Phat Crazy Preacher

Quixotic ramblings of a rotund clergyman gone awry

Uncategorized PastorChris | 22 May 2009

MISSION, VISION, PURPOSE

MISSION, VISION, PURPOSE
 
I realize that at some point in the past, Parkway formulated a Mission, Vision and Purpose Statement.  But I’m going to ask something of us that might be tough.
 
First, that we reexamine these.  THESE ARE NOT simply statements.  They must be the core of what we are.  And while I’ve heard these before, I’ve never seen them enacted.  So, while we’ve got THEM, THEY most certainly do NOT have us.  I don’t know what generation these were birthed in, but with the reformation that God is doing in us these days, I’d like to see us revisit this.
 
Something I’ve learned; we can’t formulate this as a CHURCH, if you don’t have it as a BELIEVER PERSONALLY.  What is YOUR MISSION?  What is YOUR VISION?  What is YOUR PURPOSE?  If any of these questions cause you to stand back, and scratch your head, then you must first make a journey of SELF DISCOVERY. 
 
PLEASE PRETEND WITH ME just for a moment.  I encourage you to try this.  It might cause you to reevaluate things.  PRETEND Your life has to be summed up in three short statements.  You’re deceased.  You’re spirit is standing at the headstone above your body.  You’re looking back, and reflecting over the course of your fully-lived life.  PRETEND you’re going to have to leave there and give an answer to God on these matters.  You’re writing down your life’s summary to GIVE TO GOD.  Now try to complete these statements:
 
#1. Lord, THIS WAS MY LIFE’S MISSION -
 
#2. Lord, THIS WAS THE VISION THAT PROPELLED ME FORWARD INTO THAT MISSION -
 
#3. Lord, THIS WAS MY PURPOSE FOR LIVING (THIS IS WHAT MADE ME GET UP IN THE MORNING EVERY DAY) -
 
Be honest. 
 
Now, what’s the point?  If you’ve written your END OF LIFE statement NOW… you’re looking ahead at what you WANT to be able to tell God when you stand before Him.  If you have those statements NOW… then you can start to line up your choices… behaviors… actions… attitudes… studies… emphasis… energies… etc… toward ATTAINING THESE AS GOALS.  Is it scriptural to do this?
 
Proverbs 29:18
Where there is no vision , the people perish:
Without a VISION, we die.
 
Luke 14:28-32
28 For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost , whether he have sufficient to finish it?
29 Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him,
30 Saying, This man began to build, and was not able to finish.
31 Or what king, going to make war against another king, sitteth not down first, and consulteth whether he be able with ten thousand to meet him that cometh against him with twenty thousand?
32 Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sendeth an ambassage, and desireth conditions of peace.
Without a PLAN, we won’t be able to sustain what substance we have to FINISH.

I’m telling you, the church is a reflection of our own deficiencies in many areas.  We don’t have a VISION as a church, because most of us don’t have a VISION PERSONALLY.  How can you align yourself with people, when you don’t know what your PERSONAL CONVICTIONS are?  When we’re all walking in the same direction, that’s UNITY.  Until we have our PERSONAL MISSION, VISION and PURPOSE, trying to find one as a church will just BREED DISAGREEMENT.

 
I want us to get together, and begin this process step by step.  If you want to want to walk through this process; finding your VISION, your MISSION, and your PURPOSE, plan to get with us this Thursday Night.  We might need more than 30 minutes to get it done.  We’ll be doing some storyboarding… looking back at the events of our lives (good, bad, ugly) - anything that had a defining influence on your life.  We want to break down your life from birth until today, and define the phases.  Then, look at your life from this moment forward.  To LAY IT OUT in front of you, you can better see how God has been working in your life for a specific purpose.
 
Work toward developing a personal vision statement. A personal vision statement is a picture of how you see the world, your dream. It draws passion.
 
Luther saw a reformation of the church.
 
John Knox said “Give me Scotland or I die.”
 
Woolman saw his denomination free of slaves.
 
Jesus gave his vision statement when the disciples of John came and asked if He was the promised Messiah:
“….the blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the deaf  hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor.”
Matthew 11:4-5 NIV
There is also an explicit vision statement for us contained in his prayer in John 17.
Write your own personal vision statement. Don’t worry about the quality of the statement or the specific working. Your personal vision statement should capture your passion and burden as you see it from your personal journey up to this time. It is a word that is spoken to you from the depths of your intimacy with God.
A mission statement, in contrast, tells the who, what, why, how, and when. Jesus gave the disciples their mission statement in Matt. 28:19-20, and passage now known as the Great Commission. Sometimes the “why” is broken off into a separate purpose statement. Try writing your personal mission statement.
PURPOSE is the WHY.
 
Finally, it doesn’t hurt to have a statement of your core values. Core values define your preferences, priorities, assumptions, and beliefs.  Someone might see the core values as the boundaries that define how you will act out your vision.  In reality, the core values are often defined before the vision and mission statements, as the priorities and beliefs defined in the core values shape the vision and mission statements and are often contained in them.
I’m going to ask you to start today.  THIS IS PERSONAL.  You can share it with your spouse, or a friend you trust.  Get a notebook.  Start writing.  Print this email.  Begin to do the “homework” now, so we’re ready for when we get together.  Do it like I said; pretend you’ve just died.  Pretend you’re about to walk down the long, dark tunnel toward the light.  Pretend you’re about to stand in front of God, and He’s going to read your notebook.  WHAT are you going to say to him about what your life’s PURPOSE was?  What are you going to say to Him about your life’s VISION?  What are you going to say to Him about your life’s MISSION?
 
Life is more than just… get up… drink coffee… go to work… eat lunch… come home… eat dinner… fall asleep in front of the television… do it again tomorrow.  LIFE SHOULD BE MORE.  Together, let’s walk through and get our PERSONAL MISSION, VISION and PURPOSE.  Then, we can formulate our CORPORATE MISSION, VISION and PURPOSE.
 
I love you!
PC

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Uncategorized PastorChris | 01 May 2009

SELLING YOUR SOUL FOR SOUP - Part 2

I can’t help myself.  I have to write some more.  David drew my attention to the very point I didn’t bring out, from Isaiah 10:27:

 

Isaiah 10:27

27 And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.

 

The yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing!

 

The yoke is broken in Isaiah 9:4.  That’s BREAKTHROUGH.  I got my breakthrough… but that doesn’t mean I’m free.  We can get to the altar, and get the breakthrough, but still be partly in bondage.  We examined that. 

 

Breakthrough is my response to my situation.  Deliverance is God’s response to my situation.

 

Breakthrough changes my attitude.  Deliverance changes my circumstances.

 

Breakthrough shakes me up.  Deliverance shakes me AND the devil up.

 

Isaiah 9:4 is about breakthrough.  But by the time you get to Isaiah 10:27, something else entirely is said:

 

THE YOKE SHALL BE DESTROYED.

 

What happened between Isaiah 9 and Isaiah 10??

 

Isaiah 9:6-7

6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

 

JESUS!!  Jesus happened.  His presence makes the difference between FEELING BETTER and BEING BETTER!  I’ve done gone to shouting again. 

 

I love what the end of Isaiah 10:27 says…

 

“…and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.”

 

That’s literally translates, “…the yoke will be crushed because of the oil…”

 

I don’t have to even tell you that all through the scriptures, the oil was a picture and a type of the Holy Ghost.  In the Old Testament, it was a shadow of his provision, and His seal.  When David was anointed to be King, the oil flowed.  The lamps in the temple were never to go out… the oil was to be constantly replenished, so that the light would always illuminate the dark places.

 

In the New Testament, the sin of the foolish virgins wasn’t slumber, because ALL TEN VIRGINS SLEPT.  The sin of the five foolish virgins was the absence of oil.  THE OIL made the difference to the Bridegroom.

 

THE YOKE WILL BE CRUSHED BECAUSE OF THE OIL – the ANOINTING.

 

If you want the yoke of oppression crushed in Parkway Church, you better get the oil in the house.  If you want the yoke of oppression crushed in your home, you better get the oil in the house.  THE YOKE WILL BE CRUSHED BECAUSE OF THE OIL!!  THE ANOINTING.

 

I’ve quoted it incorrectly for YEARS.  “The anointing breaks the yoke of bondage.”  I might still mess up and say it.  But NO IT DOES NOT!!  The anointing doesn’t BREAK the yoke of bondage.  THE ANOINTING CRUSHES THE YOKE.  THE ANOINTING DESTROYS THE YOKE.  THE ANOINTING ANNIHILATES THE YOKE.  THE ANOINTING CAUSES THE YOKE TO BE REMEMBERED NO MORE. 

 

I wish that for just five minutes, you could feel the Holy Ghost the way I feel Him in this office right now.  You’d be shouting all over this room right along with me.  We have to have the OIL.  We have to have the OIL!  We have to have the OIL!  We have to have the OIL.  The anointing will crush the yoke.  We have to have the OIL!  The anointing will bring true deliverance, and not just a temporary breakthrough!  We have to have the OIL!

 

Revival isn’t something for a stuffy preacher to bring in five short meetings.  Revival isn’t a church condition.  Revival is a personal heart condition.  How about your heart?  Is it right with God?  Is there anything between you and Him?  Are you trading your birthright for soup?  Have you sold yourself short?  I have good news for you; there is an anointing that will CRUSH THAT YOKE IN YOUR LIFE!  Hallelujah!!

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Uncategorized PastorChris | 01 May 2009

SELLING YOUR SOUL FOR SOUP

SELLING YOUR SOUL FOR SOUP!

Friday, May 01, 2009

 

This might wind up being my message for Sunday – this is what God is speaking to my soul, church.  I can’t escape the Word He’s pouring out on me.  He’s said SPEAK, so I speak!

 

It’s one thing to have your blessing stolen from you; it’s entirely another thing to give it away in a moment of stupidity.  And yet, we seem to do that so very often.

 

Genesis 25:29-34

29 And Jacob sod pottage: and Esau came from the field, and he was faint:

30 And Esau said to Jacob , Feed me, I pray thee, with that same red pottage; for I am faint: therefore was his name called Edom.

31 And Jacob said, Sell me this day thy birthright.

32 And Esau said, Behold, I am at the point to die: and what profit shall this birthright do to me?

33 And Jacob said, Swear to me this day; and he sware unto him: and he sold his birthright unto Jacob .

34 Then Jacob gave Esau bread and pottage of lentiles; and he did eat and drink, and rose up, and went his way: thus Esau despised his birthright.

 

We can’t see past the RIGHT NOW of our pain; the RIGHT NOW of our problems; the RIGHT NOW of our issues.  So we give up destiny for a dime – a pittance of what it’s actually worth.  We sell it cheap; we despise it.  Temporal need envelopes eternal privilege.  What a sad, sad thing.

 

Selling short is a pattern in the life of believers.  It’s a bondage that has to be broken in Jesus name.  It’s almost like a generational curse.  We settle.  God never does.  We’re content with leaks and onions from vantage point of slavery; but God desires that we eat free in a land called PROMISE.  If only we could hold out till we get to our promise.  If only we could WAIT PATIENTLY for the vision that’s for that appointed time. 

 

So in our hunger, we sell something infinitely more valuable – to get a temporary fix.  Sure it gives us the fish, and we eat for the day.  But we’re no better for it.  It hasn’t been the life change we needed.  It’s only a situation change; and with that, we’ll be right back where we were the next day. 

 

We have to decide that we want more than just a temporary change of circumstances.  We have to decide that we want more than just a temporary fix… a full belly, but empty eternity.  We have to decide.

 

WE STOP SHORT

 

I’m wrestling in my soul with the Word that I will bring forth for Sunday Morning.  This very easily might be it.  “Why blog it, then, preacher?”  Because this Word is like a hot poker, burning my very soul.  If I don’t get it out I’ll explode.  The Holy Ghost is saying to me OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER and OVER – “YOU STOP SHORT!  YOU STOP SHORT!  YOU GAVE UP TOO QUICKLY.”  It reminds me of the story told of Elisha…

 

2 Kings 13:15-19

15 And Elisha said unto him, Take bow and arrows. And he took unto him bow and arrows.

16 And he said to the king of Israel, Put thine hand upon the bow. And he put his hand upon it: and Elisha put his hands upon the king’s hands.

17 And he said, Open the window eastward. And he opened it. Then Elisha said, Shoot. And he shot. And he said, The arrow of the Lord’s deliverance, and the arrow of deliverance from Syria: for thou shalt smite the Syrians in Aphek, till thou have consumed them.

18 And he said, Take the arrows. And he took them. And he said unto the king of Israel, Smite upon the ground. And he smote thrice, and stayed.

19 And the man of God was wroth with him, and said, Thou shouldest have smitten five or six times; then hadst thou smitten Syria till thou hadst consumed it: whereas now thou shalt smite Syria but thrice.

 

We stop short.  I might win, but it’s not the FULL VICTORY that I could have had – if only I had the foresight.  I strike the ground, but not enough to consume my enemies.  WE STOP SHORT.

 

BREAKTHROUGH VERSUS DELIVERANCE

Thanks for the seeds you planted, which have driven me to dig deeply, Shara Horne!

 

This is difficult for us to understand.  Most of us aren’t truly seeking God’s deliverance.  We’re seeking a breakthrough.  We’re seeking a temporary fix.  We’re seeking a bowl of soup, and what we need is LIFETIME PROVISION; we need PROMISE.  We seek BREAKTHROUGH; not DELIVERANCE.

 

Do you know you can get a breakthrough, and still be in chains?  Do you know the light of the sun can shine upon your head through a prison window?  It can.  Do you want to know the difference?

 

The children of Israel walking across a dry sea bed = BREAKTHROUGH

The enemies of God being crushed beneath the waves of the Red Sea = DELIVERANCE

 

Noah entering the ark = BREAKTHROUGH

Noah exiting the ark = DELIVERANCE

 

Paul and Silas, praising and worshipping in prison = BREAKTHROUGH

The prison doors OPENING UP, and the chains FALLING OFF = DELIVERANCE

 

But how often to we get satisfied in the BREAKTHROUGH MOMENTS and STOP SHY OF DELIVERANCE?!  Some don’t praise him long enough to get to the point of deliverance.  Some don’t ever press in deeply enough to get to DELIVERANCE.  They get a breakthrough.  They FEEL BETTER, but their situation ISN’T BETTER beyond that momentary light shining upon their soul.  Would you like another view I saw?  There’s a prophetic reference to it in Isaiah 9 and 10.  Look at this:

 

Isaiah 9:4

4 For thou hast broken the yoke of his burden, and the staff of his shoulder, the rod of his oppressor, as in the day of Midian.

 

Chapter 9, verse 4 talks about the yoke being BROKEN.  That’s BREAKTHROUGH.  It’s BROKEN.  Hallelujah!  How many needs to be out from under the Yoke of Oppression… the enemy’s weight!!  And it’s a wonderful thing to have that BREAKTHROUGH.  But that’s not all there is.  Look at this verse in Chapter 10:

 

Isaiah 10:27

27 And it shall come to pass in that day, that his burden shall be taken away from off thy shoulder, and his yoke from off thy neck, and the yoke shall be destroyed because of the anointing.

 

Chapter 10 doesn’t talk about a BREAKTHROUGH.  In Chapter 10, the Yoke is DESTROYED!!  That’s DELIVERANCE. 

 

A broken yoke could theoretically be put back together.  It could feasibly be repaired.  But not a DESTROYED YOKE; DESTROYED MEANS THAT ALL HOPE OF ITS FUTURE FUNCTION HAS BEEN DONE AWAY WITH FOREVER.  It is pulverized.  It is crushed.  It is NO MORE.  Hallelujah!  I just had to take a few minutes and shout all over this office, even to take a break from writing this for the GLORY that is flooding my soul, at the very thought of it.

 

So how do we get from Chapter 9:4 to Chapter 10:27?  Well, you have to take a little shortcut through these verses, that’s for sure…

 

Isaiah 9:6-7

6 For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.

7 Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.

 

Because of JESUS!  Because the government was upon HIS SHOULDERS!  Because He’s WONDERFUL!!  Because He’s the COUNSELOR!  Because He’s the Mighty God.  Because He’s the EVER-LASTING FATHER!  Because He’s the PRINCE OF PEACE!  The power of the resurrected Christ makes all the difference between BREAKTHROUGH and DELIVERANCE!

 

He’s come that we might have life and have it more abundantly! (John 10:10)

 

He’s not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance! (2 Peter 3:9)

 

He that the Son has made free is FREE INDEED!! (John 8:36)

 

I don’t know about you, Church, but I’ve had enough BREAKTHROUGHS!  I’m ready for FULL-FLEDGED, UNADULTERATED DELIVERANCE FROM THE THRONE OF ALMIGHTY GOD!

 

I’m tired of things getting a little better… only to go back to worse…

 

I’m tired of getting halfway there… only to turn around and go back…

 

I’m tired of sun, shining on my head through PRISON BARS!

 

I’M NOT SELLING MY SOUL FOR SOUP ANY MORE!!

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SPIRITUAL LIFE PastorChris | 29 Apr 2009

THE CALL: PRAYER

Now, more than ever before, we are being called upon by the Spirit of God - to pray… yea, intercede for our church; our people; our city and county.  God has a work for us to do.


Let me tell you what the Spirit of God spoke to me while we were in prayer yesterday.  He said to me,
“The time has long since past for building edifices and buildings.  The time has long since passed for focusing on having the biggest and the best.  The time has come, and even now is that your focus should be on my soon coming, for I AM coming soon.  Save as many as you can.  Pray without ceasing.  Behold, I come quickly.  I’m bringing my reward with me.”
And by the Words the Lord has given to so many in recent days, I know that what He has spoken is more true than any of us can even comprehend.  IT IS TIME that we focus on the TRUE matters of importance.
Jesus, at the hour just before His crucifixion, said this…
And he cometh unto the disciples, and findeth them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour?  Matthew 26:40
You couldn’t pray with me ONE HOUR?!  Church, here’s the real fact - we’re not praying like we ought to be praying. 

¤ If we really believe that these are the last days prior to His coming…
¤ If we really feel that judgment is coming…
¤ If we really want to be doing His business…
¤ If we really want our church to be effective…
¤ If we really LIVE what we PROFESS…

THEN… we’ll be people of prayer. 
As Pastor, I’m calling upon you.  We’re fighting devils.  We need warriors.  We don’t need more of what we’ve had.  We need what we’ve never yet tapped into.  We need to reach a spiritual plain that’s HIGHER than we’ve ever been to before.  We won’t get there by talking about it.  We won’t get there by thinking about it.  We won’t get there by wishing for it.  We won’t get there by complaining about not being there.  We’ll get there through PRAYER.
PRAYER.  PRAYER.  PRAYER.
I’m asking for a few things from this church.  I expect my leadership, especially, to comply.  You cannot be a leader at Parkway, if you have no heart to pray for your church.
First - I would like Sunday Morning to take a dramatically different direction from NOW ON.
¤ First, we don’t need to enter into the Lord’s house without having bathed our services in prayer.  Saturday Night, I am calling on any who can, and will to pray.  If you can’t make that prayer meeting - make an altar where you are, and pray that God will pour out His Spirit mightily in our church.  It’s VITAL that we pray.
¤ Second, that on Sunday Morning, we call for a time of DEDICATED PRAYER for our worship service prior to it’s commencement.  I’m not talking about 3 minutes of kneeling as a token to those who gather.  I’m talking about 10:45 - 11 a.m. or longer in DEDICATED, DEMON-BINDING, HOLY GHOST PRAYER prior to our service starting each week.  THE ANOINTING will break the yoke of bondage.
¤ Third, I am calling on the Ladies of the church to begin a Tuesday Morning Prayer meeting.  We find the way to do other ministries on Tuesday.  I would like a Prayer Meeting by our ladies prior to opening the Clothes Closet, and the Food Pantry.  If we need to change our hours of operation for these ministries, we’ll do so.  Is it important to feed the hungry and clothe the naked?  Yes.  Is it important that we PRAY?  YES!! 
¤ Finally, Thursday Night will be a prayer meeting night.  Teachers and leaders will be present for the course studies.  Then, we’ll enter into a time of corporate prayer with one another.  VITAL.  IMPORTANT.  NECESSARY.  URGENT.  NEEDFUL.  I cannot say this strongly enough.
Our words can speak our lofty desires and goals to see our church grow.  The Word says, “You have not, because you ask not.” (James 4:2)  Do you want it enough to get down to business for it?
We never need to walk into a service, and say… “I hope God shows up today.”  HE INHABITS PRAISE.  If He doesn’t show up, it’s about our having USHERED HIM IN TO THE PLACE.  We need to first, pray… second, praise and worship Him… WE USHER HIM IN. 

NEVER AGAIN

Never again will we walk into a service, and just do the minimum to get out at a certain time.  If people need to leave, they can go.  It becomes apparent that we must lay down the ground rules, regardless of what it costs us. 
¤ We are Pentecostal.  We believe in the power of the Holy Ghost.  We believe in the demonstration of the Holy Ghost.  If that offends, we are not sorry for being what He’s made us.  First Church of the Frozen Chosen down the road.
¤ We don’t have a time clock on premises.  We will not punch one.  We’ll get done when we get done.  Effective immediately.
¤ Be prepared for this; if I walk into a service and it’s “dead,” we will stop whatever we’re doing, and do warfare until that spirit BREAKS in Jesus name.  We will not trudge through just to say, “I survived that.”  Most of our frustrations stem from not fighting through the oppressions the devil sends.
¤ We don’t need a song.  We don’t need a sermon.  We don’t need more fellowship.  We need a move of God.  We will not stop with anything short of that.
WARFARE
Do you understand SPIRITUAL WARFARE?  We’re not talking “pie-in-the-sky” stuff.  We’re talking about fighting devils.  Make no mistake about it; what Parkway has dealt with in recent months is brass heavens (Deuteronomy 28:23).  We need to BREAK THROUGH.  WE NEED TO BIND THE ENEMY.  WE NEED THE PRAYER OF DELIVERANCE and FAITH.  Have you done Spiritual Warfare?  We need you.  See Pastor Chris or Sister Jannise.  We need the strength of your prayers.  We’re looking to build a team who will specifically pray in spiritual warfare.

PERSONAL REVIVAL

More than anything else, each and every one of us needs PERSONAL RENEWAL.  PERSONAL REVIVAL.  A deep and lasting PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH GOD.  I spent two hours this morning praying for our church, battling in heavenly places, and praying for each church member INDIVIDUALLY by name.  If you’re getting this email, FOR SURE, you have been prayed for today, and FERVENTLY.  Be strengthened in those prayers, and be ready!

SOLDIERS

We need a SOLDIER MENTALITY - help us pray with that direction, and that mind.  Some of the topics of our conference study from Saturday encompassed this idea.  Contemplate what a Soldier Mentality involves.  I found this an interesting blog post… not Christian… look at what it says:
The warrior mentality presents itself in many different forms in the Army. From day zero in Basic Training, the warrior mentality is instilled in you. You are taught to run at obstacles with no fear, yelling at the top of your lungs. Another very important part of the warrior mind-set, is to never quit. When a Soldier is faced with an obstacle, no matter the difficulty, he is compelled by instinct to conquer it.
What is a warrior? According to Dictionary.com a warrior is:
     ¤ a person engaged or experienced in warfare; soldier. 
     ¤ a person who shows or has shown great vigor, courage, or aggressiveness, as 
      in politics or athletics.
Every member of the Army has shown courage just by volunteering. It takes a very special person to volunteer to put his/her own life on the line for their country.
The Army has summed up what it means to be a warrior. The following is The Warrior Ethos, which every member of the Army is very familiar with. In four short, pointed, sentences is the mentality summed up with a powerful message.
¤ I will always place the mission first.
¤ I will never accept defeat.
¤ I will never quit.
¤ I will never leave a fallen comrade.
Not only can this be applied to war, but also to everyday life. When a Soldier has a mission, whether it is to clear a building or file all the records in the orderly room, he/she will attack the task with a ferocity that you can only find in a Soldier. Like anyone, Soldiers experience obstacles in both their personal and professional life.
The warrior mentality demands the Soldier continue to attack the obstacle until he/she has conquered it. Since entering Basic Training, he/she learned the importance of battle buddies. The Soldiers standing to your left and right are the most important people in the world. A warrior will fight to the death for his “battle” and will never leave them alone in a time of need.
So, do we have that SOLDIER MENTALITY?  Do we need it?  What do you think?  Write me, at PastorChris@aol.com, or comment to the blog.  I want to hear from you.

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Uncategorized PastorChris | 27 Apr 2009

Very interesting prophetic word… SUDDENLY!

Prophetic Word Released—for a Time Such as This:

Chuck PierceThe Lord says, “Let the sound of reformation come into you. Feel the brooding of My Spirit over you. My Spirit brooded over the confusion of the earth realm, and I can brood over your confusion. Fully submit your spirit to gain insight into My plan of reformation. Ministries are reforming. Lives are reforming. Cities are changing. Church gatherings are reforming. There is a cataclysmic ending and beginning going on in the earth that is creating My plan of fullness.

“There is a mounting up. Angels are guarding your reforming. Life systems around you are changing. The water is being applied to the clay and the Potter’s wheel is accelerating. You must be ready and start coming up and I’ll meet you halfway. I will overshadow you as you ascend. I will shadow you and bring you through the confusion you’ve been in. Be ready. Come up. Ascend and watch that confusion end.

“I am making you ready now. Watch Me get you ready. Be ready to move with Me quickly. Be ready to make a quick decision. Be ready to move and advance with Me. Be ready for the third day. Be ready for the change. Be ready for your new assignment. Be ready to move with Me. Be ready, for the third day is coming over you and overshadowing you!

“I am working in your life to make you ready. Like Peter’s mother-in-law, be ready to rise up from that fever that has held you down. Be ready to serve Me. Be ready to go up. Be ready to be assigned. Be ready to make that change. Be ready to go forward. Be ready to demonstrate My power in the path where I have placed you.

“Be ready for the change that is about to happen in your life. Be ready! Sanctify and ready yourself, for this is a day that I will call you quickly and change your circumstance quickly and cause you to rise up. From the direction you were taking, you will shift immediately. Be ready, for changes are coming—suddenly. I AM singing ‘Suddenly! Suddenly!’ Sing with Me and ready yourself to move quickly.

“Be ready for the call. Keep your lamp ready. Keep the oil filled within you. Make ready. Be ready. Move forward with Me when I call, for the call is ‘on the way’ to you. Many of you have grown weary in the delay, but be ready, for this day of change is upon you. Do not grow weary in doing what is right. Keep your lamps trimmed. My hour of visitation is near you. Be ready and don’t go to sleep. Be ready to move.

“Defend Your Hope Today”

“This is a day that I AM re-orchestrating your circumstance. The circumstance around you has attempted to invade your atmosphere of hope. Now I am re-orchestrating that circumstance. Even over the last 18 months you have seen and resisted the rearrangement of things. Now I will re-orchestrate the event. Watch for the event that I am bringing you to. Watch for the time of change and be ready. Know and rehearse My word. Move in the dark structure around you with My word.

“The gate of your entry is forming. The next level of revelation is coming. Be ready. Refill yourself with oil. Be ready to move quickly with Me. Take your lamp and say, ‘Lord, I don’t want to be foolish.’ Be ready with My word. Be ready with My word at a moment. Sanctify yourself. Make Me to be full in your heart. Be ready.

“But even if you should suffer for righteousness sake, you are blessed. Do not be afraid of threats nor be troubled. I am ready to remove anything that’s troubling you. Deliverance is coming. I WILL remove the anxiousness in My people, for deliverance is coming.

“Sanctify your hearts and always be ready to give a defense for the reason for the hope that is in you. Let hope spring up. Let the defense of hope be readied upon your tongue. Be ready now to defend your hope that is within you. Do not allow the hope to flicker and go out. If you allow the hope to go out, the defense that you must create in your atmosphere will not be able to be created. Renew your hope today. Fill yourself with hope that you might defend the hope that is within you.

“The enemy has come and put you on the defensive, so defend your hope today. Do not back up and do not come into agreement with the enemy who has tried to squeeze hope out and cause your faith shield to fall. Defend your hope today. Ready yourself and allow My words to form within your mouth in a new way. My word is very near to your mouth. It will form in your mouth and what you need to say today will rise up.

“Ready Yourself to Move Quickly”

“Throughout My Kingdom I decree that a new word is ready and on the lips of MY people today. They will have the right word and will be favored. They will pick up the phone and call. They will pick up the phone when they are called. They will be ready to go to their next call and assignment. Be ready to rise up immediately from your infirm state and serve.

“My word is coming alive again. Ready yourself to be healed! Some of you have come into agreement with your infirm state. You are lying still but you are not ready to be healed. I sent My word and healed them. My word is very near to you.

“Your deliverance is near. Ready yourself, for your deliverance is near. Ready yourself, for the enemy is targeting My people in a different new way! Ready yourself with the word of defense. I AM planning a surprise confrontation of the enemy that is coming against My people.

“The next five months will be intense! Ready yourself with the word at all times. Defend the hope that is within you. I am rearranging and reforming circumstances around you today. Ready yourself to move quickly. I will assign you in the night watch in the next several weeks and months. I will rise you up in the night watch so by noonday the terror has passed you!” (Personal note: The Lord seems to be combining the night watch with the noonday watch.)

“Give Me the hour and ready yourself, and your oil will remain full within you. When words come against you in the morning hour, by noonday you will break through. I am resting on you and loosing this through the atmosphere of MY Kingdom.

“Be ready, for certain things will end suddenly and new ways will open and begin suddenly. Do not fear your abandonment! Just be ready to move into the next place that I offer you. Some of you will move into a new realm of helping. This is a season where the gift of helps will be exalted in a new way and made efficient. Some of you will move into a gift of healing, for My people must be readied and healed.

“Counseling will take a back seat to impartation during this time. Word of wisdom will come by My Spirit, word of knowledge will be released, and you will know immediately how to move. The time of counseling is not at hand but the time of advancement and ’suddenly’ is upon you! Therefore, ready yourself.

“My word will stir within you and you will hear a word behind you telling you which way to go. New circuits are being replaced. I am beginning to remove the circuits My people have been on and create new circuits.”

A Word to South Korea and Other Locations

I also want to give a personal exhortation to South Korea: “Be ready! There will be a great cataclysmic event.” In January, I traveled to Korea and gave a word that they would release a missile in April. This would be a sign.

“Make yourself ready and be alert to what is happening around you. Be ready. I call in that next generation. They will leave their foolishness and will make their lamps ready.

“California, be ready! Florida, be ready! Taiwan and China, be ready! Shakings are coming. Houston, be ready - visitation is coming!”

Blessings,

Chuck D. Pierce
Glory of Zion Ministries

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Uncategorized PastorChris | 25 Apr 2009

I’m enthused

I’m enthused after a great day today.  I didn’t wake up feeling that way, I’ll give you that. 

It was hard to pry myself out of the bed at 6:30 a.m. on a Saturday.  I’m up at 6:30 every other day of the week.  Saturday is my lazy day - and I usually try to lay around until 8 at least.  I chided myself as I hopped out of the bed; “You’re the ding-a-ling who planned the conference.  Get up and get moving.”  And I did.  I gathered myself together, and Jannise and I hot-footed it to the church and were there by 7 a.m.  We had prepared Breakfast Casseroles the night before, and pulled them out of the fridge, and put them into the oven.  I whipped up a batch of waffle batter, and we prepared, coffee, orange juice and milk.  Sonya Miller made sweet tea, and Debra Dent made several fruit platters.  By 8:40 our breakfast was behind us, and we jumped into a training course that sparked a lot of candid dialogue.

The course is by Josh Hunt - Doubling Groups.  I wish I could say we stayed on topic.  We didn’t.  I think the biggest thing that happened today was that we shared our hearts - our frustrations… our hopes… our fears… our concerns… and our belief that we can move forward from here with a new direction, and a new resolve.  And we will move forward from here.  The people of Parkway have a great heart to see this thing move forward and to turn around.

The biggest lesson in these DVD’s today was this; there is no magic bullet to building a church.  There’s no one thing that makes a church explode into growth.  There are some amazing churches that are growing and reaching forward in powerful ways… and it’s not always about their pastors… their buildings… or their stuff.  In almost every circumstance, you’ll find that the growing church made a conscientious effort to grow.  Their people had the heart to grow.  Their mindset was for growth.  Their attitudes contributed to growth.  Powerful lessons learned, and hopefully perpetuated.

The people who were present want to continue this training on Thursday Nights.  It was amazing.  So, in the coming weeks, we will be continuing this training, and having prayer meeting for those who will remain with us.  Plan to join us.  We’ll jump into Session 4 shortly.

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Uncategorized PastorChris | 15 Apr 2009

Spiritual weight

I’ve felt it the last few nights.  Can’t explain it.  It’s a spiritual weight; like something is coming, but I don’t yet know what.  I’m tired.  I know that.  Physically drained.  But that’s not what I feel, sense and know is having some influence on me. 

Last night, I lay in my bed flipping, flopping… tossing and turning.  It had nothing to do with being tired, or not.  I just felt a spiritual urgency, and I lay there praying; calling out to God for mercy, and protection. 

I have a frustration within my soul.  I feel like the Apostles in Acts felt:

“It would not be right for us to neglect the ministry of the word of God in order to wait on tables. 3 Brothers, choose seven men from among you who are known to be full of the Spirit and wisdom. We will turn this responsibility over to them 4 and will give our attention to prayer and the ministry of the word.”  Acts 6:2-4

I feel like my attentions are being diverted, and we’re at a turning point.  I’m in a church that’s too small to be big; but it’s too big to be small.  I can’t handle everything there is to be done by myself.  I’m having to bring myself to do what Moses had to do.

13 The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. 14 When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?” 15 Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will. 16 Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and laws.” 17 Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. 18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. 19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. 20 Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform. 21 But select capable men from all the people — men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain — and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. 23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.” 24 Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25 He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 26 They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.  Exodus 18:13-26

It’s as though the SPIRITUAL weight is so pressing that I must give it my emphasis.  I must be a man of prayer.  The other matters must be delegated.  It’s hard for me.  But my emphasis must be spiritual.  I cannot be saddled with the the physical issues when there is such a spiritual weight.

Pray with me, my friends.  I covet your prayers.

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Uncategorized PastorChris | 08 Apr 2009

A JOSEPH GENERATION

Joseph – his name means, “The Lord increases…”  He was the eleventh son of Jacob… but Rachel’s firstborn child.  We know about him from Sunday School. We heard him taught in Children’s Church and Vacation Bible School.  We learned about his coat of many colors.  We found out that he was gifted to be able to interpret dreams.

 

We know the story.  The latent jealousy of Joseph’s brothers becomes the outward expression of rage and hatred; ultimately it won him a free pass to slavery.  Joseph was sold for 20 pieces of silver, by his brother Judah…

 

Carried far away from home, he worked under the Egyptian dignitary, Potiphar.  Years of faithful service came forth from Joseph.  Then, in a “wrong place/wrong time” moment, he was falsely accused of attempted rape against Potiphar’s wife.  He winds up going to prison for a crime he didn’t commit.  He’s set free, and ultimately becomes the chief adviser/Vizier to Pharaoh.

 

It all started with Joseph having a dream.  Our dreams can be good; but sometimes our dreams can bring pain, too.  His vision was a powerful one; that God was going to work in him and use him mightily for His kingdom.  I wonder how real the dream felt when he was lying at the bottom of the pit… beaten up, and abandoned?  The dream got him in one mess after another.  (The calling of God can be like that, too.)  Because of the dream - he’s dragged into slavery.  Because of the dream there are attacks, and wrongs… there are hardships and difficulties.  He goes from being the top to being the bottom several times.  Ever been there?

 

He loses all with his family, and then winds up getting some semblance of glory restored in the household of Potiphar.  Shortly, though, he loses that as well.

 

Through it all - the positive and the negative; the up and the down - God’s hand is on this man Joseph; and God is closely monitoring Joseph’s life.  Years later, through trials and tests and turmoils, Joseph finds himself in Pharaoh’s household.  He’s appointed to be the ruler of all of Egypt.

 

It was in God’s plan the entire time.  Joseph was probably wondering, “Hey God, why don’t you save THIS MAN down here, suffering all alone?”  But God was working to save much more than just a single man.  He was working to save a nation.  Not just one, but many.  

 

In every generation God raises up just that kind of deliverance.  A Joseph deliverance - and how is it birthed?  It’s birthed through what many call adversity, trouble and testing. 

 

Friends, that’s how God works; he was preparing a man to save a nation.  And in EVERY GENERATION God raises up just that kind of deliverance.  He takes devoted servants through sometimes extended periods of trouble and trials, to prove and strengthen their faith, and to make them vessels of deliverance.

 

The Bible talks about it.  It has a record of Joseph in Psalm 107… 

 

 

“He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant: whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron: until the time that his word came: the word of the Lord tried him” (Psalm 105:17–19).

 

 

There is a generation that God is raising up in this last day - the are a generation that has the Dream of God burning within their soul, and His hand on their lives.  They aren’t in this (serving God) for what they can get out of it.  They are looking to fulfill the calling of God.  And they have the assurance that their lives are going to be significant in His plan.  They will count for the Kingdom. 

 

 

What were Joseph’s words to his brothers?  “God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt” (Genesis 45:7–8).

 

 

Joseph had 20/20 vision looking back across the rugged terrain of suffering and testing.  “God brought me this way.  It was a trip through difficulties and hardship.  But I know that everything I went through yesterday, was carrying me into this TODAY.  It was all leading me to this moment in time; my destiny.  My brothers, God  was making a provision for me to be able to minister to you.  He orchestrated this whole thing to preserve our people and our lives.”

 

That took a spiritual depth in Joseph.  It was a personal revelation that came to him through his suffering.  And what can we learn from it?  The lesson we learn is this; the God who took care of us yesterday, will take care of us tomorrow.  Probably the biggest lesson that we can learn is this; God’s got a heavenly reason and purpose behind it all.  He kept me alive because He’s got a plan for me.  He’s kept you alive because He’s got a plan for you.  There’s a calling ahead for you.  There’s a work to be done.  And the only one who can do it?  A believer who’s stood the test.  A believer who’s proven in the task.

 

This is not a time for timid faith. It’s a time when every Christian who has endured great testings must step forward.  Jesus is calling us to stand up amidst a fearful society and engage in “power faith.”  Only a Joseph Generation can look back over the difficulties, and say “God sent me before you…to save your lives by a great deliverance” (Genesis 45:7).

 

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Ministry PastorChris | 07 Apr 2009

The joys of preacherdom

Is that even a word?

There are so many perks to this job of being Pastor that I love.  It’s a great thing.  The pay isn’t that grand, regardless of what the world believes.  There’s a bunch of stress.  God gives fringe benefits that are out of this world, and it makes it all worthwhile.  I don’t want to do or be anything else.

One of the negatives is - so very often, you cannot build solid lasting friendships.  If so, who do you build them with?  Most of the time, when you struggle, or question or doubt, you can’t share that with anyone.  The moment you do, you give another person the power to harm you, or to damage your ministry.  So, being real is difficult.

My wife is my very best friend.  I can be real around her.  She can around me.  And yet, sometimes you crave those friendships that others are able to share with one another.  People build friendships with others - they’ll buddy up to a preacher, but it’s almost like they’re trying to get on his good side… or God’s good side… or something.  There’s always a level of being aloof; never quite getting to a depth of friendship where you can just be real.

Any minister knows what I’m saying is true.  The friendship factor is probably the worst part of this job.  It’s the reason so many pastors, and ministers falter, and wind up stumbling… morally or ethically.  They have no one to run to about matters of faith.  They have no sounding board.  They have no real, lasting friendships.

I do have a few of those friends.  One is my best friend from College - Wes Barnett.  He’s been there through the years.  But as adults often do; we grow up, and we move away from one another.  He’s living in Birmingham; I’m living in Southern Georgia.  Yes, I’ve heard of that fancy invention called the phone, but it’s never the same as getting to spend time with a person. 

Then, there have been others through the years who have played a role in my life - however big, however small. 

Friendship is such a premium in this line of work, when you find that you might potentially LOSE a friend, it’s a devastating thing.  And such isn’t really the case.  But, as friendships often do, they transform… change… morph… and readjustments have to be made.

When I came to Parkway, I made a lot of great friends here.  Now, again, it’s Pastor to parishioner, so it’s not as deep as college buddies or anything; but friendships, nonetheless.  One of those friendships was with my Youth Pastor, Dale Bange - and I feel like we’ve gone deeper than just pastor to parishioner.  We’re friends.  He’s busy.  I’m busy.  It’s not like we do bowling night down at the alley or anything.  But you know when there’s a kindred spirit.  You know friendship. 

Sunday, March 22, Dale came to me in my office, and gave me his four weeks notice.  As a Pastor, I’ve lived knowing that ministries change.  They translate.  Dale is a great Youth Pastor, and yet, I knew in my heart of hearts, that he wasn’t going to be a Youth Pastor forever.  There’s that moment when you have to step into the next phase of God’s plan for your life.  Dale’s there.  We’ve known that for months.  I remember being 28 and realizing, “I don’t really have the patience to do this job any more.  I need to refine my role, and step into the next phase of my ministry.”  And I did.  For two more years, I was Associate Pastor.  I handled Music, but teen ministry was never again my focus.  I love teenagers.  I just don’t have the patience to handle 50 of them at one time.  When I left my last Youth Pastorate, we had 85 kids, and I was WORN OUT.  That was 1998.  I NEVER wanted to go back to Youth Ministry, and unless there’s a burning bush in my future, with a booming voice telling me to do it, I NEVER WILL AGAIN.

So I understand Dale’s decision.  It’s a tough decision to make.  He’s worked, and built a great ministry to about 60 kids.  That’s not the easiest thing to do.  My immediate thought was this; “Does this mean you’ll be leaving Parkway?”  Facts are, none of us have answers on that right now.  We don’t.  He doesn’t yet know what this next phase of ministry will encompass for him.  I don’t know, and I don’t have a definitive word from the Lord for them.  If I did… Dale and Amy are a man and woman of God, and they can hear that word for themselves.  They certainly don’t need ME telling them what to do. 

But I do find myself saddened; because if God’s plan carries him in another direction, that is a friendship that won’t be RIGHT THERE in my life any more.  Sure, I can drive through his shop… or catch him for the occassional lunch.  But it’s not going to be the same.  Stuff changes.  Preachers get bummed out about that.  But we will survive it.

And the transition.  We’re already in the process of Interviewing for the Youth Pastorate.  While it’s going to be strange to see someone else in that role; it’s exciting, too.

I remember leaving Jackson, MS.  I sat on the front altar of the church and wept like a baby.  I haven’t cried leaving every church.  There have been a few where I stood in the yard and shook the dust off of my feet (symbolically).  Jackson was like the death of a dream.  I remember sobbing bitter tears and the people surrounded us, and prayed for us.  I remember thinking, “How could God possibly be in this?  This is the death of a dream.”  I was reminded of Paul’s resignation in Acts 20…

Acts 20:18-38
18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons,
19 Serving the Lord with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews:
20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house,
21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.
22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there:
23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me.
24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.
25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more .
26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men.
27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God.
28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.
29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock.
30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them.
31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.
32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified.
33 I have coveted no man’s silver, or gold, or apparel.
34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me.
35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.
36 And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all.
37 And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him,
38 Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more . And they accompanied him unto the ship.

Sometimes bitter tears are involved with these changes as God calls us to them.  The people in Jackson were so hurt when we left.  Many couldn’t understand how we could do that.  All we could say was, “God has told us to do it.”  Most now understand.  On Saturday, April 18th, my sister, and friend, Lennie Jones will marry the love of her life.  He is the nephew of their new Pastor in Jackson; a man she never would have met, had I disobeyed God.  How do I KNOW that I was in God’s will?  While we’ve all had tough times since - all of us can see, and know that it was in God’s plan for our lives.

And I can look at Dale and know that this is in God’s plan for Him.  I don’t doubt that.  Will I miss his presence here in the church should God take him elsewhere - more deeply than anyone could imagine.  My hope is that God will allow him to stay here, and transition into a new role within our ministerial staff.  He’s a builder.  What he touches, grows.  I need that desperately.  But I will not be a Laban, and I will not tie Jacob down.  If he stays, it will be a God thing; not a Pastor Chris thing.

So pray for me, people.  I love you all.  I appreciate your prayers.  Parkway is a church in flux.  We’re in transition.  We need the hand of God to move upon us, and within us.  Help us to pray for His GOOD, PLEASING AND PERFECT WILL.  Pray for the candidates we have scheduled to come and minister with our group.  God knows the perfect person for this ministry.  His plan WILL be inacted, because we will surrender to it.

Be blessed!
PhCP

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Uncategorized PastorChris | 06 Apr 2009

The spirit of the age…

I’m finding that the church of today is inundated with the Spirit of the age.  Yes, there are those pet titles we’ve given it through the years… Jezebel; Python; Leviathon.  Here’s the real truth - we’re dealing with demons.  They are dismantling the church from the outside by damaging our reputation.  But the operation of these spirits is working on the inside, to undermine the work of the ministry.  I’ve dealt with these spirits even this week. 

Control… manipulation… these characterize the working of the Jezebel spirit.  They are insidious, and vile.  They masquerade as holy and right; they even deceive the very elect in their action and mannerism.  I’m learning the lessons that ALL Pentecostal Christians should have learned a generation ago; not everything that speaks in tongues is of God.  Not everything that prophesies is prophesying under the power of the Lord.  Not everything that comes to church… IS the church.  Wheat grows alongside tares.  Cells grow in the body… blood… hair… bone… tissue; but sometimes cancers… viruses… bacteria grow there, too.  That’s the spirit of the age and its means of operation within the church today.

Jude is a very difficult passage for people to ignore, when dealing with the spirit of the age.  I want to look at this for just a few minutes.

1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James,
To those who have been called, who are loved by God the Father and kept by Jesus Christ:
2 Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.
3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt I had to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to the saints.

Jude begins with a strong urging to FIGHT for the faith.  He goes on to say that this was… ONCE AND FOR… entrusted to all the saints.  It was given to us for SAFE KEEPING, in other words.  This faith is ours to maintain.  It’s been entrusted to us… given to us… That’s the first telling matter in Jude’s epistle.  It’s our job to CONTEND FOR… TO DEFEND this faith that we hold so dear.

4 For certain men whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are godless men, who change the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.

Certain men (and by natural assumption, women) - who God had already warned of… secretly slipped into the church.  What are the descriptions of these men/women?

Godless

The first description is that of a life devoid of God.  Now, apparently this will be to some degree deceptive, because these individuals have slipped into the church.  This means they were able to deceive the Saints - or true Christians.  That means they will LOOK like the real deal, but they won’t be the real deal.

2 Timothy talks about it, too…

2 Timothy 3:1-6
3:1 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with them.

Having a FORM OF GODLINESS, but no power behind it.  This is part of the Godlessness that will grip those under the Spirit of this age.

Next, it says that they take the grace of God, as a license to sin.

Grace says, “Regardless of what you did, I forgive you.”  It is not “Do what you want, I’ll turn my head.”  It’s a covering for sin.  It’s not a license to sin.  These individuals say within their hearts, “If God is that forgiving, I’m going to do what I want and ride the wave of His forgiveness.”  They misunderstand what grace truly is.  Grace doesn’t exist for this, and grace will not cover this.  Grace isn’t a get out of hell free card.  It’s not a blanket cover-all.  Does grace cover sin?  Of course.  Does it become our escape clause - our ace in the hole, to get us off scott-free from the bad things we set out to do?  No.  Hebrews is clear; if we willfully sin after we’ve come to a knowledge of the truth, there isn’t a sacrifice left for us.  These individuals - under the spirit of the age - try to take advantage of God’s grace.

Then, they deny Jesus as the only sovereign Lord

Another way of saying this; they diminish His person, His station, and His deity.

5 Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe. 6 And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their own home — these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day. 7 In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.

What’s Jude saying; being called a Christian is not going to spare you from his judgment, if you become as this.  Live a godless life; take advantage of grace; live In denial of deity.  Jude says, “If God didn’t spare the many who have called on His name through the ages, He will not SPARE YOU.

8 In the very same way, these dreamers pollute their own bodies, reject authority and slander celestial beings. 9 But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said, “The Lord rebuke you!”   10 Yet these men speak abusively against whatever they do not understand; and what things they do understand by instinct, like unreasoning animals — these are the very things that destroy them.

One of the biggest problems with this spirit of the age is that those affected by it, do not understand the nature of spiritual authority.  They pollute their bodies… they reject authority… and they slander celestial beings - or basically, they talk smack against what they don’t truly understand. 

11 Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.

Taken the way of Cain = BROTHER MURDERERS

Rushed for profit into Balaam’s error = SEEKING TO ENSNARE THE PEOPLE OF GOD IN A SNARE

Been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion = WORKING TO SWAY THE OPINIONS OF PEOPLE AGAINST LEADERSHIP

These next verses are poignant…

12 These men are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm — shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted — twice dead. 13 They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.
14 Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about these men: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones 15 to judge everyone, and to convict all the ungodly of all the ungodly acts they have done in the ungodly way, and of all the harsh words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.” 16 These men are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.
17 But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. 18 They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” 19 These are the men who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.
20 But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit. 21 Keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
22 Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear-hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
24 To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.

That’s the challenge; avoiding this SPIRIT OF THE AGE.  It’s important to recognize that not every SPIRIT that you encounter is of God.

And it’s what we encounter within the ministry of the church. 

Pray, Saints, Pray!  Let’s get our hearts right.  Let’s live right.  And let’s keep our eyes open.

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