Calling Forth the Modern-Day Deborah

The destiny of women has been contested since the fall in the Garden. (Genesis 3:15–16)  A prolonged struggle rages between the seed of woman giving birth to the family of God, and spiritual descendants of Satan which will end one day in victory when Jesus returns.

In a time of heightened attack on the sanctity of being created male or female, I am passionate about understanding God’s viewpoint of women and how He feels about us. In a mother’s womb, God literally created us as individuals, male or female. (Psalm 139:13–14) There’s a grand storyline developing in history which has a starring role for women.

God highlights the role of women in several defining points in the life of Jesus:

• Mary, the mother of Jesus: As a virgin, Mary gave birth to our Savior Jesus Christ. Ancient belief held that the male was the only source of life and that woman’s purpose was to carry the child and to give birth. Loren Cunningham and David Joel Hamilton point out in their book, Why Not Women?, that Mary was the only human source for Jesus’ DNA (Luke 1:34–35).
• Women on the team: Several females were included in Jesus’ ministry team. (Luke 8:1–3)
• The woman at the well: Jesus was interested enough in the destiny of a woman caught in sin that He told her about her past. When she responded saying,  “I know a Messiah is coming,” He gave her the news that would change not only her life, but the whole village:  “I am He,” said Jesus. “You don’t have to wait any longer or look any further.” (John 4:26)
• Mary of Bethany: Mary, the sister of Lazarus, anointed Jesus’ feet with costly perfume and wiped His feet with her hair before His death. (John 11:2; 12:3)
• Mary Magdalene: After His resurrection, Jesus appeared first to Mary Magdalene. (John 20:14)

What are some things men and women can do today to value the destiny of women as Jesus did?

Godly womanhood is an honor, a pure and holy pursuit that drops a plumb line for how to step up as a woman without resorting to clenched fists, raging at society with hands on hips demanding our rights—nor succumbing to the silent tragedy of folding your hands in your lap and doing nothing all the while screaming in quiet desperation. Women are struggling to find their place.

An Apology
As a believing woman in leadership, I want to apologize to women who didn’t see a compelling picture from mothers in the faith of the ecstasy and extreme fulfillment of being a confident woman in God. For those who felt “less-than” and gave in to self-pity, even betraying their own identity and settling for a mediocre version of the woman they are called to be, I wish we had shown you something greater.

I’m sorry I didn’t pave the way as a modern-day Deborah, a woman secure enough in God’s leading to call a male military leader to do what God had called him to do, a powerful woman who mounted a horse to ride into battle when it was necessary, a woman who was a key leader bringing peace in her community. Have Christian women failed to live with passion and zeal because we didn’t think we could or should? It’s time to trade lackluster versions of leadership for a passionate pursuit of godly womanhood. It is time to be mobilized, becoming who God has invited us to be, doing what God has given us to do, for the harvest is here.

I want to apologize to those in my circles looking for an example of womanhood who didn’t see me living and leading in such a way they could find a highway with neon signs (or at the very least a trail of breadcrumbs) leading to Jesus—the one who positioned women in high places at strategic times in history; it was a woman overshadowed by the Holy Spirit who brought Jesus into the world, and it was a woman who met the resurrected Lord at the tomb. Women ministered with Jesus, Martha cooked for Jesus, and Mary lavished her affection on Him by pouring costly ointment over Jesus’ feet and wiping them with her hair. The love of Jesus truly sets a woman free to live and love with abandon. Oh, that this would be our testimony.

It is my desire that we change the understanding and expression of Christianity in the church, as well as in the marketplace, by passionately supporting Spirit-led women who buy and sell, have a voice at the leadership table, make tough decisions, rock the cradle, raise the evangelist, rise to global leadership levels. What glass ceiling?

Women, I urge you to embrace the opportunity to become a woman of beauty and substance, for God has created you in His image.

For the men, you have the privilege to honor and understand women made in God’s image.

My husband is an outdoorsman, a man’s man, and he loves and appreciates me as a woman. I have great respect and love for this man I married at 21. We grew up together in some ways, learning as we went, perhaps in a simpler time.

Rick embraces his manhood and honors me in my femininity. We allow each other the freedom to use our individual gifts. Rick is a strong person and has been used of God to run a business, teach children, and later teach prison inmates, impacting the lives of many. Yet he has no problem with a wife who is a visible leader and he securely cheers me on. Although he may appear to lead from the back of the room, he in fact leads by just walking in the door. Some men have been puzzled by our relationship and many have been challenged by his example to honor their wives as leaders. We don’t always get it exactly right, but we always come back to the table to talk things through and I find safety in his love and esteem for me as his wife who leads.

I am a successful business woman, an ordained minister, a wife to the Rick-man, and mother of two incredible women of God. But primarily I am a child of God who is a woman.

How can men honor women?
I’ve missed some opportunities because I am a woman. I’ve been talked over, passed over, and overlooked by the good ole’ boys at times. But I’m interestingly not bitter or halted by this because of a few key male influences in my life. My Dad was a man full of humility and grace who believed I could do anything God put in my heart to do. I entered college and the business world braced for the affronts sure to come from men because of the acceptance by my father and mentor, Herbert Low.

My husband has esteemed me since the day we met at a dance in the Student Union Building in college. His constant proclamations of love, undying devotion, and expressions of service, puzzling and provoking other men to reconsider the role of a man more often than not, show anyone within view that I am loved (and nobody better mess with Linda).  He’s a gentle giant some say; others call him a lion. I call him the Rick-man (aka hunka hunka burning love ;))

Pastoral leaders in my life like Scott McKay and Mike Bickle have honored me with invitations to lead in ministry settings. Scott McKay was the first man to ask me to speak from the platform and expressed confidence that I had something to say as a woman. Mike Bickle welcomed me to the leadership of The Joseph Co. at the International House of Prayer of Kansas City.

Men, when communicating with women, consider these suggestions:

• Hear us out without reframing our message in your own terms.
• Ask clarifying questions.
• Don’t patronize us or condescend; we are tougher than you think and can take the heat of a good debate rendered with honor.

How can a woman embrace her destiny when interacting with men?
As women, we do the world a favor when we step up to the plate with brains and hearts engaged. Rather than looking for special favors as women, let’s own who God has called us to be, bringing our creativity forth without sacrificing good process and emotional intelligence.

Basic communication tips for women that everyone will appreciate:

• Learn to talk in bullet points and avoid rabbit trails.
• State the action then the reason. Men like a clear target.
• Communicate objectively.

For most of my career I have been the only woman at a boardroom table of men and happily have not been keenly aware of the fact. That’s because I’ve embraced my calling and believe I just might have something to contribute. If I don’t speak up, we’ll never know.

At this stage it’s about getting the job done more than being a woman.

Let’s work together to be at our best and get the job done.

To receive complimentary resources (eBook, Bible Study, and Audio teaching) about how to grow as a modern-day Deborah, please visit: lindafields.org/deborah

- Linda Fields; Her humble upbringing as a preacher’s kid and her wealth of experience in business, training, and ministry to serve believers who are called to fulfill their mission in the marketplace. With True Tribe, a simple mentoring system designed to unlock and launch one’s next level, Linda helps train men and women to live out their spiritual destinies within their professions. As a woman, a wife, a mom, a glass-ceiling smasher, business owner, and coffee aficionado, Linda is at home in the boardroom, the classroom, and the prayer room doing life with Jesus, her mentor and friend, as they help others pursue their dreams.

Remember, Repent, Renew—The Remedy for a Burned-Out Believer

If you take a real assessment of your life and ministry today, how does it look?

Perhaps you haven’t seen the fruits of your labor that you’d hoped for or expected. Maybe you’re resentful of others around you who don’t seem to be carrying their own weight in the ministry. It could be that your team is great and you’re seeing a harvest, but you’ve been going nonstop as far back as you can remember and you’re just burned out.

>> Looking to grow your faith? Here are some ways to get started.

If you’re struggling, you can probably empathize a bit with the church in Ephesus, to whom God speaks in Revelation 2:1-7. The early believers there worked hard in the ministry, and they were good at it. They were tireless, discerning and persevering. Even in the face of hardships and persecution the church continued to serve those in need.

The problem was that they labored so hard in ministry that they lost their focus and the source of their motivation. The church had forsaken its first love. They were too wrapped up in the process of doing God’s work to make time for God Himself.

>> Read more on replenishing a burned-out soul.

We’re called to so much more, however, than just “staying busy for Jesus.” If this struggle is all too familiar in your life and ministry, look specifically at the first half of verse 5, which gives us three key steps to return to the correct path:

“Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent, and do the works you did at first.”
—Revelation 2:5a, ESV

First, believers in the church at Ephesus are commanded to remember back to when they had first encountered the Living God and were bursting with excitement. Just as marriages can become mundane if we forget that original passion and don’t make an effort to keep it burning, so it can be with God. We can go through the motions and do the work but not remember the desire we once had for Him.

Second, repent. It feels odd to say we need to repent for doing ministry, but according to the passage, it had reached the point where the people of the church were ministering with the wrong spirit and motivation. The issue was bad enough that God called them to repentance.

Finally, “do the things you did at first.” Or, as I would put it, renew your relationship with Him. Spend time in prayer and in the Bible. If we give God the best of our time, and focus that time on building our relationship with Him, I believe we will quickly remember and reconnect with our “first love.”

My friends, if you’re feeling burned out, it doesn’t have to be this way. Remember, repent, and renew. God will lead you and your ministry from there and use you in ways you cannot even begin to imagine.

- Will Graham

Welcome 2018

What do you want this year? I’m sure the list might be a long one. But I’m sure there is one thing we all want and that one thing is summed up in the Bible scripture that says, “He that would love life and see good days.” We all want to be able to love life and see good days and we can! Here is how we do it. Forget and forgive the past. Most of our current problems come from what happened.

I can’t change what I did or didn’t do, but I can change my attitude towards it and how it affects me. I can cut the cord of yesterday by forgetting and forgiving. Then I recognize that God only gives life in days, not years, months or even weeks. We can plan for our future, but we can only live today. Every day needs to be made a great day by filling each day with joy, excitement, enthusiasm and believing that a bright future is yours. As we do this daily, fears and worries will follow us no more, because we are trusting our lives to God.

Last, understand that there is a simple way of living the Christian life, believe and accept the teachings of Jesus Christ. Read about Him in the gospels and form a mental picture of Him as you read. Then connect that picture to your present life, and by doing so, you will connect with Him! Through this simple act of faith, you will sense His life, His presence, and His overwhelming happiness. You will learn to put yourself last in life, and others before you. You will grow in optimism, hope and see a great 2018!

Download my series “The Mind, mental and emotional health” listen to it over and over; it has helped thousands.

You can, preview the first part of my series called “The Mind, Mental and Emotional Health” and begin your journey today.

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

Who are we lifting up?

Being real with yourself and God…

As we go about our day looking to make an impact in people’s lives as well as our own life.  We all want to live with purpose.  I will tell you the truth with working six nights and at times my mind wonders.  I am not putting the Lord first because I get caught up in what I need to do at the moment.  This past week I was on cruse control getting 5 to 6 hours of sleep each night.  With work and home responsibilities it all got me away from what matters most and that is my personal relationship with the Lord.  Listening to worship music and sermons to get me back on track again was good but not enough. We cannot burn bright for the Lord with someone else oil.  One day I would listen to one pastor then someone else the next day an evangelist and they were all random sermons that I listened to.  Each one spoke on something else and it was just what was happening to me at that time, but my time with the Lord had become stale and not getting better each day.  Friday morning came and I was feeling bitterness and restlessness. I felt that I have not done anything that whole week expect show up to my work show up for prayer time and even sometimes sitting there with the Bible in front of me and really not engaging.  I felt as I was cold and away from God that Friday morning all I wanted to do is sleep in and not see anyone.  As I sat with the Lord, God spoke to me and said do you want to watch people connect with me or do you want to come up higher and connect with me too?  It hit me right at the heart level and I understood what I was doing, I was only being a spectator to all those wonderful preacher and worship leaders I was watching but not truly engaging in a personal relationship with Jesus.  Let me pause here and say this had nothing to do with my salvation it has everything to do with relationship.  In other words it is not about how we feel it is our position with the Lord as it is written in 1 John 5:13 I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. As believers in the Son of God we need to cultivate our relationship with God daily, just as you cultivate any relationship in your life.  Unpause, I responded to the Lord, I Love you Lord and I want to connect with you.  So the Lord said grab your book (The Holy Bible) and walk with me, I did and I connected with the Lord.  God lead me to Matthew 12:18-21.  “Here is my servant whom I have chosen, the one I love, in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him, and he will proclaim justice to the nations.  He will not quarrel or cry out; no one will hear his voice in the streets.  A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out, till he leads justice to victory.  In his name the nations will put their hope.”

Global Christianity…        

The question came to me what is the status of Global Christianity. The amazing growth of Christianity in 1806-1926, this geographical expansion of the kingdom.  1990-2000 was the greatest numerical expansion of the Kingdom.  In these same years 300,000,000 people converted to Christ and 200,000,000 out of the converting were independent Charismatic Churches.  The Independent Charismatic Church is the fastest growing stream.  There is 2.2 billion Christens on the earth one billion are in western counties and 1.2 billion are in Latin America, Africa, and Asia.  God created the Church for all the lost and to reach the lost people in the world.  The heroes of the Church are the people in the mission field or anyone share the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  These people have different roles and are moved by the Holy Spirit at their jobs, in local outreaches, and to their friends and families.

Who are we lifting up…

To many times Church left up people that are famous in pop culture and parade them in front of the Church such as musicians, sport athletes, and successful business personalities.  As the leadership of the Church is thinking having a successful personality in front of my congregation will attract more people to my church and want to follow the Lord Jesus.  The thinking is seeing a famous person following the Lord will make Jesus more attractive to follow because if that person is doing it so can I.  This type of think is shallow and gets the people of that Church off the main focus of the purpose of the Church or the calling of God in their lives. The Pastor’s and Leadership teams of the Church sometimes do not even mean to do it, but they really have only let the world in to their Churches.  The Pastor must not parade athletes or well know people in front of the Church people only because they are athletes or famous people. All it does is weaken the body of Christ.  What the Pastor should be parading is the missionary that are doing the Lord work in another Country or if that famous personalities that is doing the Lord’s work in the market places or on the sport field.  Let me be clear I know athletes that serve the Lord and lead others to the Lord as well as musician but to many times I have heard “our Church has this athletes and this musician that sings in our praise ministry.”  When they should be saying our Church supports missionaries in XYZ Countries and has support groups for market place ministries, discipleship programs at our Church, and most important we have pray and outreach programs that are reach the local area.  Please understand as a Church must equipped the Saints.  Those are the heroes of the Church and that is who we should draw the body of Christ attendance to those persons doing the Lord’s work.

Building the Church…

The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ is the only transformation agent on the Planet.  You want to grow your Church as it is written Matthew 28: 17-20 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

John 21:15-17 When they had finished breakfast, Jesus said to Simon Peter, “Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Feed my lambs.” He said to him a second time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” He said to him, “Yes, Lord; you know that I love you.” He said to him, “Tend my sheep.” He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” Peter was grieved because he said to him the third time, “Do you love me?” and he said to him, “Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.” Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.

As you do want Jesus said I believe this will happen to you and your Church, Acts 2:47 Praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved.

-Donnelly Cameron

Why Your Spiritual Gifts Are a Crucial Part of God's Last-Days Strategy

Rasmussen's article "The Gospel According to Michael Porter" in Institutional Investor explains the tension between value investors who emphasize institutional power and those who emphasize the numbers. The former is championed by Harvard's Professor Michael Porter and the latter was championed by Benjamin Graham.

When most of today's executives think of competitive advantage, they tend to think of Porter's five forces: bargaining power of suppliers, bargaining power of buyers, rivalry among existing firms, threat of substitute products, and the threat of new entrants. According to Porter, the goal of strategy is to capture excess profits which arise from structure, and the five forces shape structure. In other words, higher market share allows businesses to capture greater profits from competitors, suppliers and customers. His ideas have changed business education. Goliath would have had a sustainable competitive advantage.

Benjamin Graham (1894-1976) is known as the father of value investing. He believed in making investment decisions based on a thoughtful analysis of the numbers—especially when his analysis differed from the current market consensus. Warren Buffet describes Graham's book The Intelligent Investor as the "best book about investing ever written." Graham had a successful career on Wall Street and taught at Columbia University and at UCLA. Graham would have been looking for underdogs, such as David, in whom to invest.

Rasmussen's article centers around the question of "could his (Porter's) investing ideas be wrong?" According to Rasmussen, Graham's ideas have "endlessly been empirically proven." But "Porter's competitive strategy principles have no empirical foundation. There is simply no evidence—not a single quantitative study—to support his conclusion. Is it possible that the consensus view of competitive strategy, taught at every business school in the country, just isn't right?"  Maybe future research will answer this question.

In the kingdom, how much of the gospel taught today is biblical? Would first-century saints recognize the gospel declared today? Would ministers 100 years ago recognize it? Are we preaching a gospel which fits today's culture, or one which will change the culture? Are we teaching the complete gospel or only select portions? The first-century church changed the world for the glory of God. We are still charged to change the world.

The Holy Spirit gave Paul insight into today's culture. In his last letter to Timothy, Paul said that the last days would be perilous. Men would be self-absorbed, greedy, selfish, proud, blasphemers and would not respect authority. He saw that our culture would be unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, fierce, despisers of those that are good, traitors and conceited. He saw that the last-days people would love pleasure more than God, and that they would have a form of godliness but would deny its power. He charged Timothy to avoid these new cultural norms.

"Know this: In the last days perilous times will come. Men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, truce breakers, slanderers, unrestrained, fierce, despisers of those who are good, traitors, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God, having a form of godliness, but denying its power. Turn away from such people" (2 Tim. 3:1-5).

Paul also taught that people would not want to endure sound doctrine. They would seek teachers who teach in accord with what they already believe. Could culturally sensitive, seeker-friendly, hyper-grace or prosperity messages be what Paul was talking about? The gospel is Good News. The Bible talks about reaching all, addressing our culture, abounding grace and prosperity, but overemphasis distorts. When truth is diminished, myths are often accepted.

"For the time will come when people will not endure sound doctrine, but they will gather to themselves teachers in accordance with their own desires, having itching ears, and they will turn their ears away from the truth and turn to myths" (2 Tim. 4:3-4).

Paul reminded Timothy that Scripture is inspired by God and that it is useful. Specifically, the Word is useful for reproof, correction and instruction so that believers will be complete and equipped for every good work. Lastly, Timothy was told to preach the Word of God. We should be ready at all times to reprove, rebuke, and exhort with all patience and teaching.

"All Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work" (2 Tim. 3:16-17).

"I charge you therefore before God and the Lord Jesus Christ, who will judge the living and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom: Preach the word, be ready in season and out of season, reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with all patience and teaching" (2 Tim. 4:1-2).

At the beginning of 2 Timothy, Paul told his spiritual son to stir up his spiritual gift. Do we need to stir up our spiritual gifts? Timothy was reminded that he had been given the Spirit of God; a Spirit of power, a Spirit of love, and a Spirit of self-control. Do we fully recognize the empowerment that comes from having the Spirit of the everlasting God residing in us?

"Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God, which is in you by the laying on of my hands. For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and love, and self-control" (2 Tim. 1:6-7).

Our days may be filled with challenges, but we have the greatest opportunity in history to reach and change our world. Let us embrace the advice given Timothy. Let us embrace the Spirit and the Word.

"But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8). 

-Dr. James Russell is a professor of economics at Oral Roberts University.

Staying FREE

How can we stay free from sin? By being captivated by His purpose and believing in who we are as defined by Christ.

“But I thank God, who always leads us in victory because of Christ. Wherever we go, God uses us to make clear what it means to know Christ. It's like a fragrance that fills the air” ~~ 2 Corinthians 2:14 (GW).

Guarding our Hearts from Being Manipulated . . .

Through marketing research we learn that our external environment sends us up to 10,000 messages or ads every day on how we should dress, think, live, and be… not to mention text messages, emails, and other social media that seem to consume us. Many of these messages are designed to cause us to believe that if we wear this, speak that, do this, drive a certain type of car, or use a particular type of make-up we will be accepted and valued.  But by whom exactly? This is never said – just implied that we would be better off.  So, what happens when these messages consume our internal being? Actually we can be manipulated by the "world's system" with the result that we may become anxious, depressed, fearful, lacking in confidence, and insecure.  We may feel rejection, abandonment, and loss if we don't do as these messages suggest. And if we act upon them, often it is to our detriment as we lose sight of our vision, purpose, and who we are in our core beings as Christians.

What is the Heart of a Person? . . .

Other than the physical heart that pumps blood throughout our bodies, the heart can be defined by several parts: one's thoughts, beliefs, feelings, and emotions.  So what captivates YOUR heart?  What are you a lover of? Are you self-aware of what you are feeling and why you feel that way?  Do you become anxious and overwhelmed? Are you consumed by fear? OR are you able to control your emotional state? Maybe you feel as if your emotions are out of control at times.  In your better moments, do you sense or recognize familiar patterns of behavior that continue to rob you of your joy and peace? Are your actions leaving you with a sense of guilt and shame?  

Can You Relate? . . .

Consider this: the Apostle Paul warns us of ungodly patterns of thinking all throughout his New Testament ministry.  In his epistles, Paul encourages believers to take their thoughts captive, become aware of how the enemy works, and instead to walk in the Spirit. But how do we do this? What steps do we need to take? Is it possible to do this in today's world? In our culture? In your own life  and mine?

It Is Possible to Live in Victory! . . .

This is absolutely God's plan for His children.  Once He has set us free, He wants us to LIVE FREE of sin and the pull of the world.  But how?  First, we do this by receiving Jesus Christ as our Savior and making him our Lord. Once we know for certain that we are born again, then we go about the task of resisting Satan. And as we resist him, he will flee from us. (James 4:7). God has given us the weapons of our spiritual warfare to enable us to be victorious in Christ! These are found in the book of Ephesians chapter 6 where we learn how to equip ourselves to overcome all the works of the enemy.

Are You Willing to Make a Change? . . .

So I ask, are you willing to make a change, then stand watch to make certain that you are not allowing the devil access to your thought life and especially that you do not act out with evil intent?  

Take Action . . .

This means doing away with the old behavioral patterns, bad habits, and negative ways of thinking. Are you willing to take action? Paul explains what is necessary is to “put off the old man” and “put on the new man” (develop new habits and new ways of thinking. You can read more about this in Ephesians 4:22-24).

Many habits are good to make. Positive habits such as brushing our teeth, riding a bike, or driving a car do not require a lot of thinking. They are beneficial, and they become almost automatic. They become ingrained in our lives for our good.  However, what happens when we receive negative habits that slowly invade our lives due to the manipulative messages the world sends us daily through the media? Messages such as pornography, lustful thoughts, covetousness, and gossip can enslave us. When people become a slave to a habit that captives our heart in place of the Lord, it leads to exhaustion, depression, anxiety, and fear --- these set in and take up residence in our lives.

Does This Sound Familiar to You? . . .

Do you believe this to be true? I know it is true, for in my own life in the past various idols took up residence in my heart in place of the Lord. These idols crushed my being and left me desperately seeking for relief. How could this happen to us?  It happened when we believed the solution is the world's way and not that of our Savior! But praise God! He has freed me, and He will free you, too!

How Can We Stay FREE for Good? . . .

What does it take to develop healthy patterns and maintain a godly lifestyle? A perspective shift? Perhaps. What if we made a conscious decision, prayed daily, read God's Word, and stood on biblical principles despite external circumstances? What if we chose freedom in our thought life and took action? I'll tell you what would happen. Not only are we set free, but we STAY FREE  ---  free from the enemy's and fleshly traps. But we remain free only as long as we continue walking in the Spirit.

Take Aways From This Message . . .

Let's speak the life of God over ourselves. Let's focus upon maintaining our godly calling and purpose all through our lives. 

I want my heart always to be captivated by Jesus’ love for me as his daughter, not captivated by the world's heart for me as its slave.  Since “Christ has set us free” and “all things have become new in Christ” in our lives, let’s STAY FREE from the pull of the world. We can, you know, when we use the weapons of our spiritual warfare to pull down strongholds, when we live to glorify our Savior, when we hear Him speak within our hearts, and as we are quick to obey His voice.

Let Us Go to the Lord in Prayer . . .

God, help me to believe that I am now free from the pull of the world. I am ACCEPTED, LOVED, VALUED, AND SECURE IN YOU, the GREAT I AM!   Lord, I need You to strengthen my inner being and speak life over my mind.  Lord, I ask for You to bring about positive change in my heart. Give me the mind of Christ. Help me to recognize old patterns and ways so that when they present themselves, I will replace them with new thoughts and truths about who You say I am.  In the authority of Jesus’ Name, we pray.  Amen!

Consider the Following Scripture Passages . . .

“I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you” ~~ Psalms 119:11 (ESV).

 “...put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires,  and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness” ~~ Ephesians 4:22-24 (ESV).

“I will take a stand at my watch post and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint” ~~ Habakkuk 2:1( ESV).

"My little children, I am writing these things to you, so that you do not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous One” ~~ 1 John 2:1.

 “For who has known the mind of the Lord, so as to advise him? But we have the mind of Christ” ~~ 1 Corinthians 2:16 (NET Bible).

"And you, who were formerly alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now He has reconciled in the body of His flesh through death, to present you holy and blameless and above reproach in His sight, if you continue in the faith, grounded and settled, and are not removed from the hope of the gospel, which you have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant”  ~~ Colossians 1:21-23.

“This is no afternoon athletic contest that we’ll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. Be prepared. You’re up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it’s all over but the shouting you’ll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You’ll need them throughout your life. God’s Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out” ~~ Ephesians 6:11-18  (MSG).

-Elizabeth Bowman

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/  

Keep Dreaming

Keep Dreaming, don’t give up on your dreams. In 1832, he lost his job and was defeated for the Illinois legislature. In 1833, his business failed. In 1836, he had a complete nervous breakdown; they said he was finished. In 1843, he was defeated for Congress. In 1849, They rejected him for a position as the Federal land’s official. In 1854, he was defeated for The U. S. Senate. In 1856, he was defeated for the nomination for Vice President.
But he would not give up, and in 1860 Abraham Lincoln was elected the 16th President of the United States and later signed into effect the Emancipation Proclamation to end slavery.
Keep Dreaming!

Many years ago a young boy of ten years old was working in a factory in Naples, Italy. His dream was to be a singer, but his first teacher discouraged him. “You can’t sing,” he said. “You haven’t any voice at all. It sounds like the wind in the shutters.” But his mother, a poor peasant woman, took a much different approach. Instead of criticism she praised him and told him she knew he could sing. She was so confident that he could sing that she went barefoot to save money to pay for his music lessons. That peasant mothers praise and encouragement changed the boy’s life. His name was Enrico Caruso. He became the most celebrated opera singer of his day.
Keep Dreaming!

In the early nineteenth century, a young man in London aspired to be a writer. But everything was against him. He only went four years to school; his father went to jail for not paying his debts. His first job was pasting labels on bottles. He lived in a rat-infested warehouse, at night he began to write, but every manuscript was rejected. Finally, the day came when one was accepted. After all his misfortune, there was only one person that saw his gift. Today we all know his name, Charles Dickens. Keep Dreaming; others will see your potential and come alongside to help. Keep Dreaming, why? Because dreams tend to come to pass!

For stories like these and a whole lot more download my series called “Inspirational Stories.”

http://www.robcarman.com/wp-content/uploads/Inspirational-Stories-1.mp3

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

Birthing Israel, Changing History: THE BALFOUR DECLARATION

November 2, 2017 marks the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Balfour Declaration, in which Great Britain declared that "His Majesty's Government view with favour the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people, and will use their best endeavors to facilitate the achievement of this object..."

When Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas heard that Britain was preparing to celebrate the centennial of this famous document and all that it has represented concerning the rebirth of the state of Israel, he appealed to Arab leaders "to sue the British government for this historic crime that has brought upon the Palestinian people a tragedy from which it suffers to this day."

Abbas urged Britain "to atone for this crime" by taking a series of measures, including "apologizing to the Palestinian people; recognizing the Palestinian state without delay; revoking the Balfour Declaration, and issuing a new declaration in its stead that does justice for the Palestinians, and compensating the Palestinians for the suffering caused by the declaration, just as Germany compensated the Jews for the Holocaust." (memri.org)

It could not be clearer—Abbas' goal is to destroy Israel and replace it with another Muslim Arab state!

AT THE UN

Last September—during a UN General Assembly address—Abbas called on the UK to apologize for the declaration.

"We ask Great Britain, as we approach 100 years since this infamous declaration, to draw the necessary lessons and to bear its historic, legal, political, material and moral responsibility for the consequences of this declaration, including an apology to the Palestinian people for the catastrophes, misery and injustice this declaration created and to act to rectify these disasters and remedy its consequences, including by the recognition of the state of Palestine," Abbas said. "This is the least Great Britain can do." (reuters.com)

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, also speaking at the UN, noted that the PA's stance on the centenary is "another example" of the Palestinian refusal to recognize Israel's right to exist.

"That's almost 100 years ago ... Talk about being stuck in the past! The Palestinians might as well file a class action suit against Abraham, for buying land in Hebron," he said, referencing the Biblical figure. (independent.co.uk)

In a speech to the Christian Friends of Israel in December 2016, Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May called the pivotal letter written by Conservative Foreign Secretary Arthur James Balfour to Lord Rothschild in 1917 "one of the most important letters in history" which "demonstrates Britain's vital role in creating a homeland for the Jewish people." May added, "It is an anniversary we will be marking with pride." She has invited Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to the official anniversary celebrations. (cfoi.co.uk)

General Edmund Allenby

BRITAIN PLANS A HOST OF CELEBRATIONS

And celebrate they will! Jews, Christians, and conservative statesmen and politicians will celebrate, along with British citizens who love Israel. University students, school children and diplomats from many countries will join in the celebrations.

A website, balfour100.org, has been created by and for the UK Christian coalition to commemorate the Balfour Declaration centenary. There will be a huge event at the Royal Albert Hall on November 7 with many other events around the UK. In fact, there will be celebrations during the month all over the nation.

BALFOUR DECLARATION HAS SHAPED HISTORY

Why then, is the Balfour Declaration so important? Why is it so "hallowed" among the Jewish people and evangelical Christians, and so controversial with Palestinians, Arabs and liberal politicians?

Critical to international law, it was the first formal policy declaring the right of the Jewish people to settle in their original homeland. Inevitably, understanding its true meaning and intention is clouded by differing worldviews and political bias. Nevertheless, it was the first step by any nation to recognize Zionist aspiration of any kind.

For people who do not know or believe the Old and New Testaments, the claim of Biblical rights to the land belonging to the Jewish people dating back 2,000 to 4,000 years just makes liberal eyes roll when they see Arabs who claim their ancestors lived in Jericho some 7,000 years ago, but who today live under the control of the 70-year-old nation of Israel.

One thing is certain: For the world in 1917 to even imagine a goverment making an official declaration to recreate the state of Israel some 1800 years after its demise, would seem objectively impossible, even fantastical. With millions of Muslims living in the Middle East whose religion teaches extreme hatred of Jews, with noxious centuries-old antiSemitism throughout Europe, with deep anti-Semitism even in the United States a hundred years ago, who could imagine a scenario that a small island nation with an empire where the sun never set, would focus in on the non-existent nation of Israel, and seriously consider raising her from the dead?

BRITAIN’S CHRISTIAN AND ZIONIST PRIME MINISTER

Nevertheless, by the hand of God, it happened that in the years 1916-1922, David Lloyd George became Prime Minister of the largest empire the world had ever seen. Great Britain controlled 13 million square miles of the earth's landmass and 20% of the world's population.

The man God placed at the helm was a Welsh Christian who had been adopted by the family of a Baptist minister. He then continued as a devout member of the Disciples of Christ church all his life. He had been brought up on the Bible. In a speech much later in his life during a visit to "Canaan," he told his Jewish audience, "I heard of Jezreel and Esdraelon, of Carmel and of Zion before I knew of the existence in my own land" of battles and disputed frontiers which occurred in England's history. Because of his Biblical background he had been a loyal Zionist for several decades (unlike many other politicians from more conservative denominations such as the Anglicans.) (jta.org)

But among the daily duties of this Prime Minister, Lloyd George was also in charge of executing World War I in the theatres of Europe and the Middle East. It took a foreign secretary with like-minded theology to concentrate on drafting a document which would actually bring to life a homeland for the Jewish people. It so happens that Arthur Balfour was just such a foreign secretary and was in complete agreement with Lloyd George's sentiments.

A CABINET FULL OF CHRISTIANS

Balfour was known as a devout Christian, and theology was one of his favorite subjects. "His interest in the Jews and their history was lifelong," his niece Blanche Dugdale later wrote. "It originated in the Old Testament training that Balfour had received from his mother and in his Scottish upbringing. ... the problem of the Jews in the modern world seemed to him of immense importance," wrote Dugdale. "He always talked eagerly on this ... that Christian religion and civilization owe to Judaism an immeasurable debt, shamefully ill repaid."

In fact, two decades later during World War II, Lord Balfour's family took in 180 Jewish children who were transported into Britain before the Nazis could reach them. (jpost.com)

Moreover, it so happened the war cabinet of Prime Minister Lloyd George was made up of nine members, seven of whom had been raised in evangelical homes or personally embraced evangelicalism. More specifically, six of these seven had been raised in evangelical Calvinist homes. Back then, in the 1800s—early 1900s Calvinists were proIsrael, and as "restorationists" looked forward to the Jews returning to their homeland in the last days.

It would have been highly improbable to put together a more evangelical group of men who were influenced by the Bible at the highest level of British government in those days than the ones who made up that group. In fact, only one cabinet member was firmly anti-Zionist, Edwin Samuel Montagu, and he was Jewish! (pre-trib.org)

General Allenby enters Jerusalem on foot

WOULD AMERICA SUPPORT THE DECLARATION?

But before Prime Minister Lloyd George and Secretary Balfour would feel the courage to finalize such a profound undertaking, they felt they must have the backing of the United States. Would America be interested in such an unusual enterprise?

They contacted President Woodrow Wilson. Now it so happened that Wilson was the most pro-Jewish president the U.S. has ever had. He appointed the first Jew to the Supreme Court, Louis Brandeis, a fervent Zionist—who also counseled Wilson about the Balfour Declaration. Earlier, as president of Princeton University, Wilson had appointed the first Jew to the faculty.

Wilson was a Presbyterian elder of deep religious faith, the son of a leading theologian. He read the Bible daily, and said he felt "sorry for the men who do not read the Bible every day." He also prayed on his knees twice a day. In short, Wilson was the most Christian president the U.S. has ever had. Had Lloyd George not had Wilson's full support, it is doubtful the British would have put forward the Declaration. (haaretz.com)

One other person was providentially instrumental in persuading the British prime minister to take this extraordinary leap into legalizing a Jewish homeland. Chaim Weizmann was a brilliant Jewish scientist who devised a process to create acetone—a substance the British munitions industry was in dire need of. This achievement granted him access to the very politicians deciding the future of the Middle East. His leadership was already recognized some years earlier when he emphatically pushed for a Jewish homeland in Palestine, and not Uganda, of all places, as some influential voices were demanding.

THE DIE IS CAST

On November 2, on behalf of the British Government, Foreign Secretary Arthur Balfour sent the Declaration in the form of a letter to Lord Walter Rothschild, a leader of the Jewish community. (wikipedia.org)

Historically, the Rothschild family was not known to be Zionistic. In fact, many British Jews were not at all Zionists. While many prominent Jews in Western Europe were afraid that a Jewish homeland could threaten their status in Europe, Walter Rothschild argued that a Jewish Nation could be a home for those Jews who did not or could not live in their countries. As a major leader of the Jewish Community in Great Britain, Rothschild received and delivered the letter to the Jewish Zionist Federation, where from then on, it became an authoritative document used in international policy and law.

BRITIAN MOVES TROOPS INTO THE HOLY LAND

Meanwhile, the British were bogged down in the Middle East in their offensive against the Ottoman Turks. Lloyd George quietly moved his best general from the Western Front in Europe to take charge of the Palestine Campaign, and General Edmund Allenby did not disappoint. Lloyd George also ordered an increase in the number of British troops, and Allenby "received extra aeroplanes, battalions and battleships." These moves were done quietly to make sure the British would capture Jerusalem before the French or the Germans. (pre-trib.org)

Now it so happened that General Allenby was a devoted Christian who read his Bible on a daily basis. Allenby was a believer in Bible prophecy. He had to have been deeply moved when he received the commission to liberate Jerusalem from the Islamic Ottoman Empire and prepare the land of Canaan for the return of the Jewish people. Two British army sergeants were the first to see Jerusalem's Muslim mayor carrying a white flag of surrender on December 9, 1917, just a little over a month after the issuance of the Balfour Declaration. December 9 happened to be the Jewish date of 24 Kislev, the first day of Hanukkah, celebrating the rededication of the Temple of God. (See third article.) (cai.org)

Today, the Palestinian Authority works without ceasing to delegitimize, demonize and ultimately replace the Jewish state with a Muslim one. Its leaders declare that Jews never lived in Palestine, and most of the 1.8 billion Muslims in the world are convinced that this is truth. However, much to the PA's dismay, archeologists are digging up on a regular basis all kinds of remnants of Israel's ancient heritage in the land of the Twelve Tribes of Israel. The Balfour Declaration was the first legal document to physically resurrect this ancient nation—as foretold by Israel's prophets thousands of years ago.

It is the Sovereign God who positioned men in places of authority and power, who knew the Bible. God's plans will never be thwarted. Blessed are those who have eyes to see and ears to hear!

NOVEMBER 2, 1917

Balfour Declaration By Britain which declared its intention to create a Jewish state out of "Palestine." Palestine was a geographical area (not a people) between the Mediterranean to the west, and Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Arabia to the north and east.

APRIL 19-25, 1920

San Remo Article 22: Meeting of Great Britain, France, Italy, Japan, & others to decide future of defeated Ottoman Empire territories. Participants signed and certified the wording of the Balfour Declaration, making it an international binding law to establish Palestine as a homeland for the Jews.

JULY 24, 1922

League of Nations: A legal document titled "Mandate for Palestine" was unanimously approved by the 51 states of the League which laid down the Jewish legal rights in Palestine: "Whereas recognition has been given to the historical connection of the Jewish people with Palestine and to the grounds for reconstituting their national home in that country." The League mandated: "The Mandatory [Britain] shall be responsible for placing the country [Palestine] under such political, administrative and economic conditions as will secure the establishment of the Jewish National Home, as laid down in the preamble ...

However, the Mandate for Palestine divided Palestine into two parts: west of the Jordan River for the Jews, and east of the Jordan for the Arabs, giving 77% of Palestine formerly promised to the Jews, for a Trans-Jordan state.

NOVEMBER 29, 1947

UN General Assembly Resolution 181: Resolution 181 called for a further partition of Palestine west of the Jordan River, dividing it into two states: a Jewish state and an Arab state. It was approved on November 29, 1947. The Jews in Palestine accepted the resolution, but the Arabs in Palestine and the Arab states rejected it to this day.

In none of these documents does the word "Palestinians" appear as such a people did not exist at the time of these documents. After the Six Day War in 1967, the Palestinians appeared. Until then, there were Jews, Christians and Muslims/Arabs.

- By Shira Sorko-Ram

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.