Twenty-One Words

In 1871 a young medical student was worried and upset over his future, like so many of us he was overthinking his path, “what area of medicine should I get into, what direction should I take.” Questions and thoughts like this are not uncommon but if they occupy all of our emotional real estates they leave no room for God. Then something happened to this young man that would forever change the direction of his life. He heard twenty-one words, yes, twenty-one words are all it took!

What were those twenty-one words? Here they are, “Our main business is not to see what lies dimly in the distance, but to do what lies clearly at hand.”

With that William Osler found the secret of living for today, he became the most famous physician of his generation. He organized the world famous John Hopkins School of Medicine, became the Regis Professor of medicine at Oxford, the highest honor given to any medical man in the British Empire. The King of England knighted him. Forty-two years later at the graduating class at Yale University, William Osler, giving the address said this, “My success was not due to my talents, intellect, or gifts, rather it all began with a simple idea of doing what lies clearly at hand and leaving the rest up to God.”

We can all plan our future, but we can only live today! So let’s give each day our best and let the future unfold with God’s blessing. I might add, whatever you plan on doing, don’t ask yourself if you have enough, or what it will take, instead ask yourself, do I have enough to get started!

Download my series, How to Change your Future! And get started on a fantastic journey.

-Dr. Rob Carman, Is the founder of Victory World Missions, a prolific author, church planter and well-know conference speaker. www.robcarman.com

Christian BLACK PANTHER Actress Shared an Important Message About Identity on Live TV

Breakout actress Letitia Wright went from taking a break from acting, to become a Christian, to landing the biggest role she’s ever had. Wright plays the role of Shuri in Marvel’s new movie BLACK PANTHER, who is a technologically brilliant young woman and the younger sister of T’Challa/Black Panther, King of the fictional nation of Wakanda.

In an interview with the UK talk show This Morning, Wright shared that there was a point when acting needed to be put on hold. Without going into detail, she said, “I was going through a lot, a very difficult time in my life, and I just needed to take a break from acting, because I really idolized it.”

Idolizing a job, or a dream is a common societal problem. It can result in immense disappointment and depression when our entire identity is wrapped up in a job, which doesn’t offer real fulfillment, and can come and go.

The Marvel actress then said that after going off of acting, “I went on a journey to discover God, and my relationship with God, and I became a Christian.” She continued, “It just gave me so much love and light within myself. I felt secure, like I didn’t need validation from anyone else, from getting a part [in a movie].”

At 24 years-old, Wright has learned a spiritual truth that many will go their whole lives without realizing. Our worth and value isn’t in what we do, or how we do it. Our worth and value comes from a relationship with Jesus Christ, who resides in us and makes us whole. Once Wright realized she didn’t need a great movie part to be whole, God blessed her career in a fashion that reminds us of Psalm 37:4, “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” On Twitter, Wright frequently shares her Christian faith by tweeting gospel songs and Bible verses.

Wright added that she’s centered in who she is, but she explained that even though she’s a Christian, she’s still not perfect. However, it sounds like she’s on the right track.

A successful year for Letitia Wright has only begun, since she’ll return in the role of Shuri in AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR and will also star in Steven Spielberg’s movie READY PLAYER ONE releasing in March.

-By Ben Kayser, Managing Editor with MovieGuide.org

How Do you See You?

From the clothes you wear to the way you look, the profession you chose, the mate you select, the habits you acquire, the moral conduct you portray, were all influenced by the way you see yourself! What we believe about ourselves often imposes rigid and false limits on what we can accomplish. If you accept an idea from yourself, your teachers, parents, friends, or any other sources good or bad, and if you are convinced that, that idea is real, it has the power over you as the hypnotist’s words have over their subjects.

Most people dislike themselves; they wish they were taller, shorter, heavier, or thinner. They develop little confidence in themselves; plagued by persistent inner conflict, which siphons off energy, they get tired in themselves because they are tired of themselves. Yourself, well put! You’ll never get away from you, so if you don’t like you-you’ll be unhappy all your life because you can’t escape you! So to like you, you have to know you! The only way to know you is to let God introduce you to you. As this happens your opinion of yourself will improve until at last, you will enjoy living with yourself. It is of great practical value to learn to like yourself since you must spend so much time with yourself.

As you see yourself through God’s eyes, allow it to form a mental picture. Think regarding this, hold that image persistently, firmly in your consciousness.

1 Peter said, “We are partakers of His divine nature through His great and precious promises.” Marcus Aurelius said, “The soul is dyed the color of its thoughts.” We can select the life coloration we desire.

We’ve only scratched the surface. If this is something you desire, download my series “How to Increase Your Influence” and see your life change.

-Dr. Rob Carman, Is the founder of Victory World Missions, a prolific author, church planter and well-know conference speaker. www.robcarman.com

Understanding the Book of Revelation

The book of Revelation is first about the glory of Jesus (Rev. 1:1). Secondly, it is about future events that He will use in His transition plan to shift history to the age to come. Jesus will only unfold this future plan in partnership with His people. This is our story. It is worth making the effort to understand it. Revelation was written to be understood by everyone.

The story line in Revelation is not about the end of the world, but rather the end of this age. This age refers to the demonic influence that blinds the nations with darkness (Eph. 6:12. 2 Cor. 4:4). Revelation is not a doomsday prophecy about the end of the world. It is a glorious love story of Jesus ushering in a new beginning for the world. The birth of a baby is the end of a pregnancy, but it is mostly about the beginning of a new life. Revelation describes the end of the dark night of Satan’s oppression of human history and the dawning of Jesus’ new day of glory and love.

Three reasons people do not read the book of Revelation are that they have a wrong view of its main story line; they do not understand the structure of the book nor its symbols.

The main theme of Revelation is Jesus’ return to earth to rule all the nations (Rev. 1:5-7).

5 “Jesus Christ…the ruler over the kings of the earth…7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him…and all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him.”

Revelation is to be interpreted in its plain meaning. The events and numbers are to be understood literally unless the Scripture indicates that they are symbolic (Rev. 1:20; 5:6; 11:8; 12:1, 3, 9; 17:7, 9, 15-18, etc.). For example, the seven lamp stands are symbolic of churches (Rev. 1:20).

The seven main symbols of Revelation:

1) Dragon: Symbolic of Satan (Rev. 12:3, 4, 7, 9, 13, 16, 17; 13:2, 4; 16:13; 20:2)
2) First Beast: Symbolic of the Antichrist (Rev. 13; 14:9-11; 17:3-17; 19:19-21; 20:4, 10)
3) Another Beast: Symbolic of the false prophet; called another beast just once (Rev. 13:11)
4) Harlot Babylon: A global, demonically-inspired religious and economic system (Rev. 17-18)
5) Seven heads: Represent 7 empires that persecuted Israel (Egypt, Assyria, Babylon, Persia,
    Greece, Rome, a still future revived Roman Empire (Dan. 7:7; Rev. 12:3; 13:1; 17:3-16)
6) Ten Horns: Represent a ten-nation confederation that serves the Antichrist (Rev. 17:12-13)
7) Woman with a Male-child (Jesus): Is the faithful remnant of Israel through history (Rev. 12)

Structure of the Book of Revelation: There are four parts in the structure of Revelation. The fourth part has 5 chronological sections.

Rev. 1   Pt. 1: John’s CALLING to prophesy about the end times. John gives 18 truths about Jesus’ majesty that form the way he prophesied about the end times. These are meant to equip us. It matters because the way that John prophesied is the way the end-time Church will prophesy.

Rev. 2-3 Pt. 2: Jesus gave 7 LETTERS to 7 churches. The instructions Jesus gave to 7 churches in that day about overcoming sin give us practical insight into what we must overcome today. Jesus selected churches to identify the main issues that would challenge the end-time Church.

Rev. 4-5   Pt. 3: Jesus takes the SCROLL containing the earth’s title deed and Jesus’ plan to cleanse it. The scroll in the Father’s hand is His plan to cleanse the earth of evil to prepare the nations for God’s throne to come to earth (Rev. 21:3). One man is worthy (deserving and capable) to take the scroll and execute the plan. By taking the scroll, Jesus accepts the responsibility for this.

Rev. 6-22 Pt. 4: Jesus’ BATTLE PLAN reveals His main storyline of love in the book of Revelation. The battle plan or the main storyline to cleanse the earth and transition it to the age to come is written in the scroll. Jesus breaks the seals of the scroll to open it. As the scroll is unrolled, the judgments written in it are released on earth against Babylon and the Antichrist’s followers.

A more closer look at part 4 from Rev. 6-22, Jesus’ BATTLE PLAN:

Rev. 6 Chronological Section #1: The SEAL JUDGMENTS against the kingdom of darkness.
Rev. 7 Angelic Explanation #1: We receive PROTECTION from judgments and falling away.

Rev. 8-9 Chronological Section #2: The TRUMPET JUDGMENTS against the Antichrist’s empire. Rev. 10-11 Angelic Explanation #2: We receive DIRECTION by a great increase of prophetic ministry.

Rev. 11:15-19 Chronological Section #3: SECOND COMING ROYAL PROCESSION and RAPTURE at the seventh and last trumpet, a terrifying heavenly announcement is made that Jesus will replace all evil leaders on earth in government, economics, etc. It will be a hostile takeover that includes a great war and the execution of the wicked leaders (Rev. 19:19). 5 He (Jesus) shall execute kings…6 He shall judge among the nations, He shall fill the places with dead bodies, He shall execute the heads of many countries. (Ps. 110:5-6) At the sounding of the seventh trumpet (1 Cor. 15:52), the Church will be taken up (rapture). It is the last trumpet in the series of the seven numbered trumpets in Revelation (Rev. 8-9; 10:7; 11:15). At this time, Jesus will begin His royal procession as He raptures the Church and travels across the sky on a cloud to be seen by every eye (Rev. 1:7), then He travels on the land through Edom/ Jordan; (Isa. 63:1-6) destroying His enemies, then into Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives (Zech 14:2-5).

Rev. 12-14 Angelic Explanation #3: The Antichrist’s violent CONFRONTATION against the saints and everything that God calls good, requires that all his governments be replaced. The heavenly announcement to replace all the world’s leaders is so intense that some may ask if there is a less severe way to reform the nations. The angel explains that the Antichrist’s followers have violently confronted God’s people. They refuse to repent. Therefore, they must be replaced.

Rev. 15-16 Chronological Section #4: The BOWL JUDGMENTS destroy evil infrastructures in society.

Rev. 17-18 Angelic Explanation #4: The SEDUCTION by Babylon’s evil religion will permeate and infiltrate all the structures of society, requiring that Babylon be totally destroyed. 8 I (Father) will give You (Jesus) the nations for Your inheritance…9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; You shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel. (Ps. 2:8–9) David said that the Messiah would dash the nations like a rod of iron dashing clay pottery. Whatever infrastructures in society are built on darkness will be dashed by the bowl judgments. The hundred pound hail stones (Rev. 16:21) will destroy social infrastructures that provide food, water and electricity and the institutions. Jesus will be on the earth marching to Jerusalem as He releases the bowl judgments as Moses did to Pharaoh.

Rev. 19-20 Chronological Section #5: Jesus’ TRIUMPHAL ENTRY to Jerusalem (Rev. 19:11-21:8)

Rev. 21–22 Angelic Explanation #5: The RESTORATION of all things (Acts 3:21; Rev. 21:9-22:5). At Jesus’ coming, He will restore all that God originally intended in the Garden of Eden.

I know this is a lot to take in but if you read the book of Revelation once a week and ask God for understanding I know you will be blessed. As it is written Revelation 1:3 (NKJV) Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near. 

-This article has been put together by Donnelly Cameron from different teaching on the book of Revelation from Mike Bickle https://mikebickle.org/  

Worship in Spirit and in Truth

Have you ever asked yourself this during a worship service, “Does this feel authentic?” Most likely you have. Whether as a participant in the congregation or on stage leading the worship service, I am guessing that, as a believer seeking to please the Lord, you have at some point asked the question: “Am I being sincere right now? How can I know this worship is authentic?”

I, for one, know that I have asked this question many times, and that it can be distressing when you feel that you are just going through the motions, especially in something as important and holy as worshiping God.

On such occasions, we can feel overly pressured to make something happen. Perhaps the fear of man’s opinions about music, the aesthetics, or people’s reactions can take us to the point where we can’t even concentrate on the Lord.

“How is this being received?”
“Why are we singing this song again?”
“I don’t like that person’s outfit.”
“Did I pick the right song?”
“Did I nail that vocal run?”

Eventually, we can spiral so far away from true worship that all we can think about is the outward form of our worship or the expression of other people’s worship, instead of actually worshiping the Lord!

As I pondered this, the story came to mind about Samuel arriving at the house of Jesse to anoint one of his sons to be king of Israel:

When they came, he looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is before him.” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” (1 Samuel 16: 6–7)

Notice first that the verse is not specifically talking about David. It is speaking about the outward stature of the first son, Eliab. Samuel was tempted first to look at that which was attractive and capable. Surely this had to be God’s anointed one! It’s a very tempting thing to judge something or someone by appearance. Little did Samuel know that God had chosen the shepherd boy whom nobody was expecting. Yet it was David that was after God’s heart, a king in the making.

If our worship services could be compared to this story, we could see how many of us would be guilty of similarly judging the level of anointing by outward appearance. Generally, we want environments that are exciting to be in and that please our five senses. We like good singers and musicians. We like seamless production.

In contrast, services that are not as great by our aesthetic standards, or not as exciting, could be considered unpleasing. I’m afraid it is even possible to despise worship experiences that have no flare to them or even ones that have seemingly little participation. What if nobody’s hands are raised? What if the people attending seem unengaged? Is worship authentic if there was no outward evidence of it?

Let’s look at it yet from another angle: the quality of the music. This is a big one for all of us musicians and singers. Psalm 33 says we should “play skillfully to the Lord.” So, how do we appreciate excellence in worship experiences while not making excellence our idol? All these things have their place: well-tuned instruments, pleasant lighting, songs that are conducive for the people to sing, and excellent production.

The Scriptures even speak of using our bodies to praise the Lord. I love to lead a well-written and well-produced song. I love to feel the music and hear beauty in the on-pitch voice. I love to be in a room with others where the lighting and style is pleasing and not distracting. I enjoy being amongst people who express their love for God by raising their hands and dancing.

Yet I can’t help but think that what God is looking for is exactly what He was looking for in Samuel’s day. He is looking for a heart after His own. And that is what David had, something that can easily escape the human eye. Something that only the Lord can truly judge and fully perceive.

Jesus told us that the Father is seeking worshipers that worship, not on this mountain or that mountain but “in spirit and truth” (John 4:21, 24). I think this is what it means to have a heart after God’s. We need to be ones that strive first and foremost to have hearts ready to meet with the living God, whether we lead or participate in a service. He is the most important One.

I have been in some of the most polished worship experiences imaginable. I have led in large gatherings when it seemed like everything was on point. I have led also in impoverished, dirty, and unattractive environments with unskilled musicians, when it seemed like nothing was working from an outward perspective.

Regardless of the environment, I have learned not to judge by outward appearance—the polished worship service could feel plastic—and the unimpressive service is where the anointing is so thick in the room you can hardly stand! God really does see the heart!

One such instance that taught me this principle was when I was at a conference in the mountains with an indigenous tribe in Mexico. These people walked literally for days to a conference. They had no place to sleep but under the trees. They were the poorest of the poor. The instruments were out of tune and the worship music was the furthest thing from impressive. Even so, it was one of the most powerful worship experiences I’ve ever been in. I can’t help but think God was smiling widely upon His children even though outwardly it would not impress. The engagement of the people and their hearts, abandoned to worship God, was something impressive to behold. It was in spirit, in truth, and from a heart after God’s.

Let’s strive to be the type of people that remember the most important Person as we aim to be excellent in our expressions of worship. His eyes are always on us.

Question: How can you turn your heart more fully to the Lord during worship?

- Chris Tofilon, Worship Leader, IHOPKC;  Chris Tofilon has a BA from Wheaton College. After five years on the mission field in Mexico, Chris joined IHOPKC in 2009. He has ministered internationally and currently serves as a primary worship leader in the Global Prayer Room. He has a passion to train and impart wisdom to young singers and musicians, so that they may have an understanding of the urgency of the hour.

How To Develop Your Mind

How can you develop your mind? A professor came upon a discovery and with it found out how to develop his mind. One day while getting dressed he was buttoning up his vest, actually his vest wouldn’t button, the reason? His daughter had sewn up the button holes. His fingers were going along as usual in their buttoning the vest when something happened; a button wouldn’t button! He looked down and realized why, but then a new idea was born!

The professor discovered that the fingers could remember. It’s called physiological memory. The mind trains or relegates functions to our body. In other words, as long as we keep doing the things we always do our minds won’t work. But when we are forced to do it a different way, go a different direction, get out of the box of routine, it activates our minds again. Physical life brings happiness, but mental life brings interest, a consuming and absorbing interest. Our mental development should not end with school; we must become a student of life. Stagnant minds are the greatest obstacles to progress.

How can we develop our minds? Nobody is born a genius. The famous Thomas Carlyle said the definition of a genius is, “An infinite capacity for hard work.” Today with all the technology and access to information we have become no more than headliners, knowing a little bit about a lot. Let’s be the person that at least knows one thing well! Like the Apostle Paul who said in Philippians 3:13, “This one thing I do.” Make a decision and determine to know one thing well.

Next, read the right type of books, they will stimulate your brains and improve your understanding. The right kind of books are the ones that help you prepare for opportunities. Also learn to think creatively, when a new thought, idea or concept comes think of ways to apply it to your life. Venture courageously into new mental realms. Finally, don’t stop until that good idea, thought or concept pushes you into new arenas.

Maybe you’re thinking “I can’t do that” or “I’m not that smart.” Stop thinking about what you can’t do, instead, what can you do? Are you satisfied with what you’ve accomplished so far? If not, your job is to know how much more mental ability you have, then dare to use it. Remember, things multiply when shared. So create discussions with others that like yourself who want to do things in life.

For more on this download my series “I Dare You” and start your adventure.

-Dr. Rob Carman, Is the founder of Victory World Missions, a prolific author, church planter and well-know conference speaker. www.robcarman.com

Tears & Alabaster Jar

Prayer is so important. Prayer is touching God, and to reach the world we must do it through prayer first. In Luke 18:1 Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them not to give up on praying. Jesus also said “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations” Mark 11:17.  In James 4:3 is all about our motives for praying, what motivation and why are we praying. It is clear to me that God wants us to pray selflessness. I know at times I can pray God please let me get this job, God please let me get this raise, and God give me this and that so I can give more.  God wants to hear from our mouth which is poring out from our heart “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Matthew 6:9-13. Prayer is acknowledging of a need that we can not fix, but we have a Friend that does, and he calls us friend.

This past week while studying the word of God the book of Luke 7:37-50 opened my eyes to what Jesus is all about and what He wants from us. These verses are about Jesus being anointed by a sinful woman. The Blood of Jesus Christ was not shade for our issues or things in our lives, but for our sin. We must confess our sin to Jesus so He can forgive us. This woman brought her tears and an alabaster jar of perfume and poured her heart out with tears and the perfume on His feet and wiped them with her hair. To understand the value of this perfume and the amount she poured out at that time it would have been a year of wages, so she gave everything she had and much more. She poured it all out and God wants us to pour out all of our worship and the best to Him. If we hold something back then that is the thing we worship. The true since of what God wants from us is to give everything we have to Him.

I remember one night I was talking on the phone with a Brother in Christ and we were catching up on what we have been doing. He told me that one night when a group of his friends were out preaching in the streets. He began talking with a man about God and how to have a personal relationship with God. Before they departed from one another my Brother in Christ gave this man his shoes and his Bible that he has had for a long time with study notes and underline words. At that time My Brother in Christ gave this man everything he had. Luke 7:38 She brought humility, and she came to Jesus in brokenness. We have to come in brokenness in tears and come to Jesus as we are. This woman did not say ‘Jesus is in that house, so let me go and clean up and put some nice cloths on and clean my life up before I see Him’.  No, she came as she was a sinner and what she had to give was her tears and perfume. When I gave my life to Christ back in July 2000 I brought all my sin and let me tell you it was a yoke that lifted off of me when I gave it over to the Lord that night. The Lord has been molding me since that time and making it a process and I love it. I sing to my King with a love song about how He found me in my brokenness and I give Him thanksgiving.  My King sings over me and over everyone {that you are my beloved and my bride so come away with me my love, so we can stand face to face and I can not see any stains on you my child you are beautiful to me so beautiful to me. I sing over you my song of peace, cased all your cares down at my feet come and find your rest in me.} God has overtaken me and has taken my bitterness and making something sweet from it. We must come to Jesus with humility, brokenness, and with everything we have. Jesus came to proclaim the Gospel and bind up the broken hearts. There are three keys we can take with us from this woman.

1) Willing to server, she washed Jesus’ feet.

2) She came in faith (peace with God will give you peace when the storm is all around us.)

3) She came to worship Jesus. Give it all with passion, power, and at that present time. 

I love you in Jesus Christ; know His Love, Grace, and Peace is with you. Now receive them.

-Donnelly Cameron

You Can Change Your Future

We all have many things in common, but there’s one big thing we all have in common and when this is understood we can change our future. So what is this big thing that can change our future?

All of us live our lives out of a narrative, a story. Regardless of our background, religion, or culture. This narrative has been formed from many sources, through family, friends, tragedies, experiences, culture and religion. These narratives have built pictures, images in our lives that control or influence the way we act, the decisions we make, the career path we choose, the type of person we marry and the opinions we form. Since a story can be seen it can be concluded that if we can change what we see by changing the story we can change our future.

The Bible is God’s story, His story of creation, His story of redemption and His story of salvation. As we see God’s story it begins to have a great influence upon our lives. So what is God’s story and how can it change our future?

God’s story is a story of creation. God created the world and He created it wonderful, filled with an expression of Himself. No doubt you have visited places where you can hardly take in the beauty of it. All creation is a reflection of its creator. Like us, whenever we build or design or construct something it’s a reflection of us.

God’s story is a story of how we left Him to go on our own. That’s when mankind fell and fell apart. How can we discover our true identity and worth apart from the one that created us? But the story continues.

God’s story is a story of redemption. God never gave up on us. He sent His son in our likeness and as our substitute to take upon Himself the full penalty of our sins so we can be reconciled back to Him

God’s story is a story of salvation. Salvation came through His son Jesus and through Him we can be reunited back to our creator placed in right standing because of what Jesus did.

So how does that story affect us and how can we change our future? When we allow God to introduce us to us, we gain a picture of us that is bigger, better, stronger ad greater than what we could have come up with. Through God’s picture of us we can change our future.

-Dr. Rob Carman, Is the founder of Victory World Missions, a prolific author, church planter and well-know conference speaker. www.robcarman.com

DOES AMERICA HAVE A PROPHET?

But He answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: Matthew 12:39                                                                                              

DO YOU WONDER ABOUT THE SIGNS?

I don’t think I can recall a period in my church life where there is so much deception being perpetrated upon Church-leaders by demons and upon church members by each other.

It is disgusting to those who are genuinely seeking to please God. Droves are being turned away from genuine relationship with Jesus by the godless, self-seeking, money-mongering, phony “prophets” …. While I have great spiritual disdain for these folks … I am equally disappointed by those in the body of Christ who perpetuate the problem by embracing and seeking after the phony message.

I have heard many solid messages about “not chasing the signs” about living a life that allows signs to follow...but I don’t think I’ve ever seen the church this far out of alignment from truth. The sign seekers are everywhere!

Jesus called a sign seeking generation an evil and adulterous generation. What strong words from the lips of Jesus! Does it seem to you that those who claim to have a gift of discernment cannot discern truth from error. Those who claim to be Holy Spirit baptized are the first to chase after that which is phony.

What’s happening here?  The signs of healing and deliverance do follow believers who walk in genuine authority...but the sign Jesus spoke of has already been given and He said there would be no other.

ISN’T THE DEATH, BURIALAND RESURRECTION ENOUGH?

What an insult to God to ask for another sign or an additional sign. “For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” 

“And the Pharisees came forth, and began to question with him, seeking of him a sign from heaven, tempting him.  And he sighed deeply in his spirit, and said, Why doth this generation seek after a sign? verily I say unto you, There shall no sign be given unto this generation.” Mark 8:11, 12

Why do you keep looking for signs? I tell you 75% of the people I see for deliverance are “sign seekers”. They dabble in “prophecy” in a quest to be recognized as super spiritual. They go after territorial spirits in their prayer and talk, in an effort to appear spiritually superior. 

Their engagement in such opens their lives to greatdeception, and they chase after “they know not what”.  They strain atgnats and swallow camels. They are in all of the “new movements” the “fresh fires” ““the river” … it goes on and on and not only are they duped, they become discouraged and eventually go nowhere.

I get “prophetic words” in my e-mail box almost daily, the only problem is they are not prophetic at all...not only are they seldom correct, they are never correct. I wonder, why are people so attracted to this? Why do we seek after more signs from God when we don’t even honor the sign that has already been given and will be the only sign given!

These people have to have special titles to enhance their deception. They call themselves “Prophet”  “Apostle”  or maybe some other lofty title and claim to hear directly from God. The Church has got to do better!  

Where are the genuine preachers who will proclaim the Blood of Jesus and the power of His resurrection?

Some of you reading this fall into this category. Generally, when this happens it is because the message has gone from focus on Jesus to focus on the Holy Spirit. I believe this so grieves the Holy Spiritthat permission is gained by demons to deceive and to give false gifts and to deceive even as a “false” Holy Spirit.  Jesus must be the focus. Genuine Holy Spirit filling will cause you to lift up Jesus.

The Holy Spiritdesires no attention, He is honored when Jesus is magnified. While every gift of God’s Holy Spirit is legitimate and valid, virtually all of them have been mimicked, mocked and “adulterated”!   Do you see why Jesus called sign seekers an “adulterous” people. They have polluted the simple, powerful message of the resurrection. Don’t chase signs!

I know folks who go to every seminar and meeting held, all of the conferences and have all of the tapes and materials and can’t seem to find peace, they constantly seek, I guess, thinking some day some how, thru some speaker they will hear the “magic” words. There are no such words. God’s Word has already been spoken and the sign has already been given. The resurrection of Jesus was and is the sign.

I know of churches that have been virtually destroyed by venturing out of the realm of God’s Word, particularly by engaging in spiritual warfare beyond our realm of authority. If you want to damage your church, maybe destroy it, try going beyond what God’s Word teaches.

We have not been given authority in the heavenlies...you cannot take back what never was yours, principalities and powers have authority because it has been given to them by the sin and disobedience of people. Get the people saved, leave the principalities alone. They have rights by the people and until the people submit we have no rights to banish these spiritual kingdoms or “take back cities or communities” … we tread on very dangerous ground when we do this.

Listen, that’s not a casual observation, it is the voice of many years of experience with this! Don’t chase signs. Don’t engage in territorial warfare. It’s not wise and it’s not scriptural. It’s not wise because it’s not scriptural.

A man and woman run into an acquaintance with a new boyfriend. She introduces her boyfriend as Prophet John Doe (not real name).  The man says, “You are a prophet of God? What exactly do you do? Do you really hear from God about the future…”  “Yes,”  The ‘prophet’ replied, “mostly, it is scriptural encouragement for the individual, but sometimes God will show me warnings etc. for the person to avoid.”

“So, are you like an old testament prophet?”” “Of course, it is a valid gift and I have it.” “Amazing.” responds the man, that’s just amazing. So, what does God show you for our nation?”  “What is thus sayeth the Lord for America?”

After a few hem-haws and throat clearing the man says, “There are dark days ahead for America unless she repents and turns to God…” It is always the same generalizing ‘prophecy’’ filled with “ifs” and “unless”. 

I don’t despise prophecy, but I hate the mockery of it! If you are a prophet, you don’t have to announce it or make it part of your title. Just speak accurate, proven, trustworthy words and people will know. Don’t pollute Holy, Godly gifts with your desire to be recognized as something special from God. Actually, genuineness in a call from God works the opposite … no desire to be “puffed up”.

Why not seek Jesus. If you want to be pure in your seeking and chasing. Chase Him, seek Him. The signs will follow you. Those who seek “signs and wonders” … I wonder about the wonders you seek. What sign has importance other than the death, burial and resurrection of God’s Son?  May I just say in Love,  don’t be seduced, don’t compromise the simple truth of God’s Word. Evil and adulterous people seek after signs...these are the Words of Jesus and they are for our admonition and spiritual safety.

Thanks for your help in this ministry.

Just for Jesus,

-Don Dickerman, Is the founder of Don Dickerman Ministries, a prolific author, has a powerful anointing for healing and deliverance, and well-know conference speaker. www.dondickerman.com

What Road are you on?

Have you ever gone down a road where you can’t see what’s around the bend? You will never know what is around the bend until you keep going. You have enough faith to go down a road believing that good things are ahead. No one truly knows what is around the bend. Many situations can come up in our lives that are not planned for. With no PLAN, you have only planned to fail. Let me ask you a serious question about your eternity. When you die are you ready to meet God? YES OR NO?  You may ask how can I be ready to stand before God and be HOLY, PURE, and FULL OF LOVE in His sight. Let’s see what the Bible says:

• ALL HAVE SINNED

“For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God” Romans 3:23. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it”? Jeremiah 17:9. “All of us like sheep has gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; But the LORD has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him.” Isaiah 53:6

• SIN’S PENALTY

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23 “And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire: this is the second death.” Rev 20:14

• SIN’S PENALTY WAS PAID

“But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8. “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.” 1 Peter 3:18

• WE MUST REPENT

“For the sorrow that is according to the will of God produces repentance without regret, leading to salvation, but the sorrow of the world produces death.” 

2 Corinthians 7:10

“Let the wicked forsake his way and the unrighteous man his thoughts; and let him return to the LORD and He will have compassion on him, And to our God, For He will abundantly pardon.” Isaiah 55:7

• WE MUST RECEIVE CHRIST

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name:” John 1:12

YOU MUST RECEIVE JESUS CHRIST BY FAITH AS YOUR LORD AND SAVIOR.

• YOU CAN BE SAVED TODAY

“That if you confess with your mouth the LORD JESUS and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9 “For WHO EVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.” Romans 10:13

GOD LOVES YOU AND WANTS YOU TO EXPERIENCE PEACE AND ETERNITY WITH HIM. SO THINK ABOUT IT, WHAT WILL YOU CHOOSE, LIFE OR DEATH? CHOOSE LIFE!!!

You are being asked into a relationship with the true and living God through Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. You can speak to God right now on your own. If you choose to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior, best friend, and love of your life; then say this prayer to God: “Jesus, I believe in you, I ask you to forgive me and I repent for my sins, wash me, and come into my heart. Be my Savior, my Lord and my very best friend. Come live your life through me, in Jesus’ name, Amen.” For more information please contact us. Thank you for taking your time and we hope and pray you will take God’s Word very seriously and commit your life to Jesus Christ and Him alone.