The Call

Every child that is born is intentional, has purpose and has destiny in God.  The circumstances surrounding the child's birth may or may not be ideal.  Some children are born out of wedlock, born and abandoned, born out of rape, and born desperately poor and/or sick.  Still God has a purpose for their life.  The Call upon our lives has been reduced to no more than a pulpit ministry.  The pastor or evangelist with the largest congregation, largest book tour, largest radio or television program, largest choir or most successful in the secular market through CDs, DVDs, and etc. wins.  Anything less is considered unimportant or failure.  We do not understand that the Call upon our life is so much more important, but so much more simple.  We are to go out with the message that the Kingdom of God is here and in Believers.  We are to compel the lost to come in to the Kingdom.  We are to lift up the wounded soldiers and restore them to useful in the Kingdom.


The Lie of the Enemy

Satan is a ingenious deceiver.  He will turn and twist truth so that is appears real.  He is able to go to the deep parts of men and reveal their heart.  Our hearts are constantly being healed from life, and in transformation as the Spirit of God continues to do surgery and circumcise the unhealthy places.  Believers do not know their heart until it is shown to them.  We have a desire to be used, to have value and worth.  The perversion is how and what determines our value as a Believer.  Everyone does not have a five fold ministry position.  If you are not walking as a prophet, evangelist, pastor, teacher or apostle, Christian society would have you believe that you do not have an important role in the Kingdom.  Those who are walking in helps, healing, intercessory, or any less public ministry has been made to feel less or unimportant.  Some even feel that God does not and cannot use them.  Leaders have bought this lie as well.  Believers have lost the real meaning of positions in the body of Christ and have become useless.  We spend days, weeks, months, and years in circles.  We build huge social clubs, our resume and our bank accounts.  But, we do not build or train soldiers for the Kingdom.


The Truth

Jesus says in the book of John that we will know the truth and that the truth will cause us to be free.  What is the truth?  How does it set us free?  Jesus is the truth.  He came to redeem man back to God.  Man who is not saved is in bondage to Satan,  He blinds him, uses him and directs him to death.  We as soldiers in the army of God are to carry the message of the Kingdom and when asked how do I enter the Kingdom, give Jesus as the answer.  But, we can no longer stay behind church walls.  God is moving through the Marketplace Minister.  Who are Marketplace Ministers?  We are.  We should not and cannot leave our faith at home, in the church, in the Bible or just in our heart.  We must proclaim our faith at every opportunity.  We must proclaim truth at every opportunity.  It will not always be convenient or prosperous or politically correct or popular.  God is looking for those who are willing to give their all to declare His word in the earth.  He is looking for the bold, the courageous, the humbled and the obedient.  Marketplace Ministers are those that share and show the love of God at the bus stop, in school, in the grocery store, the dentist office, and in their neighborhood.  Marketplace Ministers cannot just be full of scriptures and sermons.  Marketplace Ministers must be love in demonstration.  This is not an easy task.  Marketplace Ministers must give out of their need as well as their abundance.  Give car rides to bus riders, and  they may live out of your way.  Clean someone's home who may not be able.  Cook something for a neighbor that has been unkind and difficult.  Go to a nursing home to read to a resident.  Invite neighborhood kids into your home and show them movies or provide a meal.  Yes, you are taking a chance. Yes, at first you may find resistance, but keep pressing for the Kingdom.


The Call

Can you hear the sound of Heaven calling you to minister?  You feel and sense God calling, but you know it is not to the pulpit.  You are struggling and question how can you answer the call.  You are called to declare the Kingdom in the marketplace.  The Spirit of God is moving in our communities, He is moving on the school bus, in the grocery store, the hair salon and on the playground.  He is awakening the prophetic voice, the word of knowledge and the word of wisdom.  But, you do not have to be called to the office of prophet to participate.  We will speak life giving words to those in a dying and perverse world.  Yahweh is raising up a voice in the wilderness.  Will you be one?  You must become radical, it is no longer church as usual.  You must move from your comfort zone and become very uncomfortable.  You must fine tune your heart and hear from the throne room of God.  It will cost you everything to become a soldier in the end time army.  Yeshua will wake you at uncommon hours to meet with Him or to intercede for someone you may never meet.  You will cry out for people in far distant countries.  You will be at work and go to the bathroom to pray.  You will not eat lunch, but read and pray.  You may not be rich, you may be an outcast on your job and go through persecution, you may not live in the best neighborhood or drive the newest model of car, but your reward is snatching another from the jaws of hell and pleasing your King.  For those who are called to five fold ministry positions in the Kingdom, you must change your thinking.  You cannot not stay within the church walls either.  You are called as drill sergeants, captains, coaches, trainers, and builders of faith to the Kingdom.  Build up the end time army.  Direct them and fight with them on the front line.  Come out of your traditions that are dead and dry.  Go to the throne room for new orders and do not be afraid to follow them.  Listen for and sing the cadence of Heaven.  His church is without borders and is found in uncommon places.  Fresh leadership is emerging from uncommon places.  They will look and act like everyday people.  But, they will lead others by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. 


Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.   Daniel 11:32 NKJV

 

Words

I have always been a person who loved words.  I love how they sound.  I love to learn new words and their appropriate meaning(s).  My mother was an English teacher and did not permit slang language to be spoken in my home.  I learned at an early age to appreciate speech and to use words correctly.  Each word means something different.  Although words are often similar in meaning and sound, they are still individual and have different meanings in some way.  Our words should be intentional and really express our heart.  Does not the word of God declare that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks?  The word also declares to allow our yes to be yes and our no to be no.  Consequently, we live in an era where words have little to no meaning or the meaning is changed; yet, God is still intentional about what He says and what He wants us to declare in the earth.

Many Believers speak "churchese".  Often we use words that only those with a church background will know.  Unfortunately, we do not understand what they mean and have difficulty providing understanding to those outside the walls of a church building.  Still, Yahweh is intentional.  His words are not arbitrary and are used specifically.  Many teachers will provide the Greek or Hebrew definition of a word, but when it is time to apply the word in their lives, it is used improperly if at all.  We attempt to apply secular understanding to a spiritual impartation.  The Holy Spirit is called the Paraclete because He was sent to teach us ALL things.  He is the power and authority of God.  He is our intercessor and comforter.  He provides understanding, insight and revelation to the scriptures.  He also provides power and might to walk out the word in our individual lives.  Our use of a word(s) should be intentional, accurate and with authority and power.  We are the expressed impartation of, from and with God to men.

If Believers are life to those seeking life and death to those dead, then it is important that we understand and properly walk out the heart of God.  The Great Commission is to tell a dying world that the Kingdom of God has come!  The Kingdom is here, now! It is in each Believer and it comes to provide life.  The blind must ask how to enter the Kingdom of God.  Jesus is the way, the truth and the light and you enter the Kingdom through Him!   Our field is the marketplace.  There is a generation of people who have NEVER set foot in a church.  They are not familiar with "churchese".  They can't play by our rules.  They do not know nor understand our lingo.  But, the blind are looking for sight.  They are looking for truth, understanding and love.  Nothing artificial or self serving will satisfy their hunger and thirst.

What you don't know can hurt you and others as well.  Believers must stop using our own technical language.  We must come from behind tall and impenetrable church walls and go into the marketplace.  A church grows by compelling the lost to answer the cry of the Kingdom and rightly aligning themselves to the mandate from God.  His mandate is to be fruitful and multiply.  Let our lives be filled with godly fruit and multiply after our own kind.  God's heart is to seek out the blind and provide illumination. 

So, Believers must learn and understand words.  We must receive clarity from the source, the Holy Spirit, the word of God, prayer and training.  Our leaders must learn first to understand the word that God is imparting to their spirit and in turn, impart to those under their authority.  We must understand the season and how God is moving.  God is a dichotomy.  He is always the same; yet,  He is different.  He is spontaneous and always changing the way He does things.  You cannot live on old manna.  We must go before Him daily to receive our bread.  We understand the word for this season.   Most importantly, we impart life to those who are dying.  We invite them to become a part of the Kingdom and receive Jesus as savior!

“For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Matthew 12:37 NKJV

 

Captivated 2013

How Did You Get Your Limp?

I love to view Youtube.com especially late at night.  I just search for worship music to reflect how I am feeling at the time.  Oh, the jewels you find!  I stumbled upon a dance to Shana Wilson and Tasha Cobbs singing "Never Be the Same".  After placing it on repeat for 500 times, it dawned upon me that the song reflects the encounter Jacob had with the angel.  I began to meditate and reflect upon Jacob's life.

Genesis chapters 25-32 tells of the early life of Jacob and his family.  Born as the youngest twin, Jacob was destined for greatness from the womb.  While Esau was 1st born, Jacob at birth, established that the blessing of the 1st born would be his by grasping the heel of his older brother.  Many refer to Jacob as a trickster because of the many encounters he had in obtaining his blessings.  Yet, if all good and perfect gifts come from God, Jacob tricked no one into obtaining his blessing.  Jacob had a burning in his soul that reflected God's ultimate desire to use him for greatness.  The problem lay in the fact that Jacob did not understand nor even acknowledge the heart of God the Father until he came to the end of all his efforts that night.  Rebekah knew there was greatness in her son just as Moses' mother knew he was a goodly child.  She would not stop until she knew that Moses was safe from the wrath and brutality of Pharaoh.  She was willing to allow another woman to raise her child in order that the ultimate destiny would come forth.  But, Rebekah did not know Yahweh herself.  She was thrust into a family of destiny by marriage.  She determined to help Jacob obtain the blessing even if it meant sabotaging her other son.  From the beginning she and Isaac caused division between Jacob and Esau.  Isaac loved Esau and Rebekah loved Jacob.  Carnality surrounded them.  Esau marries the Canaan women and causes his parents to live in a nightmare.  Jacob is sent to live with and find a wife from his mother's brother.  She is a Hebrew.

Jacob's journey is partly to find a bride, but also to escape the wrath of his brother Esau.  Jacob perfectly executed the plan of his mother to receive from Isaac his father the blessing of the 1st born.  Esau is enraged and has purposed in his heart to kill his brother.  While on the run, Jacob stops to rest and begins to dream.  In the dream God speaks to him and reveals his true purpose and destiny.  He reveals why there is the burning in his heart.  Jacob doesn't understand and ultimately prays to God that if He will bless him materially, he will serve God.  He thinks his destiny is to be rich.  Jacob works ultimately 14 years for his uncle in order to marry his true love Rachel.  Jacob himself is duped and ultimately has two wives.  They are sisters who also will walk in division all their lives because they will fight for the love of one man.  Between Rachel and Leah, Jacob would become the father of 13 children.  In addition, during the 14 years of work for his uncle Laban, Jacob would become very rich.  He would move his family.  It is in the moving that Jacob encounters the Great I am.

Jacob's encounters his past first.  He will meet his brother Esau.  He will need to deal with his deeds.  In fear, Jacob sends all his possessions including wives and children across the Jordan.  He sends gifts to Esau in an attempt to abate his anger.  But, Jacob spends the night alone still on this side of the river.  Jacob could not cross.  He begins to pray and this time, he prays with humility.  He prays for God's protection and gives thanks for the many blessings God has provided.  He prays that destiny will be fulfilled in his life.  Jacob begins to wrestle with a man.  They wrestle during the night and just as day is beginning to break forth, the man is willing to concede.  Jacob will not release him until he is blessed and it is then that Jacob is broken to the point that his name is changed to Israel.  It is the birth of a nation.  For Jacob's twelve sons have now become the twelve tribes of Israel.  Jacob is no longer a spoiler but he is a prince of God.  But, before the angel leaves Israel, he touches his hip.  Israel will forever walk with a limp.

Many are wrestling with destiny inside of them.  They have tried to bring forth destiny on their own and have failed miserably.  For God is processing us.  Every child is born with a purpose and destiny in God.  Many or the majority will NEVER fulfill the purpose.  The reason is the same problem Jacob had.  They do not know God nor understand the destiny that lies within them.  They will try to quench the desire through money, relationships, drugs, sex and power.  None of these will lead to destiny but frustration.  It is only at the breaking of self and the pouring forth of humility that God can reveal true destiny and purpose.  But it will cost you everything and you will walk with a limp.  How did you get your limp is the new phrase we will ask each other.  We will respond,  I got my limp win I lost my job after 14 years.  I got my limp when my wife and I divorced after 25 years of marriage.  I got my limp when my child committed suicide.  I got my limp when I was diagnosed with cancer.  I got my limp when I declared bankruptcy and lost my car and home.  I got my limp when I went to jail.  I got my limp when I tried to commit suicide.  Did you get your limp when you were struggling to attend and stay in school?  Did you get your limp when you had an abortion?  The testimonies go on and on.  But, the song says today's your day.  You've changed my name.  I might limp away, but I'll never be the same.  You have prevailed and God will release you into destiny and purpose because you have wrestled with yourself and won.  What are you birthing?  Hold on.  Don't let go.  At the dawning of a new day the miraculous will break forth and you will walk with a limp but you will walk in destiny.  How did you get your limp?

 

Bless Me

We all want to be blessed by God the Father.  We want what we believe to be a life of ease.  We want peace and prosperity.  What we really want is the favor of Yahweh.  We believe we are entitled to all the pleasant gifts from God.  When those perceived blessings are withheld, we question our faith in God.  Some Believers feel that if you are not prosperous, God is not with you or blessing you.  Is it a sin to want or be blessed?  The answer is simply no.  As always, the sin lies in the motives of one's heart.  It is easy to have false modesty and humility.  We feel someone of wealth is to be avoided.  They cannot be walking in total surrender.  We believe that Christians should take a vow of poverty.  None of these motives or philosophies are godly.

1 Timothy 6:10 teaches that the love of money is the root of all evil.  Avarice of the heart causes  wrong thinking, wrong actions and destructive behavior.  Avarice is defined as an insatiable greed for wealth and riches.  The desire is to be miserly and hoard wealth.  In other words, if the desire to be blessed is to satisfy your base and evil urges, it is wrong.  But, the word of God teaches in Psalm 67 the correct way of thinking.  David begins by asking for God's mercy.  He acknowledges the need in his life and the lives of others for the mercy of God.  For we have all sinned and fallen short of God's glory. He understands that where there should be judgment and death, hold back your anger God and give us another opportunity to get it together.  But, he doesn't stay there.  He asks the Lord to bless him.  He asks God to bless him in order that God will be glorified.  Salvation will be known among the nations.  God's character will be known to everyone.  We will be His witness of His unfailing love and kindness.  David asks to be blessed that he might be a blessing and bring glory to God.

Ministry requires wealth.  Television stations cost money.  Mission trips cost money.  Food pantries require the purchase of food.  Ministries do not function on good intentions.  Yet, can God trust you with wealth?  Can He place large sums of money in your hand with the expectation that you not only will give the tithe which is holy, but you will give offerings.  Will you give from His heart?  Will you give out of your abundance and your need?  Will you give as He leads?  Will you open your home to the homeless?  Will you provide rides to those without cars or bus fare?  Will you feed the hungry, the sick and the suffering?  Will your hands be His hands and your heart His heart?  But you say I need money to live.  Yes, we need money to live in this world.  Believers are in this world, not of this world.  Our desire should always be to bring the Kingdom of God to those who do not know our Father.  If your hand is closed, you cannot give or receive. If you open your hand, God can bless you as you are a blessing.

Come up from wrong thinking.  Understand He is able to provide for you.  Begin to trust Him.  Begin to trust Him in your finances and resources.  Trust Him to provide enough that you will have some to share with those not under His umbrella of provision.  Bless those who are standing in line at the supermarket.  Don't let them pay with bill money or stamps.  Give a car to a single mother.  Buy clothes and school supplies for an entire family. Give a ride to that person standing at the bus stop.  Pay someone's bill who cannot imagine how it will be paid.  Give liberally to ministries that are breaking ground and planting seeds of mercy.  As you begin to bless others, tell them Yahweh loves you.  Tell them they are not forgotten.  Tell them the Kingdom of God has come to them this day.

For the choir director: A song. A psalm, to be accompanied by stringed instruments. May God be merciful and bless us. May his face smile with favor on us. Interlude May your ways be known throughout the earth, your saving power among people everywhere. May the nations praise you, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise you. Let the whole world sing for joy, because you govern the nations with justice and guide the people of the whole world. Interlude    May the nations praise you, O God. Yes, may all the nations praise you.  Then the earth will yield its harvests, and God, our God, will richly bless us. Yes, God will bless us, and people all over the world will fear him.  Psalm 67

- Determined Focus
 

Deep Cries Out to Deep

Another special poem by the anointed and appointed Vanessa D. Battle.  Do you feel the tug?  Is your heart crying for more?  The Deep places in God cries out to the deep of your soul.  He is calling, but will you respond?

The depths of my soul and all that is within me cries out for the depths of my Lord.  Reveal yourself to me.  All that's within me longs for more of you.  Bid me come upon the waters, keeping only you in view.  There is a thirst in my being that only you can satisfy.  Draw me closer to thee O Lord.  Bid me to come nigh.

You are my heart's desire.  You are all I need.  You are my who I long for, only you indeed.  Fill me with your love like only you can do.  All I want is you O Lord, nothing else will do.  How I want to know you, to touch your very heart, to go deeper into you Lord.  Show me where to start.  Teach me how to love you the way you want me to.  Teach me how to be your bride.  Show me what to do.

I will pursue you from the depths of my soul.  I will surrender myself to you and give you complete control.  How much I really want you, words cannot express.  But, I know without you my soul can find no rest.  The depth of my soul and all that is within me cries out for the depths of my Lord.  This is my desperate plea.

 

Clutter

I am a fan of the show Hoarders.  I am especially drawn to the shows where the hoarding is greatest and the home is the worst.  It is amazing to be surrounded with what is trash and filth and be comfortable.  It is just an appearance, because the person really is not comfortable.  They have learned to adapt and to become content in their circumstances. After watching the program, I have an immediate yearning to de-clutter and clean my home. But, in reality all of the people who have fallen victim to the hoarding mindset have experienced major trauma in their lives.  For some, it is divorce while others have experienced death of loved ones.  More have grown up in crippling poverty, and some were abused physically, emotionally, and mentally as children.  They walk in shame and guilt.  They no longer realize their living situation and do not believe they deserve better.  The hoarding mindset not only affects the person, but it hurts their family and friends. 

The Spirit of God has whispered to me, time to remove the clutter in my mind and heart.  Normally your response is, I need to change my thinking.  I must rid myself of fear, doubt and unbelief.  That is true, but the Spirit seeks to go into the forgotten areas to clean.  Bitterness has been swept under the rug.  Anger is behind the refrigerator.  Unforgiveness is stuck in the cobwebs that are in the attic.  Disappointment is under the bed and disillusionment is wrapped up in the dirty clothes hamper with the musty socks.  We have learned to clean what is obvious to ourselves and others and leave behind the residue that causes the most destruction.  Termites left unchecked will destroy the most sturdiest of homes.  These emotions, mindsets and heart issues are the termites of our soul.

Just like the counselors, therapists, hoarding experts and cleaners attempt to help hoarders clean their homes and change their thinking, so the Holy Spirit is changing ours.  Paul says in Philippians that he is being "poured out as a drink offering" to the body. His life has been broken and crushed to release God's spirit that is inside of him.  The libation is his sacrifice to God and to us.  The prophet Malachi describes the secret sins and unworthy offerings of the priests.  The Lord through Malachi exposes the unclean and unkept areas. We have been offering to God our blindness, the sickness of our soul and our crippled walk as sacrifices.  God requires our best.  The priest is to be the instrument of God to bless nations.  The Spirit of God cannot minister through us until He first ministers in and to us.  But, we must be willing to yield to the process of cleansing.  It is difficult.  We have adapted to our circumstances.  We have declared that we cleaned already; yet, we have neglected the dirtiest of areas.  With the passing of time, we have become ineffective as priests and compromised our walk.  The lost no longer seek our counsel and unity among believers is gone.  There is no power and anointing. 

This is the season when the Lord seeks to pour out His spirit upon us, and for us to pour out that same spirit to the lost and to the body.  We must make our temple ready to receive the outpouring.  He cannot and will not use us broke, busted and disgusted.  Nor, will He accept our junk as a sacrifice to Him.  We must begin to allow the Holy Spirit access to the crooks and crevices of our heart.  The process is painful.  We will have to deal with our heart issues and acknowledge our shortcomings and sin.  But, the benefit, like the clean house of a hoarder, is a life free of the effects of the past.  You will have freedom and be used to free others. 

"The LORD of Heaven’s Armies says, “The day of judgment is coming, burning like a furnace. On that day the arrogant and the wicked will be burned up like straw. They will be consumed—roots, branches, and all. But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings.  And you will go free, leaping with joy like calves let out to pasture. 

On the day when I act, you will tread upon the wicked as if they were dust under your feet,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies."

 

Malachi 4:1-3  NLT