Category Archives: 2022

2022, Christianity, Discipleship, Inspiration

More Than Conquerors

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors and gain an overwhelming victory through Him who loved us [so much that He died for us]. For I am convinced [and continue to be convinced—beyond any doubt] that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present and threatening, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the [unlimited] love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 8:37-39 (AMP)

There are many Christians who struggle with various difficulties in their life and they sincerely believe in Jesus Christ, however, they do not live in the fullness of the victory that has been given to us in Christ alone. Many in our churches still struggle with addictions, and yet the American church has dumbed things down and all people hear about are 10 steps to be happy or have a better marriage. While there is no problem with Biblically rooted encouragement, believers need to awaken to who they are in Christ Jesus. 

Many people have been talking about a Great Awakening for revival, and yes it is crucial that America has a genuine revival, many in the church need to awaken to the knowledge of who they are in Jesus Christ. Too many people when they get saved only have a limited awakening to who they are in Jesus Christ, and are more awakened to man-made traditions. 

When someone is genuinely born again, a new spiritual nature is born inside them. Too often religion gets in the way of that, yet with good intentions, and instead of awakening to our new nature the born-again believer is given a long list of dos and don’ts. When you give over to the new nature you receive the moment you are born again, you will not walk in the sinful lust of the flesh. 

“But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.”.

Romans 8:11 (NKJV)

We need to awaken to this fact and live our lives like it is supreme. Too often we live our lives as though we are just like everyone else in the world, where the fact of the matter is we have been bought with a price, and we are no longer just regular human beings, we are now one with a new nature birthed inside of us. 

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.”.

John 3:16 (NKJV)

Often this verse is quoted and only understood in the context of one making it to Heaven. While yes it is true that through genuine Salvation that one will go to Heaven when they pass from this life or until Jesus returns, there is more to this everlasting life. This everlasting life we get when we are born again is not just about eternity it is about here and now as well. The everlasting life we have as believers is a new type of lifestyle we receive through the new nature, this lifestyle allows us to live in God’s unshakable Kingdom that is within us. This everlasting life is the same kind of life that Adam walked in originally in Genesis, but we see through temptation he fell and gave up that everlasting life.

Thankfully we know that God was not caught off guard when the fall happened in Genesis, because God had a plan for Salvation from the beginning.

“All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”.

Revelation 13:8 (NKJV)

Jesus Christ is the Lamb who was slain from the foundation of the world, there is so much depth in that and it would not be possible to cover in just one post. But looking at the whole Bible we see that God is never caught off guard by mankind’s decisions!

It is time for believers to wake up to the truth that we are purchased with a price, we are washed with the precious and powerful Blood of Jesus Christ. It is only through Jesus Christ that we can walk in victory, it is only through Christ that we can enter into our inheritance as citizens of God’s Kingdom. We need to identify with the fact that we are more than conquerors in Jesus Christ, rather than identifying with the difficulties of this world. When there are global crises going on, we need to remember that we are more than conquerors in Jesus Christ. Don’t let the news media shape how you feel, let the Word of God shape how you feel. Walking in this truth does not mean that we will have an easy life. Walking in this truth is not about glorifying oneself, but being a living testimony for the glory of God!

2022, Christianity, Faith

True Happiness

True happiness does not come from worldly pleasures, but from faith in God. We need to rely on our walk of mountain-moving faith, and let the joy of the Lord be our strength every day in our lives. We need to ask God daily to fill us up so that we overflow with the power of His Spirit, and His joy in our lives. Living this life is a supernatural life, which will keep us strong in our faith during difficulties in life, temptation, and sickness. Many people today struggle with a sin that they have not brought into subjection, a part of their flesh. The reason for that is you have not allowed the joy of the Lord to flow in your life in every area, because you do not know your true identity in Christ. It is time to identify who we are in Christ so we can live the life He called us to glorify His name and make His Kingdom known.

2022, Christianity, Discernment, Discipleship

Standing for Holiness Video Notes

Notes (Link to Video on YouTube)

  • In today’s culture, many do not have a Biblical view of God.
  • Romans 3:23
  • Isaiah 6:3
  • Do we truly recognize the holiness of God in the mainstream church today?
  • Some examples: (all these people we ought to be praying for because they are not saved)
    • Most recently and notably Carl Lentz of Hillsong – we recently have heard of his affair and not only that but has been at bars and nightclubs with other celebrities like Justin Beiber. But yet many young Christians will go to Hillsong conferences not because God is glorified but because their leaders talk and act like the rest of the world. I truly pray for these people’s Salvation. I don’t like having to mention names but many people in my generation have drunk the toxin of this Hillsong culture that is absolute trash.
      • While Hillsong has done an excellent job of attracting crowds of young people, they have not done it with a Biblical worldview. 
    • Jen Johnson of Bethel has described the Holy Spirit as “sneaky, and like the blue genie from Aladdin”.
      • I can say Bethel may have good songs, and there might be good preaching. But when one of your leaders gives zero reverence when describing the Holy Spirit that is treading on dangerous waters. 
      • Jesus described the Holy Spirit in John 14:16.
    • Why do I call them out by name?
      • Paul called out false teachers by name in 2 Timothy 4:10. 
      • When I see young people my age following these dangerous people if I do not say anything then blood is on my hands. 
  • Exodus 15:11
  • Revelation 1:8
  • Revelation 4:5-8
  • Romans 12:1
  • John 4:24
2022, Christianity

Resurrection Life

It is only by the Resurrection of Christ, that believers enter into the newness of life and gain eternal life. Eternal life is not a future event of life for us, it is now because the Kingdom of God is now and within us.

We must partner with our identity in Christ, rather than the identity of our own strength or what dead religion will tell us!

Romans 8:11(NKJV) But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.

2022, Christianity, Discipleship, Gifts of the Spirit, Inspiration

A Word on Christlikeness

May be an image of sky and text that says 'And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we ive like Jesus here in this world. John 4:17'

This is just one verse, and much is being said here for the believer to meditate upon and apply to their life.

Jesus never gave a commission for His disciples to build a large religious system or to make a religion based on man-made tradition, yet many people are sadly in bondage to this today. 

Believers are called to live in God, as His Spirit is indwelling us. Do we realize that the same Spirit that rose Jesus from the grave is inside of us? You can know that as Biblical fact from Roman’s 6:10-11, but at the same time is it a revelation to you that you live out daily?

Many have just mentally ascended the things that Jesus spoke rather than meditating on the Word of God and feasting upon it.

This verse has everything to do with what Paul wrote to the Galatian church in Galatians chapter 4 about sonship.

The love that is cultivated in us is to be a Christ-like kind of love. It does not mean we love the things of the world, but we love the things God loves. Do not forget that God is a God of distinction, he divides the holy from the unholy (Leviticus 10:10).

This verse says as Jesus is on earth so are we. Have we reflected on what Jesus did during His earthly ministry? Not only this but what did Jesus say in Mark 16:17-18? “And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name, they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;  they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover.”.

He didn’t say these signs will just follow the first-century church, He said these signs would follow them do you believe. Do you believe it? If so, do follow this according to Scripture? Let us not neglect there is abuse when it comes to these things in the church and there are extremes, however, if you stick with God’s Word for what His Word says and seek Him first He will be faithful.

It’s time for believers to get back to the Word of God and seek a new level of intimacy with the Father, and to walk out the walk we are called to walk in.

2022, Apostolic, Christianity, Discipleship, Faith, Inspiration, Wisdom

Walking in True Communion

Many Christians know about Communion or the Lord’s Supper, often churches will hold Communion based on a certain routine. While it is Biblical for us to partake of the Lord’s Supper together as the Body of Christ, we must also walk in Communion with Him daily. I am one who believes that Communion in the church should be taken seriously because the full sacrifice of Jesus Christ is something that we ought not to take lightly in any sense. Jesus Christ became a curse and paid the price for us in our place, it took the death of God’s own Son to purchase our redemption and freedom from the bondage of sin. 

Jesus says something profound in John 6:53-58 (NKJV), “Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you.  Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him.  As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.”

Now let me make something clear here because this is often confused especially in Catholic circles. When you partake of the Lord’s Supper the bread and juice or wine do not somehow become the exact body and blood of our Savior. The Sacrifice of Christ is one and done and there is no need to repeat it (Hebrews 10:10). However, we are instructed in the New Testament to partake in the Lord’s Supper in remembrance of Him. We do Communion in remembrance of Him and it is symbolic (Luke 22:19). 

Now back to what Jesus said in John chapter six. He said that if you do not eat of the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood you have no life in you. Interestingly Jesus mentions that His Body is bread from Heaven or as they called it in the Old Testament, the manna (Exodus 16:31). So what is our manna under the New Covenant? John 1:1 (NKJV) says, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”. Jesus is the Logos, the Word of God. Additionally Revelation 19:12-13 (NKJV) says, “His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself. He was clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.”. 

Part of walking in Communion with Him is having a relationship with Him that involves studying and meditating on the Word of God because Jesus is the Word of God. Now, what about the Blood of Jesus Christ? Ephesians 1:7 (NKJV) tells us, “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace”. We must come to the realization that we are blood washed, our sins are forgiven and He remembers them no more (Hebrews 8:12). Jesus tells us in Matthew 3:8 (AMP), “So produce fruit that is consistent with repentance [demonstrating new behavior that proves a change of heart, and a conscious decision to turn away from sin].”. When we are born again we repent and place our trust in the full Sacrifice of Jesus Christ which contains His Body and His Blood. The Christian doesn’t just encounter repentance once, we are t bear fruits of repentance. We won’t get it right every time after we are born again, that is why we must be led by the Holy Spirit and when He convicts us, repent.  

We need to realize that as born-again believers we spiritually through the new creation have the blood of Christ applied to our lives. The Blood that makes us holy and sanctified and we must come to realize this not just mentally, but truly in our soul and spirit. Too many people mentally ascend what the Blood of Christ has done, but they never have a revelation of it. 

It is time we walk in communion with Jesus Christ daily. The word communion in the Oxford dictionary is defined as, the sharing or exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings, especially when the exchange is on a mental or spiritual level. When we walk in full communion with Him in this realm on earth it is to be an intimate walk with Him. 

I’d like to leave you with one nugget of thought. Many people overlook a particular individual in the Bible and that is Enoch from the Old Testament. While there is much we can discuss on many levels with Enoch, I’d like to leave you with one verse about him. Genesis 5:24 (AMP) says, “And [in reverent fear and obedience] Enoch walked with God; and he was not [found among men], because God took him [away to be home with Him].”. Enoch had such an intimate walk with God that he actually never encountered physical death. His walk was reverent with the fear of God and obedience. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). Too often I feel as the church has become too modern I feel we have lost a Biblical fear and reverence toward God. As we strive to walk in deeper communion with Him, let us walk it in full surrender, obedience, and reverence. 

If under the Old Covenant, Enoch could have a deep and intimate walk with God, then why can’t we all as New Covenant believers? We are the temple of the Holy Spirit under the New Covenant (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). We have everything we need to walk the kind of walk Enoch walked in a New Testament context. Now I am not saying this means we can avoid physical death, but this should challenge us to seek out a deep and intimate walk with God. 

2022

A Word About Revival

I want to take some time to talk about revival in the modern church today. There is much talk about this word, and this term has become used so nonchalantly that I believe we lost the true meaning behind what revival should look like. Over the last few years, many have talked about there being a “Great Harvest” or an “Another Awakening”. Let me make something clear, this post is not being written to say that there will not be another revival, or that every claimed revival going on today is not genuine. The goal of this post is to bring us back to what Scripture tells us, because too often we get caught up in what feels good, rather than what is in line with the Bible. I am not just writing this post to you, but I am writing this to myself because the Holy Spirit has convicted me on this subject. We are called to be people who stand for truth, and that is the goal of every post I make. 

Often today in America you will see churches having revival services, one of the most common things that are marked in these revivals is healings, signs, and wonders. Often when someone advertises revival and includes healings on the flyer you will have many show up. Now let me make myself clear here, I believe that God is still in the healing business and God heals people today. However, I am afraid that often many make healings and other signs of the attraction of revival rather than what revival should truly be about. 

Some may say that I am going out on a limb here, but this needs to be said. Healing and seeing signs and wonders is not unsaved or saved people’s primary needs. People’s primary need is to be shown that they are dead in their sin and they need a Savior to save them from the wrath of God, and that Savior is Jesus Christ. 

Sure you can have a revival service that only focuses on healing, and then mentions little to nothing about true Salvation. If a revival service is ninety percent about healings and you end it with a quick sinners prayer with no conviction, what good is that for people’s eternal sake? This is so dangerous because this type of service will give people an incorrect and unbalanced view of who the God of the Bible truly is. People will leave with the mindset thinking that God is “like the genie from Aladdin”, this was once stated by Jenn Johnson of Bethel Church. 

The world we live in is so stripped of having a proper view of God, and yet the church has embraced this was the prosperity Gospel. Many have bought into the Prosperity Gospel and don’t even know it. Some will tell you “sow this seed of one-hundred dollars for your healing”. Some give a message that goes like this “God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life to be healthy, happy, and prosperous”. We take that message and then mix it in with the American dream and become even more self-centered, and our prayers become so self-centered, rather than Christ-centered. 

When we live in a world where 50 percent of self-professed Christians say that casual sex is sometimes or always acceptable (Source: Pew Research 2020), we ought to approach revival in a Biblical way. When we live in a world where more than four out of ten women who are regular churchgoers end their pregnancies with abortions (Source: Care Net), we need to take a serious look at revival in the church. Another number that grieves me is that fifty-seven percent of Protestants view “same-sex marriage” as acceptable (Source: Pew Research). 

What good is it to preach “accept Jesus and He will bless you with health and wealth”? We don’t need a revival of healing, we need a revival of the Word of God and a church that has reverence towards God. We need a revival in the church to distinguish the holy from the unholy. James 4:8 (KJV) says, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”. Psalm 19:7 (KJV) also says, “The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple”. 

What we are seeing today is nothing other than the Great Falling Away. Now I cannot predict how close we are to the return of Christ, nor can I say how things will exactly occur for us over the next few years. We ought to make sure our hearts are in the right place, and our motives are pure and Christ-centered. 2 Timothy 3:1-5 (KJV) warns us, “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.”. 

There are people today in the modern movement who have a form of godliness, but deny the power of God. There are people today who have false signs and are greedy wolves, they have their own form of godliness but it has no true power because it is not rooted in Scripture at all. These are the people who promise to lead you to God but end up leading you down the broadway.  Jesus warned us about this in Matthew 7 just after He warned us of false teachers. 

A true revival means that people are awakened to how Holy our God is and how in our original state, we are dead in our sins deserving nothing but the wrath of God. However, God in His love sent His only Son to pay the price for all sin, we are called to repentance and faith in Christ. As a church, we are called to make disciples. We need revival, where people who come that are in love with the things of the world, leave with a new worldview, one that is Christ-centered, have a hatred towards the things God hates, and have a burning desire to no longer conform to the wicked ways of this world. 

I will end with a quote of Andrew Murray, “A true revival means nothing less than a revolution, casting out the spirit of worldliness, making God’s love triumph in the heart.”. It is time we examine our own ways individually and as a church, it is a time for a return to the Word of God!

2022, Inspiration

A Fresh Wind of the Holy Spirit

The church is called to be a people who know God’s Word and act like it is so. We are to be a people who expect God to move, based on the promises of His Word. Too often today we have gotten in a rut of “drive-thru Christianity”, where we just go with what is convenient for us. Take a look through the New Testament, the Early Church would never have thrived if they went with what was easy and convenient for them. 

Acts 2:1-4 (AMP) tells us, “When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place, and suddenly a sound came from heaven like a rushing violent wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.  There appeared to them tongues resembling fire, which were being distributed [among them], and they rested on each one of them [as each person received the Holy Spirit]. And they were all filled [that is, diffused throughout their being] with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues (different languages), as the Spirit was giving them the ability to speak out [clearly and appropriately].”. 

Acts 2 gives us the account of the Day of Pentecost, which happened to be a feast day. On this Pentecost, after Christ ascended, the Early Church experienced the outpouring of the Holy Spirit which resulted in the Gift of Tongues. Context of Acts 2, it is talking about the gift of tongues as a sign to unbelievers because they were speaking in known languages. Before I go further I’d like to emphasize that this type of tongue is different than tongues for personal edification, which is available to all believers (1 Corinthians 14:4 and Mark 16:15-18). 

The Early Church gathered together in one accord, they were of like-minded people, and they waited on the Lord. Lamentations 3:25 (ESV) says, “The Lord is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.”. We are to be a people who wait and pray without ceasing for God to move in our circumstances, life, family, and nation. Isaiah 40:31 (ESV) says, “But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.”. When we are a people who are fully surrendered to the Lord and through the power of the New Birth and filling of the Spirit, we will have our strength in Him, and we will walk by faith, and not grow weary or faint! 

The church right now is called to be a people who wait on the Lord. Too often we rely on our own strength and our own abilities. It is time that we depend fully upon God strengthening us, giving us boldness, and wisdom. We don’t need man-generated revival, we need a genuine revival that is straight from Heaven! True revival includes people becoming saved, healed, and delivered. Too often people only focus on the healings, while that is certainly part of it, we also need a revival of holiness and sanctification in the church. We need a revival that restores people to the true knowledge of who they are in Jesus Christ as blood-bought believers. 

Not only are churches to have times of waiting on the Lord, but I believe there is to be and will be more small groups. More small groups of people meeting in homes and praying and following the leading of the Holy Spirit. Through this, I believe we will see a Great Harvest. 

2022, Christianity, Discipleship, Inspiration, Wisdom

Where is Your Treasure?

We are living in a day in age in which it is easy for us to become so busy with the cares of this world. We get so caught up in staying current with what is trendy that we often forget about the true meaning and purpose of life. Many people think that the mark of success in life is becoming a millionaire, being elected to office, curing a disease, and many other things. However, what truly matters is after you pass from this life, is hearing “Well done my good and faithful servant” (Matthew 25:23).   

So often people are worried about building their own kingdoms on this earth. You will see some people chasing money all their life, which the Bible warns us about the love of money being the root of evil (1 Timothy 6:10). It amazes me that people will chase so many things in this life to realize that one day they will physically die, and someone else is going to get all their stuff. But we will spend so much time worrying about how to pay for this and that all the time. Now I am not saying we should not practice financial stewardship, I am all for Biblical financial stewardship, and honoring God in the area of finances.   

Check out this parable Jesus gave in Luke 12:16-21 (NLT), “Then he told them a story: “A rich man had a fertile farm that produced fine crops. He said to himself, ‘What should I do? I don’t have room for all my crops.’  Then he said, ‘I know! I’ll tear down my barns and build bigger ones. Then I’ll have room enough to store all my wheat and other goods.  And I’ll sit back and say to myself, “My friend, you have enough stored away for years to come. Now take it easy! Eat, drink, and be merry!”’ “But God said to him, ‘You fool! You will die this very night. Then who will get everything you worked for?’ “Yes, a person is a fool to store up earthly wealth but not have a rich relationship with God.”.   

This rich man had so many crops that he did not have enough room, and he decided to build bigger barns so he could expand his own kingdom. This rich man thought that he had it all figured out, however when his life came to an end, he soon came to realize that all his earthly treasure meant nothing in the end.    

We get so consumed with deadlines whether for school or work, along with the many other obligations of life that we neglect to put our priorities in line. We have a great tragedy today and that is so many people in the church are worldly-minded. Some of these people may be genuine believers while others may be false converts. However, the point is that worldliness is more sophisticated now than what it was when the Apostle Paul wrote “do not be conformed to this world” (Romans. 12:2).   

We need to set our minds on the things of God and cultivate a deep desire to know His Word and spend time in prayer, and personal worship, and communion with Him. We need to shift our mindset from worldly things to the things of the Kingdom of God.  2 Peter 3:8 (NLT) says, “But you must not forget this one thing, dear friends: A Day is like a thousand years to the Lord, and a thousand years is like a day.”. That is so powerful, our lives are like a drop of water in the Pacific Ocean when compared to how long eternity is.   

Brothers and sisters in Christ I urge you to examine yourself, are you rich in your life in this world, or are you rich in your relationship with Jesus Christ?