"INDIVIDUALITY is SELFISHNESS!"

Individuality is the hard outer layer shrouding the inner spiritual life. Individuality is a "selfish mistress", separating and alienating people. Often times we see it as the primary characteristic of a child, and rightly so. When we intertwine individuality with the spiritual life, the result is always  isolation. 

This shell of individuality is God’s unique natural covering designed to protect the spiritual life. But our individuality must be yielded to God so that our spiritual life may be brought forth into fellowship with Him. Individuality counterfeits spirituality, just as lust counterfeits love. God designed human nature for Himself, but individuality corrupts that human nature for its own purposes.

The characteristics of individuality are a sense of entitlement, tolerance and selfishness. We hinder our spiritual growth more than any other way by continually asserting our individuality (the need to fulfill the lusts of the flesh and to pursue the material things of this world) If you say, “I can’t believe,” it is because your individuality is blocking the way; individuality can NEVER believe.

But our spirit man cannot help believing. Watch yourself closely when the Spirit of God is at work in you. He pushes you to the limits of your individuality where a choice must be made. 

The choice is either to say, “I will not surrender,” or to surrender, breaking the hard shell of individuality, which allows the spiritual life to emerge. The Holy Spirit narrows it down every time to one thing (see Matthew 5:23-24). It is your individuality that refuses to “be reconciled to your brother” (Matthew 5:24). God wants to bring you into communion with Himself, but unless you are willing to give up your right to yourself, He cannot. “…let him deny himself…”— deny his independent right to the calamity of free will. 

Then the real life-the spiritual life-is allowed the opportunity to grow.

"Tearing Down the HOUSE of REBELLION!"

For too many Christians, REBELLION is a MINISTRY! They make it their business to defile the house of God (that being, their mortal bodies). Through premeditated acts of sin and perversion, deception and manipulation and outright lies, they have created a void between their person and the Lord God.

Many Christians (as well as non-Believers) rebel against God and His Word because they "love their SIN too much." I am not ashamed to admit that I enjoyed my sin before the Holy Spirit saved me from myself. Thank God for the Spirit of Conviction, Correction and Redemption. I was lost at sea and thought I was on a seven day cruise!

But what about you? Are you perpetrating a fraud and acting like you have never suffered under the grip of Satan and his imps? Are you in denial that you might still have a problem with letting go of the past?

The house of rebellion is a house built on shifting sand. It's foundation is crafted with lies. It's brick and mortar are manipulation and deception. There are no doors or windows. There is no running water or warmth. There is no peace or light. There is only utter darkness and its architect is Satan!

The Prophet Ezekiel said, "Son of man, you live in the midst of the rebellious house, who have eyes to see but do not see, ears to hear but do not hear; for they are a rebellious house." (Ezek: 12:2)  This is a clarion call to ALL BELIEVERS to resist the wiles of the enemy and be a light in the midst of darkness.

How do you tear down the house of rebellion. You tear it down by FAITH, and LOVE, and PEACE and JOY in the Holy Spirit. You tear it down by SUBMITTING to GOD'S WILL. You crush the foundation of deception and manipulation and perversion, with TRUTH and HOLINESS and RIGHTEOUSNESS. You plant a GARDEN of LIFE in its place that will be sustained by RIVERS of LIVING WATER.

You continually PLANT SEEDS (which is the WORD of GOD)! Selah...

"SILENCE of the LAMB!"

From the moment Jesus entered the earth realm as a Seed (the WORD of God), His initial destiny was the Cross, but His Return to Eternity with the Father was his legacy.

From His encounter with His cousin John the Baptist at the River Jordan until His death at Golgotha Hill, He was indeed "led by the Spirit." In every instance, at every turn and with each and every breath, the Lord God was ushered into the Presence of the Father for instruction by the Holy Spirit.

It was the Spirit of God that branded Him the "Lamb of God" from the foundation of the world (John 1:29). Only those who entered into the Presence of Yahweh through intense fellowship, meditation, prayer and supplication would recognize Him as the Lamb. Jesus was the Lamb ONLY ONCE for ALL! He is the Lamb no longer. He is now and forever the LION of JUDAH (PRAISE)!

It was the Holy Spirit who "silenced the Lamb." In the Garden of Gethsemane, when His anguish and inner turmoil was at its zenith and He was struggling with His mortality, the Holy Spirit quickened His mortal body and strengthened His resolve to complete His journey and "passion" to Calvary so that ALL MIGHT LIVE!

Being content in God takes away the cares of this world and the needs of man. In His "silence," Jesus transitioned from the "Son of Man" to the "Son of God," from time to eternity and from Lamb to Lion.

His silence reflects the true nature of son ship (being Spirit led) in that obedience is greater than sacrifice. In other words, Jesus' silence (obedience to His Father) was greater than His death (sacrifice of His life) on the Cross...Just think about that for a minute...

Obedience opens a "Door" that no man can close. (John 10:7) Selah...

"A GROOM is NOT a HUSBAND; A BRIDE is NOT a WIFE!"

The institution of MARRIAGE has deviated so far from the "original model" it is not even funny! The "spirits" of selfishness, individuality and entitlement have overtaken the spirits of submission, oneness and humility. Husbands, love your wives!

Today's couples spend more time, attention and energy on the WEDDING than the MARRIAGE. The definition of what marriage is, what constitutes a marriage and who can marry whom has been perverted by the wicked hearts of men and women seeking sexual gratification, financial stability and fringe benefits.

Boys are marrying girls. Boys are marrying boys. Girls are marrying girls. Boys are marrying dogs, horses and other animals. Some men are marrying cars. Freaking cars!
You get the drift. At the end of the day, what is really happening that is not being discussed on local TV, in your favorite church, in the barber shop or your targeted social media outlet is that, "GOD is being MOCKED!"

I know this will be hard to hear for all the religious folk, liberals, conservatives, and anti-Jesus pundits out there, but God only ever created ONE INSTITUTION. That institution is MARRIAGE; and marriage between a MAN and a WOMAN. There is only one agenda for the "broadening of the definition of marriage" and that is the destruction of the institution of the "FAMILY." Sounds diabolical doesn't it? Guess what? It is!

You can point to a new world order. I can point to the Word of God. You can stand behind the "rights" of man. I will stand on righteousness. You can point to political correctness. I will point to spiritual correctness in the eyes of the Lord God.

A man can never truly become a "groom" until he has first become a "bride." Wait a minute, Brother Nick, you're confusing me. You just said a man can't marry a man. You are correct grasshopper! In this sense, I am talking about a "spiritual bride" and the "Groom" is Christ. Christ will teach the "bride-groom" the intricacies of life, love, family, service, faith, finances and how to establish a spiritual legacy.

This is the training the man will need to teach his new "Eve" how to become a "bride" and, ultimately, a "wife." In turn, the groom , through submission (service) to Christ, becomes a "son" AND "husband!" The bride-groom studies His Word, learns how to fellowship with the Master, walks in truth and gives out of the abundance of his spirit.

A bride is immature and selfish and focused on self. A groom is foolish, impetuous and arrogant. She is still looking at wedding pictures six years into the marriage. He is still going to Happy Hour and Strip Clubs with the fellas ten years into the deal! She's spending too much money. He's never around to help raise the kids. Have you ever met these people? Are YOU these people?

The conclusion of the matter is this, "a husband will NEVER stay married to a bride and a wife will NEVER stay married to a groom."

"The DEVIL & DODGE BALL!"

Before the advent of computer games, iPhones, Instagram, Facebook and various other forms of social media, there was this foreign concept young people had called "playing outside."

Many people in my generation (Baby Boomers) can remember the hours of fun we had playing games such as duck-duck-goose, freeze tag, hide-n-go-seek, kick the can and red light-green light.

In grade school, it was mandatory that we exercised everyday and we also played games in gym class. My favorite game to play was "dodge ball." You remember don't you? You picked teams and the object was to throw the ball and hit members of the opposing team. If you got hit by the ball you were "out." If the opponent caught the ball you threw at them then you were "out." The last person standing was considered the winner.

It was usually the kids who were either afraid, who didn't want to play or the kids who were over weight and not as agile that got hit all the time and were eliminated immediately. You might ask, "where are you going with this Brother Nick?" I only have one question for you today?

"Why does the devil hit you every time he throws the dodge ball at you?"

You are probably chuckling a little at this photo (it's hard to find a photo of the devil, even on Google!) 

Although a little humorous, this is a serious subject. The reason why so many Christians keep getting hit by the devil is that they have become over weight and over burdened by the things and cares of this world. Christians consume much more of the "world" than they do of the "Word."  They are static and not dynamic. Many have become too lazy to exercise their faith and have spiraled into depression, apathy and despair.

There is a profound solution to prevent you from getting hit every time by the devil. He is beating you because you are too low in your thinking (Lodi bar). He is targeting you because he knows you won't fight back. He is getting you out of the game because he knows you are afraid of him. He is killing you because he knows you don't have any faith. He picks you on his team every time because he knows you are not a threat to take the ball out of his hands.

The winner of the game of dodge ball is usually the person who is fearless, relentless, powerful, agile and willing to take chances. He welcomes the challenge, attacks the enemy with a fierce determination and formulates a strategy to take out his opponent. The winner of this game will always pick Jesus to be on his team!

Likewise, in the realm of the spirit when you graduate in faith, you graduate in power, authority and influence. Your faith becomes so big, you can't even see or hear the devil. Because you only hear Christ, the devil doesn't exist to you anymore. In the life of a Believer, the devil is a non-entity! Christ defeated him on Calvary. That's all!

In the end, the game of dodge ball is a lot like life; the last Man standing (with Jesus) always wins! Selah...

"DEAF, DUMB & BLIND in the SPIRIT!"

Most often when we hear the phrase, "deaf, dumb and blind" (DDB) we automatically get a picture in our heads of the three monkeys sitting next to each other with their hands over their ears, mouths and eyes.

As I was contemplating the fallout from being DDB in the Spirit, I could only imagine the tragedy of not being able to HEAR God. The WOG says, "Faith comes by HEARING, and (your ability to) HEARING by the Word of God." In the faith realm you "see" with your "EARS." In the natural realm, you see with your eyes. That is why it is so easy for the enemy to trick and manipulate Christians through the lusts of the flesh (what they SEE with their EYES)!

Oh, I shudder to think what it must be like not to be able to SPEAK to the Father. FEAR has muted the tongues of so many Christians. I am not talking about the "mumbo-jumbo" people interpret as prayer, or the songs we sing in church or even the crying out to God that transpires when we experience a personal tragedy or get into trouble. I am talking about the sacrifice we make of crucifying ourselves daily as we enter into the PRESENCE of GOD and to LISTEN (HEAR) to His beautiful voice, receive rebuke, instruction and direction on the pathway to truth and righteousness. Herein, "speaking" to God requires more "listening" than talking. You "speak" with your "heart."

I have heard the frustration of so many Christians who proclaim that they have never SEEN God! I listen intently as they describe what they thought the revelation of the Master was SUPPOSED to be like. How sad it is that any man or woman who hungers and thirsts for Him have not been satisfied with the vision of His Glory. His blueprint is EVERYWHERE! His signature is on EVERYTHING! His DNA residse in EVERYONE! How is it possible that a man or woman cannot SEE God? It is because THEY DO NOT WANT TO GIVE UP THEIR SIN! They enjoy their SIN too much! 

But there are those who not only hear, see and speak to Him, but they also smell and touch HIM as He smells the aroma of our service in the marketplace and we touch HIM with our holiness and integrity. In the spirit realm, all of the senses are activated. however,, the most important sense is "spirit sense." This is the authentic "sixth sense." This sense gives the Believer the ability to actively access and engage the Holy Spirit 24/7!

The calamity of being DDB in the Spirit is that you may NEVER know the wondrous glory of the mind of God (His Word) through Christ Jesus and the manifestation of the Holy Spirit as a mentor, teacher, adviser and leader in all things pertaining to the Kingdom of Glory!

"This is My beloved Son in whom I am well pleased! HEAR Him!"  (Matt. 17:5b)

"LOVE for the UNNOTICED: A Transferable Spirit!"

"Love's in need of Love today."  Stevie Wonder (1976)

In Jesus's day, the Samaritans were despised by Orthodox Jews because most of the Jews from that region had intermarried with foreigners (non-Jews). 

The irony of the parable of the "Good Samaritan" (Luke 10:25-37) is that the scorned Samaritan knew how to show love to his neighbor (having no relationship with God); whereas the Levite and a priest, having an intimate knowledge of God's law, did not.

The theme of this story highlights God's love for the unnoticed even until this day (Matthew 25:31-46). In the Gospel of Luke, we can see where Jesus recognized and "had relationship" with many women. Women were not held in high regard in those days and had no rights as citizens of Jerusalem.

However, through Jesus several women had critical roles in the development of Jesus' earthly ministry. Elizabeth, Mary, Anna, the Widow of Nain, The sinner who anointed Jesus' feet, women disciples (Luke 8:1-3), the woman searching for her lost coin, the persistent widow petitioning the unjust judge, the sorrowful women on the way to the Cross and the women who discovered the empty tomb gives depth and viability to God's love through Christ Jesus.

The social outcasts of His day were engaged and empowered by the love of Christ. What can we say about His love for the Gentile as He welcomed them with open arms into His eternal kingdom by faith. The lonely shepherds were given a spiritual leader with grace and peace and joy. The poor were enriched by His words as the Way, the Truth and the Life. The Samaritans were embraced and He ministered to tax collectors, prostitutes, the sick, prisoners, homeless folks, the elderly, lepers and was consistent in that He made no differentiation among them.

Jesus loved them all the same. He gave His life for each one of them (us). Jesus sought out the afflicted, the downtrodden, the forsaken, the lost, the weak, the defenseless, the estranged and gave them peace through FAITH in GOD! How do we love? Do you pick and choose who you will love and not love? Is LOVE the motive for your loving or do you have a hidden agenda for loving?

Jesus never promoted Himself. He simply said, "I can only say what my Father tells Me to say. I can only do what my Father tells Me to do." (John 14 ...paraphrased). In this mindset, a Believer can NEVER go wrong. Just do and say what God tells you.

Jesus' LOVE for the UNNOTICED MUST BE OUR LOVE and it is a TRANSFERABLE SPIRIT that should be ALIVE in EVERY BELIEVER! AMEN!

"Give THANKS Unto the LORD!"

"Give thanks unto the Lord, for He is good, because His MERCY endures forever."
                                                                                             (Psalm 118:1)

The true spirit of Thanksgiving is rooted and grounded in the GOODNESS of the Lord GOD because He has been and continues to be merciful to us.

His GRACE and LOVE are immeasurable and His PEACE is our FAITH!

For many of us are thankful for THINGS. We love our STUFF! We are thankful for our homes, families, cars, jobs, health and friends. We are thankful for our wealth, savings, summer homes, 401K's, IRA's, mutual funds, CD's, gold and silver.

We are thankful that we didn't get caught, that we didn't overdose, that we didn't get beaten up last night or that we didn't get exposed cheating on our expense reports!

But how many of us are thankful for HIM? How many of us, including myself, are truly thankful for the Lord God that we might PRAISE HIM continually for His MERCY and GOODNESS ENDURES FOREVER! Are you thankful for His grace? What attributes of God are you thankful for today?

In this season of sharing, be mindful of those who are in lack and extend the LOVE of CHRIST to them so that they might feel His love through you by SERVING and LOVING them unconditionally.

Give thanks unto the Lord, He is good because His MERCY endures FOREVER....

His MERCY is CHRIST JESUS!

"Waiting on SUNDAY: The Veil of CHRISTIAN IGNORANCE!"

For most Christians, the major problem they have with walking out the Word of God in their lives is that they don't read, study and perhaps most importantly, MEDITATE on His Word.

According to the Barna Group, a California-based Evangelical Research Group that studies trends in the lives of Christians, states that 88% of American households own a Bible, the average household owns 4.7 Bibles and only 37% of Christians read the Bible more than once per week!

These statistics are astonishing and saddening at the same time. It is obvious that the lack of Christian scholarship has led to the deterioration of the influence, integrity and witness of the Institutional Church (IC). As many of you may know, I am an author of several books on the dilution of the power and authority of Christians in the marketplace. Not because I hate church, but because I hate what the church has become. In this sense I am NOT referring to the "building" but to the "individual person."

If Christians are not reading the Word of God (WOG) at home or at work, one can only conclude they are "Waiting on Sunday!" Too many Christian are totally relying on their pastors to interpret the WOG for them. A pastor can only teach you what he knows. If he is ignorant, guess what? Ignorance is transferable. Herein lies the calamity of ignorance. Now I must state emphatically that ignorance is NOT stupidity. However, they are inextricably connected. For to remain ignorant is stupid!

Christians are a nation of non-readers. How is it conceivable that an individual could expect to pass a test without studying the content of the text books they are given? The keys to a productive and successful Christian life and how to live that life abundantly, in the fullness of joy and in the Presence of the Almighty God is at hand! It is on your desk, fireplace mantle, nightstand or on the floor in the back seat of your car!

The Prophet Hosea says it best:

       "My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge; because you have rejected knowledge, I reject you from being a priest to me. And since you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children." (Hosea 4:6)

This is a popular scripture in the IC, however, most often it is not taught in its entirety. Two key points need to be addressed; 1) Hosea clearly states that the result of the destruction of the people is because they REJECT KNOWLEDGE (don't study and obey the WOG) and, 2) God said He would reject us as "priests" (spiritual visionaries having the ability to commune with and receive direction from the WOG through His Holy Spirit) and thus, "FORGET OUR CHILDREN!"

The Barna Group reports that young Christians (ages 16-29) study the Bible less than 3 TIMES PER YEAR!  Based upon these stats, it is apparent that our children have truly been forgotten! Selah...

"JUDAS & The Nature of SHEEP and GOATS!"

Are you a SHEEP or a GOAT?  Do you have the Spirit of Jesus or that of Judas? It's a simple question. But the answer has many layers contingent upon your relationship with the King and His Kingdom. They look very similar but can only be differentiated by the composition of their "character."

In the Gospel of Matthew Chapter 25:31-46, the Apostle clearly delineates what ALL BELIEVERS must do in order to be considered a Kingdom Citizen according to the Word of God. These are not my words, this what God said.

He outlines the judgement associated with our active participation or lack of involvement in marketplace ministry, that is, "serving God's people in the marketplace" versus "leading the people to slaughter."

These are the characteristics of goats. They are capricious (subject to sudden, unpredictable changes). They are impulsive and unpredictable, devious and contrary. If they are not poking their heads through fences, they may be standing on their hind legs, stretching for those tender leaves just out of reach. Goats are never content with what they have. These are the people that reject Christ consistently without remorse.

Goats are experts in opening gates and squeezing through small gaps because they hate to be confined. Fences that will handle sheep, cattle, and horses will not hold goats. They will work tirelessly to spring themselves from any situation they deem inhibiting. As a result, goats are not very good followers. "Gregarious behavior" is a term that refers to the flocking or herding instinct which is found strongly in sheep, cattle, and horses. 

Again, this quality is rather weak in goats; they prefer leading or going off on their own. Meat packers use this instinct in sheep and goats to their advantage. They will train an old goat, appropriately called a "Judas," to lead sheep to the pens for slaughter. 

A sheep follows its Shepherd, peacefully moving forward with the flock. He is content to be led because he has faith in Him. A sheep responds to his Shepherd's voice and goes where He directs. On the other hand, a goat follows only its own lead, creating disunity when he comes in contact with others in the flock. Because of his independent nature, he often finds himself in contention with the Shepherd for leadership of the flock, leading some astray. A goat often eats things—a symbol of ingesting spiritual instruction—sheep would avoid because they have no real value and cause sickness.

A well-trained Judas will lead flocks of sheep to the slaughter all day long.

"SAMSON and the PHILISTINE WOMEN!"

The story of Samson (Judges 13:1- 16:31) is a prolific story of enticement, control and betrayal. Samson was a descendant of the tribe of Dan who experienced great pressure and discomfort from the Philistines. His birth was announced by an angel like that of Isaac and John the Baptist.

He was a Nazarite (one separated or consecrated by God) and they were identified by the length of their uncut hair (called "diadem") or "crown of God." Samson was violent, turbulent, vindictive and extremely aggressive. He was defiant, belligerent and fearless.

He had an insatiable appetite for foreign prostitutes. I would assume his extreme sexual urge was due to abnormal levels of testosterone because of his amazing strength. His tribe endured 40 years of Philistine domination. Samson had no integrity, moral or religious convictions and was hyper sensual. He was extremely irresponsible and had no relationship with God. It is an enigma as to why God even gave him the time of day. We can question God's use of a man like Samson (or anyone of us for that matter), but God is sovereign and He uses us as He sees fit. Yet Samson's name is included in the catalog of the heroes of faith (Heb. 11:31-39).

Every one of the Vows of a Nazarite (Numbers 6:1-21) were broken multiple times by Samson as his vows were to last his entire life! His dalliances with other Philistine women are a huge part of his disobedience and resistance to his calling. In the Old Testament, charismatic anointing or gifts did not necessarily produce purity of life.

We all know the story of how Samson lost his eyes and made a humble plea to God to give him once last opportunity to serve Him with his incredible strength. But that's not the story here. The story here is about our CHOICES. It's about why we choose to do certain things and the consequences of those choices. This story shows us that every crisis in Samson's life was the result of a conflict in a relationship a Philistine woman. A Philistine woman is a SPIRIT not a specific PERSON and these are some of her attributes:

• A woman that God has forbidden you to touch;
• A woman God did not ordain for you to be with;
• A woman that does not know (fear) God;
• A woman whose intentions are not pure towards you; and,
• A woman who roped you in through the lust of the flesh.

As I stated at the beginning, the world's dominance over Believers is accomplished by:

  ENTICEMENT--> CONTROL --> BETRAYAL

Selah...

"The DISCIPLESHIP of TRUE APOSTLES!"

Apostles are disciples on steroids! They have acquired many of the traits of the Father (holiness, godliness, truthfulness, goodness, peace, love and joy) and have demonstrated those same traits to the people that have been assigned to them to serve.

That being said, true discipleship honors the spirit of the Father and requires "timed served" in the marketplace attending to the needs of God's people. It is, in fact, a "spiritual apprenticeship" under the mentor-ship of the Holy Spirit and under girded by the Word of God.

The disciple is "called" by the Lord God to serve. Pure and simple. The disciple is a "student-servant" and receives his direction and assignments from the Spirit of God. In times past, very few people were trusted with the task of carrying the gospel of the Kingdom to the masses. In the Gospel of Mark 3:13, Jesus went to the mountaintop and called out the names of those He Himself wanted and they came to Him. I submit to you, that if you are a Believer today, that the Lord God called out your name that same day!

Don't let Jesus' geographic location throw you off. He said emphatically that, "My Kingdom is not of this world." (John 18:36) Since this is the case, who was He calling? Since the KOG is spiritually discerned and invincible to those outside of the kingdom, whom did He call and what did He call them to do?

Your presence in the KOG is no accident, it was predestined from the foundation of the world. There is a "spiritual progression" that the disciple must go through in order to do great exploits in the KOG. The disciple must endure hardships, adversity and suffer great tribulation in the name of God. The testimony that delivers is the testimony of faith in the fire that helps those to overcome their fear. It was never the intent of God that the disciples (those who are called) would remain disciples forever. It was His expectation that they "graduate" to apostleship (those who are chosen).

As an apostle, the Believer has now become a messenger of truth for the Lord God. The mantle
of apostolic service should not be taken lightly. It is Jesus who calls them apostles, not man. It is Jesus who ordains them, not man, It is Christ who chooses them, not man. Jesus is the One who "knows" them, not man. The selection of an apostle is divine, not of man. 

God's "chosen" have a capacity for godliness as God transfers His Spirit to the chosen one who meets His leadership qualifications as He provides exceptional opportunities for service to His chosen kings (Rom. 8:28-30).

"The MIND of DISOBEDIENCE!"

There is a story in the Holy Bible that talks about a man named Jonah (Jonah 1-4).  Jonah was called to do a mighty work for God but because of his disobedience, Jonah was subjected to God’s wrath. He was selected by God and ordered to prophesy to the City of Nineveh that if they did not change their evil ways, God would destroy the city.

Jonah was so distraught over this assignment, he ran the other way to another city in an attempt to avoid doing this thing for God. So Jonah tried to escape via the sea and paid some fishermen to ferry him to the other side. As soon as he got in the boat, God made the sea too turbulent to pass.

The men on the boat got scared, confronted Jonah and asked him what manner of evil did he do against God that He would cause the sea to be so violent. Jonah confessed what he did and they tossed his butt cheeks over the starboard side of the boat!

God then sent a great fish (often erroneously described as a whale) to swallow him up. Jonah was in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights (a "type" of Christ in the belly of the earth before the Resurrection). He suffered great tribulation in the gut of the fish. Needless to say, Jonah did some serious prayin’ and reflecting in the belly of that great fish (a "type" of the symbol for Believers in Christ).

Three days later, God made the great fish to vomit Jonah out on dry land. It was a three day journey to Nineveh from where he was, but the Bible said Jonah made the trip in one day (he no doubt ran the entire way) and when he got there, he cried. Ultimately, the reluctant missionary Jonah did preach to the people of Nineveh (Jonah 3) and told them EXACTLY what God told him to say! Jonah experienced the grace of God even though he was angered at the assignment he was given.

So this leads us to the moral of the story. Disobedience has a mind of its own. Many men do not realize how much their disobedience can actually affect the lives of people around them including their family and friends.

The first reaction to an adverse situation that comes upon us is that it has to be someone else’s fault. We begin to point the finger at others instead of looking in the mirror. Just like Jonah, we are fearful of the assignment and we deflect and sneeze and cough and roll over and bark at the moon in an attempt to stall for time.

God is not stupid. He is not going to forget what He told you to do. He is going to get His way no matter what! Our disobedience only prolongs the inevitable. You can head to Tarshish through Joppa or Memphis or Vegas via boat, plane or train, but at the end of the day you will go to Nineveh and do what God told you to do!

You become concerned about the inconvenience of what God has asked you to do and the reaction of the people you are addressing to what you have declared to them. Often times we run from our destiny to the road traveled by the multitude because it is more comfortable than facing God alone. In the process, we lose relationship with God and expose innocent people to the wrath of God because of our blatant disobedience.

It is very important for us to obey God’s instructions. Our immediate response of reasoning or rationalizing or marginalizing what God has asked us to do automatically puts us behind the eight ball. "Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice and to hearken (incline your ear to God) is better than the fat of rams (burnt offerings)."(1 Sam. 15:22)

...In the end, failure to complete the assignment could be a matter of life or death for us or someone else.

"Don't BOTHER Jesus!"

In the New Testament gospels of Matthew, Luke and Mark, there is a familiar story of a blind man who was sitting on the roadside and he heard a commotion and learned that Jesus was passing by nearing Jericho. This man is known to us a blind Bartimaeus (son of Timaeus) who had been afflicted since birth. (Mark 10:46-52) The Gospel of Matthew actually records that there were two men given sight that day and perhaps it was only Bartimaeus who spoke (Matt. 20:29-34).

It is recorded that the Bartimaeus, upon hearing that Jesus was nearby, called out to Him, "Jesus, Son of David (prophesied by Nathan to David about his Seed (Jesus) in 2 Sam 7:12-16), have mercy on me!" The fact that the blind man was able to honor Christ with His Messianic title no doubt pricked the heart of Jesus (confirming the man's spiritual belief [FAITH] that Jesus was indeed the Christ).

                                                        Blind Bartimaeus...

Then those people who went before him tried to quiet Bartimaeus. "Don't bother Jesus! You have nothing to offer. Stay in your place!" But the spirit man inside of the blind man recognized his opportunity to be free and cried out to Jesus even louder above the crowd, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" This man's faith stopped Jesus. Jesus then compelled the man to come forward. The temperament of the crowd changed quickly from chastisement to encouragement because of Jesus' response to the man.

The religious folk thought that Jesus was too important to be "bothered" with an invisible blind man buried in the crowd. Jesus showed them otherwise!

Now the crowd called the blind man forward and said to him, "Be of good cheer. Rise, He is calling you! So Bartimaeus threw aside his garment and was led to Jesus. Jesus then asked him, "What do you want Me to do for you?" He answered, "Rabboni (Aramaic for master or teacher), that I may receive my sight." Then Jesus said, "Go your way, your faith has made you whole." And immediately he received his sight and followed Jesus on the road.

It is extraordinary that the FAITH of this man made Jesus stand still. His FAITH literally stopped Him in his tracks. His FAITH was exercised in words (Son of David, Rabboni). His FAITH swayed the crowd in his favor. His FAITH is still being discussed after 2,000 years! His FAITH started a movement of BLIND people (lost people) being given SIGHT (light of Christ Jesus) and his FAITH led him to Jesus!

How does your FAITH compare to blind Bartimaeus? Can your FAITH stop Jesus?

"The TRAP of POST-SALVATION LIFE!"

Many Christians face the calamities of life head on. Others shuffle and side-step, cower and hide in shame. At the end of the day, when we face our demons, it is usually at a point where we have come to the end of ourselves (exhausted all of our personal and professional resources) and have no other choice but to submit. We are broken, beaten and battered. We need relief. We look to God!

We are now ready to listen to the small, still voice that has been calling us from the foundation of the world that we could NEVER HEAR over the "noise" of LIFE!

We then accept the call of Christ Jesus as Lord over our lives and we then enter into the realm of SALVATION. Many Christians breathe a sigh of relief because they think that salvation is the "end game" in the Kingdom. I'm sad to say it is only stage one of the process. Oh yes, you can rejoice that you are saved from the eternal damnation of hell but only if you continue on the pathways of truth through ADVERSITY, TESTING, RIGHTEOUSNESS, HOLINESS, REBELLION, REPENTANCE, REDEMPTION, HUMILITY, SANCTIFICATION AND SON-SHIP!

So you say, "Wait just a minute! I didn't see all of that in my "Romans Road" confession to the saints at the altar." No you didn't see it. As a matter of fact, you couldn't see it! Each step in the process unveils a new revelation that can only be "experienced" through time and trials and be seen through "spiritual eyes.". Each Believer MUST endure the fire of post-salvation life as a maturing saint. There is no way around it.

Most Christians' "spiritual walk" stops at salvation. Present time is where the place of transformation begins. You must offer yourself daily to God so that He might take you through His rigorous process of pruning in preparation for your service in the marketplace. The tendency is for Christian's to become lazy, ineffective and complacent after the "honeymoon" (first few months or even years of being saved) is over. Lack of Christian service in the marketplace is the main culprit for this lack of productivity and effectiveness. Too many churches are focused on inward activities versus outward service to the communities at large where they reside.

Are you studying His Word? Are you pouring life into others? Are you serving God's people in the marketplace? If so, great. If not, you might not be saved! Are you bored with the Christian life? If so, you probably don't have any fruit in your life. As a Believer, you should be distinguishable from those who do not believe in God (Ephesians 4..read the whole chapter).

The post-salvation Believer does not return to the grave (place where he has buried his old nature) to dig up the "familiar" things. The ONLY way "old stuff" can live is if we go back to the grave and purposefully dig them up!

Perhaps we need to look at salvation as a corporate versus individual occurrence which might sensitize the new Believer into the purpose for his salvation being the creation of a new spirit to be used by the entire Body of Christ to bring about change in the lives of others instead of an individual act to "get to heaven."

I am absolutely sure that Elohim wanted the Door of Salvation to be more than that...

"BIBLICAL ILLITERACY: Why CHRISTIANS Do Not READ The BIBLE!"

          "But you have carefully followed my doctrine , manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra - what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived. But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom (the Holy Spirit) you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work." (2 Tim 3:10-17)


Wow! That is enough to eat off of for the next three years! Paul wrote these words of fire to his disciple Timothy from a Roman prison (actually, house arrest) right before his impending acquittal. Not being sure if his protege was going to make it to his side after being summoned by the aged Apostle, Paul penned this epistle as a sort of Last Words that would help to galvanize the fragmented early church and counteract the false teachings of the opponents of the gospels in Ephesus, Macedonia ans Colosse.

Thank God for His written Word! Although it has been bastardized and corrupted by man, we still have NO POWER over the TRUTH exuding from the life and breath of the Holy Spirit! The Lord God has given us doctrine to help us establish a solid foundation to our belief system, to define and understand why we believe what we believe and then, to be able to teach the truth to others who have a heart for God and His Word.

• 87% of Americans define themselves as Christians.
• More than 50% of Americans think the Bible has little influence over our nation's moral decay.
• 88% of Americans own a Bible.
• 80% of Americans think that the Bible is sacred.
• 61% of Americans wished they read the Bible more often.
• 57% of youth between the ages of 18-28 say they read the Bible less than 3 times per year!
• The average American household has 4.4 bibles.
• Most Americans cannot name more than 2 or 3 disciples.
• 60% of Americans cannot name 5 of the 10 commandments.
• Most Americans think that Sodom and Gomorrah were a married couple.
• The majority of Christians think that Joan of Arc was Noah's wife.
• More than 50 % believe The Sermon on the Mount was preached by Billy Graham. 

                                                                              Source: The Barna Group Poll (2009, 2012)

In my opinion, many churches marginalize biblical knowledge because they are not focused on teaching the TRUTH. Many pastors are well aware that their congregations are functionally illiterate and that they can basically teach them anything with little or no resistance.  Too many men are silent in the wake of pervasive scandals led by church leaders and often turn a blind eye to these nefarious acts so that they can maintain their "position" and social standing within the ministry. 

The modern day church is a "safe haven" for biblical functional illiterates. No reading or instruction is required for membership. The above mentioned list of facts helps to validate that the majority of Christians are too lazy and self absorbed to read the Word and actively pursue a relationship with God.

Many Christians resist the teaching of the hard core gospel and the TRUTH that comes along with it. The TRUTH elicits ACCOUNTABILITY from the Believer and eliminates the "I didn't know" excuse. The "small group" movements in many churches are merely social fellowships which promote fun activities for the group but provides little, if any, rigorous bible training and discourse to develop the spiritual lives of its members.

Many youth and music ministries have become hunting grounds for sexual predators and pedophiles within the church. Too many Christians ignore the obvious transgressions against our kids and continually allows these perverts to prey on the innocents. But as long as they can preach good, sing good and keep us entertained, it will be business as usual. Again, the focus is on fun and very little on bible training. 

Our last bastion of faith for a resurgence in solid bible based teaching rests on the shoulders of the parents of our youth. In particular, Christian parents (specifically, the FATHERS and HUSBANDS) have to take the lead in teaching the Word to their families and serving in the marketplace as an example to our children, neighbors and those living in darkness.

Bible engagement = Bible empowerment! The denial of TRUTH will result in vulnerability for the spiritually immature Christian and lead to manipulation, corruption, deception and, ultimately, DEATH...

Believers, READ YOUR "WORD" AND READ IT SLOWLY! (John 6:63-64).

"The ANATOMY of the COVENANT with GOD!"

In the Greek language, the word "covenant" (diatheke) means "to cut, to divide and to separate"; it is symbolic of the shedding of blood and it represents the safety and security of a relationship. In short, the relationship is sealed with blood. It was the blood of Christ that sealed our fate of having access to eternal life in the presence of a Holy God. The C will separate the wheat from the tares!

In (Genesis 17: 6-7) God makes His Covenant (C) with man. The covenant with God is not based upon convenience! God will send a "shaking" into the life of every Believer to test their commitment to the C. The C is an agreement between God and man whereby God initiates the C.
The C is an irrevocable promise from God (Judges 2:1) and it constitutes a mutual understanding between the parties involved whereby the Believer "binds" himself or herself to the Lord God in all things.

When God declares the word "My," He is indicating that something significant has already been established for us from the foundation of the world and that He has always wanted to do something especially for you. He has chosen you to be a part of His spiritual family. The C has nothing to do with how you FEEL (only what you BELIEVE) because we walk by faith and not by sight.

As a Believer, your spirit man is "destiny driven" and "legacy focused." In other words, you have a purpose for living the victorious life and serving God's people in the marketplace. Your "spirit man" will lead you places your "flesh" cannot handle.

We are a generation struggling with the aftermath of generations of broken covenants from our ancestors. Being in C with God means we have to trust God to bring His outcome for our lives to manifestation. The C cannot be taken lightly...choose you this day life or death (Joshua 24:11-15)!

"BUILDING Your DESTINY!"

DESTINY is the result when Divine Initiative meets Human Responsibility. Your destiny is an appointed and predetermined position by God. Destiny is a birth right for every "Believer" but it is not guaranteed (you must qualify by the application of radical faith in your everyday life while in service to God's people in the marketplace). (Jer.1:5)

The families in the Body of Christ do not act like they are "rulers." They operate in fear, lack and condemnation. You cannot choose your destiny, you have to find it. God places people in your "garden" (those people whom God has assigned to you from the foundation of the world). The people in your garden are receiving or extracting "life" (the "zoe" life or God kind of life) from you. Your life then becomes your "ministry." It is this ministry that compels you toward your destiny in the Kingdom of God (KOG).

God places each one of us (those who are Believers) into the earth realm with an "assignment" and that assignment invariable will lead the Believer into the marketplace to bring glory to God through our word, works and deeds.

Destiny is a gift from God. It is imperative that the young Christian chase God as much as possible and dwell in Him and His Word. Intimacy is key. The requirement is to identify your "secret place" and to dwell there in the Presence of the Almighty! You are then to seek after the work the Lord God has already prepared for you from eternity. It is this work that the Lord God has set before you that will complete you and mark you life as a living sacrifice for the advancement of the KOG.

You can ONLY transfer that which you have. You can't transfer love if you have no love. If you have no joy. No peace. No grace. No forgiveness. It is Non-Transferable! What our families need most is a transfer of God's Holy Spirit. God will fulfill our destinies through the sons of obedience (daily obedience to the covenant with Christ).

Your destiny can be contaminated and derailed by SIN and FEAR and INACTIVITY. If you transfer God, the recipient with be made alive. Their mortal bodies will be quickened by His Spirit. Most of our attitudes, lifestyles and mindsets are in ADAM (Death) and death cannot impute LIFE (Christ). 

You are a "destiny builder" if:

1. You SUBMIT wholeheartedly to CHRIST above MAN;
2. You HONOR the covenant agreement with Christ;
3. You RISE early in the morning to meet with the Holy Spirit to get your assignment;
4. You ACQUIRE a biblical world view: its substance (understanding) and application; 
5. You SERVE God's people in the marketplace.

"...But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and His righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you." (Matt. 6:33)

"Why the KINGDOM OF GOD is Necessary!"

The Kingdom of God (KOG) is a "spiritual" place created by a group of Believers who have immersed themselves in FAITH and FELLOWSHIP with the Holy Spirit. The eyes of their understanding have been opened and they have received the blessing and designation as "sons."

There is a measure of God's power that has been directed toward Believer's orchestrated by the Lord God's "dunamis" (explosive) power (the SAME POWER that raised Jesus from the grave).

This Kingdom is critical to the advancement of the gospel in the marketplace. It's citizens have a constitution (the Word of God) and a Ruler (Christ Jesus). The Kingdom has an army (legions of angels) and wealth beyond measure (the wisdom of the Holy Spirit). The KOG has intentions and the saints have assignments.

• The KOG is necessary because it enables its citizens to live powerful and fruitful lives of service to God's people in the marketplace;
• The KOG = power, influence, direction and control for its people;
• The KOG has the ability to influence systems and paradigms and control circumstances;
• The "mentor" in the KOG is the Holy Spirit;
• (John 16:13-14) God extends Himself to me and through me into the earth to create glory globally for His Kingdom;
• Man must understand the KOG concept of "order" if he intends to establish order in the earth realm;
• (1 Cor. 12:4-11) Spiritual gifts have been given to its citizens to build the KOG and the Body of Christ (Young Christians who are maturing in their relationship with God and His Word).
• These gifts will be used to advance the KOG and the BOC as a whole; not the individuals agenda.
• Believer's must choose significance (eternal) over success (temporal) as a lifestyle in the KOG;
• The desired outcome of the King's Will (His policies and ordinances) is that ALL of its Kingdom citizens have the heart of the King and develop an intimate relationship with Christ;
• The KOG is the ONLY threat to the powers of darkness and evil in the earth and the last line of defense for the vulnerable, weak and spiritually deprived Christians seeking after the things of this world...

"3 CROSSES at CALVARY: Rebellion, Repentance & Redemption!"

The greatest day in human history was wrought with rebellion, repentance and redemption. It was the "Lamb of God" that was slain from the foundation of the world whose time had come. It was His gift to a rebellious world that He offered Himself up as the ultimate sacrifice to redeem us back to the Father.

Present with Him that fateful day on Calvary were two robbers on either side of Him who would also be crucified. The Gospel of Luke, Chapter 23 expounds on conversations between Jesus and the two men. It contrasts the dichotomy of who we are as a people: rebellious and repentant! The one criminal stayed in character as a rebellious spirit and mocked Jesus from the cross (in the spirit of his father Satan) saying to Him, "If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us." You will notice that Jesus didn't even respond to that foolishness! He had seen that "If You are the Christ" temptation several times before from Satan...

However, the other criminal exemplified a repentant spirit and rebuked his partner in crime saying, "Do you not even fear God, seeing that you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done "nothing wrong" (unlike us). Then he said to Jesus, "Lord (this man had received the Spirit of Recognition in order to call Him Lord), remember me when You come into Your Kingdom." And Jesus said to him, "Verily I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise." (Luke 23:43)

Wow! Did you "see" that? The redemptive spirit of Jesus is on "automatic pilot"...it NEVER stops! It operates best under adverse conditions. Don't think it strange when adversity comes upon you. 9 times out of 10, it is the Lord God's doing and NOT the devil!

The "Cross of Rebellion" is close enough to see Christ while never desiring to be near Christ or ever submit to Him. Pride, arrogance and a sense of entitlement have deluded this person into believing they don't need God's help. Rebellion equals death in Christ and is a "transferable and contagious spirit."

The "Cross of Repentance" is rooted and grounded in the "fear of God!" I'm not talking about "reverence" here; I'm talking about being truly AFRAID of God! The penitent thief admits his sin and asks Jesus to "re-member" (put him back together or re-connect) him. This is the job of the Lord God; to re-connect us, re-assemble us and redeem us back to the Father. Once you KNOW who HE is, you cannot deny HIM...while even hanging on a cross.

The "Cross of Redemption" was necessary in order for us to gain access to the King and His Kingdom of Glory. This is the Savior's cross. One of the many reasons why I love God is that He is so strategic. Notice where He placed Jesus' cross. He placed the Cross of Redemption between the Cross of Rebellion and the Cross of Repentance...

In other words, Redemption (Christ) stands between Repentance (Life) and Rebellion (Death)...(Deuteronomy 30:15)

"The Anatomy of DIVORCE in the Kingdom of GOD!"

The primary reason so many Christians get divorced is because of "spiritual ignorance." I know many people might chuckle at the notion of the significance of spiritual ignorance in lieu of all of the "carnal" reasons Christians so easily gravitate toward including adultery, incompatibility (you didn't know you were incompatible BEFORE you got married?), irreconcilable differences (whatever that is!), finances and various forms of abuse.

Although very important to the "Carnal Christian's" justification for divorce, these reasons are the only logical conclusion for an ill-conceived marriage between a a male and a female. Let me state emphatically, "a "groom" is NOT a "HUSBAND" and a "bride" is NOT a "WIFE!"

The first question Christians need to ask themselves is, "Who are we married to?" The man, as he matures spiritually in his relationship with Christ BEFORE he marries, is according to scripture the "bride-groom" of Christ. This means that the man must FIRST learn how to become a bride (through SUBMISSION which is "service" and NOT "slavery" to the Lord God. After a period of trials, testing and probation, the man can ascend to the place of being a "groom" (one prepared for marriage by the Lord God and not by a carnal society).

I don't believe there is a more offensive word to a Christian woman than "submission." Again, I state emphatically that the reason for this is spiritual ignorance, selfishness and blatant disobedience to the Word of God (WOG) on behalf of both Christian men and women. We have a global community of "non-readers" of the WOG who are easily manipulated by the deception of the enemy.

Let me state for the record that the man (husband) should be the primary servant in his household as he, and he ALONE, is the spiritual covering for the wife and his children. The Lord God "covers" the husband and the husband "covers" the family. There is no other authority, person, system or paradigm designated for spiritual covering other than the Lord God and the husband!

The authorization of "husband" can only come to a man by and through an intimate relationship with Christ. The surface stuff just won't cut it! Divorce happens because two people get married as unbelievers. God made the "man" for Himself and the "woman" for the man. A woman cannot divorce a man in the KOG. It's illegal! If this statement offends you, once again you have to be outside the KOG.

Too many women (and men for that matter) spend all of their energy preparing for the WEDDING and put very little emphasis on the MARRIAGE. The Spirit of Recognition is vital in our "hearing" from the Lord on whom we are to marry. As the husbands cleaves to the desires of the heart of Christ, so to must the wife, who is a Believer, cleave to the desires of her husband's heart. Many spouses are in divorce court right this moment because their husbands are in love with Christ. They are, in many cases, jealous of the relationship. Isn't that crazy?

Don't look to your husband or wife to "make you happy!" The joy of the Lord is your strength. Once you find your joy in the Lord you and your spouse will find success, love, peace and joy in the Holy Ghost through your mutual submission: his (your husband) to the Lord and yours to Him (Christ) through him (your husband). Can't you see? You are both submitting to Christ and He is the focus of both of your hearts.

Christians divorce because they have "whore of the world" stamped on their foreheads. If you are a whore then you are an "adulterer to Christ." An adulterer has no rights within the KOG. If you are outside of the KOG, you are not a "son." If you are not a son, then you are a bastard. If you are a bastard, then you don't belong to the Father, The Father keeps taking us back after we continually pursue whoring of the world. Yet our hearts are hardened toward our husbands and wives to the point where we won't even entertain the notion of grace, mercy or forgiveness.

Finally, Christians will not acknowledge their INIQUITY (inclination towards SIN and immorality) and have no fear of TRANSGRESSIONS against God (stepping across the lines of holiness, righteous and spiritual integrity). Divorce creates a hard heart! Divorce is of the devil. As marriage is the institution of God, so to is divorce the institution of the devil. Sin is of the devil.  Sin creates division. Sin separates you from God. Divorce is sin. Therefore, divorce separates you from God. True repentance, and not remorse, will bring you back into right relationship with the Lord God.

In the marriage of an "Unbeliever, who is hiding out in the KOG masquerading as a Believer," the courtship is iniquity and the marriage is the transgression...