Jeremiah 29:11-13 – “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.”  NKJV

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! My devotional today is not a typical Thanksgiving message but one that I believe is needed in this hour! God bless you and may your celebration be joyous and your heart full of thanksgiving!

I need to explain my title before launching into this devotional.  The text and the title do not seem compatible in many ways but I believe they are in perfect harmony.  Frequently, people argue that they are the way they are because God “made them that way.” 

In a measure, I can accept that and yet totally reject it at the same time.  If you follow that thought or idea through to its logical conclusion God would, in fact, be quite sadistic. He would be other than the God of Love of the Bible and the God who offered those comforting words in our text.  If we follow that idea through to its logical conclusion then one would have to determine that we are simply robots.

We would be without the ability to choose and therefore controlled by the divine. That would mean that sin is not sin because if we are not responsible for our actions we cannot be held accountable for them.  Sin would be God’s fault and if I sin, blame God.  I know of few Christians who would embrace that idea.  However, it seems to be taught indirectly by some who envision themselves as God’s Voices and Authorities on all things spiritual if not all things.

I readily acknowledge that genetics and environment play a significant role in our character and makeup.  I would never argue that there are not genetic, neurological, and even chemical factors involved in addiction and physiological and psychological bents in life.  However, if I adopt the view that “God made me this way” regardless of what “this way is” then whatever I am is God’s fault. If my makeup is unwholesome it is His fault and if it is wholesome He gets the credit.  The Bible speaks of choices from Genesis to Revelation and if we have no choice then those directives could be considered sadistic and that is foreign to the Bible’s teaching about the nature, person, character, and purpose of God. 

Let me approach it this way, I have battled weight for a considerable amount of my adult life but if I believe God made me fat, why should I get off the couch or out of the easy chair? Why take the steps needed to get in shape, lose weight, and become more healthy?  To do so would, under that ideology, be fighting the very design of God because after all, “He made me fat.” 

The Bible also gives warning about the dangers of anger or rage but if God “made me this way” then why resist?  Hey, I can fly off the handle and go into a fit of rage with no accountability because after all “God made me this way”, right?  NO! NO! NO!  The Bible clearly warns that if we become angry and that anger is not bridled it is akin to murder and God forbids murder as a violation of His righteous principles and a violation of the right to life of another human being. 

We have many people today who are addicted to something whether that be alcohol, drugs, food, sex, money, power, or many other things, and if we adopt the idea that “God made them that way” why fight against God?  Of course, genetics and other factors can and do come into play but there is also a choice and sometimes that choice is simply to call upon God for help. 

Remember our text and the promise of God.   He has plans for us that are good, not evil, and wants us to have peace, not turmoil.  He wants to give us a future and a hope, not a life of despair and the darkness of depression through addiction or something else.  His declaration was, “…You will call upon me and pray to Me and I will listen to you.”  He further said, “And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.”  

Seeking is one thing Finding quite another and it would be sadistic for God to instruct us to SEEK HIM with no hope of FINDING HIM.  If we are doomed to a life, whatever life, of darkness because we were made a particular way that is not HOPE that is DESPAIR and that is not God!

God is not out to get us. Although human beings cannot explain fully why there are birth defects, difficulties, and propensities in some and not in others we can trust that God is not SADISTIC. He did not intentionally design us to make us suffer or cause us to be other than the Righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. 

If I believe, and I do, that God is a Loving God who wants us to prosper and be in health even as our soul prospers I cannot accept the notion that He made me a certain way with no hope of deliverance or healing.  I cannot adopt the mentality that God creates us in ways to force us into actions and lifestyles that propel us outside His will and desire to punish us. 

We are CREATED in the Image and Likeness of God and unless you want to label God in the ways we accuse Him of creating us you might want to rethink your argument.  We do a fine job of making ourselves other than the righteousness of God and He is not the blame.  He has provided a way of escape and a door to salvation and invites us to enter into the Joys of our Lord.  I cannot and will not blame God for any sin or flaws in my life but will credit Him with His Grace and Mercy that brings me forth to victory!

God bless you as you go through this wonderful day in Christ Jesus our Lord!

Psalm 12:8 – “The wicked prowl on every side, when vileness is exalted among the sons of men.” NKJV

I had a person tell me that they didn’t like “hellfire and brimstone” preaching and was so glad that the modern church is now presenting a much more sanitized version of the gospel.  This individual stated they did not like hearing things called sin for sin was an ambiguous term and drove people away from the church rather than drawing them to it. 

That conversation caused me to meditate and contemplate on the state of my own life, my nation, and the church.  It sent me back to the Bible to examine that view and caused me to ask other ministers their views. I proceeded to question churchgoers as well as non-churchgoers what they thought about this matter.  After that, the Holy Spirit whispered in my spirit and heart, “What do you think God thinks about it?”  Whoa, Nellie!  That arrested me like nothing I had heard from those I spoke to.  That was the heart of the matter and where the rubber truly meets the road.  WHAT DOES GOD THINK?

I would suggest that is the question regarding every question of life. Once we determine what God’s Word says and through prayer determine the heart and mind of God, we have a clear path or direction, or we should. 

Let’s take the text and examine the thought presented that the wicked, not just wickedness or sin is present and prevalent WHEN vileness is exalted among men.  We are living in a time when evil is called good and good is called evil. Many in our society from politics to pulpits have abandoned some of the central teachings of God’s Word. They have adopted a view of reinterpreting the clear declarations of God on various matters and no longer identify them as sin.  Some have sought to sanitize the Gospel to make it less bloody and less constraining.  Please understand, I do not like to hear someone preach ‘hellfire and brimstone’ without a broken heart and without the clear view and objective of redemption. 

It has been said, “What we allow in moderation or children will do in excess.”  The Psalmist warned that if we exalt or give place to vileness among men and justify, excuse, or ignore sin and evil the wicked gain prominence and power. In that place of power they plunge our world deeper and deeper into a depraved state opening the door for wickedness of all kinds.

Those evils and wickedness not only become prominent but acceptable or non-troubling to our sense of rightness and godliness.  We have become so desensitized by the incessant barrage of language, violence, corruption, and lasciviousness through Hollywood and television many are no longer troubled and grieved in their hearts by what is happening in our world. 

I cannot imagine that God is so desensitized, and I truly believe that His heart is grieved when “vileness is exalted”.  Why would we be told to “shun and flee the very appearance of evil” if evil was not like leaven with corruptive power?  Why would we be told to “come out from among them and be separate” if there was not a corruptive influence in the ways of the world?  Why would we be instructed to “be holy for I am holy” if there was no redemptive value in holiness and godliness? 

If we fail to paint sin as it truly is with its corruptive and destructive influence we do great harm to the church and the world. When we fail to identify the reality and eternality of hell, as well as the beauty and wonder of heaven, people tend to diminish, justify, and excuse behavior that violates God’s person, character, and word.  Conviction will fail to grip the heart because they have been or are being told that it’s just part of human nature to be, think, and do those things. 

I am not suggesting legalism, but I am promoting preaching the Cross with its gruesomeness for “without the shedding of blood there is no remission.”  Without the Cross, there will be no Crown.  Without the Cross, there is no satisfaction of Divine Justice and the open door to pardoning for whosoever will that comes and calls on the Lord. 

We wonder why our world from Wall Street to Main Street, from the White House to the Tenement House, and from the President to the Average Joe on the Street is in the state it is in where evil is prevalent and the Wicked seems to be ever gaining power, influence, and strength.  It is we have allowed “vileness to be exalted among men.”  Therefore, it is high time that we awaken from our slumber and return to the Cross and God.

God bless you as you make a reaffirmation of your faith and receive a rekindling of His Grace in your heart and life!  

John 18:33-38 – “Therefore Pilate entered again into the Praetorium, and summoned Jesus and said to Him, “Are You the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?”  35 Pilate answered, “I am not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered You to me; what have You done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.”  37 Therefore Pilate said to Him, “So You are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say correctly that I am a king. For this, I have been born, and for this I have come into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth hears My voice.”  38 Pilate said to Him, “What is truth?”  NASB

The question of Pilate and the response of Jesus is intriguing.  Pilate asked Him a political question, “Are you the King of the Jews?”  Jesus answered with a question that should resonate with each of us, “Are you saying this on your own initiative, or did others tell you about Me?”   

It would seem that Pilate was asking a question that would facilitate his justification for consenting to the request of the Jewish leaders to crucify Jesus.  If Jesus responded in the affirmative Pilate could label him an insurrectionist and accuse Him of treason, a justification for crucifixion. 

Jesus did not fall for the bait but turned the tables on Pilate and asked a question of heart, not hearsay.  The question for us should be and is, “Is what we are professing something we have heard from others or what we have determined in our hearts as truth through study and experience?”  Mama and Papa’s religion would get us into heaven.

Jesus did not totally refuse to answer the question and in a very real sense did answer it clearly saying, “My kingdom is not of this world.”  Simply, “Pilate, I am not a political threat to your rule, authority, or Rome although I may be a threat to your ideology and philosophy because my Kingdom will transform the heart.”  

I gave the Roy Beaird translation there but I believe you can grasp the meaning and message of Jesus.  Jesus, even acknowledged that He was truly a king but not an earthly one.  His response confused and conflicted the non-believing Pilate and the question of Pilate is one that still rings through the ages, “What Is Truth?”  In other places and other ways, Jesus answered that question as well for He is “THE TRUTH” and He is “THE WAY” and “THE LIFE.”

I have never been one that wanted to base my life or hope on what someone else thought but have always sought to know for myself or experience personally. That has brought me both joy and pain through the years and placed me in situations where I had to learn hard lessons. Lessons that could have been avoided had I not been driven to know personally and experientially. 

I do not want to simply Hear About Jesus I want to Know Jesus personally, and I do.  I do not what to Hear About God’s Truth, I want to Experience God’s Truth in my own heart, life, and mind.  I want what comes out of my mount in my Profession of Faith to be something I know from my personal experience and study rather than simply reciting a Church Creed.

God bless you as you embark on this day’s leg of your life journey.

John 17:20-23 – “I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word;  21 that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me.  22 And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one:  23 I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me.”  NKJV

Jesus’ pray for the disciples was powerful and it is most encouraging that He intentionally stressed that His prayer was not for those hearing and following Him at that time but for future believers as well.  He identified that this prayer was for them but also for all WHO WILL BELIEVE and then emphasized the importance and power of preaching. 

My lament to the church is that we too often relegate the idea of ‘preaching’ to that activity in the pulpit on Sundays and at other times.  Preaching is simply the ‘proclamation’ of the gospel and that can transpire anywhere, at any time, and under any conditions.  The opportunity to ‘proclaim’ the gospel should be exhilarating to every believer regardless of their oratorical ability or lack thereof.  We are instructed to “go” and “proclaim” to anyone and everyone the Good News of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Some of the greatest preaching I have ever heard has come from believers who would cringe at the thought of standing in a pulpit and preaching.  Yet, on the street corner, offices, homes, and restaurants some of them give a powerful presentation of the Gospel in the most simplistic terms and the anointing is powerful and the message gripping.  Their lives so authenticate their words it reaches deep into the soul and arrests the hearer leaving them no choice but to receive or reject the conviction that floods their hearts and minds.

Please do not think that I am discounting our devaluing pulpit preaching for I have heard some incredibly powerful, enlightening, and arresting proclamations from that sacred desk as well and treasure those memories and experiences.  The Word of God coupled with a life of Righteousness has a power to which nothing can compare. 

The Word of God is, according to Hebrews 4:12, Alive, active, sharper than any man-made sword, and capable of penetrating to the very depths of the soul, judging and inspiring the heart.  When God’s Word is verbalized and delivered orally it has a unique power and one that is sometimes missed or misunderstood.  God’s Word in the mouth of God’s children is a mighty weapon of spiritual warfare.  It provides spiritual nourishment and sustenance that can be received in no other place.

Therefore, let me encourage you to be unafraid to ‘proclaim’ the Word of God and know that when you speak His Word you are speaking Spiritual Power into the atmosphere, and when it is spoken in faith and confidence it pulls down strongholds, encourages hearts, breaks chains, and sets captives free.  So, let’s do more and more PREACHING daily through our living!

God bless you as you continue your journey in Christ!

Psalm 126:2-3 – “Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, “The LORD has done great things for them.” 3 The LORD has done great things for us, and we are glad.”  NKJV

I had a very serious saint in a particular church I was leading who said to me, “You cannot be a real man of God because you laugh and tell jokes.”  She was dead serious!  I laughed and had to apologize for any seeming disrespectfulness but I found her assertion laughable and almost beyond belief. 

However, after years of Christian service I have discovered there are a significant number of believers who believe that we must be “sour and dour” or we are not exhibiting righteousness and godliness.  They are “sour and dour” while the world is “crying and dying.”  I know that the passage in Hebrews 1:9 speaking of Jesus being anointed with the “oil of gladness” is not speaking about humor but anointing but the message through scripture is that laughter is like medicine and a good thing not an example of a worldly or evil heart.  It could be but cannot be a blanket description. 

In Luke 6:21, Jesus said, “…Blessed are you that weep now: for you shall laugh.”  Job, a man who endured incredible difficulty in life spoke in Job 8:21 of God filling our mouths with laughter and our lips shouting joy. 

The wisdom of Ecclesiastes is revealed in 3:2-4 where we are informed there is “A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant and a time to harvest.  A time to kill and a time to heal.  A time to tear down and a time to build up.  A time to cry and a time to laugh. A time to grieve and a time to dance.”  

Even the Proverbs 31 woman is described as being a person that “laughs without fear of the future.”  Then in Proverbs 17:22, we find that a “cheerful or merry heart” is like medicine but a broken spirit saps a person’s strength.  So I ask which is better, “being able to laugh” or being “sour and dour” and presenting an image that no one outside the faith would want.

In Proverbs 15 we find in v.13 the declaration that “A joyful heart makes a cheerful face, but with a heartache comes depression.” Then in v.15, we are told, “For the despondent, every day brings trouble; for the happy heart, life is a continual feast.”  

So, again, which is better “Sour and Dour” or demonstrating the ability to “Laugh and Smile”?  I truly believe that God has a sense of humor, after all, we are made in His image and likeness are we not?  If we have that woven in our nature and have that ability do you think God does not? 

The lady that came to me with her accusation of my condition was not amused when I asked if she thought God had a sense of humor.  She said, “He is serious because life is serious.”  Therefore, I could only conclude that her answer was no, so I said, “I am reminded of His sense of humor every morning when I look in the mirror.”  She said, “Are you saying I’m funny looking?” then stormed off in a huff.  No, I said, “When I looked in the mirror I was reminded of God’s sense of humor.” 

Let me state emphatically that a person laughing and making light of everything may well be hiding behind that mask of frivolity not wanting to face and address real problems in life.  But, if we remember the words of the writer of Ecclesiastes, “There is a time for everything…” 

There are times that laughter brings healing to a heart and can restore relationships as well as enable a person to move past a difficult moment.  There are times when laughter and lightheartedness are inappropriate and thus the warning of Ephesians 5:3-4, “But among you, there must not be either sexual immorality, impurity of any kind, or greed, as these are not fitting for the saints.  Neither should there be vulgar speech, foolish talk, or coarse jesting – all of which are out of character – but rather thanksgiving.”  Ecclesiastes 7:6 also tells us, “For as the crackling of thorns under a pot, so is the laughter of the fool: this also is vanity.”  

What kind of person has zero sense of humor?  In my view, that would be a robot not a human being with feelings and emotions.  As I read the encounters of our Lord with the Pharisees I cannot miss His wit and humor. 

If you read the parables and his zippy asides to Roman authorities, His tart replies to the Scribes and Pharisees, and even His off-the-cuff remarks how do you not see His humor?  God in me brings JOY and I want to be so overflowing with JOY that people who meet me are not threatened by me or turned off by my “Sour and Dour” outlook they want what I have and open their hearts to hear about Jesus. 

Yes, you can joke too much and at the wrong times but if you never see the humor in anything my heart breaks for you.  I want to embrace life and live it abundantly rather than simply endure life and live in day to day drudgery thinking I am making God proud in being “Sour and Dour.” 

God bless you as you go through this wonderful day and “Live, Love, and Laugh” it will make the day go better and even extend your lifespan according to many reports I have read. 

Matthew 16:13-19 – “When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”  14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”  15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” 16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.  18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.  19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”  NKJV

I realize that some might disagree that there is a need for Restoration today but I believe that is biblically verifiable and applicable for today’s Church.  But, what is Restoration?  To “restore” is to bring back to the original condition. 

I fully believe that God is moving on hearts today to bring us back to and into the condition and function He purposed in the beginning and is required for the Last Days Harvest.  I believe God is moving to bring us back to our “biblical roots”.  He is not bringing us back to some point or place in man’s tradition, structure, or governmental form but is bringing us back to HIM and Fullness in Him. 

I fear that we have, at times, attempted to take the New Wine of God and put it in Old Wineskins of tradition.  There comes a time when an overhaul is no longer acceptable and replacement is required.  Sadly, we keep trying to remodel the church rather than returning to His order, structure, function, and purpose.

Challenging traditions is a difficult and often dangerous endeavor.  We can and sometimes do the same as the Pharisees and make commandments of God out of doctrines of men and that is not what God desires.  One question I have asked and been asked is, “How far are you willing to go to follow the cloud spiritually?”  If we are going to be what God has intended us to be as the Church ACTION IS REQUIRED!  Throughout history, we can understand that much was lost and is being restored.  Let’s back up and walk forward a bit and see if we can see this as reality.

The church lost the truth of Justification by Faith and God used Martin Luther to restore it to the Church.  The truth of Sanctification was lost and God used Wesley to bring it back.  The infilling of the Holy Spirit was lost and God used the men like W.J. Seymour to bring it back.  Davidic Worship and Praise was lost and God used the Charismatic movement to bring it back.  Those are only a few examples of some things that God has and is bringing back to the Church.  But the bottom line is we must return to being a people who “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.”  God is moving to bring to fullness the ministry and purpose of Jesus to the Church of today.  [Note:  Isaiah 61; Mark 16; John 14:12; Ephesians 4].

At some point, each of us has to determine which is more important, our traditions, place, rights, or perceived rights or God being manifested in fullness.  When we have truly and fully died to self the only thing that matters is God, His will, and purpose in our lives and world.  I am convinced as we see the Church become more aligned to the biblical pattern and purpose we will see a greater and greater release of ministries and functions than we have in the past.  God is moving in today’s world and His purpose is that each of us is available and involved in His Harvest.

God bless you as you take another step in your journey! 

Matthew 16:13-19 – “When Jesus came into the region of Caesarea Philippi, He asked His disciples, saying, “Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?”  14 So they said, “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”  15 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?”  16 Simon Peter answered and said, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” 17 Jesus answered and said to him, “Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven.  18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.  19 And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”  NKJV

I would also suggest reading Matthew 24:14 along with Acts 3:17-26 for a foundation. My conviction as to what God is saying to today’s church is embodied in those passages.  Looking back over my life I realize that over two-thirds of my life has been spent in Christian ministry.  That is significant only in light of the fact that I have served long enough to have seen some major changes and shifts in the overall Christian community.  It is also long enough to come to the conclusion that the Work and Purpose of the Church are so large that none of us see it fully.  It is truly multi-sided and multi-dimensional and unfortunately, we see in part.

I have long been concerned about the divisions and sects within the Christian world dividing up into “camps” and making those particular truths embraced as the whole truth.  I believe that has been a significant detriment to the progress and development of the Church Jesus spoke of as His Church.  I believe it has caused us (the Christian family) to miss much of what God is doing and wants to do in today’s world. 

Let me give a word of caution and comfort – that this is not altogether our fault.  We have had some help in developing that type of thinking.  The devil promotes separation, fragmentation, and division, and in nudging people that direction he has, at times, weakened the thrust and effort of the Church both local and universal.

Obviously, that is not God’s desire and God did not inspire the fragmentation.  Jesus made it clear in John 17 that the desire of God is Unity!  By no means would I want anyone to assume that I mean wholesale acceptance of everything taught and done in the name of Christ. 

Unity of Spirit is not only desirable but a requirement for the Church to be that which Jesus purposed.  I believe there is a unity being developed, almost unseen, across the land.  Many are beginning to realize that although we may not agree on all points, this thing is much larger than any of our individual visions or understanding and there might be something we have not yet seen.  Grace is becoming a dominant force and that is awesome!

Let me illustrate it this way:  No two members of any local congregation express themselves in the same way.  In the human body, the right-hand and left-hand look alike and have the same basic function, but they fulfill their main function from opposite directions.  If your big toe could see it would have an entirely different perspective of the entire body than would the nose because of its unique position in and on the body.  We are not the same, do not think the same, and our experiences and understanding are different on many things.  That does not mean we are not of the same body only different parts of that body.

You may remember the story of the five blind men who were allowed to examine an elephant and then asked to describe the animal.  The first man felt the leg and said, “It is like a round pillar.”  The next man felt the tail and described the elephant as a “rope.”  The third felt the elephant’s massive side and described it as a “Great Wall.”  The fourth felt the tusks and said, “It is like a Spear.”  The fifth felt the ear and said, “He is like a Giant Leaf.”  They were all right but their descriptions and perceptions were limited and therefore incomplete.  We see in part and if you add my part to your part we have a much larger part to work with. 

I believe that God is focused on The Church today and is in the process of “restoring that which has been lost.”  There are some things the Church has allowed to become dormant or has lost and God is bringing those to light. 

In many ways, the Church has lost its direction, abdicated its position, misunderstood its potential, and been stripped of its power.  That is changing or will change!  Tragically, some in the Body of Christ have lost consciousness of Who We Are and What the Church is supposed to be. 

Some are still in the wilderness and God has been engineering our walk to bring us to the Jordan but rather than cross over we have been waiting for a bridge or a boat to get us to the other side.  God wants to bring us to that place where we are truly The Body of Christ in this present world and living the words of 1 John 4:17, “…as He is, so are we in this world.”  Not someday but today!

I have more I wish to present but will pause here until next time and pray that God will guard and guide you as you proceed through this day walking in victory! 

Blessings abundant is my desire for each of you!

Ephesians 6:14-20 – “Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15 and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God; 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints —  19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.”  NKJV

I am convinced that God is raising up a New Breed of Spiritual Warrior in our times.  They will be filled with compassion but they will be warriors extremely sensitive to the voice and guidance of the Holy Spirit.  Spiritual Warfare is a reality that cannot be divorced from the Church or our Christian walk in today’s world.  The apostle Paul understood that the battle rages in that unseen world but he also knew and taught that it is vital that the Church and Christians learn how to use the weapons of warfare and understand the devices of the devil and God’s divine strategy on Earth!

Have you ever wondered why the Church local often seems so vulnerable to the attacks of the devil?  Let me capsulize it this way:  “You don’t put armor on wounded soldiers, infants or children.”  Remember the caution or objective Paul addressed in Ephesians 4:13, “…’til we all come into the unity of the faith and the knowledge of the Son of God to a PERFECT MAN…”  An army that is strong and effective only entrusts armor to the most healthy and well-trained not the weak and wounded. 

Spiritually, the Church needs the “Man or Woman of Armor” to step forward.  Who is this?  This is the person who is consistently led by the Spirit of God.  The simple reality is that people who are led by God’s Spirit manifest God’s power! 

The Church is sometimes weak because we have been willing to send children and the wounded into battle rather than those of full stature who are adorned with Spiritual Armor.  If you study the Bible and history you realize that, in a very real sense, God’s Kingdom rests in the hands of Fragile People!  No, God is not fragile but we are flawed vessels and dare not fail to remember that.  Additionally, if we do not know what is required how will we ever be what has been declared and do what is required?

There are characteristics of the Triumphant or Victorious Army I would like to consider:

• The Victorious Warrior waits for a Certain Sound.

In Paul’s statement of 1 Corinthians 14:18, I believe the implication is DO NOT go into battle UNTIL you hear a SURE SOUND.

• The Victorious Warrior depends on Definable Leadership.

Look around and ask, “Where are and who are the generals in the Church today?”  It is important that the troops know why they are dying in battle and maintaining total confidence that their leaders are getting their marching orders from God.  It is imperative that the vision is presented clearly so that everyone knows what is at stake.

• The Victorious Warrior depends on the Strategy of the Holy Spirit.
• The Victorious Warrior requires Adequate Resources.
• The Victorious Warrior must exhibit Proper Discipline.
• The Victorious Warrior or Army MUST provide a place of healing for the Wounded Warriors.
• The Victorious Warrior or Army is built on Trust.

Unfortunately, we have factions in the world of Christendom that are warring against each other rather than warring against principalities, powers, and rulers of darkness.  Your Brother in Christ is not your enemy.  There is no Spiritual Armor to fight brothers in Christ who hold a different understanding of some things spiritual.  When we fight among ourselves we become weak and defeated.  We have to learn to Trust.  The flesh will make mistakes and human beings will come to wrong conclusions but if we trust CHRIST IN US we can trust the Holy Spirit to LEAD US INTO ALL TRUTH!

What is at stake?  Eternity!  When I visit a church or am invited to speak I always look for “Who is truly in Charge.”  Why?  Because I want to know if a man is in charge or if God is?  What is at stake?  Abundant Life! 

Jesus said in John 10:10 that He came to give us Life and that Life would be Abundant.  Much of the church world is devoid of government and order and our independence sometimes relegates us to a weakness that results in unnecessary defeats. 

According to the Bible we, God’s People are HEIRS OF THE EARTH.  (Romans 4:13, 18; Galatians 3:29).  No, I do not mean a takeover by Christians but that we, as believers, are to LIVE A BOLD WITNESS in our generation.  We must recognize the real enemy and attack any force that withstands or seeks to delay the purposes of God on this earth.  We must wage war against anything that seeks to disqualify Jesus as the Chief Cornerstone.  We must wage war against anything that seeks to disjoint or prostitute the Church Jesus is building.  We must make the Voice of the Church heard again in the world!

If you are a Wounded Warrior call the medics do not attempt to conceal your wounds and wear masks.  If you are still a child or a teenager spiritually, run to those who can mentor and equip you for service.  If you are healthy, whole, and equipped spiritually refuse to complain and become engaged in the WAR.  The Medics should focus on the Wounded. The Fathers are to teach the children.  The Warriors are to Prepare for Battle.

God has and is developing a Mighty Victorious Spiritual Army!  God bless you richly is my prayer and desire!

1 Peter 2:9-10 – “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 who once were not a people but are now the people of God, who had not obtained mercy but now have obtained mercy.”  NKJV

Without getting too detailed, the Greek word for out is “ek” and the word translated called is “kalesantos”.  The Greeks put them together to form another word “ekklesia” which means, CALLED OUT! It refers to an assembly or gathering of people that have been called together.  That is the Church. 

Jesus spoke to Peter in Matthew 16:18 and said, “…on this rock I will build My church…”  We, believers, are the “called out” or CHURCH of Jesus Christ.  But what do we see or think when we say the word Church?  When we hear the word Church what is the mental imagery or descriptive term that comes to mind.  I believe that is important.

When we talk about the FUNCTION of the Church we refer to it as a Body. When we talk about responding to God in praise and worship we call it a Temple.  When we focus on fellowship and relationships within the Church local we call ourselves a Family.  If we speak of the Church as it relates to God’s Government and Kingdom we call it a Nation or a Holy Nation.  When we focus on our tenets or beliefs we call it the Household of Faith.  When we speak of the spiritual battles we encounter we call ourselves an Army.  Therefore, what we see or think when we say Church is important.  It identifies Focus, Function, Ministry, and Purpose.

The Old Testament Prophets spoke boldly regarding the conditions of our generation.  Their prophetic utterances often addressed the circumstances or conditions of our lives at this particular moment in time.  There is an incredible declaration found in Amos 3:7 which tells us that God will do nothing that He does not first reveal to His prophets.  That would indicate it is important for us to grasp what the prophets have declared and follow the directions given by the Holy Spirit through them.

• Micah’s cry was for Justice and Mercy and continually urged God’s people to pay careful attention to the Will of God.
• Zephaniah’s prophetic message was Restoration and a Pure Language [Zephaniah 3:9].  Remember God’s action at the tower of Babel and the confusion of the languages.  This prophet spoke of a time when God’s people would hear a PURE SOUND that they would recognize, know, and understand.
• Haggai called God’s covenant people His Signet Ring, His Standard, and His Witness to mankind. [Haggai 2:23]
• Zechariah foretold a time when the nations would come to the Anointed Places of Worship. [Zechariah 1:14-17; 2:11]
• Habakkuk instructed us to write the vision and publish it.  [Habakkuk 2:2]
• Malachi gave details on how to finance God’s Plan. [Malachi 3:8-12]. Then he prophesied of Family Restoration both natural and spiritual.  [Malachi 4:6]

Those are just a few of the prophetic directives from the ancient prophets.  The prophets Joel and Ezekiel had a message that was somewhat different.  Joel warned of War [Joel 3:9].  Of all the Old Testament prophets Joel saw most clearly the connection between a spiritual outpouring from God and the power to wage war against evil on the earth.  Joel’s prophecy spoke of the releasing of the Holy Spirit powerfully upon all flesh enabling God’s people to both prophesy and wage spiritual warfare. 

Ezekiel saw a spiritual army [Ezekiel 37].  It is my conviction that God is raising up an army of spiritual warriors in our time and as we near the end it will become more powerful and numerous.  Both Joel and Ezekiel envisioned a time when God’s Church would both HEAR God and wage Warfare with HIS WORD.  They spoke of and foresaw an Army that was Mighty and Victorious in Battle.  If we need anything today it is for the Church to become the Army of God and pull down strongholds.

May the Lord help us to hear and heed the voice of the prophets and make ourselves available to the Holy Spirit as soldiers in the Army of the Lord in this generation!

Blessings as you go through this wonderful day!