Prophecy is Important

I received a message quoting a pophetic word I had delivered a few weeks earlier at a Church in the USA. The word I had delivered to a young man during the service was "get close to God because you are going to face a life or death situation."

This was a prophetic encouragement to come close to God and it was also a prophetic warning of danger. Oh how I wish I could have spoken it with more clarity. Maybe I could have said, "son, you need to get right with God because you are going to die in a few weeks." The reason why I wish I could have done that is because they buried him just a few days ago.

Hind sight is 20/20 but prophecy is not. The Bible says that we all see in part and we all prophesy in part (1 Corinthians 13:9). Sometimes it is more direct, it contains more information than at other times, but we can only be faithful to speak what we are seeing or hearing in the spiritual realm. And we must especially be careful not to speak more than what we are perceiving. The Bible also tells us that God does nothing without first alerting His prophets (Amos 3:7). Nothing means not ever. God is faithful to warn. He is so merciful and kind even though His judgments are sure.

Maybe it wasn't a sure thing that this young man was going to die? I don't know. All that I do know is that I saw that he had better be ready because there was going to be a situation in which life or death were possible. And I do know that he was warned. Did he heed the warning? Did he get right with God? Did he stick to it? I don't know. My hope is that I will meet him in glory on the day that I arrive there. I hope it, though I don't pray it because his destiny has been set. The moment of death is the moment in which eternity is solidified for you. Nobody can pray you to a place that you are not already headed once you pass that point.

My main point in this discussion is that to prophesy, to warn is very important. The Bible tells us that if a watchman does not give warning, that the blood of those who are lost as a result will be upon that watchman himself (Ezekiel 3). We will be held accountable if we do not warn. Now I must insert this thought that I believe this does not only apply when giving or not giving prophetic messages. I believe this also applies in any situation where we should have given proper Bible instruction, even to our families but we did not.

For the Church that I Pastor, TFI Gateway, I am being stirred by God to raise up a Prophetic People, a Fiery Force who are God's instruments... His messengers who can receive and deliver specific messages from Him. Because Prophecy is Important!

1 Corinthians 12:31 encourages us to eagerly desire the greater gifts. That doesn't mean that some gifts are greater than others, but it means we need to desire more and more powerful giftings in our lives. Go for it my friend!! Become a mouth piece for God! Prophesy! Warn! Exhort! Encourage! Somebody's life may depend on it.

EMpower not OVERpower

At Tabernacle of Faith International (TFI) in the Philippines, we recently conducted our annual Missions Convention. This is a time in which we gather all of our Pastors from around the Philippines and invite those from all congregations who are able to attend, for a week of inspiration, training, strategy and testimonies. It is wonderful when delegates from multiple congregations gather together. The Lord moved powerfully!

We also conducted a Teachers Retreat prior to this Missions Convention in which all of the incoming teachers for the Tabernacle of Faith Christian Academy (TFCA) meet at a camp site in order to unite, prepare, strategize and be inspired for the upcoming school year. School for TFCA started on June 14. It was also a powerful time in the Lord!

In both events, the unity I saw has given me an incredible amount of expectation that greater things are in store for both the school and for the Churches. We know from scripture and from practice that unity lends space for God to dwell among us! The theme for both the Convention and the Retreat was "Unity and Accountability," and we used the wonderful book written by Tommy Tenney, "God's Dream Team" as our main reference.

One of the main points which touched many of us is the fact that in order for there to be unity within a group of people, every individual must first acheive something that Tenney describes as "Individual Unity" or Personal Unity. Another way of saying this is that to accomplish peace in a group, the individuals coming together must first be at peace within themselves. Those that the scriptures call "double-minded" (James1:8) are not unified within themselves and therefore cannot be unified with anyone else since they are unstable in all that they do.

Another point is that to be unified in any group including a family, we must learn to never OVERPOWER people, but instead to EMPOWER them. Easier said than done, especially for those of us who like to move quickly (lack patience).

I remember a great lesson which my Mother taught me many years ago. I was a new Father and busy. My son Chad was in his asking "why" stage of life. Anything that I told him, he would respond with "why." It was driving me crazy and I even felt like it was disrespectful. I got to the point that I was telling him things like, "Because I am your Father and I told you so!" I was overpowering him. My Mom saw this and said, "Hunny, everybody deserves to know WHY you are telling them to do something." This includes kids, spouses, employees, co-workers, Church members... everyone that you work with. Knowledge EMpowers while bossing people around without explanation OVERpowers.

We must empower one another in all arena's of life in order to acheive peace, effectiveness and unity. Ephesians 6:4 encourages Fathers to not frustrate their Children, but instead to raise them up by training and instruction in the Lord. What a slam on us Parents who struggle with getting frustrated by our Children. The Word turns it around on us and tells us to not frustrate our Children. Wow! The Bible also tells us several times that without knowledge or understanding, people perish.

My prayer for myself and I would encourage you to make for yourself is this. "Father, help me to never overpower anyone in my life, but instead, to empower them through clear communication with a spirit of love, with respect and in unity." Amen!

"Child Like" Faith

I was on a small plane for a short flight recently when we were hit with violent turbulence. I felt like I was in a toy plane being tossed about in a hurricane. All of the adults were white knuckled with intense looks on their faces. A little girl about 4 years old sat across the aisle from me with a look of glee on her face. She grabbed her seatbelt like they were reigns to a bucking bronco and began to shriek with reckless delight as she rode the waves. It was better to her than a trip to Six Flags or Disney. What a great example of what it means to have Faith Like a Child. Not only to know that Jesus will see us through the storm, but as much as is possible, to actually enjoy the storm as well. So I decided right then and there, no matter what is going on, to grab the reigns, put a smile on my face and let out a good "yee-ha!" Come on everybody! Jesus is in full control!

Gary Wilkerson interview

This is an interview with Gary Wilkerson back in 1985 which I think lends really great insight to ministry. He is the son of David Wilkerson. The source link is http://www.sightmagazine.com.au/stories/interview/wilkerson4.11.05.php

Having a Part with Jesus

I am truly enjoying Easter! As usual... The scriptures are familiar, the story never changes, it would seem that we would get bored but I never do. Instead, I as well as billions of people around the world during this time am reminded of the single most important event ever in the history of the world. Not the death of Jesus Christ but His resurrection!! He is ALIVE!!!

This year I am focused on the fact that with only a few hours left before Jesus was arrested, He spent time doing those last minute things which He knew would be most important. With days to go, He cleansed the temple. With hours to go, He washed the feet of His disciples.

John 13 tells us that Jesus, knowing that God had put all things under His power and knowing that He had come from God and was returning to God got up from the meal, removed His cloak, put on a servants apron and began to wash the feet of His disciples. Verse 1 explains that Jesus was about to show them the full extent (full measure) of His love. Some versions say that He "loved them to the end."

Peter didn't react well and told Jesus that he would never allow Him to wash his feet. I'm glad that Peter did this so that we could get the explanation from Jesus. Jesus said, "unless I wash you, you have no part with me." (NIV vs. 8b) Peter further reacted and asked Jesus to then wash his hands and head as well, but Jesus further explained that it is not necessary to wash in full, someone who is already clean.

I have had my feet washed in a public ceremony and I find it very uncomfortable. Once, it was by a Pastor who I respected very much who was senior to me. How much more uncomfortable would it be if it were Jesus Himself?!

Receiving ministry from Jesus has never been comfortable for me. Responding to an altar call in a Church, being gently (or harshly) rebuked by a friend who was sent by God, confronting my wrong attitudes and sin during times of prayer... All very uncomfortable! I don't enjoy it at all!! I don't like it when it is in private and I don't like it even more when it is in a public setting.

But I need it. Jesus said that unless I allow Him to wash my feet, that I have no part with Him. Wow. Oh my!! He told the disciples after He had cleansed their feet that they should wash one another's feet. That they should conduct ministry to one another. But they could not do that unless they had first had their own feet washed by Jesus.

For a ministry person, ministering to others is much easier than receiving ministry. And that is one of the pitfalls we must avoid at all cost. Otherwise, His blessing will not be on our efforts and we will have no part with Him, possibly even to the point of losing our place in eternity.

You cannot wash someone's feet who is not willing. We must submit ourselves to His cleansing process, even though we like Peter, are already washed and clean. And the hardest one is that we must take the time. They only had hours left... There is always something very important on our plate... But Jesus showed them that there is nothing as important as an intimate cleansing from Him.

Let us submit ourselves to Him and allow Him to minister to us intimately. Even if it is through the ministry of another person that He sends. Then we will be able to Have a Part with Him and we will be able to do the same for Him in the lives of other people.

Have an amazing Easter everybody!!

Melbourne Praise Centre

One more post about the Melbourne Praise Centre. I've been away from that wonderful group of people including Pst Yudah Soetopo and his family now for a few weeks and I keep thinking about them. God is moving in their midst in a truly amazing and gracious way! They are awesome people... Awesome in the Lord! If ever you get a chance to go to Melbourne, or better yet if you are living in Melbourne and don't have a Church home, get in touch with them. You will be blessed! Their Church web site is www.melbournepraisecentre.org.au

Melbourne Praise Center!

I'm in Melbourne, Australia with the Melbourne Praise Center for two Sundays, the primary reason was for a camp this last week-end but also for a variety of other engagements ranging from a leaders meeting to home meetings and then finally a Sunday service for their City Congregation this coming Sunday. Tonight we had a combined cell ministry service and on Saturday we will have an evangelistic service. Exciting and awesome!!!

Tonight I met a young lady at the service who is now living in Melbourne who was previously at a Church I ministered at in Indonesia, I'm thinking about 4 years ago. She reminded me of how I had spent 15 minutes ministering to her specifically to help her to forgive her brother. I remembered it and how she had been a particularly difficult case but had finally received a breakthrough. She then introduced me to him tonight and hugged him, saying that she love's him so much! She encouraged me to keep ministering because I don't know what the results are going to be. I needed to hear that tonight.

With that, I want us all to be encouraged that even when we spend a few minutes with someone, we never know how life changing it can be. The greatest investment that we can make in someone's life is to take the time to pray with them and stand in the gap for them in their time of need. God always wins, and we need to enforce His victory in prayer.