Thursday, November 29, 2012

Stagnation Vs. Significance


Over the last 30 years I have been a fan of Gail Sheehy's book, "Passages."  In this book she outlines the various stages of adult maturity.  According to Sheehy, "Going from each development period to the next, we learn new things about ourselves. Everyone goes through these stages at their own learning pace. By the time we have reached the end of a particular stage and it is time to advance to the next phase, we must leave behind certain aspects that will remain unaddressed until a future opportunity presents itself. We can accomplish certain goals, lose them, yet still gain them back as well."  Well, recently I have found that death and grieving can give us that opportunity of unaddressed areas that were left behind in other stages of growth.  In fact, unfinished business of the past has a way of catching up with you when you least expect it.

I'm now moving into my mid-50's and find myself caught between stagnation vs. significance. Hmmm... let's see.  I've traveled in 23 nations, 166 cities, and spoken in some of the world's largest churches, had thousands come to Christ, healed, and touch by the Holy Spirit in both large and small ways. I have hosted, produced, and directed radio and television programs seen around the world in over 500 million homes.  I've written books, spoken at conferences  and  I've served four churches and pastored for 35 years. I have two earned bachelors degrees  and two Master's degrees from "real" accredited colleges and seminaries.  I have overseen $1.5 million dollars worth of relief and aid goods and services sent abroad and here in the USA. Yet, I don't feel like I've made a dent in life.  I have felt stuck, unappreciated, and deeply disturbed at the lack of progress we have made in "restoring" the authentic New Testament church experience outlines in the New Testament.  Most international, national, regional, and local ministries are more caught up in their own press, protecting their own turf, and doing "business" as usual at the expense of losing our cultures to "putting on a good show."  The unfortunate thing is that the "show" isn't producing results.  The big screens, the great music, the dancers on the stage, and smooth motivational talks have done nothing to bring about "revival in the church" or "awakening in the nation."  It's just all hype and showmanship.  Recently, one intercessor wrote me and described it as a "dog" and "pony" show.  Big Whoop!  So, what really matters?

Some will tell you it's all about the family.  Then you watch those same proclaimers end up in divorce and leaving their kids in a drug lifestyle. Others will tell you it's about souls... and one year later after a crusade you can't even find those who respond to the altar call and the evangelist is introducing his next wife. Sound pessimistic?  You bet.  Try this... I have watched major leaders in my generation get caught in porning, having multiple affairs, kids out of wedlock, drinking or drugging, and having sex with the boys and girls all the while proclaiming the importance of remaining on the stage to proclaim their gospel.  Wow... and today I sit in my home quietly, trying to love my wife, get my girls through their educations, and having faith instilled in their lives.... finding myself shelved for the lack of drama in my life. There must be something wrong with me because I like it here!

"As teenagers we try to discover our individuality. We experiment, doing things our parents are unaccustomed to in order to identify our “self.” Since we don’t look at our family as people who understand us, we join a group of people who do. Some of us may look for a connection with another person, but can cause us to remain dependent on our families financially and emotionally. This group or individual, in turn, become our new family. In time, these groups start to fade and we go back to our actual families."  Each of our stories begin and end in our homes!  Who we are at home is who we are... we are not called to be "idols"!  We are called to be at home with ourselves, our families, our friends and with God!

The Holy Spirit sent Moses into a wilderness for 40 years.  He went from prominence to sheep herding. Joseph was thrown out of his house so that he could save his family. Then if you read the true marks of apostleship like being physically beaten, thrown in prison, shipwrecked while planting churches and turning the world upside down all for the sake of loving and serving people- you wonder how Apostle or Bishop so and so got so fixated on getting his credentials to call himself his title including the $30,000 fee and a monthly payment of $500 to the biggest TV guy in the church business network... Because so many people have no self esteem and haven't done the work required to hold the title they buy it or get an honorary label vs allowing the Holy Spirit to work in them the true marks of apostolic ministry.  What is a false Apostle? Can I hear somebody say Oh, my?  Lol.


I'm really not as cynical as I sound.  I believe in the championing the cause of the church. I believe in the local church. I believe in accountability. But,  growing up in Christ is tough stuff and requires stamina.  It also demands you to address what you don't want to address in yourself - the pain, the trauma, and sin that runs in all of us.  ALL have SINNED and fallen short of the glory of GOD (Rm 3:23).  Recently, I have really begun to discover how important and much I appreciate the Indian guy at 7-eleven who rings up my coffee in the morning. I love the waitress, Vickie, who serves my crab soup, ice tea, and hot bread for lunch, and the lady come rain or shine helps me unload my trash at the dump.  Are they not living up to their potential?  Are they stuck at a dead end life?  Hell No!  They are some of the best examples of servant hood, followers, and authentic leaders I've ever met.  Significance can be found in loving ordinary people more than extraordinary crowds and applause at the end of the show. For me I love my home, I love my wife, I love my kids, I love my dogs, I love my church and I love all my friends both present and past for all the contributions, impact and input they've had on my life- especially those who brought me to faith, discipled me, and laid hands on me and sent me out to preach the gospel.  I am not in a place of stagnation rather appreciation. Sometimes we just need to stop and appreciate the significance of God's handiwork in our stories.  Let's learn to stop and let each other know how much we appreciate each other... and how significant we are all are to each other.  My favorite scripture lately has been "While we were YET sinners, Christ died for us." He didn't give his life to insignificance he came to life us up out of our own stagnation.

Sunday, November 18, 2012

Hearing The Voice Of God & Post-Election Thoughts...

On February 14th, 2012 I heard the Lord early in the morning say to me "Obama will remain President for another four years!"  So I wrote the following word of prophecy in my journal as the Holy Spirit continued. "I will revolutionize the Presidency with a man after my heart and not a heart after the nation. He will not care about public opinion but will align my country with my plans for the future. America is at her crossroads!" (see Jeremiah 6:16)

As I have reflected on this word over the last few months, I realized that for the first four years President Obama had a heart for the nation.  He worked hard to keep our nation and the nations of the world from collapsing completely from a world wide depression greater than the 1930s.  Despite, all the politics and rage against him... he remained focused because he had a heart for the nation.  Usually, I am not a person who enjoys the political realm but there was something God had put in my heart regarding him becoming the President of the United States in the first place.  God clearly spoke to me that President Obama was going to be used by God to (1) deal with the spirit of racism in America; (2) work toward the reconciliation of first nations people; (3) end America's exporting of its own colonialism culture; (4) and begin fighting Modern Slavery.  Here's what has happened:  

(1)  In regards to racism  - see Racism in Obama's America: One Year Later - ABC News  
(2) In regards to first nations- President Obama's first executive order called for the reconciliation of our nation with first nations peoples. He also has agreed to sign the UN Resolution that calls on the Western Church to repudiate the "Doctrine Of Discovery" The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII) in 2012, focused The Doctrine of Discovery: its enduring impact on Indigenous Peoples and the right to redress for past conquests (articles 28 and 37 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples)
(3)  In regards to fighting colonialism - See the movie Obama 2016
(4)  In regards to fighting modern slavery - have a look at this.  "Clinton Global Initiative Speech"
       http://youtu.be/fe_ud_5XTBs

I believe that the next phase of President Obama's presidency will cause a radical change in his relationship with God... He will become a man after God's own heart who will set the course of God's plan in action for this nations future.  After all, if God could harden Pharaoh's heart, God can soften our President's heart.  If God can use The Persian Leader Cyrus to set in motion Israel's rebuilding of the temple, God can use President Obama to lead the way to bring America toward it's God given design and purpose. It is not a "go back to" message- It's a go forward message.  For those who call on America to go back I ask, "Go back to what?" Slavery?  The Trail Of Tears?  Segregation?

America's calling in the world is to be a "city on the hill,"  "a light to the nations,"  a nation that reflects the vision and values of the architect of our nation "William Penn" - with reciprocal liberty.  I concur with GodTV's Wendy Alec's prophetic word to the American Church. Prophetic Word from Wendy Alec – November 12th 2012: "I sensed the Lord saying: It is time to stop. It is time for a complete turnaround of my people. It is time to prayAnd as my people, as my church, rises up across the nation and the nations of this world to pray –   Pray fervently for President Obama; pray fervently for the government; pray fervently for the White House That we will see in the land of the living – That we will see a change in the direction of the White House – That we will see a change – a transformation even of policies – And it will be My Hand that has wrought this change says the Lord  

For my hand has been restrained, says the Lord – My Hand has been restrained because of the disobedience of my people – For there have been many prayers that have risen up to my throne but there has been prayerlessness for this government For I tell you, beloved son, beloved daughter that as you arise in prayer for this government – as you arise in prayer for this President – for this husband; for this father of children, for this President of the nation of America – That my hand shall once again be loosed to move upon the White House – upon the government – upon the President – in power – in glory and in might  And as you lift up your voice in the day and as you lift up your voice in the night hour before my throne and pray for wisdom for this man – I tell you that even in an instant – I shall release wisdom –  Even in an instant I shall release revelation – Even in an instant – his eyes shall be opened to things in the natural and things in the spirit realm that he has been previously blinded to – And I shall pour out My Spirit upon the White House –
And I shall pour out My Spirit upon Congress And I shall pour out My Spirit upon the President, and I shall pour out My Spirit upon this government – and shall pour out My Spirit upon this Congress, and there shall begin to come a softening – and the great divides shall start to dissolve – And one by one, there shall come a working together across the aisles – across the differences – across the issues – and My Spirit shall move at first in individuals – in one man – then in one woman – Then another, and another, and there shall be within the walls of Congress a spirit of reconciliation – a spirit of working together – and the walls of division shall start to fall – for there has been a stalemate in the spirit says the Lord – but no more 
For there shall begin a healing of rifts says the Lord A healing of rifts. A healing of rifts between the Republicans and the Democrats. A healing of rifts that shall extend even from the Congress to Israel. For there shall even be a healing of rifts between President Barack Obama and President Benjamin Netanyahu.
And the spirit of Jezebel shall be rooted out of the White House – It shall be rooted out of the Congress. For I shall tear down and root out –  And even certain men and certain women shall be removed from their positions. They shall be removed –  And there shall even be removals from a high place – a place of great authority And in their place I shall position those chosen and appointed by my own hand. There will be Cyrus’ whose hands I shall use. And there will be Marys who hear my voice and who seek my face – But Lord how can that be? It shall be – says the Lord of Hosts – for child I am neither Republican nor Democrat – I am God, says the Lord of Hosts. Is a man’s heart not in my hands? Have I not said that that I move the heart of kings? So I wait for you beloved son – I wait for you my beloved daughter – Come rend your garments – come dry your tears and bring your supplications for this President –for this government before my throne – And it shall be – that even in a moment – Even in a day – You shall start to see things shift and change – People removed – people replaced – And I shall pour out wisdom in the night hour upon Barack Obama – And he shall hear a voice saying this is the way – walk ye in it And it shall be my voice says the Lord. And I shall put a hook in his nose to Israel. And I shall water the stony heart and I shall wash his eyes with my salve –the salve of my Holy Spirit. And I will break the bonds of intimidation from this President. For is it not that same spirit of Jezebel that has surely paralyzed his hands in this past term. That has kept his eyes from seeing...That has stopped his ears from hearing. But no more says the Lord of hosts no more shall it be For I shall raise him as a champion of the poor in this next term. And yes – he shall raise his voice as a champion for the poor and the weak and the helpless. And this is not of himself but it shall be of me. And he shall champion the poor. He shall champion education. He shall champion the common man. And I shall bring to him men and women after my own heart who shall speak to him of things that hold great weight with me. And he shall think deeply on these things. And he shall ponder them in his heart And there shall be many issues that he shall quietly address that may go unnoticed by the public But they will not be unnoticed by me. And I will place a steel rod at his back And he shall start to stand firm – and I shall grant him wisdom concerning economic issues. And yes there will be naysayers And yes there will be opponents. But as my people – but as my church bring him faithfully before me. I will grant him wisdom to deal with the Middle East. I Will grant him wisdom to deal with Israel And I will send my prophets. My prophets will speak a word to him in season concerning my people Israel. And I will grant him wisdom concerning Israel – wisdom concerning Jerusalem, wisdom concerning Iran. 
Wisdom concerning Afghanistan. Wisdom regarding China. And a new mantle shall rest upon him in this term. A new mantle. A mantle of wisdom; a mantle of power; a mantle of strength, For it will be a new day! And many, many across America will say – is this the same man? How can it be? And I tell you - it shall be because I am God -
Prayer for President Barack Obama and the government of the United States
Beloved son – beloved daughter – I feel that the Lord says that he has been grieved, much grieved at the voices of criticism that have risen up from his own people – from his own church these past years – from those across the United States that he has raised up to intercede and stand in the gap for America. That the Father, Himself is now urging all of us who may have criticised, spoken words that were not beneficial over the President to do a hundred percent turnaround. To repent of our attitudes – justified as many feel they are, and to get down on our knees, ask for forgiveness and start to earnestly pray.
If we want to live a quiet and peace-filled life then we are exhorted by the scriptures to Pray for the President of the United States... (See 1 Timothy 2:1-4) 

Rev. Billy Graham has recently written, "All of us care a great deal about our country. The intensity of opinions and feelings during the long political campaign showed the depth of that concern. Now with the votes counted, it is important to remember that whether we are personally pleased with the outcome or not, God wants us to pray for those chosen to be our leaders—at the national, state, and local levels. The Bible urges us to do so with both respect and thanksgiving (see 1 Peter 2:17; 1 Timothy 2:1–3). We must also remember that no election will ever solve America’s most basic problems. That is because the trouble, at its root, is in the human heart, and the only path to true restoration—for a person or for a nation—is through repentance. The Bible says, “Repent therefore, and turn back, that your sins may be blotted out, that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord” (Acts 3:19–20, ESV). Only the Gospel, God’s Good News, has the power to change lives, heal hearts, and restore a nation."
I would like to recommend all my American church friends read a very strong prophetic book entitled, "American Church In Crisis" http://www.theamericanchurch.org/TACIC.htm  

this book reveals Groundbreaking research based on a national database of over 200,000 churches reveals that the overall population growth rate far outpaces the church’s rate of growth. What does this mean for you, your church, and the future of Christianity in North America ? The American Church in Crisis offers unprecedented access to data that helps you understand the state of the church today. This book not only paints a realistic picture that confirms hunches and explodes myths, but provides insight into how the church must be renewed to reach our changing world with the hope of the gospel.

No longer will the American church have influence on the Political system, economic system or culture until we get back to doing what Jesus called us to do.  Win the Lost. Disciple the Found. Heal the Hurting.



An American Obsession With Ukraine

 In 1992, a young man from Hillsong Church came and spent time with my wife, Andra and I on his way to join a team planting a church in Kiev...