Self Esteem

Everyone deals with self-esteem at some point in their life. Some deal with low self-esteem all their lives. It is something I have had to work people through over my entire ministry life. Some face the extremes of lacking self-esteem by the ongoing demeaning of a person until the person is completely broken down. This can come by others who press you down to gain advantage over you and feel better about themselves. It can also come by doing it to ourselves thinking we deserve it. Self-esteem could be termed self-value or how you value yourself. Self-esteem is how you value the very essence of yourself. We all deal with self-esteem in many ways. Confidence is a major one.

Webster’s defines self-esteem as: a confidence in one’s own worth or abilities; self-respect.

The confidence in one’s own self-worth is not in right decision-making but is found deeper. It is having a settledness in who you are, (Identity) and the potential that is inside you. Most of the time, confidence is eroded when things go bad or go in a different direction than anticipated. Life events have nothing to do with our self-esteem but if we are not careful, we will let it come in and begin to erode our confidence. I have had many life events go in the wrong direction. There was pressure to let those moments define me and who I am. I made business decisions that cost me tens of thousands of dollars. Other business decisions should have made me wealthy, but I ended up breaking even. Still other decisions made me doubt why I chose a certain direction. But all of them had factors out of my control along with my assumption that others would act like I act, from the same value system. But I decided to allow God to define me instead and He saw me through the detrimental life events. Self-esteem is never formed from hindsight and the what ifs. It is formed by knowing who you are and what you are capable of.

We make decisions based on the information at hand, experience, and a trust in others to perform what has been determined. We believe they value what we value and will respond like we would respond. How they respond is outside of our control. Self-esteem is about you as a person and not outside influences, and how they affect you. You remain deep down who you are no matter what happens in life around you. You are a person, and those influences are events. Two very different things.

Self-esteem is really a measuring of what we feel we should be doing and attain, versus what we are doing. The in-between is the place self-esteem is determined. The closer the gap between our reality and what we feel is “perfection”, the greater our self-esteem. The wider the gap, the less we feel about ourselves. We must be careful not to widen the gap by the words we speak and how we see ourselves. Self Esteem is not just how we value ourselves but starts by how we see ourselves. How we compare “us” to possibly a false image of “us” or what others might expect or even others we admire. Correct self-esteem will always have a gap between where we are at now and where we see our potential really is. That’s healthy self-esteem, evaluating improvement but not being driven by the standard of perfection.

2 Corinthians 10:12–13 (KJV 1900) — 12 For we dare not make ourselves of the number, or compare ourselves with some that commend themselves: but they measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise. 13 But we will not boast of things without our measure, but according to the measure of the rule which God hath distributed to us, a measure to reach even unto you.

We have wrong self-esteem when we have wrong standards by which we measure ourselves. We may be coming up with unrealistic ideas of what the standard for ourselves should be. We set standards upon ourselves that God never intended. He knows we have limitations, and He has made provision for the lack, mistakes, and choices. It really becomes a mental health issue of having healthy and realistic expectations of ourselves. Ones that give us a realistic target to hit and not a perfectionist mentality that we sometimes hit but most of the time, fall short.

But self-esteem deals with how actions determine our value. Our actions come from our value system. How we value ourselves and what we know to be true about ourselves. That’s why when those values are violated by others, it cuts us deeply. Our first response generally is that there is something wrong with me. But really, how people respond and when they respond poorly or with differing values that are less than ours, only shows areas needing adjusted in their lives and not ours.

Actions may be right or wrong at times, but the value of who we really are remains the same. It never changes nor is it reduced. God is no respecter of persons and values every person equally. He loves us because He chose to love us, not based on our actions or lack of actions. God has no variable or sliding scale. He sees us how He made us and not what comes at us, trying to change the very depths of who we are. His opinion of us remains the same while ours may change. Self-esteem is really who you are as a person, more so than the decisions you make. Value is not determined by our actions but by our character, value systems, moral living, treatment of others, kindness, compassion, appreciations, and the unique and wonderful way God made us. These are the things I point out to those who have self-esteem issues.

If you have self-esteem issues, you can approach it in two ways. First is the resetting of the perfection bar you have established. Problems in life do come along. People deceive us, lie to us, abuse us and a host of other things. These do not demean our value but come to erode at our perceptions of ourselves. If we are not careful, we put them into how our self-esteem is formed. We set high unattainable standards thinking this will stop the life issues. Set a realistic goal for your life and find happiness that you are on the journey to reach it. Remember that how the journey unfolds will not define who you are.

The other area is seeing if we truly are living below our potential. Perhaps we have a ‘let’s wait and see’ attitude or an unwillingness to put energy into bettering ourselves. This also must be addressed and shifted. God expects a good healthy attempt with what we can do and not ultimate perfection from us, as He says there is none perfect, not one. To adjust self-esteem, we need to take the undue pressure off us. We close this gap by making an effort, working our potential, and measuring it with God’s realistic viewpoint, and our self-esteem will quickly rise.

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Here is Your Battle Plan!

This is small portion of a Class I recently taught in Legacy School our online school.

Paul told Timothy a valuable insight. It was a charge he gave him. A charge was a command that was not to be taken lightly and was expected to be heeded. Paul gave 6 charges to Timothy over the 2 books written to him. This is the first or foundational charge. The word commit following the word charge was the passing of the charge into the hands of Timothy to steward.

1 Timothy 1:18–19 (KJV 1900) — 18 This charge I commit unto thee, son Timothy, according to the prophecies which went before on thee, that thou by them mightiest war a good warfare; 19 Holding faith, and a good conscience; which some having put away concerning faith have made shipwreck:

The word war  means to make a military expedition, to lead soldiers to war or to battle, (spoken of a commander). It is a verb or action word. Paul was expecting Timothy to go on military conquest or campaign, a mission. He was to be strategic in the advance of the kingdom. But not by natural means but by spiritual means. It was to be a “good” warfare. The word “good” means excellent in nature. It would hold the nature of Christ and the spirit of excellence. It was  battle that was to be done a certain way. As he did this the outcome would be a warfare. The word warfare means a military campaign. Military service, discharge of apostolic duties. It is the word Strateia which is the root of our word strategy. It is a noun and descriptive of something accomplished. The outcome of deciding to lead others would result in strategic warfare.

Paul refers to how to strategize in this warfare, it is found in the prophetic words Timothy had been given when he was commissioned. It was what God said over his life. Paul connects the warfare is related to what was said prophetically over Timothy. The ability to lead others is related to the prophetic words spoken over our lives. It also holds the strategy we are looking for in how to conduct our campaigns, mission and visions. It is connected to kingdom exploits and advancements. This tells us how prophesy will also reveal what kind of things will try to stop us from fulfilling our destiny. Paul was saying to Timothy the battle is not just about your life but it is about Timothy’s destiny upon the earth and the work he had been assigned for the Kingdom of God.

Paul tells us the destiny and fulfillment of Timothy’s words will not occur by himself, but he will need to enlist other soldiers to war with him. The destiny was not about Timothy’s life but what Timothy was to accomplish with His prophetic words. He had been given the weapon of war within his prophesy and instruction to convey the importance of what he carried to others. The prophecy would hold such hope, power and vision that it would convince others to aid Timothy and join alongside him. Paul would tell him later to find faithful men able to teach others also. This is not just doctrinal instruction but prophetic strategy that would be sustained to generations coming forth from the prophetic word.

The Power of Prophesy over a life is a seldom accessed or seen as tool of warfare. Your prophetic words are a battle plan for your life. These words must be worked out and strategized over. They must be safeguarded as well. Paul would also warn Timothy that a good solider he was not to be entangled with the affairs of this live. The entanglements come to dimmish the prophetic words over His life. This prophetic word carried great force and power and worldly affections would reduce its impact. A strong word requires the application of force and resistance to whatever would hinder them from fulfillment.

Perhaps if prophetic words were not so flowery but actually carried the sense of true kingdom destiny others would engage into them. Perhaps if prophesy were at a higher level, we would have the strategy we are looking for. Make war with your prophesy. Your prophesy is your battle plan given to you by God to fulfill.

Prophetic Vision 1/12/2022

Like Bob Jones would give the Shepherds Rod sometimes the Lord speaks to me like this. Recently this happened to me again as I was meditating on many things concerning the life of the Body of Christ, the disconnected ones, the order needed, the power required, and I was seeking asking God what will it take to align and re-order all of this to your intention. This is what was conveyed.

The Mavericks

First, I saw two groups of people. Mavericks and those who are rogue. The 2 groups were the same. The Lord spoke to me and said, “the mavericks are my sent ones. They do not fit the status quo but are still connected into the body and submitted to me. They love my church and are not critical of her. They have an assignment and an empowerment to challenge my bride out of slumber.” I then saw the other group the rogues. The Lord spoke to and said, “this groups is to themselves. They have gifting and anointing but are not submitted to any leader. They believe they know all things and are critical of my church. They have created their own way not within my prescribed order. ” I could see both groups operating in the same moment. Both were having results, the mavericks more so than the rogues. It seemed confusing that both could have results. Then I saw the eternal results of both groups. Not the actions but what was created in hearts who were around each group. This clarified the impact of the unseen of the Mavericks vs the rogues. The Mavericks had imparted things eternal while the rogues had only brought what was more temporal. The disconnect of the rouges coming from attitude disqualified them to carry the eternal.

 The War

I saw a great war in the heavens going on. An ancient war with ancient demonic forces. These forces have been reserved for this moment of time, to wear out the saints. I saw the deceiver and accuser. I saw how many in the body of Christ have played into the deception and even the accusation. Their judgements of the church and the bride have empowered the demonic forces. The dissatisfaction they experienced coming from others and how they felt treated, was in reality, their own dissatisfaction with their own selves. This was making them rogue in living their faith. Their faith was empowering the deception. I saw a lying spirit and how all of this was empowering it. The empowering was so great in this hour it was as if it was becoming a principality over regions and nations. I saw fear gripping tightly upon areas of hearts. It was the whispering spirit collaborating with the lying spirit. I heard a voice speak and say, “the great war has come.”

The Ecclesia

I then saw the church, the Ecclesia. I saw a new way of battling with a new sound and a new sword being formed. I saw the church standing looking up , vertically, and speaking to demonic forces. Then I saw the church rise and speak horizontally. The church was being repositioned and it was critical to be both aligned and in order. The alignment was a multiplier. The order brought a confidence. I saw the Ecclesia step into position in the second heaven aligning itself with its destiny. They were also coming into order and began to reorder all things, beginning in the second heaven. The Ecclesia begin to wrestle with and contend face to face with demonic forces. The war was going to be differnet because a different ecclesia was emerging. Aligned and order to produce a bowing down of demonic forces and a giving way of demonic influences. But the Ecclesia was carrying a new sword. A sound never before heard.

The Sound

I saw a sound that had never been before, coming forth. A harmonious, synchronized sound. A sound that was coming from union and not unity. A sound recognized by both believer and unbeliever. A sound known in heaven but becoming known in the earth. It was the sound of war, but not of the battle, or call to war. Even though the battle was on you could not hear the sound of it like past battles. But the sound the Ecclesia carried was the dominate and only sound. It was the sound of ultimate victory contained in the ecclesia. The sound was soft and deafening at the same time. It was authoritative. It contained the power and breath of God. It had come to do business and the sound demanded a response that would have to give way. It was a new weapon of war. A new sword forming.

The Order

I saw an order coming into the earth again. This order was the ways of God. The order was defining the realignment of past structures. A structuring of governmental legislating. A way that would produce a path. The Path was part of the order. It was the outcome of the ways. The sound of the Ecclesia was the order. The order was coming to release authority. I saw wave upon wave of authority being released upon the earth, as another part of the order and path of God was being found and walked. The more this repeated the stronger the sound and the order became. Men’s hearts were giving way to the order as a more excellent way.

 The Tree

I saw a new tree coming into existence. It seemed to be a short brushy type of tree but held great promise. I sensed it would produce a new fruit or food source. I thought this could be a supernatural  source possible for healing properties. Then I saw the bark and leaves of the tree being used as a tea and many being healed. Then the Lord spoke to me and said, “this is all of this and so much more. This is the tree of Life being restored. In the next season the focus and embrace of the life-giving source will become more dominate in the body. As it comes it will bring healing where there seems to be a lack.” I saw the tree being rooted into the earth again. I saw it spreading outward creating  a huge umbrella under its limbs and it became the covering for many. This tree of Life was and is Christ.

 The Intensity

I saw the intensity. It was a force coming of such power. The intensity was overwhelming to think of. Its power could utterly destroy in a moment of being unbalanced. It seemed the sound and order the Ecclesia was carrying was the balancing required. The intensity was fearful and reverence instilling. It became an actual wall of power that could be felt that swept entire cities. It was known by all, felt by all, but none could see it. It was complete and stood to the heavens and reached horizon to horizon. But it was not a fixed wall but moved slowly as one single intentional force. It was obvious nothing could stand in its path, and nothing would even consider it. Everything seemed to have been set in order and alignment and because of that and the sound of the ecclesia everything was magnified thousands of times.

What a Reset Really Means

I have been saying for over a year that the Church needs to shut down and reset. We need to come to a collective conclusion we don’t have the expression we should have. We should all decide to seek God whole heartedly and come back, all on the same page, because the Holy Spirit led us together on the journey. Many are saying ‘reset’ and I agree. But how we do it is what is frustrating. A virus has forced us into a place instead of the Holy Spirit leading us. We didn’t decide to go seek God because we saw a need to do so. It’s like an afterthought since we are restricted, we might as well make the best of it. The word ‘reset’ means to bring back to a defined starting point, a zero point, to set again or to set anew. My fear is we might set again. My hope is we will set anew.

Since when you reset, you generally bring everything back to a zero point. You clear out all the data, all the clutter, all the excess and start over. Are you prepared to be at a zero point, to clear out all the ways of doing, to really start over? We still have not gone into a zeroing process yet. I believe we are still thinking about adjusting things instead of resetting things. We talk of reset but do you understand what that potentially means? A zeroing of what we think we believe. A zeroing of doctrines. A resetting of preferences, affiliations, alignments, just about every area and all spheres. Right now, we still seem conflicted in what we believe, or even what reset looks like. The Lord told me in 3 weeks, the face of this will look different. He didn’t say the virus would be gone, or restrictions lifted, He said the face would be different. What I have concluded the face to be, is the face of leaders. If you take that and put it in reset, I believe He is resetting leaders more than the Church. I feel we are about to go through a changing of the guard, new emerging faces coming from forges of forming and hiding into being known. If we are resetting, then we are resetting in form, function and structures. We are resetting in how we govern and who leads the governing. Are you willing to be reset? Are you willing to be reshuffled into the place God has ordained for you and not where men forced you into? Will you be zeroed out to start again? Pretty sobering isn’t it to think just when I think I have arrived, I find I still have a long journey to take?

I’m astonished how many opinions are in play in this critical hour. “The virus is a judgment from God.” “This is a sign of the end of the age.” “We as a nation, need to repent.” The list goes on and on. All of these would take a lot of time to teach to reset mindsets. If the Holy Spirit was truly resetting us, we would be coming onto the same page in these areas. We would become one heart, one purpose and one voice. We would be experiencing John 17 coming into union with Christ. This is not God’s judgment; it is pure evil brought by an antichrist spirit. Instead of the Church affecting the seven mountains, this spirit is. We as the Church, have put ourselves in the religious mountain and now are under the religious spirit. Isaiah said we were on a separate mountain above all others. This is not the end of the age. We don’t really have a Kingdom to present to the Father. As for repentance, how can I truly repent for what I didn’t do? Identification repentance you say. That was an Old Testament model for a nation. If we were to repent, I guess I missed the memo amid all the conflicted opinions. These doctrines don’t really have a basis in Kingdom understanding, yet men have built ministries around them. Wrong eschatology leads to wrong ecclesiology and develops wrong theology. Please become a student of the Word in these areas! Maybe we need to ‘zero out’ and let God tell us what we should all believe.

What are we resetting into? It can be easily summed up. The original intentions of God. Authentic Christianity. A Church that is more Kingdom than religious in approach and mindsets. Just being brutally honest, it has everything to do with the harvest and at the same time, nothing to do with the harvest. I don’t see a harvest coming unless we zero out and allow God to build His house His way. We will not have the right house or spiritual capacity for the harvest. Is God concerned about the harvest? Yes! Is God more concerned about the Church and its leaders? Probably. He doesn’t want the harvest to come into the atmospheres we are currently producing. In other words, He doesn’t want the harvest to spoil. I grew up on a farm and the #1 thing that spoils a harvest is the mixture of green weed seed within it. The second is harvesting before its time, being anxious to get the harvest out so a premature harvest. When that happens the moisture content of the grain will spoil itself. Yes, we are headed to a worldwide harvest, but first God must build His container for it. We will know when it is built. He said He would rebuild David’s tabernacle (Acts 15:16-17) that the residue of all men would come. The word ‘residue’ means outcast. What we have built is not for the outcast but for ourselves.

What is the plan for the “reset”? What’s the strategy? How do we implement it? I have many leaders really frustrated in this hour, calling me wondering why there is such division right now in doctrine. They are asking who has answers for a way forward? This has taken us all off guard. It’s not so much a division occurring as it is a sanctification moment. A holy separation of that which is holy from that which is profane. That which has mixture from that which is holy. That which is partial truth from full truth. It is separating the opinions of men from the intentions of God. The dividing lines are exposing mindsets, to expose the unauthentic from the authentic. To bring us back to the origins of God’s heart.

As our nation is being purged on a national level, the Body of Christ is also being purged from the many idols and things that have captured our imagination. I have said for a long-time, conferences need to be replaced with regional Kingdom centers. Imagine if we had done that already, how we could have navigated the current waters! Saints truly equipped, trained and full of faith. How we could have mobilized to be a viable option instead of being discarded as not having anything to offer.

We all are seeking to see the glory come, but we already are in a glory, the 5th glory seen in Ezekiel. It is a dividing glory. A purging glory, a glory reserved to help build the only model in scripture we have not tried to build, and it is what Ezekiel saw. But this journey is totally based on God’s sovereignty being seen, felt and yielded to. A work entirely done by Him and man participates by cooperating with Him. I wrote about the 4 breaths that brings 7 glories, Gods 7 natures natures and graces to the Body of Christ in my book “Breath of God” which the Holy Spirit wrote through me in 2014. It is now unfolding.

What is coming? God is about to release His 3rd breath. Before this pandemic hit, we as a ministry, were contending for that breath and we still are. Our meetings have ramped up, expectation is still high, and faith is active. We were seeing healings and deep works of God. People were experiencing Sea of Glass visions. It is amazing that a virus comes to steal breath, mocking God’s desire to bring His breath. When God’s 3rd breath comes, it will touch the seven mountains. When God’s breath comes, it will release the 6th glory. What is coming is the forming of a single corporate new man. They will have one heart and one voice and probably most importantly, one sound, all carrying God’s breath. This will set these apart from all the other sounds. The government of God will come into place, not to control people but to bring the atmosphere of freedom coming from heaven. They will display the 7 natures of Christ and those 7 graces. They will govern from those places more so than the 5-fold functions we declare. This will create true covenantal alignments between people, tribes and begin to bring the Body into union with Christ in a way never seen before. The origins of God will form authentic Christianity being seen.

The Lord told me the Acts of the Apostles are coming again. Not just a tag or name, but actual acts that shift the atmosphere over regions in measurable results not fanciful statements that can’t be backed up. It will be an authoritarian grace they will walk in. This realigning will result in eternal mysteries being revealed and fellowshipped with, as people will simply know the intentions of God. People will be placed in the land and the Spirit of God will invade the land through those people. This will be the container for harvest. Then the final breath and 7th glory will come. A transcended glory where the people of God become the doorway to heaven, and God is dwelling in the house establishing His throne.
Are we headed to a reset? Yes! Is it what you think? Probably not. It is a deep thing God wants to do. I pray we don’t miss the moment but without a desperation of abandonment and to abandon our own understanding, I’m concerned we will just go through the motions of a moment instead of becoming that moment upon the earth.

The New Era

What I want to share is not a prophetic word but Apostolic Observations and some things the Lord has been speaking to me. These things help me know the path I am to take in trying to help the Body of Christ. After all, as an Apostle how can you lead people unless you know where to take them.
Decisions
We just turned the calendar on another year. So much of a focus on the moment and hope of something being different because of a new year. Yet for the church in this hour the new season began a few months ago. The prophetic words of promise we have received over time are still in play. The Lord remains the same and His intentions are the same. Nothing changes because of a calendar year but does go into motion because God has brought us to a pivotal point, a decision point, a place in time that demands change. A slowing down of schedules and being sure were we invest our time that it really is producing. For some they are rejecting or not participating in some meetings, though they are good, nothing is truly being produced. New approaches and a willingness to lay everything down and not just go along with everything because others are. That is what the new Era really is about. Decision points and lots of them. A deep heart searching and deep dissatisfactions that will press us forward. Renewed repentance is coming, and it is a deep soul-searching repentance that will cause repentance to be a lifestyle. Less dependency upon our abilities and greater dependency upon the Son and his nature being formed within us and the Holy Spirit working through us. This will require us to come back to tarrying before the Lord. The longer we tarry the greater the impact with shorter messages.
Separation Grace
The new era has a sanctifying grace upon it to cause separations that are needed. There is coming and must come these separations. It is more than a doctrinal disagreement, or an action or activation issue. It comes down to a real core issue of abundant life. It seems we have the language down, the concepts in place and many of the actions are correct but what is being produced is still very much lacking. Most have a holy dissatisfaction. I think because we have all these, and several other things in place, and we feel we are alright, and the real issue is on Gods side. We are waiting on Him. He must decide to open the spiritual realm. His timing is not yet etc. Yet God is willing and patiently is waiting for our final purifying to handle the Holy Things. We are in the 4th glory of Ezekiel and it is a cleansing, separating glory. A filling Glory is coming.
Maturing Preparation
What I see is we have gotten used to doing what we do. The norm is the affirmation. To be able to maintain means I’m correct and in need of nothing. We have become comfortable with the status quo. Especially those who have been in the faith a longer time. For most they have experienced the move of God in their life and are content. Yet contentment is not what God has called us to. A generation has not yet seen or experienced the depths of God and, there are depths of God we all can experience. As we mature in Christ, we should be reaching more and more levels of dependence upon Him than the environments we have created. The longer I know God the more I realize I do not know him. His depths run so deep and there is so much to discover. This is coming from one who has lived a life of revelatory grace that comes out teaching, counsel and approach. I feel I have lived in an ongoing awakening but have not seen the reformation required to move the body to the next level. What we do in meetings is right it just is coming from a past season of time. The new season is already upon us and we must transition into it. We have seen restoration begin but not allowed it to mature in many areas. The preparation that is occurring is to bring a boldness to align and make things right again. It is a Holy righteousness that is forming. An uncompromising position of understanding the ways of God and to see those ways brought forth in the earth. The delay we feel has caused a pressing ever forward to reach that which we cannot yet define but know exist.
Heart Challenges
The upcoming season will hold many heart challenges for leaders and those pressing to the mark of the high calling. Purging, shaking, re-evaluation, letting go, finalizing value systems, removing what is not of God. Many have grown accustomed to being alright or have measures of success, yet these things have also caused a decrease in peoples spirits as well. Some have grown accustomed to areas of the heart not being not being touched or challenged. God is purging his church and it begins with those leading. The remnant we all talk of is made up of many different camps but there is a driving force deep in some that is causing a remnant within the remnant to begin to connect. We probably have not really had a remnant as we think of. An elitist group who are different than most. The word means a trace amount, remaining a surviving group. It also means an unused portion of goods. It comes down to what remains from the original. If we are honest it appears, we have lost the original, yet Gods original is intact in the spirits and hearts of the true real remnant. Also this remnant I’m talking about is really being unused.
These are either in the process I described above or have gone through it. They may have a small voice or no voice in this hour. But they are not concerned about following, or men’s affirmation, or clamoring for the platform. They are in meditation before the Lord to complete what is lacking in their faith, so their lives will leave a mark. Even if the time of deep ministry is short like Jesus it will impact and change the course of history as we see it being written. These ones are willing to slow down and allow God to do His work in them. They are not making assumptions of a false finish line of completion. They see things as they are in the lack, but also are seeing the unlimited possibility of God intention. They are formulating the words and doctrine to lead in the next season. Truth that is filled with Gods breath and life. Words that have come from heaven and been allowed to take hold in the heart and be nurtured to fullness, as they are not on a time deadline.
God Will Name Us
I believe God wants to give us a name. A name from heaven that identifies us as well as separates us. We have been called by many names trying to define us or our actions. The latest being pioneers. But pioneers were mainly settlers and we can not settle spiritually. I throw out another name frontiersman. There has been a remnant group that are really frontiersman. They both open and maintain the new ground for others to follow. They see a horizon of the future and live to find its destiny. These frontiersmen are forerunners, marksman who know time and season. They also are defined by the conquest they complete more so than attempt. They hold ground until the multitudes come who can take their place. But again a frontiersman really defines our actions.
What I believe is like the early church was first called “The Way” then called Christians, God wants to name us so we don’t belong to a camp or tribe but belong to him. Something that speaks of who we are, our purpose in the earth, and the power and authority that comes from Him, revealing him. God has done much in bring identity and defining that, but true identity is only found as a son or daughter of God. This really must become our name and manner of living and seeing each other.
Spiritual Community
God is building new dimensions of community and honor within the body. These communities are becoming safe places for the broken and places of belonging. For some they are able to find freedom to be who God made them. For others giftings are able to have expression. Accelerated growth is occurring as the spirit of understanding has come connecting hearts in what each has in common. A completeness is being seen. These communities are becoming “living cells” making up the body of Christ, connected to other “living cells.” The community being built is not about just overcoming life but advancing the kingdom of God upon the earth. It is about sacred rights of passage as all are experiencing sacrifices and dependency on each other, but also rejoice over each other’s victories.

Definitions
Terminology is also going to change and come to a real place of definition. There is so much confusion concerning this right now. We as the church continue to evolve in understanding we have also looked for wording to describe accurately the revelation we are experiencing. Some words right now are revival, awakening, restoration, reform. Covering, oversight, alignment. Apostle, Apostolic, Commissioning, Ordination, Apostleship. Church, kingdom, culture, community, tribe and spiritual family. Spiritual fathering, Sonship, Fatherhood. Unity, Oneness. These all have different meanings depending upon whom you are with. We spend a lot of time defining and educating in these areas. The problem is leaders reproducing of definitions that are lacking, and then being embraced by those under them. I have constantly run into this as a problem. We are slowly coming to a conclusion on some of these and working out definitions with others.
Defined by What We Produce
But probably the one thing that seems to be lacking simply put, is results. We are filled right now with distractions that are all good and necessary but also keeps us consumed in things and keeps us from have more consistent results. But when these results come, they will come strong and with intensity. They will once again define us, but not with the separation of definitions we currently have. The defining will be from a deep place and speak to holiness, faith, love, authority, and the sense of overall purpose upon the earth. These results will shift mindsets and alliances. The church will become the voice again in culture instead of one of many.
The Finish Line and Governing
We must conclude what we are looking for. Is it revival, awakening, restoration, repentance, reformation? We need to agree on what it is and rightly define it. Exactly what will satisfy the frustrations so many are feeling. Without a finish line we do not have pathway for the journey. What is causing the dissatisfaction? Why does it exist? What does it look like if all things were reconciled to God? This seems to be a major area that has not been touched yet. The division over this is silently alarming. It partly exists because we do not have a true form of Apostolic Kingdom government in place. This has allowed for a wide-open unaccountable mindset. Prophets and Apostles are not given place to voice and lead. They are looked at as a threat instead of a grace blessing. We have no way to say this is the way we are to go, this is how we define, this is what we should all rally around. Because of this we are lacking the synergy of the Body of Christ moving in oneness and the same grace that rested upon the early church. But all the things I have written will cause the Body of Christ to come to that place of oneness of heart, voice, purpose, sacrifice, and intention.

Confrontational Glory
The future will also bring forth confrontations. Some will be in verbal form, others the work will be done in the spirit. While still others will be without saying a word and allowing actions of the heart to speak a clear message. We speak of confronting the culture of the world, but we have yet to confront the culture within the climate of the church. We try not to offend, yet Paul called men by name like Alexander the coppersmith who did him much harm. As men deal with their own hearts and God purges hidden things, confidence and boldness will rise. Men will experience deep conviction again and repentance will come. They will see the foolishness of their ways. Men will lay down their plans and schemes and a single plan will emerge, birthed from heaven, descended into men’s hearts. God will weigh in and give His opinion and finalize His agenda. Along with this will also be much glory revealed. It will not be gold dust or clouds but an honoring glory. A defining moment upon the earth will come and the fourth breath of Ezekiel will be released, bring the final Glory to be seen, a transcended glory. Believers will transcend worldly understanding.
Crowning Glory
God wants to put a crowning glory upon his church. Many in this hour are beginning to qualify themselves to receive crowns. Little to no knowledge of this exist due to the lack of eternal mindsets and preaching in this area. About 2 years ago I had a vision of crowning glory coming upon a person. I then saw it later upon the church. It comes because of suffering and sacrifice that causes suffering. This crown of Gold with jewels inlaid is placed upon the overcomer’s heads. As I saw it in a vision it was the typical med evil looking crown. But one thing was different, the points of the crown were bent. Bent because of the weight of the thickness of the gold the crown was made from. It was almost an inch thick. The greater the suffering to see the true things of God come forth the thicker the crown. The crowns that I saw were all bent under the weight of suffering. This is a unique crown reserved for those who have endured and overcome. This is a great encouragement for those who have been contending in the secret places.
These things are not predictions but observations the Lord has given me. I know they are not all inclusive and there are other things in motion, but these are the main ones

Kingdom Challege

What I’m about to share this time will probably challenge you to the very core of how you are doing ministry and view success. The kingdom of God is advancing but because of a religious mindset we are sometimes are missing its impact. We probably believe that success is determined by the number of salvations occurring. But the mandate we really have is to build the Kingdom of God and as we do that salvations will occur. The message of the Kingdom is: The gospel is the good news that a king exists with a kingdom to bring Royal power and sovereign rule to regenerate the earth and all within it through a people called the Ecclesia. The regeneration that the kingdom releases is what causes salvation to come. Now to the challenge. It is found in this verse.

Romans 15:19 (KJV 1900) — 19 Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.

The context of this verse is about a geographical region and the gospel of the kingdom within that region. Digging into this we find the area was relatively large and circular in nature. It also contained one of the major Roman roads which many used traveling. This road was lined with occult statutes and as people passed, they were expected to lay offerings down. It was an area with a lot of mixed beliefs, and with many traveling through it. But what Paul was talking about is not about preaching everything about the kingdom. But he was talking of a region that Paul worked in. Now did Paul get everyone saved in this area? No. Our mindset of success is conversions and Gods mindset is kingdom influences being felt. Not everyone was saved but everyone in the area knew about the kingdom. Are we in a strategy that everyone will know about the Kingdom in what I call my assigned territory? Now that is a real challenge!
He said the reason he impacted this geographical area was mighty signs, wonders and the power (dunimas) the nature of Christ within him. The word mighty is also the word dunimas. The signs and wonders contained the nature of God as they came and were performed. Looking at the previous verse he also states that he did things in word and deed and that everything he did was Christ working through him and he did nothing on his own accord. He trusted the Christ within him was enough to speak though him and perform his word by the Holy Spirit.

Now just how much did Paul allow Christ to work through him? We see verses in his writings of “I die daily” “My life is hid in Christ” “to die is gain” and a host of other verses. We use these in attempt to let go of sin and things that seem to distract us. But Paul’s process of dying was not to overcome shortcomings but to advance the kingdom of Christ. Christ was so formed in him was at a whole different level, a greater fullness of yieldedness, obedience and death even. The answer is also seen in this section of Romans.

Romans 15:21–22 (KJV 1900) — 21 But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand. 22 For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you.

Paul is quoting a verse found in Isaiah 52:21. This verse like so many was a prophesy concerning Christ coming. But now look at the context, Paul claims this verse for himself! It seems we hold certain prophet verse to only be Christ, but Paul claims this and others as his. He knows this verse in Isiah was focused towards Christ so why would he claim it as his own? Paul had so died, Christ was so formed in, He was so alive in Paul, that he saw that what was spoke pertaining and pointing towards Christ, that if Christ was really working through him, then those things were Paul’s as well! Now that is the root of the challenge we see here.

Romans 15:23 (KJV 1900) — 23 But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you;

Paul concludes a couple verses later stating with such confidence that he no longer had a place of effectiveness in that region. Imagine he was so well known and made the kingdom so well known, in his perspective he no longer was needed there. Instead of moving on out of frustration which so many do, he was ready to move on because of completion. To reach our regions we need signs and wonders. To see them in our regions we need Christ formed in us. But we need Him so real in our lives that not only do we take on the nature of Christ, but we take on what was said over him and prophesied about him is ours as well as we become his extension, his ambassadors upon the earth.

Vision: The Hammer of the Lord

8/24/18 1:15 A.M.
The Lord brought me a dream in the in the night season and while in the dream he gave me a vision, He then awoke me from the dream, but the vision continued. He continued to show me marvelous things until he said now go and write of this vision.
The vision was a gathering of many believers. They had come to a large outdoor music festival. They had their chairs and blankets. They had their families and friends. They had come to watch and be entertained. They loved God but had no anointing upon their life for service. They had not been trained or equipped or imparted to. There were thousands upon thousands and tens of thousands gathered before this outdoor stage. They covered the hills surrounding the stage area. Off each side of the stage stretching for miles was huge black curtains creating a defined gathering space in front of stage and outward each side of it.
Off to the side was a large circular auditorium. Within in was a few hundred. But it had started out as a few dozen. They had come as well, but they had come to declare and pray, they had come to dance before the Lord. They had come with one heart and mind and purpose. They had the mind of Christ. They knew the season of the Lord had come. The great season all flesh was longing for. They like the crowd in the field before the stage, they had gathered a crowd as well. I saw the doubling of God occurring repeatedly until dozens had turned into hundreds.
I told them all I must leave and go behind the stage at the outdoor gathering. For some reason black curtains hung on either side of the stage and behind it. The side curtains extend what seemed to be miles. I found and opening like a giant doorway and went behind the stage of those performing as those watching saw me disappear behind the blackout curtains unconcerned I had access.
Behind the stage a few others had gathered. They had heard the spirits voice beckoning them come. Some had strange instruments and others were artist. They were going with the music on the stage, but no one knew they were even there, nor could they hear their sound. But they were all releasing a single frequency. They were all had different giftings varying and all had deep calling, large callings, and I sensed had such substance developed but had been rejected for the most part by the ones in front of the stage and even those on the stage. It was not that the spectator shad even meet the people behind the stage to reject them, it was their spirits had rejected the message and giftings they carried. The ones behind the stage seemed content to be hidden. There was no competition behind the stage, it was not allowed behind the curtain. The Lord said, “Now lift my hammer and let it fall.”
I saw a large hammer with handle about 20 feet long. It was prepared by God for me. I went to it and saw a pad like a mattress was there as well. A large screen was up so we could see the people in front of the stage, it did not show the stage but the people. I lifted the hammer and dropped it upon the pad. It was all I could do to raise the weight 20 feet above me. I lifted it again and dropped it. Each time it became easier, but the head of the hammer seemed to begin to grow as well. Everyone was pleased. I couldn’t understand why the pad, but a man near me said, “it is not yet time but continue to drop it.” There was a frequency it produced that seemed to draw a few more threw the curtains from the front of the stage to the back. I continued to lift and drop and lift and drop until the pad was destroyed and I started to pound the earth with each blow.
Now there was several hundred behind the stage. Musicians of all types and those who could not play an instrument but were given something in their hand. The Lord said, “I am now forming my hammer to begin to release a sound into the earth to destroy all that is not of me.” I continued lifting and dropping and lifting and dropping. The power of the Lords hammer was coming from heaven to earth. It seemed when the hammer was lifted his power came upon it and when it dropped it was released. The frequency was starting to permeate the earth and I could see the side curtains miles away begin to shake. I could also see the great crowd of tens of thousands who had come to watch now beginning to shake as well.
The Lord said, “The hammer of the Lord is now beginning to shake everything that can be shaken. The whole earth will shake with my power and a realigning will now begin. The day of the hammer has started. The builders have come to not be known but hidden behind the veil, the intercessors have come to stay in the circular building until all has been accomplished.” I could see the intercessors were locked in a seemingly endless intercession and it was helping the frequency of the hammer upon the earth be sustained. The tension of the builders and what they released was not fancy words but was a frequency in the spiritual realm. They had learned how to tap the spiritual realm in a way with their hearts that caused far reaching results.
The pounding was growing, the intercession was growing, the crowd watching the stage was growing, the hidden ones behind the veil was growing. I continued the pounding seeing new results with every blow. “This that is hidden is my hammer,” said the Lord, “Continue to pound but let me take your eye to a new place.”
I was able to continue to pound but the Lord lifted me about 40 feet off the ground, and he brought me to the poles holding the side curtains that stretched for miles across the hills. The poles I just knew represented seasons. The Lord said, “bring your eye close to the top and look.” As I did I saw that each pole had a white crystal globe that formed a point. They were light a large light on the top. The Lord said “these are my poles of truth. Look down the line of the poles and what do you see.” I put my eye to the globe and looked and saw that all the poles and all the globes were aligned in a straight line behind it. The Lord said, “what you see is not multiple truth but that when aligned there is but one truth, and only one truth.”
Between each pole of truth there was a single large thick beam of cedar suspended at the top. Several inches thick and several feet tall. The Lord said, “these beams are my paths and the poles of truth are my ways. The poles are seasons of truth and the beams are generations connected to truth. Generations had touched truth to truth. They were always attached to truth from beginning to end.” The revelation of this flooded through me of the depth of what it meant. The paths varied from 50 to 100 to 500 feet, to even a mile in length. I could sense it was increments of 50, generations. I could tell the hammer of the Lord had brought an alignment of the truths within the earth to become aligned as one truth. I also knew it was aligning the people of God, that the alignments were not because of a person’s network or personality but because of truth.
I then saw something amazing. Each pole of truth a golden oil had appeared. And was running down from the top to the pole below. It seemed to be flooding from the globe of light at the top and was flowing completely around the perimeter of the pole and had flowed into the earth at the base. The Lord said, “my people have come to each truth and gathered around it, camping to not continue the path to other truths.” I saw the beams now begin to form golden oil to the point it was saturated and large drips had formed on the bottom of the beams. As the hammer of the Lord continued it was shaking the earth and thus shaking the poles of truth. They remained perfectly imbedded and the pathway beams so tightly joined (generations tightly connected to truth) to them the oil from heaven upon the beams began to drop into the earth. The redemption of the earth was underway.
The Lord spoke and said, “you long for the oil to touch you, and I long for the oil to redeem my creation fully.” I could see the oil was beginning to saturate the whole the earth. Alignment had come. The hammer of the Lord continued but now since truth had aligned the black curtains were gone the crowd of hundreds of thousands before the stage could now see the hidden ones behind the stage. They desired to leave the place of being entertained but to do so they had to cross under the pathway of God and let the dripping oil touch them. A new curtain had appeared a curtain of golden oil. They had to walk through a curtain of oil so thick they were completed covered in the oil.
The Lord said, “keep the hammer going for look at all it has aligned and what it has accomplished. My hand in this hour is upon the hidden ones behind the stage of men. They are my hammer. They are the hammer of the Lord.”

The Journey Has A Cause

As I sit at my office tonight and listen to the BASE worship team practice, it brings me to reflect on the goodness of God. His goodness to give us a worship team willing to lead others. The goodness of God to make a way that there is childcare for our team to practice. The faithfulness of God as we have moved and relocated the ministry many times to finally move to our capital. The impact in state government we have had. The connecting of others of like faith. The birthing of more centers like ours. The expansion social media has brought. The many books written now read around the world, which was never my intention. My intention was they would be a legacy after I’m gone to be discovered and read.

I look around my office and see the reminders of the nations I have traveled to, some repeatedly with teams I was training as we did conferences to train leaders. Sitting on my shelves are the memories and the gifts that only I understand, each with its own story, like my small green bible. A pastor in the bush had saved for 3 years to buy it and gave it to me as a gift after only having it for 3 weeks. His only Bible.

It seems I have gone to places others did not want to go. Places off the path to the least of these. Places with no money, but wealthy with hunger. And yes, great faith. I am not called to large crowds but to large hearts, hearts with capacity for all the truth God has. Much of what I have done has been in stealth, hidden to many but not to Gods eyes. I would rather sit in a room and pour into a son or daughter than preach to a crowd who may or may not receive.

I reflect on the sons and daughters, those who left for no reason and walked away not just from me but from kingdom faith. Others who went out and birthed churches, networks of churches, schools, orphanages and put themselves both in harms way and great difficulty but have seen God come through. Ones scattered around the globe. For every one that left God gave back and replaced with ones who had more passion, were more solid and were established in faith and ministry, producing their own sons and daughters. The intentions of God will never be stopped by man’s rebellion or decisions.

I am thankful for all the unique places I have been. Under the tree Stanley and Livingstone preached the Gospel in Zambia. To meet with Benson Idahosa’s family. Once an entire government closed in recess, so I could pray over the speaker of the house. I have been before kings, who requested me to come. I have prophesied to entertainment people, and people of all kinds. I have been on the United States senate floor and pray over the seats and desk. Unique things, odd things, strange things, but non the less I ended up there, in stealth, just doing the work. Not some super spiritual hyped thing, or something I tried to make happen to have bragging rights or feather in my cap, but true God ordained and orchestrated things. Things the voice of God led me to do. To drive hours to home in a strange town, led turn by turn to deliver a message to a couple about to divorce. To see my gas tank supernaturally filled with gas. Or a pot of chili supernaturally feed 30 people every Sunday for 3 months.

I’m thankful for the stealth assignments of breaking witchcraft and demonic forces. For bring down the T.M. leader and its structure in my home town. I’m thankful for Gods faithfulness and his power, and grace and mercy to choose this Iowa unlearned farm boy and take him around the global. To teach me when I begged many to father me and no one would father me. That God himself fathered me! To open doors that others thought were to small but lead to the large thing.

I’m thankful for the leaders who look to me for guidance, encouragement, direction, and revelation. The families they have that have become my family. Not just locations to preach at but families to spend time with and pour into. True sons and daughters emerging, co-laboring, experiencing the same sacrifices, and joy and struggles but overcoming and maturing in faith and seeing victory.

I’m thankful for my own family and a wife who has supported me, my son who has came along on the journey and his family and kids. My 2 other sons who are a great blessing to me as well along with my adopted daughters who God has placed into my life. My life is full and complete is so many ways.

At times I wonder what would it be like if I did not go on the journey? What would it be like if I had skipped assignments or led my own path. I wish many could experience this kingdom life I have had. This reality. I think how sad to miss so much. To fall short of the glory of God. To waste time and energy on what is not eternal. I’m looking for those who want to journey together. To hear the spirits voice and come aside and see this great thing. As David said is there not a cause. I can say with all certainty, “oh yes there is a great cause, a cause that will form you as you fulfill the intentions of God in the earth. “

 

 

The Battle

We all have had a lot of teaching concerning spiritual warfare. Much has been useful and much has little bearing on things. The spiritual realm is real and the warfare and activity in that realm heavily affects the earth realm and more specifically the hearts, attitudes, thoughts and longings of men.

We all battle things in our regions and yet it seems at times, we don’t know if we are gaining ground or losing it. We also don’t know exactly what we should be pursuing in a practical way to confront demonic forces. First, let me say demonic forces work through openings in men by way of influences, misdirection, partial truth, lies and a host of subtle voices. These forces are real and the outcome of their actions is felt by culture.

I have taught about all the demonic strongholds, how to do deliverance ministry in depth in our many different schools of ministry. I have had to confront witches in other nations, stared a witchdoctor down to stop human sacrifice, and broke curses off of people that in the American Church we won’t even agree could exist. I recently put together the two main spirits almost everyone is dealing with over regions and territories. I taught this in our night of intercession for our state and this blog will be the first time it will be public.

The obvious main spirit we all know is the religious spirit. It could also be called the spirit of anti-Christ, yet many spirits qualify for this title as the word ‘anti’ means ‘in place of’. Many things are taking the place of Christ but the religious spirit is an organized spirit to replace relationship with obligations, grace with law, and replace freedom with bondages to man-made doctrines.  Most of us can see a religious spirit a long way off. We have combatted this spirit for some time as Kingdom focused apostolic people, yet it seems we still struggle. The reason is this spirit is only the holding bin for those held captive by a different named spirit that captures peoples desire for spirituality.

This second spirit is also at work and it is the spirit of Nicolaitan that Jesus spoke of in Rev. 2:15. Now not many know of this spirit, but it works in partnership with the religious spirit and is the one feeding converts to religious systems. You see this spirit can be traced back to Acts 6:5 “and Nicolas a proselyte of Antioch”. He was a pagan then converted to Judaism, then finally to Christianity. But the mixture of belief he carried is the same mixture of a Nicolaitan spirit. It is a blend of paganism, being under law and worldliness that does not have an absolute belief system of truth. In other words, truth is not the driving force but more likely past experiences, and a more open interpretation of scripture shape the follower. It holds no sanctification process, no finished holiness , nor a emphasis of change required. In other words, nothing is really expected or demanded of those participating. It breeds a noncommitment and an attitude that I’m fine the way I am and the way culture is. Yet the meaning of the name Nicolaitan means “to conquer or overcome the people.” It creates a ruling class of leaders who form a hierarchy over people instead of being equal to them.

Jesus spoke to the church of Ephesus. A church that is not growing but only sustained. (More on this in a few paragraphs). They despised the false apostles emerging and could discern them as false. (Rev.2:2) They had patience and labored faithfully holding fast. (Vs. 3) But they were rebuked for not doing the first works. (Vs. 5) But in verse 6, Jesus stated they hated the deeds of the Nicolaitans. The word ‘deeds’ speaks of the works and the word “deeds” is associated many times concerning things that make for weak faith.  It is doing things on your own strength and ability and not by the spirit of God. I think these things describes much of the apostolic church today.

In Rev. 2:12-17, He addresses the church that is a heretic. Specifically, in verse 15, He told them they hold fast to the doctrine of the Nicolaitans. They refuse to be corrected or even consider the possibility of their mixture with the world. In other words, this was the source of the deeds talked about a few verses prior. Now its time to begin to connect things up.

First, let me say the spirit of religion reinforces the Nicolaitan spirit as that’s where the converts come from. The Nicolaitan spirit points to the religious spirit to help hold the converts. The religious spirit is spiritually dead, holding captive. The Nicolaitan spirit captures those seeking spiritual understanding and holds them captive. The Nicolaitan spirit creates the religious spirit. The religious spirit brings the law and traditions to a more advance stage. Without addressing the Nicolaitan spirit, we will never conquer the religious spirit. So how do we do that?

There are six areas the Nicolaitan spirit operates through and are easily seen working in the souls of men daily. Here are the six problems associated with the Nicolaitan spirit and what it works through. Sin, lack of Disciplines, dead works, church decline, the natural mind and false spirituality. These all work at capturing the totality of a person’s spiritual being and desires. Paul saw the problems the Church would have to face and wrote specific letters to address each problem and brought forth answers. He left a way of stopping the religious spirit by stopping the source, the spirit of Nicolaitans.

Here are the six letters (books) addressing the six problems:

1. The letter to the Romans is the answer to the problem of sin.
2. The two Corinthian letters are the answer to lack of disciplines.
3. Galatians provides the answer to dead works.
4. Ephesians is the answer to church decline.
5. Philippians is the answer to the natural mind.
6. Colossians is the answer to false spirituality.

We probably look at the list and know people who fit some of these to a tee. Combating the spirit of Nicolaitan is addressing these six issues in people’s lives. The answers for these six problems are found in each of these corresponding books. Now this is becoming a key to a practical way of preaching, teaching and confronting. These six areas are both capturing people and eventually holding them captive. Simply find which of the six problems are going on in a person life, read the book associated and minister the answers! Still not convinced? Let’s look at one more place.

Look at the seven churches in Revelation; we can easily see six of the churches had issues that were addressed. Each had come to the full and a decision point moment. Each was confronted to repent. All six had different issues and was presented as unable to continue a healthy path until an issue was resolved. They were examples of these 6 problems become mature in a body and how because of certain things being done people felt they were in right standing with God. That’s the spirit of Nicolaitan for sure. So, looking at a couple we see the church of Ephesus fits to a tee. That’s the church in decline losing first love and not doing first works. The church with Jezebel teaching in it and having a platform, fits false spirituality. I’m not going to give you the entire list laid out, but challenge you to do your own study and see how each fit. John, like Paul saw the outcome of the spirit of Nicolaitans working on the churches and saw the opportunity for repentance before the religious spirit could hold a grip. This gives hope to all gatherings of the body of Christ that they are not in a hopeless place but can shift and change.  Examine your own life first. Examine your own minsitry second. Then begin to minister to people with understanding and save them from the Nicolaitan spirit and let’s defeat the religious spirit. It’s time we begin to fight, not as one beating the air, but in a strategic and practical manner.

“The ACTS of the Apostles”

The Lord recently spoke to me about the book of Acts, specifically the title. He said “You’re about to see the acts of the apostles.”This had my attention and He said “True apostles are going to do true acts.” As I thought on it, I was reminded of how we define the apostolic and affirm many who are not true apostles. Looking at our current definition and comparing it to the early apostles, there is very little real similarity, at least in America. We have little suffering for the Gospel, or if there is, it is just life. No confrontations of government leaders. No imprisonment. No giving away of abundant finances. Few confrontations with demonic strongholds, or moral issues, or occultism, no teaching all night, or travailing in prayer with no agenda but for Christ to be formed, etc. We seem to do things from a distance within an arm’s length environment. I was just at a conference and the statement was given in a teaching setting that perhaps in America, we are living in a pre-Christian era as we have not seen true apostolic Kingdom Christianity fully formed in our nation and it is yet to come.

The Lord recently sent me on a journey. It was not a prophetic act but a redemptive act to close a gate of hades and open a new era over a region in the United States. He told me this is the acts of the apostles coming. They will be bringing forth the new that God desires and paying little attention to the past and even the controlling forces. I am not going to get into the significance of what I did but God told me He would give me a sign that the cleansing of the land has begun. I saw a green tarnished brass marker become polished clean and like new before my eyes. A real sign and wonder! Where are the signs and the wonders of the acts of the apostles? I tell you it is not running a ‘church’ like a pastor would and calling yourself an apostle.

I have started another book to address all of these things. The apostolic is not about list fulfillment but about living life in apostolic grace. It is seeing, living, and approaching things so differently it may seem odd to everyone. If we are in a type of pre- New Testament Christianity, then doesn’t that mean the apostles will be more on the outside of the status quo instead of being grafted into what is currently happening through our Christian ‘productions’? Maybe I’m the only one tired of all the confusion and devaluing of this grace over the last twenty years.

True apostles don’t need the accolades of men or men’s approval. They do demand order. They do expect action. They desire oneness. They refuse false doctrine. They speak truth that redefines. They will risk everything to advance. They are sought after for affirmation but many times their voice is not welcome. They are rejected for revelation. They are more prophetic than most prophets and they are always seeing a larger vision, working with greater clarity and perceiving with accuracy. They don’t have time for foolish things as these things are childish to them. They don’t build networks but build Christ. They don’t manage ‘churches’ but raise sons. They are pioneers more than revivalists.

The “Acts of the Apostles” is not a history book but a lifestyle book. Read it and see the interaction of the five fold grace gifts. See how the apostles advanced The Church by the endangerment of their reputation risking all as they died to gain Christ. It’s a book of how the character and nature of Christ was formed in the apostles to be formed in the Body to release the Ecclesia. It is a book of sending not gathering and hoarding. It is about infiltration into culture to change pockets of people, not gathering masses to convince them. They are Master builders of God’s expression through His Son. Isn’t it time for the “Acts of the Apostles” again?