Saturday, February 16, 2013

The power of the spoken word the power of unity.



There is great power in the spoken word and right or wrong, for the good or for wicked, faith works. In Genesis Chapter one, the scriptures very clearly describe how our creator spoke into existence all that there is. In Genesis 1:26 it is written, “And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth”. The implication here is that with being made in the image and likeness of God, along with being given dominion over all the earth, man has been given certain abilities, some of which, though obviously not bearing the same infinite and omnipotent power, are in the likeness of our creator. One such ability is the power to speak an outcome into situations, to actually speak proclaiming a desire, in faith, believing, and it will be given to you. Jesus revealed and certified this truth by his actions and teachings, as evidenced in the following scriptures.


And Jesus said unto them, “Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you”.   Matthew 17:20


Jesus answered and said unto them, “Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.  And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive”. Matthew 21: 21-22


And Jesus answering saith unto them, “Have faith in God.  For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. Therefore I say unto you, What things so ever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them”. Mark 11:22-26 (KJV)


Throughout history there have been many examples where situations have changed and lives have been affected simply by the words spoken into the atmosphere. We know all too well the devastating power behind a gossip or a slander, and conversely we know the power behind a great referral, a compliment or words of adoration. We know how words of anger or joy can shape the atmosphere in a room. Some are even perceptive to and affected by others thoughts, attitudes and hidden emotions. These concepts and how they affect us are commonly and naturally understood.  I want to show you some examples of how thoughts and words can shape the world around us in a more supernatural way.

 In my own life I have personal experiences which lend to confirm to me the great power of the spoken word and how it can affect our surroundings and lives, for instance, I have had the pleasure in my life of being a father, a business owner and also to spend more than twenty years as a head coach for many different sports. As a coach I instructed at age levels spanning from young children to adults. From the aspect of each of these rolls I believe one of the most important observations I have made is that there is a vast difference in the ability to inspire peak performance and unity of people that comes as a result of instructing from a direction of encouragement and praise as opposed to criticism and ridicule.

What we allow to influence and affect us is ultimately our own choice. Once a prophet of God spoke to me directly about the choices of friends I had made in my life. He said, speaking for God, “The only thing He is asking of you is to pick your company you keep a little more carefully, get around those who are far more life giving, if they are dragging you down get away don’t stay there it’s that simple”. I needed that word of knowledge at that time in my life, it opened my eyes and I took heed of it. I began to monitor the negativity spoken into my life by a select few and began to realize the affect it had, so I got around those who were far more life giving and my life began to drastically improve in many ways. We need to understand that adoration breeds adoration. Kindness goes a long way to create an atmosphere of harmony that is desirous to be in and helps to foster a spirit of unity and loyalty that will transcend division and better allow for proper correction and constructive criticisms. On the other hand a consistent atmosphere of correction through criticism and ridicule is destructive to the best performance desires and aptitude of people and will inevitably open the door for division to creep in. Division most always opens the door for deception, rebellion, sedition, betrayal and chaos, all of these are extremely unpleasant and simply intolerable.

When I was young, in grade school, I remember writing poetry. Once, I even had a teacher in school take an interest in some of the things I had written. She was very encouraging to me. She took such a liking to some of my writings that she began to collect them and later bound them in a book covering she had made just for me. I remember how it made me feel, special and inspired. I know now that much of what I was writing was helping me to cope with events that were happening at that time in my life. My parents had divorced, and with primary custody, my father remarried and suddenly, it seemed, I found myself second to the youngest of eight children in a blended family. Looking back I guess I may have found myself somewhat lost in the mix. Tragically, this beloved teacher of mine was killed in an accident while on holiday that school year. I remember that it had an effect on me that caused me to stop writing for a time. You see, she was an encourager and through her encouragement I was inspired.

My stepmother was and is an encourager as well. When she joined with our family she brought much more than just a new set of grandparents, aunts, uncles, her two daughters, cats and a cool Buick Skylark, she brought love, diplomacy, sacrifice, song, order to our chaos and at some level, a love for the Lord. She and her siblings were talented musicians and vocalists. I look back very fondly at all of the times when we would get together and have our own personal jam sessions. I truly remember as a child looking forward to the holidays mostly because of this. In time she taught us how to sing and soon we had our own un-official little choir. We sang at family events and holidays and from time to time in the homes of people, mostly elderly, when my mom and dad felt it a good idea, in an attempt to share some joy and lift their spirits. Needless to say along with the influence of that environment and my already established desire to be poetic, it wasn’t long before I was trying to put music to the poetry. I began to learn how to play the guitar and write lyrics. As a new-teen, my mother gave me my first real guitar. I secretly began to dream and at that time I really believed that someday I was going to be a musician. I thought that I was going to carve my niche in life and the music industry by bringing joy to people, serenading them with songs of Love. Then things began to change. As my confidence grew I became less secretive and more public in displaying my musical aspirations. There were some in my surroundings that I loved and respected that began to criticize, mock and poke fun at me regarding this. Soon doubt creped in, I lost confidence and eventually, stopped playing and with the exception of a rare occasion, I put away the guitar and aspirations of singing for more than thirty years.

It seems like only yesterday that because of events in my life, I began to truly seek our Fathers face and come to the Lord in earnest. You see at this time in my life it had been nearly two years since, for the second time in my life, I had weathered through a divorce. The loss of the relationships with those I loved took a great emotional toll on me and I turned to the church and the people there for solace and it is there that I came face to face with the Lord.  As I began to seek after Him, He began to put people into my life who, unbeknownst to them, were helping to rekindle a long lost dream and ultimately what I believe to be a plan that God has had for my life from the beginning. These people I speak of spoke life, hope and encouragement into my life. I was encouraged through the awesome power of the gift of the prophetic word through men of God. One day in March of 2008 it was prophesied over me that “This is a new day in your life and all the opportunities you think you missed and wished you could get back, scrap that because God is going to give you major open doors that you could not even imagine. God is restoring repairing your family your life it’s all been broken, destroyed. He is fixing it all without your help you must just let God have his way”. So I did, I let Him have his way. Then a young worship Pastor prophesied over me that I would be married again and soon and that my wife and I would be doing the Lords work. Not long after that my life took a drastic turn for the better. Soon I found myself traveling to Africa and beginning a ministry there. Less than a year later, God presented to me a wonderful woman in Christ who is not only remarkably kind and beautiful but anointed to sing and lead worship. Less than six months later we were married by that same young worship Pastor who I mentioned earlier. My new wife was a single mother of four children that had been led by the Lord to follow her Pastor at that time, as he moved from a neighboring city, to accept a position as worship Pastor at the Church I was attending.

 It seems as though God is not without a sense of intriguing humor, little did that young Pastor who prophesied that I would be married soon know that the very woman God selected for me was one from his own worship team. Tomika, my wife, was part of the very worship team that came with him when he moved. Soon after we were married we were asked to consider leading worship for a new program called Celebrate Recovery that was beginning at the same church. It wasn’t long before I was part of and surrounded by a Godly group of people that were encouraging me to brush the dust of my guitar and vocals. It wasn’t very long before we were traveling and performing at different worship events. I began to write again and my abilities to play and sing began to grow again.

Today, a few short years later, we have begun to record our music, God has given us a house of prayer and worship where we have two to three worship services every week and I also lead worship services in another sister church in a neighboring city. What you don’t yet know is that the same prophet that spoke to me about picking the company I keep a bit more carefully also, said this, “You’re a good man with a very kind heart. You struggled so hard in your life to make successes in your life and the devil has messed with your mind to tell you you’re a loser because you keep looking and measuring yourself with the measuring stick that your family uses to measure success what, they say is a success.  You’ve had so many disappointments but in the heart and mind and eyes of the Lord you’re a great success because he loves your heart. You get very excited and sometimes almost explosive and you calm right down again very fast you’ve got a very gentle loving heart you just lose control of your emotions some times and that’s only because you feel that you’re not succeeding. So today by the power of his word I release you from that fear, that your life is in the palm of his hands and that you’re not a loser you never have been and that God is going to bless you. God is going to restore to you the very same business the devil stole from you, the exact same one and you’re going to be blessed and God is going to restore it to you but you will not line yourself up with the wrong brethren because you trusted everyone and the wrong people and you’re not. You’re going to be careful to trust the Lord and hear him you’re going to do what God says.

My life is in the palm of his hands? He is going to restore the very same business the devil stole and God is going to bless it? What could this mean? In my life I have had a few businesses all successful all seemingly taken in some fashion or another. Over the course of the last few years since this was spoken over me, I have been looking for God to replace the business that his Prophet spoke of. In the mean time, we have just been doing what seems to come naturally, ministering His word and singing His praises. It has been an exciting walk of faith as we seek to touch lives for His glory we are growing in His spirit. As I stated earlier we now have been given a house of prayer and worship that is growing, along with leading praise and worship in another church. We have begun to record our songs and it is very rewarding to hear how the worship is bringing healing and touching lives. It was as I was writing this chapter that I came to a glorious revelation. My life is in the palm of His hands and He has been restoring that business that the devil stole and it is being blessed increasingly. It just wasn’t what I ever anticipated it to be. You see it’s the Lords work, the music, it is the bringing joy to people, serenading them with songs of Love, only these songs of love are about the love of the Lord and His love for us.

Triskaidekaphobia, pronounced (trisk-aid- deka-phobia) It’s kind of a fun word to say don’t you think? Triskaidekaphobia is the term used to describe an undeniable psychological phenomenon that affects many people in our society, in truth, it has a powerful affect over people, objects and atmospheres worldwide. Triskaidekaphobia is the fear of the number thirteen. The number thirteen has been, for the most part, considered unlucky or bewitched since ancient times.


           No one really knows the origin of the darkness associated with the number but some claim the ancient Hebrews thought thirteen was unlucky because the thirteenth letter of the Hebrew alphabet is the letter M, which is the first letter in the word "mavet," meaning death. Some believe that thirteen is unlucky because it follows twelve, which in ancient Babylonia, China, and Rome was considered to be a lucky number. Other say the root of this belief was established through witches covens because they traditionally had thirteen members. Ancient pagan beliefs held that thirteen was a magic number. Some like to trace the origins of fear of the number thirteen to the Biblical account of the last supper.


"And it was in the evening that he came with the twelve. As they were at the table eating, Jesus said 'Truly, I say to you, one of you will betray me, one who is eating with me.' They began to be sorrowful, and to say to him one after another 'Is it I?' He said to them, "It is one of the twelve, one who is dipping in the same dish with me. For the Son of man goes as it is written of him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born.' "(Mark 14: 17-21)


This belief clearly infers that one of the men is evil and cursed for his betrayal of Jesus. “woe to that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It would have been better for that man if he had not been born”, he was the odd man out, the thirteenth man.


In many cultures the day of Friday the thirteenth has been held as an unlucky day and many people have even developed stories and personal testimonies describing how events in their life of an “unlucky” nature occurred on that day! Could it be superstition and coincidence? I don’t believe so. Consider the following statistic. Otis Elevators, one of the largest elevator companies in the world, estimates that more than eighty-five percent (85%) of the buildings across the globe having thirteen floors or more, refuse to recognize a thirteenth floor in any literature or labeling regarding their building. This includes doorways, building or hotel directories and the floor selector push buttons in elevators. Have you ever noticed that most elevator button panels go from 12 to 12A then to 14? Some just skip right over and go from 12 to 14. Why is this? Well according to historical accounts, as soon as technology, material quality and building techniques increased allowing man to build buildings over thirteen floors, people began to speak of the unluckiness associated with the number thirteen referring to the thirteenth floor.

 As warnings, subtle murmurings, fearful whispers, gossips, rumors of calamities and catastrophes grew, so in reality, did the occurrences of catastrophic events on that specific floor. Oddly enough, over time, statistics started to evidence a dramatic disparity between that of the thirteenth floor and any other floor by comparison. Suddenly these calamitous events began to rise exponentially. Events like fires, murders, suicides and robberies, to the point where building and hotel officials, in a desperate attempt to bring an end to the escalation of these events, simply began to deny the existence of a thirteenth floor, they then relabeled their buildings and literature accordingly. This simple act of refusing to recognize the number, began to bring an end to the incidents and when word got out, it swept across the entire world as others followed suit. It is difficult to grasp but this phenomenon affected people worldwide. It crossed cultural and language barriers, political and governmental structures could not prevent it. This phenomenon proceeded with impunity, with no respect for persons or worldly authorities and it was propelled by the power of the spoken word, en masse.  Now, as I have stated earlier, to this day, eighty-five percent (85%), or more, of the buildings in the entire world refuse to recognize a thirteenth floor.


In Japan, Dr. Masaro Emoto has been conducting experiments on the effects of thoughts, emotions and words, on water. According to Dr. Emoto, his experiments prove conclusively that thoughts, feelings and emotions have great power over our environment. He claims to have discovered and proven that prayer, blessing and strong feelings can physically change the crystalline structure of water molecules while they are forming ice crystals. As part of his research Dr. Emoto prayed, meditated and spoke positive words of exaltation over water and the results were beautiful, well formed, ice crystals when frozen. Conversely he experimented speaking negatively and directing negative thoughts towards water and the result was ice crystals were grossly mal-formed. After repeating his experiments multiple times, the results were remarkably consistent. His work is very compelling.


Another experiment Dr. Emoto performed a multitude of times was with cooked rice. Essentially, he placed rice in three different sealed containers. On one container he placed labels with words of exaltation and love written on them. The second container he labeled with negative and demeaning words. On the third he placed no labels, this was the control. Each time the experiment yielded that the rice in the container with the negative words decayed more rapidly than the others and the control more rapidly than the rice in the container marked with words of exaltation and love. I have somewhat studied Dr. Emoto’s work and I am convinced that there is truth to it. I believe words thoughts and emotions can have an effect on our surroundings, and object like our food and water. Is that not why we ask that it be blessed before we eat it? Imagine the implications when considering that the human body is made up of approximately seventy-five percent (75%) water. To me, this brings a different level of awareness as to how our words, thoughts and emotions can have a direct effect on our overall health and on that of others around us.


There is great power in the spoken word, we know this simply because scripture tells us so. For some of us who follow and believe the teachings of Christ Jesus we have the honor and thrill to witness this power manifest as we pray for and call out a resolution to certain matters such as healing, provision, and guidance.  Unfortunately there are those that know of the power of spoken words and use it as a destructive controlling force to direct thoughts and emotions in order to govern the atmosphere. They use this power over individuals and the masses alike. This is essentially divination, or witchcraft. Let me give you an example. How many times have you heard the terms terror, terrorist, weapons of mass destruction and war spoken by the elected officials of this Nation? This propaganda campaign was intended to cause fear in the hearts of Americans to direct their thoughts and emotions, to change the atmosphere in order to gain support for and justify hostile takeovers around the world. Now look at the result. While we were focused on and persuaded by this propaganda, quite arguably the most freedom damaging piece of legislation in the history of our Nation was passed under the guise of a protective measure for our security.


The people of this nation have been divided into multiple differing casts based upon a certain level of awareness and inherent internal righteousness. There are a very few who are in a high state of intellectual consciousness and spiritual awareness, of these few, some are working diligently to use their persuasive powers for wicked intentions these people’s campaign focuses on appealing to the flesh, the sinful carnal nature of man. There are others who are diligently trying to use the power of persuasion for righteous Godly intensions; these are trying to teach others to override the fleshly carnal nature by developing the spiritual man that is in Christ Jesus, residing in each of us. Of these groups one is trying to suppress and control people and the latter trying to liberate them. Then there are the people, the masses. To me this group can be divided into three relatively distinct categories.


To differing extents, two of these groups suffer under the weight of a psychosis brought on by the spirits of control, fear and seduction by convenience. They have been seduced by the convenience of going along with the others in the safety of the mass. They do as they are instructed by traditions and doctrines of men. They are taught at an early age to conform to certain standards and not make waves in the pool of the status quo. They are taught that it is important to please people, to accept indiscretions, to strive to be popular. From any early age people are taught that if they are different there is something wrong with them. Of these groups, one sees the injustices being heaped upon the people of this Nation but is completely paralyzed by fear of retribution and cowers in inaction. The other has become so disenfranchised, so indifferent they simply lack the desire to care anymore. The third is just oblivious to the perils facing this nation and go through life self absorbed believing everything is great. The trouble is, for some time now, just as in the case of the thirteenth floor, warnings, subtle murmurings, fearful whispers, gossips, rumors of calamities and catastrophes uttered by the masses has only served to help fuel the agenda of those who are proponents of the destruction of this Nation. This is even being brought on mistakenly by some who are trying to raise awareness. To change this, to turn the tides, we need to change what we speak into the atmosphere. We need to speak words of life, liberty, justice, righteousness and Godliness over our Nation. Change is at hand.


Let’s look at some other manipulative terms spoken over our Nation, into our lives, labels in a sense, much like the rice containers, put on us as water filled vessels. Terms such as tyranny, cancer, abortion, gun violence, homosexuality, tolerance, divorce, healthcare, welfare, entitlement, arrest and prosecution, all are common topics of conversation and debate. Sadly, it is not only people in the secular world who knowingly use this power to control and manipulate others. There are many in religious organizations that knowingly use this power to gain status within these organizations. This usually results in quarreling, confusion, division and disenfranchisement within the body of Christ.


We do have to be very careful about what we say, what we release into the atmosphere. The word of God is clear. We will be held accountable for the words we speak. For those who knowingly use the power of the spoken word for un-Godly purposes, especially those who do so in the pretence of being in God’s service, to you He says, the time has come, your end is now.

The words of the wicked are to lie in wait for blood: but the mouth of the upright shall deliver them. Proverbs 12:6
 
A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. Matt 12:35-37 (KJV)

A naughty person, a wicked man, walketh with a froward mouth. He winketh with his eyes, he speaketh with his feet, he teacheth with his fingers; Frowardness is in his heart, he deviseth mischief continually; he soweth discord. Therefore shall his calamity come suddenly; suddenly shall he be broken without remedy. These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood,  An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief,  A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren. Prov 6:12-19 (KJV)


Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. Psalms 19:14 (KJV)


The people of this nation need to be steered in a different direction now. Time is of the essence.  Eyes need to see and ears need to hear the importance of refraining from speaking words of fear, hopelessness, deception, terror, catastrophe and calamity over this nation. We need to rebuke them in Jesus name. In unity we need to earnestly, in faith and belief, speak words of truthfulness, life liberty and Godliness into our atmosphere. We need to increase our prayer time. I feel in my spirit it is of utmost importance to reveal this concept and turn the tides on a growing sentiment of doom looming on the breath of the people. We need to begin speaking an end to corruption, injustice, and unrighteousness. It is not the end, not nearly, there is hope.


It is no secret that when a man puts his mind to achieve a task there is little that he cannot accomplish. This is especially true when many unite under one common cause. There is great power in unity as well. The ability for men to accomplish a goal in unity even surprised our Creator once when after the great flood the decedents of Noah congregated in the land of Shinar.


And they said one to another, Go to, let us make brick, and burn them throughly. And they had brick for stone, and slime had they for morter.  And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth.
And the LORD came down to see the city and the tower, which the children of men builded. And the LORD said, Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do: and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do.  Go to, let us go down, and there confound their language, that they may not understand one another's speech.  So the LORD scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city.  Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the LORD did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the LORD scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth. Gen 11:3-9 (KJV)


Though they were powerful in unity, they mocked God in that they were set upon disobedience on many levels. United under one language, they set out to build a tower into heaven. They said “Let US make a name for our-selves so we aren’t scattered all over the face of the earth”. This was in defiance to God’s command to go forth and replenishing the earth. They also were using building materials of a water proof nature, again mocking God. To me, the implication was that they did not trust God’s promise that he would not flood the earth again. Let us build this tower to heaven so we can challenge God’s supremacy and we’ll use water proof materials. It will be so high and so strong that it will resist any flood. So God confounded their language. He disrupted their ability to communicate and forced them spread out over the earth.


How long will it be before he comes down again to put a stop to those who mock him? What will it take before we invite him in earnest to come heal our lands? I do not believe God wants us to be cooped up in towers. He wants us out doing His will. Seeking and saving the lost, healing the sick, cleansing the lepers, casting out devils, raising the dead and making disciples of all nations.


There is a new unity on the rise all across the globe and the language is universal. All over the world more and more people young and old are being brought into this unity under Christ Jesus as a result of the spread and usage of this single common powerful language. This language speaks a familiar story everywhere you go. Over the years, as this universal form of communication has grown, our Lord has not sought to confound it and he will not because it seeks to glorify HIM, to move HIS heart, to recognize and exalt Him. In accordance with His word it will exhort Him into action on our behalf, thus revealing his existence and through the process his great love for us and His special place for us in eternity.


It is a language he wants us to use in unison. It is a language of reconciliation, it is the language of revival he wants us to spread it and use it to gain and teach faith and belief, to teach the importance of a relationship with him, to unite us as one in his Kingdom under his direction. Together, one body one spirit. This language is rooted in the word of God and the gospel of His Son, our savior, Christ Jesus. This language is propelled by the righteous knowledge and power of the spoken word on the breath of His mighty warriors, those who worship Him in Spirit and in truth. This language is praise. This language is worship.


God is a Spirit: and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth.
John 4:24 (KJV)


            Imagine the power of unity combined with the power of the spoken word. Imagine further the power of unity combined with the spoken word in alignment with the word and will of God. In the Lord, the once fearful are made fearless. The hopeless indifferent become re-ignited and endowed with renewed passion, and the scales begin to fall off of the eyes of the once self centered oblivious. Jesus said if we believe, nothing will be impossible for us. We are bringing about sweeping change and nothing can stop it. It will transcend cultural and language barriers. Political and governmental structures can do nothing to prevent it. The time of complacency and silence is ended. This phenomenon will proceed with impunity, with no respect to persons or worldly authorities because it is being spoken into existence by the mouths of His Shepherd led sheep, en masse, they who no longer fear, who are no longer dismayed or are in lack but united in Christ Jesus.

And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place. And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting. And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.
Acts 2:1-4 (KJV)

 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Matt 5:6 (KJV)

When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. Prov 29:2 (KJV)

When the wicked are multiplied, transgression increaseth: but the righteous shall see their fall.
Prov 29:16 (KJV)


Interesting Note:

             There is a psychological phenomenon that exists wherein people who are captured and held hostage by their captors through fear and intimidation, after some time become emotionally attached to their captors even to the point where they will express loyalty towards them. Further, the abused will even grow to jealously and passionately defend those who abuse them and/or hold them captive. This phenomenon is referred to as Stockholm Syndrome. The people of this Nation have, in mass, succumbed to this syndrome. Many in this Nation have been set free from this debilitating psychological phenomenon. Many more each day are being set free and in Jesus name I say all those who suffer under the weight of fear and intimidation by these forces be set free. The abuse must end.




For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.
2 Tim 1:7 (KJV)



Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Year of the king


Year of the king.

We have proclaimed this year, 2013, the year of the most High King.
This message is exciting and very encouraging to me. It is of utmost importance that we expeditiously grasp in totality the concept that God is our true King and Ruler. As time goes on, more and darker factions rise up under the cloak of necessity and acceptance through complacency using gradual gentle desensitization to cloud truths. These factions have worked, over time, to attempt to subvert the authority of our most high King and subtly convince even HIS people to leave HIS jurisdiction and volunteer under their own. The day has come to throw off all unrighteousness and its agents, spiritual and natural. The power to do so comes from knowing who our King, our Ruler, our Master is and following HIS commandments and orders.
Meditate on the power of this passage of scripture from John 7:16
"Jesus answered them, and said, My doctrine is not mine, but his that sent me".
So much power is derived from walking in obedience to God knowing that it is He who sends us and His message we carry to deliver.
"No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon". Luke 16:13 (KJV)
"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon". Matt 6:24 (KJV)
"Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, answered and said to the king, O Nebuchadnezzar, we are not careful to answer thee in this matter. If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and he will deliver us out of thine hand, O king. But if not, be it known unto thee, O king, that we will not serve thy gods, nor worship the golden image which thou hast set up". Dan 3:16-18 (KJV)

There is liberty, unearthly power and courage that comes with knowing who our true King and Ruler is.

Thursday, December 13, 2012

Do not fear to offend unclean spirits.


For many, in a competitive effort to please man, to build ever larger boxes for the purposes of collecting people, collecting bill payers, share holders, and repeat customers, the corporate church has become acquiescent to the very devils they have been commissioned to cast out. The people in the pews are sheep not share holders. For how long will the fear of losing money and a customer base hold the church captive? For how long will the corporate church be seduced by convenience. It is partly because of this that now the very unclean spirits that He has given us power over have gained much power and are wreaking havoc in this nation. We cannot serve two masters. In Jesus name stop fearing to offend unclean spirits and the people that they are attached to. As these demons are avoided, skirted around, romanced, and entertained, brothers and sisters are receiving Satan’s ministry and are falling prey to abominations. The kingdom of heaven is at hand.  Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. Matt 10:7-8

We all know that if you are not willing to fulfill a role that our Father requests of you, he will raise up someone else to carry it out. It saddens me, but there is a spirit of torment coming to many church leaders. God is rising up some Davids. Isn’t it a shame that He has to raise up the likes of a chicken restaurant chain and a hobby store chain to help lead where those who were appointed to, fear to?



Tuesday, October 23, 2012

Step up Leaders!

In America politicians are not the leaders neither are elected government officials. They are representatives, spokes persons, they are in effect temporary actors who act as the voice for the leaders. They are in truth servants to the public, hence the term public servitude. There is NO Caesar. In America the true leaders are  the private citizens, severally and collectively. Today I am praying for our nation’s leaders to step up, to seek truth and righteousness and to stand on it and voice it. Today I am praying for my Nation’s Leaders, the barber, the cab driver, the minister, the teacher, the business man, the working mom, the younger adults, the single moms and dads, the soldier, my brothers and sisters, my neighbors, We The People!  

Sunday, October 21, 2012

So that ye may Marvel

The one major thing that we consistently pray for is simply to experience an ever greater measure of God’s presence. We invite the Holy Spirit to rain down upon us and lead us. True to His word, what we ask for believing, will come to pass. On a consistent basis we have been receiving testimony from people of healings, emotional and physical. We have cried out for guidance on certain matters and he has sent messengers to guide and encourage. We have witnessed His answering of prayers. We have witnessed his Spirit fall upon groups of people young and old, resulting in a move of the gifts of the Spirit, children coming to the Lord and cleansing evidenced by weeping. He has made us aware of Him bringing us victory in numerous battles we have faced. He has opened our eyes to a multitude of instances wherein He has showed us in a beautiful manner that we are tracking in the same Spirit as some others in ministry. Not too long ago we gathered with some youth and prayed for food supply. It began virtually out of the blue. Now we have been blessed with so much food that we are able to invite people in need to come and get groceries at first and now clothing. True to his word he has blessed the store house and fills it to overflowing.

A few weeks ago my daughter suffered a head injury that resulted in a concussion and temporary memory loss. We all prayed for her continuously and on one occasion we were in a room praying and my wife Tomika walked in. Tomika said that when she did, she at first thought the room was full of smoke but realized that it didn’t smell like smoke but that it must have been some sort of mist. Our daughter has fully recovered and is doing just fine.

Friday night we were worshiping and praying in the sanctuary. Again the focus of our prayers was simply to experience a greater measure of the presence of God and his Spirit in this place, in our lives and that he begin to manifest his presence on a greater scale. We prayed for miracles so that we may marvel, so that ye may marvel. Jesus said, “For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel”. John 5:20 (KJV), I Know God wants us to move in his power I know he wants His people to be miraculously healed and made whole and I believe that with that he wants us to witness and expirence miracles, signs and wonders so that we may marvel, because as we contemplate the why’s and the how’s of a miracle we become captured by the possibilities of God’s realness and are drawn into a quest for a deeper knowledge and understanding of Him and the love he has for us and most importantly we begin to grow in a relationship with Him. So that we may marvel, experience and testify to his goodness.

Saturday morning I was in the sanctuary preparing for service. I was alone, some worship music was playing I had just finished straightening some things and began to pray when my attention was diverted to one of the window seals where there were a couple of candles. As my gaze met one of the candles it seemed as though it began to flame so I went to it not completely sure of what I had just witnessed, sure enough, the candle was burning. There was a flame now when just moments before, there certainly was not. It seemed to have spontaneously lit. I stood there and marveled. Glory to God. I know an outpouring of His Spirit is on the rise.

Cleanse the Temple

In the Bibles’ New Testament there are accounts of Jesus coming into Jerusalem and entering into the temple there. When he enters into the structure he finds that men are using the temple for profit and gain by either selling merchandise or practicing banking. According to scripture, the Apostle John wrote in his gospel, “Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;  And said unto them that sold doves,  “Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise”. (John 2:13-16 (KJV)

The Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke also give similar accounts of the events that transpired on that day in the temple. Each account adding more pieces to the puzzle so that when one puts them all together a very detailed story emerges bringing to life a very powerful message. Jesus went into the temple and witnessed what was taking place. He disliked it so that he sought for and found the necessary materials to fashion a multi-stranded whip of small cords.  According to John he then “drove them all out of the temple”. When I read this I get the impression of Jesus meticulously weaving and tying these cords all the while carefully considering and planning his course of action. When ready, he took action and with the whip, he “drove them out”, to me this implies a level of violence was exhibited by Jesus as he passionately sought to rid his Father’s house of the merchandisers who were conducting their business therein. He drove them out with impunity and without prejudice as to the cause of the merchants, solely because they were using the temple for buying and selling.

According to Mark 11:15-18 (KJV), “And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;  And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple. And he taught, saying unto them, is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves. And the scribes and chief priests heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine”.
Luke wrote, “And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold therein, and them that bought; Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves. And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him, Luke 19:45-47 (KJV)

According to Matthew, “And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. Matthew 21:12-14 (KJV)

Why do you still buy and sell merchandise in what you claim to be His temple? Why is there still so much emphasis put on money changing in where you claim His temple to be? Is it not to be known by all nations as a house of prayer? Are you lost, pretending or knowingly outright disobedient? Remember Jesus cast out the merchants with impunity and without prejudice to their cause, it did not matter why they were merchandising. He drove out them that bought as well. “Make not my Father's house an house of merchandise”! Did he not implore us to do as he did? I believe it is very important to note that after Jesus cleansed the temple, the chief priests and the scribes sought to destroy him because they feared him and were astonished by his doctrine. Why?, because it was righteous and righteousness was foreign to them. More importantly, however, Jesus, after he cleansed the temple, taught there daily and because it had been cleaned, the blind and the lame came in and he healed them.

 In 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 Paul wrote, “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are”.

            We each are a temple. Make your temple worthy of the Holy Spirit. I believe that in most of us there is hiding a spirit of a merchant, a marketer, a banker. On a consistent basis they are working to penetrate our hearts and minds. These are of the world and seek to fool us into adopting their ways and misleading us to use their ways in guise of kingdom principles, such as, equating money with liberty, blessing, power, security and success. They speak to us trying to seduce us with notions like, “If you only had enough money you could be free to do this”. If you only had enough money you could be free to do that”. If I had enough money you could gain respect”, “If I had enough money I could get the car, then get the girl”, “With more money, people would think God is blessing your Church”. “Without money you are not secure”! This is done on such a level that if we are not careful we fall into a trap believing that the source of all that is pleasing, joyful and secure is rooted in wealth of money. If not careful very suddenly we find ourselves subtly shifting our focus on to money and a quest for it, so focused that we begin to lose sight of the promises of liberty, blessing, security and power in and through our creator. In this process we lose a great measure of Faith, maybe even so focused on money that we forget to think on Him first, and if we are not very careful, begin to worship money believing it to increase our status, or possibly we even fall to sin to obtain it.
“They feared the LORD, and served their own gods, after the manner of the nations whom they carried away from thence”. 2 Kings 17:33 (KJV)

I am not saying that money has not been made a necessary component in some societies. I am merely re-revealing that money is an institution of man. Historically institutions of man fail. In our nation’s recent history this specific institution failed and money became virtually useless overnight. Those who had learned to put their trust in man and his institutions for their security suffered greatly, and those who had been truly taught and received the word of the Lord, to trust in the Lord believing, well they not only weathered those times but prospered because they were able to see his goodness all around them.

“Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.  For he shall be like the heath in the desert, and shall not see when good cometh; but shall inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited.  Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit. Jeremiah 17: 5-8 

I say that if we cleanse our inner temples and those we enter into, if we carefully consider, plan and take action we can effectively “drive them out”. Once clean the blind and the lame will come to us on the streets and in our church houses to be healed and taught daily of a relationship with our Creator and His Christ, Jesus.  I am sure that in the process the world will begin to hate us but remember what Jesus said in John 15:19, “If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you”.
  
The world may hate us but our father will be glorified and move, Jesus’ great sacrifice will not be in vain, people will marvel at the miracles signs and wonders and turn to Him, our ministry of reconciliation will spread like wild fire. Let the world hate, it will only be for a short time. I have been immersed in his glory, I have tasted it for an instant and “It Is Good”. I assure you it is unimaginably thrilling, breath taking, electrifying, it is what he has for all those who love him, who enter into a right relationship with Him, and a place is being prepared for us in one of our Father’s many mansions for eternity.

“If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin”. John 15:22-23 (KJV)

“Howbeit then, when ye knew not God, ye did service unto them which by nature are no gods.  But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage”? Gal 4:8-9 (KJV)

A Church that focuses too much on appearances will soon become only the appearance of a Church.

Monday, July 9, 2012

Do I seek to please men?

For do I now persuade men, or God? or do I seek to please men? for if I yet pleased men, I should not be the servant of Christ. But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ. Gal.1:10-12

To reveal his Son in me, that I might preach him among the heathen; immediately I conferred not with flesh and blood: Gal.1: 16

It amazes me how still to this day man believes that the gospel can only be preached by and through the certification, permission, grace and instruction of men. It is by this concept that the perpetuation of longstanding deceptions persists. It is by the grace of our Creator and through revelations of Christ Jesus that this concept will come to an abrupt end.