The past two months I've seen a spiritual turning point taking place in my life after all the hell of the past 4 years. Last week I attended a camp in another state, instead of my home state of Virginia, for a myriad of reasons that I won’t go into here in this article. Because of the politics of Pentecost, I'll be nice and not name the state or individuals involved in the greatest cataclysmic spiritual storm of my life, in which I lost my wife, my children, a home, a job, my standing in the church, and the two people I loved most in my life besides my children and step children, namely my wife and pastor. Still through it all I’ve seen the hand of the Almighty in my circumstances and situations far beyond anything I could have ever dreamed. It will cost you something to serve God. I’ll be blunt and say if it hasn’t, either it will in the near future, or you are not serving the God you think you are serving. Examine yourself to see if you are in the faith.
Most of the details behind the situations I endured I will post in another article here on EAP soon. It is the story of the last 4 years of my life with a brief history of the ten years I was out of church hidden in the desert places and bulrushes of this world. I will not get into detail about it all here, but because of things that happened the past four years of my life since coming back to God I was strongly impressed to write about what I went through. I had put the story on hold for a season, waiting for the final chapters of things to wind down and come to pass, but the prophecies that came forth last week are driving me to push on, knowing full-well that God's word is true and he will hasten to perform that which he promised he would do in my life.
For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry. Habakkuk 2:3
My intent is to help those hurting souls in the Body of Christ that we know as the Apostolic movement. If I can somehow help someone else cope with the terror of their storm, the pain of rejection by those they love, the loss of loved ones, abuse, divorce, perils of false brethren and even spiritual abuse, then it will have all been worth it, because my strong impression is that this is why I went through it all. These are just some of the things some among us will experience not from this world and its carnal system, but from other members within the body of Christ, the church. Scripture bears this out strongly in many passages, and yet we as a people collectively have avoided this issues, making it taboo by our policies, philosophies and doctrines of men to speak on these things, even to the point that if someone among us touches on these sore points, they are immediately labeled as bitter, rebellious or worse, contrary to the word of God and prophecy directly from the mouth of Jesus Christ. Trust me…I’ll handle it before I’m through. I’ve learned that being prayed up and sensitive to the current word of God and to be sensitive to the Spirit, lest I even as an apostolic in the pew and pulpit end up bringing an offense to a brother or sister and be used of the evil one.
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and that he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! Matthew 18:6-7
I drove out of state a week ago to attend a camp meeting where several ministers were brought together by the hand of God to minister to the church at a juncture in time that left me speechless on several occasions. They stepped past the idiosyncrasies, traditions and philosophies of Pentecost to give us a word directly from God and confirmed by the Spirit through prophecy. Simply suffice it to say that someone was plugged into the Holy Ghost when they ministered at that camp meeting and out of the silence God brought healing, strength, mercy, justice and judgment.
That minister stepped aside later in the week to allow another minister whom I once sat under to step to the pulpit and despite all the dog and pony show of Pentecost and all if it’s idols, tikis and icons, he stepped to the pulpit in true form and God let his own words bring justice and judgment against his own actions. At one point he told those in the service that even if we force someone out of a local assembly we have no power, ability or right to put them out of the kingdom of God. Friends around me that knew my situation of the past 4 years sat in awe that he could preach something like that after things done to me in my storm. All I can say is it was in the divine will of God.
Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him. Psalms 105:19
The last 4 years have been tragic, but they have also been slapped full of miracles, prophecies, wonders and the judgment and justice of a God who does not regard the pedigree of the Pentecostal institution and its decisions, actions, thoughts and plans set up by man-made ordinances. When God steps on the scene to justify and protect one of his kids, he does it with a finesse and style that far exceeds the most eloquent orators among us. Let God's word be true and every man a liar.
I've learned that when God determines to do something in my life it does no good to get upset at all the idiots that will crawl out of the woodwork, off the pews and over the pulpits to critique, damn and condemn me for something God himself determined to send me through. The more I fuss, cuss and complain, the higher he turns up the heat until the silver begins to boil and refines to the point that the reflection of the Creator starts to shine through. He’s not done until the reflection looks like his image. Don’t argue about it. Trust me. I tried. The idiots never go away and although they never seem to change their minds about me… neither does my God! He has never stopped loving me, even in my failures, misfortunes and faults.
But he is in one mind, and who can turn him? and what his soul desireth, even that he doeth. For he performeth the thing that is appointed for me: and many such things are with him. Job 23:13-14
Understand this, when your situation makes absolutely no sense and things are coming at you hot and heavy with a rhythm that seems intent on staggering you with its tenacity and the power of the enemy’s attack…know this, that your adversary may be the hound from hell that is snarling and snapping at your throat and driving the onslaught that is trying to rip the life out of you, but the hand of the mighty God in Christ is the nail-scarred palm that is holding the leash and keeping that beast at bay. He may rough you up a little bit, and even make you wish you were never born at times, but he will NEVER destroy you. Check the score board and the battle-streamers friend…My God has never lost a battle!
If you want to have a Holy Ghost smack-down in service some night, just step to your feet in the worship service and began to scream that at the top of your lungs with authority. He will show up! He has never lost a battle!
For 8 months in 2004 I sat under a minister that has preached all over Pentecost telling everyone to stop judging people in their churches for going through a storm, trial or some hell in their lives, only to have the saints of that very church and the pastor I loved do that very thing to me that he preached about before thousands. My best friend could not understand this apparent miscarriage of justice and judgment, but I’ve lived long enough to see it as the hand of God moving not only to bring blessing to my life, but judgment and a testimony against some that stand in his church now when Judgment Day comes.
I have learned that men do not always have the final say in what they think, do and say. Man is a free moral agent, yes, but the God of all Glory is the one who decides when to place His hand over the eyes of men, and yes, even preachers…to turn their minds and hearts in a situation and often their mouths…and sadly enough also turn revival from their own churches! If you think it won’t happen, you don’t know the word of God like you think you do.
And when king David came to Bahurim, behold, thence came out a man of the family of the house of Saul, whose name was Shimei, the son of Gera: he came forth, and cursed still as he came. And he cast stones at David, and at all the servants of king David: and all the people and all the mighty men were on his right hand and on his left. And thus said Shimei when he cursed, Come out, come out, thou bloody man, and thou man of Belial: The LORD hath returned upon thee all the blood of the house of Saul, in whose stead thou hast reigned; and the LORD hath delivered the kingdom into the hand of Absalom thy son: and, behold, thou art taken in thy mischief, because thou art a bloody man. Then said Abishai the son of Zeruiah unto the king, Why should this dead dog curse my lord the king? let me go over, I pray thee, and take off his head. And the king said, What have I to do with you, ye sons of Zeruiah? so let him curse, because the LORD hath said unto him, Curse David. Who shall then say, Wherefore hast thou done so? And David said to Abishai, and to all his servants, Behold, my son, which came forth of my bowels, seeketh my life: how much more now may this Benjamite do it? let him alone, and let him curse; for the LORD hath bidden him. It may be that the LORD will look on mine affliction, and that the LORD will requite me good for his cursing this day. 2 Samuel 16:5-12
Two weeks ago God gave me the understanding of what he is doing when this sort of thing happens in our lives and I want to pass it on to those who read this. Your adversary, whether a preacher, sinner, saint, or ain’t, is taking their own blessing and giving them to you, my friend, when they attack you verbally. God showed me this, and he as yet has not revealed it to the very minister that himself stood in a pulpit and told an entire state last week on several occasions that God gave him something and he’s the only one that knows it and no one else! Sadly all his showmanship is wasted, because God said he would do nothing without he tells his friends the prophets first, and although we are fast becoming a “non-prophet” organization in the Pentecostal movement I trust God to have shared it with his friends the prophets long before someone steps up to grandstand in the lime-light and tell it before an entire state!
Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. Luke 6:22-23
As I told my best friend last week, Jesus was not referring to only the world in this statement. Paul told us not to keep company with the world, not meaning people but this world system and activities, so what Jesus was talking about here had to mean more than just sinners or people of the world separating their selves from our company. His very reference to the treatment of his prophets is the tell-tale key to this verse. The world did not kill God’s prophets en mass. His One God people did!
Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth. Behold, I come quickly: hold that fast which thou hast, that no man take thy crown. Him that overcometh will I make a pillar in the temple of my God, and he shall go no more out: and I will write upon him the name of my God, and the name of the city of my God, which is new Jerusalem, which cometh down out of heaven from my God: and I will write upon him my new name. Revelation 3:10-12
I don’t think Jesus would have warned us to of someone taking our crown if it was not possible to do so. As there is nothing in the natural or physical anyone can do to take a reward from us in the heavenlies, it only stands to reason that the actions here must be precipitated by the possessor of the crown! If we lose a crown it will be because of our actions and if we lose a crown to a brother it will be because of our own actions to that brother. When God showed me this I wanted to call everyone that ever hated me, called me a name, cast me out of their company and start thanking them for the double portion blessing they have given me. Not only do I get my own reward based on my own actions in the trial, test or tribulation…but I get the reward that the offending brother would have gotten if he had been Christ-like. God keeps good books, friend!
Even in the trials of Job, I learned that even when God removes the hedge about you, the devil cannot step past the word and authority that God gives him to try you. If the enemy is whispering something in your ear, telling you that he is going to destroy you with an onslaught and speaking to you with his voice of fear and doubt, understand that it is because he does not have the power to destroy you with his weapon. If he did and the word of God had spoken giving him permission to do so, he would have already destroyed you. Authority is one thing. Dominion is something completely different. Where the word of the king is, there is power. No devil, demon, saint, ain’t or sinner will ever bypass God’s spoken authority and dominion.
In righteousness shalt thou be established: thou shalt be far from oppression; for thou shalt not fear: and from terror; for it shall not come near thee.] Behold, they shall surely gather together, but not by me: whosoever shall gather together against thee shall fall for thy sake. Behold, I have created the smith that bloweth the coals in the fire, and that bringeth forth an instrument for his work; and I have created the waster to destroy. No weapon that is formed against thee shall prosper; and every tongue that shall rise against thee in judgment thou shalt condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their righteousness is of me, saith the LORD. Isaiah 54:14-17
God does whatever he wants to do in your life. His hand is on the rudder and he will bring you through your storm. The secret of life is to get a grip on the hand holding the tiller…and not try to redirect it, but to trust him and let him guide your steps. Others my speak against you, even your own familiar friends, but Job understood this much by his confrontation in Job chapter 12:
[1] And Job answered and said,
[2] No doubt but ye are the people, and wisdom shall die with you.
[3] But I have understanding as well as you; I am not inferior to you: yea, who knoweth not such things as these?
Job was telling his friends sarcastically here, Hey, you are “the people” or “the church” or whatever handle you want to put on them…I call them Triple-P Pentecostals (Pure Pentecostal Pedigree) and Capital-B Believers (the rest of us are just little-b “believers.”). You know the type. These are the ones that either have been among us so long they forgot where they came from, or have gained positions of authority, office, power or prestige that makes them of a higher “cast system” then the rest of their bretheren in Apostolic Pentecostalism. We’d better never get too big in name or stature to where God can’t send a Pentecostal peasant prophet to correct us from the lowest ranks among us, friend! Nor had we ever get so intoxicated on God’s word that we think there are two sets of rules, bylaws or books of the Law…one governing saints and another one governing ministry. That might torque your propeller, but it’s God’s word anyway! It’s a two-edged sword and it cuts hypocrisy at every level of the playing field.
[4] I am as one mocked of his neighbour, who calleth upon God, and he answereth him: the just upright man is laughed to scorn.
[5] He that is ready to slip with his feet is as a lamp despised in the thought of him that is at ease.
What was Job saying here? A man who is upright but seems about to slip, fail, fall is like a lamp or light that is about to fall in the thoughts, concepts and philosophy of the slob sitting on the pew or in the pulpit that isn’t going through anything!
[6] The tabernacles of robbers prosper, and they that provoke God are secure; into whose hand God bringeth abundantly.
[7] But ask now the beasts, and they shall teach thee; and the fowls of the air, and they shall tell thee:
[8] Or speak to the earth, and it shall teach thee: and the fishes of the sea shall declare unto thee.
[9] Who knoweth not in all these that the hand of the LORD hath wrought this?
The tabernacle of robbers prosper? What is Job implying or saying here? Just because everyone seems at ease in Zion friend don’t mistake abundance and blessing for rightness with God. Jesus even warned those who trust in riches saying it was hard for them to enter into heaven. We’ve preached that as a mandate for years at those among us for years and misquoted what he was saying every time. He wasn’t talking about the Bill Gates members among us. He was talking about One God people mistakenly believing that the blessing and abundance of God on us is somehow God’s decree that he is pleased with our attitudes, actions and conduct.
Although my former pastor announced in a message once that “gifts have never equated to covenant with God,” … well neither does provision, friend! God fed over 2.5 million Israelites for 40 years in the dessert and their shoes and clothing never wore out, and not single one of them except Joshua and Caleb entered the Promised Land. Think about that you Pentecostal Mathmeticians. If God does the same thing to us at the Rapture there won’t be any lack of cheap seats and first class recliners in New Jerusalem!
[10] In whose hand is the soul of every living thing, and the breath of all mankind.
[11] Doth not the ear try words? and the mouth taste his meat?
[12] With the ancient is wisdom; and in length of days understanding.
[13] With him is wisdom and strength, he hath counsel and understanding.
God does what he wants to do in our storms, trials and lives. He doesn’t ask any man for permission to take him into a storm, even storms that seem to make no common sense at all. Start listening for the voice of the Almighty in your storm. Give God glory in your adversity and watch the powers of hell have an epileptic seizure!
[14] Behold, he breaketh down, and it cannot be built again: he shutteth up a man, and there can be no opening.
[15] Behold, he withholdeth the waters, and they dry up: also he sendeth them out, and they overturn the earth.
[16] With him is strength and wisdom: the deceived and the deceiver are his.
Now to hear modern Pentecostals tell it; those that are “the deceived” belong to the devil. I’ll say it again, God keeps good books. He does his will in the armies of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth and no man can stay his hand or say what doest though, King Nebuchadnezzar said when he came to his senses. Too bad some of us in Pentecost don’t!
[17] He leadeth counsellers away spoiled, and maketh the judges fools.
[18] He looseth the bond of kings, and girdeth their loins with a girdle.
[19] He leadeth princes away spoiled, and overthroweth the mighty.
[20] He removeth away the speech of the trusty, and taketh away the understanding of the aged.
Now Job understood something here we need to take to heart. It doesn’t matter who your adversary is, who your friend is, or who you leaders are. When God comes in and decides to bust up house, he’s going to do it. I’ve seen more people pack up and leave a church because some seasoned saint, altar shark, Pentecostal fruit inspector or backslidden mouthpiece for the masses stepped on their toes and offended them. Solomon stated in Ecclesiastes, that if the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences. He was the wisest man that ever lived, but we know better than he does how to deal with motor-mouths in Pentecost. Stay put until God sends you somewhere else!
[21] He poureth contempt upon princes, and weakeneth the strength of the mighty.
[22] He discovereth deep things out of darkness, and bringeth out to light the shadow of death.
[23] He increaseth the nations, and destroyeth them: he enlargeth the nations, and straiteneth them again.
[24] He taketh away the heart of the chief of the people of the earth, and causeth them to wander in a wilderness where there is no way.
[25] They grope in the dark without light, and he maketh them to stagger like a drunken man. Job.12
I close this out with this statement. In the greatest trial of my life, someone who I loved dearly filed false charges against me in another state and I was facing 5 years in prison for something I did not do. They did their best during that time through lies and accusations to turn the pastor I loved and the body of Christ against me and pretty much succeeded.
During that time, I questioned God, knowing that if he was to allow their falsehood to succeed that I would bear it, but I did not want to. In my time of trial, God spoke not once but at least a dozen times over the pulpit and via men and women of God, prophets and prophetesses in their own right out in the pews and gave me a word contradicting everything that my best friend was trying to do to me.
I understand what it is to have offenses happen that make absolutely no sense, but if you will ask God, he will step forward on your behalf and show himself powerful for you in your storm. I’m nothing special. I merely asked God to show me his glory and he did. You’re his child too and he’s your God and he’s no respecter of persons like we often are.
God will bypass 5,000 Triple-P believers to get to one of his kids that is in trouble and facing a Euroclydon storm. Ask him for help. Ask him to step on the scene for you. He will give you a testimony of his greatness. Just call on Him.
God bless.
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