Influence

I have become all things to all men so that by all means possible I might save some (1 Cor 9:22) Whatever a person is like I  I try to find common ground with him so that he will let me tell him about Christ and let Christ save him ( 1 Cor 9:22 The Living Bible). We as uncommon people have to find something in common with those who live in a culture uncommon to us. the one thing we share is the city we live in, we both live here.

Culture and the changing of it has become a topic that has caused some buzz over the years, It sounds good, changing the culture! actually the step Paul was talking about here is "influence" I become, thats the change "I myself in becoming" a friend to you, a help to another, a friendly "good morning" to someone else can become a bridge that helps me later on present Christ to them. Through conversation I can gain influence and through Influence I can by all means win some.

Its personal "I become" all things. Its not the church changing, the church most of the time does not and maybe cannot change. The church is there after all to provide a foundation that cannot change, but I can. In my approach I can change to win others.

Secondly note that Paul said he becomes all things. could this mean he becomes approachable, yes! He become a friend, yes! He becomes a good neighbor, yes! He becomes a minister to them, yes! He becomes a pastor to them, yes! He becomes an infuencer to them, yes! He becomes all these things. Your ministry then is far bigger in the kingdom that what it is in the church, far bigger! you become "all things to all men." and so for this reason we have to see ourselves as influencers in the kingdom not just ministries inthe church.

May I suggest three simple things you can do to influence others. Build a blog or website to connect with unbelievers and not so much believers. Let's face it most of the blogs you read are probably geared to church stuff! you know what I mean. Secondly offline, begin to chat, talk to the unsaved, periodically and intentionally, see yourselves as a kingdom pastor and pastor in the city. yes "you," even if you have no role in the church you can shepherd in the city. The one two or more in your city. Thirdly, if the church dont change, you be the change! Speak words of hope and confidence to those around you, get together and start a group,a coffee, chat group on the bible or Life. Bit by bit, little by little, you are by all means winning some.

Blessings and may 2018 be your year of divine favour in the city!
Paul.

Overcoming the fear of "Outshining Leadership."

Now Peter and John went up together into the temple at the hour of prayer, being the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms of them that entered into the temple; Who seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple asked alms. And Peter, fastening his eyes upon him with John, said, Look on us. And he gave heed unto them, expecting to receive something of them. Then Peter said, Silver and gold have I none; but such as I have give I thee: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. And he took him by the right hand, and lifted him up: and immediately his feet and ancle bones received strength. And he leaping up stood, and walked, and entered with them into the temple, walking, and leaping, and praising God (Acts 3:1-8).

When serving is wrong and taking a lead is right.

Why are some Christians resentful against the church and leadership. It is because their leadership expectation have not be realised in the house of God and their individual potential and calling of God has not beeen fulfilled in ministry.

Allow me to expain. You have served others yet you yourselves have not done that which the Lord called you to do. In fact you find it easier to serve another mans dream yet find it most nerve-racking to step into your own rightful place of leadership, after all, most churches encourage us to serve authority rather than to be the one in authority!

Many have grown up with the subliminal notion that to out-serve and do bettter than those in authority is wrong. Because we are so focused on serving, in fact when we do this we disannul God's agenda in our lives. You may know that you can do something remarkable yet you are so bound to serving another mans vision that to serve your own would be anathema.

Sometimes, serving others is camouflage to disobeying God. Serving others is not always obeying God in fact its better to obey God than serve or obey man, especially when God calls you to rise up and take a lead. I believe a good leader will let you know of your mistake. A good leader will get you to obey God first. A bad leader will say follow me do my thing, serve me, take my class, a good leader would say, you take this and do it.

The fear of "outshining leadership."

Some folks are so humble that they don't want to be seen as doing something great. They dont want to be seen as elevating themselves so they keep their ideas and projects pent up and bound up. This is fear bound up. The fear of expression, is often bound-up in the fact we dont want others to look bad or less than us. Sure you know you are better than the leaders around you. You know you can preach better, lead greater, build bigger, this is not a pride issue but rather a call inside you to see excellency come forth and God is calling forth that excellency out of you, yet your unwillingness is really a weakness, disguised as humility. Deep deep down youre bound by the fear of outshining leadership.

The lower limit hinders you from God's best. When we are ruled by the fear of the upper limit, we never succeed. The lower limit to many may be the place where they do good and excell in ministry too, but if God's will for you now to be on the upper level then seeking to excell at the lower level is not God's will.

This is not a call to rebellion it's a call to submission, submit to God first, then serve in that order. I know folks who in their older age are bitter and resentful of leadership and for the very reasons I have stated above they have not moved into their own field of excellence.

We find it easy to say Brother you can do it, we find it easy to say brother the call of God is over you, yet find it hard to recieve the fact that the call of God is all over us too. We find it easy to tell others lay hands on the sick while we ourselves dont believe we can tell others God will use them, yet find it hard to believe ourselves that God will use us. Friend it your turn now and here's the scripture. Peter and John had followed Jesus, Jesus had passed on to them the mission and it was their time to step into their upper level. Jesus had promised them that they would do greater works than him and this was their time.  Peter was at the temple and saw a lame man there. The man was expecting alms, but Peter fixed his eyes on him and said "Look on us"

Peter said "Look on us"

Peter does not tell him "You can do it" "you can get up" or "if you believe," no, he said look on us. silver and Gold have I none but such that I have give I unto you..

Look on us...

Its time to say I have this ministry in me. I am anointed. I am called. I am chosen

Look on me !

Stand up today and declare by faith look on us.

The Pastors Field

If you want to be a pastor, then go to a field, a field that is out there in the country, no distractions, no noise, no internet, no tv or God channel, no commentaries or study books, just a field, your field and learn the "language of sheep." Learn their language, habits, likes and wanderings. their vulnerabilities and strayings, weaknesses and frailties. If you cannot live on the field for a month then its probably not the "field" of ministry God has called you too.

10 Keys to Improve your Preach

Life is an education and so is the pulpit. I was listening to some old MP3s the other day of myself preaching and thought, "O No, that's bad!" Here are ten simple steps to help you never say, "O No, that's bad!" about you or anyone else in the pulpit.

1. Don't strain, the best communicators give a confident presentation not a strained one
2. Zeal is good but vary the intensity. If one is too intense it may be a sign of a lack of confidence
3. A man who is comfortable in preaching will be relaxed as well as passionate.  Be comfortable, look comfortable and communicate comfortably.
4. Don't try to say too much. Cut out the add ons, See how little you can say to make a great impact. How short can you make a sermon and still make an impact?...try it!
5. High intensity preaching does not make good preaching. Shouting is not a sign of the anointing!
One can shout so loud that the congregation does not hear what the preacher is communicating.
6. Park your ego. be yourself, bad preaching comes from those who try to be someone else. People know when we preach another's message and use another's style. People like speakers who are original and originally themselves only then will they be accepted.
7. If you're not naturally gifted in being funny then leave the jokes alone. Remember you're there to preach not tell jokes.
8. Own the message! It's mine. Every preacher has to own the message. It's a part of him, it made him, him! you have to own the message.Think of Jesus he was the Word made flesh.
9. If you're going to preach issues...try turning it into an idea? That is come up with a solution first. most folks in church know the issues and the problems. So If you're the preacher be the first to come up with a solution!
10. Enjoy the Preach
Paul.

A place called Nowhere.

Give Your Project Time But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. (James 1:4).

You're on a boat, it relies on the wind to blow it to its destination. But the wind has ceased, and you are stuck in the middle of an ocean, drifting at the mercy of the waves.

Drifting is not always dangerous, in fact drifting is sometimes advantageous. It all depend's what you trust in to get you to your destination, the wind of the sea? To get anywhere in life we need both wind and sea and the drifting time.

I see preachers quitting on projects, quitting their church and even quitting their dream and I ask why? There's one thing we forget, no one can quit the voyage if he's out there in the middle of the ocean! You're going to row to the shore anyway whatever you serve God or not!

Take advantage of the stillness. stillness is progress if you and God are on talking terms. "Nowhere" is an arrival point on a long journey for it's at nowhere do we discover who we are, it's at nowhere we see our real self. It at "nowhere" that we reevaluate our ideas, are they fantasy or God's will for me.  The wind takes us somewhere God makes us at Nowhere! Nowhere is somewhere all of the time. Just enjoy the break, soak up the sun, soon the wind will come and have a guess what, "there's no journey without a storm." That's where you find the wind isn't it!

How To Preach Easy

1. Dont say "you" say "we" this tells the audience that you are not above them or hinting that you are holier than them. draw them into the subject and together go on the journey.
2. Dont shout, Shouting is not the sign of the anointing
3. Keep the message clear. Clear of too much to say, too much to talk about, too much waffling about what's not important.
4. Keep to the subject!
5. Keep to a pattern, three points is good for teaching.
6. Put the Word first. Start off with scripture this shows that you are going to talk, preach about the Word.
7. Come close to the congregation, get off the pulpit. You're one of us. preaching from a pulpit is saying to your frined I love you but dont come near me.
8. Get invoved in the praise and worship. some pastors. I've seen they sit through the worship to conserve their energy when they preeach. ScottFree worship is non existent. If you love God sweat the praise!
9. Ask yourself would you buy a ticket to hear you preach? If you say "no"  Quit! ..until God fires you up and gives the message.
10. Preach as if its the end of the world.... It may be for somebody that listens to you!


...Oh by the way may I add a correction.... Preaching is NOT easy...

The Law of the Spirit of Life

For The law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of Sin and death. (Romans 8:1). May I ask, Has the life of God  so taken over you that you are free from the law of sin and death?

God Calls You Blessed!

Blessed are the pure in heart they will see God (Matt 5:8). Pure, "KATHAROS" the word has different meanings, as clothes which have been "washed," Wheat that has been "sifted" and an army "purged" of cowardice. Washed, sifted and purged. God calls those who have been washed, sifted and purged, "blessed," 

God creates a pure heart through his dealings with us, as we submit to his cleansing, washing, baptism in his name, we see God. As we become teachable God begind the purging the washing and the cleansing, how do you are being washed cleased and purged? You will see God in scriptures. You will see God as he walks with you, you will see God as he talks to you you will see God in the volume of the book, you will see God as one, you will know Jesus as God.

You'll see God working in your family, working in your ministry, working in your finances. BLESSED are the pure in heart.  How is he blessed what defines "blessed?" PURITY! blessed are the pure in heart they, shall see God.

This is how God describes "blessed"... he sees God!

I may not be blessed by your standards, I may not have what you have, I may not drive what you drive but I've got something for my struggle, I own something for my pain and its this..... I see God!

I see him when I wake up in the morning and look at the sunrise, I see him at night when I thank him for my day and I lay my head to rest, I see him in my work and my projects I see him in my friends and say thank you Lord im Blessed!

I see him in my struggle I see him in my trial, I see him in my mess and know he makes it all work out hence I can truly say, God I saw a lot of junk but I know this I got to see you. I'm Blessed!

Ask him friend. "Show me who you are Lord" ... To know him is life eternal... I am blessed!

God and the Son that he Gave.

God and word are the same, As a word he is given. As God he became flesh.

Unto "us" a Son is given (Is 9:6) The Son that was given was given to man. The Son was not given to God. God did not create a Son. There were not two men (persons) in heaven father and Son. One would have to be a human being to be a Son. which is precisely why "God" was given to man.


God and his Word are one (John 1:1) We unlike God are not given as a Word, we as sons are given a word. Just as your word and you cannot be separated so too God and his word cannot be separated. Jesus is not God's word, Jesus is God in the flesh or the Word in the flesh. (John 1:1) which means there is no trinity! All of God dwells in him and he is God, inside and out, (Col 1:9) and without controversy.. GOD was manifest in the flesh (God) was justified in the spirit (God) was seen of angels (God) preached unto the gentiles (God) believed on in the world (God) recieved on in glory. (2 Tim 3:16). Jesus is the father in creation, the Son in redemption and the Holy Ghost in our salvation. In the Spirit he was God, in the flesh he was man...Jesus alone is God!...(Is 45:21).

Passion is not enough

"Be realistic about the business you plan to pursue. Far too many aspiring entrepreneurs operate solely on passion. Passion is great. However, it is critical that what you are passionate about is also something that you have been gifted with or skilled at." ( Jacqueline Miller Black enterprise).

Discovering God's will for your life is simple. Recognise both your gift and passion and do it. Your skills may need updating and advancing as you move on and that is a natural course of any project in development and a neccessasy course in ones own personal development. Be honest and acknowledge the skills you have and the skills you do not have.

When passion and skills match you have purpose and your gift will make a room for itself. a room means time, yes time to do it and will to make something happen.

How To keep Your FAITH MOVING

As it is written:  "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him. (11 Corinthians 2:9). 

God keeps us in expectancy......always climbing, hoping, stretching, reaching. Which means, this is not it! It doesn matter where you are on the sucess ladder. If you see yoursef as an achiever or an under achiver, God's word is simply, if you eye hasnt seen it and your ear hasn't heard it then there's more coming your way, all you have to do is step into it.

What is "it?"

I dont know and neither do you, that's why everything is on the table, which means, take a hold of your dream and do it no matter how big it is, because God's dream for you, what his eye has seen, is always bigger than that which you can step into, therefore you cannot go wrong when you move forward, nomatter what it is you step into.

Quit doubting, questioning and postponing the Big thing God has for you. Step out and do it then God will show you how small it is and take you to the next level... He's right, eye has not seen.. and no matter where you are, you will aways say this is too small here, God keeps whats not seen, unseen so that when you see nothing you step out anyway. God keeps whats not seen, and adventure that way, you will always take a risk and not a short cut and do it anyway. Why Does God keep what he sees a secret, well if we see it, we would always think, "thats it!" No a thousand times No, this is not it and neither is that so, go for it anyway... Youre on an unstoppable adventure of faith!

ps.. let me know below whats your nest step of faith...

Are We in a Church Shift?

Johnathan Suber (see Suberministries). An apostolic preacher is starting a church in Texas.  I like his passion. I took a look at his page on facebook where he posted a video where he shared a thought that grabbed my attention. He said, that the church had the purpose of, "being a 21st Century Expression of a 1st Century Experience." I like that, well let me say, that lights the flame in me. Maybe thats what we have to do, light the flame in a generation that is bored with cultural Christianity, the religion God did not invent. 

Here are some thought I have on church Shift.

1. Church Shift where the Prophet is as active as the Pastor
The church has become man focused where pastors have dominated the pulpit, the result fewer evangelists able to make it fulltime, fewer still the prophets. The church suffers where there are no Holy Ghost revival preachers and the pastors that have no passsion gift or unction for revolution. In past centures it was the prophets that lit the fires of reformation from Luther to Knox. Today's culture will re-write prophets and most certainly the church will not survive without them. Excuse me for saying this you can fake the call of a pastor, but you cannot fake the gift of a prophet. I believe that God will set prophets as pastors and they will grow big churches in our day and time.

2. Church Shift where Missions become our reason for Existence
Thologian John Piper suggests that there is an higher honour attached to being a missionary than other callings (see Christian Post). The Missionary call has been laid aside, the other offices are seemingly more attractive (and safer) as a career choice, we are to an extent back in early church days again. If the church no longer adopts the apostles doctrine then we are back in early church days, where we have to bring folks back th the faith once delvered, not to Cultural Christainity as we know it. Again this will take preachers with a revelation of the one true God to hunder the rise of ecumenicalism and multifaithism. We, the church need more Peter's and Paul's to stir and shake some things in every town and city.

The world needs missionaries! not missionaries who will build homes only but preaching apostolic missionaires, leaders unashmed of the faith once deliverted, men who will put their life on the line. Many countries are closed to the gospel, (Statistics show that around 76 percent of nations are opposed to the gospel). To Quote Open Doors, "According to The Pew Research Center, over 75% of the world's population lives in areas with severe religious restrictions (and many of these people are Christians). Also, according to the United States Department of State, Christians in more than 60 countries face persecution from their governments or surrounding neighbors simply because of their belief in Jesus Christ." (Open Doors)
 
Russia and Korea recently passing laws to keep the gospel hidden but what these countries do not know is that no man can shut up God's voice. God will speak to mans conscience where there is no man to speak to man. God will open a door because he is the door. God will make a way in any city because the city is his. No man owns a nation no leader can stop our God and its with this mentality that men as missionaries will invade territory with the gospel. Anything less will be an abdication of our responsibility to God and man. We are called to Go!

Practically I believe every church should support a missions organisation or be one. Every church should have a missions representative that connects to those persecuted overseas and offers encouragement and support. This is a must the church can no longer hide in its own corner. We are global and so should be our concern and support.

3. Church Shift from Nice to Revolutionary.
Jesus did not come to make us "nice" Christians. He was a revolutionary and any man with his DNA will be like him. Its time to exit "nice" Christianity and the feministic version where we sing all love songs and start to live like the lion rather than the lamb. The lion goes to war and has a roar. The lion established its territory and defends his kingdom. Jesus was a lamb so that we could be like the lion. Nice church is not his church. Let the lion roar. Let the kingdom people state their case, defend their faith, stand up for righteousness and preach Jesus. God will raise up revolutionary. Years ago preachers would say, "God no longer has individual revolutionaries," I disagree when the church fails to be come revoltionary, God will rise up his Elijahs. God has never been without his hero or his cross bearer. If the church does not stand up and be one you stand up and be one.

4.  Church shift from celebrity Pastor to everyone a Pastor
Everyone reaching everyone. Today everyone can have a tv ministry online. Years ago you had to be a mega ministry to be gloal now you can be global, if you have an internet connection. Today's preacher is sister and Brother unknown who now has more followers in their You Tube account than most preachers have in their building on a sunday morning. Friend if you have the call to Pastor the internet is your pulpit, the world and cyberspace your home town.

5. Church Shift From Dogma to Faith in Truth.
Folks have become wary of the fake and the phony, people want truth. Folks online are questioning the dogmas and lies that folks have been taught over the years, denominational dogmas that have bourne mans intepretation of scripture that has left the church weak, paralysed and out of touch with God and his world. People are discovering freedom from man made traditions that hold believes in bondage. The age of the superpreacher is over now an unknown Guy with a YouTube Video going viral can get more views in one weak than a mega preacher can have all month on the TV network,

Denominationalism is decaying, in my own experience denominationalism isolates folks. It breeds suspicion of anyone not in their fold. Denominationalism is decaying but dicipleship is increasing. People are fed up with the walls of religion. 

We are living in an age where the church meners can know more than a Pastor with a degree. and so pastors are finding their beliefs challened. Pastors who do not examine their own heart as to why they believe what they believe will find themselves at odds with those in the pew. This is one reason why many leave their church and start their own. Pastor your education is not enough, you have to be ahead of the crowd or find yourself smothered by it.

Another trend, folks are rediscovering the true God in Christ. Trinitarian dogma has had its day, folks will once again hunger after righteousness and will forsake the dogmas of trintarianism and indeed religion for knowledge and the life of the one true God in Christ. They will know, Jesus as deity, God alone. How can I say this, because its God's purpose and will and truth always finds it home in a generation. I pray it will find its home in this generation. dont you!

Back to brother Subers quote. "being a 21st Century Expression of a 1st Century Experience." maybe this should be every churches goal.


Paul.

The Worlds larget Pulpit Your living Room
Available for download on to your PC and mobile device. In ebook format from Amazon for you.

O God of Job Restore my Losses..

And the Lord restored Job's losses when he prayed for his friends. Indeed the Lord gave Job twice as much as he had before. (Job 42:10).

In his loss Job didn't pray for a return of his stuff! Job prayed for his friends, God left him friends while everything else was taken away from him, he prayed for them. The ultimate friend prays for a friend when he himself needs the prayers of a friend.

I pray for my friends not because I want more but because my friends are my treasures, thats what God gives me. You cannot buy a friend and the lack of money cannot take a good friend away. When you left with nothing but a friend, yourself be a friend. Pray for them in your losses pray for your friends then God will show you that  compared to them you have not lost much at all, and heres the deal, God will restore your losses when you pray for a friend. Tell your friend right now "As I pray for you, God will restore to me all that I've lost and more." Since you are really whats valuble to me God will give me what i've lost thats of lesser value than you. O God of Job bless my frineds. multiply their portion, unlock divine destiny in them today, return to them double of all that they have lost, O God of Job you gave me more before and now im ready for more again this time you will give it it shall be a work of your hand and not mine. Amen!

Holiness by Fire...

And the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire (Ex3:2)
Put off they shoes from off they feet for the place wherein thou standest is Holy ground..(v5)

Holiness is fire, the fire of God's presence.

Face your burning bush! You're not going anywhere until you've taken your shoes off at God's burning bush.

Many try to avoid holiness and encounter with the God of Moses is too hot for them. The harsh truth that God commands us to be Holy. "Its too legalistic" they say but friend, holiness is a privilege, we should celebrate the opportunity to be a deliveror to our C21 Egyptian society.

Holiness is welcomed by the saint who like Moses, have experienced personally the destruction that sin has caused in their life.

We welcome holiness, not because a preacher shouts down the mike but because we know its power to give us peace and hope and make us right with God. With holiness we conquer guilt. With holiness we get our peace back, with holiness we get our mind back, with holiness we our authority back, we get our smile back, we get out shout and clout back. With holiness we get our nation back and family back. With holiness we get out prayer life power and power to pray too. With holiness comes confidence in God, knowing God is for us and not against us. With holiness we can truly love again, for when we are holy we can love what God loves and hate what God hates and this empowers our mind and spirit into victory, total victory.  With holiness we can deliver our egyptian brother and command the Pharoah in our lives to "let them go." Freedom is available to those who have the fire of holiness.

PRAY: God of Fire live in me today, be the Holy fire around my tent. Be the flame that devours every snake hiding around your tree of life today. God of the burning bush, set me ablaze with the spirit of holiness. Make me an agent of power in my world. Give me a burning staff and a burning heart. Give me the spirit of a deliverer today, Amen!

NB This blog post is not taken from the above EBook. "3Fires 2 Funerals and 1Anointing" is available form Amazon for your desktop mobile and laptop device. Paul Page on Amazon.

The Way to The Tree of Life

Now this is the commandment ... Hear O Israel the Lord our God, the Lord is one. (Deut 6:11-4)

So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. (Gen 3:24). 

Do you ever wonder why some folks in church, touch God and others don't?  Why some struggle to get with the program and others just go for it!

I enjoy a faith filled meeting. Sometimes however, I question my own expectations, for they are never realistic. I believe every teacher and preacher should live in constant revival. Its possible! Yes that's possible. Every-meeting should be a revival meeting. We carry revival to the meeting.

But what happens when folks there are not where you are at? I'm not talking of being better than anyone, the ground at the cross is equal. I'm talking of preparation to worship. There are certain things that must be in place before we can experience God. Like, an expectant faith, a receptive heart and a willing mind.We should gather purposefully and collectively assign ourselves to the discovery of God. I'm in pursuit of God while simultaneously in his presence.

I'm reading in Genesis about the cherubims that guard the way into paradise.

So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. (GENESIS 3:24).

Adam and eve were cut off for this way, and cast outside the garden of God's presence and ever since the cherubims have been guarding the way to the tree of life.

  Fellowship is more than being in church, its more than having a similar interest its more than having friends who attend the same church. True fellowship is with those who share the same passion and conviction arising from obedience to the same law

1.  The way to the tree of life is guarded
Life that's what we have to find in this world and as a church we realize that this way is guarded form the many. the way to the tree of life is guarded and protect by angelic beings with flaming swords. They don't allow anyone just to come on though. No one can just walk into God's presence without confronting these angels. They guard the way to the tree of life

What do they guard but a box and in that box there is the law of God which speaks to me of the commandments of the Lord. 

"and there I will meet with you! and speak to you from above the mercy seat (Ex 25:32) where? at the assigned place, the place that is guarded form strangers and robbers. Its a guarded place Just as the cherubims guard this place so to the way into the presence of God is guarded, not all will enter into it only those whose hear if right before God.

2. The place of mercy must be sought for.
The mercy seat. it means the place of atonement. Its the place where sin is cancelled and we are cleansed. Have you found it. In our corporate gathering we have to find this place first. We must find it! I must get to the mercy of God before I can be released into joy and fellowship with him and indeed others. Mercy. God let me find mercy today at your altar. Mercy is the way to the tree of life. there is no life outside of the discovery of the mercy of God, without God's mercy I have misery contempt pride these things will keep me from the presence of God.

See some folks come to be entertained but without first finding mercy there is no access into God's presence no matter how good the music! theatrics or dynamics

 3. Two walk together if they touch and agree
Corporate worship is as much How I worship but Who I worship with. In today's culture of "come as you are" Christianity, I'm not convinced that the righteous can worship with the unrighteous. That may sound a bit self righteous but think of this, No flesh can glory in God's presence! God demands that we come according to protocol, his protocol. The tabernacle and its furniture reveal the protocol. no priest can just show up in Gods presence. there has to be preparation separation, holiness and mercy.

 Too may churches lack  the altar of repentance and fire (Altar). Which tells me "God is not there!"
Too many churches lack baptism in the name (the laver) which tells me "God is not there!"
Too many churches lack the the holy Ghost  (the lampstand) which tells me "God is not there!"

Unbelievers don't worship God then cannot worship God, they have unbelief in their heart and bring that spirit with them. The church is not for unbelievers but for believers. While accommodating the unsaved we must know that the saved alone can worship God! Those that have not the Holy Ghost cannot worship God. God is spirit and they that worship him must worship him in spirit and in truth (John 4:24).

If any "two" agree on anyone thing.. it shall be done for them (Matt 18:19). Thats the power of his presence if two agree its done.

The uniqueness of the cherubims above the mercy seat is that there are two of them and secondly that they as two touch and agree. There are two cherubs this speaks of fellowship they are a metaphor of friendship and fellowship communion. The common union or basis of fellowship is not that we share a common belief but rather that we walk in the uncommon way.Friendship is often misdefined in today's world. friendship is more than a facebook like.

True fellowship is intimacy matched with expectancy. True friendship is companionship mixed with loyalty to match. True friendship is where we share the same values and traditions, mission and expectations. True friendship is where we die for the same truth and live the same life, the life of Christ! isn't this what Jesus said ye are my brothers if ye keep my commandments!

Now do you get that? The cherubims protected the law and that's where we find the truth. We as true friend cover yes value, cherish, protect and live for this law, the law of God. If we believe the same law we can worship with the same intensity the same God.

Just as the Cherubims looked into the ark of the covenant and guarded its truth of the law. it lets me know that those who I'm connected to are those who believe it like me. The one Lord one faith God of the written covenant.  "Hear O Israel the Lord our God, the Lord is one." Now that's enough to let me know we can sit at the same mercy seat and together seek his forgiveness and heart and If you believe this we can have fellowship.

The bottom this, we share the way to the tree of life together! 

Liberty .. The Power of God's Law

I will walk at liberty for I seek they precepts (Psalm 119:45)
The rewards for loving the law are affirmed Great Peace have they which love thy law and nothing shall offend them (119:165).

The Law of Liberty
Man is a slave to political correctness, systems of men, religions of the masses and his own unbelief.  We live in a society where the ungodly are easily offended. Since they don't know who they they will criticize a man of God who knows who he himself is. Authority comes from our God, so does liberty. Liberty belongs to those who have truth and it is this God given truth that sets a soul free. I walk in liberty because I seek thy precepts. Because we love God's law. God's law is liberating not enslaving and because of this, nothing offends us. Chew us out, call us devils, say we are a cult! fine, your opinion will die with you. Truth lives on. It's as eternal as the God who is truth. Jesus is his name.

The Peace of Liberty
Secondly the man of God walks in liberty.
I love America but I often wonder whether it really is still the land of the free! But i do know a land where freedom lives. land of true hope and God's glory. That's where the man of peace dwells. Beulah land. Zion city of our God. and as citizens we declare, "Great peace" belongs to us. Do you have this peace? Seek the law of God. Great peace have they that love it.

The Power of Liberty
Groups, networks, infidels and hatemongerers are fighting, even killing for liberty, but one can live in a free country and still not himself be a free man. In fact no man is truly free unless he is free on the inside and to be free on the inside he needs Christ. Christ alone changes the nature. Change all the rules you like and all the laws you like one cannot be free until he comes to Christ and Christ lives in him for only Christ the giver and creator of man can change a mans nature.

If the Muslims makes a nation Islam and impose sharia law, is he a free man simply because there are no Christians there? No. In fact if all he has is his own law then he all the more his own prisoner. his own devil, his own deceiver. Himself his own god. Neither can a man escape God's laws or God himself by getting rid of the bible which holds its law of God

Man will constantly make more and more laws in the hope to obtain more and more freedom for its citizens but the more laws one makes the more freedom one looses, only in Christ and his law can man be free.

Even there are even certain "Christians" want to get rid of the law, however the law which seemingly is our enemy is our best friend. God's laws are also inescapable for they are written on the hearts of man. Man meditates on God's law day and night. O see my friend that is not legalism that's liberty we reward it constantly for we love it eternally! Its not a religious recitation but a living power that frees the man from the snares of human limitation, fears and angers. Wesley taught that the law should be taught and preached as a stepping stone to the gospel. How true this is. Great is thy Law and in it I will meditate day and night for then you will make your way prosperous and then you will have good success (Joshua 1:8). 

The One Thing That Changes Everything!

JESUS DEMANDS ALL
And when he was gone forth into the way, there came one running, and kneeled to him, and asked him, Good Master, what shall I do that I may inherit eternal life? And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God. Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Defraud not, Honour thy father and mother. And he answered and said unto him, Master, all these have I observed from my youth. Then Jesus beholding him loved him, and said unto him, One thing thou lackest: go thy way, sell whatsoever thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, take up the cross, and follow me. And he was sad at that saying, and went away grieved: for he had great possessions. (Mark 10:7-22)


Pioneers are people with arrows in their backs.
I rather be criticised for what I do do, than live with shame because I neglected the one thing that was most important.
The rich young ruler was told to do one thing, that was sell all he had
He could not do this one thing.
As I heard a preacher say last week. We are like this rich young ruler who had kept and observed the commandments all his life. We too like him often focus on what we don't do. We don't smoke, we don't drink we don't sleep around. So we think that our good nothings will get us to heaven. However, Christianity is not what we "don't do" Christianity is about doing the one thing thing that matters most.

Many folks who don't do anything bad don't do anything good either!

This rich young ruler could have been one of the twelve is he had given up the one thing that was his. to get the one big thing that was God's.

There is one thing that God demands of you that he would demand of anyone else. No other apostle was asked to sell all. All had to be saved and baptized but this one man had to do one big thing that he alone had to master. That's where greatness lies. The one big thing in your life is either a one big downfall or can be your one big key to greatness in the kingdom

My question is therefore this. What one thing should you do to achieve a remarkable destiny in God that God demands only of you?

Where are the prophets, teachers, evangelists..

The church without the evangelist, has no mission
The church without the prophet has no direction
The church without the teacher, has no revelation
The church without the apostle has no foundation
The church without the pastor has no compassion

There are many, millions of gifted preachers, prophets teachers who have yet to enter the pulpit. Pastors must give evangelist,prophets and teachers the pulpit. Otherwise selfishness, haughtiness sand barrenness is coming to those who promote themselves, their ego, their want to and their own kingdom. We function on 25% capacity when we use only the pastoral office in a church. Today's Now church has all five gifts serving full-time. This is the challenge for us all at this hour.God needs an army. His call right now is for an army.  If you are a general start recruiting staff, prophetesses, prophets, evangelists, other pastors in the making, use them. Pastor, God wont allow you to loose your pulpit in fact as you give others your pulpit, he make yours bigger. I believe God with you. This is your day to rise and shine, preach and wage a warfare (Ephesians 4:11,12). why do Pastors exist for the perfecting of the church in order that they too may enter the ministry.

Visit me  Paul B Thomas on www.paulbthomas.com

Death Bed Conversion

1. Is there such a thing as death bed conversion. by that I mean a man can say a prayer and ask Jesus into his heart and go to heaven.
   
2. A. There is no example of anyone being called “saved” through a death bed conversion in the bible. The thief on the cross was told by Jesus that he would be in paradise that day. The thief on the cross was the other side of Calvary and therefore under the Old Covenant where folks were saved or had a righteousness according to faith. Abraham you remember was made righteous because of his faith.

Paul tells us about this in Romans 10:4 where Christ is the end of the law of righteousness to every one that believeth. He then goes on to tell us of the righteousness that is given us by Christ by faith (v4). Baptism has an essential part in this, where even Jesus himself was baptized to “fulfill all righteousness” and told us that we had to too (Matt 3:15) “He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved” (Mark16:16).

The new birth where a man has to be “born of water and Spirit” is for all this side of Calvary. (John 3:5) Salvation is through Jesus and his Way. The way of salvation as we know it first given by Jesus then taught by the apostles.

There can be no resurrection without the Spirit. How can the dead arise without the Holy Ghost? The Body without the Spirit can not live again neither can it be resurrected.

Man may be alive but he is dead in trespasses and sins and as a dead man (without God) it is impossible for him to rise again. Only those who have the spirit of life will be alive “in” Christ Jesus.
Now if Christ is preached, that He has been raised from the dead, how do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead? But if there is no resurrection of the dead, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain.… (1 Cor 13:12-14).

But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his (Romans 8:9).
And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. (v10)

But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you (v11)
Could a man live like the devil and say a prayer of repentance and be born again at his deathbed? Really! Would not that make the words of Jesus of no avail!

Should we not stick to things that are written?

A man must be born of water and Spirit. (John 3:5 Acts 2:38 Acts 10:44-47). I wouldn’t want to take the chance with my eternity. Would you! I wouldn’t want to be live a lie. Would you?

There's a Light at the End of the Tunnel

For the upright there ariseth light in the darkness (Psalm 112:4)

The upright!
What kind of man is the upright man?
The kind of man who has authority over his feelings and control over his behavior.
He keeps his stand among the critics and keeps his convictions among the clerics.
He keeps his sanity while in adversity and keeps his mind while in obscurity.
He does not have fear while in the company of the great neither does he compromise while in the company of the educated.
He does whats right at the right time, all of the time.
He will neither be bullied or bribed for in trouble he finds a way out. In sorrow he finds a time to rejoice. In trouble he meets with God and in tiredness he finds his smile.

This man be surrounded by trouble, having lost everything and like Job siting down in his dilema, Those around him yelling at him, "give up this God stuff, get yourself a life!" But this man knows he who is his life. He unlike others, gets up. He is not merely making a fresh start, but rather he makes a new commitment to serve God, again, yes again! knowing that because of God he went into the dilema and because of God he's coming out of it.

What am I saying! If a man is going to get up at all then he has to get up right, excuse my play on words but let me make the point.There is no point in getting up at at all unless you're going to get up right!

This means that God is my starting point and God is my finish point. God is my strength and Christ is my light. and although I'm down while serving him I'm getting up because of him,  for that reason, I shall be upright!

But he is not only strong, he is also graceful, for the text tells us "he is gracious and full of compassion." (v4b). He is couragious as well as courteous. kind as well as kingly. Gentleman-like as well as Godlike. Under pressure or going under, in celebration or controversy, in weakness or during times of strength he is gracious and full of compassion.  To that man, there arises light in the darkness.

What does this mean?

There's a light at the end of the tunnel for me!