Tag: Change

Gentle Breeze of Transition Before the Storm of Change

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If you have ever been in a place where you can feel in the atmosphere the precipitation changing, you know more often than not, there is a gentle breeze that precedes the storm. The air starts to smell different; the clouds start rolling in, the trees start swaying just a little bit more. It is like a symphony playing the first lines of their song, before they hit the crescendo. It’s like the song that builds up to the chorus which carries you through the rest of the song. Nature has a way of revealing to us what is coming and just like nature so does God, He reveals in the gentle breeze of transition that a storm of change is on the horizon. For those who are awake, they can see it all around them, they can smell it in the air. Transition is happening and many people are struggling with the gentle breeze of transition, not knowing this is nothing compared to the storm of change that is just around the corner.

I have listened to those around me, online, on television and on the radio the sounds of the gentle breeze of transition are everywhere. Circumstances are shifting and it is causing many to be drifting. Those who we thought would stand, are struggling. Many who have said all the right things are finding themselves to not be who they thought they were or who others thought they were. The gentle breeze is blowing and straw houses are shaking and some are even falling. Can you see the gentle breeze of transition blowing, can you hear the gentle breeze of transition happening around the world? To some this gentle breeze of transition is a big deal, but it is just a gentle breeze. The storm of change has not arrived yet, but it is coming and coming quickly. Jesus said, “If they do this when the tree is green, what will they do when it is brown?” (Luke 23:31)

Believers in Jesus Christ, now is the time to do what you say and say what you mean. Now more than ever, we must be in the word of God daily, in worship continually and praying in the spirit on all occasions. Not for the sake of anyone else, but you. You do not need to get a prepper kit of food and water; you need to prepare yourself spiritually for a storm is on the horizon. A storm that is going to change everything for the better, but a storm nonetheless. Believers must exercise their authority in order to stand during the storm. Remember Moses stood in the midst of the Red Sea as the people crossed over (Exodus 14). He exercised his authority over the storm that sought to keep God’s people out of the promised land. Remember Jesus walked on the stormy water that was buffeting the boat of the disciples, the storm could not control Jesus, Jesus took control over the storm, but not until after he tried to show Peter how to do the same (Matthew 14:22-33). We are being invited to exercise our authority while there is no storm, so when the storm comes, we are prepared.

Being under authority, doing what someone else tells you to do, is a great way to exercise your authority. Lawlessness is what takes away your authority, while obedience increases your authority. If you are one that does not let anyone tell you what to do, you will not be able to stand in the storm. If you are not in obedience with the word of God you will not have authority in the storm. Anger is not authority. Remember the Centurion, he was a man under authority and was a man in authority and Jesus was impressed with his faith (Matthew 8:5-13). Remember Ruth, she told Naomi, where you go, I go…(Ruth 1:16-17). Obedience is the greatest way to exercise your authority and only through exercise will you get strong and be able to stand in the storm. We are experiencing the gentle breeze of transition, but the storm of change is coming and is closer than you realize. We, the body of Christ need to exercise our authority so we don’t get lost in the storm.

What Days Are We Living In?

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One of the hot topics in the church is that of the end times. We love the idea of the rapture, so we can escape this evil and corrupt world. Others like the idea of being pre-tribulation, so we do not have to go through any pain, when God “judges” the earth. Many believe we are living in the days of Noah, where Jesus says in Matthew 24:37, “As in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the son of Man, for in the days before the flood people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark.” With what is happening in Houston, TX right now with record flooding hitting 52 inches and now with Hurricane Harvey landing in Louisiana for a stay before it considers coming back to Texas, some could say, lift up your eyes to the sky, for your redemption is here, Jesus is about to split the sky and come down in his second coming.

Others believe we are living in Matthew 24 with all the “signs” of the end of the world, but the Bible does not say that they are signs of the end of the world, but the end of the age, the end of an epoch, the end of a set amount of time. The signs are truly there, for the end of the age, but what age is ending and does that mean another age is beginning. I believe it does, I believe the church age has ended and the kingdom age has arrived, but I also believe there is a transition between these two ages, which can mean weeks, months, years. Remember Jesus prophesied the destruction of the temple in 30-33 CE, but it was not destroyed until 70 CE. Therefore, one age can end, the age of the Law and the Prophets, which included the temple and its animal sacrifices ended when Jesus said, repent for the kingdom of heaven is here, but we see a crossover or transition time with the arrival of the tongues of fire at Pentecost and the destruction of the temple.

What days are we living in then? Are these the days of Elijah, when fire came down from heaven and consumed the false idols of Baal and put an end to Ahab and Jezebel? Are we in the days of Ezekiel when dry bones are coming alive and being made into a great army? Are we living in the days of Ninevah, when an eclipse crossed over the land from west to east? Are we in the days of the Judges, when everyone is doing right in their own eyes? Are we in the days of Jesus, when people are leaving the temple to follow Him into the fields, mountains and beaches to hear what He has to say? I think the answer is yes to all of the above. These are days of transition, days of change, days of incredible awe and wonder. These are the days of the Bible!

This change we are in is not like any we have seen in our lifetime, with the darkness (ignorance of people) getting darker and the light (revelations of God) getting brighter, with despair seeming to sink lower and with hope seeming to rise higher. It is amazing to me how people are in distinct and different camps of thought whether they realize it or not. It was as though God drew a line in the sand and people made their choice, now we are seeing who is where. The name Christian is no longer representative of just one kind of people anymore, just like the name thief, when the two guys on the cross meant two different attitudes. One said, I am guilty, Jesus you are innocent, remember me when you come into your kingdom and the other said, if you are the Christ save yourself and us. Same cross, same title (thief), two distinct and different attitudes (Luke 23:39-43).

Now to answer the question, what days are we living in? We are living in days of opportunity like never before, but man-made plans are not going to stand. These days demand we slow down, get silent, and say, speak Lord, for your servant is listening. This is not the time to jockey for position, try to be the loudest, longest or most listened to voice, this is the time to pause, relax, trust, and wait for the call, the command. In days of extreme change, intense transition, it is critical, that we recognize we have hit a speed bump as a nation, as a church, as a globe and it is advantageous for those who know their God and want to do exploits, that they selah until they hear Him speak, then move as He says move, for He is positioning us purposefully for what is upon us. These are the days we are living in.

Massive Shift

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The era of big ministries is coming to an end and the era of big people is arising!

Genesis 11:1-4 says, “Now the whole world had one language and a common speech.  As people moved eastward, they found a plain in Shinar and settled there. They said to each other, “Come, let’s make bricks and bake them thoroughly.” They used brick instead of stone, and tar for mortar. Then they said, “Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves; otherwise we will be scattered over the face of the whole earth.”

The era of big ministries began as a mustard seed of faith, trust, truth, and authentic hunger for God, His word and His people. However, as the building got bigger, the ministry did not keep going back to the foundation before it built another layer, so now the ministry is so far from the truth, that they do not even know truth when they hear it or the building is big but the presence of God is minimal to non-existent. Before the temple was destroyed in AD 70, it was already corrupt and left desolate (Matthew 23:38 and Matthew 26:64). They did not destroy a living entity, they destroyed an already desolate artifact, that had the appearance of godliness, but denied its power (2 Timothy 3:5). And Jesus prophesied this would happen in the gospel of Matthew, saying, not one stone would be left on another (Matthew 24:2).

We are living in the end of an era just like they were in the gospels. Jesus was the beginning of a new era, He said, repent, for the kingdom of heaven is here (Matthew 3:2). Prophets in our day and age have been saying this for years, repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. They have been trying to tell us a new era is here, the kingdom has come, the church age is over, but we can’t comprehend what they are saying. So, we continue to try and be the next big name with the next big building, so people ooh and ahh over us; so people buy our books; want to have us come and speak in their church. I’m telling you what they have been telling you, the era of big ministries is coming to an end, that is why you are being halted, stopped, you feel stuck, because those days are over.

Here’s where we are, God is building big people. They are huge on the inside, they don’t have a big building, they don’t have a huge following on Twitter, Periscope or Instagram, but they are huge on the inside. You see the saying is still true today, “Man looks at the outward appearance, but God looks at the heart” (I Samuel 16:7). Man will always look to see how big your church is, how many books you’ve written or how many souls you’ve saved, but God, is searching to and fro for a heart that is completely His (2 Chronicles 16:9). Many are discouraged because they are not getting the big break, the big book deal, the big phone call and many are promising you still, this is going to happen, but the truth is, God has been and continues to, look for those who are big on the inside, not big on the outside.

God is looking for big people. The kingdom is a government of big people, not big ministries. The kingdom of God is filled with big people, when they speak the hallways of heaven echo their words, when they pray sickness is healed, relationships are restored, finances recovered and the presence of God comes in power. These people are unassuming, not self-promoting, they are not trying to make a name for themselves, for they are secure in their identity as son or daughter or God. They dwell in the shelter of the Highest, they don’t live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God, they know their God and they will do great exploits. These big people live in condo’s, companies, churches, and communities as everyday people, because outwardly they are not flashy, showy or seeking attention, but oh if you get a chance to hear them speak, if you spend any time with them, you will know they are big on the inside and these are the ones that are arising. These are the diamonds in the dirt that many have walked over, but who God was forging in the secret place when no one was looking.

The era of big ministries is over, the era of big people is arising. If you’re looking to be a big ministry, you are going to be looking for an old wineskin, but if you are willing to be a big person, there is no telling what He will do with you, as a vessel of honor fit for the Master’s use!

Out of Order

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On Periscope @lisagreat
 
On the bathroom door at our church, there is a sign on one of the stalls that says, OUT OF ORDER, in big bold letters. This sign is meant to let people know that this stall is inoperable at this time. It is not that it will never work again, or that it is damaged beyond repair, but to inform those who come in the bathroom, that this one stall is out of order. No one is mad at the stall, saying, I will never use that stall again, or that somehow this church has issues because there is one stall that is out of order. Common sense tells the reader, this stall is unable to function according to design at this time, but will be back in operation as soon as it is fixed.
 
This sign caught my attention on Sunday after church, because, the Lord has been speaking to me about order and how many people are living lives that are out of order. What He has been showing me is that when we are out of order, we are ineffective, we are not producing based on design and even though we hope no one notices, others often see that we are out of order even before we do. So, what I am sensing is we need to admit to ourselves, the Lord and others that we are out of order.
 
1 John 1:8-10 says, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.…” Then James 5:16 says, “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man has great power to prevail.” Finally, 2 Chronicles 7:13-14 says, “When I shut up heaven and there is no rain, or command the locusts to devour the land, or send pestilence among My people, 14 if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
 
Because people are living lives that are out of order, our nation is out of order and the nations are out of order for people make up nations. So, if we want to see a change in our nations, we need to start with something changing in us. I am hearing a lot of people talk about the problems in our nations, there is a lot of blaming going on as to why things are the way they are right now, but I believe we need to take a look at our life and realize we are out of order, that is our family is out of order, our city is out of order, our money is out of order, our health is out of order, our nation is out of order. The issue is not global, national or even local before it is individual. We have a corporate problem, yes, but it is because we have individual problems that come together and reveal a national problem.
 
So, what do we do, I believe as believers in Jesus Christ we need a chiropractic adjustment from the Chief Cornerstone. We are out of plumb line (Amos 7) individually, so the first order of business is for me, is for you to return to the Lord. We must repent of our lifestyle that has compromised the word of God; we must repent of living self-centered lives; we must repent of our disobedience; because disobedience to the word of God what got us out of order and obedience to the word of God is what will bring us back into order.
Many men and women who are in pulpits and have platforms today are crying out for fresh voices to arise, not because we need more preachers, but because we need new preachers, ones who can bring the old truths of the gospel in a fresh way. We must go back to the foundation of faith in order to get back into order. This may mean, we need to allow the Holy Spirit to do a spiritual detox of choices of movies, music, and spending habits; we may need the Lord to convict us of the way we treat other people with our words and attitudes, especially those that live with us; we may need Jesus Himself, the lover of our souls to create in us a clean heart and renew a steadfast spirit in us (Psalm 51).
 
Ladies and gentlemen, you can try to act like it’s not true, but the reality is, we are out of order and God is bringing a reformation of truth to put us back in order. He wants us to produce fruit of righteousness, live in safety and peace again, and experience the presence and power of God in our lives, our families, our churches and our nation again. We may be out of order right now, but it is temporary, for the Great Physician is on the way to heal our lives, if we will surrender, not resist His way of putting us back in order.