“Do not rebuke an older man harshly, but exhort him as if he were your father. Treat younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity.” 1 Timothy 5:1-2
Paul is teaching young Timothy how he is to treat others and as I was reading this scripture the last line stood out, “and younger women as sisters, with absolute purity”. As I sit and think about my and other young men’s’ dealings with the opposite sex I have to ask if we have truly been treating our sisters with absolute purity. We often try to limit purity to an outward thing such as sex, conversations, physical touching, etc but it goes far beyond that. Purity must be a part of the core of our being. Our thoughts and motives must be just as pure as not touching someone inappropriately.
I wonder if God posted our thoughts, concerning our brothers and sisters, on a movie screen would people be able to sit through and watch it? We may never make a pass at our brother or sister in Christ but what thoughts do we entertain about them? Do we have lustful thoughts about them? When we hug is it out of a heart of purity or hormones? Love or lust?
In the previous chapter, Paul told Timothy that he must not only not allow people to look down upon him because of his age but also to be an example to other believers. One of the ways to which he is to be an example is in purity. We, too, are called to be an example to other believers in purity. If we truly desire to take on the character of Christ then our purity must extend beyond being outwardly pure. We must ensure that we are treating each other with absolute purity; that our motives are pure.
Search our hearts O God! Reveal those places of impurity in us that we may repent. Help us to regard our brothers and sister with absolute purity, in our actions, thoughts, and motives. Grant us your grace to cover our past mindsets. Invade our hearts, O God, with your love that we may seek to love sincerely and honor one another above ourselves. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Aug 24, 2009
Aug 10, 2009
Work in Process
I know the last 2 blogs were quite sombering but I did want to thank those who contacted me to make sure I was doing alright. All is well! God is still great! In the midst of adversity vision and drive burst forth. As you can tell by now, I love to write and it's been a joy since childhood. As I ended my college years, I had a desire to write a book, at the time it was a book of poetry. Since then, that desire has come and gone. Well.....last month it came back and while it was here I jumped on it! So I am in the process of writing my 1st book! I won't disclose the title of the book because I don't want to get title-jacked! LOL But the book will be about my journey in overcoming my addiction to pornography, a must read that hasn't been fully written yet! :) For many years I was ashamed and embarassed to even mention it so for God to bring a book out of it is nothing less than God! We overcome by the blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimony. The plan is to have it out by the year's end so PLEASE keep me in your prayers.
The current word for my life is AGGRESSIVE. I considered myself a "laid back" person which excused my passive behavior in pursuing life. Being passive lead to me being inconsistent which lead to compromise and God gave me a quote a few weeks ago that says, "a life of compromise is no life at all". This won't be overnight, nor will it be easy but if my motto for life is "living everyday on purpose with purpose" then I must begin to live life Wide Awake. With many other changes occuring in my life that will come to light in due time, I must remain in a place of total nothingness that God might become everything. I place myself back on the Potter's wheel that I might be broken down and made again.
I'm currently a work in process...
Jeremiah 18:4 "But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him."
The current word for my life is AGGRESSIVE. I considered myself a "laid back" person which excused my passive behavior in pursuing life. Being passive lead to me being inconsistent which lead to compromise and God gave me a quote a few weeks ago that says, "a life of compromise is no life at all". This won't be overnight, nor will it be easy but if my motto for life is "living everyday on purpose with purpose" then I must begin to live life Wide Awake. With many other changes occuring in my life that will come to light in due time, I must remain in a place of total nothingness that God might become everything. I place myself back on the Potter's wheel that I might be broken down and made again.
I'm currently a work in process...
Jeremiah 18:4 "But the pot he was shaping from the clay was marred in his hands; so the potter formed it into another pot, shaping it as seemed best to him."
Aug 7, 2009
Who's at fault?
“Come on brah! Come on brah! Come back!!” These are the cries of a brother as he stands by while his brother took his final breaths before dying to a gunshot wound to the neck. Out of all the voices that I heard this week, this voice spoke louder than any other. At the time of hearing, they were just words but as this week is sinking in I hear the cry and desperation behind them. As I rode around this evening, I kept hearing that young man crying out for his brother not to die and it nearly brought me to tears. What pain he must have been feeling in that moment of complete helplessness, knowing there was nothing he could do to help his brother.
What unfolded next was not a surprise, his pain turned to rage. He began lashing out vocally to all who were in ear shot, blaming them for his brother’s death. Retaliation became his focus. Two days later the neighborhood was rattled by another flurry of gunfire but no one shot this time. (By no means am I saying he is responsible for this)When we lose someone or something we care about we want the cause of the loss to feel the pain that we felt; usually through retaliation.
As I reflected on these things, Daddy (God) began to speak to me.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” John 10:10a
We must see the bigger picture and what God is saying through this moment. We have all experienced loss or pain even if not through death of a loved one. We must first understand that God only gives us good things, not bad but he does allow bad to happen. Look at Job and all of the terrible things that happen, none of them were allowed until God gave the ok to do so. It seems that when we go through things the first one we blame is God. I can be honest and say that I have done this and at the time I felt so right in doing so. And because I felt it was his fault (maybe not all of it) it drove me from him instead of to him. My retaliation was to withdraw from His presence.
Brothers and sisters, I tell you that your adversary is not God!
“I have come that they might have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10b
It is natural to want revenge on the one who caused you pain or loss but that enemy is Satan. This is the most important thing we can realize. Satan knows his end and he wants as many people with him in that end. He comes ONLY to steal, kill, and destroy, that’s his only purpose, nothing good. For every loss or pain that you have had in life it is the devil attempting to steal, kill, and destroy you that you might end up with him. *Let me make this disclaimer: Yes, the Lord can bring pain to our lives to get us back to him but death, sickness, etc are not from God.*
Romans 8:28 says, “that in all things God works for the good…”, not some but all things. At the same time, if we let them, those same things that were meant to work for our good can be used to take us out of that verse by placing bitterness and unforgiveness in our hearts. Satan knows that God can take a bad situation and bring something good out of it so he works extremely hard to distort our view so we will not see as God sees.
In my relationship with Esther, there have been times where we found ourselves in compromise/sin. The guilt lead to repentance…
“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” 2 Corinthians 7:10
But along with Godly sorrow (guilt) comes Satan’s sorrow (condemnation). Condemnation blinds us to the grace of God therefore holding us hostage to the weight of our sin instead of the liberty through repentance from the blood of Jesus. God did not cause Esther and I to walk in compromise but as we yielded it to him, he was able to work it together for our good; drawing us closer to Him.
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1
If we let it, the things that happen that should draw us closer to God will push us away from him. God created us to have emotions, to feel. When painful things happen we hurt, we feel. Just as that young man was hurting as he saw his brother die was real, the pain you’ve felt is real. God knows that and Satan knows that. In that moment they are both battling for your attention; which one will you allow to give you a response? Satan says lash out, retaliate, make them hurt like you hurt. But God says,
“Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay’, says the Lord.” Romans 12:19
“It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:31
“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14
Whether your pain was self inflicted i.e. sin or from the outside let God avenge and fight for you. If it is sin, walk in the grace provided by the cross; if it is from the outside allow the Holy Spirit to comfort you. If you want revenge on Satan, love harder, bless those who hate you, pursue God with greater passion. When you fall into sin, repent, accept the Father’s forgiveness and immediately be about Kingdom business, go bring someone into the Kingdom.
Job faced more pain and hurt in one day than many face in a lifetime. Many would have stood by him if he would have cursed God or blamed God; his wife even encouraged him to do so. But the Bible says, “In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.” Job 1:27
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17
Be encouraged, we have a Father who does not change like shifting shadows!
What unfolded next was not a surprise, his pain turned to rage. He began lashing out vocally to all who were in ear shot, blaming them for his brother’s death. Retaliation became his focus. Two days later the neighborhood was rattled by another flurry of gunfire but no one shot this time. (By no means am I saying he is responsible for this)When we lose someone or something we care about we want the cause of the loss to feel the pain that we felt; usually through retaliation.
As I reflected on these things, Daddy (God) began to speak to me.
“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy” John 10:10a
We must see the bigger picture and what God is saying through this moment. We have all experienced loss or pain even if not through death of a loved one. We must first understand that God only gives us good things, not bad but he does allow bad to happen. Look at Job and all of the terrible things that happen, none of them were allowed until God gave the ok to do so. It seems that when we go through things the first one we blame is God. I can be honest and say that I have done this and at the time I felt so right in doing so. And because I felt it was his fault (maybe not all of it) it drove me from him instead of to him. My retaliation was to withdraw from His presence.
Brothers and sisters, I tell you that your adversary is not God!
“I have come that they might have life, and have it to the full.” John 10:10b
It is natural to want revenge on the one who caused you pain or loss but that enemy is Satan. This is the most important thing we can realize. Satan knows his end and he wants as many people with him in that end. He comes ONLY to steal, kill, and destroy, that’s his only purpose, nothing good. For every loss or pain that you have had in life it is the devil attempting to steal, kill, and destroy you that you might end up with him. *Let me make this disclaimer: Yes, the Lord can bring pain to our lives to get us back to him but death, sickness, etc are not from God.*
Romans 8:28 says, “that in all things God works for the good…”, not some but all things. At the same time, if we let them, those same things that were meant to work for our good can be used to take us out of that verse by placing bitterness and unforgiveness in our hearts. Satan knows that God can take a bad situation and bring something good out of it so he works extremely hard to distort our view so we will not see as God sees.
In my relationship with Esther, there have been times where we found ourselves in compromise/sin. The guilt lead to repentance…
“Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death.” 2 Corinthians 7:10
But along with Godly sorrow (guilt) comes Satan’s sorrow (condemnation). Condemnation blinds us to the grace of God therefore holding us hostage to the weight of our sin instead of the liberty through repentance from the blood of Jesus. God did not cause Esther and I to walk in compromise but as we yielded it to him, he was able to work it together for our good; drawing us closer to Him.
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Romans 8:1
If we let it, the things that happen that should draw us closer to God will push us away from him. God created us to have emotions, to feel. When painful things happen we hurt, we feel. Just as that young man was hurting as he saw his brother die was real, the pain you’ve felt is real. God knows that and Satan knows that. In that moment they are both battling for your attention; which one will you allow to give you a response? Satan says lash out, retaliate, make them hurt like you hurt. But God says,
“Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: ‘It is mine to avenge; I will repay’, says the Lord.” Romans 12:19
“It is a dreadful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” Hebrews 10:31
“The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.” Exodus 14:14
Whether your pain was self inflicted i.e. sin or from the outside let God avenge and fight for you. If it is sin, walk in the grace provided by the cross; if it is from the outside allow the Holy Spirit to comfort you. If you want revenge on Satan, love harder, bless those who hate you, pursue God with greater passion. When you fall into sin, repent, accept the Father’s forgiveness and immediately be about Kingdom business, go bring someone into the Kingdom.
Job faced more pain and hurt in one day than many face in a lifetime. Many would have stood by him if he would have cursed God or blamed God; his wife even encouraged him to do so. But the Bible says, “In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.” Job 1:27
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17
Be encouraged, we have a Father who does not change like shifting shadows!
Aug 4, 2009
Humble awakening...
Today, I witnessed as a young man (16) took his final breaths and pass as a result of a shooting just outside of my job. Being responsible first for my children, I had to put them first so I was not able to think about what I had seen until an hour or two later. When it did hit me, I honestly did/do not know how to process it. I am usually outside in the very area everyday with my kids but this day we decided to go out earlier than usual, so we were back inside prior to the shooting. If I had pulled up in my car just 5 minutes earlier I would have been in the middle of everything. There are so many what if’s but God reminded of the I Am. When I woke up this morning, Psalms 135:5 was the scripture in my heart:
“I know that the Lord is great, that our Lord is greater than all gods.”
As I wind down my day, this verse still stands. I know my Lord is greater than all gods. The definition one of my teens gave tonight of “gods” is anything you give your attention to. There are often moments in life where things hit us unexpectedly and we don’t know exactly how to handle them; today was that type of day but God is greater. There is a verse in Psalms 119 that reads, “You are good, and what you do is good”. In the end, I stand on the word God gave me this morning, He’s great! In the midst of adversity, trial, uncertainty, pain, loss, our God is great.
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith…” Hebrews 12:2
“Your word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth and it endures.” Psalms 119:89-90
I don’t have any profound words to give, I only believe that God’s word is my comfort. It stands firm and I believe just as it upheld those who held fast to it were sustained, I too will find rest in it.
Daddy, you do all things well. You are good and what you do is good. I do not question what you allow to happen. I know there is a season, time, and purpose for everything let your will be done. Father, I ask that you would open your word to me that I may find comfort and understanding. Your word is eternal and does not change so I believe this day will work together for good. I pray that your word would speak to every heart that is not at peace and we would believe your ear is attentive to our cry. And as we lay our cares upon you that you would lay upon us your peace that passes all understanding. Lord, you are great! Let us encounter a greater measure of your love and grace in our times of adversity and pain. You have sent us your precious Holy Spirit as a comforter, let us never forget that!
Father, I thank you for life. I thank you for the little things that I often take for granted. I thank you for friends and family and even for foes. May I live every day of my life. May your love shine through me like never before as I realize your grace and mercy and love towards me. I repent for being ungrateful and unthankful for the many things you have given me, have mercy upon me! Baptize my heart with a fresh revelation of your love. I have never seen the righteous forsaken and know that you uphold your own. Strengthen us in our times of weakness. When we willingly boast of our inadequacies and inability to do anything on our own, may your grace and power break in. I love you, Daddy. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Amen.
May you find encouragement in the word of God.
“I know that the Lord is great, that our Lord is greater than all gods.”
As I wind down my day, this verse still stands. I know my Lord is greater than all gods. The definition one of my teens gave tonight of “gods” is anything you give your attention to. There are often moments in life where things hit us unexpectedly and we don’t know exactly how to handle them; today was that type of day but God is greater. There is a verse in Psalms 119 that reads, “You are good, and what you do is good”. In the end, I stand on the word God gave me this morning, He’s great! In the midst of adversity, trial, uncertainty, pain, loss, our God is great.
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith…” Hebrews 12:2
“Your word, O Lord, is eternal; it stands firm in the heavens. Your faithfulness continues through all generations; you established the earth and it endures.” Psalms 119:89-90
I don’t have any profound words to give, I only believe that God’s word is my comfort. It stands firm and I believe just as it upheld those who held fast to it were sustained, I too will find rest in it.
Daddy, you do all things well. You are good and what you do is good. I do not question what you allow to happen. I know there is a season, time, and purpose for everything let your will be done. Father, I ask that you would open your word to me that I may find comfort and understanding. Your word is eternal and does not change so I believe this day will work together for good. I pray that your word would speak to every heart that is not at peace and we would believe your ear is attentive to our cry. And as we lay our cares upon you that you would lay upon us your peace that passes all understanding. Lord, you are great! Let us encounter a greater measure of your love and grace in our times of adversity and pain. You have sent us your precious Holy Spirit as a comforter, let us never forget that!
Father, I thank you for life. I thank you for the little things that I often take for granted. I thank you for friends and family and even for foes. May I live every day of my life. May your love shine through me like never before as I realize your grace and mercy and love towards me. I repent for being ungrateful and unthankful for the many things you have given me, have mercy upon me! Baptize my heart with a fresh revelation of your love. I have never seen the righteous forsaken and know that you uphold your own. Strengthen us in our times of weakness. When we willingly boast of our inadequacies and inability to do anything on our own, may your grace and power break in. I love you, Daddy. In Jesus’ name, Amen. Amen.
May you find encouragement in the word of God.
Jul 9, 2009
Humble or Be Humbled...
Yesterday was a humbling day, to say the least. I received an extended text message from a brother in Christ prior to going to work that read:
“…in a place where two ways met-Mark 11:4-lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of revelations…-2 Corinthians 12:7. The Lord said to ask you ‘what are you praying?’ it is a rhetorical question that you need to answer-Matthew 5:20-to brush it off is to be arrogant-1 Peter 5:6. Do as the Word says and follow the Spirit and your way shall be made well.”
As I meditated on the scriptures and asked the Holy Spirit to makes all things clear, the picture that was painted was not a pretty one. God began to show where I have been arrogant in my thoughts and actions and how I “thought more highly of myself than I ought”. I did not have time to get quiet before the Lord and deal with these things due to work but it never left my mind. I still had to teach the youth that evening and I had most of the message together. As I went through the day one line from Jason Upton’s Dying Star kept repeating in my head, “you’re full of pride”.
After getting off work, I stopped by the house and then headed straight to the church to pray and prepare. As I laid on the altar, it was extremely difficult to pray and found myself laying in mostly silence. As service began, I felt partially confident in the word I was to deliver to the youth. (that’s how I feel every Tuesday and rely on the Spirit to teach through me) but tonight was different. My demeanor was quiet most of the day due to the above text and what God had revealed so far but it was like I just cut on a switch prior to teaching and I was able to teach as if nothing was going on. In my mind the message went well, I hit my points, had good examples, good conclusion. At one point in my message I was listening to myself teach and realized there was no life my word. It was like Sampson in his assumption that he would just shake off the ropes as before but this time didn’t realize the Spirit had departed.
“He awoke from his sleep and thought, ‘I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.’ But he did not know that the Lord had left him.” Judges 16:20
So there I was teaching a message that could only makes sense when backed by the Holy Spirit and He was not there.
We rarely finish before the adults but on this night we did so I was able to catch the end of pastor’s message and that service. As he was concluding his message the atmosphere began to shift. During this shift I clearly heard the Lord speak to me and say, “I don’t need you.” Then what happened next was his sign. In the recent past I had thought of everything that wasn’t going on that I thought should be going on and thought I might be the one to bring those things. Well God confirmed his word that He doesn’t need me by manifesting ALL of those things in that one moment, from the prophetic word, prophetic song, deliverance, to liberty in the atmosphere. It was all manifested right before me and He assured me that I had nothing to do with it.
“For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Matthew 23:12
“Now I, Emmanuel, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.” Daniel 4:37
“Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-and the things that are not-to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-29
God desires to use us to have a Jesus-like impact in this earth but know and understand that he doesn’t HAVE to use YOU. Just as King Saul was replaced because he began to care more about the praise of men and God, we too can be replaced if we lose focus of what truly matters. Let my lesson be your lesson. Humble yourself before God so that he does not have to and then he will exalt you in due time. Although no one else knew what was going on, I choose to expose it because I believe that I’m not the only one who has overlooked the issue of pride, no matter how subtle it may seem.
“…in a place where two ways met-Mark 11:4-lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of revelations…-2 Corinthians 12:7. The Lord said to ask you ‘what are you praying?’ it is a rhetorical question that you need to answer-Matthew 5:20-to brush it off is to be arrogant-1 Peter 5:6. Do as the Word says and follow the Spirit and your way shall be made well.”
As I meditated on the scriptures and asked the Holy Spirit to makes all things clear, the picture that was painted was not a pretty one. God began to show where I have been arrogant in my thoughts and actions and how I “thought more highly of myself than I ought”. I did not have time to get quiet before the Lord and deal with these things due to work but it never left my mind. I still had to teach the youth that evening and I had most of the message together. As I went through the day one line from Jason Upton’s Dying Star kept repeating in my head, “you’re full of pride”.
After getting off work, I stopped by the house and then headed straight to the church to pray and prepare. As I laid on the altar, it was extremely difficult to pray and found myself laying in mostly silence. As service began, I felt partially confident in the word I was to deliver to the youth. (that’s how I feel every Tuesday and rely on the Spirit to teach through me) but tonight was different. My demeanor was quiet most of the day due to the above text and what God had revealed so far but it was like I just cut on a switch prior to teaching and I was able to teach as if nothing was going on. In my mind the message went well, I hit my points, had good examples, good conclusion. At one point in my message I was listening to myself teach and realized there was no life my word. It was like Sampson in his assumption that he would just shake off the ropes as before but this time didn’t realize the Spirit had departed.
“He awoke from his sleep and thought, ‘I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.’ But he did not know that the Lord had left him.” Judges 16:20
So there I was teaching a message that could only makes sense when backed by the Holy Spirit and He was not there.
We rarely finish before the adults but on this night we did so I was able to catch the end of pastor’s message and that service. As he was concluding his message the atmosphere began to shift. During this shift I clearly heard the Lord speak to me and say, “I don’t need you.” Then what happened next was his sign. In the recent past I had thought of everything that wasn’t going on that I thought should be going on and thought I might be the one to bring those things. Well God confirmed his word that He doesn’t need me by manifesting ALL of those things in that one moment, from the prophetic word, prophetic song, deliverance, to liberty in the atmosphere. It was all manifested right before me and He assured me that I had nothing to do with it.
“For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.” Matthew 23:12
“Now I, Emmanuel, praise and exalt and glorify the King of heaven, because everything he does is right and all his ways are just. And those who walk in pride he is able to humble.” Daniel 4:37
“Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things-and the things that are not-to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him.” 1 Corinthians 1:26-29
God desires to use us to have a Jesus-like impact in this earth but know and understand that he doesn’t HAVE to use YOU. Just as King Saul was replaced because he began to care more about the praise of men and God, we too can be replaced if we lose focus of what truly matters. Let my lesson be your lesson. Humble yourself before God so that he does not have to and then he will exalt you in due time. Although no one else knew what was going on, I choose to expose it because I believe that I’m not the only one who has overlooked the issue of pride, no matter how subtle it may seem.
Jun 27, 2009
Prophetic Evangelism
The Lord has a broken heart for the lost but many don’t have His heart. Honestly, for a long time I did not have his heart either.
Matthew 9:36 (Message) “When he [Jesus] looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd.”
I was comfortable just working inside the church and being a “good” person outside of church but that’s not what he has called us to do. As we honestly pursue his will and his kingdom its impossible not to have a heart for the lost that compels us to go.
Matthew 28:19 “therefore GO and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
Matthew 5:10 “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
Matthew 26:39 “Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
2 Corinthians 5:14 “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.”
Last Sunday the Lord placed it on my heart to take a team out to evangelize in the city on Friday. He didn’t tell me where we were going up about 6:45p when we were to leave at 7p. I have done prophetic evangelism a few times before but this would be my first venture in Greensboro. Prophetic Evangelism is partnering with the Holy Spirit to reach the lost in love and power. There are so many biblical examples (John 4, Acts 8, Acts 16, John 9, John 11). I gave those that were going out a brief understanding of what it is and some practical things to keep in mind. Then before I told them where we were going we took a few minutes to be quiet before the Lord and asked him for clues to our divine assignments and then we wrote those things down. Some things on our lists were yellow dress, wallet chain, butterfly, thick glasses, and David. After that I told them we were going to the mall and off we headed.
One of the things on my list was the chain wallet, so I’m walking around the mall looking for someone with a chain wallet. (It’s a treasure hunt!) So Aundrea and I are on the third level and I look down to the second level and see a young lady with the chain wallet so we head down after her. We finally catch up to her on the first floor and I tell her that we’re doing a treasure hunt and she had the chain from my list. So I’m able to minister to her and pray with her and her cousin right there in the mall.
One of my favorite was Jay’na and the yellow dress from her list. A young lady walked by and she had a huge dragon tattoo on her back and I made a joke that it was the butterfly we were looking for and completely missed the fact that she had on the yellow dress. She got about 25ft away when I realized it and told Jay’na to go after her because that was the yellow dress. So we head after her and she is heading out of the mall to her car, I’m speed walking trying to catch her with Jay’na coming behind me. She is about 10ft from her car and I yell out “excuse me!”. And she turns around and we approach her and tell her that we’re out doing a treasure hunt and one thing on our list was a yellow dress and she was the only one in the mall that had one on. We then tell her the purpose of what we’re doing and she’s like this is so weird. It was weird because she didn’t believe in God and she recently had a conversation with her line sisters about it and they said that God was going to give her a sign. Aha!! It was not by chance that she was the only one in the mall with a yellow dress! We end up ministering to her and Jay’na got a word of knowledge concerning some things from her past. As Jay’na was talking about that after something she said two bolts of lighting lit up the sky and thunder shook everything. Talk about a sign from God! LOL She did not give her heart to the Lord but we believe that she will in the very near future.
Aundrea had a similar experience at the same time with her butterfly. They found a young lady with a butterfly tattoo and shared the gospel with them. Everything that they shared was a confirmation to what God had already been dealing with them about! Partnering with the Holy Spirit is the only way to do it! We had so much fun!!!
One thing on my list was the name David, I actually got the name on Thursday and God so pressed it upon my heart of how much he was after this person. I had no idea who it was but I was intent on finding a David. In the vision I saw him in a group of guys so when I was walking through the mall, if I saw a group of guys I would ask if one of them was David and none of them were. So we leave the mall without finding David, so I was like I guessed I missed that one. Then as we pull into the church my phone rings….its my little brother David. It doesn’t register yet that he is the David from my list. I tell him what we had just been doing and then as I go through my list with him it clicks. You’re the David on my list! I had no idea what God wanted to say to him so I just began to minister to him and let God speak through me. I hadn’t talked to my brother in a few weeks and had no idea where he was in his relationship with God but every word spoken was exactly on point! God blew my mind with this one because he knows how much I love my little brother and the fact that he would use me to speak through! I was too through once I prayed for him and we got off the phone.
Greensboro is not safe. LOL This was just the first time with a group who had never done this before. What happens when we grow…. Anyone else in the area who wants to join us please contact me.
Matthew 9:36 (Message) “When he [Jesus] looked out over the crowds, his heart broke. So confused and aimless they were, like sheep with no shepherd.”
I was comfortable just working inside the church and being a “good” person outside of church but that’s not what he has called us to do. As we honestly pursue his will and his kingdom its impossible not to have a heart for the lost that compels us to go.
Matthew 28:19 “therefore GO and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.”
Matthew 5:10 “your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
Matthew 26:39 “Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, ‘My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
2 Corinthians 5:14 “For Christ’s love compels us, because we are convinced that one died for all, and therefore all died.”
Last Sunday the Lord placed it on my heart to take a team out to evangelize in the city on Friday. He didn’t tell me where we were going up about 6:45p when we were to leave at 7p. I have done prophetic evangelism a few times before but this would be my first venture in Greensboro. Prophetic Evangelism is partnering with the Holy Spirit to reach the lost in love and power. There are so many biblical examples (John 4, Acts 8, Acts 16, John 9, John 11). I gave those that were going out a brief understanding of what it is and some practical things to keep in mind. Then before I told them where we were going we took a few minutes to be quiet before the Lord and asked him for clues to our divine assignments and then we wrote those things down. Some things on our lists were yellow dress, wallet chain, butterfly, thick glasses, and David. After that I told them we were going to the mall and off we headed.
One of the things on my list was the chain wallet, so I’m walking around the mall looking for someone with a chain wallet. (It’s a treasure hunt!) So Aundrea and I are on the third level and I look down to the second level and see a young lady with the chain wallet so we head down after her. We finally catch up to her on the first floor and I tell her that we’re doing a treasure hunt and she had the chain from my list. So I’m able to minister to her and pray with her and her cousin right there in the mall.
One of my favorite was Jay’na and the yellow dress from her list. A young lady walked by and she had a huge dragon tattoo on her back and I made a joke that it was the butterfly we were looking for and completely missed the fact that she had on the yellow dress. She got about 25ft away when I realized it and told Jay’na to go after her because that was the yellow dress. So we head after her and she is heading out of the mall to her car, I’m speed walking trying to catch her with Jay’na coming behind me. She is about 10ft from her car and I yell out “excuse me!”. And she turns around and we approach her and tell her that we’re out doing a treasure hunt and one thing on our list was a yellow dress and she was the only one in the mall that had one on. We then tell her the purpose of what we’re doing and she’s like this is so weird. It was weird because she didn’t believe in God and she recently had a conversation with her line sisters about it and they said that God was going to give her a sign. Aha!! It was not by chance that she was the only one in the mall with a yellow dress! We end up ministering to her and Jay’na got a word of knowledge concerning some things from her past. As Jay’na was talking about that after something she said two bolts of lighting lit up the sky and thunder shook everything. Talk about a sign from God! LOL She did not give her heart to the Lord but we believe that she will in the very near future.
Aundrea had a similar experience at the same time with her butterfly. They found a young lady with a butterfly tattoo and shared the gospel with them. Everything that they shared was a confirmation to what God had already been dealing with them about! Partnering with the Holy Spirit is the only way to do it! We had so much fun!!!
One thing on my list was the name David, I actually got the name on Thursday and God so pressed it upon my heart of how much he was after this person. I had no idea who it was but I was intent on finding a David. In the vision I saw him in a group of guys so when I was walking through the mall, if I saw a group of guys I would ask if one of them was David and none of them were. So we leave the mall without finding David, so I was like I guessed I missed that one. Then as we pull into the church my phone rings….its my little brother David. It doesn’t register yet that he is the David from my list. I tell him what we had just been doing and then as I go through my list with him it clicks. You’re the David on my list! I had no idea what God wanted to say to him so I just began to minister to him and let God speak through me. I hadn’t talked to my brother in a few weeks and had no idea where he was in his relationship with God but every word spoken was exactly on point! God blew my mind with this one because he knows how much I love my little brother and the fact that he would use me to speak through! I was too through once I prayed for him and we got off the phone.
Greensboro is not safe. LOL This was just the first time with a group who had never done this before. What happens when we grow…. Anyone else in the area who wants to join us please contact me.
Jun 9, 2009
It's Gonna Be Worth It All
Instead of allowing my words to speak to you for this blog, I will allow this video to speak. I have been speaking about surrrendering and yielding to God and I just want to encourage you that it's gonna be worth it all. There's a greater purpose to you surrendering than what you can imagine. Allow this drama to minister to you (exuse the commercials)...
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