Recently as I was ministering at New Harvest Church, the Lord began to speak to me concerning 2009. I will begin to share here what he spoke to me and then deal with it in more detail in the weeks to come.
I had read some time ago that most marriages end between the 7th and 8th year (87%), successful sitcoms have a lifetime of 7-8 years then they begin to decline, the cells in our body replace themselves in the 7th to 8th year. The economy operates in 7-8 year cycles meaning that the present President really sees the repercussions of the decisions of the former President. In Egypt there were 7 years of plenty and 7 years of famine.
I asked God why did the years of famine come later and the years of plenty were first. I don't know about you but I would rather get the famine out of the way so I could enjoy the years of plenty. This is what I feel He spoke to me. The difficulty is always between two season of great blessing and when you study the history of Egypt you see that there was at least 14 years of great blessing following the famine. What am I saying?
I declare that 2009 will be a year of double blessing, it will be a year of dominating, multiplying, and subduing. It will be a year of repentance which means to return to the top. The cycle of failure, disappointment, and lack will be broken and there will begin a cycle of blessing, favor, fulfillment, and prosperity.
Later I found out that the Pastors had been pastoring there 7 years and 2009 will be there 8th year, I received a email that some Pastor friends of mine were beginning to see a turnaround and that they had Pastored in their Church 7 years, My wife called me and shared with me that we had been sent out 7 years ago to begin full time ministry together from our home Church, then two more Pastors told me they had been Pastoring (you guessed it) for 7 years at their present location. Coincidence, I think not!
Get ready God is about to break the cycle and I believe we will see great miracles, signs and wonders and the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit like never before. This next season will be marked by two main characteristics.
1) Financial Miracles
2) Physical Miracles
As I have returned to full time traveling every place I have been has been marked by at least one financial or physical miracle. One place there was a man in his thirties who has a tumor on his liver and in a time of faith I began to call out people who had infirmities in their bodies. I layed hands on him and prayed a simple prayer. A couple of weeks later I received a report that the tumor was completely gone! Get ready for the greatest season the Church has ever seen.
To Be Continued
Blessings,
Craig
Thursday
What's In Store For 2009?
We'll after a long blog sabbatical I'm finally back. Some of you think I have dropped off the earth, vanished, been raptured but I'm still here. Thank you to all of you that prayed for us as we were preaching 8 times in 12 days. I am just now beginning to recover from the hangover. I will be focusing much of the rest of this year on what I feel God is saying to the Church and to our nation. We are truly living in pivotal times and how we respond in this juncture will determine the future of the Church and our society.
This morning someone told me that it is the responsibility of the Church to provide solutions to the economic crisis, rather than ignore it and continue to just have Church. Unfortunately many Churches are answering questions that nobody is answering and we find ourselves speaking a language they don't understand.
Ezek 3:14-15
14 So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me. 15 Then I came to the captives at Tel Abib, who dwelt by the River Chebar; and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days.
NKJV
The background of this text is that Jerusalem was in ruins, it was in a time of devastation, disarray, and great depression. The economy was in ruins, homes and families were scattered, and there was great pain in the midst of this one time powerful city. Jeremiah like many of the preachers today rode into town with an attitude that says I have all the answers., i can give you 7 steps to a turnaround, or I have a formula that will make everything better. He came in thinking he was going to fix it, and make everything all right again. He came in the heat of his spirit (flesh). And when he got there the bible says the hand of God came upon him and he could say nothing. He sat where they sat for 7 days and said nothing. He was astonished at what he saw as he looked in the eyes of desperation of a single mom trying to hold her family of 5 together and he saw the helplessness in the eyes of a father trying to provide for his family in a time of great poverty and lack.
And after sitting there for 7 days saying nothing, he began to understand that the world we live in is not wanting us to give them all the answers or to try to save them. He understood that there was something powerful missing that would enable us to impact the community we live in.
It is the ability to relate to the world we live in. I'm afraid that there is a growing gap between the world we live in and the Church today. They feel we don't understand them, don't know where they are in life, we are speaking but nobody is listening. They think we don't have a clue and while we are in Church arguing over who is going to sing the solo, and that our name was misspelled in the birthday section of the bulletin, and somebody took our pew, while we are playing these silly Church games, they are in great pain, living in carnality that we are afraid to talk about, and they are living in bondage to things that they hate but feel powerless to stop. The reality is that a sinner does not get up every morning thinking I wonder what law I can break today, what carnal act I can perform. No, they are in bondage to something they hate but feel powerless to stop.
Jesus understood that he could not impact us from the lofty streets of Glory but that He had to become like us, he wept at our funerals, held our babies, comforted our mourning, visited us when we were in prison... He understood that in order for him to change lives, he had to relate to us. He had to sit where we sat.
I want to understand their pain so that I can comfort them, understand their problems so I can be a solution to them. And after Jesus sat where they sat for 30 years, John pointed at him and said now you are ready because you have become acquainted with their sorrows and moved with compassion... I truly believe the power the Church is lacking is that we must first sit where they sit, and then after seeing the world they live in and relating to them, our hearts will be moved with compassion and great power will flow into their lives bringing hope and healing to a hopeless and hurting world.
The two things that they are looking for is 1) Hope and 2) Purpose. Billions of dollars have been spent on the book "The Purpose Driven Life". Why? They are looking for hope and purpose. Hope is the the belief that there is a tomorrow that is better than today, that my life can be better and that there is something more to what I am experiencing right now. Purpose is understanding why I am here and what is in me and what am I to do with it. Any Church that can answer these two questions will not have a growth problem. Lastly, I read recently that 70% of the cities (all) in America are unchurched, meaning that in every city in America 1/3 are unchurched. What if we could relate to them, understand their problems and provide hope and purpose. I truly believe that we would see city transformation!
Tomorrow, I will share a prophetic word for America in 2009, especially concerning the state of the Church.
Blessings,
Craig
This morning someone told me that it is the responsibility of the Church to provide solutions to the economic crisis, rather than ignore it and continue to just have Church. Unfortunately many Churches are answering questions that nobody is answering and we find ourselves speaking a language they don't understand.
Ezek 3:14-15
14 So the Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness, in the heat of my spirit; but the hand of the LORD was strong upon me. 15 Then I came to the captives at Tel Abib, who dwelt by the River Chebar; and I sat where they sat, and remained there astonished among them seven days.
NKJV
The background of this text is that Jerusalem was in ruins, it was in a time of devastation, disarray, and great depression. The economy was in ruins, homes and families were scattered, and there was great pain in the midst of this one time powerful city. Jeremiah like many of the preachers today rode into town with an attitude that says I have all the answers., i can give you 7 steps to a turnaround, or I have a formula that will make everything better. He came in thinking he was going to fix it, and make everything all right again. He came in the heat of his spirit (flesh). And when he got there the bible says the hand of God came upon him and he could say nothing. He sat where they sat for 7 days and said nothing. He was astonished at what he saw as he looked in the eyes of desperation of a single mom trying to hold her family of 5 together and he saw the helplessness in the eyes of a father trying to provide for his family in a time of great poverty and lack.
And after sitting there for 7 days saying nothing, he began to understand that the world we live in is not wanting us to give them all the answers or to try to save them. He understood that there was something powerful missing that would enable us to impact the community we live in.
It is the ability to relate to the world we live in. I'm afraid that there is a growing gap between the world we live in and the Church today. They feel we don't understand them, don't know where they are in life, we are speaking but nobody is listening. They think we don't have a clue and while we are in Church arguing over who is going to sing the solo, and that our name was misspelled in the birthday section of the bulletin, and somebody took our pew, while we are playing these silly Church games, they are in great pain, living in carnality that we are afraid to talk about, and they are living in bondage to things that they hate but feel powerless to stop. The reality is that a sinner does not get up every morning thinking I wonder what law I can break today, what carnal act I can perform. No, they are in bondage to something they hate but feel powerless to stop.
Jesus understood that he could not impact us from the lofty streets of Glory but that He had to become like us, he wept at our funerals, held our babies, comforted our mourning, visited us when we were in prison... He understood that in order for him to change lives, he had to relate to us. He had to sit where we sat.
I want to understand their pain so that I can comfort them, understand their problems so I can be a solution to them. And after Jesus sat where they sat for 30 years, John pointed at him and said now you are ready because you have become acquainted with their sorrows and moved with compassion... I truly believe the power the Church is lacking is that we must first sit where they sit, and then after seeing the world they live in and relating to them, our hearts will be moved with compassion and great power will flow into their lives bringing hope and healing to a hopeless and hurting world.
The two things that they are looking for is 1) Hope and 2) Purpose. Billions of dollars have been spent on the book "The Purpose Driven Life". Why? They are looking for hope and purpose. Hope is the the belief that there is a tomorrow that is better than today, that my life can be better and that there is something more to what I am experiencing right now. Purpose is understanding why I am here and what is in me and what am I to do with it. Any Church that can answer these two questions will not have a growth problem. Lastly, I read recently that 70% of the cities (all) in America are unchurched, meaning that in every city in America 1/3 are unchurched. What if we could relate to them, understand their problems and provide hope and purpose. I truly believe that we would see city transformation!
Tomorrow, I will share a prophetic word for America in 2009, especially concerning the state of the Church.
Blessings,
Craig
Wednesday
Book Review: "How Would Jesus Vote?"
I had the privilege of reviewing another book, How Would Jesus Vote?
The 2008 election is shaping up to be one of the most important political contests in American history. In fact, Dr. D. James Kennedy believes it will be a watershed moment that could impact our very survival as a nation under God.
Values voters—people whose political views and votes are based on their faith in God—are being targeted as never before. As the campaign season moves forward, the significant players will debate terrorism, radical Islam, nuclear threats, global warming, social issues, gay marriage, immigration, education, health care, and many other essential issues that can create sharp ideological divisions.
Into this overwhelmingly complex political situation, Dr. Kennedy and Jerry Newcombe bring a clear, compelling, and nonpartisan exploration of what God’s Word has to say on these critical matters. How Would Jesus Vote? isn’t intended to tell readers which candidates to support; rather it offers a Christ-centered understanding of the world to help readers draw their own political conclusions.
It is an overwhelmingly power read that will provoke your belief system and really make you think! You can purchase a copy here at Amazon.
About the authors:
Jerry Newcombe is senior producer for Coral Ridge Ministries television and has produced or coproduced more than fifty documentaries. The host of two weekly radio shows, he has also been a guest on numerous television and radio talk shows. He is the author or coauthor of more than fifteen books.
Dr. D. James Kennedy is one of the most trusted and recognized Christian leaders of our time. The senior minister of Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, he is the featured preacher on television’s “The Coral Ridge Hour” and radio’s “Truths That Transform”, syndicated on over one thousand stations throughout the U.S. The founder and president of Evangelism Explosion International and chancellor of Knox Theological Seminary, he is the author of more than sixty books, including the bestselling What If Jesus Had Never Been Born?
Thursday
Happy Birthday Baby!
I am hi-jacking my husband’s blog today! He is still in Florida. He’s been ministering at several churches there. God has been working mightily through him. He’ll be back Monday night, so those of you who have been wondering when you will get your next dose of “Positioned for Greatness” will have to wait a few more days unless he finds time to sit down and knock one out real quick!
Anyway, I am hi-jacking his blog because, today is Craig’s 38th birthday! I wanted to wish him a HUGE HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!! He deserves it! (If you want to wish Craig a happy birthday.. email him at pastorcraigsloan2gmail.com)
He is the most important person in my life… and I love him lots! So, babe… all the way down in South Florida… I hollering a big ol’ HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you! I love you!
"Principles of Potential"
Everything I will ever be or do has already been finished in my anointing. Paul wrote:
* I can do all things through Christ (anointing).
* My God shall supply all my needs according (in keeping with) to His riches in Glory in Christ (my anointing).
* You are complete in Christ (the anointing).
* You are seated in heavenly places in Christ (anointing).
* It's Christ in you that is the hope of Glory (weight, ability to dominate, manifestation of everything God is and does.
In the beginning the trinity met in heaven (father, son and Holy Spirit) and predestined your life (prearranged, fixed, completed). Psalms 139 says every day of your life was recorded in a book before one of them came to be. God declares the end from the beginning, meaning that He starts at the end of your life and goes back to the beginning and orders your steps into the end. Paul said he that had begun a good work in you will complete it... Meaning that God never starts a thing until He finishes it. This tells me that if God started something in your life (school, marriage, degree, business, getting you out), then it is already finished.
Before Jesus ascended to the father, He said I am going to send you another comforter, who is not me but is like me (like as) and He will guide you into all truth. Meaning that the Holy Spirit is a tour guide who takes you on a tour of your life. The revelation here is that if he is our tour guide, he can't guide us where he hasn't already been.
1 Cor 2:6-12
6 Spiritual Wisdom
However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written:
"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him."
10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
NKJV
God has prepared your life, what your eyes have not seen, ears have not heard and your heart has not understood, and He has hid it in your anointing (The God part of you, or spirit). Then the Holy Spirit works out of your life (reveals) what is already done and is in your anointing. You don't have to create it, sweat it, or make it, it is already in your anointing.
Here is the principle: My potential in life is determined by what I came out of.
One of the attributes of God is that He is omnipotent (all potential lives in God). Everything that is and ever will be was at one time inside God unseen. God spoke a word and the bible says what was invisible (potential) became visible (Heb. 11:3-4). This reveals how we get potential out, that is by calling those things that are not as though they were.
What you can do and be is directly related to what you came out of. You can never rise above what you came out of. For example a pew is nothing more than wood that came out of a tree. If the tree is bad, then the pew is bad. Why? Your potential is determined by what you came out of! Potential is defined as everything that I am but am not yet. That's why Paul writes He can do exceedingly abundantly above and beyond what you can imagine according to the power that works in you! It's in you. If God is not affected by the economy then you are not affected by the economy, Why? You came out of God. Your potential is not determined by your environment, economy, your momma and daddy (you were created before the foundation of the world) meaning you already existed but when you were born God gave you body to live in. The real you is not your body, it is the anointing in you.
By ability and provision is determined by the God I cam out of. That's why the only person that can limit me is me. You have unlimited potential in you. Now work out what God has worked in. Start by speaking what you know not what you see. The opposite of faith is not doubt, it is sight. It is predetermining your potential in life by what you see (soul), which is living by your emotions, past experiences, environment. You are a unlimited resource that came out of the source!
To be continued...
Blessings,
Craig
I apologize for not posting everyday. We have been working extremely hard on the new project which we revealed yesterday. Get ready Freedom House Church is coming to Alabama!
* I can do all things through Christ (anointing).
* My God shall supply all my needs according (in keeping with) to His riches in Glory in Christ (my anointing).
* You are complete in Christ (the anointing).
* You are seated in heavenly places in Christ (anointing).
* It's Christ in you that is the hope of Glory (weight, ability to dominate, manifestation of everything God is and does.
In the beginning the trinity met in heaven (father, son and Holy Spirit) and predestined your life (prearranged, fixed, completed). Psalms 139 says every day of your life was recorded in a book before one of them came to be. God declares the end from the beginning, meaning that He starts at the end of your life and goes back to the beginning and orders your steps into the end. Paul said he that had begun a good work in you will complete it... Meaning that God never starts a thing until He finishes it. This tells me that if God started something in your life (school, marriage, degree, business, getting you out), then it is already finished.
Before Jesus ascended to the father, He said I am going to send you another comforter, who is not me but is like me (like as) and He will guide you into all truth. Meaning that the Holy Spirit is a tour guide who takes you on a tour of your life. The revelation here is that if he is our tour guide, he can't guide us where he hasn't already been.
1 Cor 2:6-12
6 Spiritual Wisdom
However, we speak wisdom among those who are mature, yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. 7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the ages for our glory, 8 which none of the rulers of this age knew; for had they known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
9 But as it is written:
"Eye has not seen, nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him."
10 But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 11 For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. 12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
NKJV
God has prepared your life, what your eyes have not seen, ears have not heard and your heart has not understood, and He has hid it in your anointing (The God part of you, or spirit). Then the Holy Spirit works out of your life (reveals) what is already done and is in your anointing. You don't have to create it, sweat it, or make it, it is already in your anointing.
Here is the principle: My potential in life is determined by what I came out of.
One of the attributes of God is that He is omnipotent (all potential lives in God). Everything that is and ever will be was at one time inside God unseen. God spoke a word and the bible says what was invisible (potential) became visible (Heb. 11:3-4). This reveals how we get potential out, that is by calling those things that are not as though they were.
What you can do and be is directly related to what you came out of. You can never rise above what you came out of. For example a pew is nothing more than wood that came out of a tree. If the tree is bad, then the pew is bad. Why? Your potential is determined by what you came out of! Potential is defined as everything that I am but am not yet. That's why Paul writes He can do exceedingly abundantly above and beyond what you can imagine according to the power that works in you! It's in you. If God is not affected by the economy then you are not affected by the economy, Why? You came out of God. Your potential is not determined by your environment, economy, your momma and daddy (you were created before the foundation of the world) meaning you already existed but when you were born God gave you body to live in. The real you is not your body, it is the anointing in you.
By ability and provision is determined by the God I cam out of. That's why the only person that can limit me is me. You have unlimited potential in you. Now work out what God has worked in. Start by speaking what you know not what you see. The opposite of faith is not doubt, it is sight. It is predetermining your potential in life by what you see (soul), which is living by your emotions, past experiences, environment. You are a unlimited resource that came out of the source!
To be continued...
Blessings,
Craig
I apologize for not posting everyday. We have been working extremely hard on the new project which we revealed yesterday. Get ready Freedom House Church is coming to Alabama!
Tuesday
"It" by Craig Groeshel
I am reading one of those books that is hard to put down. It is the book "IT" by Craig Groeshel. It is a must read.
Here is the question IT answers in my own words.
Why is it that some Churches succeed and others fail?
Why is it that two Churches can do the same thing and one succeeds and the other bombs?
How do you get IT? Are you born with IT, or do you acquire IT? Is there a magical formula to IT?
To have "IT" does it require that you have all the latest gadgets, techs, and most popular gimmicks?
What is "It" that will separate your Church from all the rest? I will blog more on this later this week.
Please pray for us, we will be ministering in several Churches in Florida starting next week. We also are preparing to launch a brand new Church that will rock your world. More info to come soon.
Lastly, my wife, Tara made a cake that is from heaven. It was a recipe of Lucretia Noble's, Perry's wife. I had to take Hydroxycut in fear that I would eat the whole thing. Man, was it good. The recipe is on her blog... Last question, why is that all the good stuff is bad for you, particularly sweets?
Blessings,
Craig
Here is the question IT answers in my own words.
Why is it that some Churches succeed and others fail?
Why is it that two Churches can do the same thing and one succeeds and the other bombs?
How do you get IT? Are you born with IT, or do you acquire IT? Is there a magical formula to IT?
To have "IT" does it require that you have all the latest gadgets, techs, and most popular gimmicks?
What is "It" that will separate your Church from all the rest? I will blog more on this later this week.
Please pray for us, we will be ministering in several Churches in Florida starting next week. We also are preparing to launch a brand new Church that will rock your world. More info to come soon.
Lastly, my wife, Tara made a cake that is from heaven. It was a recipe of Lucretia Noble's, Perry's wife. I had to take Hydroxycut in fear that I would eat the whole thing. Man, was it good. The recipe is on her blog... Last question, why is that all the good stuff is bad for you, particularly sweets?
Blessings,
Craig
Monday
"How Do You Know Who Is Of God"
Matt 5:10-12
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
NKJV
Why is it that so called Christians attack each other. Jesus said that when someone strikes us on the cheek to give them the other cheek, to love those who hurt you and to pray for them, to recognize that you are not fighting flesh and blood but works of darkness... If another believer is bent on your destruction like Saul was with David, who was obsessed with finding something wrong with David. Instead of focusing on fulfilling God's purpose for him, Saul was intent on destroying the man that brought him good, David. David had ministered to Saul and refreshed him, drove away the tormenting spirits and defeated the one enemy that would have destroyed Israel, Goliath.
If they were real believers they would not try to discredit you, defame you and destroy you, they would bless you, pray for you, and cover you. If they were sons of God they would promote peace not war. If they were Christlike they would forgive you and not try to harm you. Let's see what James says about this.
James 3:13-4:1
13 Heavenly Versus Demonic Wisdom
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
NKJV
James tells us that those who have envy (hatred) and self seeking that confusion and every evil work exists there. he contrast the wisdom of God and demonic wisdom in this manner. Those whose desire is to get back at someone, who attempt to slander someone, whose obsession is to find something that they can use against you, they are not operating in Godly wisdom but they are operating under demonic influence and those that associate with them will experience confusion and every evil work. Let me say this, many times a sickness such as heart disease, cancer etc. is not from the devil, it is the result of bitternice and unforgiveness that is in you.
Here is a fact. Just as the Pharisees hated Jesus because he didn't look like them and he didn't come the way they wanted him to, people will hate you because you do not look like them. When you experience something new that is different from them, they will say you are of the devil (see Jesus) or that what you have is not real. Here is my problem, if what religion and much of the Church had was the real thing, why is the condition of the Church the same as the world? Why is the divorce rate in the Church (57%) the same as the world, why is poverty just as real in the Church... Why is there strife, envy, jealousies, unforgiveness, sickness in the Church just as in the world? Could it be that what the Church is doing is not working and that we need to return to our first love and do the first works.
What do you do when someone is obsessed with your demise? You pray for them, you bless them, you submit to God, you humble yourself, you don't speak evil of them, you realize the battle is the Lord's, you let God judge and validate, you cover them. God will vindicate and validate you just as he did for David. Be above reproach and recognize that is for righteousness sake. Lastly, know this that the greatest indicator of blessings is not the accumulation of stuff, more money, a nicer car, a bigger house.
The more they talk bad about you, lie on you, hate you, mistreat you... The more it releases the blessings of God in your life. What did Job do when his so called friends said he was experiencing hard times because he was in the wrong? He prayed for them and blessed them and God turned his trouble into double. You choose, you can respond properly and get double blessings, or you can fight back and get double trouble. It is when you are persecuted, lied on, hated, spoken evil of... The release of blessing comes when you don't try to defend yourself and fight back, but you humble yourself under the mighty hand of God for in due time, God shall exalt you!
Paul said, if God be for you, who or what can be against you. Here is Craig's translation, If you stay right before God, then you are guaranteed to win!
Blessings,
Craig
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake,
For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11 "Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12 Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
NKJV
Why is it that so called Christians attack each other. Jesus said that when someone strikes us on the cheek to give them the other cheek, to love those who hurt you and to pray for them, to recognize that you are not fighting flesh and blood but works of darkness... If another believer is bent on your destruction like Saul was with David, who was obsessed with finding something wrong with David. Instead of focusing on fulfilling God's purpose for him, Saul was intent on destroying the man that brought him good, David. David had ministered to Saul and refreshed him, drove away the tormenting spirits and defeated the one enemy that would have destroyed Israel, Goliath.
If they were real believers they would not try to discredit you, defame you and destroy you, they would bless you, pray for you, and cover you. If they were sons of God they would promote peace not war. If they were Christlike they would forgive you and not try to harm you. Let's see what James says about this.
James 3:13-4:1
13 Heavenly Versus Demonic Wisdom
Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. 16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.
NKJV
James tells us that those who have envy (hatred) and self seeking that confusion and every evil work exists there. he contrast the wisdom of God and demonic wisdom in this manner. Those whose desire is to get back at someone, who attempt to slander someone, whose obsession is to find something that they can use against you, they are not operating in Godly wisdom but they are operating under demonic influence and those that associate with them will experience confusion and every evil work. Let me say this, many times a sickness such as heart disease, cancer etc. is not from the devil, it is the result of bitternice and unforgiveness that is in you.
Here is a fact. Just as the Pharisees hated Jesus because he didn't look like them and he didn't come the way they wanted him to, people will hate you because you do not look like them. When you experience something new that is different from them, they will say you are of the devil (see Jesus) or that what you have is not real. Here is my problem, if what religion and much of the Church had was the real thing, why is the condition of the Church the same as the world? Why is the divorce rate in the Church (57%) the same as the world, why is poverty just as real in the Church... Why is there strife, envy, jealousies, unforgiveness, sickness in the Church just as in the world? Could it be that what the Church is doing is not working and that we need to return to our first love and do the first works.
What do you do when someone is obsessed with your demise? You pray for them, you bless them, you submit to God, you humble yourself, you don't speak evil of them, you realize the battle is the Lord's, you let God judge and validate, you cover them. God will vindicate and validate you just as he did for David. Be above reproach and recognize that is for righteousness sake. Lastly, know this that the greatest indicator of blessings is not the accumulation of stuff, more money, a nicer car, a bigger house.
The more they talk bad about you, lie on you, hate you, mistreat you... The more it releases the blessings of God in your life. What did Job do when his so called friends said he was experiencing hard times because he was in the wrong? He prayed for them and blessed them and God turned his trouble into double. You choose, you can respond properly and get double blessings, or you can fight back and get double trouble. It is when you are persecuted, lied on, hated, spoken evil of... The release of blessing comes when you don't try to defend yourself and fight back, but you humble yourself under the mighty hand of God for in due time, God shall exalt you!
Paul said, if God be for you, who or what can be against you. Here is Craig's translation, If you stay right before God, then you are guaranteed to win!
Blessings,
Craig
Wednesday
Prophetic Word From Dutch Sheets
I was so moved by this word that I felt compelled to post it. Earlier today the Lord began to speak to me concerning our financial crisis in our nation. I will be sharing more this week concerning the cause and what I believe we must do for God to release two things in particular that He has prepared for the Church. Here is the prophetic word from Dutch Sheets whom I believe is a prophet to our nation.
I have heard of divine “suddenlies” all my life and have no doubt experienced a few. However, I have never been in what I would call a season of suddenlies. I’m in one now! And this new season is about to break forth in a significant way for those who have allowed God to prepare them for it. I was already releasing this word when Chuck Pierce prophesied to me two weeks ago, “you will stand on the steps facing The Mall (in
This season will usher in many changes -- get ready!
Confusion and Deception Broken
The level of confusion and deception I have seen over
Just a couple of weeks ago, however, I heard the Holy Spirit very clearly say to me, “I’m about to unravel the cords of confusion.” When I heard this I had the sense that it would begin in September. In 2 Chronicles 20, God used
The November Elections
To say it has been troubling to listen to prominent Christian leaders endorse certain candidates and/or prophesy that it is God’s will for those candidates to be president would be an understatement. Make no mistake about it, the turning of the Supreme Court and reversing the flow of death and anti-God laws that have flowed out of it is still god’s number one governmental agenda for
I listened to one of the presidential candidates make a speech four years ago and heard one of the strongest abilities for deceiving and moving the masses I’ve ever witnessed. The strength of this “gift” was very scary. I knew then he would be a candidate for president in ’08. The good news is that the deception surrounding him will begin to break in September and the momentum of the elections will be decided at that time – if the church prays. Please pray diligently, and don’t be taken in by charisma and empty promises of change.
The Presence Movement
The coming awakening will not be known as a prayer movement, apostolic movement, prophetic movement, teaching movement, miracle movement, gifts movement, glory movement, etc. It will include all of these but the dominant emphasis and characteristic will be His presence. He-- not one of His manifestations or elements of gifting – will be the focal point.
Our ministry in
It has become obvious to us that this assignment is on behalf of the entire nation. We are in the hidden, secret place with God, allowing Holy Spirit to hover through our worship and birth a “presence movement”. God has spoken to us prophetically that this movement characterized by His presence will begin to be released to the nation in September. To facilitate this we are moving our hosting of Him to a larger venue the last 3 days, September 11-13, and inviting many to join us. We are confident that what we, and I’m sure others, have been birthing will be imparted to hundreds—perhaps thousands—at that time.
When God spoke to me to expand the last 3 days for the purpose of impartation, I was not thinking about the fact that this would begin on our 88th day, which also begins the 8th year after
These 3 days will probably be unlike anything you’re been part of -- no preaching or teaching, just worship 24 hours each day. (We, of course, always make room for intercession and prophetic release as the Holy Spirit leads.) Some of us may bring a blanket and pillow and, like Joshua of old, stay in His presence all the time, except perhaps to freshen up once in awhile (see Ex. 33:11). (Please secure lodging if you’re coming from out of town, in order to have a place for your belongings, to clean up and to rest, if necessary.) I am certain that those who come will carry His presence home with them.
Pastors and leaders, families, individuals, intercessors, worshippers… come. We are asking you to register in order to know how many to accommodate, but there is no registration fee. We simply ask you to bring a God-honoring offering to defray expenses. This will cost us approximately forty thousand dollars because of the building rental, chairs, P.A., bringing in worship teams, etc. ( no worship leader will receive an honorarium—their worship is an offering to Him—but we will cover their expenses). Klaus Kuehn, Rick Pino, Eddie James, Jeremy Burk and other worship leaders are coming to help us. It will be amazing!
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