Archive for the ‘teaching’ Category

The Awakening Call to the Remnant in this generation.

Posted: October 26, 2022 in Kingdom Teaching, Prophetic, Remnant, teaching, wilderness
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As Holy Ghost is calling the Remnant to return to the roots of authentic Christianity. We need to enter the discussion of what our lives are to look like as true disciples of Jesus.

We need to be authentic as to our confession of faith so that the world will know and witness when a member of the Remnant has declared that they are surrendered and totally committed to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, they can expect to see a manifested radical change in the character and the way upon which they live daily. This means in public and private.

In short, the fruit of our confession and conversion must be apparent. We cannot as the Master stated, produce both good & bad fruit (John 7:18).

In this hour we must embrace the fact that Holy Spirit is ever so gently, with surgical precision going deeper into our hearts in order to remove any and all roots associated with compromise, fear, and faithlessness from our souls.

We must not only welcome this we must ask Him to go as deep as necessary, for I know I personally do not want anything in or of me that is not of or pleasing to the Father (Psalm 139:23-24).

It is in this submission of obedience that you and I will find ourselves in the Boot camp of becoming a Remnant Warrior. In fact, I see a witness in scripture that this is a mandatory requirement for every member of the Remnant. (Sampson, Samuel, David, Gideon, Paul, and the other disciples just to name a few).

Russ G. Welch

A.K.A. WindWalker

A perfect storm to activate the Remnant

Posted: October 17, 2022 in Kingdom Teaching, Prophetic, teaching, wilderness
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God is doing something in this hour. Yet, the carnal-minded believer cannot see it which is why they are mostly driven by fear.

Whereas those who have been born from above and have been endued with power from on High, haven their Spiritual eyes open can efficiently discern the times.

It is not that one single individual has the whole picture, no that is reserved for the Lord Himself who can see the whole picture seeing the past, present, and future with clarity.  I believe that this is why we are witnessing Holy Ghost’s connecting His Remnant and re-establishing the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets in the local Ekklesia, bringing the foundation of His Bride back into place.

With this re-establishing, we are witnessing the Remnant being united and maturing under Holy Ghost-anointed Apostolic teachings. In this, we see the family aspect of the Ekklesia being strengthened and within the legislative aspect of the Ekklesia, we see the Remnant warriors gathering and moving like the wind, carrying their assignments from King Jesus.

I believe this ties in with the message that Apostle Damon Thompson released several years ago pertaining to the “re-wilding” of the bride and leading us to have a long-path (generational) vision.

For the past several decades the compromised religious leadership in this nation disregarded the warning from the Lord which was given through His faithful prophets and chose to listen to the flesh-appealing false prophets as they desire popularity and church growth over obedience and holiness. They have become too comfortable walking arm in arm with the celebrities of the world through which the enemy has planted a seed of greed in them that’s driven them to become celebrities themselves.

 For some, it has driven them from their first love. Not that all such leaders ever had a love for Jesus, as we must be honest in pointing out that some stepped into ministry not to serve but to be positioned to be served, having witnessed the glimmer of wealth and celebrity stardom played out via T.V. religious shows and the expanding power of social media.

I believe we are witnessing the same turn of events that happened in the early Church when they ignored the Lord’s commission to go to the ends of the known world with His message as they became “comfortable” in their familiar surroundings, namely Jerusalem.

Isaiah 60:1-2 is the awakening sound to rally the Lord’s Remnant in this generation:

 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, and the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the peoples: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. (Isaiah 60:1-2, JUB)

In reading Matthew 13:24-30, the Watchman sees a similarity to what is going on today. Suppose that the Lord has used the rise of anti-god legislation, the passing of laws that have been eroding the religious rights of mainly Christians and our Jewish brothers along with the increase of evil such as drugs, pornography, violence, dismantling or the meaning of marriage, and perversion of our sexuality like we have never seen before, to grow our roots strong. Doing such that we become mature (Wheat) through adversity?

The sleeping Church while busy getting drunk on popularity has allowed un-godly individuals to take powerful seats in our governments from the local all the way to Washington. They have allowed un-godly individuals to weld the seat of power via education from head start all the way into our highest and best Universities. As such, they have held the position to impregnate our children with doctrines of demons, ugly perverse versions of the world’s view.

Is America doomed?

Not at all. Those the Church at large has been sleeping, the Lord has held the winning hand all along. If you look through history you will see how the Father has used His Remnant time and time again to get humanity back on track. This nation has witnessed 2 great awakenings and we are on the precipice of seeing the 3rd great awakening explode on the world scene. I believe if we would look back to 2014, we would see that the Awakening began, yet it is now ramping up.

In ancient times, Watchmen would be stationed to stand guard over the Harvest fields, to watch for anything that would come in to attempt to destroy the Harvest as well as to sound the alarm notifying the laborers as to when the Harvest was ready.

Never have we witnessed the Lord release His Angelic armies in such mass numbers, to stand beside and assist His children. Indeed, it is for a time such as this. If you haven’t read Apostle Tim Sheets series on Angle Armies, I highly encourage you to do so.

For those who haven’t been Baptized in Holy Ghost, these times are depressing and will grow to be terrorizing, yet for the true Ekklesia and His Remnant, these are the days in which we rejoice, being renewed with His joy and empowered with His Spirit to pull back the curtains and witness His Heaven invade earth.

Having been seated under their teachings, and studied their books all led too by Holy Spirit, I have been blessed to get a clear scriptural picture through several of God-ordained leaders that we are about to witness a “Fresh Fire” anointing that the world has witnessed since those in the upper room witness the power of Holy Ghost as they were renewed via being rebirthed in the Fire of His Glory. But most importantly, Holy Ghost Himself has illuminated the Word, granting me the opportunity to sit with Him and dive into the multiple layers of revelation hidden from the carnal mind.

All the Glory belongs to our King Jesus!!!

Russ G. Welch,

A.K.A. WindWalker

New Creation Transforming Power of the Light

Posted: September 19, 2022 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching
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 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.

(2 Corinthians 5:17, KJV)

In Old Testament prophecy we have a very distinct revelation of God’s ideal of the New Testament saint. He is a redeemed sinner who, under the provisions and influences of “the new covenant,” has been divinely cleansed “from all filthiness and from all his idols,” and whose “iniquities shall be sought for, and there shall be none; and his sins, and they shall not be found.”

“The sun is no more his light by day, neither for brightness does the moon give light unto him; but the Lord is unto him an everlasting light, and his God his glory. His sun does no more go down, neither does his moon withdraw itself: for the Lord is his everlasting light, and the days of his mourning are ended.”

In his experience has been realized, and is being realized, all that was spoken of by the prophet Joel: “And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of My Spirit upon all flesh; and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men shall dream dreams; and on My servants and on My handmaidens I will pour out in those days of My Spirit; and they shall prophesy.”

In the New Testament this “new man” is revealed as “after God created in righteousness and true holiness,” and as “renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him;” as “beholding with open face the glory of the Lord, and being changed into the same image from glory to glory;” “as comprehending the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, and knowing the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, and being filled with all the fullness of God;” as “walking in the light, as God is In the New Testament this “new man” is revealed as “after God created in righteousness and true holiness,” and as “renewed in knowledge after the image of Him that created him;” as “beholding with open face the glory of the Lord, and being changed into the same image from glory to glory;” “as comprehending the breadth, and length, and depth, and height, and knowing the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, and being filled with all the fullness of God;” as “walking in the light, as God is in the light;” as “having been made perfect in love;” and as “having fellowship with the Father, and with His Son Jesus Christ.”

To him “Christ manifests Himself,” and is formed within him “the hope of glory.” He is “crucified with Christ,” and “by the cross is crucified to the world, and the world to him.” “He is in the world as Christ was in the world,” and “in the name of Christ asks and receives until his joy is full;” and “believing in Christ he rejoices with joy unspeakable and full of glory.” “Out of his belly flow rivers of living water.” “When weak, he is made strong,” and “in tribulation, distress, persecution, famine, nakedness, peril, sword, death, and life,” he is “more than conqueror, through Him that hath loved us.”

The New Man displays the very Character of Christ

In him “tribulation worketh patience; and patience experience; and experience hope;” and “all things work together for his good.” When “troubled on every side, he is not distressed; when perplexed, he is not in despair; when persecuted, he is not forsaken; and when cast down, he is not destroyed.” In every condition of existence, he finds deep content in the center of the sweet will of God, and verifies in experience the great central fact of the Divine life–that “we can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth us.”

Clad in the panoply of God, “he stands in the evil day,” and “quenches all the fiery darts of the wicked.” “His faith groweth exceedingly,” and his “charity aboundeth;” and be is constantly growing “into the stature of the fullness of Christ.” He also “has power with God and with men.” “He asks what he will, and it is done unto him.” As reflecting the image and glory of Christ, he is “the light of the world” and the “salt of the earth.” Such is God’s revealed pattern of the New Testament saint, “the new man” whom we are required to “put on.”

Taken from “The Baptism Of The Holy Ghost by Asa Mahan.

Posted by WindWalker




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A Radical call to Obedience

Posted: August 22, 2022 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, Prophetic, teaching, wilderness
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As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. 1 PETER 1:14

The Scriptures do not teach that the person of Jesus Christ nor any of the important offices that God has given Him can be divided or ignored according to the whims of men. Therefore, I must be frank in my feeling that a notable heresy has come into being throughout our evangelical Christian circles—the widely accepted concept that we humans can choose to accept Christ only because we need Him as Savior and we have the right to postpone our obedience to Him as Lord as long as we want to! A.W. Tozer.

This wisdom from Tozer totally dismantles the false doctrine of “ Still under construction”.

I was Director of mission not long ago where the doctrine of “Still under construction” was widely taught. Number one this doctrine denies the truth of 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation: old things are passed away; behold, all things are made new.”

Number 2, it is toxic and a sin-laced spiritual leaven causing individuals to believe they can hold onto their sin-filled vices for as long as they want under the rule of grace.

For instance, there was a self-identified non-practicing gay male who considered himself to be a gay Christian who can hold onto that identity as long as he desires for he has the “grace card”. When I challenged him on this, I was thrown under the bus by other members of leadership as being legalistic (Common use with religious-minded individuals).

It is the same issue I have with 12-step programs being tossed around as Bible-based. To confess I am a recovering addict or drunk denies the truth in John 8:32 “Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free”. Our words have power and when we confess to being a drunk, addict, or whatever false identity we give it authority, empowering it to raise hell in our lives. 

So does that means can I confess to being a recovering sinner? I can if I don’t want to be obedient to the command (not a suggestion) of Jesus to sin no more. If I am saved I am freed from the dominion of sin and empowered through true biblical grace to live a life as such.

For years I lived reading the Word as word on paper. It wasn’t until I came under the teaching of Apostle Damon Thompson that I realized the Word is Jesus (John 1:1). It isn’t a set of rules or guidelines to live by, it is the very food needed to grow into His image. You can pick and choose the ingredients, to have to consume it ALL.

There is a Holy Fire of Conviction that has begun to fall upon the Bride. There is;t time to play games, you must either choose to follow Jesus without hesitation, understanding He is not willing to negotiate the terms of discipleship, it is clearly written in His Word.

In this Kingdom age, the carnally minded will be fooled and led astray, possibly missing the opportunity to spend eternity with the Lord. It is not a time for fun and games, this is WAR. Only those who hold onto His Word with a death grip of obedience will be able to stand against this next wave of evil.

I know what I have written above may upset and or offend some but it is stated with a heart to see you become free in Christ and live the life radically pursuing the Lover of our souls. 

This is not a doomsday message, this is a warning to not eat from the wrong tree This very moment in time must be viewed as a Joshua 24:15 moment:

 “And if it seems evil unto you to serve the LORD, choose you this day whom ye will serve, whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the river or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell; but as for me and my house, we will serve the LORD”.

If you are lacking the faith, ask the Father and watch as He increases it. If you are not sure whether you are baptized in the Spirit, ask Holy Spirit and get ready for His Holy Fire.

To those who bear witness to this message, I am asking you to join me in a 7-day fast (either water only or a Daniel fast) for this coming election, for the soul of this nation. During these 7 days, we are to seek the Father for His strategies in prayer. Take this opportunity to cleanse your body and refresh your Spirit.

Blessings, 

R.G. Welch

A.K.A. WindWalker 

“Shutting the door to the enemy’s stealing our peace”

Posted: July 20, 2022 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching
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“You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You—in both inclination and character], Because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation]. (Isaiah 26:3)

There are many in the Church today who are filled with fear, stress, anxiety, and a host of other unbridled emotions which operate totally opposite of the peace this passage describes.

Jesus taught His disciples foundational keys to be able to live in the overflowing abundance of peace in His Kingdom that so many miss. Sermons and memorized passages do not do that which Holy Spirit can with scripture as in Spiritually tattooing it upon our hearts.

No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. (Matthew 6:24, KJV)

Here is a verse that people quote all the time, yet many of those who quote this are in deep prisons of fear and anxiety when it comes to finances. Many families, friendships and marriages are destroyed over finances.

Jesus follows this passage with a key to peace when He said:

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment? (Matthew 6:25, KJV)

This often read yet faintly practiced truth is an amazing key to the peace of the Kingdom. Yet when one’s heart is ensnared with the worldly belief that money is where peace is found, they are blocked from experiencing the peace of God.

Then the Lord goes deeper, to the root of one’s heart as He states the following to His disciples:

Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are ye not much better than they? Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?

And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin: And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and to morrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. (Matthew 6:26-32, KJV)

My friends, these teachings of our Lord when taking and put in to action are vessels of spiritual truths and are weapons against the enemy’s traps of stealing our peace. When it comes to financial matters as well as other areas in our lives, these truths when blended with faith will destroy the stronghold of Satan, which are fortified forts in our thinking blocking us from seeing and experiencing the peace of God.

I am not saying that money is bad, neither was the Lord, He is equipping the disciples to walk in Kingdom stewardship. When we trust in God we should be able to create wealth in ways the world only dreams of. But our peace cannot be in the wealth, it must be centered in the Kingdom.

This is witnessed in Jesus bringing this lesson to His disciples with:

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33, KJV)

He goes on to add the icing on top of this lesson with:

Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. (Matthew 6:34, KJV)

When we focus on the Kingdom and His Righteousness, we demolish the powerful spiritual lure of cultural trends which reek of worldly philosophies and are grounded in selfish thinking, robbing us of his peace. The “Like the Jones’s” or “better than the Jones’s” mindsets are all birthed in the fallen nature thought process. It feeds into the spirit of envy and ultimately feeds the spirit of pride. Keeping us entrenched with everything but the Kingdom and His Righteousness.

So today, brothers and sisters, seek after His Kingdom and His righteousness first, trusting every area of your life to the hands of our loving Father. Ask Holy Spirit for divine encounters and wisdom from on high. By keeping your focus on the Kingdom and the King, the enemy will have no access to steal your peace.

Russ G. Welch A.K.A WindTalker

Do you know the cost?

Posted: July 15, 2022 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching
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 Anyone who comes to me must be willing to share my cross and experience it as his own, or he cannot be considered to be my disciple. So don’t follow me without considering what it will cost you. For who would construct a house before first sitting down to estimate the cost to complete it. (Luke 14:27-28, TPT)

I was getting a drug test today and ended up waiting for a little over 1 1/2 hrs. During that time I took a stroll through the past 2 years. In March of 2020, I started volunteering at a rescue mission in Jacksonville beach. At the same time, I was looking for employment as my time working for my previous employer had come to an end.

Every time a door would open, Holy Spirit would tell me this is where the Father has assigned you and I  volunteered for a little over 40 hours. I had some support coming in through our ministry and had a contract with a company that was paying me $1200 for consulting and training their technicians which generally took 4 to 5 hours per month.

In August of 2020, my son and I vacationed in Maine, spoke at a few Churches while there, and then went to Cane Ridge in Kentucky where the spark was lit for the second great awakening.

The presence of the Lord was so powerful there. As we were leaving I heard Holy Spirit say “The Father wants you to go back and start discipling others as did His Son”. I answered with I will.

30 minutes into the drive I asked Him “What does that look like” He had a long answer but the short end of it was “Pour into others everything the Father has poured into you via daily interaction”.

Now some contend this never happened, howbeit for 18 months they referred to me as such. The founder of the mission asked me if I would take charge of the mission, to which after seeking the Father I agreed. From August 2020 until February of this year I was considered to be the director of the mission. Even those who today say I was never asked to be that referred me to others as the director.

During that whole time, I spent anywhere from 40 to 60 hrs a week there, including times when I had to go in on my days off or in the evening to deal with situations.

And during this whole time period, I never collected a salary, however, my wife and I via our ministry put a little over $25,000 into the mission via food, clothes, training supplies, and personal items for the disciples there. We had a website built and covered the cost. We had a promotional video made and covered the cost.

The money didn’t matter because we knew I was positioned to impact lives. Towards the end of 2021, I came under severe attacks from two members of the staff there, launching one lie after the other. To me this was life-changing as I feel that through all of that the Lord was able to do some inner surgery, removing areas of pride and religion that had remained hidden in my life.

Now towards the end of January, these attacks got even worse, the enemy had aligned me with an individual who played both sides and spewed out a long list of lies to both sides. So I went to one of my mentors and several other seasoned ministers.

These were men who had prophesied as to what the Lord wanted to do there, and they all came back with “The Father is releasing you from your commitment there”.One said to listen to the Spirit and trust the Father in vindicating my name and in doing so walk away with a heart of forgiveness”. Valuable advice which I have gleaned from.

The first few weeks I decompressed from a lengthy battle. I spent much time in prayer and fasting as well as keeping busy working through my “Honey-due-list” which my wife had built since buying our home back in 2020.

I had to reevaluate my situation as I had planned on being there for at least 5 years. Along with that, the cost of living has skyrocketed and my income hasn’t increased to match it.

In fact, due to the cost of gas and other goods going up I find myself short of about $1200 per month. So I’ve been seeking a part-time job that will leave room for ministry.

I’ve got over 35 years of customer service skills, cooking, management, pest control, driving, WDO inspections, and a few other small trades. 43 yrs total in working and as my Dad used to say “Jack of all trades, Master of none” Searching for work hasn’t been easy for when I put down my experience they come back with my being overqualified, or they are looking for someone who wants to make a career with them.

I sought counsel and those who know me said “I think you’re supposed to preach the gospel” or “You’re to dedicate your life to helping others”. When I ask Holy Spirit, He responds as He has for several years “Trust the Father”.

Three areas that I am highly trained in don’t offer part-time positions and most would shut me out of ministering because I will not sacrifice my marriage for anything.

Am I discouraged?

Not really.
And I will tell you why in a Paul Harvey fashion of “Now for the rest of the story”

As I look back at the hardship of the past 2 years, I have to smile and tell the devil “You lose”.

Although I don’t know what harvest the many seeds I sowed in a number of lives in the past 2 years of those who came through the mission I do know about 3 specifically.

The 3 individuals that I am speaking about the Lord has graciously allowed me to love on, counsel, and speak life into each of theirs, I’ve been blessed with the opportunity to encourage and introduce them to the real Jesus. Two were addicts, one being so bad they were sent to the hospital several times for overdosing on pain meds. Yet, Praise God, they both are completely free today.

The 3rd one was just tired of life but now he looks forward to every day as an opportunity to speak life into others’ lives.

These lives are priceless and their happiness is totally worth the cost of a little suffering I’ve endured, especially considering the cost of our Lord to save all of us.

I don’t know what the future hold but one thing I do know is that I am going to continue to take every opportunity to sow into other people’s lives no matter how much it cost me. 

Russ G Welch

A.K.A. Windwalker4Life

Sow into this ministry

Out of the ashes of war.

Posted: May 1, 2022 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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God, the searcher of the heart, knows fully our longings,  yet he also understands the desires of the Spirit, because the Holy Spirit passionately pleads before God for us, his holy ones, in perfect harmony with God’s plan and our destiny. So we are convinced that every detail of our lives is continually woven together for good,  for we are his lovers who have been called to fulfill his designed purpose. (Romans 8:27-28, TPT)

In August of 2020 while visiting Cane Ridge, the Father gave me the mandate to begin to disciple others as did His Son, and when I asked Him what that looked like He said “It is a transactional relationship (pouring everything the Father has poured into us), which ignites a transformational flame, sparking an inward re-formation which births a Holy conviction to become the image bearer of Jesus that the Father has always desired”.

Shortly after returning to Jacksonville, I stepped into the position of leading the discipleship ministry at Beaches Rescue & Recovery Mission located in Jacksonville Beach. I started implementing what the Father had called me to do.

The presence of the Lord at the mission began to intensify especially after a brother in Christ and I adhered to the will of the Father and started a Saturday Night “Family Gathering”. As these nights started ushering in the realms of Heaven, the attacks of the enemy, showing how displeased he was became ugly. Yes, indeed it was very obvious that Satan wasn’t happy with what was going on.

The attacks of the enemy were manageable up until the fall of 2021 (I had been dealing with the enemy’s displeasure fr several years in ministry).

In November of 2021, my wife, son, and I took a vacation to Maine to spend Thanksgiving with family. This trip included a planned visit to a Revival well in Ocean Park Maine. Back in the early 1880’s revival broke out in this little oceanfront town.

In fact, the fire of God fell with power and to such a degree it ended up catching the attention of one Rev. A.B. Simpson, bringing him down from Canada. A few things which were birthed out of that revival:

  1. Missionary Alliance was formed under the leadership of Rev. A.B. Simpson
  2. A ministry school was formed called “The School of Holy Ghost” (Now one thing to be noted about this revival and especially the school which was active in teaching and witnessing the baptism of fire and gifts of the Spirit, attracted a visitor from Spokane Washington named Charles Parham.)

While we were visiting the property, the Lord began giving me a word in regard to re-instituting Biblical teachings which are purposed to return us back to the foundational teaching of our faith. Such teachings as were taught by Jesus, the Apostles as well as the early Church fathers such as Clement of Rome, Ignatius of Antioch., Polycarp of Smyrna., Papias of Hierapolis as well as Titus Flavius Josephus.

Immediately upon my return, the enemy showed his face in way of my being personally attacked by two of the leaders at the mission. A number of demonic attacks such as slanderous remarks, twisting of my words. uncalled for false accusations of wrongdoing, and for several weeks the list began piling up. These two went so far as attempting to turn the disciples against me.

To be honest, it caught me somewhat off guard. I say somewhat, because during our vaction several of the disciples would call me and sharing some of the nonesense that these two individuals were doing.

However, the Lord gets the Glory, for through this whole ordeal, He used it to show me hidden places of pride in my own life. These battles we taking a toll on me phyically and spiritualy. I waded through attack after attack. Now, coming through these attacks, I felt Holy Spirit directing me to understand that as I crossed into 2022 I needed to be determined not allow the enemy todragged into needless petty battles. That I didn’nt need to defend myself, rather step back and watch what the Father would do.

As I was settling in to obey Holy Spirit as to watching what the Father would do, a very dear friend who operates in the prophetic called me to say “Brother, I don’t know what is going on in your life right now, but I want you to know the Father told me to tell you, He is assigning more warring Angels to surround you -re-inforcement have been dispatched”.

Now, as to not engaging in un-necessary battles wasn’t exactly on the enemy’s schedule. In fact it was quite clear it wasn’t as he persisted in launching a barrage of none stop personal attacks and he even took it to multiple fronts as he began attacking my family.

By this time I decided it was time to go on a fast and seek the Lord for direction. During that time of seeking Him, He said that due to certain aspects (situations and conversations of which I am not free to share publically) I was released from my assignment and my commitment to the mission. The main purpose being that rather than allowing the enemy to discredit the name of His Son before the disciples, I was free to step out of leadership. Yet He did give me a green light to continue teaching a few nights a week.

That lasted for a little short of a month at which point I was approached by the person who is now in authority over the discipleship ministry. He accused me of false teaching and told me he didn’t agree with my teaching (each teaching was recorded and I asked several seasoned pastors to listen to them and they all said I taught the Gospel and truth). One of them who I highly respect having over 50 years of ministry experience reminded me that it was important to remember that the religious spirited individual (those under the influence of the spirit of religion) do not only not accept the truth, they are in darkness regarding it.

Now one thing worth mentioning is that this particular individual has no biblical foundation as to training for ministry especially with regard to such a ministry where discernment and counseling are necessary. He actually claims the title pastor yet he admittingly does not study the Word. After this confrontation, I sought the Lord again to which He clearly said without hesitation “It’s time to shake the dust off your sandals son”.

A secondary note to be mentioned is that during my two years serving in this ministry, I had received several powerful prophetic words about that ministry from seasoned prophets. Taking ministry and especially when dealing with individual lives serious, I wanted a witness as to my decisions of resigning mostly as a precaution to make sure that I heard the Lord clearly. I didn’t wanmt it to be a trick of the enemy causing me to leave prematurely. So I reached out to those who had giving me the prophetic words.

Each of them assured me that I was obeying the Lord and that what I believed I had heard was indeed from the Father. Interestingly, the one who prophesied about a youth revival said that we must understand when dealing with the prophetic, that a Word from the Lord isn’t necessarily a guarantee as to it happening. For a number of situations could be surrounding the word coming to pass. For example, even as the Lord desired to heal everyone in His home town it didn’t happen because many were living in disobedience failing to recognize Him as the Lord.

One thing I want to make clear here, I wouldn’t trade anything that has transpired over the past two years (several years to be honest). For through it all, even while battling Covid, the Father, Son and Spirit showed their faithfulness. In the toughest battles, Holy Spirit taught me some of the greatest Spiritual strategies. I treasure the times where the alter of discipline was provided for death to self and every place that the enemy mistakenly opened the door for the Father to show me the areas in my own life that didn’t resemble the “me” He created me to be, were all worth the attacks of the enemy.

I believe, seeing where the Father has me assigned now, these two plus years were but a birthing ground of preparation for the destiny assignment for not only myself but for my wife and son as well. My wife and I are now blessed to be the doorkeepers with a Heaven-designed opportunity to show a group of people what a Kingdom family truly looks like (Ekklesia) and how a true Kingdom family lives to love even as Christ loves us.

In this hour, it is extremely important to be in tune with the Spirit, to find your tribe, and to let your life be guided by the will of the Father at all times. Ask for an increase in discernment, and remember the warnings of Jesus and His Apostles that not everyone claiming to be a follower of Jesus is in fact one of His followers. We need to be cautious and using Spiritual wisdom understand that some wolves specialize in cross-dressing as sheep. Test ALL things in the Spirit and remember, we have been blessed to be given weapons for this warfare. Thus we are fully equipped to take on whatever the enemy has to throw at us. As well let us remember it is a war between us and the devil, so as to his human spies (flesh puppets), we are also fully authorized to “Judge the fruit”.

In Christ,

Dr. Russ G. Welch, Th.D.

Senior Pastor, Highway To Heaven Church

A different kind of discipleship

Posted: October 29, 2021 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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“He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).

There are two Universal Spiritual Principles found in John 3:30 that express two very fundamental truths.

First, that Christ must increase.

This is a principle that most Christians can agree with.

Are there any Christians who do not desire more of the Lord?

Are there any believers who do not long for a greater expression and revelation of Christ – in their personal walk, as well as in the world around them?

It is easy to align ourselves with this principle and pray in agreement with God’s Will – that Christ would be increased, and that the knowledge of Him would continue to grow and expand.

What is more difficult to affirm is the decrease of Self.

Yet this principle is as powerful and as sure as the first.

With more of Christ, there is less of me.

With more of me, there is less of Him.

And so, in order to cooperate with the first principle, we must overcome the “but” that stands between the two. “He must increase, but…”

Something hinders.

What gets it the way?

What prevents the increase of Christ?

It is me – or more accurately, the “I”, or the “Self” keeps getting in the way. And so, “I must decrease.”

The Disciple’s Journey

The Self-Life resists the Christ-Life.

The Holy Spirit seeks to increase Christ, while the human spirit seeks to increase Self.

We can have either one, but we cannot have both.

As Christ is increased, Self is decreased.

As Self is increased, Christ is decreased.

We begin our journey through life in a self-centered existence instead of a Christ-centered existence.

This is why we must be “born again.”

To be born again is to interrupt the self-centered pattern of our lives and open us up to the possibility of taking a different route and living a different life – a life that is Christ-centered instead of Self-centered.

Until this happens, it is impossible to love God and love our neighbor.

These two great commands are impossible to those who maintain a healthy connection to their Self-Life.

Loving others is impossible for ones who mostly love themselves.

This is the way of the world.

The way of a disciple of Jesus is a different way.

It is a way that cuts at the heart of self-love by making it possible for us to rise above Self-centeredness through Christ-centeredness.

Jesus describes it as a difficult, narrow way that few find.

Why is it so difficult? Because it strikes to the very core of who and what we are.

Even our very desire to follow Jesus can be self-centered.

Of course, we want to serve God; but we also hope to get a little something for ourselves.

Many people are drawn to the Lord with mixed motivations.

For example, the promise of a home in heaven is very appealing, as is avoiding the fires of hell.

But the Self-life is revealed in these subtle expressions that often appear spiritual and religious.

To follow Jesus for nothing other than the love of Jesus is the way of the disciple.

It is true that many follow Him imperfectly, and do so for many different reasons that they cannot fully explain or understand.

Fortunately for us, Jesus does not demand sinless perfection from the ones who follow Him.

His disciples make many mistakes and they often stumble and fall. Nor does Jesus require that we be spiritually mature and perfectly free from our Self-Life before He accepts us as disciples.

Dealing with the Self-Life is part of His discipleship program.

The very act of following Him begins a process that, if followed all the way to the end, results in what I call being reduced to Christ.

What does this mean? It means that when I began to follow the Lord, I may have had all kinds of motivations for doing so, and many of those motivations were self-serving and self-centered.

My very existence was rooted and strengthened by my Self-Life. But as I follow Him, and as He increases, more and more I find my self-centered ways being stripped away.

I find the power of Christ increasing within me, and I also find the power of Self is decreasing. With this process working simultaneously to increase Christ and decrease me, I find my motives are becoming more and more singular.

I am no longer following Jesus for what I hope to get out of it. Even my “mansion in heaven” does not seem so important anymore.

My many needs I find are not as urgent as they once were.

My many questions are not as essential as I once thought they were.

I have fewer questions, and so I require fewer answers.

Where I used to be troubled and vexed and concerned and stressed over “many things” it is becoming easier to focus on the “one thing” that is needed.

Christ is increasing, and everything else is decreasing.

My life, my purpose, my focus, my very existence is being condensed from many paths in pursuit of many things so that I am becoming more and more narrowly focused upon one thing.

Paul expresses it perfectly: “It is no longer I who live, but Christ Who lives in me” (Gal. 2:20).

Power of the LOVE of God

Posted: October 23, 2021 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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And we have known and believed the love that God has for us. God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him. (1 John 4:16, NKJV)

This verse became a reality to me on March 29, 2016 at 1:43 am. It was at that very time that I had a personal encounter with the Lord, for what seemed like several hours even though it was but 2 minutes in our time frame.

He took me back to the youngest age I could remember (around 3 years old) and from that point back to the NOW, He showed me how great His love was.

Through all the pain of a young child being ripped from the safety of family due to divorce, through all the years of drug addictions, ungodly sexual relations and other law-less behaviors.

Through all the guilt, shame and condemnation He showed me His passionate LOVE burning for me and how my actions never once caused His LOVE to loose it’s zeal. Even through all the years of being confined and lead by and even to the degree of operating under the influence of the spirit of religion.

Which was with a totally corrupt understanding and belief as to who the Father was, how He dealt with individuals. Yet He still LOVED me to the same degree of LOVE as when He first thought of me, before I even was a reality in the eternal time line.Since that time.

His LOVE has continued to reconstruct who I am, it still searches out anything within my soul that is not that which the Father desires of me and with spiritual surgical precision removes it.

Today I can attest to the factual truth, that if you are dealing with addictions, shame, guilt and or condemnation, you have never truly encountered the LOVE of God.

Yet when you do…your life will be radically transformed into who He has always purposed you to be – a Beloved child of the Father, walking in the fullness of you inheritance!!!!

~Dr. Russ G Welch, Th.D.

Director of Beaches Rescue & Recovery Mission

Lost Art of Family

Posted: September 13, 2021 in disciples life, Kingdom Teaching, teaching, wilderness
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In studying the scriptures and getting revelation as to the Garden mandate, one thing is clear.

We were all seeded with an innate desire for fellowship in way of family before the foundation of the world was laid. Yet the truth be told – family is a disappearing aspect of our society in so many ways.

Now, Paul taught much in lue of military terms.

With that we must understand that in war there are valued long term alignments as well as necessary short term alignments. The same can be said of the Kingdom, from the man who supplied the colt for the Lord to make His triumphant entry into Jerusalem.

To the man who was carrying the picture of water, tasked with securing the room for the last supper, these were necessary how be it short term alignments.

Whereas Peter, John, James etc, were long term alignments.

We must understand there will be people who grace our lives with their presence who were purposed to be but temporary alignments.

Where as others we will make almost life long alignments.

But lets be nakedly honest. Some people are also rebellious as to the will of God and run from commitment when the fire starts to heat up.

As in all things, we must become extremely skilled in trusting the Lord while guarding our hearts so that we understand that not everyone who is walking with us today, will be walking with us tomorrow.

Not everyone was purposed to take the long path journey with us.

The reality is that it is our assignment and the long path ministry vision for which we ourselves must keep our eyes on. If we can maintain that understanding, that comes the peace that is beyond human understanding with birth in us an inner knowing that the Lord will be there with us every step of the way.

We can read in scripture as to how Jonathan was a dear close friend whom David loved and trusted with his own life. I think if we were dive deep into David’s life (and I have) we will find after Jonathans death there were very few that David felt comfortable putting his life in their hands. Yet, he grew in his trust of the Lord’s ability to watch over and keep him safe.

We are all created with a sense and longing for community. Some more so than others. I personally am content being deep in the woods, alone save my dog and there I am at total peace being surrounded by the Father’s creation of nature. An occasional interaction with people is enough to keep me going for days, even weeks. Even with out the woods, I am becoming more and more accustomed to my quiet time with Holy Spirit.

I’ve had a life time of people being there one moment only to begone the next.

Now, unlike many who mourn when someone is taking out of their life. Or walks out of their day to day functions of life, I sense a loss but only for a short time, as I quickly refocus on the assignment the Lord has for me.

Some may call it shell shocked or battle hardened.

Eitherway, for me, the Lord fills the void that others struggle with filling. (It use to be with addictions – Now its Jesus).

In studying the life of George Muller, I find comfort knowing that our lives are so much alike in many ways. He was a rebellious one before coming to the Lord, as was I. He had many alliances but few close friends, as have I. He grew to take the WORD at face value, spending little time in reading other peoples commentary. Instead, he found himself being far more comfortable listening to Holy Spirit’s interpretation.

And as to where his trust would be for financial matters and other needs? He trusted in the Lord to the point that he never publically asked (begged) people for help.

That is where my life is at this time, anchored in the TRUST of the Lord as well as Holy Spirit high-lighting the scriptures for me (I’ve found that fasting is a amazing study hall).

At the end of his life, we was left alone, save the comfort of the comforter.

To be honest, there are times I find myself there as well. My wife is still here and I find much comfort with and from her. Yet, her full-time work schedule and my ministry schedule at times can drain us as to personal interaction.

My son still lives at home, he is 17 and is in his senior year (need I say more).

All this to say, keep your faith in the Lord, love people but trust the Lord. Now you may be completely unlike me needing more interaction with other people. Just be careful and be on guard that they do not rob you of private time with the Father.

Some people can be so busy, even in “doing” ministry that they neglect to spend time with the most important one in their life, Abba.

However, if you are like me, be on guard that your love of solitude not rob others of the love, compassion and wisdom that the Father has poured into you to bless others.

The whole idea of the garden was that of family and its the one place that the enemy has never let up his attack, family. In many ways the art of being family has been lost. Gone with it, I fear so has the spirit of loyalty and commitment.

With so few true spiritual fathers and mothers, those who love as does our heavenly father. Those who are willing to share both a hug and hand of correction. Sadly the God inspired family system has all but become extinct.

Again, there is a place seeded in each one of before the foundations of this world which long for fellowship in way of family.

I recently ended a two year position as director of a discipleship mission. I labored for 18 months to usher in the sense and atmosphere of “family”. We had finally attained it and then the enemy enter a narcissist into the leadership ranks. His demand for control had a road block in front of it. Namely myself and because of that I endured several months of slander and charactor assacination. Add to that a leader who refuses to contront (Not really a leader) and the battle became entrenching.

I sought Godly counsel from seasoned vets who after much prayer said due to the inability of the head and founder of the ministry to discern and confront, the Father had released me from my commitment.

I can’t say it ended in failure on any level, as shortly after my resigning the position the door opened for my current position as senior pastor of a Church that my wife, son and I have been in relationship with since 2013. I was a monthly guest speaker for the past two years and have patiently laid the foundation of “Kingdom family”

We must remeber that not ever ministry that carries the name “Christian” is ordained of the Father. There are a multitude of Ismael ministries and Churches scattered across the Christioan horizon in America as well as abroad.

However, since the creation of the Garden and man it has always been the intention of the Father for a family. As senior pastor the vision the Lord has given me is the Garden mandate, to return to our original design and purpose, to be a family who thrive in the atmosphere of love for one and other and most importantly, love for the Fatrher, Son and Spirit.

Dr. Russ G. Welch, Th.D.

Senior Pastor, Highway To Heaven Church

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