What does God think about me?

Looking back on my first week at Bible College I see now that God was shaping my identity. I remember thinking during my first week at Bible College is this how it is going to be, I can only imagine what the next few years were going to be like, in a good way. All that week the Lord kept speaking and pulling me closer and closer to Him. Understanding the context for me during this time, here I was unsure about everything because I left my career in the hotel restaurant industry and it had seemed that all I know to do was surrender. When I moved to were the Bible College was I had not found a job yet, so I spent most of my time in prayer, worshipping God, and Bible study. I thought I had surrendered everything but God wanted more and that was my heart and mind. As it is written in Mark 12:30-31(NKJV) And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. This is the first commandment. Spending a lot of time in prayer, Bible study and worship; during this time God was speaking to me, but I felt that I was an unworthy person that does not deserve anything or God to speak to me. Feeling of over whelming peace of God and contentment where I was and what I was doing. I started to really understand that God cares so much for me. If God cares so much about me and He wants me to hear from Him to be more like Him. Then it is also true that God cares about everyone else on this earth. This is where I believe when a Christian really understands Who’s they are, and what God has done and is doing today they will want to go and tell everyone that would listen.     

That first week listening to different speakers I could relate to everything they were saying as it made me think more about how I got here and the different decision I had made to be where I was it is now part of my testimony. The year was 2006 for me which was the year that God was going “to better myself” this is God’s vision for my life. Lead by the Spirit to better myself in mind, learning, heart, and loving others. This was my perfect world what would hinder this or what would be the common stumbling blocks that I would need to avoid.

1)     Find a good local Church and plug in.

2)     Matthew 6:33 seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Job 31:1, and John 13:24.

3)     Truly connect with my roommate as a brother in Christ.

4)     Be a good steward of my money. 

God is not going to microwave me; He is going to marinate me to His perfection. I have put myself on God’s surgery table and God is going to make it a process. During this process God wanted me to do ministry in pain. As we can see in Matthew 14:11-14 in this passage Jesus is told about John the Baptist being beheaded. In v.13 Jesus withdrew to a solitary place but not for long Jesus arrived crowds of people were there and v.14 Jesus had compassion on them and healed their sick. Even in my pain, I must have character and when grieving/ hurting I still must have compassion for others. As we see in 1 Peter 2:21-23 (NKJV) For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: “Who committed no sin,
Nor was deceit found in His mouth”; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; and in 1 Peter 3:8-9 (NKJV) Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous;[a] 9 not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. Remember we should understand we are called out from this world and what makes a Christian different then everyone is by following Jesus, do I need to say more. Four keys to Ministering in pain:

1) It requires genuine love and concern.

2) Having the ability to look beyond your own pain.  This one reminds me of a time when I was in Church and The Pastor just finished with a fiery massage and he called those that were hurting to come down front for prayer.  I answered the call and walked forward to the front.  All I could do is to go to my knees in tears.  As I was on my knees a little boy was on his knees beside me crying as well but not for himself but for his Father to come to know Jesus Christ.  I stopped praying for me and my needs and started praying for this boy and his Father.

3) Die to yourself and serve others for Christ.

4) Learn to rely upon the Lord’s strength during times of weakness. I cannot bale when I get hurt. 

How can I keep effective when I do not have character, I can not. I most have character. Having character will enable me to minster in pain. (2 Peter 1:2-8) Character – One of the attributes or features that make up and distinguish the individual; a person marked by notable traits; moral excellence and firmness. All Christians should never be too careful about sin. 2 Samuel 11:1-4, seven contributors to a spirituality dangerous environment:

1) Irresponsibility,

2) Location,

3) Laziness,

4) Immodesty (If the spirit of Immodesty is not dealt with it will turn in to immorality.), 5) Vision,

6) Companions,

7) Thoughts.

I could go in to detail on each one but at this time I will just list them.  I do not know where I heard this from but it has stuck with me for years is that “a person’s anointing will take them to great place but it is their character that will keep them there.”

So what about the question what does God think about me? Then ask God now and when you hear what He thinks of you then go and praise God and go and make disciple.   

- Donnelly Cameron

Wisdom on Raising Great Teens

Raising teenagers is tough. Any parent can tell you that. Their emotions are volatile. Their passions change almost daily. And they often lack the strength to keep their commitments.

The challenges are real, but is there a way to navigate through them to bring fruit—relationally, socially, and spiritually?

There are no easy answers, but this key truth can help guide us—and them—into greater partnership with God’s grace. And that, more than anything, is success.

What teens lack most is confidence. They have earnestness and zeal, but not the wisdom and strength to follow through. Their desire and passion gets easily overwhelmed by their array of choices. Add in some peer pressure, and they can get off track quickly.

As parents, we can bless our teens with the gift of confidence, starting with confidence in their destiny.

Confidence in their Destiny

Teens desire greatness. They are drawn to it, pursue it, and are not content without a measure of it. Trying to avoid a life of dullness and insignificance, they search for new things, test boundaries, and, at times, rebel against the status quo.

What lies behind this behavior is a heart that very well could change the world—but confidence, maturity, and reliance on grace is needed.

Take Moses, for example. After growing up in Pharaoh’s house, he observed the plight of his people, the Jews. He killed an Egyptian who was beating a Hebrew, but that resulted in him fleeing for his life (Exodus 2:11–15).

Moses looked like a failure, and probably felt like one. He had desired to liberate his people, but now he was in the wilderness.

But Moses was born to be a liberator, and in the right time, God called him into his destiny (Exodus 3).

Our teens will undoubtedly face many obstacles, including some from their own foolish or immature decisions. In these setbacks, we can give them confidence that they are in the midst of a growth process and that their destiny still awaits.

Keep Trying

Rarely do our first attempts at greatness succeed. Most people, both in Scripture and throughout history, have a past littered with failed attempts before they experience breakthrough. In retrospect, not trying is the only thing that could have stopped them.

Some teens need confidence to take risks because they fear failure. Our culture feeds into this, but teens need confidence that what looks like failure can be a step toward their destiny.

As parents, we can share from our experiences to give them confidence to keep reaching. As we build our own relationship with God, we will be better positioned to steward our teenagers into looking to God the Father as the ultimate source of both identity and destiny. The world cannot take away what it does not give. Confidence as of a chosen son or daughter of the Most High God will give both them and us a perspective for navigating what do not need to be troubling years.

Fascinate, our high school conference, is a great place for individual teens and entire youth groups to grow their identity in God and find their calling in life. Learn more about Fascinate »

How can you help your teen encounter God?

Adam Wittenberg

A Detroit native who was raised in Vermont and Connecticut, Adam worked as a newspaper journalist until 2012, when he moved to Kansas City to complete the Intro to IHOPKC internship. Afterwards, he earned a four-year certificate in House of Prayer Leadership from IHOPU and is now on full-time staff in the Marketing department at IHOPKC. Adam is also active in evangelism and has a vision to reach people everywhere with the good news of Jesus Christ.

Growing Number of Americans Love Jesus but Don't Go to Church, Barna Finds

While an increasing number of Americans are reportedly abandoning the institutional church and its defined boundary markers of religious identity, many Americans still believe in God and practice faith outside its walls, a new Barna study has found.

Barna has released a report on the first of a two-part exploration of faith and spirituality outside the church, looking at the "fascinating segment of the American population who, as the saying goes, 'love Jesus but not the church.'"

One-tenth of the population comprises those who self-identify as Christian and who strongly agree that their religious faith is very important in their life, but are "dechurched," meaning they have attended church in the past, but haven't done so in the last six months or more, the Barna study says, adding that only seven percent of the population belonged to this category in 2004.

More than 60 percent of the people in this group are women, and 80 percent are not millennials, between the ages of 33 and 70.

"This group also appears to be mostly white (63%) and concentrated in the South (33%), Midwest (30%) and West (25%), with very few hailing from the Northeast (13%)," the study reveals.

"This group represents an important and growing avenue of ministry for churches," says Roxanne Stone, editor in chief of Barna Group. "Particularly if you live in a more churched area of the country, it's more than likely you have a significant number of these disaffected Christians in your neighborhoods. They still love Jesus, still believe in Scripture and most of the tenets of their Christian faith. But they have lost faith in the church."

What's more, their beliefs about God are more orthodox than the general population, even rivaling their church-going counterparts, the study shows.

"For instance, they strongly believe there is only one God (93% compared to U.S. adults: 59% and practicing Christians: 90%); affirm that 'God is the all-powerful, all- knowing, perfect creator of the universe who rules the world today' (94% compared to U.S. adults: 57% and practicing Christians: 85%); and strongly agree that God is everywhere (95% compared to U.S. adults: 65% and practicing Christians: 92%)."

Furthermore, while they might not be comfortable with the church, this group still maintains a very positive view of religion, the study adds.

"When asked whether they believe religion is mostly harmful, their response once again stood out from the general population, and aligned with their church-going counterparts (71% strongly disagree, compared to 71% among practicing Christians and 48% among U.S adults)."

However, only 55 percent disagree, either strongly or somewhat, that all religions basically teach the same thing, much closer to the general population at 51 percent. Eighty-six percent of evangelicals disagree with the statement and believe in the distinctiveness of Christianity.

The study notes that this group falls outside of the characterization of "spiritual but not religious" folks. "But unlike practicing Christians and evangelicals, this spirituality is deeply personal—even private—with many preferring to keep spiritual matters to themselves: only two in five (18%) say they talk with their friends about spiritual matters often."

For the study, Barna interviewed 1,281 U.S. adults via web-based surveys, in each of the 50 United States between November 4 and 15, 2016. The sampling error for this study is plus or minus 2.9 percentage points, at the 95% confidence level.

"The critical message that churches need to offer this group is a reason for churches to exist at all," Stone concludes. "What is it that the church can offer their faith that they can't get on their own? Churches need to be able to say to these people—and to answer for themselves—that there is a unique way you can find God only in church. And that faith does not survive or thrive in solitude."

- By Anugrah Kumar , Christian Post Contributor, Source: http://www.christianpost.com/news/americans-love-jesus-dont-go-to-church-barna-179227/

Accept Your Destiny – Find Happiness

A significant portion of our world today is looking for their destiny, trying to find inner peace and happiness. I’m no expert on this subject, and in a short blog, I cannot do it justice. I can share with you what has worked for me and the thousands that I’ve had the opportunity to share this knowledge with. I do not mean to say I haven’t had my struggles, disappointments, and doubts, but I’ve also discovered some truths that have lifted me, brought about a sense of destiny, inner peace, and greater personal happiness.

A report has stated that four out of five people are unhappy! How about you? I think all of us want to be happy, have inner peace and live a fulfilled life of purpose and destiny. So, who will decide our happiness, inner peace, personal destiny? Listen, when our moods and emotions are tied to our circumstances and events in our life, we will always be at the mercy of the unknown.

Emerson said: “A political victory, a rise in rent, the recovery of your sick, or the return of your absent friend, or some other external event, raises your spirit, and you think good days are here. Don’t believe it. It can never be so; nothing can bring peace but yourself.” Abraham Lincoln said, “People were just about as happy as they made up their minds to be.” Compare the great Napoleon and Helen Keller. Napoleon had power, riches, and glory. He said, “I have never known six happy days in my life.” Helen Keller who was born blind, deaf and mute said, “I have found life so beautiful.”

So who decides? We do! How?

1) Get rid of things that produce unhappiness, a lack of inner peace and fulfillment. Remove the unhappy thoughts, the negative outlook, eliminate the resentments, the gloom, fear, and worries of life and begin to fill your thoughts with joy, optimism, faith, and hope.

2) Stop creating comparisons; you are who you are. You are original, unique, and one of a kind. Be yourself.

3) See yourself. The only way you can be yourself is to see yourself. Since God created you let Him introduce you to you! He didn’t make a mistake. You are the right person at the right time at the right place. You have a destiny that only you can fulfill.

4) You have been given life in days, not years, months, or weeks. Live each day like it was the only day because it is.

If the words, destiny, inner peace, and happiness appeal to you, find out more. Download my series, “The Mind, Mental and Emotional Health.”

You can, preview the first part of my series called “The Mind, Mental and Emotional Health” to start learning how to live happily.

Buy the full series here

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

Stop Trying to Make the Gospel Relevant to Teenagers

I quit being a youth pastor. I would highly encourage you to do the same. Just before the time I agreed to a role within Student Ministries at IHOPKC, I flatly stated that I had no intention of doing roller skating and pizza parties. And bless God, neither did my friend and supervisor at the time, David Sliker.

Certainly on paper my role still states: Director of Student Ministries, but I couldn’t find the term youth group or see anything that remotely looks like modern youth ministry in the Bible. That’s why I resigned in my heart instead, deciding that I would dedicate my life to something I was actually interested in: building the glorious church of Jesus Christ. A quick survey of the generational landscape yields a troubling picture. No need for the statistics that abound in thousands of books, websites, parenting materials, and youth pastor city-wide meetings. Just ask yourself, “How many teenagers do I know that extravagantly love Jesus?”

I’m told that youth ministry is, historically speaking, a relatively new endeavor. While the onset of youth ministry had the spark of life, gradually it’s as if someone began thinking, “These young people are disinterested—let’s put them in another room.” The separation of teenagers from the main body over decades evolved into a subculture with a particular set of expressions and opinions. Insert a youth pastor attempting to be relevant to an established subculture. Now, when someone says, “youth ministry,” immediately an image floods the mind giving illustration to what that should look like. But does that image look biblical?

The troubling pressure that faces parents, teachers, leaders, and youth pastors is ultimately the very thing we cannot do—we cannot change the heart of another human. Jesus likes changing hearts forever by His power. He is really good at that.

The gospel is the power of God to salvation. Does God need us to alter the gospel to make it relevant? As a leader, I don’t need creative ways to rehash a message that is volatile when applied to the human heart. We need the power of the God unto salvation. We can’t get to God without His power. We can’t get His power without the gospel. The gospel supersedes culture, even the powerful subculture of teenagers.

At some point we forgot that Jesus, and His message, was rejected by the world. Further, though the world desperately needs His power, we’ve convinced ourselves that slightly altering the gospel will lessen its offense and make it more palatable to young people. We’d rather have 100 youth in the room than five. In doing so, we’ve decreased its effectual power.

God is not in need of our gospel adaptations. The gospel is the gospel. God is God. And His power is His power. The power that cut 3,000 to the heart by the preaching of Peter at Pentecost is the same power that today converts the soul and brings a person from darkness to light. The power that brought you to the cross and to the delight of the resurrection is the same power that touches the heart of the teenager.

My aim isn’t to fix youth ministry. It’s to kill it (or at least, kill the caricature of it).

First on the chopping block is this idea: more people means better ministry. The pervasive temptation we face is to measure success primarily by outward growth. As long as it’s getting bigger and better everything must be grand. However, a quick look at the Bible finds the need to evaluate success instead by the measure of love (see John 15 ) and faithfulness (see Matthew 25). What if we got a vision for teenagers to bear the fruits of repentance, the fruit of the Spirit, and live in a way that looks like Jesus (Matthew 3:8; Galatians 5:22; Colossians 3:10)? What if we got a vision to disciple five genuine teenagers rather than 100 lukewarm ones?

The gospel is entirely relevant because it addresses the deepest needs of man. What is the deepest need of mankind? That is the deepest need of teenagers. Man does not know God or glorify Him, and desperately needs His power to be changed into something new (Romans 1:16, 21–23, 6:4, 8:11; 2 Corinthians 5:17). The intrinsic needs of adults in the main auditorium are the same needs as the teenagers in the youth room. The gospel is not relevant to world. It never will be. It is considered a “base thing,” inherently “foolish” (1 Corinthians 1:18–31). But the gospel is the wisdom of God and the power of God.

May the teenagers of this generation hear the gospel and be forever changed. Amen.

5 Ways to Help Teens Love Jesus More

- Isaac Bennett, Director, Student Ministries, IHOPKC. Isaac and his wife, Morgan, are full-time intercessory missionaries who serve at the International House of Prayer of Kansas City, Missouri. They have five children. Isaac is the director of Student Ministries and Awakening Teen Camps; he is also an instructor at the International House of Prayer University. The Bennetts’ heart is to see day-and-night prayer established across the earth and the next generation called into wholehearted love for Jesus.

Remember Saint Patrick

Saint Paddy’s Day is for the pagans.

You might say it that way, and then carefully wash your Christian hands of all the carousing and empty revelry that makes all things Irish into an excuse for a godless spring party. But you might say the same thing, and mean it not as a call to circle the wagons, but to charge the hill.

Deep beneath much of what the day has become is the inspiring mission of Patrick pioneering the gospel among an unreached people, despite the frowning face of the church establishment. Saint Patrick’s Day, in its truest meaning, is not about avoiding the lost, but bringing them good news. It turns out Saint Paddy’s Day really is for the pagans.

The Gospel to the Irish

The March 17 feast day (first declared in the early seventeenth century) remembers Patrick as the one who led the fifth-century Christian mission to Ireland. Unlike Britain, the Emerald Isle lay beyond the bounds of the Roman Empire. The Irish were considered uncivilized barbarians, and many thought their illiteracy and volatile emotions put them outside the reach of the gospel.

But Patrick knew better. In a strange and beautiful providence, he had spent six years among them as a captive, learned their language, and developed a heart for them. Like Joseph sold into slavery to one day save Egypt and his brothers, God sent Patrick into slavery to ready Ireland for a coming salvation.

The Surprising Turn

Patrick was born in the late fourth century — many speculate around 385 — in what is now northeast England. He was born among the Celtic “Britons,” to a Romanized family of Christians. His father was a deacon and his grandfather a priest. But his parents’ faith didn’t find a place in his heart in his rearing. In his youth, according to George Hunter, “he lived toward the wild side” (The Celtic Way of Evangelism, 13).

But God soon arrested him with severe mercy. Kidnapped at age sixteen by Irish raiders, he was taken back to the island, where he served as a slave for six years under a tribal chief, who was also a druid. While in bondage in Ireland, God unshackled his mind and opened his eyes to the gospel of his childhood.

And so, as a captive, “he came to understand the Irish Celtic people, and their language and culture, with a kind of intuitive profundity that is usually possible only, as in Patrick’s case, from the ‘underside’” (14). When he eventually escaped from slavery in his early twenties, he was a changed man, now a Christian from the heart. He studied for vocational ministry, and led a parish in Britain for nearly twenty years.

Reclaiming Retirement

That could have been the end of the story. But at age 48 — “already past a man’s life expectancy in the fifth century” (15) — Patrick had a dream, which proved to be his own Macedonian Call (Acts 16:9). An Irish accent pled, “We appeal to you, holy servant boy, to come and walk among us.”

Having known the language and the customs from his captivity, and having long strategized about how the gospel might come to the Irish, he now answered the call to return to the place of his pain with the message of joy. The slave returned to his captors with good news of true freedom.

Back in Saint Patrick’s Day

But this would be no ordinary mission. The Irish Celtics were “barbarians.” They may have had a few Christians among them, but as a people, they were unreached, with no thriving church or gospel movement.

Patrick would take a different and controversial approach to the prevailing missionary efforts of the fifth-century church. Instead of essentially Romanizing the people, by seeking to “civilize” them with respect to Roman customs, he wanted to see the gospel penetrate to the bottom of the Irish culture and produce an indigenous movement. He didn’t mean to colonize them, but truly evangelize them.

Understanding the People

Hunter tells the story in the first chapter of his book on Celtic evangelism.

The fact that Patrick understood the people and their language, their issues, and their ways, serves as the most strategically significant single insight that was to drive the wider expansion of Celtic Christianity, and stands as perhaps our greatest single learning from this movement. There is no shortcut to understanding the people. When you understand the people, you will often know what to say and do, and how. When the people know that the Christians understand them, they infer that maybe the High God understands them too. (19–20)

Patrick knew the Irish well enough to engage them as they were, and build authentic gospel bridges into their society. He wanted to see the gospel grow in Irish soil, rather than pave it over with a Roman road.

Ministering with a Team

Essential to Patrick’s strategy was that he not fly solo. Just as Jesus sent out his disciples together (Luke 10:1), and Paul and Barnabas went out together (Acts 13:3), so Patrick assembled a close-knit team that would tackle the work together, in the same location, speaking the gospel and making disciples, before moving on together to the next tribe. It was what Hunter calls a “group approach to apostolic ministry.”

We have no detailed record of Patrick’s ministry teams and strategies, but according to Hunter, “from a handful of ancient sources, we can piece together [an] outline of a typical approach, which undoubtedly varied from one time and setting to another.”

Patrick’s teams would have about a dozen members. They would approach a tribe’s leadership and seek conversion, or at least their clearance, and set up camp nearby. The team “would meet the people, engage them in conversation and in ministry, and look for people who appeared receptive” (21). In due course, “One band member or another would probably join with each responsive person to reach out to relatives and friends” (22).

They would minister weeks and months among them, eventually pursuing baptisms and the founding of a church. They would leave behind a team member or two to provide leadership for the fledgling church and move, with a convert or two, to the next tribe. With such an approach, the church which grew up among the people would be “astonishingly indigenous” (22).

Priority Time with Pagans

While Patrick’s pioneering approach is increasingly celebrated today — and is a model, in some respects, of the kind of mission needed in our increasingly post-Christian society — most of his contemporaries weren’t impressed. “The British leaders were offended and angered that Patrick was spending priority time with ‘pagans,’ ‘sinners,’ and ‘barbarians’” (24).

But Patrick knew such an approach had good precedent. The one who saved him while a nominal Christian and an Irish captive was once called “a friend of tax collectors and sinners,” and said, “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners” (Matthew 11:19; Mark 2:17). The stakes were high, but he knew it was worth the risk.

Something Worth Remembering

Instead of acquiescing to the religious establishment, Patrick took the gospel to the uncouth, and ventured all for the unreached Irish. Instead of coasting toward a cushy retirement, he gave nearly three decades to the nation-transforming evangelization of Ireland. Patrick truly was for the pagans.

According to tradition, Patrick died March 17. Many think the year was 461, but we don’t know for certain. While today’s trite celebrations may leave much to be forgotten, for those who love Jesus and the advance of his gospel, Patrick has left us some remarkable things to remember. And to learn from.

David Mathis (@davidcmathis) is executive editor for desiringGod.org, pastor at Cities Church in Minneapolis/Saint Paul, and adjunct professor for Bethlehem College & Seminary. He is a husband, father of four, and author of Habits of Grace: Enjoying Jesus through the Spiritual Disciplines.

How to Change Your Future

So how can we change our perspective, our outlook, our picture of our future? James Allen in his groundbreaking book, “As a Man Thinketh” said, “As a man thinketh in his heart so is he not only embraces the whole of a man’s being, but is so comprehensive as to reach out to every condition and circumstance of his life. A person is literally what they think, our character being the complete sum of all our thoughts. As the plant springs from, and could not be without the seed, so every act of a person springs from the hidden seeds of thought.”

We do not attract what we want but that which we are, so to change our perspective of life we must change our thoughts, by that I mean the entire character of our thoughts. This at first is not an easy thing to do but as we start on a total reconstruction of our thinking, we will be amazed of its dynamic effects upon our emotions, outlook and the direction our life begins to take. All thoughts produce the tree of the seed that they come from. We cannot directly choose our circumstances but we can choose our thoughts. Emerson said: “A man (person) is what they think about all the time.” This being true, let’s begin today to change our thoughts from the negative to the positive, this not only changes us but changes our perspective of life.

An immigrant and his family relocated from Europe to New York City during the Great Depression, his only skill was making sandwiches and selling them on the street corner out of his kiosk. He sold so many sandwiches that he was able to put both sons through college!  Amazing story, but I left out the most important part, this man was a little blind and a little deaf. Being a little blind he couldn’t read the newspaper that was filled with bad news, and being a little deaf he didn’t hear all the negative news about the economy. To him his perspective of his future was amazing, he believed he was in the greatest country on earth, he had a great perspective.

How about you? Would you like to change yours?

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

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.