Month: August 2022

It has been said, what has been said cannot be unsaid. Words are eternal, once you speak them they cannot be retracted. That alone will put the fear of the Lord in you, to guard your mouth and be slow to speak. But that is not the reason for this blog this morning. Today I was reading Proverbs 21 and it says, “A false witness will perish, But the man who listens to the truth will speak forever.” All words do not carry the same weight, even though all words are eternal. Some words, false words, lies, exaggerations, fabrications, the Bible says will perish, they will fade away, they will be heard no more.

Have you ever noticed that lies tend to be the first narrative we are told? This is because truth is weighty and it does not rise as fast as the fireworks of lies, but truth also does not fizzle out as quickly as it shoots up. Truth is solid, unshakable, undeniable, it is weighty and it will prevail while lies will perish. Is it any wonder, we are told by James 1:19-20 “This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” Lies make us angry, it is our first response when we hear them, and honestly that is the goal of the one speaking the lie, to get a quick reaction out of you. But what if you slowed down and listened to all sides, all evidence, before you reacted?

As believers we have the authority to bind and loose (Matthew 16), which means what we speak is established and what we don’t is forbidden to rule on earth. What if we quit echoing the lies we are hearing and starting waiting for the truth to come out and then shouted that? You know what would happen, we would forbid the narrative of lies and loose the narrative of truth that sets people free. Your words are powerful, your echo is powerful, your reaction is powerful, that is why we are called wise if we keep our mouth shut until we know the truth about any given situation. Speak truth, it will establish a narrative in our nation that can’t be denied.

Do you ever have days where the reality of the battle takes center stage in your mind? It is like the weight of the wait feels heavier than usual; the length of time seems to be longer in that moment; it is as though grace lifts for a brief moment and the enemy takes advantage of it in order to discourage you, distract you or to tempt you to detour, quit or deny what God has promised. We all have minutes, days, or even weeks like this, but then in what feels like a split second, someone says something that causes the dark clouds to move on, the heavy weight to lift, the voices to be still. God uses people in ways they do not even realize at the time to speak life by just being who they are and it changes everything for the one who was feeling battle weary.

We as the body of Christ need each other, we cannot do life alone, we are a team. Standing with each other, encouraging one another and helping lift the load is critical for each of us, no matter how strong or weak someone seems to be. As I was reading 2 Chronicles 15 this morning, verse 7 struck me as a word for the moment for many people and I wanted to highlight it to you this morning as I am sure 2 Chronicles 15 is not your go to chapter when you are struggling, but it might be after you hear this. “BE STONG AND DO NOT LOSE COUARAGE, FOR THERE IS A REWARD FOR YOUR WORK!” I sensed the body of Christ needed to hear this today, I know I did.

All the prayers we have prayed, all the prophetic decrees we have made, all the stands we have taken, it can feel like the battle that never ends, but God is not a man that He should lie (Numbers 23:19) and today He wanted to remind us, there is a reward for our work. Hebrews 11:6 reminds us, “But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.” My friends, keep believing, keep praying, keep prophesying, keep decreeing, for there is a reward and it is closer than we can see.

Babylon is falling, this is not a hope, this is a reality and in the days and weeks ahead this will become more and more evident to the masses. People are having dreams, encounters and hearing the voice of God say this in a variety of ways through people known and unknown. Babylon is falling, Babylon is burning. Babylon is a system of control that has been ruling all seven mountains (Revelation 17:9) of society. The Bible says she sits on top of them, this system of control controls everything. It is a demonic system that many people have had to submit to in order to be in leadership roles in many places. Church, politics, business, education, arts, economy, all of it. But Babylon is falling and some people are refusing to see the signs, hear the sirens and flee, because they have invested all they are into this Babylonian system and the price they would have to pay is too high.

The crash of this system is inevitable and who are we to see it happen in our generation. This is an ancient system, that has been perpetually in operation since at least Genesis 11. Notwithstanding, the Lord has declared Babylon is falling, Babylon is burning. Now with this reality in operation, especially for the Babylonian church leaders that are about to be exposed, we as believers must guard our hearts and mouths. Some leaders will repent when it falls, others will not, but many will be exposed and that exposure will be seen by us. Names will come out, churches will close, denominations will not exist any longer, but we must guard our hearts and mouths.

Acts 23:4 describes Paul’s response to being confronted by bystanders, after cursing the high priest who commanded Paul be struck in the mouth, “Do you revile God’s high priest?” And Paul said, “I was not aware, brethren, that he was high priest; for it is written, ‘YOU SHALL NOT SPEAK EVIL OF A RULER OF YOUR PEOPLE.’” Paul knew the command of God (Exodus 22:28) and realized he was wrong to speak out. We must not speak out our opinions or our emotional responses to what we are about to see and hear. Why not? Their exposure will be embarrassing enough, we are not to rub their nose in it with our comments. Guard your heart, guard your mouth. There will be much to talk about, but we must let the exposure speak, not us for we are not the ones exposing them, God is, in the fall of Babylon. We are to thank God for setting us free from Babylon’s control, not rejoice in the fall of someone who got caught in the system that is falling. Selah!

God speaks in a variety of ways, but He is so creative He speaks in ways you understand. Therefore, the way He speaks to me may not be the same way He speaks to you, but if we are both hearing His voice, the way does not need to be the same. One way God speaks to me is through repetition. Whether its numbers, symbols, coins on the ground, scriptures, you name it He uses it. I am visual so when I see something I remember it, file it and listen for confirmation for it, before I confidently come forth and speak it. Well for over a week now, the Lord has been speaking to me about two numbers, that I did not know were related until today.

The first number was 20 and the second number was 500. Upon first glance you would not think they are related, but in Hebrew, which is a language of numbers, letters and pictures, 20 and 500 have the same meaning. Because these two numbers have come up for me in a variety of ways this week, I looked into what they mean. 20 means completion; 500 means final or what is full. In Hebrew 20 and 500 are the same number in meaning. But 500 adds the meaning to burn, blaze or to be burned.

The Lord is not changing the subject with me on the message that Babylon is burning. This is Revelation 18:8-10 “In one day, disasters will crush her then she’ll be burned by fire, because God, the Strong God who judges her, has had enough. The kings of the earth will see the smoke of her burning, and they’ll cry their lament: Doom, doom, the great city doomed! City of Babylon, strong city! In one hour it’s over, your judgment come!” This is 500. Now add the 20 (means palm and completion) where God spoke to me in Acts 21:2 where it says Paul set sail to Phoenicia (means palm or palm tree) and the Lord is showing me 20 and the Lord says to me “Completion of the Phoenician.” My friends, God has said enough to the Babylonian system that has oppressed us for more years than we know. God is declaring completion of the Phoenician and Babylon is burning. This is really good news for the nations!

Creation responds to God without resistance, but the created ones in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27) resist the very God who created them. Oh that we would cease to resist for then we would receive all that God had planned for us.

What makes us think we know better than God how to live our life? Who taught us how to resist the very God that created us (Psalm 139); said He would never lie to us (Lev. 23:19); defeated sin, hell and the grave for us; sent His Holy Spirit for us (Acts 2); loved us; hand-made us; who told us, who taught us to resist Him?

He’s been nothing but good to us, yet we continually want our own way, our own say. Are we that out of alignment that we won’t submit to His adjustment? Are we that proud to think we know better than He does? Are we that wounded that we push even God away? Has sin penetrated us so deeply we won’t let the blood of Jesus do a flush and fill on our system? What has happened to us? Who has bewitched us? Where did we learn this and how do we correct it?

Thank God for His covenant with us that doesn’t break because of us. Thank God that He loved us first, so we could love Him. Thank you Jesus for seeing us, shedding your blood for us. Oh how we need Jesus; oh how we need help; oh how we need the Lord to revive us; rescue us; redeem us; and restore us; for He made us and He knows us. Thank you Lord that you still know how to rescue us, deliver us and heal us, so we can love you again.

One of the more feared words in the world is the word judgment. People continually say, “Don’t judge me.” There is such a fear of being judged because we do not understand what judgment is in the fullness of its definition. Judgment is not just condemnation, which is how most people hear the word. Judgment is not just separation, which is another common way people hear the word. Judgment is also the decree of a ruler in a case; for some judgement is vindication, for others judgement is liberation. When the Bible says, God is judge of all the earth, that is nothing to be fearful of, unless you are acting unjustly. The righteous should not fear judgment, but rather welcome it, not as an act of wrath on our enemies, but as an act of deliverance for humanity.

Psalm 76:8-9 says, “You caused judgment to be heard from heaven;

The earth feared and was still when God arose to judgment, to save all the humble of the earth.” Selah.

When God arises to judge, that means He has seen and heard enough to make a decree that will release deliverance to those who are being oppressed. I don’t know about you, but I am asking the Lord to release His judgment against our adversaries. The nations need God to deliver us, we need salvation and vindication right now. I want to hear the decree of God’s judgment for I know it is not condemnation but liberation for the nation. We need to align our words with God’s word. Judgment is a good thing, for God is a righteous judge.

Psalm 76:12 says, “He will cut off the spirit of princes; He is feared by the kings of the earth.” The spirit of the princes are the principalities Paul speaks about in Ephesians 6:10-12. My friends, God’s judgment is our vindication and salvation. Arise, Oh God and release your judgment on the earth, cut off the spirit of the princes and thank you the kings fear you. We will give you praise for your salvation of our nation. In Jesus Name!

Post modernism has created a culture in which people believe truth is relative, personal, individual and untouchable. This cultural idea has created an insecure society, an easily offended people, and an attitude that says, who do you think you are to tell me what to do? In the world, this is understandable, but this is what we see in the church. Therefore, many Pastors around the world yesterday preached messages that Paul told Timothy was going to be preached. “I solemnly charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by His appearing and His kingdom: preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great patience and instruction. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but wanting to have their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance to their own desires, and will turn away their ears from the truth and will turn aside to myths.” Was Paul prophetic or is there nothing new under the sun?

Culture is one of the greatest challenges to hearing, receiving and believing the truth that will set you free. Paul said in Romans 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.” Culture is the pattern of this world. The way to break out of culture, no matter what culture you are dipped in, is to renew your mind. But to renew your mind, you must be a lover of truth. Not your truth, THE TRUTH. If you live with a love for truth, you are willing to adjust your life immediately when truth is spoken and you are not in alignment with that truth. I have been listening as the tide has turned and some leaders are speaking truth, and if we have ears to hear and adjust to the truth we are hearing, more of the kingdom will be revealed to us. But you must love truth more than you current cultural lifestyle. It’s hard to break out of the matrix of culture, but when you do, there is a freedom you cannot deny, for the truth makes you free! Once you see the truth, the lies are obvious and easily resisted.

Faith come from hearing…what you hear determines what you have faith in or what you believe will happen. Is this not why the media tells you what they want you to hear and nothing else? Have you ever noticed how few news stories are on the news? Have you ever wondered what the thought is behind only sharing the same story over and over again? It is because they have one narrative they want you to believe, for they know that faith comes by hearing and their goal is to get you to believe them.

The enemy is a counterfeit not an original. The devil is not a creator he is created, so he cannot come up with any new ideas. All he can do is twist one of God’s ideas. So the Bible says, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God!” The enemy says, hmmmmmmm faith comes by hearing, let’s control the narrative then we can control what the people believe, that is if they listen to what we have to say. My friends, it is not a new strategy, it is a tried and true tactic. The only reason it works is because many believers listen more to the news than they do the Bible. Thefore, their faith is in what another person says, rather than what God says.

I was praying Psalm 74 this morning and verse 12 leaped off the page at me and I knew the Lord wanted this verse to be what we believe. “God is my king from of old, Who works deeds of deliverance in the midst of the earth.” The truth is we have an enemy and he is working with people to destroy our lives, but the superior truth is we have a God, a King of old, who is working deeds of deliverance in the midst of the earth. I am not preaching a happy gospel, I am declaring to you, daily, the deeds of deliverance God is doing in the earth, because Psalm 24 says, “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness their of and all who dwell in it!” The enemy does not own the earth, God does and the owner is working deeds of deliverance even right now. Can you see it? Can you hear it? Do you believe it?

A good friend of mine Tammy Smith Whitney gave me a sticker that says, “THEOLOGY MATTERS”. I love this sticker for this is true on levels we do not even think about. Theology is a word that means study (ology) of God (Theo). What we think about God is our theology and this really matters. If we think God is going to destroy the earth and is going to kill people then we will have a theology of increasing darkness, death, destruction. But what we don’t think about is what fruit that theology produces in the person who believes it and the people who receive it. This theology produces fear, anxiety, depression, dread, and just the fruit of the theology alone should tell you that is not Biblical theology.

Think about this, when Jesus was in the Garden of Gethsemane and says, “Father, please take THIS cup from Me, but not My will but Yours be done,” what cup was He speaking of? It wasn’t just any cup, it was the cup of the wrath of God for the sins of the world. How do we know, because after He drank THIS cup, He was immediately sentenced to death. Romans 3:23 for the wages of sin is death… Jesus drank the cup of God’s wrath and gave us the cup of blessing. When He was at the Lord’s supper with His disciples Jesus said, “Lifting up the cup He said, everytime you drink of it, remember Me.” When we drink the cup of blessing at communion, we are to remember we are blessed because He drank the cup of wrath for sin. The cup we drink is to remind us of His cup and causes us to give thanks.

A theology of life, abundance, redemption, reconciliation, and healing of the land and the people releases a different kind of fruit in people. When we preach the gospel of the kingdom and the theology of a resurrected King who conquered sin, hell and the grave, it produces in people the fruit of the spirit. Theology matters my friends and we must upgrade our theology to one of resurrection, life and power, not death, destruction and darkness. Yes there are consequences for sin, but one of them is not wrath, for we have a Redeemer that already drank that cup and if you repent He will give you the cup of blessing to drink and that cup overflows with abundant life!

People all over the world want a God they can see, hear and know. They want a God who will come close and help them. The challenge is most people around the world worship idols who cannot help them, hear them or speak to them. What many people miss is that idol worshippers are very religious people, they are desperate for help, they are desperate to be heard by their god. There is something in the heart of every human that causes us to search for God. Unfortunately, men have crafted idols, spoken doctrines, created denominations, or said there is no God and now people are crying out but are not experiencing the help they so desperately need. But when the living God, manifests, people will see it and know it.

The Bible is filled with stories of idol worshippers, religious Jews and even non-believing Gentiles who when they encountered the living God; Creator of heaven and earth; they had to respond. In Acts 14 there is a story of a time Paul was preaching in a city called Lystra and Paul called out for a man who was lame to get up and the man got up. This manifestation of a miracle created quite a stir in the city. Listen to the people’s response to what they saw…”When the crowds saw what Paul had done, they raised their voice, saying in the Lycaonian language, “The gods have become like men and have come down to us.” When I read this, I thought that is exactly what Jesus did, He being in the very nature of God came down and became a man (Philippians 2). Here is this city in which they have not heard of Jesus, yet when they see a miracle they declare exactly what Jesus did. Only God can put that in the heart of people, that’s why the Bible says, His law is written on our hearts. The story goes on to say, they tried to worship Paul, but that is because all they knew was idol worship.

People will know the truth when they hear it or see it, but we must disciple them in the truth that will not only set them free, but keep them free. My friends, we are about to see this happen in our day, and we are going to have to walk with them and teach them how to worship the living God. This is not going to be a say a prayer and come to church movement, it is going to be a train, equip and deploy movement.