"KINGS and PRIESTS: Vision Meets Provision!"

"..Take My yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light." (Matt. 11:29-30)


An introspective look into the offices of Kings (K) and Priests (P) illustrates that divine teamwork is necessary in order for each office to flourish within the Kingdom of God. An atmosphere of mutual respect is also a must. The anointing, having been held in high regard, was evident and a critical ingredient into the manifestation of both offices.

It is critical the the Body of Christ (specifically, the Institutional Church [IC]) NOT try to make (P) out of every man that walks through the door. (K)'s must be cultivated through discipleship in commerce, business and entrepreneurship in order to finance the vision of God in the marketplace. To force the priesthood on ALL MEN would severely upset the delicate balance of  kingship (provision) and priesthood (vision) with the BOC.

The BOC is a kingdom of priests (as we are joint heirs with Christ as a royal priesthood). Unfulfilled kings become "spectators" and eventual "drop-outs" because they can't find their rightful place and are unable to realize their destinies. Unfulfilled priests become lazy and dangerous to the spiritual health of the congregation of Believers. There is a profound need for the priests (modern day preachers) to respect, engage, empower and under gird the kings within their spiritual communities so that they feel free to go into the marketplace and do battle for the KOG.

God made men to thrive on "conquest" and engagement. When men (women) view their lives as vital and relevant, something changes inside of them. For the king, the battlefield is the marketplace. Monday through Friday is their Sunday! Kings have the vision as warriors to make provision for the BOC and boldly advance the KOG. For the priest, the battlefield is in the wilderness in the Presence of God seeking His wisdom and guidance for the effective ministry of God's people. His leadership is critical to the spiritual maturity of the IC.

Don't be deluded by selfishness and spiritual immaturity, the only way to achieve the maximum potential of a Believer in the KOG is by having a heart and mind that is pure toward the heart and mind of God...Selah.

"PROPRIETARY KNOWLEDGE: What God CHOOSES To Reveal To Us!"

FAITH is believing in the "unseen thing" (UT). The power of revelation, or specifically, what releases it, is belief in the UT. Since 96% of what "is" is invisible and only 4% is visible, it is imperative for the Believer to have faith!

"Without faith (belief in the UT) it is impossible to please God..." (Hebrews 11:6)

The UT is everything that exists outside of the realm of what is both known and proven by man. it supersedes all human theories, postulates and predictions. Everything that exists inside and outside of the creation of the earth is rooted and grounded in "proprietary knowledge" (PK). PK is reserved for the heart and mind of God (Heb. 11:3).

What we see is not really what "is" (apparent to the naked eye) or what it appears to be. PK is "ONLY what God WANTS us to see."  An example of this is the angels who visited Sarah in (Gen. 18:1-15).
The "angels" were compromised of "subtle matter" (Gen. 19:1-3). Angels are "evidence" of the UT. Heb 13:2 declares that we should always be mindful of how we treat people, because we might be entertaining angels and not know it. So the "proof" of the UT not only knowing and believing, but it is the evidence or proof of God.

(Gen 1:1) gives us a snapshot of the beginning of our planet within our immediate galaxy, NOT the genesis of the expanse of the ENTIRE UNIVERSE. Our galaxy is roughly 20 billion years old and our solar system only 4 billion years old. What preceded the 20 billion years? Our universe is only a spec of dust in the big scheme of things in the heaven-lies. There are no walls beyond what we know or what our senses can tell us. There is no known endpoint.

ETERNITY BEGINS AT THE END OF HUMAN KNOWLEDGE and continues on in perpetuity (forever). Take all the intellect of man documented throughout human history and compare the 6,000 years since Adam in the Garden to "whatever" preceded the paradigm of 20 billion years and then ask yourself, "How can I NOT believe in the UT?"

The Book of Genesis is more an account of another new beginning of God's relationship with mankind (there are multiple creation stories in the Word of God) rather than a detailed account of the creation of the Universe. To me, it is an illustration of the creativity of God by using FAITH and speaking FAITH through "words" as DNA material to manifest a tangible and physical environment out of the UT that would be conducive for mankind to thrive, be protected and observed.

"SPIRITUAL WARFARE: The FLESH NEVER FORGETS!"

DANGER. DANGER. DANGER! "Thought easily influences action." 

3 "For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh. 4 For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, 5 casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ..." 
                                                                         (2 Cor. 10:3-5)

The mind being held in captivity represents "STRONGHOLDS" (barriers to the heart and mind of God). The mind is held captive by the enemy (in this case the "enemy is NOT the devil, but any disobedient behavior contrary to the will of God), and can only be freed by the Spirit of God.

Many rebellious thoughts are housed in these strongholds. They can be likened to a "CITADEL" (which is a city located on a hill surrounded and protected by an impenetrable wall).

The carnal mind (the mind without God) is inherently weak, childlike and impressionable and with little or no effort it can be derailed off of the path of righteousness lest the light of the glory of Christ shine on them (2 Cor. 4:4). You are either submissive to the Prince of Darkness of the Lord of the Light. You have to pick a side!

The mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God (2 Cor. 3:14, Eph. 2:3, Rom. 8:7). The genesis of the mind is the stronghold of the enemy from the beginning. This "infiltration" is innate in all mankind and germinates out of control in the life of a sinner. It eventually overtakes the will, emotion and body by entering into the body through the mind, which is the weakest (or strongest) entry point depending upon your relationship with Christ.

Temptation is always presented to a man through the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh and then the pride of life. These are the same tricks used on Adam in the Garden and Jesus in the Wilderness. You can't really blame the devil. He has had overwhelming success using the same "cheap magic trick" on Christians for centuries! 

Here is how "it" works:

1. Temptation is presented to the eyes, mind and body as SIN;
2. The Consent of Man: the "flesh" is used to secure the transaction because "The flesh never forgets"; unless it is crucified daily'
3. Temptation (sin) and thought are inseparable;
4. Our "intellect" obstructs our ability to apprehend God through repentance;
5. Repentance creates a significant breech in the mind's stronghold;
6. The result is the transformed Believer will receive a new mind and a new heart and thus be able to bring every thought into captivity that is unlike God.

"The MAZE of TEMPTATION!"

"...There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus,[a] who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death.3 For what the law could not do in that it was weak through the flesh, God did by sending His own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, on account of sin: He condemned sin in the flesh,..." (Romans 8:1-3)

A man that pursues the "lust of the flesh" is subject (controlled and manipulated by it) to the point of the inability to recognize what they are doing. That man is carnal and condemned to death. The carnal man is an enemy of God. Carnality impedes our ability to see and "hear" the voice of God.

Every turn in a maze is confronted by a WALL.

Once you enter into a maze, you can never stop moving if you expect to get out. Inside of a maze, there is no charted direction. Using the analogy of a "mouse" as a "man", the mouse never stops and reflects, he just hits one brick wall after another.

God's perspective on our movements in this experiment reflects the similar perspective of the scientist as he observes the mouse laboring to figure his way out of the labyrinth of walls. Unlike the mouse, God can see the "way of escape." (1 Cor. 10:1-3)

God has afforded each of us a way of escape from temptation (through the leading and guiding of the power of the Holy Spirit). He also has given us examples of what has happened to those who have fallen prey to temptation. Most of us don't need any help in the area of recognizing and acknowledging the walls we have erected ourselves through lawlessness and disobedience.

The only way out of the maze is for the Hand of God to reach down and pluck us out AFTER allowing us to experience adversity, brokenness in our prideful spirits, immersion into sincere repentance and submission by faith into walking along side the Holy Spirit as He rescues us from ourselves and leads us into the Presence of the King of Glory!  Selah...

"The Nature of SIN and LIGHT!"

NO man truly knows what "sin" is until he is born again! Deliverance from SIN is predicated on the spirit of recognition that identifies the nature of the sin that I have within me. It takes the absolute impartation of God's perfection for any man or woman to know what sin is.

The "conscious sin" and the "unconscious sin" within me are both recognized, identified and understood by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit, in turn, activates the spirits of recognition, repentance and redemption within us. It is our obsession with pleasing God that forces us into righteousness. We are compelled to serve God because of our love for Him. The thought of enduring separation from God is unbearable for His sons. Sin separates us from the heart, mind and hand of God.

The Blood of Christ eliminates the need for God to censure me because the "light" will consume the "darkness." In doing so, the light in me can dwell with the "Light" (Christ) together in holiness. In this instance, the Light represents "unbroken fellowship" with the Father (1 John 1:7).

The key to being recognized as a son of God in the marketplace is for all Believers to "demonstrate" Christ through our lives, which is our most effective witness (1 John 3:1). The end result is the destruction of sin and the creation of light, which is the true nature of a child of God.

"FAITH without WORKS is DEAD!"

"...But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead." (James 2:20)

Have you not heard that "...without faith it is impossible to please to God." (Heb. 6:11). Do not confuse the fact that you will be qualified to enter into the Kingdom of God (KOG) solely on your "service" in the marketplace. Your service or "works" is the physical and tangible application of faith; faith and works maintain a symbiotic relationship.

Works is the "channel" through which the Holy Spirit (HS) works. It is the declaration to move forward in faith. Faith activates the Word of God (WOG). Faith is the "currency" in the KOG. Faith is the forward motion that creates glory for God.

The "glory" is created because God receives the manifestation of His original thought and intent. It is only glorified if it is what God desires, not what man desires for God. Anytime you are in a "dunamis" (Greek work for "dynamite" or "explosive power") or dynamic posture, applying the WOG, God is glorified because that is what He wants (Acts 1:8).

The "kerygmatic" (Greek for " a bold declaration of truth") call to "...Go ye therefore and make disciples" was NOT a request. It was a clarion call for men and women to move out and away from the comfortable and familiar into the unknown and unfamiliar to apply your faith to your works so He can receive glory from your movement.

In other words, FAITH + MOVEMENT = GLORY FOR GOD!

"The Passionate Devotion of SERVICE!"

In John Chapter 21, Jesus feeds his disciples and gives them yet another profound lesson in FAITH and SERVICE. Jesus proclaims that conversion to the faith comes through "passionate service to the sheep" which is "discipleship." Later on in the day, after they had eaten physical food, the Lord unctions them to "Feed My Lambs" (those young in the faith needing to be nurtured and cultivated in and by the Word of God) and then he asked Peter if he loved Him. Peter said, Yes Lord, you know that I love You." Jesus then answered and said, "If you love me, Tend My Sheep" (those more mature in the Word, yet still needing guidance to avoid the craftiness of the devil).

"Service"is NOT what we DO in the way of Christian work; Christ calls service in the KOG what we ARE to HIM, NOT what we do FOR Him. Discipleship is based upon "stewardship" to Christ not on adherence to a belief or creed.

Your source of DEVOTION is directly correlated to your ability to say, "Now I see who Jesus is!" when touched by the Holy Spirit (this would include being provoked by the spirit of recognition, spirit of conviction and/or the spirit of correction). Why are so many Christians committed to "personal beliefs and causes" versus "spiritual maturity and total submission to Jesus Christ?"

The answer is this; people want to be devoted to Jesus, but NOT to His "CAUSE." The Body of Christ (BOC) DOES NOT WANT JESUS in any other way than as a "comrade." The "Cause of Jesus" equals obedience to the will of God the Father; not the needs of wicked men. Serving the cause of humanity will lead to exhaustion, frustration and carnality for the Believer. Subsequently, our love for our brothers and sisters may falter.

However, if I am devoted to Christ I can serve humanity tirelessly though I be unappreciated, lied on, used and scorned. Persecution goes with the territory. It is that part of fellowship with the Savior that in INESCAPABLE! By serving God's people in the marketplace, we glorify Him. By loving God's people in the marketplace, we love Him.

On the subject of persecution, it is the Believers "badge of honor." Selah...

"...I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains [just one grain; it never becomes more but lives] by itself alone. But if it dies, it produces many others and yields a rich harvest." (John 12:24 AMP)

"Do You Smell SMOKE?"

Many Christians are under the impression that the apparatus that stands on the stages of most churches around the nation are "altars" when, in fact, they are "pulpits." There is a profound difference between an altar and a podium.

The one is orchestrated by God (altar) and the other is orchestrated by man (pulpit).

                                              Do you have one of these in your church?

Wait a minute, you mean to tell me that all this time I have NOT been going to the altar in prayer? And that I have been laying my tithe on the "steps" and not the altar? I am sad to report that you have been duped, bamboozled, run-a-muck and just plain 'ole snookered!

You see my friend, the purpose of the altar was to present a worthy or "qualified" sacrifice to God to atone for the sins of mankind. In the OT, it was the brazen alter specifically although many believers built altars of various kinds in order to honor God for His goodness. In our case, the Lamb that was slain from the foundation of the world (Jesus Christ) was placed on the altar by God (Elohim) to reconcile mankind back to Himself. The Word of God said He (Christ) did this "ONCE" for "ALL."  It was the "SMOKE
?"
So the question on the floor is, "Why are you still going to the altar when you have direct access to God?" Don't you know that your DEBT has already been PAID IN FULL? How many times have you gone back to the dealership to make a payment on your car after your debt has been paid in full? How do you think the GM at the dealership would look at you if you continually came back time after time? I submit to you that your Pastor should be looking at you the same way!

When are you going to graduate from the elementary things in Christ and become a mature Believer?

The purpose of the altar was to generate a fire so intense as to literally consume the flesh (symbolic of persecution and suffering) of the animal. The burning of the flesh generated "smoke" that ascended to the spirit realm into the nostrils of God! The smoke of the burning flesh was pleasing to God as it symbolized the "reconciliation of mankind" back to Himself, the atonement of sin and pure worship for a Holy God.

The futility of the pulpit is that it is created by man and therefore it has no power to reconcile sin. It is only a platform for a man or women to preach. The pulpit cannot absorb the weight of man's folly or disseminate the glory that comes from intimacy with God. The pulpit cannot generate any real fire to consume the flesh of our wretched hearts, foul mouths and filthy minds. It is merely a piece of wood, metal frame or block of Formica to hold the bible, water and notes of the speaker. It will one day fade away and break into pieces and need to be replaced. It will be discarded and forgotten.

But when God places you on the altar in the "Secret Place" in the Presence of the Holy Spirit, it is His intent for you to burn. He glories in our suffering and persecution as it builds character and qualifies us as "Kingdom Citizens." God has zero concern for our mortal bodies. He is not enamored with our flesh. The fact that you are uncomfortable or stressed out means absolutely nothing to the King of Glory!

So as you enter in through His gates into His courts, gird up your loins as He simply asks the Believer the hard question, "Do you smell smoke?"

"FIND your SECRET PLACE: Don't CALCULATE Without GOD!"

"Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass." 
                                                                            (Psalm 37:5)

CALCULATE: figure out, surmise, reason, quantify, qualify, predict, manage, reconcile, tally or conclude...

This scripture admonishes us not to calculate without God. It encourages us not to calculate with "evil" in view. It implores us not to calculate with a "rainy day" insight or perspective. The one thing that keeps us from the possibility of worry is bringing God into the "equation" as the greatest "factor" in all of our calculations.

The Apostle Matthew warns us not to worry about our lives (Matt. 6:25-34).  In this sense, "worry" equates to "calculate." Worry leads to "double-mindedness" which forces the Believer to make a choice; do I choose my way or God's way? Where do we make the investment? Do we wallow in the pleasures of today or do we store up our treasures for eternal glory in the Presence of the Lord God? It's hard to say. The choice would be easy if we weren't trapped in these wretched physical bodies. Praise be to God that He has delivered us from these carnal "earth suits" with the promise of eternity.

The "congregation" contaminates the process of fellowship with God! I know this is hard to hear, but just check the record. Like a sheep being led astray by a wolf (the wolf leads the sheep AWAY from the Shepherd), the behavior in a "group dynamic" does not promote "individualism." If an individual truly desires an intimate relationship with God, he MUST seek Him in the "secret place."  God has reserved a secret place in Himself for every Believer. That place might be walking alone on a warm, sandy beach, a long drive in the country, doing laps in the pool or just sitting quietly in the early morning before anyone else in the house is awake.

Corporate worship does not satisfy our individual thirst for God; nor does it satisfy God's desire for fellowship with us. I always say the "church" is appealing to the sinner, because it is "very easy to hide in a crowd." I am not being cynical, but it's just the hard truth. Crowds are great for sinners and cowards. You see my friend, when you enter into the Most Holy Place, there is no where to hide! When you go "mano a mano" (hand to hand) with the Creator, you MUST come correct. 

The reason why most "Christians" shy away from the "secret place" is because they know for a fact that if they take their sin into the Presence of God, HE WILL DEFINITELY TAKE THAT SIN AWAY! We LOVE OUR SIN too much to risk entering into the Presence of the Lord God! Therein lays the "illusion of safety" created within a congregation.

The true miracle of fellowship with God is that He is omnipotent (all powerful), omniscient (all knowing) and omnipresent (ever present). The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is our spiritual connection to God's heart, voice and ears. Spirit man to Spirit man. 

This is the essence of fellowship with God in the secret place; that you have the ability to remove yourself from the "glory of self gratifying corporate dalliances" under the guise of "worship."

"The ELIMINATION of the MIDDLE MAN in the BOC!"

I know we all remember the game as a kid in grade school when the teacher would whisper something in the ear of one of our classmates and then tell that kid to "pass it along" to the next person. As you know, by the time the message traveled around the room to the last person it had little or no resemblance to the "original message."

When the teacher told us what the "original message" was, we all laughed in disbelief trying to figure out which one of the 25 miniature "middle men" misinterpreted the message. We can learn a few things from this childhood exercise:

1. All people "hear" things differently.
2. Everything is subject to "personal interpretation",
3. Messages can be easily manipulated when using an "intermediary," and,
4. You can never truly know the "intent of the heart" of the messenger (except Christ).

In many instances, a "middle man" can be an unreliable witness. There are far too many variables that can effect one's life that can corrupt their personal message to another individual or group. As a "Believer," God has given us "unfettered access" to the Throne of Grace. 

The Word of God says, "Then behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom..." (Matt. 27:51a)

The "veil" represents uninterrupted "access" to an intimate fellowship with God. You see, the Old Testament temple had two veils or curtains; one in front of the "Holy Place" and the other separating the Holy Place from the "Most Holy Place." It was the second of these veils that was torn, which demonstrated that God had opened up access to Himself through the "blood sacrifice" of Jesus Christ at Calvary (Heb 6:19; 10:19-22). "ONLY GOD" could have torn the veil from the TOP!

As a result, there was no longer a need for a priest (middle man) to go before the Lord to "represent" you or me. We no longer have to trust that the behavior of others would be upright so that our lives would be spared. Most importantly, the tearing of the veil introduced the paradigm of "FAITH" in real-time which afforded us the opportunity to relinquish "FEAR" and freed us from the shackles of the enemy.

The modern day example of this is that believers DO NOT have to wait until Sunday morning or Wednesday evening to encounter the Lord. He made the incredible "deposit" of His Spirit in EVERY BELIEVER! You also have the "mind of Christ" (which is His Word)!

It is imperative that men and women of faith seek the Lord God for themselves and NOT rely on any man or woman exclusively (pastors, prophets, apostles or bishops) to convey the message of the gospel to them without being sure to "test the spirits (1 John 4:1)."  That is not to say that we cannot learn from others or strengthen one another as iron sharpens iron, but rather, be "intentional" about your fellowship with God and take the time to study the Word and meditate on its precepts for yourself in order to "show yourself approved "(qualified to enter into the Presence of God, receive His instructions and then GO into the marketplace to complete your assignment by serving God's people in need). 

Selah...

"FRIENDLY FIRE in the Body of Christ!"

Friendly fire (FF) is an attack by a military force on friendly forces while attempting to attack the enemy, either misidentifying the target as hostile, or due to errors or inaccuracy. Such attacks often cause injury or death. But in the context of the Body of Christ, FF represents the "intentional assault upon and/or sabotage of an individual or group of individuals by an individual or group thought to be an ally or "friend."

FF is nothing new to the BOC. The Lord God was under constant attack from friendly fire, especially from His disciples!

"Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. (1 Peter 4:12-13)"

The Word urges us not to be amazed when these bizarre occurrences come upon us. It implores us not to be shocked as if experiencing the hurt, anger and pain of rejection and betrayal is something strange. This is no big deal. The Word of God calls this "persecution" and it is the thing we have most in common with our Savior that is seldom talked about.

Oh sure, the "persecution of Christ" is common knowledge and the fervent preaching about His stripes, His cross and His death are popular preaching points. But what about "Our stripes, our crosses and our deaths;" on these three points, the Body of Christ AND the Church are curiously SILENT!

FF is the man or woman who walks with you on the journey to redemption and realizes that when adversity comes they must go another way; but the unfortunate thing is, you are the last one to know about their change of heart. This action is subtle and not as bold or blatant as a "backstabbing, cut-throat" move as a 180 degree departures from strong spiritual connections, long-standing covenant relationships or opposing philosophical differences. 

Maybe you just found out your wife is sleeping with one of the Deacons at church, or your efforts to serve in a ministry are being undermined by the pastor all the while smiling in your face. Friendly fire. Perhaps one of the elders was caught in a drug sting or you just found out your church is in foreclosure but tithes and offerings were collected the week before! It could just be as simple as thinking that someone you thought was in your corner had your back...

Peter tells us in no uncertain terms, that the "fiery trial" WILL COME without a shadow of a doubt. The key is how will you respond when it comes knocking on your door? Will you cut and run? Will you shrink in FEAR? Or will you invite him in, sit him down and introduce him to your "secret weapon" called FAITH? 

By inviting him in, you willingly "partake of Christ's sufferings" being fully persuaded that when His glory is revealed (upon His return and through His faithful sons as believers) we will be and already have been glorified in the earth with Him.

 "If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. (1 Peter 4:14a)

"The PERSISTENCE of DECEPTION!"

In the Old Testament (OT), the birth of twins was the sign of a special blessing. I am convinced that God uses "twins" to contrast various ideologies, paradigms and systems we encounter in everyday life. Deception is ruthless in its pursuit of the weak in spirit.

In the case of these two brothers, we have "conflicting nations" as was prophesied in Gen 25:23, as the Lord God spoke directly to Rebekah during her pregnancy. One nation, Jacob (Israel) and the other nation Esau (Edom). 

As is custom, the story is replete with intrigue, chaos and manipulation. We see the boys growing into their identities and the character of these two are no different than any of us who grew up in a family with siblings close to our own age. The "twist" in this tale is that Esau, being the firstborn in OT culture was a big deal! His inheritance included a "double portion" of  his father's estate. I mean, his father was Abraham for crying out loud; and, needless to say, Abraham was loaded!

But the thing these boys had in common with their father Abraham is the spirit of "deception." You see, deception is persistent; it permeates generations. It is the intention of deception to captivate your FAITH. Deception is the antithesis of TRUTH. Truth will chase you into your dreams at night and be waiting for you when you wake up in the morning!

As we grow into spiritual maturity, the Lord God says, "If you want an answer from Me, you are going to have to come closer to Me!" When you take your "stuff" before God, you can't just leave it and then run away. You have to stay there in the Presence of the Lord and be dealt with. This is called "repentance."

It is alright to leave your "stuff" (transgressions) in the past, as long as you have presented that "stuff" to God. The generational curse of deception fell upon Jacob when he tricked Esau out of his inheritance. Even though no one else was present, their verbal oath to one another was binding. Jacob's trickery of Esau didn't become serious to him until he learned of his brother's intent to come and kill him (Gen. 32).

Jacob was committed to the deception until the very end:

1. He "stole" Esau's birthright;
2. He lied to and deceived his father Abraham on his death bed to receive the "blessing;"
3. He committed "bribery" in the face of impending death with gifts to Esau;
4. He appealed to God after being exposed about his "lineage" in order to save his own skin (as if the Lord God didn't know he was Abraham's son);
5. He sent out messengers in companies with 'lies" of his following right behind them;
6. His referred to Esau as "lord" (manipulation); however the messengers called him what he was, "your brother." (Gen. 32:6);
7. Jacob stayed in the camp out of fear, although he professed to be in the procession;
8. He put Leah and her kids at risk as he sent them out first, thinking that if Esau attacked he would kill them first and then he would be able to escape with Rachel and Joseph.
9. The "name changes" they received from God are a byproduct of an intimate encounter with God. It is a painful and life altering experience. But it is necessary...for all of us!

The twins are symbiotic in their relationship. They are as symbiotic as good and evil, darkness and light and deception and truth. Through it all, God gave Jacob the name "Israel" (Prince of God). A prince is the son of the King. What Jacob wanted (his brother's birthright) was diametrically opposed to what God wanted from his life (SON SHIP). 

It is clear that God's inheritance for the Body of Christ is that of son ship (to know us as joint heirs with Christ).

"The ANATOMY of THE CROSS!"

THE POWER OF THE CROSS

"...Only God could take the most horrific execution ever known to mankind and turn it into the most compelling moment in human history. That the result of His death would be that anyone who would "believe" on Him would not die, but have everlasting (eternal) life is inconceivable!"

Crucifixion was invented by the Persians in 300 BC, and perfected by the Romans in 100 BC. It is the most painful death ever invented by man and is where we get our term "excruciating." It was reserved primarily for the most vicious of male criminals.

Jesus refused "gall", the anesthetic wine which was offered to Him by the Roman soldiers because of His promise in Matthew 26: 29, "But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom."  Jesus was then stripped naked and His clothing divided by the Roman guards. This was in fulfilment of Psalm 22:18, "They divide My garments among them, and for My clothing they cast lots."

Having been nailed the Cross, Jesus now had an impossible anatomical position to maintain. Jesus' knees were flexed at about 45 degrees, and He was forced to bear His weight with the muscles of His thighs. It is not a position which is possible to maintain for more than a few minutes without severe cramping in the muscles of the thigh and lower leg. His weight was borne on His feet, with nails driven through them.

As the strength of the muscles of Jesus' lower limbs tired, the weight of His body had to be transferred to His wrists, His arms, and His shoulders. Within a few minutes of being placed on the Cross, Jesus' shoulders were dislocated.  Minutes later His elbows and wrists became dislocated. The result of these upper limb dislocations is that His arms were 9 inches longer than normal, as clearly shown on the Shroud.  In addition prophecy was fulfilled in Psalm 22:14, "I am poured out like water, and all My bones are out of joint." 

After Jesus' wrists, elbows, and shoulders were dislocated, the weight of His body on his upper limbs caused traction forces on the Pectoralis Major muscles of His chest wall. These traction forces caused His rib cage to be pulled upwards and outwards, in a most unnatural state. His chest wall was permanently in a position of maximal respiratory inspiration. In order to exhale, Jesus was physiologically required to force air through His body.  In order to breathe out, Jesus had to push down on the nails in His feet to raise His body and allow His rib cage to move downwards and inwards to expire air from His lungs. 

His lungs were in a resting position of constant maximum inspiration. Crucifixion is a medical catastrophe.
The problem was that Jesus could not easily push down on the nails in His feet because the muscles of His legs, bent at 45 degrees, were extremely fatigued, in severe cramp, and in an anatomically compromised position. Unlike all Hollywood movies about the Crucifixion, the victim was extremely active.
The crucified victim was physiologically forced to move up and down the cross, a distance of about 12 inches, in order to breathe. The process of respiration caused excruciating pain, mixed with the absolute terror of asphyxiation.

As the six hours of the Crucifixion wore on, Jesus was less and less able to bear His weight on His legs, as His thigh and calf muscles became increasingly exhausted. There was increasing dislocation of His wrists, elbows and shoulders, and further elevation of His chest wall, making His breathing more and more difficult  Within minutes of crucifixion Jesus became severely dyspnoeic (short of breath).
His movements up and down the Cross to breathe caused excruciating pain in His wrist, His feet, and His dislocated elbows and shoulders. The movements became less frequent as Jesus became increasingly exhausted, but the terror of imminent death by asphyxiation forced Him to continue in His efforts to breathe. Jesus' lower limb muscles developed excruciating cramp from the effort of pushing down on His legs, to raise His body, so that He could breathe out in their anatomically compromised position. 

The pain from His two shattered median nerves in His wrists exploded with every movement. Jesus was covered in blood and sweat. The blood was a result of the Scourging that nearly killed Him, and the sweat as a result of His violent involuntary attempts to effort to expire air from His lungs. Throughout all this He was completely naked, and the leaders of the Jews, the crowds, and the thieves on both sides of Him were jeering, swearing and laughing at Him. In addition, Jesus' own mother was present and witnessed this horrific event. 

Physiologically, Jesus' body was undergoing a series of catastrophic and terminal events.  Because Jesus could not maintain adequate ventilation of His lungs, He was now in a state of hypoventilation (inadequate ventilation).  His blood oxygen level began to fall, and He developed Hypoxia (low blood oxygen).  In addition, because of His restricted respiratory movements, His blood carbon dioxide (CO2) level began to rise, a condition known as Hypercapnia.  This rising CO2 level stimulated His heart to beat faster in order to increase the delivery of oxygen, and the removal of CO2 The Respiratory Centre in Jesus' brain sent urgent messages to his lungs to breathe faster, and Jesus began to pant.



Jesus' physiological reflexes demanded that He took deeper breaths, and He involuntarily moved up and down the Cross much faster, despite the excruciating pain. The agonising movements spontaneously started several times a minute, to the delight of the crowd who jeered Him, the Roman soldiers, and the Sanhedrin. However, due to the nailing of Jesus to the Cross and His increasing exhaustion, He was unable to provide more oxygen to His oxygen starved body. The twin forces of Hypoxia (too little oxygen) and Hypercapnia (too much CO2) caused His heart to beat faster and faster, and Jesus developed Tachycardia.

Jesus' heart beat faster and faster, and His pulse rate was probably about 220 beats/ minute, the maximum normally sustainable. Jesus had not consumed any fluids for 15 hours, since 6 pm the previous evening. Jesus had also endured a scourging which nearly killed Him. He was bleeding from all over His body following the Scourging, the crown of thorns, the nails in His wrists and feet, and the lacerations following His beatings and falls. Jesus was already very dehydrated, and His blood pressure fell alarmingly.
His blood pressure was probably about 80/50.

He was in First Degree Shock, with Hypovolaemia (low blood volume), Tachycardia (excessively fast Heart Rate), Tachypnoea (excessively fast Respiratory Rate), and Hyperhidrosis (excessive sweating).
By about noon Jesus' heart probably began to fail. Jesus' lungs probably began to fill up with Pulmonary Oedema. This only served to exacerbate His breathing, which was already severely compromised. Jesus was in Heart Failure and Respiratory Failure. Jesus said, "I thirst" because His body was crying out for fluids. Jesus was in desperate need of an intravenous infusion of blood and plasma to save His life. Jesus could not breathe properly and was slowly suffocating to death.

At this stage Jesus probably developed a Haemopericardium. Plasma and blood gathered in the space around His heart, called the Pericardium. This fluid around His heart caused Cardiac Tamponade (fluid around His heart, which prevented Jesus' heart from beating properly). Because of the increasing physiological demands on Jesus' heart, and the advanced state of Haemopericardium, Jesus may have eventually sustained Cardiac Rupture. This condition causes the heart literally burst.

To slow the process of death the soldiers put a small wooden seat on the Cross, which would allow Jesus the "privilege" of bearing His weight on his sacrum. The effect of this was that it could take up to nine days to die on a Cross. When the Romans wanted to expedite death they would simply break the legs of the victim, causing the victim to suffocate in a matter of minutes. This was called Crucifragrum.

At three o'clock in the afternoon Jesus said, "Tetelastai," meaning, "It is finished." At that moment, He gave up His Spirit and He died. When the soldiers came to Jesus to break His legs, He was already dead. Not a bone of His body was broken, in fulfillment of prophecy. Jesus died after six hours of the most excruciating and terrifying torture ever invented. 

The number "six" represents "mankind." On the sixth day God created mankind and in six hours Jesus reconciled those of us who would BELIEVE back to the Father for eternity.

This selfless act exemplifies the "power of the cross"....

"AM I MY BROTHER'S KEEPER?"

The relationship between Cain and Abel in Genesis is bursting at the seams with revelation and incredible truth. It is the story of twin brothers having "different father's" (more on this later) with their individual destinies inextricably tied to their "bloodlines."

It is the story of intrigue, deception, anger, jealousy and murder. In this relationship, mankind is introduced to SIN and FAITH (Heb 11:4). It is the story of adultery, betrayal and infidelity. The two boys are a type and shadow of the prevailing spirits of good and evil that have battled since the beginning. To that end, God has given us a way of escape in the person and promise of Christ Jesus! Let's dig in...

Now, I must warn you that you MUST MEDITATE on this WORD in order to receive this revelation. First, let me say that we all know the answer to this question is "YES" even before the question is asked. We are, most certainly, our brother's keeper. You see my friends, sin was "present" in the Garden (in the person of Satan) but it wasn't "active" until the various breeches of Adam (adultery against the Lord God), Eve (infidelity against Adam with Satan - see Gen 3: 15) and Cain (murder, jealousy and anger against Abel).

I know this may shock some folks, but Cain and Abel DID NOT HAVE THE SAME DADDY! A close examination of the scriptures will lead you to Gen. 3:15.  Here the Lord God speaks directly to Satan (the serpent) and tells him expressly, "I will put enmity (conflict) between "your seed (Cain) and her Seed (Abel). Notice that the "S" in "her Seed" is capitalized. For you bible scholars out there, when you see a word "capitalized" what does that mean? Yes, that's correct. It means that it is connected directly or indirectly to Christ. The Lord. The One. The Seed.  You get the picture?

Now I have to ask you, why would the Lord God make a distinction between Satan's seed and Eve's Seed if they didn't have different fathers? Further, if Cain was Adam's son, why doesn't his name appear in Adam's genealogy in Genesis 5 (read it slowly)?

After you pick your jaw up off the floor, I want you to hear this. The thing I love about God is that HE ALWAYS WARNS US! In Genesis 4, after Cain corrupted his offering to the Lord, he became angry. The Lord knew Cain's heart because he "knew" the heart of his father the devil! Nevertheless, he admonishes Cain to do well or "he will not be accepted." In other words, the Lord rebukes him not to SIN; declaring, "If you do not do well, SIN lies at the door. And its (SIN's) desire is for you , BUT you should rule over it."

Wow! Isn't it incredible that God would give Cain a way of escape, a chance to make a holy choice knowing what was in his heart. Knowing further that murder, lust, envy and strife was in his bloodline. Knowing full well he was going to turn down His offer anyway!

Immediately after this exchange, Cain murdered Abel. The blood of Abel cried out from the ground. The blood of an innocent one was shed; but it was not the Blood of the Innocent One (Christ). We are accountable for our brother's in the faith. God holds us accountable. He affords us the opportunity to do well and follow the example of Christ. He always warns us and if we fail to heed His warning, we will be punished. The prophet Isaiah says that we do not care for others because we do not see them as our own "flesh and blood." (Is. 58:6-8)

It is NO COINCIDENCE Cain received the same PUNISHMENT as his father SATAN; the CURSE of MURDER that would contaminate the bloodline of all mankind forever! Selah... 

"... WHO Told You That You Were NAKED?"

ARE YOU WEARING FIG LEAVES?

        ^"Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him,“Where are you?” So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.” And He said, “Who told you that you were naked?..." (Genesis 3:7-11a)

Adam and Eve cohabited with the Lord God in the Garden of Eden. They walked in peace and were shielded from all harm under the wings of the Almighty. Their relationship with the Lord God was pure, righteous and holy. They were ONE with each other and ONE with the Lord. They didn't need FAITH because there was no FEAR.

One act of disobedience created a "chain reaction" of lies, deception and, ultimately, FEAR that changed the course of human history forever. It opened the door for Christ to have to enter the earth realm as Savior to reconcile the lost back to Elohim. They encountered Satan in the Garden who manipulated Eve and caused FEAR to come upon Adam through the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes and the pride of life. These are the same "cheap magic tricks" he tried to use on Jesus in the wilderness (Luke 4:1-13).   

This is the awful truth about a "skilled liar" - the "deception" comes mixed with just enough "truth" to make it believable. The tragedy of this lapse in integrity on behalf of Adam and Eve is that their FEAR has contaminated every generation since their fall in the Garden.

WHERE ARE YOU?

When the Lord God asks us this question, He is NOT concerned about our "physical" location but rather our "spiritual" address. In other words, He is asking us, "Why have you left my side?" While confronting Adam, God had determined that His son had left His Presence and He felt the void, but He wanted Adam (although God already knew where he was), TO CONFIRM HIS WHEREABOUTS! This question still echoes in the heart of God for all who abandon Him.

Too many Christians are still easy prey for the devil and his imps. He tempts you, he isolates you and then he exposes your nakedness. In this sense, "NAKEDNESS" is equal to "SIN." You see, when you are "IN" God , your SIN is covered by the BLOOD of Christ. That is why the Lord God exhorts the Believer to "Abide in Me and I (abide) in you..."(John 15:4).

This is not "rocket science." With no one around, the only two people in the Garden scrambled to cover their "nakedness" (SIN) with fig leaves. This is an illustration of man's futility to cover his sin with man-made remedies. One of the favorite remedies to cover our sin is "remorse." REMORSE is NOT REPENTANCE! What angered the Lord God was Eve's act of "physical adultery" and Adam's act of "spiritual adultery." These acts of defiance were inexcusable! They had to be kicked out; and so they went...

Ultimately, the Lord God had to sacrifice the animals to COVER the shame of their sin, but Christ had to die to ATONE for the sin of fallen mankind. Imagine sin so great that it would negatively affect ALL of mankind forever! Even though God has provided this world a way of escape through the person of Christ Jesus, the harsh reality is that everyone is not going to have a place in eternity.

Wearing FIG LEAVES has dire consequences. When you live in FEAR, you reside with the devil. You are subjected to strife, turmoil, danger, wickedness and death. Most importantly, you will have NO PEACE. Conversely, as a son of the Kingdom, under the banner of FAITH, the Believer walks in love, grace, mercy, safety and eternal life. He is saturated with PEACE and devil has no answer for his RADICAL FAITH.

This RADICAL Believer is CLOTHED in righteousness and he is NAKED no more...

"Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life." (2 Corinthians 5:1-2)

"Why MEN FAIL to ACCEPT their HUMANITY!"



Men Fail To Accept Their Humanity

“Never make a principle out of your experience, let God be as original with other people as He is with you.” Oswald Chambers

      One of the biggest obstacles to the success of a man in the Kingdom of God (KOG) is his heartfelt understanding of who he is (his perspective as it relates to “who” God says he is). There is a great deal of pressure for a man to “live right” according to the norms and mores of our society. A new “convert” to the faith is thrust into a new realm of unrealistic expectations with “self-induced” and “external” pressure for “immediate” results (the expectation of righteous living “overnight”).

      Don’t be discouraged my brother, you are only a man…flesh and blood, completely flawed, thoroughly contaminated, wicked and manipulative. You are cunning and deceitful with a capacity to do anything, commit any crime and/or transgression against anyone without blinking. You can spew out venom and skillful profanity from your mouth and heart simultaneously. Your quest for lustful things captivates every waking moment and your vain imaginations control you like any addictive drug. You are weak and extremely limited and powerless to stop yourself from repeated offenses, yet you say you love God, serve His people and are a born again believer! How can this be? After reading this short diatribe, it is clear why Christ had to die for us!

      You see, our "humanity" (I will use the word “flesh” interchangeably throughout this article) is one of our most compelling weapons against the forces of evil and darkness. It is the dwelling place of everything that is diametrically opposed to God. Yet, our capacity for evil doesn’t surprise God nor does it dissuade Him from His “obsession” with His beloved sons. Many of your Pastors will not communicate honestly that they wrestle with their own lusts and desires. This is a major violation against our trust.

     Pastor’s, don’t just give your men the “surface” stuff, meet with them as men and let the men see you "naked" (transparent). More importantly, please don’t turn these sessions into another opportunity for you to preach to them! Allow the men to engage and empower one another in small groups.  Please Pastors, I know this is going to sting, but your men don’t need to hear another sermon! They don’t need anymore conferences.  They don’t need any more guest speakers, tapes or CD’s.  Newsflash: MEN NEED TO TALK TO EACH OTHER WITHOUT YOU LORDING OVER THEM!”

     Men need to feel the freedom of “pouring out” of the bowels of their souls to other men with similar trauma going on in their lives without condemnation (this doesn’t mean without correction or accountability for one’s actions). The men need to know you are a man just like them. It will also take a lot of the pressure off of the Pastor so he can stop “fakin’ the funk!”

It is natural for any man who is not “born again” to act a fool! Even as a born again believer, we have daily challenges to righteous living that can constipate our growth in the faith. Truth be told, accepting your humanity is liberating. Simply stated, it just let’s you know how much you need God.

 I can’t say it any plainer than this, “If you think for one second that you can live a righteous life (a life that brings glory to God) without immersing yourself into a committed and submitted relationship with the Holy Spirit, you are a damn fool! Selah...

"HYPOCRISY: The Prophet of God and the Spirit of Prophecy!"

         “…Worship God! For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” 

                                                                                               (Revelation 19:10)

             This scripture plainly states that if you are not testifying of Jesus; there is no prophecy. The testimony here refers to the witness about Jesus. Biblical prophecy is contingent upon the work of Christ and its kerygmatic declaration (1 Peter 1:12). To worship any person, ideology or object other than God is idolatry.

          Remember in the OT when Moses refuted God’s appointment as ambassador to speak to Pharaoh on His behalf and God then selected Aaron as Moses’ prophet? The point here is that God does not NEED any of us to do His will.  It is an honor for us to serve Him and carry out an assignment for God in the earth.  When God wanted a prophet, even Moses was pushed to the side in favor of Aaron. His will be done! 

                             Moses and Aaron in the Wilderness...

           In short, a true prophet is one who carries a “burden” (responsibility) of communicating the will of God to the people without fail.  Specifically, an authentic prophet will ALWAYS say EXACTLY what God tells him to say and NEVER inject his own thoughts, ideas, perspectives or “interpretations” into the message (prophecy).

          The “message” God gives to a prophet comes in the form of some type of revelation. This message is usually given to depict some type of warning that will either sustain or terminate the relationship with the Almighty and, in turn, preserve or destroy the life or lives of the individual or group in question. This might be a reference to a current or impending situation.  In either case, the fact remains that God told him to say it. The modern day false prophet is prone to exaggeration, embellishment and hyperbole! He is only interested in drawing attention to himself and “growing his brand.” The prosperity gospel is saturated with these soothsayers, fortune tellers and witch doctors.

          The ability to foretell a particular situation or occurrence “accurately” confirmed the authenticity of the OT prophet.  Those same attributes should be relevant today.  An “educated guess” is NOT prophecy. “The law of “probability” is NOT prophecy. A true prophetic release will cause the believer to submit wholeheartedly because of one profound point; and that is, “a son knows the voice of his Father.” With regard to having insight into the will of God, the prophet exhibited the gift of exhortation and challenged men to walk out the ordinances of God. Conversely, the prophetic anointing also gives us detailed clarity into the plans of God for His people. In this case, God would either release His blessings or His wrath upon His subjects and this message was transmitted verbally, visually or in written form.

          A self-proclaimed prophet is like "a cloud with no rain."  He poses no threat to the kingdom of darkness.  As a matter of fact, he is a tool of the enemy and glories in his false predictions, misrepresentations and flat-out lies!

         This man is indeed an enemy of God and servant of Satan...