The Word of God, Your Conquering Power

There are three Greek words used in the Bible for the word translated “word.” The first word “graphe” usually translated “scripture” is the literal ink and paper upon which the word of God is written. This is the word used in 2 Timothy 3:16: All Scripture (graphe) is God-breathed and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, and for correction which is instruction in righteousness. This is the written Word of God which shall come to pass according to God’s sovereign will. The scripture itself cannot save. Rather, the scripture leads to the Savior Jesus Christ, the word of God made manifest in the flesh. Jesus Christ is the message and the meaning of the word of God.

The second Greek word translated “word” is “Logos” which is the eternal and unchanging Word of Truth. The Logos is the word of God and Jesus Christ is the Word or Logos of God made manifest. The Word (Logos) became flesh and dwelt among us. According to Hebrews 4:12, For the word (Logos) of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

The third Greek word translated “word” is “rhema.” This is the spoken word which activates the power of God upon the lips of a believing Believer. The word of God becomes active when God speaks his word in and through his Believer. In Matthew 4:4 Jesus said, “man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word (rhema) that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” According to Romans 10:17, “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word (rhema) of God.” There is power in the spoken word so be careful what you say. In Matthew 12:36 the warning is not to use the word (rhema) idly but to use it carefully and for God’s purposes.

The effectiveness of the Word depends on the person speaking the “rhema.” In Genesis, Israel blessed his son Jacob instead of his first-born Esau. Part of the blessing to Jacob was “He will be established with new wine and with grain.” There is power in God’s blessing, spoken according to the Word of God, by those to whom God has given authority to speak. Jacob’s mother called her son “Son of my grief.” However, the child’s father Jacob, had God’s authority to name him “Benjamin” which means “the son of my right hand” or “the son of my hand of blessing.” In Genesis 49:5 Simeon and Levi would be scattered throughout the land according to the words of their father. However, even though both tribes were declared “scattered,” the tribe of Levi was blessed by God when they stood against Israel when Israel bowed down to the golden calf in the wilderness.

There is power in the spoken word and they have an effect on others… even more so when they are the words of God. Ephesians 4:29 says “let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth but that which is good to the use of edifying that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” Proverbs 12:14: A man shall be satisfied with good by the fruit of his mouth: and the recompence of a man’s hands shall be rendered unto him. According to verse 18, The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. In Proverbs 13:3 Those who guard their lips preserve their lives, but those who speak rashly will come to ruin.

What are the effects of the Word of God? Isaiah 55:11 says, “so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” According to 1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear.” Ephesians 3:10 says that the purpose of the church is to make known to the powers of darkness God’s wisdom: To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God.

Proclaiming the Word of God unleashes God’s power in the four categories: The first is against spiritual attacks. According to Daniel 4:37, King Nebuchadnezzar makes some some profound statements about the wisdom and power of God: Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise and extol and honour the King of heaven, all whose works are truth, and his ways judgment: and those that walk in pride he is able to abase.

The second reason for proclaiming the Word is to allow God’s protection. Psalms 91:1-4 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, andfrom the noisome pestilence. He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

The third is benefit of proclaiming the Word of God is to release his power of healing. See Psalm 103. Proverbs 3:5-8: Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel and marrow to thy bones. “Health in verse 8 means “medicine.”

The fourth category for proclaiming the Word is to defeat sin. According to Micah 7, there is no other God like you. You forgive sin and delight in showing your mercy… you will hurl sin into the depth of the sea. 1 John 1:9 is about repentance to return to fellowship with God: If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Sin means to “miss the mark.” The “flip-side” sin is to “press toward the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.” 2 Corinthians 9:8 says, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.” According to Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

The word of God on the lips of a believing Believer produces results according to the Power of God in manifestation. The truth of the Word of God is Jesus Christ as he himself declared: I am the way, the truth and the life, no man cometh unto the Father except by me. The true meaning and significance of the Word of God is Jesus the Christ the Son of the living God… for o man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared him.

May God richly bless you!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

Repentance: The Starting Point

As Christians, the Word of God is our sole authority for faith and practice. Truth and meaning is defined by the Word of God and not by the world’s self proclaimed “politically correct.” The Bible is the standard for truth… it is a “dictionary” defining its own terms. “Repentance” is a Biblical term and must be understood according to its biblical definition. This word is from the Greek word “metanoia” derived from “meta” meaning change and “noia” meaning mind. Literally repentance means to “change your mind.” This word implies to turn from the desires of the carnal mind that we inherited from Adam and to turn to the desires of the spiritual mind that we inherited from Christ when we were born again. The battlefield is in the mind. There are two types of repentance. Repentance unto salvation is the first step in turning to God in order to receive the new birth. This type of repentance happens when we are born again. The second type of repentance is returning to God when we have been born again but have fallen from fellowship. This type of repentance in our daily walk allows us to turn from our sinful nature and unto fellowship and communion with God and with his son Jesus Christ. When we who have been born again, break our fellowship with God, the verse in 1 John 1:9 applies so that we can repent, turn around, and return back to him: if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness..

Most people will not listen when they hear the word repentance. They think that “repent” means to judge another person or themselves for doing wrong. They will not mention the politically incorrect word “sin” because sin is contrary to the politically correct definition of “tolerance.” According to John 3:19-20: And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved.
The next verse applies for those who have been born again: But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.

Is repentance a gift or an obligation for us to act? The answer is found in Numbers 21 which provides an extended metaphor for repentance. After waking up and conquering the land, God commanded Israel not to allow the enemy to inhabit the land. If Israel did not drive out the Canaanites, their influence would contaminate God’s chosen people. God commanded Israel to repent by obeying and turning their hearts away from the world’s influences and toward God. God had led Israel out of the land of Egypt and had sustained them with manna in the wilderness. However, this generation of the children of Israel hardened their hearts against God and against Moses saying, “why have you brought us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness?” Israel believed the devil’s lies that the comforts of Egypt were better than the comfort of God’s provision. Because they confessed the unthankfulness of their hearts by grumbling and complaining, they walked outside of God’s protection and allowed the venomous snakes to attack. When the children of Israel were bitten by the snakes, they cried to Moses for God to deliver them. Moses acted according to God’s plan to deliver the children of Israel. He lifted up a bronze snake so they could look unto it and live. The people’s unbelieving brought the venomous snakes into the land. Although God had given them miraculous provisions, they were unthankful and complained. Their unthankful hearts drove them away from God’s hand of protection and many died when they were bitten. When the people acknowledged that they had sinned, this was the point of their repentance. They had to have the desire to turn from their sin to receive God’s deliverance. Their act of repentance was to turn from looking affectionately for the things of this world and instead, looking affectionately unto God and the power of God’s deliverance represented by the bronze snake. Their repentance allowed God to to deliver them from the biting serpents. The purpose of the bronze snake was to make God’s deliverance a public spectacle. God does not work in darkness and obscurity. God always works openly and in the light of his manifest glory.

In John 3:14 Jesus spoke to Nicodemus about the unseen things hidden in darkness that affect us. As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the son of man be lifted up that whosoever believeth upon him should not perish. God always provides a way of repentance for redemption of his people. Colossians 2:14 says, Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross.

As Lot was fleeing Sodom and his wife turned around and “beheld” or cherished and considered fondly the city of Sodom, she turned into a pillar of salt. “Beheld” is the same word used in Numbers about the children of Israel who “looked cherishingly” upon the bronze serpent. We must “gaze lovingly and cherishingly” at the cross of Christ for the supreme sacrifice that was paid there. Sin was made a public spectacle upon the altar of the cross. Without the cross of Christ there is no victory over sin. Repentance is to turn from sin and toward the grace of God through the supreme sacrifice of the innocent blood of his son Jesus Christ.

Judgement always starts with the prophets warning the people. Then it spreads to the priests who speak to God on behalf of the people. If the people do not listen to the voices of the prophets and the priests and do not repent, then God’s righteous judgement will follow. Repentance according to the Word is to turn away from sin and toward God, followed by penitence, restitution and obedience.

Part of repentance is to make restitution which means to “come clean.” Cleanse my heart O Lord, create in me a new heart. God will redeem us as we follow his heart through our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ. Repentance becomes real when we seek to do his will from a cleansed and a pure heart of his righteousness. Restitution is to make it right with the two parties you have wronged, both man and God. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Repentance is the key to unlocking the healing and deliverance of God in our lives. How do we make restitution to God for the sins we have committed against him? The answer is in Romans 12:1. I beseech ye therefore brethren that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice holy and acceptable unto him which is your reasonable and sanctified service. To make restitution to the people you have wronged, seek them out and ask them forgiveness… ask them how you can make it right. Repentance is to humble our hearts before the Lord, to turn from our wicked ways, to pray, and to seek his face. Then will he cleanse our hearts from all unrighteousness and we can walk in fellowship and communion (co-union) with him.

Repentance is to turn away from the world and unto Him…
Turn your eyes upon Jesus; look full in his wonderful face; and the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of his wonder and grace.

May God richly bless you!
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

Covenant Keepers

Fred Smith, a business leader and Christian from Dallas wrote a book in which he described an incident he witnessed at a small coffee shop. He noticed a farm couple: a big burly man and his petite wife. After eating breakfast the man bent over and picked up is wife, revealing a full body brace. Everyone in the Coffee shop watched as he gently and lovingly placed her into their car and drove away. No one said a word. Finally, after several minutes, the waitress said, “now there’s a man who keeps his covenant.”

Jesus made a covenant with his family. He said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” A covenant is a binding promise made in the past to continue to perform now and into the future that which we have pledged. Our covenant with God is to set up a cultural outpost to stand against the schemes of the devil in the darkness of this fallen world. Romans 12:1 says, “therefore I beseech you brethren by the mercies of God that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God which is your reasonable service.”

The appeal that Paul makes is grounded upon the mercies of God, appealing to the people of God. He called them “brethren” in his male dominated culture. However his address to the family of God applies to both men and women. Chapter 12 of Romans begins the covenantal response of God’s people to God’s grace. By God’s mercy and grace we have been given salvation. Included with God’s gracious gift of salvation is our righteousness, justification, sanctification and redemption. The indicator of our receiving God’s mercy and grace, is our extension of a thankful heart back to God, his son Jesus Christ, and to others to which God has called us to minister.

The verbs in Romans 12 are the keys to our appropriate response in our covenantal relation with God. These verbs include: loving without pretense; detesting that which is evil, cleaving to that which is good; loving one another with brotherly love, burning with the flame of the spirit; serving the Lord, rejoicing in hope; continuing in prayer; distributing to the saints’ needs; giving hospitality; blessing those who persecute us; rejoicing with those who rejoice and weeping with those who weep; condescending to those of low estate; repaying no one evil for evil; providing all things honestly; and as much as lies within us, living peaceably with all men. We are to be overwhelmed by the mercy that God has shown to us. In understanding his mercy, our covenantal response is to “go and do thou likewise.”

God had set up the sacrificial system in the Old Testament for Israel to follow as a covenantal act of faith. The sacrificial animal would symbolize the ultimate supreme sacrifice for our sins, paid for by God’s only begotten son. Because Jesus’ sacrifice of his own blood fulfilled our covenant with God on our behalf, the presentation of our bodies as living sacrifice in Romans 12:1 is not a sin sacrifice, but rather a sacrifice of praise. Our sacrifice of praise manifests itself in our bodies as we allow our minds to be transformed according to his Word. A living sacrifice indicates that we should be devoted not to the things of this sinful world, but rather our devotion is wholly and holy separated from worldly things and therefore acceptable unto him. As men of God our acceptance of of Christ’s supreme sacrifice is revealed by our Godly demeanor, our humble hearts, and our merciful behavior.

When the highest court of our land defines good as evil and evil as good, we should subject our hearts not to the world’s authority, but to God’s authority. The adversary rarely shows his true colors, but when our country advocates killing unborn children to harvest their body parts in the name of “science” this reveals evil in its true form… for the thief cometh not but for to steal, to kill and to destroy. In contrast, Jesus Christ came that we might have life and have it more abundantly.

If God is eternally omniscient, then his omniscience had a causative effect. This is the decreed will of God according to the Word of God. What was the causative effect of Jesus’ death and resurrection? Jesus’ agony in the Garden of Gethsemene, was not about his suffering and torture. When Jesus said “let this cup pass from me,” he was praying about being separated from God because of the sin sacrifice he would bear on behalf of the world. He said, “nevertheless, not my will but thine be done.” It’s better to suffer for doing good than to live in comfort to do evil. The causative effect of Jesus’s death was that “he who knew no sin became the perfect sin sacrifice on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in him.” God’s decreed will is his sovereign will and it shall come to pass according to his Word. The decreed will of God is different from the moral will of God. The moral will of God is related to God’s goodness, mercy and grace. God’s moral will also shall come to pass. The paradox is that God takes that which men intended for evil and turns it to good. According to Rom 8:28, all things work together for good to those who are called according to his purpose. The moral will of God is that he sent his son Jesus Christ to be our high priest on our behalf to make intercession for us. The moral will of God is that ye be kindly affectioned one to another. However, God allows bad things to happen to good people as part of his decreed will in his sovereign perspective. We cannot fully understand God’s perspective in this present life. However, when that which is perfect is come, then we shall know even also as we are known. God’s commandment in Romans 12: 2 is, “Be not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind that ye may prove what is that (morally) good and acceptable and perfect (decreed) will of God.” Our responsibility to God is our covenantal response to his ability. For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Before he was put to death for the faith one martyr said, “If God is my accomplice, then my life has come to naught. If I am his instrument, then my life was all for his glory… take my life and let it be consecrated Lord to thee.” His ways are higher than our ways and his covenantal love abides forever. Therefore, present your bodies a living sacrifice (in this life or the next) holy and wholly acceptable unto him which is your reasonable service.

May God richly bless you,
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

Our Mission

God is all-knowing. Therefore, he knew in advance that we who believe were destined to be his sons… his children according to the good pleasure of His will. Those who have received the Spirit of God can understand the will of God. However, the natural man, without the spirit of God receiveth not the things of the spirit because they are spiritually discerned. Misunderstanding the will of God results from inability to understand the reality of the spiritual realms of light and darkness. God has called each believer in Christ to be a leader in the spiritual battle. In Joshua 13:6 The the Lord said to Joshua that there were large portions of the Promised Land that Israel had not rightfully taken. Many years earlier, Joshua and Caleb were the only two of twelve spies who had given a good report about Israel’s ability to take over the land of Canaan. God had promised Israel that he would give Israel the land of Canaan but ten of the twelve spies did not believe God’s promise. They believed that the giants in the land and the armies of the unbelievers were bigger and more powerful than the power of God and the veracity of his promise. These ten died with the rest of this generation of the children of Israel. They perished, wandering in wilderness for forty years. However God had spared Joshua and Caleb who were now growing old. According to Joshua 16:10 when Israel finally entered the Promised Land, they did not dislodge the Canaanites… they did not drive them out completely. Instead, contrary to the Word of God, Israel made the Canaanites their slaves. In Joshua 18:3 Joshua said to Israel, “How long will you wait before you take possession of the Promised Land?” In this day and time, God still asks this question of his children who have been born again.

Caleb’s tribe of Judah endured. God always calls his people as missionaries on a mission: to endure and to drive out the spiritual darkness according to the light of the Word of Truth. This mission has not changed. Today, He has called us to reclaim our neighborhoods for the truth of the Word of God. He has called us to be his ambassadors: representatives of our heavenly homeland. The land of our new birth is heaven… we have been born again from above and from God’s eternal perspective, we are seated in heavenly places in Christ. We have been sent from above as ambassadors to represent our heavenly kingdom in a foreign land. We have been commissioned in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation to shine as lights. Since we are ambassadors, our houses are embassies… outposts for heaven in a world of darkness. As God said to Joshua before he took possession of the promised land, every place that thy foot shall tread upon, I have already given to you. Therefore, be thou strong and of a good courage, for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. In this foreign land, as God’s ambassadors, we have “diplomatic immunity.” Our homes are embassies, a piece of heaven in a foreign land. According to Second Corinthians, “now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For He hath made him to be the perfect sin sacrifice on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in him.”

Jesus Christ has made the ultimate payment for our sins to justify God’s righteous judgement by the supreme sacrifice of his innocent blood on our behalf. For by grace are ye saved though faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, (through Jesus having paid the price) not of works lest any man should boast. Because of the grace he has given us, we have been empowered by the power of the holy spirit to stand fast in the midst of the spiritual battle and having done all to stand. As his emissaries, he has called us in Christ’s stead to set the captives free and to preach the acceptable day of the Lord’s salvation.

We have been called to take back territory from Satan’s powers of darkness. When God calls us to battle against spiritual wickedness from on high, we stand in his power, armed with his spiritual armor. Therefore, resist the devil and he will flee from you. The adversary’s tactics never change… his strategy is to divide and conquer. He pits factions against factions: women against men, children against parents, those in government against those they govern. Satan’s powers of the darkness of this world are the root cause of division. Reconciliation means to make peace: to bring back together that which has been separated. Peace is only available through the prince of peace. Jesus said, my peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you, not as the world giveth give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled neither let it be afraid.

The purpose of the armor of God is to stand against the schemes of the devil, and having done all to stand. Luke 4 records a confrontation between Jesus Christ and the devil himself. Satan’s proposition to Jesus was to “bow down and worship me and I will give you power over all the kingdoms of this world. They are mine to give because they were relinquished (by Adam) to me.” The key to standing against the enemy is to wield the sword of the spirit which is the Word of Truth. Jesus’s responded from the Word of God, “thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.”

In the book of Acts Chapter 16 Paul caused a great disturbance in Phillippi when he cast a devil spirit out of a woman who had made a fortune for her masters by fortune-telling using a “spirit of divination.” When the light confronts the darkness there are always casualties of the spiritual warfare. Acts 19 records similar incidents about Paul’s spiritual battles in the city of Ephesians. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness from on high. As in the book of Acts, we have been called to shine the light of the truth of the Word of God in the darkness of our neighborhoods. As God’s emissaries, we have been called with a mission from God to deliver a message from our Commander in Chief. Not only has he called us to deliver the message, he has also called us to be the message… as though God did beseech you by us, we pray you in Christ’s stead be ye reconciled unto God.

We have been given a mission from God. Therefore let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify your father which is in heaven. God has called us to the front lines of the spiritual battle as his soldiers in the “charge of the Light Brigade”… Our battle cry is “Give ’em Heaven!”

May God richly bless you,
Your brother in Christ,
Michael

Ambassadors for Christ

The life of a Christian is filled with pitfalls and dangers in a world of darkness. To navigate the spiritual battlefield, we must keep our eyes, our hearts and our thoughts illuminated by the light of the Word of God. In Matthew 24 Jesus spoke about the signs of his return. He said it would be like the days of Noah. For over 100 years Noah warned the people of the impending flood, yet only eight people were saved in the ark. God always warns his people about the coming judgement. In Matthew 13, Jesus quoting from Isaiah said, “people will be ever hearing but never understanding, they will be ever seeing but never perceiving.” They may come to hear a great sermon. They hear but do not practice my words. Hearing they do not hear, and seeing they do not see. Many will fall away through trial and tribulation but he who calls upon the name of the Lord and endures to the end will be saved.

Often we see only in retrospect God’s hand of blessing, grace, and mercy. Although spiritual hindsight is 20/20, we must also understand the long view of the long and winding road of life that he has prepared for us. In Acts, Jesus said, you shall receive power after the holy spirit has come upon you. In the western world, if you can’t see it in the physical realm, then it must not exist. However, according to the Word, there is a spiritual reality behind the physical reality. Jesus had trained his disciples for over two and a half years. Their calling was to preach and teach the gospel of the resurrection. Therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh but according to the spirit. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual wickedness from on high. Second Timothy 2:26 says those of the world are held captive by the devil against their wills. It’s easy to justify sin according to the flesh. However, if anyone is in Christ he is a new creature, old things are passed away and all things are become new. In 2 Corinthians 5, we have been committed the Word of reconciliation and have been given the ministry of reconciliation. We have been called to reconcile God’s people back to him. Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ. Therefore we pray ye in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he who knew no sin became the perfect sin sacrifice on our behalf that we may be made the righteousness of God in him.

Why is Christianity growing around the world but there is no growth in the church in the United States? Why did God send fire as a sign from heaven in Fuji? Why was the crime rate in one city so low that after 8 months they had to close down the jails? God called his people to be new creatures in Christ, having torn down the veil to the holy of holies, so that his children could have direct access to the living God. He did not call us to build a building, rather he has made each of us a temple of the holy spirit, Gods dwelling place. According to 2 Chronicles 7:14, If my people which are called by my name shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.

God called us first to declare his excellency. Our calling is not to be loyal to the “church.” Rather our call is to be loyal to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. People need Jesus Christ before they need the church. We’re born again into the body of Christ, not into the local denomination. “Churchianity” can be a bloody battlefield. Only Jesus Christ is the perfect pastor. Although the assembly of God’s people is good thing, God has called his men first to be ministers in their own homes to their own families. Going to Church is like going to the grocery store. You stock up on a week’s worth of food, but you bring it home to share it with your family. Our relationship with our families is a personal moment by moment intimate fellowship. God’s exhortation is to feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not of necessity, but willingly, not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind.

In our culture, the question is, “has the church influenced the culture or has the culture influenced the church?” In order to win the world do you have to be like the world? According to Romans 12, we are not to be squeezed into the world’s mold… be not conformed to the world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of the mind.

Our job is to rebuild the family altar… to put God first in our homes where fellowship is central. We have been called to build our homes as an embassy for God’s kingdom in a world of darkness. The embassy is where the ambassador lives. The ambassador is the highest ranking government official sent from his home government to a foreign land to represent his homeland. The embassy is a piece of the ambassador’s homeland in a foreign realm. As ambassadors in our neighborhoods, God has called us to represent the kingdom of heaven. Our homes are embassies… outposts of heaven in the kingdom of darkness. The calling is not to change the worldly government but rather to change men’s hearts by bringing a peace treaty from the Prince of Peace. As ambassadors, our job is to love one another as Christ loved the church.

Revival is not “changing the world.” Revival starts with changing our hearts and our families. Revival is a one on one exponential explosion to the power of three. Jesus did not change the world by ministering to the thousands. He called 12 disciples to be “fishers of men.” Who are your three and who are your twelve? As fishers of men God called his disciples to be “nodes in the network of his fishing net.” The first step is to pray for your neighborhood. Then knock on your neighbors’ doors to see who’s hungry for prayer and fellowship. We’re looking for those who say, “you’re an answer to my prayer for God to send someone to tell me about Jesus Christ.” We have been called as his ambassadors to serve, not to be served. As ambassadors of our heavenly homeland, our mission is this, “ask not what my country can do for me, ask what I can do for my country.”

May God richly bless you.
Your brother in Christ,
Michael