The Purpose for the Present Pain

The seasons of brokenheartedness we experience, as worshippers, come to break our will power of the stubbornness that has led us astray from the heart of Yahweh. By disregarding Father's wishes to instead do that which we have deemed to be right in our own eyes, we ultimately set ourselves up to experience the sort of painful spiritual reckoning that is meant to crush the soul as well as the ego. 

As spirit beings having a human experience, we must undergo a maturing process that makes it unmistakably clear to us when even our best intentions conflict with Heaven's agenda. Consequently, the only way Father can most effectively get our attention is by ALLOWING us to presently experience the pain of our humanity contending with the plans He both ordained and set in motion before the foundation of the world. 

Pain creates brokenness. And yes, there are times in our life journeys when it takes us experiencing brokenness to produce our willingness to embrace the culture of righteousness. In other words, sometimes our way has got to hurt more than we ever thought it would in order for us to see why Yahweh never wanted us to go that route. But it is often through brokenness that we are steered back into the right direction.

Wisdom In Giving

Something of great concern among people in ministry who exercise spiritual gifts is the expectation to receive a financial seed from those whose lives they speak into.  Thanks to the affordability of social media over traditional broadcasting, there is an abundance of ministering personalities present on the Internet seeking platforms to share the Gospel and build their audiences.  But what's disturbing is that there are people daily hosting live streams--sometimes multiple times per day--encouraging people (who are mostly struggling financially) to give financially to the advancement of their ministry.

It is normally not the practice of From the Heart of a Worshipper to post about highly controversial matters.  But this topic deserves some air time because these kinds of activities lead believers and non-believers alike to feel apprehensive about giving.  It sends a very confusing message to the world about the instruments through which GOD speaks--that they are hustlers, swindlers, tricksters and schemers.  And as a result of this unseemly behavior, not only are generous-hearted people more skeptical about placing their hard-earned money into the hands of ministers.  There are genuine ministry gifts out here who are hesitant to make a request for funding out of fear that they will be lumped into the same category with those who repeatedly solicit financial support.

If you find yourself struggling in this area as a giver, then prayerfully this post will be an encouragement to you.  When it comes to releasing the money over which your Heavenly Father has given you stewardship, give as you are led by the Set Apart (Holy) Spirit.  Do not allow anyone to pressure you into giving, especially if you do not have it to give.  GOD expects you to manage your household well and pay your bills.  So, understand that it is not the challenging of your faith to give money that has already been budgeted for the maintenance of your household to a minister or ministry.

In Pursuit of Intentional Corporateness

It is often said that teamwork makes the dream work. And as cliche' as that may sound, it really doesn't take a rocket scientist to conclude that two heads are better than one.  We live in an increasingly social culture that strongly encourages collaboration in the areas of education, commerce, and even government.  With greater emphasis now being placed upon building high-performing teams as opposed to celebrating superstar MVP's, the Body of Christ has an amazing opportunity to lead the way in exemplifying how the culture of Heaven interprets teamwork.  More importantly, we can shift the cultural dynamic in the various environments in which we go in and out by appropriating Messiah's teachings in our everday dealings with those whom we collaborate.

As an observant believer, I more clearly see now why the Body of Christ MUST be in the world but not of the world.  The world around us is filled with messy situations that cannot be overlooked.  And if we--as high-performing teams--are going to shift the cultural climate in the territories to which we have been sent, then we simply cannot afford to be "religious" ostriches burying our heads in the sand.  No more can we avoid grappling with matters we deem to be ungodly.  That excuse has been overly used to deflect attention from any frank admission that the messy matters lying before us are REALLY above our theological pay grade, and we know not what to say of these things without risk of sounding irrelevant.  As citizens of the Kingdom of Light, we have been placed in the earth to be light bearers wherever we are sent.  Our very presence is meant to eradicate darkness--not in a judgmental, condescending way but in a loving, encouraging manner that evokes the same kind and quality of conviction with which Messiah communicated during His earthly ministry.

Why Momentum Requires Maturity

It recently became clearer to me how maturity affects momentum.  As I read over some notes taken during a recent teaching shared by my good friend William Johnson, I began to reconsider various unmet personal goals from years gone by.  And as I pondered them, the Set Apart (Holy) Spirit began showing me how the maturity I lacked back then killed my momentum.  I lacked the necessary force to drive through the obstacles blocking my path.  Therefore, unable to plow through what stood in my way, I made no further progress towards reaching those goals.

Lately, my thoughts and energy have been consumed with what's next for me.  One of the pivotal statements William made that evening was, "Momentum is necessary for the assignment that lies ahead, because you can't be slowed down in the coming season."  Obstacles will indeed be faced in meeting the demands of assignments to come.  But this time, things must be different!  Immaturity cannot be given the opportunity to zap the zeal that comes with the excitement of starting something fresh.  I have, therefore, committed myself to ensuring that the momentum I start out with is not only sustained but intensifies according to the maturity by which I operate in my work.  In doing so, I am also committed to changing because that's ultimately what maturity requires.

When pursuing a different outcome, staying the same is no longer an option.  Change must occur, and it must be intentional.  And in order to possess the degree of momentum that drives through obstacles, there must be an intentional pursuit of holistic development.  This process of maturation requires personal change, which means I must be held accountable for building my own momentum.  After all, maturity is essentially the willingness to accept responsibility for your own success.  The mantra of maturity pretty much says, "I will not put the responsibility for MY change on someone else."

Building momentum starts with being burdened for change.  The slow down you may be experiencing is most likely due to you not changing.  And the reason why you're NOT changing is because you don't care enough.  The burden for change has yet to weigh heavily enough upon you to make something happen.  Yes, please understand that it's burdened people who make things happen.  They don't just watch stuff happen and talk about what they see.  They feel the weight of what they see and are inspired to change.  They're inspired to mature.  And like a seed fighting its way through the soil to the light above the surface, their momentum increases to bring the transformational development that makes seemingly impossible goals reachable.

Power Belongs To The Responsible

I was reminded last week of something my good friend and brother Prophet William L. Johnson II shared in a teaching a couple of years ago: "Power belongs to the responsible."  That statement really stood out amongst all he shared in that particular evening of revival, and it arrests my attention even now as I ponder over who power belongs to.  If you have ever taken a Physics course, then you're most likely familiar with the idea that power is the ability to do work.  Not just something that lies dormant, it is a force that enables the empowered entity to fulfill some degree of purpose. Therefore, power is only as valuable as the work it actually accomplishes. It makes no sense to possess power if it results in nothing purposeful. And let's be frank here: irresponsible people lack a sense of purpose.

In the hands of irresponsible people, power becomes abused (or "ABnormally USED").  As my favorite teacher, Dr. Myles Munroe, has said, "Where purpose is NOT known, abuse is inevitable."  Irresponsible people do not seek to understand purpose because it requires too much of them.  And without an understanding of purpose, people are totally clueless as to how they should respond to anything.  Furthermore, if responsibility indeed be the ability to respond, then why should supernatural power be entrusted to those who fail to appropriately exercise the limited ability they've already been given to favorably respond to life's demands?  It makes zero sense whatsoever...

The Hardships Were Sent To Harden You

Throughout our lives, we will experience seasons of hardship.  It is, therefore, not wise for us to view life through the rose-tinted lenses that deceive us into thinking that everything will ALWAYS be pleasant for us, especially as born again believers in Christ the Messiah.  Right here is where sobriety of the mind is necessary in order to endure the afflictions we will--without a doubt--experience.  Sober thinking, furthermore, ensures that our souls (i.e. mind, will and emotions) PROPERLY process the trouble we experience.  When we appropriately handle hardship, the hardness we experience fulfills its purpose to bring forth THE BEST of us and not OUR WORST.  And with understanding of the order of righteousness, according to Romans 8:28, we are better able to see how GOD is indeed HELPING us by HARDENING us to difficulty.

If you would, take a look back over a season in your life that was hard for you to get through.  As much as you may hate to admit it, what you suffered most likely helped you in some way.  And as a result of enduring that as well as other hard seasons of your past, herein lies the good news: thanks to what you've been through, the challenges to come won't even phase you!  Because you know it was GOD who brought you through the past hardships, you can trust and believe that He will bring you through whatever trouble comes your way next.  And why is that?  Because every hard thing you overcome toughens you to face the adversary's forthcoming attempts to defeat you.

Hearing For the Here And Now

The Word of GOD enlarges your capacity, changes the direction in which you are walking, and alters the rest of your life.  Therefore, be very attentive because GOD is always speaking by His Spirit.  The Word He shares is designed to bring a manifestation of His glory (or presence) in your life, so don't miss it.

By only looking in the scriptures for what GOD is saying may result in you missing the Rhema Word you need right where you are.  That Word may come through an advertisement, a stranger's encouraging words or even a note from a young child (among many other avenues).  Your surroundings are most likely filled with heavenly correspondence, but your level of consciousness may be too low to receive these messages from GOD.

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of GOD (according to Romans 10:17).  So yes, you need to know the Word.  Continue to read the Bible, studying to yourself approved a workman who need not be ashamed (see 2 Timothy 2:15).  But herein lies the difference: don't study to MEMORIZE but rather study to UNDERSTAND.  The key to "hearing by the Word of GOD" is letting the scriptures be the filter through which EVERYTHING you hear passes.

Extracting The Greatness In You

Nothing worth having comes easy.  This is why there are people dying every day who left themselves no choice but to leave this life unfulfilled.  They played it safe.  They settled for good enough.  They chose the familiarity associated with survival over the risk of potentially thriving.

Understand that it's YOUR unwillingness to experience discomfort that's keeping you from being great--NOT PEOPLE.  In order for greatness to come forth, YOU must be willing to step into discomfort.  Yes, the struggle is real; and you won't even begin to scratch the surface of greatness until you're willing to face your self-imposed limitations head-on.

The Process of Fulfilling Purpose - Part 2

In a recent discussion, my spirit received an on-the-spot download illustrating the fulfillment of purpose that was just too good not to share.  So, here goes: a hurricane lamp without oil has everything required to fulfill its purpose, EXCEPT fuel (i.e. oil) and energy (i.e. fire).  Something of substance must be poured into it to sustain the lamp's work output over time, and something else of a combustible nature must spark to ignite (or activate) its inherent ability to work.  Although the lamp possesses the hardware (i.e. the body or the physical components) to work, it lacks the resources--that is, the fuel and the energy--to actualize its potential.  In other words, the lamp is lifeless and useless without anything to put legs to the faith of its manufacturer.

Bible says that every man has been given the measure of faith.  Yahweh has indeed provided every person the physical components to accomplish what s/he has been created to do.  Furthermore, no manufacturer with a reputation worth upholding would produce a product that is incapable of living up to its claim.  Therefore, as Yahweh's products, we have got to become VERY serious about obtaining knowledge, achieving understanding of that knowledge, and receiving wisdom concerning its application, so we can manifest Father's original intent for our lives.  Fulfilling purpose has got to become just that serious for us!

Be Willing and Productive

While in a training session as part of my professional development, there was something said with regard to teamwork that vibrated with Heaven's frequency and caught my spirit's attention: "The people you get to help you must be willing AND productive.  If they can't produce, then don't you depend on them."  I actually shared the below status update on my Facebook timeline with regard to that moment.

Accepting The Paint

One thing I've come to understand about life as a believer is that Father's methods can raise a lot of questions.  We often have our own ideas and perceptions of how things should go; and each time we do, we're reminded that His thoughts and ways are higher than ours.  When we feel like we're at the end of our ropes, He's waiting for us to let them go so He can catch us.  When we feel like our backs are against the wall, He's waiting for us to stop fighting long enough to allow Him to lift up a standard against the enemy.  See, we struggle with letting go of life's ropes and putting down our fists when the fight seems to be the most intense; yet scripture continues to remind us that His strength is made perfect in weakness (as found in 2 Corinthians 12:9).

In contemplating the frailties of life, some days this journey plays out like a suspense thriller.  Finding myself in one vulnerable place after another is honestly quite stressful, and there are indeed times when my moody side just doesn't want to be bothered after having dealt with all the drama. (Can I get just ONE witness?!)  Yes, as grateful as I am to Yahweh for making ways, opening doors, snatching me out and catapulting me forward, the compounding stress that comes with waiting on Him takes a toll on me when TIME is of the essence.  If you didn't know, well now you know: living on eternity's timetable is NOT for the faint of heart because He who is from everlasting to everlasting is literally in no one's hurry.  He has His own appointed time for everything He sets His hands to do to be accomplished.  And regardless of how we may feel, there's absolutely NOTHING we can do about it.

Staying Power

In order to run this race of a life with patience, we must have the stamina to endure what--at times--can be a very grueling experience.  Yes, life can be hard; but we have unlimited access to the grace to persevere.  I'm reminded here of the term "staying power," which is the ability or strength to last or endure.  It's the quality or ability that allows someone or something to continue being effective and successful.  Today, we're living in a time when effectiveness and success are less and less evident in people's lives simply because they lack the endurance to finish what's been started.

When we consider how our Heavenly Father works, we see that everything Abba starts gets finished because it was already finished at the start.  In other words, whenever He starts something, Him starting it is proof that it's already complete.  Therefore, may I suggest that our ineffectiveness and unsuccessful efforts directly correlate to the fact that what we set out to do was pretty much unfinished from the beginning.  Our minds must be renewed here to understand that when something reaches its completed state in the unseen realm, it is THEN--and ONLY then-- that the process of fulfillment can begin in the physical realm.  Essentially, the execution of a half-baked idea is purposed to reveal that the idea was always half-baked.  It furthermore causes us to see that we cannot fully commit to physically manifesting what our lack of commitment in the spiritual realm has already failed to manifest.

Our problem is that we lack vision.  And work plans can only be devised for that which has been envisioned.  Without a clear picture of the finished product, there can be no documented procedures on how to start at Point A and arrive at a finished product that bears the image and likeness of the vision.  Furthermore, the absence of vision will surely set us up for failure.  It's impossible to have the staying power necessary to overcome the various hurdles encountered while bringing a vision to pass when you're not clear on what the end result looks like.  And here's the more sobering thought: you simply cannot commit to that which you're unclear about.  No one in their right mind will commit to a vision that's foggy, but how many times have we all been guilty of attempting to do something about which we're unclear?  In fact, when the situations and circumstances surrounding the process of materializing that foggy vision become too hard to handle, quitting is usually what happens next, doesn't it?  So in order to stay committed unto the completion of a thing, we must possess a clear understanding of what is indeed being finished.

The Power of the Tongue

We often quote (or hear quoted) that life and death is in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 18:21).  It's a very familiar scripture; and often times, out of our familiarity with something we've heard more times than we can recall, we may overlook deeply embedded truths that can unlock new levels of understanding for us but are only uncovered in our time of meditation.  For instance, regarding the aforementioned verse of scripture, I've been greatly impacted by this interesting take on life and death being in the power of the tongue: Each statement we verbalize SIMULTANEOUSLY empowers certain things to live and other things to die.

I love when Holy Spirit gives me such profound insights into the scriptures because from them I'm able to develop better everyday habits through the application of both the written and spoken Word of Yahweh GOD.  This insight, in particular, has inspired me to begin asking myself BEFORE releasing words into the atmosphere, "What will my words empower to live, and what will they empower to die?"  Since BOTH happen each time we speak, as noted above, it's imperative that we not wait until AFTER our words have been released to consider this.  And by making it a practice to ask this question, especially in those moments wherein our emotions seem to be getting the best of us, we can step out of our feelings and be targeted--as opposed to careless--in our speech.  THAT'S the place in which we must strive to be.

It's All In The Hands

Most people like the idea of pursuing their visions and prospering therein, but great ideas--no matter how likable they are--are unfruitful without willful, decisive action (i.e. faith).  We must renew our minds in this area because ideas are only as good as their execution.  If an idea does not produce fruit, then it's essentially worthless.  Let's go even deeper: if your faith is not producing the fruit of righteousness, then it's worthless.  Now to be fair, ideas--and even faith--do carry a degree of intrinsic value.  However, the worth that can be attributed to them is based solely upon how valuable they are in the respective individual's hands.

One of my favorite statements throughout the Bible is found at the very end of Romans 12:3 (KJV): "...God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith."  This blesses me EVERY time I hear it because it reminds me that every individual has been given the same amount of faith to work with. No one has more or less than anyone else!  It's all in what you do with the measure you've been dealt.  Therefore, faith requires action in order to harness its ability to produce fruit.  Your faith is purposed by design to bring forth that which has the ability to sustain you.  But it's not just going to appear out of thin air!  There must be preparation before manifestation, which means you've got to work what you've got with all you've got.

Don't Forfeit Your Inheritance

In a recent Bible study at church, Minister David Humphrey shared in the evening's teaching on "Spiritual Warfare" that the believer forfeits his spiritual inheritance when in sin.  This couldn't be more true!  While we all sin and fall short of the glory of GOD, the spirit of conviction will compel believers to confess their sins (i.e. come into agreement with how GOD sees their actions) and repent (i.e. change their actions by turning and going the opposite direction).  However, there are some believers who choose to repeatedly engage in behavior that is not in alignment with the culture of GOD.  These are the individuals who willingly forfeit what Christ Jesus has secured for all who believe in Him.

The word "forfeit" means "to lose or give up (something) as a punishment or because of a rule or law."  It also means "to lose or lose the right to especially by some error, offense, or crime."  This forfeiture is apparent on multiple levels, but it's most plainly seen in scripture when Jesus says to those who claim to have done many wonderful works in His name that He never knew them (Matthew 7:21-23).  It doesn't get more clear than this, folks!  Workers of iniquity (i.e. illegality), those who do not do the will of our Heavenly Father, lose the spiritual inheritance they unfortunately were deceived into believing was secure for them.  But to their utter shame and disappointment, no amount of prophesying in Jesus' name, casting out of devils, and working of miracles will overcompensate for a life of deliberate sin and outright disobedience.

Never Minding The Fog (Part 2 of 2)

Yesterday's post ("Never Minding The Fog - Part 1") was the result of me having to take a tough look at my life and being selfless enough to publicly share my own process of transformation.  I'm a very practical person and strive to make Christianity plain to understand.  So, as promised, here are the "6 Steps To Never Minding The Fog," as inspired by Holy Spirit on yesterday morning.  I pray these insights will also help you on your road to life transformation in Christ.

6 STEPS TO NEVER MINDING THE FOG

(1) KNOW YOUR DESTINATION.  If you don't know where you're going, then any road will get you there.  Have a clear picture of the goal.  Even if you don't quite know how it looks, at least know its address.  Every landmark has a location, so don't "go another further" until you know exactly where you're going.

(2) CHART YOUR ROUTE.  When you fail to plan, you pretty much plan to fail.  So make time to understand which road(s) to take BEFORE your departure.  Not knowing doesn't automatically spell D-I-S-A-S-T-E-R, but knowing will certainly make the trip way more enjoyable for you.  It will also provide you reference points along the way to reassure that you're headed in the right direction while helping calculate how close you are to your destination.

(3) LEARN THE RULES.  It's very important to understand how to properly get where you're going.  Accidents happen when people are ignorant to the rules of the road or simply refuse to follow them.  More importantly, you must be able to recognize the signs you'll see along the way as well as understand their meanings.  The information they provide is extremely necessary; and because of the speed at which you'll be traveling, the signs are designed to share information concisely.    

(4) GET MOVING.  It's quite easy to get stuck in the paralysis of analysis.  But in order to get where you're headed, you must go.  You can't allow the conditions of your environment to keep you at a stand still.  If the weather and road conditions aren't life-threatening, then get on the road.  Stop making excuses because you're wasting time.  Life is short and destiny awaits!

(5) PAY ATTENTION.  Don't get so caught up in what's happening around you that you miss your exit.  Watch for signs, that you may quickly recognize what they mean and react accordingly.  Missing a sign can cost you valuable time, money, and even effort.  Be disciplined and alert throughout your journey.  Doing so will ensure you avoid those mistakes that create the stressful, frustrating consequences that will give you a swift kick in the rear and leave you bitter.

(6) CORRECT ERRORS FAST.  As soon as you realize you're going the wrong way, turn around immediately.  Get back on track!  The longer it takes for you to recognize you're in error, the farther you will stray off course.  And please don't continue in error hoping that a side street or short cut will emerge.  Even if one does, you have no idea what lies there lurking.  Ditch the pride and receive the protection found in correction.  It will save you from experiencing a whole heap of trouble as well as the emotional baggage it can potentially place in your hands.

Beware of the Holy Indignant - Part 2 | 05.29.14

This blog post is a continuation of the previously published post of the same title.

The A-portion of Amos 5:15 reads, "Hate the evil, and love the good, and establish judgment in the gate."  If something is indeed unjust, unworthy, mean, unfair or wrong, then our response should be MORE than just dissatisfaction.  It should be hatred!  Bible here instructs us to do THREE things, not just to pick and choose which one(s) of the three we want to do.  It is, therefore, critical to our ability to righteously "establish judgment in the gate" that we "hate the evil, and love the good."  And in order to fulfill this prerequisite, we must be transformed by the renewing of our minds, as stated in Romans 12:2, so that we can appropriately--and without question--discern evil and good BEFORE we establish judgment.

In considering "the gate," we must understand that it represents an opening--more specifically, a guarded opening.  This is why the aforementioned renewing of the mind is so important: it's designed to produce the mental sobriety necessary for us to successfully determine what goes in and out the gates of our lives.  Additionally, the phrase to "establish judgment" can be better understood as presenting the verdict.  And believe me: when the mind embraces GOD's verdict, the mouth can then articulate it with conviction.  But wait... Once pronounced, the verdict still must be enforced; and dissatisfied people DON'T enforce judgments.  Only the indignant are angry enough to call for the power of GOD as well as make the Spirit-led decisions that will guard the gate.

When people are desperate for change, they will do whatever it takes to see change happen. Therefore, may your worship welcome an uprising of holy indignation TODAY that will actualize your desire for change by spurring Spirit-led decisions for the power of GOD to back up on your behalf.

To Be Built Up | 06.15.13

Have you ever asked GOD to increase your faith?  I have asked Him in times past to do so because of my own perceived inability to accomplish various things.  Over the years, I've learned that the faith we've been given is all the faith we need (Romans 12:3); but it profits us nothing when we fail to exercise it.  All of us are guilty of having faith without corresponding works.  We have believed, at some point or another, and then failed to follow through on what we accepted as real and true for our lives.  Whether it was to move forward in launching a business idea, pursuing continued education, or even going forth in a call to ministry, among many other things, the measure of faith we've all been given was--for whatever reason--not deployed to manifest what we envisioned.

Lessons In Stewardship | 02.12.13

Early into a recent teaching ("I Want More" | 02.02.13) shared by my pastor, he said something very interesting: "An indication that you're ready for more is you being a good steward of what GOD has already given you."  Although it certainly was not my first time hearing anything of this nature, this time it resonated with me differently.  In this season of my life, I have more on my plate than ever and the Holy Spirit is still saying, "I've got more for you."  Of course, my mind is thinking, "Where else can more be fit? I'm swamped!"  Have you ever been there before, where it seems you've already bitten off more than you can chew and GOD is yet saying, "I've got more to give you"?

My Joy Is Not Available | 01.03.13

While in prayer on last night, I heard myself say, "Our joy is not available to be taken when we're in Your presence, GOD."  Clearly, the Holy Spirit inspired these words because I had never before thought or spoken them.  My mind was actually on Psalms 16:11, the latter portion of which I quoted just before uttering those words.  This year, my heart is fiercely determined to spend more time in GOD's presence than ever before.  It's my desire to experience GOD more and for His presence to literally be manifested in EVERY area of my life.  Therefore, STAYING in GOD's presence has become my number one priority.