Are you saved? Are you sure? Would Christ call you Christian?

Steve preaches a sermon which tests for authentic salvation..

Prophetic Warning in a Dream 08June2018

Sometimes God warns us about things we would not expect.  Other times, He doesn't warn us about things that we really wish He would have.  When God warns us, that is awesome!  When He doesn't, it is because He expects us to operate in wisdom and with care.  Last night, God warned me about something in a dream and I discuss it here...

Jesus' Sheep Hear & Obey His Voice (John 10)

In order to help people to understand that they can receive messages from God, John 10 is often taught.  We are His sheep, and we can hear His voice.  Though true, receiving prophetic words from Jesus is not the main context.  John 10 is primarily about the Sheep of Jesus not listening to other voices, following Jesus and obeying Him.  True Sheep Hear and Obey His Voice.  The following eight minute video includes some of Pastor Steve McKinney's thoughts on this subject.

An Exciting mini-Season of Working with My Parents!

My parents are with me here in the Philippines for a few weeks.  This last Sunday, even though I preached at the Church I Pastor here, Gateway Mission Assembly in Metro Manila, the Holy Spirit used my Dad & Mom mightily in the prayer time before and after the message.  It was powerful and beautiful!

This coming Sunday night after ministering again at Gateway, we will board a flight to Tacloban, a city in Central Philippines where we will together minister at the Assemblies of God District Council, a gathering of the Pastors of that great fellowship from the area, followed by a Youth Rally, also for the District.  My Dad and Mom will teach during the day sessions and I will preach the night meetings.

It has been quite some time since we have been able to minister together like this and I am super excited to see what God is going to accomplish!

Would you pray with us for these meetings in Tacloban that God will touch the Pastors, leaders, youth and all who will attend in a very special way?

Then on April 10, they will be off to ministry in Romania and beyond!  79 and 80 years old and still going full time, not retired!  Amazing!  They will minister in 11 countries this year, pretty much about the number of countries that they usually minster in every year (between 8 & 12).  And it was just a year ago that we weren't sure if Dad was going to survive the serious case of lymphoma he had, but he is completely free and clear.  God isn't through with him yet!

I Want the Father to be Proud of Me

I was writing a prayer to the Father as I sometimes do when I need to go deep in communication and understand my own thoughts which swirl so fast. 

One of the lines that I wrote hit me so hard that I started to cry... right there on the airplane in plain sight of my Japanese co-passenger...

I said, “Father, I want you to be proud of me!”

As I composed myself, my thoughts went to Job.

Job 1:8 ESV

[8] And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil?"

God was proud of Job!

Job 2:3 ESV

[3] And the LORD said to Satan, "Have you considered my servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, who fears God and turns away from evil? He still holds fast his integrity, although you incited me against him to destroy him without reason."

A second time, God revealed how proud of Job He was! Particularly after Job had survived severe loss which God had allowed and Job still trusted in Him!

Job’s response to loss was this:

Job 1:21 ESV

[21] And he said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked shall I return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD."

God was touched, moved, proud!

I want my God to be proud of me much in the same way I want my earthly Dad to be proud of me and as much as my three sons want me to be proud of them. It is a deep desire.. an innate need! I have often been surprised at how much my sons long for this. It is hard wired into who they are..

We usually try to gain the respect & admiration of our Father through achievement. Accomplishment. And I do believe that when we achieve much for God, according to His will, He is proud.

But from what I read in Job and in many other scriptures, I have come to believe that what makes God the most proud is how we live righteously and how we respond to trials and tragedy.

If I want to make my Father proud, I will trust Him, serve Him, love Him and praise Him no matter what happens to me!