Reflections

“for the Lord had caused the Aramean camp to hear the sound of chariots, horses, and a great army. The Arameans had said to each other, “The king of Israel must have hired the kings of the Hittites and the kings of Egypt to attack us.” So they had gotten up and fled at twilight, abandoning their tents, horses, and donkeys. The camp was intact, and they had fled for their lives.”

2 Kings 7:6-7 HCSB

Elisha had prophesied that barley and fine meal would sell once again at the gates of Samaria by the next day.  At twilight four lepers decided to go to the Aramean’s camp to surrender to the Arameans hoping they would not be killed.  However, when the lepers got there they didn’t find anyone in the camp.  God had delivered Samaria by convincing the Arameans that a great army was attacking them.  The Aramean army fled and left everything behind.  The lepers found food, clothing, silver and gold.  The lepers notified the city’s gatekeepers that the Aramean army had fled.  The King sent messengers and found their camp empty with all their belongings.

“So they followed them as far as the Jordan. They saw that the whole way was littered with clothes and equipment the Arameans had thrown off in their haste. The messengers returned and told the king. Then the people went out and plundered the Aramean camp. It was then that six quarts of fine meal sold for a shekel and 12 quarts of barley sold for a shekel, according to the word of the Lord.”  2 Kings 7:15-16 HCSB

God had delivered Samaria from the Aramean’s hand.  There was no battle, no one lost their life.  God intervened and suddenly the siege and famine were over.

God can and will move suddenly in our lives when we need deliverance.  It was Elisha’s prophetic word that announced God’s deliverance.  What prophetic word have you received regarding your situation.  God will turn your situation around.  What seems impossible is possible with God.

The people were able to plunder the Aramean camp and as a result barley and fine meal were sold at the gates of Samaria again.  God gave more than they had hoped or asked for in this moment.  Another word that came to pass was the Captain of the King’s army was killed.

“The king had appointed the captain, his right-hand man, to be in charge of the gate, but the people trampled him in the gateway. He died, just as the man of God had predicted when the king came to him.”  2 Kings 7:17 HCSB

It is so important that we believe God’s word, so that we may be partakers of God’s promises.  We have to contend for God’s word and His promises. Do not be consumed by your circumstances or the fear of destruction.  Instead, be encouraged for the Lord is mighty to save.

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“Elisha replied, “Hear the word of the Lord! This is what the Lord says: ‘About this time tomorrow at the gate of Samaria, six quarts of fine meal will sell for a shekel and 12 quarts of barley will sell for a shekel.’ ” 2 Kings 7:1 HCSB

 During the Siege the famine was so great that a donkey’s head sold for 80 shekels of silver, and pigeon poop sold for 5 shekels of silver.  The situation in Samaria was dire.  The king sent a messenger to Elisha to kill him, because the king believed God caused this disaster.  Elisha knew the intentions of the messenger and delivered the word God had spoken.  Elisha made a declaration that the siege would be over by tomorrow when six quarts of fine meal and 12 quarts of barley would only cost a shekel. The message seemed impossible and the King’s messenger doubted God’s word.  So Elisha told him he would not eat any of it.

“Then the captain, the king’s right-hand man, responded to the man of God, “Look, even if the Lord were to make windows in heaven, could this really happen? ” Elisha announced, “You will in fact see it with your own eyes, but you won’t eat any of it.”” 2 Kings 7:2 HCSB

We are under siege.  There are so many reports about the magnitude of this pandemic, and each new day the message gets worse.  People are testing positive for the virus, people are dying, businesses are closing, and fear has gripped the people.  You may be experiencing your own difficulty and this pandemic has made your situation go from bad to worse.  There is fear and confusion.  What are we supposed to do?  When and how will this end?

Listen to the word of the Lord: “About this time tomorrow…”. God did not just say the siege would end but He announced what the result would be.  As far as we can ascertain the famine was so severe there was no grain or barley.  In order to make fine meal and have barley you have to plant and wait for the seeds to grow.  How is it that Samaria has no grain, but suddenly the next day be selling fine meal and barley for only a shekel of silver?  The siege and famine is over.  That is why the Captain responded that even if God opened the heavens could this word actually happen.  If we use human logic you would have to plant seeds of wheat and barley, wait for the harvest before you could sell any of that.  Also they are surrounded by Aram’s entire military.  How is this all going to work out by tomorrow?  It seemed impossible, but that is what God said.

What is God saying about our situation?  It is very important to listen to the prophets who have spoken and even listen to God’s voice.  Do not give into the reports of doom or gloom.  My experience is God speaks to us even before tragedy strikes to prepare us for what is to come and to look to Him.  Also, what has God said about your situation?  Believe what God is saying.

“So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.”” II Chronicles 20:20 NKJV

Finally, we have to contend for God’s word.  We cannot allow doubt and unbelief rob us of God’s promises.  Elisha told the Captain he would see the word manifest but not eat any of the food.  Do not miss God’s blessings, hold onto His word.  Be convinced God will do as He said.  The Siege is over.

To be continued…God’s Word is Manifested

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“Bring your worthless offerings no longer, Incense is an abomination to Me. New moon and sabbath, the calling of assemblies— I cannot endure iniquity and the solemn assembly. I hate your new moon festivals and your appointed feasts, They have become a burden to Me; I am weary of bearing them. So when you spread out your hands in prayer, I will hide My eyes from you; Yes, even though you multiply prayers, I will not listen. Your hands are covered with blood. “Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Remove the evil of your deeds from My sight. Cease to do evil, Learn to do good; Seek justice, Reprove the ruthless, Defend the orphan, Plead for the widow.”

‭‭ISAIAH‬ ‭1:13-17‬ ‭NASB‬‬

The Easter holiday is upon us once again. This is considered Holy Week since many religious traditions are observed and we commiserate the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. I grew up in church and Easter is the Sunday most people go to church. It is one of the most heavily attended Sundays and churches prepare for the influx of guests and hope to win people to the Lord, since many non believers will be in attendance. It is the time we get our best outfits and prepare wonderful meals. It is a time for family and friends. It is a time for Easter egg hunts, Easter baskets and even the Easter bunny. Stores advertise candy and many treats for your Easter celebration,

Why is Easter such a big deal to us? Why does this particular holiday draw people to church and even those who have not been to church in a while. If you are reading this and have not attended church in a while or since last Easter, why are you going? Who are you trying to impress? God? Do you think God is impressed with all the pomp and circumstance that surrounds our Easter tradition?

Jesus Christ is our focus during Easter. We celebrate His death and resurrection. He took our sins upon himself and was sacrificed. He was without sin and became a sin offering. Jesus rose again after the third day and we are made alive in Him. In exchange for our sins we are given Jesus’ righteousness. This is why Easter is such a big occasion. It is also a great opportunity to tell others about Jesus, to share the good news of the gospel. So where is the hypocrisy?

As Christians we boast in our righteousness and in our traditions. We esteem ourselves very highly in this season by doing fasts, penance, and making sacrifices. We put on holiness like it is some garment. Yet we do not deal with the sin in our own lives. This is why Jesus died for us. As God states in Isaiah 1 we come to these solemn assemblies or religious gatherings with iniquity in our hearts. Our hands are covered in blood from our sins. We are not concerned about confessing our sins, turning back to God nor repenting of our evil ways.

The Apostle John says if we say we have no sin we are liars and the truth is not in us (1John 1:8). We are to confess our sins, God is faithful to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness. The reason God is faithful to forgive us, is because what Jesus did. This should be our focus on Easter – to examine our own hearts and confess our sins.

We will attend church on Easter, give God our praise and bring Him an offering. However, most will return to their idols (those things they esteem more than God) and evil ways over the next few weeks. We will lose interest in sharing the gospel or participating in the things of God. No wonder God is tired of our festivities when there is no real repentance and change in our behavior.

The challenge for you this year at Easter is to really understand the work Jesus did, open ourselves up to be examined and turn from our own wicked ways. It is not just about the sin of the one separated from Christ, but also for those of us in Christ to have our hearts searched. It is an opportunity to make a real commitment to Christ and not just give lip service about how we are going to change. God is not looking for our sacrifices. He is not interested in our traditions or festivals. David said it best:

“For You do not delight in sacrifice, otherwise I would give it; You are not pleased with burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; A broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise.”

‭‭PSALMS‬ ‭51:16-17‬ ‭NASB‬‬

God is looking for us to turn from evil and seek to do Good. God provided the sacrifice and a promise to make us righteous, we just have to continue to receive His gift of forgiveness by confessing our sins.

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“we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.”

‭‭2 CORINTHIANS‬ ‭4:8-10‬ ‭NASB‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

I must admit I love pastoring. I do not do it begrudgingly. There is an absolute joy in helping people and leading people to Christ. I know God has called me and it has only been His grace that sustains me. Yet there is this other part that is painful, it is the dying of self, the brokenness one must endure to be all that God wants a pastor to be. You are a shepherd and you must fellowship with Jesus in His suffering. It is this suffering that can make you a better pastor or cause you to abandon your calling.

This is the continuation of my list of my own personal struggles:

THE PULPIT

I never understood people’s fascination with the pulpit and their desire to be in it. It is probably my least favorite thing about pastoring. Why? Because you really have to perform. You cannot truly be yourself and transparent, you have to act out your faith. The pulpit is an act of faith for the pastor. We have to be the person God is conforming us to be even if we have not arrived there yet. It amazes me that God will use the most damaged people in the pulpit to deliver His message. Ones that are still bound in their sins, yet delivering messages of forgiveness and freedom. Ones that battle depression, talking about joy and peace. Preaching messages of faith but full of doubt and unbelief. I read a testimony of a pastor who preached great messages on Easter Sunday then was curled up in a ball at the end of the day in tears. The pulpit is our stage for God to demonstrate His power but it is also the place we are dying inside. We have to speak messages of love, hope and faith. The pulpit is not our confessional. It is the place God’s glory is displayed. It is the place where God will take the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. I am amazed at God’s love, mercy and grace. I have experienced it for myself in the pulpit and I have marveled at God because of others I see in the pulpit knowing just how broken and messed up they are in the body of Christ. Yet I fear those that will allow their pride and arrogance to be on full display in the pulpit because God opposes the proud. The pulpit is for God’s glory. It is not the place for me to shine or make it about me. I am God’s messenger and that is the purpose of the pulpit to lead people to Jesus. Just know it is behind the pulpit I am working out my salvation with fear and trembling. It is also the place I am the weakest, and Christ’s strength is on full display.

THE DEVIL

Many in the church really do not understand and under estimate the devil. He is out to kill, steal and destroy. This is a battle that wearies the soul, mind and body. I remember the year I got ordained. I got sick and almost died. It was the battle for my life. When I look back it does not compare what I have endured these past few years. The devil is seeking whom he can devour. He looks for our weakness and attacks. My weakness has always been my mind. For so many years I carried a spirit of condemnation, that spirit can cripple a pastor because no matter what you do, it is not good enough. The devil wants me to quit, to walk away. This past year every tactic to get me to quit has been thrown my way. I praise God I am an intercessor and have learned to battle in prayer. The devil knows if he can strike down the head, the sheep will scatter. Just look at what happens when a pastor is struck down. So I encourage you to pray for your pastor. They are on the devil’s hit list.

GOD

God will not share His glory. The more He has given you to do the more is required of you. It will cost you your life. You cannot remain the person you were before your calling. A crushing must take place. I imagine a wild horse that has to be broken. You don’t tame a wild animal by talking to it. You must break its will. In order for God’s glory to shine through us, He breaks our will. This is the part of God we don’t discuss. We love to talk about our free will but it really has no place in the pulpit. God prunes, He disciplines, He refines. This process is painful because so much is taken from us. Remember Paul asked the thorn in his flesh to be removed but God said no. God’s strength is made perfect in our weakness. At times it can be too much to bear and you want to quit. God’s word to me is to endure.

SIN

If I say I do not sin, I am a liar and the truth is not in me. I think the difference between us and Jesus is Jesus hated sin. I don’t hate sin like a Jesus. I hate the consequence of sin but I don’t hate sin. When we think of sin we think of the seven deadly sins we have listed. For God sin is more than that. Sin separates us from God. It is not that God expects us to be free of sin but that we are to confess our sins so that He will forgive us. I have seen people walk away from God’s calling because of their sin. The guilt and shame becomes too much. The longer we fail to confess it the more the rift there is between us and God. I cannot pastor apart from God. Sin will hinder the work God has called me to. So I must be open for God’s examination of my heart and spend time confessing and repenting. God is so faithful to forgive us of our sins.

Everything that is working in me and my struggles are part of God’s plan to perfect me in His image. The journey is not easy. I am confident it will work out for my good. I know God is building my character and preparing me for all He has for me to do. I also know my struggle is for you, so that I may lead you on your own spiritual journey with God. It is not easy but we press on.

Please pray for your pastor. Do not make their job any harder than it is. There are those that struggle with various issues. God has provided a way for them to endure. Pray that we find our way and our victory.

Next time I will share how I am overcoming these struggles.

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“No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”

‭‭1 CORINTHIANS‬ ‭10:13‬ ‭NASB‬‬

When people think of a pastor failing they think in the context of the seven deadly sins organized by early Christian teachers. These teachers had listed the seven deadly sins as pride, greed, lust, envy, gluttony, wrath and sloth. So many think if a pastor can avoid these temptations they will be successful. They also believe these are the battles a pasture must overcome. The above referenced verse says that God will not allow us to be tempted beyond what we can bear. Often times we mistakenly think this verse is about God not allowing a trial or tribulation to be beyond what we can bear. This is not true because what we fail to discuss as pastors is the breaking we must endure. The greatest temptation I would argue is not walking away from our calling.

A pastor is called to shepherd Jesus’ sheep. It is an awesome and great responsibility. As a pastor we must give an account of those who God has entrusted us with as well as ourselves. This in itself can be an overwhelming responsibility but with the Holy Spirit’s help we are able to accomplish what God has entrusted us with. So why do so many pastors fail?

I have reflected on this for the past year. I have been a pastor for 10 years and the pressure and desire to quit is at an all time high. It is not a feeling of burn out but instead a temptation to walk away from all God has called me to be because the price I am paying is too much.

In the past year I have learned of more pastors committing suicide than my previous nine years. The reason may be I have for the first time have had true empathy and not a judgmental spirit. I can empathize with what they are going through. I know mental illness can play a part but I think we often use mental illness as a way of saying that was their problem and not mine. I can relate to the despair, hopelessness, pressure, and burden it is to shepherd a church. This is not a problem for just pastors who have mega churches but I know we all have experienced the temptation to quit. Do keep in mind that often sin is just a coping mechanism to deal with the pressure we feel. So let me confess my own pressure and temptation to walk away from everything God has called me to do.

PEOPLE

The worse thing a pastor can be is a people pleaser. If this is your weakness pastoring will be impossible. You cannot please people. They will applaud you one day and curse you the next. This was Saul’s demise – he chose the people over God. We must learn to be obedient to God and shepherd people according to His direction. The best advice I received as a new associate pastor was to wear people like a loose garment. In other words know when it is time to just let go and stop trying to please everyone. It may sound cruel but I have learned people are going to behave the way they want to behave. Do not let them take you down the way they have deemed to be right in their own eyes. Follow Jesus, He is the one we are to emulate not man.

Also people are not your barometer on how gifted, anointed or valued you are in the Kingdom. A pastor of thousands is not valued more than a pastor of ten by God. People may scoff at pastors who shepherd a few and be mesmerized by those who can charm thousands. So don’t compare yourself to others or judge your worth by “your followers”. People ultimately belong to Jesus not us. They are not our people nor are they our sheep. Demonstrate the love of Christ and ensure you are pointing people in Hid direction and not yours. God will not share His glory with man.

From my own personal experience I have allowed people to gauge my value by God. Now that I am experiencing a season of great turmoil they are not around. I am truly in a desert place.

Stay tuned for Part 2.

Photo Credit Kristina Tripkovic

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‘Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. ‘  Matthew 24:4 NIV

 ‘Jesus answered: “Watch out that no one deceives you. For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you ahead of time. ‘   Matthew 24:4, 24-25 NIV

Jesus warned us.  Jesus told us not to let anyone deceive us.  Jesus told the disciples, before his death, what would happen to signal the end of this age.  Jesus said the deception would be so great that if it were possible even God’s elect could be deceived.  Jesus warned us ahead of time so we would know.

Deception is Satan’s greatest weapon.  Satan deceived Eve in the garden.  Satan is the father of lies.  Satan seeks to distort the truth of God.  Today there is a lot of deception and we have to be able to recognize it.

To identify deception we must study the truth (the authentic).  Truth only comes from God.  Unfortunately, in today’s society we have promoted the idea that truth depends on the individual.  You have your truth and I have my truth.  It is the core belief of humanism; and the denial that we serve and absolute true God and what He deems to be true is true.

Satan deceives the world in so many ways but his ultimate goal is to deceive the Children of God.  By deceiving us he can quench our power and authority given to us by Jesus.  Satan will distort the authenticity of Christians through apostasy.  He will get some who have known the truth to deliberately deny the truth and abandon the faith.  This is what Jesus warned us against.

None of us are immune from deception.  We must guard our hearts and minds against being deceived.  Paul tells us exactly what we must do to avoid such deception – become lovers of the truth and get saved.

‘And all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. ‘    2 Thessalonians 2:10 NIV

Let us explore God’s truth together through the reading of His word.

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“Moses My servant is dead; now therefore arise, cross this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them, to the sons of Israel.” Joshua 1:2

God had charged Joshua to take the children of Israel across the Jordan to the Promise Land.  Moses had disobeyed God and was told by God that he would not go into the Promise Land with Israel.  Also, the generation that Moses had led out of Egypt had died in the wilderness and this was a new generation that was going to go and take possession of the land.

God did not want Joshua to lament over Moses.  God told Joshua Moses was dead and now Joshua must take the lead.  For Forty years Israel wandered in the desert complaining and lamenting about their lives and what they had in Egypt.  They could not see what was before them and the plans God had for them.  They kept looking back.  God did not want Joshua to look back, Moses was gone and now it was time to move on.

Many of us are in the same situation.  There is something that has died in our lives but we have a tendency to look back.  We lament over a situation, relationship or season that God has brought to an end.  We stay stuck in the wilderness because we keep looking back and will not let go of the past.  Change is never easy and often we prefer to stay in a place that is familiar than a place of the unknown even though it is full of promise and God’s blessings.

The generation that Joshua was leading knew the wilderness.  They knew what it was like to eat Manna every day and be led by Moses.  They witness the previous generation die in the wilderness.  They had heard the stories of Egypt but their only point of reference was the wilderness.  So God had to tell Joshua to let go of the past and move the people forward into the land God promised.

Before we can move forward we must let go of the past and those things that have died.  Otherwise every time difficulty arises or things do not go our way we will just want to run back where we came from.  This was Israel’s problem.  Israel was going to enter the land of Promise and see the miracle at Jericho but after that victory that had to fight the people of the land in order to possess it.  Yes God had given it to them but they had to fight to take it.  They could not afford to look back and God knew that Joshua had to have the right mind set and let go of Moses.  A new season had come and now the Joshua generation was marching into the Promised Land.

What are you waiting on God to do?  What promises has He made?  Have you let go of those things from your past and those things that have died?  God is ready to move forward, are You?

I have read many prophetic words about 2017 and I keep hearing it is a new Season and God is doing a new thing.  In order to experience God’s best we have to let go of what happened in last season and even last year.  We have to find a way to lay these things at the alter and move forward in God.  We have to claim and take possession of the promise.  We are not supposed to just stand at the bank of the Jordan and marvel and the land.  It is time to go and possess all that God has given us.

God tells Joshua that He is going to give this land to Israel, then God says He has given them the land and every place they step will be theirs.  God never said it would be easy, He just said the land was theirs and to go and take possession.  As you read the book of Joshua you will learn the battles Israel had to fight and some battles they lost but the finally took possession of the land.  They never looked back and wondered about Moses and what might have been had he remained their leader.  They looked to Joshua and followed his lead and God continued to demonstrate that He was with Joshua.

You may be going into a new season alone having lost friends along the way but God is with you.  He will never leave you.  Here is the thing you can stay in the wilderness and keep eating Manna every day, but you will forfeit your inheritance.  The promise land was Israel’s promise, and though Moses had died it did not negate the promise of God.

No matter what people have done to you, broken relationships, the end of things that were familiar; when God says it is time to let go then let go.  It is a new day and there is so much God has in store.  Moses is dead!  God is alive and with you!

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“For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone who dies,” declares the Lord G OD. “Therefore, repent and live.””

‭‭Ezekiel‬ ‭18:32‬ ‭NASB

I have decided to read a few articles and reasoning(s) why some Christians are voting for Trump and why others are for Clinton. I have also prayed for months about this election and sought God’s heart. What troubles me most are not the candidates—God humbled even the most evil King Nebuchadnezzar; in the end God always gets His way.
What troubles me the most is the hatred, fear and anger that has come from Christians on both sides. Then it seems like we have justified our beliefs by bringing in God’s name and giving “prophetic” words about the outcome. Yet we have failed to display the heart of God in light of all that is going on in this world including all the injustices being experienced. Satan has controlled the narrative in the media on both sides in that God has no plan and God does not care.
I am referring to those who have experienced racial injustice, violence, sexual assault, fear of our police and so many who have faced tragedy this past year. We have not displayed God’s heart for the poor, the brokenhearted, the oppressed, and hopeless ones. So many have been looking for answers from the “church” in regards to these topics, but have not heard God’s plan. Why, because we are actually arguing about which of the two candidates is going to save our nation. We have not displayed the heart or plan of God for this nation. We have fed into Satan’s lie and the world he wants is full of fear, hatred, division and eventually our destruction. This is what grieves me and has me laying my face before God thinking and saying: it feels like the enemy is winning.
As I have prayed I keep hearing the following truths:

• God loves His creation and He takes no pleasure in seeing the wicked destroyed. • God loves this nation and has great plans for us to help transform the world.
• God wants unity because we cannot defeat our enemies if we are divided. • God is in the process of healing this nation, but the things that have festered for so long and have sickened this nation are being exposed so they can be dealt with by God.
• God has great plans and strategies to reveal to His children for the healing and prosperity of our nation.
• God wants to reveal Himself through His kids by His way of LOVE. • God wants to be reconciled to His creation because every person was created in His image and He wants them to know their true identity.
• Finally God wants to see this nation stand on the His foundation of Righteousness and Justice, the two are dependent on each other—you cannot choose one and leave out the other.

I would like to encourage all my brothers and sisters in Christ to seek God’s heart and His character. Let’s all pray from God’s vantage point and not ours. In other words we should ask God to deal with our nation according to His loving-kindness and mercy, not based on what we have done.
As far as this election is concerned love will be the winner. We may argue and disagree about the better candidate, but love is greater and I refuse to give into fear and hate; plus we have a lot of work to do and we need to work together advancing the Kingdom of God.

I am so confident that He who begun a great work in us will bring it to completion until the day of Jesus Christ. Philippians 1:6

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