The Afterbirth

September is the 9th month the month of birthing. As we prepare to enter this 9th month, the month of giving birth, it was timely for me to be at KAEC this morning. The message that came forth in the first service discussed assimilation along with a lot of other pertinent information. Assimilate means to take in and understand information; absorb and digest. I don’t know much about giving birth and pregnancy but God was able to show me in its simplest form what’s going on. As our session went on this morning, we were focusing on the moment of giving birth. As I sat there the Holy Spirit began to speak to me. Looking at the pregnancy, the mother and father are excited about the day they give birth but most of their focus is spent on preparing to handle the child once it manifest into the physical. You cannot separate giving birth from the afterbirth. We look forward to and anticipate the moment of giving birth but we can’t be so focused on a moment that we forget about the responsibility after birth. We learned that everything up to this point has been preparation for delivery, ensuring a healthy delivery; purging of unclean lifestyles, mindsets, dying to self (once you give birth you can’t think about yourself anymore so God had to allow us to die to ourselves before we give birth).

The Afterbirth
You must understand your new role, preparing for going from carrying to the afterbirth; your role changes.

John 8:36 “So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.” Think about what it means to be free in the natural; you were in prison and you are released, freed from the prison walls. When Christ sets you free, you are free physically and through his word, mentally; meaning a change has been made, mental and physical. The internal has manifested into the physical.

Galations 2:20 “I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.” I stated earlier that in giving birth we lose the right to live for ourselves and we must die to ourselves. We no longer live but Christ lives in us, we offer ourselves as living sacrifices that He may live/shine through us. Next the scripture says that we live by faith and we learned in class that faith is being one with God. Being one with God means we are completely obedient to Him so that we can nurture and raise what we gave birth to. We were impregnated by the spirit, we’ll give birth through the Spirit, and the afterbirth will be no different. Galations 3:3 “After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?” What is birth by the Spirit will be maintained by the Spirit. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. We know the word of God is Jesus Christ (John 1:1).

As we enter this 9th month of giving birth do not separate giving birth from the afterbirth. You can only prepare so much for the labor pains but know that it will be intense but short and will pass. Focus on what you’re giving birth to and the responsibility that comes with giving birth.

I Believe, help me overcome my unbelief

"I'm going to South Africa later this year." This statement alone will not put me in South Africa; its not until my belief in what I stated is followed by some action. I thought I believed that I was going but because there was no action, there was no true belief. As I realized this truth, I took it before God and this is what he gave me:

“I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief” Mark 9:24b

In Luke 9 there is a passage that deals with a father and his child who is filled with an evil spirit. The man is surrounded by disciples and when Jesus walks up there was a lot of arguing. The man tells Jesus that he brought Him his son but instead of waiting on Jesus he allowed the disciples to try to cast out the spirit, in which they were unsuccessful. Jesus rebukes his disciples and then addresses the man. After a brief conversation the man says to Jesus, “but if you can do anything…”. Jesus seems offended and tells him that everything is possible for him who believes. Immediately the boy’s father jumps back at him and says I do believe but even as he spoke he realized that he didn’t really believe, leading him to the statement in verse 24. After Jesus cast it out, the onlookers thought that the boy was dead.

This is what God had me to read during prayer time Saturday morning and even as I read he began to reveal what he wanted to show me. So let’s break it down…

• The man tells Jesus that he brought his son to see Jesus but when Jesus wasn’t there he settled for a representative who failed at casting out the demon. This was the cause of the argument that Jesus interrupted. He knew he had a problem that only Jesus could fix and was on the right track but somehow was convinced that a representative could do the job. When they failed, I believe his faith failed as well.
• This is seen in his response to Jesus when he says but if you can do anything. He may have had the faith to believe and seek out Christ but after that encounter disappointed him, his faith began to waiver.
• Jesus calls him on his unbelief and he immediately jumps to the defense. Being in Christ’s holy presence there is no room for falsehood so he corrects himself asking Jesus to help his unbelief.
• After the demon is cast out the people that were around thought the boy was dead but I believe the man’s faith was restored because he knew it wouldn’t make sense for Jesus to cast out a demon to kill the boy.
• At the end of it all, Jesus tells his disciples that some things only come out by prayer and fasting.

Belief is shown by actions, not just in thoughts and words. He had a problem that no one could fix but Jesus but because of influence or impatience he allowed others to try what they weren’t prepared for. Because they weren’t able to fix his problem his faith was shaken. Are we as believers in a position where when God wants to do miracles through us prepared or will we cause someone’s faith to be dashed because we’re not prepared? On the other side, when we face some things and we know they can only be fixed through Christ, do we settle for seeking to get it fixed by man or do we have the patience to wait for Christ?

Holy Anger

That’s twice this week, fourth time this month, that my youth have come under attack, one attack they don't realize has even hit them yet. The enemy is trying to take them out before they even realize who they are and the power they possess. But one thing he doesn’t realize is that they’re stronger than that. They’ve been through hell and back and now he’s throwing everything he can think of at them to get them to completely throw in the towel. Abandonment, Abuse, Distrust; throw what you will the God in them is greater than you’ll ever be! I’m filled with holy rage that you would think it would be that easy and it’s on now. You already know I’m a prayer warrior and you’re forcing me use all the power that is within me. Do you realize how stupid you are?!! These same young people that you attack today will be the same ones to overthrow your reign on this earth and establish our Father’s Kingdom.

I began to get mad at people and things but I understand this is not a natural fight, its one that will be won in the spirit realm. God’s children are pushed closer to him not further when they are attacked like this because he’s the only one that can bring them through. Even if they don’t yet realize that, God will be the one to remind them and make sure they don’t forget it. They will make it because a faithful few have chosen to stand in the gap between life and death for them, so as long as we stand they stand. And there are thousands more just like us in which the Spirit of the living God resides and burns for this generation.

The enemy doesn’t mess with those who have no anointing or call on their lives. The very fact that he has attacked these young people with such intensity let’s me know the powerful call God has placed on their lives.

Will you answer the call and stand in the gap with us?

Preparing Joshua and Elisha

Preparing this generation. I left off last time talking about how in order for this generation to walk in that Joshua and Elisha calling we must prepare them for that. We saw that the biggest part of preparing this generation is intercession (Moses and Joshua). The other aspect of it is looking at Elijah and Elisha. The Bible has no details about the relationship between the two; it goes from Elijah anointing him to them speaking before Elijah is called up. There must have been something great that Elisha saw in the life of Elijah that made him want a double portion of his anointing/spirit. In our preparing this generation we must live lives in such a way that this generation desires double of what we have, and what we have is the Spirit of God. We must, now more than ever, be mindful of our walk because we want this generation to desire what we exemplify.

In returning to the intercession portion, we know God won’t show you a problem without working you toward a solution. As I meditated and prayed about this God began to reveal what we must do. We must be determined to stand in the gap no matter what may come and what it looks like. I’m working out the details but my church will become a house of prayer for this generation. I will keep everyone updated about the date and time but sometime in the near future all those who desire to help this generation walk in what God has spoken will come together to truly intercede and flood the gates of heaven with our petitions. You don’t have to be a youth pastor or youth worker but if you have a heart for this young generation I urge you to press your way out and stand in the gap. I continued to seek the Lord concerning this because I knew there was more and he began to give me prayer points to pray through for this generation. I pray that everyone will come to the ministry to intercede on one accord but even if you don’t I want to share these prayer points with you. So, no matter where you are we can still be on one accord. This is not an exhaustive list, only what he has given me so far:

Prayer Points
. Lord, purge their hearts of all unrighteousness and the condemnation that makes them feel unworthy
· Lord, help them to release every failure, pain, disappointment, and distraction from their past that would prevent them from moving forward in the things of you
· Lord, place the same spirit that resided in Joshua into this generation
· I bind every demonic influence that would attempt to delay or deny this generation from going forth, in Jesus’ name
· Lord, open the eyes of this generation that they may see what you see in the spirit and not what the world sees.
· Give them a radical faith to believe nothing is impossible with you
· Remove the power of influence from the media and their peers as the go against your Kingdom, in Jesus’ name!
· I bind the identity crisis in this generation in Jesus’ name
· I declare and I decree that this generation is fearfully and wonderfully made and will not accept the identity of anyone but Christ
· Teach me to develop this generation to walk according to your Word
· Help me to live a life that puts a desire in this generation to desire double of my anointing and spirit
· I declare and I decree that we will stop entertaining this generation and begin to disciple them for your work and glory
· Lord, release this generation to go forth and reestablish the standard in your Kingdom
· Lord, I pray that this generation will not allow anyone to look down on them because of their youth but set the example in speech, in life, in love, in faith, and in purity
· Help us to push and encourage this generation to never stop chasing after you
· Strengthen us to not become weary in well doing but to keep the big picture in mind, the SOULS!

Stop the Show!!!

I can write this because I have shined the light upon my own life and faults...

Stop the entertainment! We can no longer blame the young people for where they are in Christ; we have to look at what we do. Anytime we gather a large number of young people together it’s to entertain them! Yes we can minister through various forms but what are they walking away with? “I want a deeper commitment with Christ? Or I want to learn how to step because that was hot!” Are we scared to call a prayer meeting for young people, thinking they won’t respond? We’re quick to put together a holy hip hop show, talent show, and lock-in but slow to take them deeper in Christ. Stop thinking for them, open it up and those who are hungry will respond. If this is the generation that will prepare the way for Christ’s return then that means we must prepare and mature them in Christ. We can’t declare this the Joshua generation or Elisha movement with recognizing the role Moses played in developing Joshua and Elijah in developing Elisha. God is calling us leaders to step up!

God knew Joshua would be the one to lead the people into the Promised Land so he told Moses to keep him close and expose him to things that everyone wasn’t privileged to encounter. Joshua first victory in a leadership role was won because Moses was literally interceding by holding his staff (Exodus 17). As long as he held up the staff they were winning but if Moses brought it down they began to lose. It is of utmost importance that we increase our commitment to intercession for this generation. Their victories early in this battle are hinged on our intercession. They are just beginning to walk in their calling so there are a lot of things they do not know about. We must stand in the gap and make up the difference; if they lose it’s not their fault.

Are you Empty?

We keep asking God to fill us with His Spirit, love, power, mind, etc but we've got too much junk in the way. God won't put His pure things in with our filth. In seeking God it is time to empty out. Getting rid of all things that are not of God. We wonder why we're not seeing God move like we want Him to, well the problems lies within us. He must have a body to work through and if He can't find one than He can't manifest Himself. We know what its like to live in the world, we know what its like to live in the church but now its time to move to the Kingdom. We can't take that old stuff into the Kingdom so we must empty out. I found this sound last week and it has been ringing in my Spirit since then...

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