement. Barnabas wanted to take John with them but Paul disagreed because he remembered how John deserted them the last time.
What caused their disagreement to be so great that co-laborers in the faith had to part ways?
Chapter 16 starts off with Paul going out and finding a new leader to replace Barnabas. There was not a period of sulking or stagnation in what he was called to do. He simply took it as part of the ministry and kept moving; it wasn’t personal.
The previous journal entry will fill you in on what I got from the first part of chapter 16. I took a look forward to see where Paul Timothy’s relationship went to and in 1 Corinthians 4:17, Paul refers to Timothy as a son and faithful in the Lord.
So as we go forth to disciple and mentor those people we must not dwell on the past and who is no longer there. Dwelling on the past can prevent you from embracing what God has in the future. When they those who used to walk with you leave don’t feel as though you have to wait before you begin looking for someone else just to keep them from feeling whatever. Keep your eyes on what’s in front of you, keep moving. There were numerous times when Jesus had followers and co-laborers leave him but he did not dwell on who left, he just continued to move forward and develop people to take their place.
Great leaders don’t just develop other great leaders but develop great people. By allowing those you disciple to walk closely with you and see all aspects of your living then you develop them holistically. You never develop just leaders but people so allow them to follow your example in every area of life.
Random Thoughts 6/22/08 7:27 am
I am currently on a train on my way back to Greensboro from Raleigh. I spent Saturday at a business meeting in Sunset Beach on the coast. On the drive up there I can’t remember if I was praying or if I was just having some quiet time but God dropped something in my spirit. I want to become contagious. When I first heard it, I immediately started thinking about verbally telling people about my zeal for God but He checked me. He told me to look at someone who has a contagious virus or anything, they do not tell people they’re contagious, they’re lives or their appearance speaks for them. Others see a distinguishable difference with someone who is contagious. That’s how we must be, it’s time out for talking, and we have to have lives where people notice a distinguishable difference. The only time you tell someone you’re contagious is when you don’t want them to catch what you have and it keeps them from getting too close to you. We have to stop talking because when we tell people we’re on fire for God or serious about our walk then it keeps them away. How is it transferred? A person who is not contagious gets close enough to the one who is and it automatically transfers. We have to allow people to get close enough to us to have what we have transfer to them. If we’re truly contagious than there is nothing the other person can do to not be affected by being close to us. Notice I said affected, not infected. We have infected too many people with church, religion, and a distorted view of a true relationship with Christ. Let’s get contagious and start affecting people and make it impossible for them to stay the same.
Best of June: Part 1
It has been quite sometime since I last posted anything but that is definately not an indication of what God's been showing me. I've been faithful in journaling what God's been showing me, just haven't taken the time to post them. Here's one from June 19th (long but good):
Random Thoughts 6/19/08 1:19 am
I gave my initial sermon tonight at midnight prayer, to myself. I was lying on my face and remember saying, “none of me, all of you” and soon after He said get up and take the pulpit. A moment’s hesitation was too long so I moved and opened my Bible to the place where I placed my pen before I left, Acts 16. I have never read the passage before but I read verses 1-5 a few times. I then spoke, “quick understanding of God’s word” and His word began to open up. I first focused on verse 4
“As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey.”
They were not operating in a church but taking the gospel to the people. And they weren’t preaching/sharing anything that was false; they spoke in obedience and gave the word for the people to obey.
Verse 5 “so the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.”
Their ministry was effective. They strengthened others and built them up. They weren’t out to make a name for themselves but simply to strengthen the body of Christ. The numbers grew daily! They were consistent and faithful to their message, totally committed.
After I saw the result of it, I had to go back to see who these two were, who they were talking about. Paul came across a disciple named Timothy whose mother was a believer but his father was a Greek. He heard the people speak well of him so he wanted to take Timothy along with him. Despite the fact that he had a somewhat dysfunctional family the people still spoke well of him. Because they spoke well of him and didn’t focus on his negatives this caught Paul’s attention.
Once Paul decided to take him, Timothy still had to be circumcised. Although Timothy was a spoken well of there was still a process he had to go through in order to walk with Paul. This solidified his ministry, separating him from his family and his past.
It’s time to make disciples, come out of your box and open your life as Paul did. He was open to what the people were saying and found one young man that was ready to move on. He did not look at his short comings only at his potential. Timothy was from the people so he could relate to the people but Paul had to take him through a process to separate him from the people. The time is up for you to continue to keep “fighting the good fight” by yourself, it’s time to disciple. Listen and be attentive to what the Spirit is saying and what the people are saying. When you hear, don’t hear the bad or the past but only the potential and if they are willing to be disciple. You know they are going to come from amongst the people who need to be saved so they’ll come with some baggage. Take them through the process to separate them and keep it moving.
This means, they are being let in to your inner circle. You have to take down the camouflage and allow them to see the real you. They will be walking with you so they must see the real you. Spend quality time with them, building a true relationship.
After Paul and Timothy did all that work in verse 4 and 5 it says that they traveled throughout the region and the Holy Spirit kept them from preaching. This allowed them time to bond, to know who they would be laboring with. It should not always be about ministry all the time. There should be some quality time where a bond and trust is being built. You have to allow them to see your flaws, what you do when not doing ministry. Show them you’re a real person.
Paul disciple Timothy and after their season was over, sent him out to disciple others. Your ultimate goal is to send them out, not to keep them as a flunky.
After Paul sent Timothy out, he continued to encourage and check on him; sending him warnings. Jumping over to 1 Timothy 4, Paul tells Timothy about those who will abandon the faith and preach their own gospel, leading others astray. Paul tells him its only his job to expose it and don’t indulge in it. Getting Timothy away from tradition and religion and re-enforcing relationship.
Although Timothy was young, Paul tells him not to allow that to be an excuse. Set the example of how you are suppose to live and hold to the teachings because by you living what you preach others will be saved too.
Paul can say this with complete confidence and influence because he did it before Timothy. Timothy saw firsthand how true Paul was to his relationship with God. Paul is simply telling him to do as I did, continue what I’ve passed to you.
We’re called to a greater level of accountability. Now we have no choice to waiver in the things of the world because we’re setting the pace and the standard for those coming after us. The weight of our words is directly connected to the walk of our lives. We’re following Christ, so if they’re following us and we move out of the way they should still be right behind Christ. If you take down even the least then it will continue to go down each generation after you.
And Paul was committed to Timothy’s development until it was time for him to leave. Commit yourselves to those you disciple, they may be beside you for a season but they’re following you for a lifetime; lead them right.
Elder Washington read from Revelations at the end of prayer that gave me the close. Revelation 21:1-4 talks about the New Jerusalem and how the old things have passed away. God is doing something new, establishing his kingdom the way it was meant to be. We are no longer living off of the God of our forefathers but we are coming to know Him for ourselves. It’s getting personal.
Verse 22-23 is where I want to be, “I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is the lamp”
I’m so glad, we’re moving beyond the four walls of a building. There is no need for a building, God is the temple, we are to dwell in him; we are the church. That means tradition is over and done with; the way of old is no more. This generation that is emerging in the body of Christ will not look like what has been but because they are based on relationship they are free in their worship.
We must emphasize our freedom in Christ, not a freedom to go back to sin but love him freely, obey him freely, serve him freely. If you’re operating in religion, it will show. We’re moving beyond the hype to health.
Random Thoughts 6/19/08 1:19 am
I gave my initial sermon tonight at midnight prayer, to myself. I was lying on my face and remember saying, “none of me, all of you” and soon after He said get up and take the pulpit. A moment’s hesitation was too long so I moved and opened my Bible to the place where I placed my pen before I left, Acts 16. I have never read the passage before but I read verses 1-5 a few times. I then spoke, “quick understanding of God’s word” and His word began to open up. I first focused on verse 4
“As they traveled from town to town, they delivered the decisions reached by the apostles and elders in Jerusalem for the people to obey.”
They were not operating in a church but taking the gospel to the people. And they weren’t preaching/sharing anything that was false; they spoke in obedience and gave the word for the people to obey.
Verse 5 “so the churches were strengthened in the faith and grew daily in numbers.”
Their ministry was effective. They strengthened others and built them up. They weren’t out to make a name for themselves but simply to strengthen the body of Christ. The numbers grew daily! They were consistent and faithful to their message, totally committed.
After I saw the result of it, I had to go back to see who these two were, who they were talking about. Paul came across a disciple named Timothy whose mother was a believer but his father was a Greek. He heard the people speak well of him so he wanted to take Timothy along with him. Despite the fact that he had a somewhat dysfunctional family the people still spoke well of him. Because they spoke well of him and didn’t focus on his negatives this caught Paul’s attention.
Once Paul decided to take him, Timothy still had to be circumcised. Although Timothy was a spoken well of there was still a process he had to go through in order to walk with Paul. This solidified his ministry, separating him from his family and his past.
It’s time to make disciples, come out of your box and open your life as Paul did. He was open to what the people were saying and found one young man that was ready to move on. He did not look at his short comings only at his potential. Timothy was from the people so he could relate to the people but Paul had to take him through a process to separate him from the people. The time is up for you to continue to keep “fighting the good fight” by yourself, it’s time to disciple. Listen and be attentive to what the Spirit is saying and what the people are saying. When you hear, don’t hear the bad or the past but only the potential and if they are willing to be disciple. You know they are going to come from amongst the people who need to be saved so they’ll come with some baggage. Take them through the process to separate them and keep it moving.
This means, they are being let in to your inner circle. You have to take down the camouflage and allow them to see the real you. They will be walking with you so they must see the real you. Spend quality time with them, building a true relationship.
After Paul and Timothy did all that work in verse 4 and 5 it says that they traveled throughout the region and the Holy Spirit kept them from preaching. This allowed them time to bond, to know who they would be laboring with. It should not always be about ministry all the time. There should be some quality time where a bond and trust is being built. You have to allow them to see your flaws, what you do when not doing ministry. Show them you’re a real person.
Paul disciple Timothy and after their season was over, sent him out to disciple others. Your ultimate goal is to send them out, not to keep them as a flunky.
After Paul sent Timothy out, he continued to encourage and check on him; sending him warnings. Jumping over to 1 Timothy 4, Paul tells Timothy about those who will abandon the faith and preach their own gospel, leading others astray. Paul tells him its only his job to expose it and don’t indulge in it. Getting Timothy away from tradition and religion and re-enforcing relationship.
Although Timothy was young, Paul tells him not to allow that to be an excuse. Set the example of how you are suppose to live and hold to the teachings because by you living what you preach others will be saved too.
Paul can say this with complete confidence and influence because he did it before Timothy. Timothy saw firsthand how true Paul was to his relationship with God. Paul is simply telling him to do as I did, continue what I’ve passed to you.
We’re called to a greater level of accountability. Now we have no choice to waiver in the things of the world because we’re setting the pace and the standard for those coming after us. The weight of our words is directly connected to the walk of our lives. We’re following Christ, so if they’re following us and we move out of the way they should still be right behind Christ. If you take down even the least then it will continue to go down each generation after you.
And Paul was committed to Timothy’s development until it was time for him to leave. Commit yourselves to those you disciple, they may be beside you for a season but they’re following you for a lifetime; lead them right.
Elder Washington read from Revelations at the end of prayer that gave me the close. Revelation 21:1-4 talks about the New Jerusalem and how the old things have passed away. God is doing something new, establishing his kingdom the way it was meant to be. We are no longer living off of the God of our forefathers but we are coming to know Him for ourselves. It’s getting personal.
Verse 22-23 is where I want to be, “I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is the lamp”
I’m so glad, we’re moving beyond the four walls of a building. There is no need for a building, God is the temple, we are to dwell in him; we are the church. That means tradition is over and done with; the way of old is no more. This generation that is emerging in the body of Christ will not look like what has been but because they are based on relationship they are free in their worship.
We must emphasize our freedom in Christ, not a freedom to go back to sin but love him freely, obey him freely, serve him freely. If you’re operating in religion, it will show. We’re moving beyond the hype to health.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)