Archive for the ‘disciples life’ Category

Its time for the preachers turn back to preaching life not death!

Posted: June 9, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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The apostle Paul wrote to the Corinthian church: “I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner…for godly sorrow worketh repentance” (2 Corinthians 7:9–10).

What is happening to the House of God today? Where is the preaching of the Word? Why is there such a lack of messages about sin? When we do not preach the Word, rather we preach a watered down version according to what we believe the people want to hear, we do an injustice to the Lord. And we end up with a church filled with weak Christians stumbling from defeat to defeat! They choose to listen only to soft, flesh-assuring preaching. Where there is no convicting word, where there can be no godly sorrow over sin. And where there is no godly sorrow for sin, there can be no repentance. And where there is no repentance, there is only hardness of heart.

Thank God, David had Nathan, who was not afraid of what the King would do to him, he walked with a holy reverence for the Lord God and the Truth!

David saw what happened to Saul when he rejected the word of the Lord. Saul, who once walked a godly life style, living as a Spirit-led king continually rejected the Spirit’s reproving words, delivered by a holy prophet. It didn’t take long after he began to stop listening to God that Saul began to walk in self-will, bitterness and rebellion.

Finally, the Holy Ghost departed from him: “Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee from being king” (1 Samuel 15:23). “The Lord…departed from Saul” (18:12). Saul ended up turning to a witch for guidance, which many Christians do today – they seek out a person who does not treasure the gifts of the Lord and they will for the recognition of men give a pleasing truth-less word. Saul knew the Lord had left him, he even confessed to the witch, “God is departed from me, and answereth me no more, neither by prophets, nor by dreams: therefore I have called thee, that thou mayest make known unto me what I shall do” (28:15)

All this came crashing back to David memory, all the madness, ugliness and terror surrounding this man who had shut out God’s word. Suddenly, the truth pierced his own heart: “God is no respecter of persons. I have sinned, as Saul did. And now here’s another prophet, in another time, giving me God’s Word, as Samuel gave it to Saul. Oh, Lord, I’ve sinned against you! Please don’t take your Holy Spirit from me, as you did from Saul.”

We need men and women of God today in the pulpit who fear the Lord more than they fear the people or the lack of their treasure chests being filled!

We need men and women of God who are on fire for the Lord and His truth, that will not compromise the truth of the scriptures even if it means death. We need to get back to the Bible and stop with all these foolish functions, conferences and hyped up emotional meetings to stir the hearts, minds and wallets of the people. Holy Spirit will stir the hearts of the people. When we release the Word of God with the power and authority of the King, it will bring conviction – not only to those hearing the Word, but first to those preaching the Word.

Friends, let us not be fooled any more about the “Revival message” coming by simply willing it – that if we get loud enough He will come, that if we dance hard enough the Lord will show up in power. The Bible clearly shows that whenever we return to the Lord in genuine, heartfelt repentance, God responds by bringing absolute reconciliation and restoration. Reconciliation – a rejoining of our hearts and spirit with that of the Lords! Restoration a true Revival that brings us back to the redemptive and transforming purposes of the Lord! It’s when God’s [people fall on their face, truly repent and call out upon the Lord with every part of their lives, then we shall see a people rise up who themselves are the Revival of the Most High!!!

Is dancing and shouting praise to the Lord wrong? Of course not, but if there is no conviction that we are not completely following Him, that there are things in our lives that limit Holy Spirit from fully releasing from our lives, that which the Lord has poured in, how can the Lord use us? He could show up at any church He desires to show up at, but He is looking for a people who are hungry for Truth, a people who are not simply moved by a song that spurns emotions – He is looking for a people who have been broken, who have come to the conviction that it is not because the Lord does not love that He has not showed up in His Glory – it is because we have not loved Him enough to get rid of everything that is an idol in our lives.

This does not mean that we have to “fade away” from life, biding our time in quiet shame until the Lord takes us home. Lets get real, listen to what the Word has to say, such as what we read in the book of Joel. Here we see where the prophet Joel assures us that God steps in immediately when we return to him: “Rend your hearts turn unto the Lord your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil” (Joel 2:13)

Now that a powerful promise – The Bible is filled with these promises, they are not dead words, they are alive even in this present day. The Words of the Lords speaks from generation to generation. Look again in Joel, for God then gives us this incredible promise: “I will restore to you the years that the locust hath eaten and ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed” (2:25–26). The Lord promises to restore all.

And this happened after God had pronounced judgment upon the land!

Even as He has pronounced judgment upon those who forsake His Word – if we will but turn towards Him, with a repentant heart cry out, Father forgive me – He will run to us as did the father to the prodigal son and restore unto us all that He has desired. A true revival is not ushered in on the wings of eagles, it is ushered in upon the broken hearts that cry out in repentance. Just look at the revival of times past – the heavens opened up as the people having their hearts pierced cried put to God to forgive them. We saw the revival in individuals hearts and lives being transferred into the hearts of others

We need to get back to preaching God’s Word with Fire, with conviction, allowing it to do its job to pierce the sinner and saints hearts alike.

Today the church has swallowed such a fallacy that has been placed upon the good ole Hellfire preaching to the point that the people of God have been dumbed down to believing that the pulpit should give us a word that build us up which is non offensive and easy to swallow. The truth is, God does not want to build us up on a foundation of hay and stubble – He wants to build us up on a solid foundation, on the foundation of the Rock of His salvation Jesus Christ – thus we need to have that Word of God that divides asunder, even to the piercing of the heart to render us in a broken state, that the breath of His revelation can come in with new birth and build up in His way.

What has been known to be an offensive message of Hell and sin, is in all honesty, is that which is preached through tears by one who has been through the valley of conviction and emptied out on the alter humbled under the mighty hand of God, called “grace preaching.” If you’re your heart is being pricked and probed by God’s Word — if Holy Spirit is refusing to allow you sit comfortably in your sin — then you’re listening too truth and being shown mercy. It is the deep love of God at work, calling you out of death and into the true Christ birthed life.

The question is – do we want to turn back to preaching and hearing the truth, are we willing respond to him as David did? If we the people of the Lord God desire such truth and seek after it with our whole heart then we will know true restoration and reconciliation. And we shall see that our God will restore everything the enemy has stolen.

Let the pulpits across this nation once again be set on fire – it is not to late for America or any other Nation to repent and turn towards God. His grace and mercy abounds and will be poured out upon all who call upon His Name!

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My prayer is that the Lord will strip me of everything that is not worthy of Him, everything that would limit the power of Holy Spirit flowing through my own life. That what ever is in my own life, whether pride, godless desires or what ever the sin may be be burnt up and thrown out. That from this point on I will never preach another Word that is not baptized in the fires of His holiness – that I will not listen for the Amen’s of the people – rather I will turn my ears to hear the Amen’s of heaven. That Holy Spirit will sweep across this nation and move upon every man and women of God in the pulpit seeking to only proclaim His truth this week and set them ablaze with the passion of the Father and open the ears of the people to those who refuse and see how empty their words are – the words that contain death and not life.

May the Lord God bring a conviction upon the Bride in this nation and all nations to repent and turn back to Him in Truth through the Spirit!

A People who honor!

Posted: June 8, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching
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Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king. (1 Peter 2:17)

Peter, in three words, teaches a very difficult concept. He commands us to “Honor the king.” The historical background of his words should give us a better perspective and teach us a powerful lesson.

Peter, having already written that we should honor all people, knew some brethren would resist honoring Nero, the heathen Roman emperor. Nero was a perverted madman, eventually hated by the Romans themselves. He had mercilessly tortured and killed hundreds of Christians in various cruel and demeaning ways. It is very difficult to expect Nero to be honored by someone whose mother had been crucified and used as a human candle for one of Nero’s garden parties!

The pattern that we have seen all along surfaces again here. Nero was king. A king is to be honored, for he represents the office given him by God (Romans 13:1). Whether the king is honorable or not, he is king, and God says we should honor him as such. If we are resisting the power they have, we are resisting God’s ordinance (verse 2). Paul even calls the civil authorities “ministers” or servants of God (verse 4).

In our time, we have seen many of the church leaders fall and their personal lives exposed. We do not need details, as we have heard them over and over. If Peter were writing today, what would he say?” And we have a sitting President whose personal affairs as well as his decision made since his taking office are questionable. His lack of support for the Christian community and our core values are as well questionable. As badly as America’s church leaders and our president have conducted their role, it still pales besides Nero’s life, many of whose actions are unprintable. Regardless, Christians are still to honor him.

That is a tough order! Many of the early Christians no doubt despised Nero’s reckless, godless behavior. Some had personal reasons to hate him. The commands from our King, however, remain the same: Forgive those who trespass against you (Matthew 6:14). “Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Matthew 5:44). Honor the king.

When we obey God’s command to honor all people, we are following our heavenly King and honoring Him. Then what happens? Jesus answers in John 12:26: “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.”

So the first thing that we must do is humble ourselves, then give honor and respect even to those who might appear to be unworthy of honor and respect. The result? God the Highest, the Supreme Being in the entire universe, will personally bestow honor and glory on those who have obeyed this and other commands. This is God’s way: The more we give, the more we receive. The more honor we give, the more honor we will also receive.

Tough as it may be, we should make it our aim to honor everyone—all the time.

Indeed we do serve an awesome God!

There are many echoes in the land, but few voices….

Posted: June 6, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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( I woke up this morning with this message burning deep within my belly)

“They were astonished at His doctrine: for [Jesus] taught them as One that had authority, and not as the scribes” (Mark 1:22).

How much of what we hear being preached and peddled around the world in the Name of Jesus is but the regurgitation and ramblings of people who can only repeat what everyone else is saying? Where is the Revelation of Jesus Christ? Who is the man or the woman that refuses to confer with flesh and blood, but only speaks according to what they have seen and heard by revelation through the Spirit? Most teachers are teaching what was taught to them, and their teachers learned it from their teachers, and so on it goes until we no longer have Spirit-birthed revelation, we have third and fourth-generational head-knowledge, yesterday’s manna and hand-me-down flesh and blood doctrines.

As one of my brothers puts it: there are many echoes in the land, but few voices. There is an ocean of difference between repeating what you have heard and speaking of what you have experienced! Is it any wonder that there is much learning, but no experiential knowledge of Truth? If we speak of ourselves then we can only impart knowledge. But, if we resolve to only speak by revelation, we can impart Life. Only revelation can change a person.

I am not talking about fresh revelations of what one feels he or she needs to be said, rather Spirit inspired revelations that the scriptures witness too and validate it as coming from the Father. Revelations that have been heard in the place of its birth – the Throne room of the Most High and ushered thru by the utterance of the tongues of Gods servants here in the world.

Revelations that only the Father could know such as when witnessing to a person and by the unction of the Spirit a revelation of that persons life that only God could know which brings forth the reality in that person’s life that God was there and has taken a very personal interest in them, the essence of the Fathers love for His creation- anointed words, relational and powerful!

“Peter’s words convicted them deeply, and they said to him and to the other apostles, “Brothers, what should we do?” (Act 2:37)

Words filled with power & authority will bring forth a stirring in the hearts and spirit of those hearing it.

“Then Peter continued preaching for a long time, strongly urging all his listeners, “Save yourselves from this generation that has gone astray!” (Act 2:40)

We need more men and women like this today! Preaching with conviction under the Authority of Jesus Christ and with the power of Heaven. We need men and women empowered by Holy Spirit filled with fresh revelations that transform neighborhoods’, Cities, States and whole Nations!

Peter and the other men and women in the Bible did not just repeat what they heard, they repeated their experiences from the stand point of the intimate relationship they had with the Son of God.

We need men and women who are living out their lives according to the purpose God has established, people walking in their God defined destinies. Men and women living out Rev 12:10-11:

Salvation and power are established!
Kingdom of our God, authority of his Messiah!
The Accuser of our brothers and sisters thrown out,
who accused them day and night before God.
They defeated him through the blood of the Lamb
and the bold word of their witness.
They weren’t in love with themselves;
they were willing to die for Christ. (Message)

Men and women who will not accept the norm, who have no interest in tickling ears or being the esteemed speakers or favorite candy vendor! They are only out to please the audience of Heaven, where the sound thunders “Worthy is the Lamb”.

“As The Lord, The God of Israel lives, Whom I serve, there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.” ( 1 Kings 17:1)

Men and women who like Elijah, when the Word of the Lord leaves their lips the power of God and the Kingdom of Christ is established with the manifestion from the spiritual into the natural! Gods Authority being released upon the earth. A people walking in the revelation of their being empowered by Jesus Christ, walking under and by His authority as dominion takers for the Kingdom.

Again, many words are released today that bring no glory to God for they are in reality only a petty attempt to validate a person or organization and they contain no life, no transforming ability and no power. Dead words released by dead wine skins that are releasing nothing but dead religion that imprison rather than birthing LIFE.

We need the Heavens revelations of Jesus by Holy Spirit that not only impact a person or a people, they also are spoken with Authority and Power to establish the Kingdom and all that it contains, bringing glory to Jesus Christ.

Praise God that we are in the hour when these men and women are being raised up and released. Many of the old wine skins will be offended and attempt to shut them down and discredit them – yet the Authority and Voice of God shall be established and even as a sunami washes over the walls put in place by men – The Spirit of God is rushing over the man made walls of religion that attempt to quench His voice in our day – Heaven will not be silenced and mercy will be hard find for those who attempt to silence the roar of the Lion of Judah in this day!

The days of man taking credit that is due to the Son is over – the Thunder of the Fathers voice has gone beyond the shaken of the Heavens and is now shaken the earth- the battle lines have been drawn through the ages – the dust of religion that has attempted to cover them is being blown off by His breath and these mighty men and women of God are being freed by the Spirit who indeed leads us too and by the Truth.

In the Spirit I can see the vision of Ezekiel 37:1-14 coming to life – where the spirit of religion has eating away at the destiny of men and women called of God – now Holy Spirit is breathing the breath of God into their lives and not only is the flesh coming back upon them, they are rising with a shroud of His Glory shielding them. Gods army – young and old rising up taking their place and having heard the voice of the Captain of Host, they are marching forward as did their Master, Jesus here on earth – establishing Gods will where they are called to do so.

The question that we must ask ourselves today is – Are we on the right side of the line?

My personal prayer is that what ever is in my own life, my own heart that would in any way or form distract me or cause me to be on the wrong side of the line – what ever left over carnage of religion that has hid within me – that Holy Spirit will not only shine the light of Heaven upon it, but that He will due a supernatural surgery to remove it.

It is so easy just to be a copy cat, riding on the heels of someone else’s revelations, yet the Radical Disciple is the one who seeks after God with desperation until the Lord speaks. Are you radical enough today to seek after the Father with every thing you have?

IHS,
Russ Welch

The good word today friend’s is – Death!

Posted: June 5, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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“And other sheep I have which are not of this fold; them also I must bring, and they will hear My voice; and there will be one flock and one shepherd” (John 10:16).

If God intends on having One Flock under One Shepherd then we know that nothing belongs to any individual. Frequently we hear men speak of “my people”, “my flock”, or “my church”, as though they possessed something. Let us see instead that the undershepherd owns nothing, but is a steward over God’s possession. The Scripture plainly says that we are the sheep of His pasture.

Everything belongs to the Father, Who has committed all things into the care of His Son, the Good Shepherd. No undershepherd can claim anything or anyone as belonging to him personally. If we only realized this we would immediately begin treating the Lord’s sheep with greater respect and humility. How can a man lord over something that doesn’t belong to him? How can he abuse and mistreat what is not his?

I am very cautious of those who continuously speak of their ministry! When I look at the ministry that the Lord has called my wife and I too, that which He established in 2005 and gave us the name of Mighty Arm Ministries and assigned us as co-stewards it was as clear then as it is now that it is His ministry of which we are blessed to co-labor with our Lord to benefit the Kingdom. Yet we are fully aware that it does not belong to us – it is His.

This idea of it belonging to Him and not us was made even more clear when in the latter part of 2010, He called us to lay down the Ministry as it had become known more by my name than His – so with faith in trusting Holy Ghost as a true messenger of the Father, we laid it down – now we simply minister in the Name of Jesus Christ!

Even the teaching of “Your ministry which the Lord has called you too” in outward appearance seems innocent yet it is a breeding ground for pride. For there is no true Kingdom Ministry outside of the Lords ministry of which we His servants join into. This is do in large because of a lack of true Apostolic teaching on the meaning of “ministry”.

Let us strip all of our selfishness off and renounce all pride that we may walk in the path of righteousness with Holy hands and a pure heart. That as we walk the shadow of the Almighty is cast about us, the fragrance of the King fills every room we walk into, that the cloud of His Glory covers the villages, towns, Cites where we are speaking and releasing the Kingdom message for which the Father has assigned us to speak in this hour.

If the Lord stands against a prideful heart – do we for one moment believe that such a heart shall be a vessel for which the message of revival is released. For is not revival birthed from repentance? A prideful heart shall never truly repent admitting its wrong – many selfishly repent with not desire to change- just desiring to get rid of the guilt – this is not true repentance!

The good word today friend’s is Death! Death to pride and death to self – for once in our lives let us truly be baptized in the death of Christ that we may be raised with Him in His true nature walking in the fullness us our callings as sons and daughters of the King of Kings. For the true reality in the Christian walk is that in death to self – the birth of the New Man is born and this very act creates true vessels of revival. Just as the old man unchanged will hear the voice of its old master – the new man will hear the voice of its new Masters.

And today if we are truly hearing the Master Jesus Christ, we will hear Him clearly speaking as He did to Peter -Do you love Me?- Feed my Sheep! Not ” lord yourselves over my sheep – or establish your own kingdom.” Serve even as I have served is what the Jesus has taught us – wash the feet, tend to the needs of the lonely, minister to the sick, the needy and so on. Servants that serve – not prideful leaders that seek servants.

Today we have the choice – Death that we might live so we can begin reproducing life – or the same old life that we may continue producing dead things!

Those who are radical enough to lay everything down will choose death – those who desire to remain in the same old mundane religious life style will of course not choose death.

Jesus Christ presents us with a radical decision – we either choose all of His teachings and all of His commands or we choose none – there is no grey areas in the life of a Christian – if one is found having such, then the question must be asked, are they really a Christian or merely a religious person? Only the Father can see into ones heart – yet we have been given the gift of discernment and we ought to be able to discern by the fruits of the Kingdom in ones life as to whether they are truly in love with the Lord, or just in love with the idea of not going to Hell!

Ready for Full-time Ministry?

Posted: June 4, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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You are ready for full-time ministry when:

You no longer need human applause

You don’t need anyone to give you an assignment

You don’t need a plan

You don’t need a building, a congregation or an endorsement

When you no longer are looking for some Great work to do

When the only thing that fully satisfies your heart is your prayer,
your worship, your ministry unto the Lord.

When you are satisfied with feeding Christ.

When you have giving yourself completely and your focus is on this one thing – My calling on this earth first of all is to be a minister unto Him.

In studying Ezek 44 – it is scary to see how many “ministers” in our day fall far outside the guidelines of the Zadok priesthood and are nothing more than either thieves or hirelings.

I can remember the day the Lord spoke to my heart as I was thinking about Full-time ministry. I had just spent the day servicing customers homes and during that time prayed with one lady who had cancer. At another home I shared the Lord with a Jehovah witness and shared how much Jesus means to me with a few other customers. As the thoughts of “Full-time” ministry were running thru my mind Holy Spirit played my day back to me and the Lord said – this is truly fulltime ministry in My Kingdom. Out of your heart you shared Me with others and expected nothing in return. You gave Glory to My name and served others freely with no mention or seeking of glory for your own.

Then I realized the “fantasy” of Full-time ministry that has been painted by the TV evangelist and many in the position of “paid clergy” today falls in the category of the priest spoken of at the start of Ezek 44. They are pleasing to man and to themselves but they are far from pleasing to the Lord.

Each one of us is giving the opportunity of “Full-time” ministry daily – the question is are you willing to accept the applause of Heaven over that of men or are you simply seeking to make your name known through out the land?

A radical Christian chooses the high road of excellence, as taught by Paul – that though one might have a right to receive support for ministering the gospel that they rather than being a hireling work with their own hands lest they become a burden upon the church!

As for me and my House – we simply want to serve the Lord – to minister unto Him – put a smile on His face and be a blessing to the Kingdom, bringing glory to His Name.

Forsake not the poor!

Posted: June 3, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching
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“After an absence of several years, I came to Jerusalem to bring my people gifts for the poor and to present offerings.” (Acts 24:17), “All they asked was that I should remember the poor, the very thing I was eager to do”. (Gal 2:10)

It appears that the ministry to the poor was an important part of the early church as they lived out the teaching of Christ our Lord. Some have endeavored to say that these passages imply only to the Jews in Judah, and one could surely use this example as an excuse not to feed the poor, yet the admonishment of the Master to minister unto the poor erases this conclusion. The heart of the Father is that all would receive His Salvation and one of the ways we have in which to do so is to reach out to the needy that they may taste of the Fathers mercy through over service.

As we study the history of the church we find that there have been many times in which Christians have had to defend their church’s responsibility to care for the poor. Sadly I believe that we are living in such a time right now, a time in which Christians have become polarized on issues and otherwise strong evangelical churches are afraid to take stands in areas that the Bible makes clear are of great interest to our God.

Many have believed the lie that it is the liberals who are concerned about the poor and that we conservatives have been given the higher calling of evangelizing the lost world. To be sure, many a liberal has fallen prey to the trap that neglects evangelism almost entirely. But we have no Biblical excuse for neglecting the physical needs of the poor and solely evangelizing them. To be Biblical is to be concerned about both the physical and the spiritual realm at the same time.

A true student of the Word clearly sees that the Bible itself leaves no doubt about what the people of God should think and do in regards to the poor;

“thou shall open thine hand wide unto thy brother, to thy poor, and to thy needy, in the land.” (Deut 15:11b)

“blessed is he that considereth the poor: the Lord will deliver him in time of trouble.” (Ps 41:1)

“he that hath pity upon the poor lendeth unto the Lord; and that which he hath given will he pay him again.” (Prov 19:17)

And we go on to see this aspect of the Fathers heart being lived out and taught by His Son as we see Jesus eager to see ministry to the poor continue. In Matt 25 as Jesus foretells the separating of the sheep from the goats, the sheep are characterized as those who did something about the plight of the stranger, the sick, the hungry, the thirsty, the poorly clothed, and the person in prison. In Luke 16 Jesus tells the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, and Jesus makes it very clear that the rich man is in Hell for his unbelief characterized by his lack of urgency in helping Lazarus the transient in his midst.

We also can conclude that the leaders of the early church were very adamant about ministry to the poor. The apostle James was very upset in his letter about favoritism being shown to the rich. When Paul met with the leaders of the church in Jerusalem he tells us, “only they would that we should remember the poor, the same thing which I also was eager to do (Gal.2:10).” Interestingly, Hebrews 13:1 tells us that if we minister to strangers, we may very well have met an angel without knowing about it!

Unfortunately ministry to the poor, especially those living on the streets is not easy work! There are always concerns about safety. Some have mental problems and in addition to being hard to communicate with they also can be violent. We have all heard stories of good samaritans who have lost their lives simply because they cared enough to help somebody.

Now, the church needs a plan. Instead of expecting the pastor to display Solomon like wisdom and mother Teresa like care every time a person in need stops by, there should be thoughtful reflection given to the conditions under which the church should help (wisdom and discernment). There should also be a designated fund set up which the pastor can use to help people with. Otherwise the good-hearted pastor will go broke doing what he believes to be his Christian duty.

As well, it may be helpful to separate in-church assistance from out of church assistance. From time to time there may be members who need care and the church is in a place to take an offering for a car, or groceries or for whatever. At times like this when members of the church have a need the church should not just pray for the need, the church should meet the need. One of the outcomes of this will be the strengthening of the body. Out of church assistance, however, and by that I mean ministry to those in need such as the homeless, should have as its goals compassionate assistance and evangelism. The gospel should be shared!

Again, there are always those who will come up with a number of scenarios in regard to the safety of the “church” and “its members”. To this I believe that as we walk in the wisdom of the Lord, seeking Holy Spirit guidance and realize that the Lord is our shield and our protector we will willingly and obediently sacrifice our time and energy with the understanding that we are living out, as did our Lord, the Fathers desire that the world may not merely hear about His love and compassion but that they would, through our lives, experience it as well.

For indeed we serve an Awesome God!



God’s commands runs counter to prevailing opinion

Posted: June 2, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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When the Israelites saw they were in trouble because the army was hard-pressed, they hid in caves, in thorny thickets, among rocks, in pits, and in cisterns. Some Hebrews crossed the Jordan River into the territory of Gad and Gilead. But Saul remained in Gilgal, and all the people who followed him trembled in fear.

He waited seven days, the time set by Samuel. But Samuel had not come to Gilgal, and the troops began to scatter. Then Saul said, “Bring me the animals for the burnt offering and the fellowship offerings.” So he sacrificed the burnt offering.

As he finished sacrificing the burnt offering, Samuel came, and Saul went to greet him.
Samuel asked, “What have you done?” Saul replied, “I saw the troops were scattering. You didn’t come when you said you would, and the Philistines were assembling at Michmash. So I thought, ‘Now, the Philistines will come against me at Gilgal, but I haven’t sought the LORD’S favor.’ I felt pressured into sacrificing the burnt offering.”

“You did a foolish thing,” Samuel told Saul. “You didn’t follow the command of the LORD your God. If you had, the LORD would have established your kingdom over Israel permanently. But now your kingdom will not last. The LORD has searched for a man after his own heart. The LORD has appointed him as ruler of his people, because you didn’t follow the command of the LORD.” (1 Sam 13:6-14 GWT)

I Samuel 13:1-15 recounts the story of an act of presumption by another well-known figure, containing another valuable lesson for us. Saul arranged with the prophet Samuel to perform sacrifices in an appeal to God to intervene before Israel went into battle with the invading Philistines. Saul’s sin was in presumptuously stepping in to perform Samuel’s responsibilities when the prophet arrived later than the appointed time. Saul gave Samuel three justifications for his presumption: 1) The people were growing distressed and deserting him; 2) Samuel’s late arrival; and 3) the growing threat of the Philistine army (verse 11).

On the surface, it appeared Saul and the Israelites were indeed in a difficult situation, yet Saul’s reasons did not justify presuming to disobey what was commanded. He should have waited for Samuel to arrive and perform his responsibility. Saul, a Benjamite, could request a sacrifice be made and provide the animal for it, but he was not authorized by God to perform the sacrificial ceremony. Samuel was merely later than both he and Saul thought he would be.

Saul excused himself further by saying he “felt compelled.” The King James Version records that Saul said, “I forced myself.” This suggests that he was not ignorant of what he was doing but convinced himself it was more important to make the sacrifice than to obey God’s instruction. He was immediately stripped of the opportunity of having his dynasty continue forever (verses 12-13), as God later promised David.

Many circumstances arise in a Christian’s life when following God’s commands runs counter to prevailing opinion and to our own fears about the threatening conditions we imagine are building around us if we obey God. Strong thoughts are then likely to mount, urging us to turn aside from what He says—”just this once”—to relieve the swelling pressures.

As our own children do not always understand what we tell them to do, we cannot always see why God tells us to do this or that. But can we trust God that His reasons are good? For instance, He tells us to set aside three tithes and to travel to far places to keep His feasts. He commands us to love our enemies and do good to them. He asks us to become like little children and to sacrifice ourselves in service when we would rather give orders. He tells us to submit ourselves to one another in love and to be subject to corrupt and unjust governments. Keeping these instructions is sometimes far easier said than done. Can we see God in the picture even in difficult circumstances and trust Him? In this case, Saul did not.

When faced with such circumstances we must muster up our faith – even if it means running to the prayer closest to be refreshed – for our strength is found in our obedience to the Father and all that He commands of us – even if we can not understand the “why’ we must be anchored in the faith of knowing our Father has our best interest in mind.

We one truly run’s to the alter of the Lord and falls on it, they are embraced with a radical love that they have never felt before – having that river of forgiveness, mercy and grace flowing over them. Then when they stand up, having been refreshed and spiritually renewed they can now go forth with the empowerment to walk a radical Christian life.

All Glory, honor and praise to the Lord God Most High!!!

STANDING ON THE TRUTH OF GOD’S WORD !!!

Posted: June 1, 2011 in disciples life, teaching
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You are either with God or you are with the devil. The decision you are making concerning spiritual things will effect you now in this life and in the life to come. BE CAREFUL WITH THE DECISIONS YOU ARE MAKING.

Say NO to the devil. When you say NO, that’s all he can do. BE SURE YOU QUOTE THE WORD OF GOD TO him. Then begin to PRAISE & WORSHIP God. This will cause confusion to come on the enemy. REMEMBER YOU ARE MORE THAN A CONQUEROR IN CHRIST JESUS !!! Having done all to stand then stand.

THE JOY OF THE LORD IS YOUR STRENGTH !!! Have you ever had a midnight hour? What did you do? Acts 16:25 & 26 tells us that Paul & Silas prayed and sang praises unto God in their midnight hour. What song did you sing? When you learn to pray and sing in your midnight hour, you will discover that GRACE will start to work on your behalf. Just like Paul and Silas, you will see your prison doors open!!! Not only will the doors open, but the bands will be loosed. You will be set FREE!!! PRAISE THE NAME OF JESUS!!!

KEEP THE WORD OF GOD IN YOUR HEART AND IN YOUR MOUTH. If you don’t want, what you hear yourself saying, don’t plant the seed by speaking it. GUARD your mouth. God honors His word. If you want God to honor your words, you will have to start speaking His word over yourself.

The Spirit of God has been sent to:

1. Draw you to Jesus.

2. Redeem you by the Blood of the Lamb.

3. Fill you & empower you for service.

4. Prepare you and make you ready to meet God face to face!

5. Make you ready for Heaven.

LEARN TO COOPERATE WITH GOD

In order for you to be able to cooperate with God, you will have to become a person of the Word. ARE YOU READING YOUR BIBLE? ARE YOU PRAYING? DO YOU OBEY THE PROMPTING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT? If you are, GOOD. If not, START TODAY!!!

When we study together the truths of God and His Word, don’t we have fun?

__________YES or __________NO ?

God has saved us for a purpose! We are not saved just to struggle and try to hold on until the grave or the rapture. When Jesus appears we are to be working for the Kingdom and occupying till He comes. We are called to invade the enemies influence. Are you being used by God to make a difference or are you standing by and watching the devil have his way?

Use God’s Word. Speak the Word out loud boldly. Don’t give the devil room to operate. The devil has been coming against us long enough. Let’s start standing on the Word with the whole armor of God on and fight the good fight of faith. Let’s PRAISE the GOD who is EL SHADDAI – the One who is more than enough!!!

In the book of Judges chapter 6, God talks to Gideon. He tells Gideon to go and save Israel. Gideon is like us, full of excuses. The family is poor, he was the least in the family, he was afraid and so forth. God did not except Gideon’s excuses. God gave Gideon a word. We need to get before God, until we get a word from Him!!!

Let’s get tired of just reading how someone in the past did a great work for God. Let’s start seeking God with our whole heart and discover what we can do for Him. I want to do something for God. Do you? It’s time we rise up and start to accomplish the will of God for our own lives. WE MUST shake ourselves out of the slump we are in and stand tall for the Lord Jesus Christ. The Holy Spirit is here to help us do and find the perfect will of God.

God knows where we are spiritually. The devil also knows where you are spiritually. Do you know where you are spiritually? Find your place. Know where you are, not where you think you are. You can’t fool God or the devil. So don’t fool yourself. If you are not reading your Bible and Praying you are not where you should be with God. Some where down the road, you will come face to face with where you really are and if you are not in the Word of God, you will be in BIG trouble. Do you want to win? Then prepare yourself. Be ready for battle.

The Lord will test your obedience. He will not tempt you, but He will test you. He will give you something to do and then watch to see if you will follow instructions. When we learn to obey, it will bring victory and blessings.

God wants to anoint you. The anointing is for ministry. The anointing is for service not for show. The anointing is important, but the most important thing in your life is your relationship with God. We need the anointing, but we also need to be strong in our inner man. We need to be strong for ourselves and for others. Our lives affect many. We need to be strong. The only way we can be strong and stay strong is to be committed to the Word of God. Are you committed?

HOW TO BUILD THE HUMAN SPIRIT

James 1:12-15

“Blessed is the man that endureth temptation.”

(NAS) “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial.”

Enduring and persevering speak to us about going through and coming out victorious. The Lord does not want us to run from what we have to deal with. What makes you strong is what you do in your crises. Do you use the Word and pray, or cry and worry and make bad confessions?

You build your spirit by:

1. Staying in the Word of God

2. Praying fervently

3. Surrendering everything to God

4. Keeping correct associations

If we stay in the Word, we will bear fruit. The Word has life and power. It is a living Word. When you begin to apply the Word to your personal life, you will begin to see a change in yourself. You will notice the change. You will see your own desires will change. You will begin to want to be like Jesus and you will want to do the will of God.

IF YOU WANT TO WALK AND LIVE IN VICTORY, YOU MUST SURRENDER ALL OF YOU TO GOD. UNSURRENDERED AREAS IN YOUR LIFE BLOCK THE FLOW OF HIS POWER AND MAKE YOU UNFRUITFUL.

IT IS MY PRAYER THAT YOU HAVE BEEN Challenged TODAY. We are in this thing together. We must be faithful to God all the time.

Written by Shirley Oliver

The truth will cost you everything – “Are you prepared”?

Posted: May 30, 2011 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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“Simply put, if you’re not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can’t be my disciple“. ~Yeshua

If speaking words of truth will cause you to be ostracized are you willing to speak them? Or is it more important to have everyone like you and you’re only willing to speak the appeasing word that tickle the ears of your listeners?

This is the question the Lord has asked us all – are you willing to count the cost for truth? When I see the men like the David Wilkerson, a faithful watchman who blazed the trail before me, I can but say “Yes Lord – whatever the cost – I will be faithful to that which you have entrusted me to speak”.

For that which I speak friends, has already shaken my spirit – it has already pricked my heart and motivates me to change to be more like Jesus. Under the conviction of Holy Spirit and having already felt the fire of God’s Word in my own life, that fire that purges away the worthless and transforms us into His image, these things do I write.

Who in their right mind would venture on a journey that could cost you everything, not first counting the cost? I believe many today are in it for the glory, for the name and for the fun of it. Few have actually sat down and counted the cost.

Many have been given a watered down and useless gospel – useless for it contains not the whole truth, rather it is coated with sugar – easy on the ear’s – thus they are following a god, who they picture as a sugar daddy – and when it doesn’t happen the way they believe it should they fall away.

What if speaking a word cost you your job, your family your life, would you still speak it?

Many say yes, till the challenge to do so presents itself, then they cower from the opportunity before them. Or they allow a fruitless, worthless thought to come into their mind,taken root, causing destruction and obstruction of truth and they fail to take it captive to the mind of Christ. A thought Like”Jesus would never ask or expect me to say or do that! Really, have you read and listened to what the Master has said?

One day when large groups of people were walking along with him, Jesus turned and told them, “Anyone who comes to me but refuses to let go of father, mother, spouse, children, brothers, sisters—yes, even one’s own self!—can’t be my disciple. Anyone who won’t shoulder his own cross and follow behind me can’t be my disciple.

“Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, doesn’t first sit down and figure the cost so you’ll know if you can complete it? If you only get the foundation laid and then run out of money, you’re going to look pretty foolish. Everyone passing by will poke fun at you: ‘He started something he couldn’t finish.’

“Or can you imagine a king going into battle against another king without first deciding whether it is possible with his ten thousand troops to face the twenty thousand troops of the other? And if he decides he can’t, won’t he send an emissary and work out a truce?

“Simply put, if you’re not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can’t be my disciple. (Luke 14:25-33 Message)

Yet so many seek to be the popular one, many leaders seek to promote the ones who relate to a certain group of people, even though they are but mechanical robots promoting the doctrines of this world. How many pastors would let John the Baptist stand and preach today? How many pastors would let the real Jeremiah rip off a rebuke to the crowd? Not many because they would be fearful that their precious source of income and support for their empires would run away.

Over the past 2 years God has been burning my heart and purging the cowardice spirit out of me, to the point that I can not but speak that which the Father speaks to me.

Is every word I speak or write (which is in reality speaking) of God. Nope, have not reached that point yet and more than likely never will,that place was reserved for the Lord. And I might speak something from my own heart – yet what I do speak is with a deep conviction – and the closer I get to the Lord, the deeper conviction falls upon me.

Notice I said conviction and not condemnation – for there are enough “Christians” out there attempting to condemn everything and everyone out of hell – we can not win the battle in the flesh friends – only through spiritual weapon given and imparted to us from the Lord.

My question today to each one of you is:

.Have you counted the cost? Or are you running on reserve, ready to retreat when the going gets tough?

Looking back at Luke 14:33, we receive the answer from the Lord to one who decides to retreat:

“Simply put, if you’re not willing to take what is dearest to you, whether plans or people, and kiss it good-bye, you can’t be my disciple”.

As for me, I have counted the cost and anything less than hearing the Master proclaim “Well done good and faithful servant, you have lived, loved and spoken as I have commanded you” is not worth anything this world has to offer.

The highest call is that of servant!

IHS,
Russ Welch

(Re-posted & edited from Russ G Welch FaceBook page Originally posted on April 3, 2010)

Let not the new wine be diluted!

Posted: May 29, 2011 in disciples life, teaching, wilderness
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Mat 9:17 Nor do people pour new wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins burst, the wine runs out, and the skins are ruined. Rather, people pour new wine into fresh skins, and both are saved.”

The signs are clear to the truth that we are in the these days now and we can see where the Lord has started the process of pouring out His wine into new wine skins, for many over the past 50 years have mis-handled His wine, they have diluted it with the things of this world. Yet we do serve a God of Mercy, who will look upon once again with favor those whom turn, repent and ask for His forgiveness:

Remember how far you have fallen. Return to me and change the way you think and act, and do what you did at first. I will come to you and take your lamp stand from its place if you don’t change.(Rev 2:5)

We must understand that God the Father wants us to change, He in His Mercy has dealt with the western church as a father deals with an infant, after all we are but a few hundred years old. But we are now in the era that we should have matured into sons & daughters of righteousness rather than un -matured squabbling babies.

There are many “churches” which had the revelation of this truth, of how far the main stream has walked away for the Pure Gospel, to one that is diluted with the philosophies of men and is in actuality not the Gospel at all. I say that because much of the “church” has gotten to where they have the desire and ability to make the people worship them, like the sons of Eli, they have lead the Bride from the heart of the Father, to become addicted to the emotional services, to become addicted to the “ministry” of the House rather than to the place of complete surrender to the King, Jesus Christ. With a luring of hype and emotionalism they have betrayed the very One whom they are supposed to be serving.

We see that it was with regret that those, who once saw this truth and having broken away from the traditions of religion haven’t not completely washed off the religious traditions after a period of time they merely become a smaller model of the larger harlots.

The Bride of Christ must come forth and shed herself of the ways of the world, remove the garments of bondage. To those who do the Lord has promised many rewards for being the victorious Bride:

“Let the person who has ears listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give the privilege of eating from the tree of life, which stands in the paradise of God, to everyone who wins the victory.(Rev 2:7)

Let the person who has ears listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. Everyone who wins the victory will never be hurt by the second death. (Rev 2:11)

Let the person who has ears listen to what the Spirit says to the churches. I will give some of the hidden manna to everyone who wins the victory. I will also give each person a white stone with a new name written on it, a name that is known only to the person who receives it. (Rev 2:17)

A word of caution to those who have received the revelation of who the Bride is, to come out and walk in holiness, shedding the ways of the old wine skin, not to look back and conform to that which the Lord has called you from. We must take a stand of no compromise, holding onto the glorious truth, being a broken vessel like that of the alabaster box, for you are precious, purchased with a great price, you must remain pure, unadulterated. (Matt 26:7)

We must be a people who stand in the gap for those trapped in the old, we have been giving the keys to freedom and walking in the position of true sons & daughters of the Most High, to be the lamp stands of His glory and be the very torches of holiness that light up the entrance into His Kingdom.

For the desire of the Father is that non should perish rather that all are saved.

Torches that have been dipped in the oils of His holiness, rapped in His righteousness and lite by the fires of His love and compassion for His church which John saw inn His eyes (Rev 1:14).

The radical disciples desire only to see the will of the Father done – their lives have been placed upon the Alter – the old wine skin has been removed and once removed the New Wine skin is being filled.

Are you radical enough today that there is no dilution in the wine that the Father is pouring out – have you forsaken the Old and with hungry hearts have fallen face first on the alter crying out to the Father, as did Isaiah, use me!

Friends we are in radical times and it will take radical individuals who count not their own lives even unto death that the lost and dying should see the glory of the Father!

Are you a radical?

If you are, then you shall produce radical fruit – larger because it is receiving from the True true!

(Re-posted in modified form via Russ G Welch Facebook originally posted 04-27-10)

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