“Jehoshaphat! Jehoshaphat! There’s a massive army of Moabites and Ammonites coming this way from beyond the dead sea! Equip yourself, they’re not far away!” Jehoshaphat, in shock, set himself before the Lord and proclaimed a fast throughout all of Judah. All the corners of Judah united together to fast, and plead with the God of Abraham for intervention. As they gathered in the house of the Lord before the new court, Jehoshaphat presented this plea.
“Aren’t You the all powerful God? Do you not rule over the kingdoms of the heathen? Is there not power in Your hands? Are You not the same God who drove out the inhabitants of the land before Israel, and awarded it to the seed of Abraham? And yet, they have built a sanctuary in Your name. For when any form of evil comes against them, they stand in Your presence and cry in their affliction, knowing You will hear them. Oh God! The children of Moab and Ammon and Mount Seir are come against us. They’ve come to cast out the possession which You have given us. Wilt thou not judge them? We have no might against them. They are innumerable, we don’t stand a chance without You. We’re helpless! We’re hopeless! But we are looking to thee, oh merciful God of our salvation…”

 After Jehoshaphat had made an end to his plea, the people stood quietly. From the eldest of men, to the youngest of babe, they stood waiting to hear from the Lord. Then! With the voice of divine authority, the spirit of God rested upon Jahaziel, the son of Zechariah, as he gave this message to the people of Judah:
“Hearken ye all of Judah, ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou king Jehoshaphat, Thus saith the Lord unto you, Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow go ye down against them: behold, they come up by the cliff of Ziz, and ye shall find them at the end of the brook before the wilderness of Jeruel. #Ye shall not need to fight in this battle! Set yourselves, stand ye still, and see the salvation of the Lord. O Judah and Jerusalem, fear not, nor be dismayed. Tomorrow go out against them, for the Lord will be with you.”
Jehoshaphat bowed with his face to the ground, and the inhabitants of Judah all fell to the earth, worshipping the Lord. They arose early the next morning, eager for battle. Jehoshaphat stood to his feet. “Hear me oh Judah. Believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established. Believe in His prophets, so shall ye prosper.” He then appointed singers unto the Lord. So that as they went out into battle, they would sing praises, and honor the beauty of His holiness. As they began to sing and shout, the Lord set up ambushments against the children of Moab, Ammon, and Mount Seir. And through the power and intervention of the great God of heaven, this rivaling mass of soldiers slaughtered themselves. When Judah came toward the watchtower in the wilderness, they looked unto the multitude that had come to attack them, and every last member had been slain. The bodies of this great army had fallen dead to the ground, without Judah putting a single hand towards them.

My spirit has been greatly vexed here of late. Over the past week or so, I’ve awaken multiple times in the night or early morning, troubled and concerned. I wish not to sound more committed than I am. I would like to establish here, that I am nothing or nobody. My life is full of mistakes and weaknesses. But when the Lord deals with me, I have no choice but to obey. Allow me to bear my heart. I began to pray and lament with God. What are You telling me? What are You saying? I feel as though the Lord put this thought on my heart. “Know My voice.”

Jesus told a group of Pharisees in the 10th chapter of John: “The sheep follow me: for they know my voice. A stranger will they not follow, but will flee from him: for they know not the voice of strangers. I know them, and they follow me. And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My father which gave them me, is greater than all…”
Had the army of Judah not been attentive to the words of the prophet, they would have been destroyed. Had Jehoshaphat not felt led to issue a fast, they would have never heard from God. They all worked together, they all remained quiet, and in their midst, God spoke. Not a hair of their head was harmed in that miraculous battle.

We are doubtlessly living in an age where it is nothing less than detrimental for us to know the voice of God. It’s not enough to just hear it, but we must discern it, and obey it. God speaks quietly. What with so many noises and distractions, it’s a wonder we can hear from God at all. He would absolutely have to scream to alert us. We’re too preoccupied, and completely distracted. Surrounded by idols, we are. Any substance that precedes God, is an idol. I’m ashamed to say that I have launched off countless days with facebook while my Bible collects dust on my nightstand. We’re a generation that engulfs ourselves in social networking far more than the word of God. He speaks through His word. He speaks through His ministry. They correlate, hand in hand. If we aren’t in tune with what the spirit is saying to the church, we will no doubt miss the very hand of God. We are witnessing a time of shaking. A time where our faith and our dedication is being tried. A time where the direction of God is vital. We must be able to hear and know the voice of God, or we‘re failing! The preaching can only carry us so far. The music can only carry us so far. The testimonies, the stories, the youth trips, the meetings, the picnics, these things are only temporal if our ears are not in tune to the word of God. The ministry of God has the capacity to lead us over Jordan, and into perfection. But if our ears aren’t listening for the spiritual things of God, we’ll never follow them. Our flesh is quite contrary to the boldness of truth. My prayer is that God would put an unquenchable fire in our vessels. I pray He touches our minds, anoints our ears, and grants us with a new zeal. We’ve had blessings, we’ve had shouting and dancing, we’ve had experience after experience. I’m a complete advocate of all of those things. They are completely vital and necessary. But what we need now, more than ever, is a clear vision. A keen sense of understanding. A strong sense of awareness. I believe there are people among us that have NO IDEA where they are. Listen, we are the body of Christ! We are members in particular! We need more than a blessing, we need God to remove any scales that may be over our eyes, and fill us with a determination to represent the beauty of His holiness! Somebody is going to do this. There will be a restored work. This message will go on. He doesn’t need us, He chooses us. He could raise up anybody He wants. It is so important that we get a hold of this message, and pour ourselves into the mold He has so lovingly crafted for us. Please just consider! He still speaks.

“I know His voice. Sweeter sound, never heard by mortal ears. And to think, that God! By His own choice, would speak to me, makes me rejoice. He still speaks, I know His voice… “

In 1 Kings 19, King Ahab informed Jezebel of all that Elijah had done, and how he had slain all the prophets of baal. So under the direction of Jezebel, a messenger notified Elijah that his life was in danger. For the sake of his existence, Elijah fled to Beersheba. Upon arriving, he left his servant there and made a days journey alone into the wilderness of Arabia. In utter despondency, Elijah wrapped himself in the shade of a juniper tree. And there, in a state of self-pity, he asked God to take his life. Elijah went alone. I realize the mention of his servant is a minor detail, but it spoke volumes to me. To hear from God, we have to escape distractions and isolate ourselves from the environment we’ve created. His servant had been by his side during this entire journey of emotion and fury. However, there came a point where Elijah needed something his servant could not offer. He needed to hear the voice of God.
Paul said it best in Rom 6:16 “Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?”
He’s saying, “Don’t you realize that whatever sin you choose to obey, you become his servant? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteousness.” So as Elijah was resting beneath this juniper tree he fell asleep. Deep within this rest, Elijah is interrupted by an angel who beckoned him to arise and eat. He indulged in the bread and water which was set before him, and fell back asleep. Again the angel awoke him, “Eat! The journey is too great for thee.” Elijah ate once again, and shortly after he embarked on a 40 day journey to Mt. Horeb. I believe he was led by the spirit of God, rather he knew it or not. Many scholars believe this to be the very cave where Moses dwelt in Exodus when the Lord passed by and proclaimed his name. Here was this mighty prophet of God, hiding in a dark cave lamenting with God. Awaiting a reply, he was met with a strong wind that rent the mountains and shattered the rocks. Seemed like perfect timing, but God did not speak through the wind. Elijah had just gotten the debris out of his dwelling place, fixed his hair back to normal, when suddenly an earthquake struck. Surely if God wasn’t in the windstorm, he must be in the earthquake. Erroneous. God was not found in the earthquake either. As he slowly peered out, embracing the damage that was far worse than the wind, he‘s met with a ball of fire. Frustrated over his lack of direction, and slightly singed eyebrows, he accepted that God did not speak through that either. Terrified of strike four, he sits down, and he listens. And there he heard from God in that beautiful still, small voice. He walked to the mouth of the cave, and God clearly spoke to him. (Personal details added.)

It stands to reason that even Elijah couldn’t clearly discern the voice of God. Take into consideration the impressive resume he has. He parted the Jordan river. He brought back to life the son of a woman who thought she’d never have children in the first place. He purified unsanitary water using only salt. He filled jars with olive oil so a prophets widow could sell it, and pay her debts without selling her sons into slavery. He fed one hundred prophets with twenty loaves of bread and a sack of grain. He healed a Syrian commander of leprosy. He made an ax head float. He blinded an attacking army. He provided pools of water for a coalition army…. Elijah was no lollygagger. In fact, even after he was dead and buried, he revived a man whose body simply touched his lifeless bones. There is no denying that he was a mighty man of God.

While God is so intricate and complex, He speaks so quietly. Just a few weeks after I started writing this, I received detrimental news that our beautiful friend, Amanda Anderson, had been murdered in her home. Impossible! Those things don’t happen to God’s people. We’re exempt from such tragedies! A few of the thoughts that flooded my mind. Immediately I made plans to be in Texas for the weekend. And as that weekend came and went, I felt my faith being shaken to the core. How could such a horrific thing happen to such a dedicated child of God? Why her? Why not somebody who had nothing to live for? Or perhaps one who had earned such brutality…but her? My mind and heart was overwhelmed with questions until the day of her funeral. Humbled and honored, I sat in that service, looking out over a sea of beautiful faces. Not just faces, but the very faces of the army of God. I watched as hundreds of young people who are sold out to this Gospel tested the seating capacity of the Tyler assembly. In the midst of all the grief, all the pain, all the shock and hurt, I felt the hand of God more vividly than ever. My questions were answered. There was a beautiful covering that swept into that sanctuary and blanketed all the present emotions. God knows what He’s doing. Maybe one day we’ll comprehend that. How does a family pick up the pieces? How do friends carry on? How do you answer the surfeit of questions your mind asks you? You don’t. Alone, it’s impossible. In such times, the only hope we have is to lean upon the loving arms of God. To listen to His voice, as He tells us what to do next, or where to go, or how to respond. We absolutely can not accomplish anything in the flesh. We MUST know how to listen for the voice of God. This journey with the Andersons did not end there. They have witnessed trial after trial through all of this. But their heads are still lifted. Their minds are made up. And they plan to follow the leading of the Holy Ghost wherever it may take them. I marvel at the strength they’ve had through this journey. Although I know they’ve shed many tears and grieved as any family would, the strength and determination they’ve displayed should be a wakeup call to anyone watching. God is no doubt using them to show us that peace, real peace, can only come from Him. We lost a dear minister just a few months before that, in a similar fashion. Mortal minds can’t grasp these things. Life is hard. A few days, and full of trouble. Simply put, Life. Is. Hard. But it’s not impossible. There’s a strength that no man can measure. There’s a peace that passes understanding, even in the midst of adversity. But unless we draw close to God, and tune our ears to hear Him, we’ll crumble under such pressure.

Bro. Kennedy said just a few days ago:
“If you can’t face death in your own family, or tragedy in your own home, and keep your head up, you’ll never be able to give your life for Jesus Christ, or this gospel. You haven‘t stood in the street like Stephen, and preached under a heavy anointing only to be stoned to death. He then looked into the heaven and saw a Hand coming down…we haven’t done that. But He’s raising up a people who will…”
Heed the call! There is coming a time where we have NO choice but to solely depend on the direction of God! When that time comes, nothing else will suffice! There’s no monetary element that will save us or hold us in times of despair. We BETTER draw close to God while we’re able. Don’t sit back and watch these events come and go. Don’t shed a few tears and then mark it off as history. This is serious!! God is trying to get our attention! Although it goes without saying, we are the body of Jesus Christ. But if we keep ignoring the evident hand of God, and build in our own flesh and ideology, God could slowly begin to remove His individual covering. We’re not promised anything!
I heard it said recently: “Sometimes I feel guilty saying “we’re the body of Christ”. I’m not sure we bring Him the honor that title deserves. I’m not sure we fully recognize Christ as our head.”

Paul said “Knowing the time, that it’s high time to awake out of sleep!” I recently heard an impressive analogy. A minister stated that when his alarm clock goes off the first time, it’s time to get up. But sometimes he hit’s the snooze button. When it goes off the second time, it’s ‘high time’ to get up. He has to get up right then, or he’ll be late. It’s been time long enough. We’ve been snoozing for far too long. It’s now high time. Time to stop making excuses, time to stop justifying our own self gratification, time to step up and actually be the people we claim to be. I’m preaching to the choir. I’m not exempt by any means. And I wish not to use the scare tactic, it’s impossible to frighten anybody into the kingdom. My only motive is to shed light on the seriousness of the time we’re living in. God is doing a great work. And unless we’re constantly praying, fasting, and seeking His will… Praying, fasting, and seeking His will… PRAYING, FASTING, AND SEEKING HIS WILL! Then we’re going to miss it. Without a vision, the people perish. Yet, without the
people, the vision perishes. Somebody will keep this vision alive. Somebody will adhere to this holiness. Somebody will live a self-denied life. Somebody will crucify their flesh and walk in the spirit. Oh God! Let it be me! Let it be me oh Lord! Whatever it takes, regardless if I agree or think it’s necessary, open my eyes to the truth and guide me in it! Let me be the one! First, believe that God can, and does speak to His people. Not just generally or collectively, but personally! All throughout the scriptures you can see where the voice of God spoke to mortal men. He spoke to Cornelius and told him to send for Peter so that the Gentiles could receive this precious gift of the Holy Ghost. He spoke through an angel unto Zerubbabel saying: Not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, saith the Lord of hosts! The same voice that spoke to Habakkuk and told him to Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that they may run who read it! The same voice that spoke to Moses and told him to lead His people into the promised land! That same voice is speaking to us today. He’s saying Take heed lest you fall! Pay attention to the signs of the times. Listen to my voice! My fields are white with harvest, I have a GREAT work, and I’m calling you to be a part…

My close friend Kyle Morgan and I made a trip to Texas a short time ago. Among many places, we visited Cisco. While we were there Sis. Leah McClure gave a beautiful testimony about the upcoming generation bringing about the restored church. She gave an illustration that I’d never heard. And after I listened to it over and over, I felt my Holy Ghost quicken, and I had church in my bedroom as if I had lost my mind! All kidding aside, I felt the confirmation of the Holy Ghost make this so real to me! I won’t attempt to quote her verbatim, but I’ll share it the way I perceived it, as I’m sure my personal emphasis will be added. But she was expressing how Jesus appeared face to face with many of these men of old. These mighty men of valor had experienced speaking to Jesus one on one. He visited Peter and Paul in their times of trouble. That’s what gave them strength to go through. And He’s going to do that for this latter reign ministry! Can you just imagine, one night as you’re sleeping, the Lord wakes you up and tells you to pray. You’re tired, you’re comfortable, but He says pray on. And out of obedience, you get up, and you begin to pray. And as you‘re praying, all of a sudden you feel this sweet presence sweep in, and when you open your eyes, it’s Jesus!? FACE TO FACE! Can you imagine the strength you’d feel as He says “C’mon child! I have a plan for you! C’mon child! This is the job I‘ve called you for, now go do it!” Whew! Hallelujah!! We can have that!! We are limiting ourselves! It will take a people SO sensitive to the voice of the Lord, that they are absolutely terrified to miss it. This is serious folks.

Oh God, would You help us to know Your voice? Would You teach us to listen when You speak? Search us oh God, let us feel checked and rebuked every time we cross one of Your boundaries. Convict us again oh God. Send conviction upon the church like never before. We’ll never make it alone, please don’t give up on us yet. Help us get sin out of the camp! Keep showing us and helping us! Give us a burning hunger and desire to get this right! Let us put actions behind our zeal and fulfill that which You have called us to do! Bring us to repentance Lord, don’t ever let us be exalted in our flesh, or numb to our sins.
Wake us oh God! Don’t let us sleep as others sleep.

May we find ourselves constantly on our faces, pleading for direction! Tune our ears so we can clearly hear when Zion sounds the alarm. Make us fit for Your Kingdom oh God.
Thank You Lord! Thank You for everything You allow us to go through, You’re so holy, and mighty, and just. You’re beautiful Lord…thank You for loving us. Amen…amen. “To have my heart circumcised, so that I’m sensitive to Your spirit, to be able to hear You when You speak. I want to know when You say go, and to obey when You say stay, or stand still Lord and see You move for me…”

This week has been one of great defeat. I have been faced with ample temptations, and I have failed them. Miserably.
Tonight I was sitting on my couch, a bit complacent as I often am after I allow the flesh to claim so much victory.
Out of the blue, I received a text message from Kyle Morgan. Kyle is one of my closest friends, not only because we share the same name (My apologies to those who aren’t named Kyle, you’ll never understand;)
But because him and I find ourselves in the same struggle, generally around the same time. The text I received was lyrics to, in my opinion, one of the finest songs ever written.

I’ve seen a lot of crazy things done in Your name, I know the tricks behind the magic show.
I’ve almost thrown the towel in a time or two, and walked away from everything I know.
But I can’t fill this emptiness inside of me. Or calm the troubled waters of mind.
So if you’re really out there, and You’re listening, then prove to me, that those who seek will find. 

If You can just see fit to show me some of who You are.
If You could shed some light into this broken sinners heart.
I need to know the truth and I need something I can feel.
I need You, to make it real.

There must be some good reason why You brought me here.
Through valleys where the shadows hover close.
Down here, there’s a mask to cover every face, but Your sweet face I long to see the most.
So if You think there’s just the slightest hope for me, in spite of all my questions and my doubts.
Then let me hear Your still, small voice speak out my name.
And let me know what others talk about…”

If you think there’s just the slightest hope for me. That line resounded over and over. I realized in plain enlightenment that I was pulling a load that was too heavy for me.
It wasn’t inherited, I’m not a victim of circumstance. This was a self inflicted war that was defeating me.
It offended me, that after all the time I’ve spent in the church, under an anointed ministry, that I hadn’t come to the realization that God was exactly who He said He was.
I was praying for Him to make Himself real to me. How selfish!!
But God, in His loving way, did just that. I began to call out to Him. I couldn’t muster up a beautiful array of words.
I couldn’t articulate a spellbinding prayer. All I could do was repeat the words, I need You! I need You! Oh God, I need You!
Over and over again, those words poured from my heart, and out of my mouth.
Within moments, He was dropping these scriptures into my heart. He said He’d never put on us more than we could bear.
That doesn’t mean that we won’t ever carry more than we can bear. Through guilt, shame, mistakes, we can allow our cargo to accumulate unnecessary weight.
That doesn’t mean He gave it to us. If we’re carrying a load that’s too heavy, He didn’t give it. But he always makes a way of escape.

“There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will WITH the temptation also make a way of escape, that ye may be able to bear it.” 1 Cor 10:13 (emphasis mine)

So what Is the loophole? He said “Come unto me…ALL ye that labor, and are heavy laiden.” I’m tired. Tired of failure! Tired of defeat! Tired of waking up every morning, so heavy with life that I don’t want to get out of bed.
Tired of feeling like my life is an embarrassment to this gospel. Mostly, I’m tired of asking God for deliverance, and feeling like He doesn’t care. Maybe I’m being too bold, but we’ve all been there. “I’m free from the guilt of my past.” I can honestly sing that. I’ve felt His forgiving power. It’s the preceding line that I can’t sing. “I’m free from the fear of tomorrow.” I haven’t experienced that yet. I wake up every morning worrying about how many times I’m going to fail God throughout the day.
I’ve said the words: “God I’ve begged You for help, I’ve poured my heart out to You, I’ve put it in Your hands! Where are You? Why am I still carrying this?” One night, I went to bed mad at the Lord because I felt like He had abandoned me in a situation.
I wrote these words down: “I said I’d never give you, more than you could bear. But I’ll take you to the edge, and leave you stranded there.” The Lord dealt with me through time, and reminded me of that little spiteful note I had written.
I believe He finished it for me, with: “But I’ll return again, when the time is right for you, until then pay attention, I’m teaching faith to you.”

“And I will give you rest.” There’s no rest like the rest that our loving savior gives. It goes beyond any rest we’re accustomed to. In it contains no guilt, no shame, no anxiety…just rest. That rest is found through total surrender. When we come to a place where we have no other option but to fall at His feet and cry out to His name, that’s when heaven is completely focused on us. That’s when the King of all Kings is taking note of our request.
I love the lyrics: “Lean on me, when you have no strength to stand. When you feel you’re going under, hold tighter to my hand. Lean on me, when your heart begins to bleed. And when you come to the place that I’m all you have, you’ll find I’m all you need.”
If we still think we can survive by our own intellect or ideology, we haven’t lived yet. Our total dependence must rest on Him. He is our only hope. He is our shelter from the storm. Our rock in a weary land. Our covert from the tempest. The sooner we realize that it’s all about Him, the sooner we can rely on Him. This thing has nothing to do with us. What is it about this rest that leaves us craving it? If we have to work so hard, and give up so much, then what is so valuable about it? Besides redemption, besides forgiveness, besides restoration, besides all the other attributes found in the rest of God, peace is found. Godly peace. Perfect peace. He said in John 14 He gives us peace, not as the world gives. The peace of the world is pseudo. It’s the very thing that produces these unbearable loads. Temporal. Worldly peace is destruction in disguise. There is no real peace outside of the order of God.

Forgive me if I sound repetitious. But if you’ve ever reached a place in your life where you’ve entertained the idea of walking away, where praying seemed impossible and repentance seemed irrelevant, then you can’t identify. When God forgives you, truly, completely forgives you, there is no feeling in existence that can measure up. Many times I’ve repented, but didn’t feel forgiven. But when God totally wipes your slate clean, you can feel it in your spirit. And the peace that follows, truly is a peace that passes ALL understanding.
Job used the words: “The wicked cease from their troubling, and the weary be at rest.”
I’m longing for a time when I’m free from troubling. I’m anticipating a place in God where I don’t have to repent over, and over, and over, and over… I place my hope in a condition where I can feel the peace of God encompass my entire being, and never lift.

“There’s a place Lord I’m longing for in Thee. And to find that place means all the world to me. It will be worth everything You put me through, just to find this place I’m longing for in You.”

I’m not there yet. But I know it exists! The scripture wouldn’t make that promise if it were unattainable. So I’ll keep searching. I’ll keep striving. I’ll earnestly contend for the faith that once delivered to the saints. I intend to make it! I may go weary, I may go tired, I may go battered, but I’m going.
I heard Bro. Billy Watson say one time: “I’m going to keep running in this direction. If I get tired, I’ll walk in this direction. And if I fall, then I’ll crawl in this direction. I’m going to make it if it kills me!”
I made up my mind a long time ago, that I was going to go all the way with Christ regardless of how many times I was knocked out of the saddle. Those words have almost been the death of me a few times. I’ve come close to the threshold a time or two, but something keeps holding me. There’s a long, loving arm embracing me, preventing me from walking away. Without it, I’d surely be absent from this covering.
“Nobody else, can carry me through. Jesus, my hope is in You…”
I have a long way to go, as we all do.
But from the grandstand of heaven, there’s a beckon from the saints and angels of times past. They’re shouting to us!

They’re saying: “Come on! You can make it if you try! Shouting come on! Sin and Satan defy. Shouting come on! You are nearing the door. Shouting come on! And find rest for your soul. With wings on my feet, and fire in my bones, I’m going to run until I hear Him say “Well done”.

3. Deeds:
Our actions. Just because we don’t follow through with sin, or perform certain mistakes, doesn’t mean we’re safe or sinless. As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. Our deeds start with the thoughts and words. (Gal chapter 5 deals with the 17 works of the flesh, we‘ll go over those later in this article.) “Sew an action, reap a habit.”
Col 3 lists a few more works of the flesh. I encourage you to study them. I love the start of that chapter. If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affections on things above, not on things of the earth. Ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. Among the many attributes, it names concupiscence. This defines a habit that is out of control. It drives us, it consumes us, and it owns us. As the Holy Ghost gave direction and conviction back then, we need it to do the same right now. It’s not an opinion, but it’s a necessity. Our deeds are often pretentious because our mind is far from where it should be. Deliver us from our concupiscence, oh God. “Lord let my thoughts, my words and my deeds, bring glory to You…”

4. Motives:
The intent. Why do we do the things we do? Is there deceit? Is there guile? Or hypocrisy? We can not cover our evil intents with holiness.
His strength is made perfect in our weakness. When we realize that without Him our motives are fueling us for damnation, we’ll fall at the feet of Jesus Christ and plead for help. People who have this vision, can still be lost. People don’t go blind over night. Scales fall a little at a time. Saints can know the teachings, and the songs, and the doctrine, and still lose their way. We can slip to the point where we become a reprobate. Don’t think that it can’t happen to you. Rom. 1 wasn’t written to the world, it’s referencing the church! Jude said in 1:4 there were men who were once ordained to the condemnation, now ungodly men, turning the grace of God into lasciviousness.
Paul said shun vain and profane babblings. Profane means surface relationship. Those that APPEAR Godly. Any one of us can fall into this condition. It starts in obvious areas. Our standards drop, we reveal more and more flesh, our attitudes become foul, these are a few indicators. Things that used to be preached against are made comfortable! We allow modern attributes of flesh to creep into the church, and we don’t say anything about it. STAND! We wonder why we don’t have healings and outpourings! We need a ministry who will go beyond living for this, and start dying for this! Preach the word! When Jacob walked away from the angel he wrestled, he had a limp! He walked different. We need an experience with God that makes us walk different. I’m bothered by girls that wear unnecessary outfits to church. Or guys that come way underdressed. And what baffles me, are the parents that drove them to church. We need to raise the bar of Holiness and take this seriously. We’re kidding ourselves by thinking we’re doing the people a favor by making them comfortable in their flesh. We don’t dictate or demand, we want to see you saved! Show us Lord! We want to be clean, holy temples for your power and glory!
SHOW US the beauty in holiness! We’ve gotten so lazy in the church.
Bro. Patton said “People who don’t come to church in the midweek, won’t make the bride.” He said it jokingly, but we somehow think it’s not important to be dedicated. We come to church, not because of what we can give or receive. But because we need church.

5. Omission:
James 4: Him that knoweth to do good and doeth it not, to him it is sin.
When we neglect the learned principles and boundaries of God, it becomes sin. Heb 6 is for us today. Omission is not just cutting somebody off in traffic, but rather backing up to remind them they were wrong. There are boundaries in God. We need to learn them, polish them, and abide by them. Every time we cross a boundary, we instantly become a false representative of Christ. We often blame our ignorance on God’s lack of direction. We say He doesn’t speak. Perhaps God is speaking more than we’re hearing. We need to clean out our spiritual ears and hear what God is saying to us! And we need to quit justifying the world in our church. The world, coupled with the beast, are consumed with events and traditions that are shaking the church. It’s shaking our very souls and producing vital confusion.
He is all we need! When will we get that? We don’t need all the elements that religion has to offer. God is the captain of this vessel. If we then be risen with Christ!! We should be uncomfortable. Shame on us for thinking we’re getting by. The soul that sins, dies. Ezek 18. We need to find out what all sin is.
·Rom 6:23. ·Rom 8:6. ·James 5:20. ·James 1:15
When lust is conceived. We need to know these things. This is the formula. I don’t care if you’ve been here 50 years or 5 minutes. If you have sin operating in your life, you. will. die.
Blessed is the man that endures temptation. For when he is tried he receiveth the crown of life. God tempts us with no intent to do evil. He tries us to prove us righteous.

Seven ways to identify sin:

1. Where does it lead.
What I’m doing, thinking, saying, where will it lead me? If I continue in this, will I become more spiritual? Will I have more influence? Lust breeds more lust.

2. Does it have to be kept hidden?
If it does, it’s most likely sin. When we have nothing to hide, we have nothing to fear. We need to go BOLDLY before the throne. You can’t go anywhere boldly if you’re hanging your head in guilt, shame, or defeat. Going before the throne of grace with boldness means you can march in with nothing to hide.

3. How does it affect others around me?
Does it promote charity, unity, or principle? Or worldliness, strife, and division. We are ambassadors. People are watching. Most importantly, God almighty is watching. What are we advocating?

4. What if everyone did this?
What if we all thought this way? What kind of church would it be? Would God be here? If we ever want the power of God to return as it did in the early church, we have to start by cleaning up the inside.

5. Must I go against my conscience?
If you do, it’s sin. Your conscience is formed by the word of God. If you were at one time convicted of this, then why aren’t you now? Search yourself. Find out why you’re not convicted. When you ignore convictions too long, they disappear. You then become a reprobate, twice dead. A reprobate is unsalvageable, void of judgment. Psalms 139:23 “Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts.”

6. Would Jesus do this?
Would He have this motive? Would He think this way? If not, lets be willing to back up. It’s not that difficult to comprehend. If Jesus wouldn’t do it, you shouldn’t either.

7. Do we have to transgress?
Transgress: To violate or go beyond a law or command. Jam 2:10: If you offend in one point, you’re guilty of the whole law. Sin is a transgression of the law. If we have to cross it at all, we’re living in sin. 1 John 3:4 Sin is a transgression!

His fan is in His hand. He’s purging His floor. His fan is His ministry, His floor is the church! He‘s cleaning up the church with His word! The chaff will be scattered and burned with fire unquenchable, but the wheat will be gathered! Let’s eradicate this empty, unnecessary sin from our lives and become wheat in the Kingdom of God!

Several weeks after this entire uproar, I found myself struggling with a few personal issues. I complained to God, as I often do. Rather than answering me with simple words or unadorned expressions, He gently replayed my legal scenario in my mind’s eye.
I’m learning that God, in His infinite wisdom, often gives us the clearest answers through our ignorant mishaps.
Every anguish, every distress, every tribulation. They are all temporary. The shame is rested on me if I allow transitory circumstances to impede my progression in the Lord.
That being said, I’ll further that point by stating that my anxiety is self inflicted. Not because I necessarily deserve every trial I face, but rather, because I fail to rely on the unwavering  promise that God is mighty to deliver. He has given counsel and instruction for every situation. How dare I labor under the delusion that my complications are too great for Him to unravel. I have the elixir, the antidote if you will.  The alternatives are often inconvenient. The solutions are commonly contrary to our preferences. Rarely do we ever want to obey the advice of God, simply because it rubs against our adamic flesh. Even still, God has provided us with a way of escape regardless of the situation.
Now then. Who’s to blame? Right here. Perpetrator? Guilty as charged.
The day will come, when the Kingdoms of my intellect will crumble. I’ll face a greater trial where diversions and postponements will be futile. The journey of life, from the seat to the stand, from the cradle to the grave, will be nothing more than a splotch in the history of redundancy.
It later occurred to me that as I walked to the stand, my shadow was cast on multiple individuals who were being charged with accounts much larger than my own. My concern was not on them at the time. I focused on one thing, and that was me and my case. Allow me to step out of the courtroom and into reality. This is no longer about my paltry expired tags.
This is about the helpless casualties of life’s afflictions. In hindsight, I desire to make different decisions in my personal reality. I hope to walk a bit slower and have compassion on those who are shackled with heavier chains of circumstance. Mercy is my only discharge. I vow to give it as freely as I’ve received.
When I walk through the big double doors of eternity, I yearn to be anxiety free. If I can grasp the concept of the divine alternative, I will have nothing to hide. As I stand before the cherubic jury, I hope to be terror free. And when I look into the eyes of my compassionate Father, the supreme judge, the artisan of life’s canvass, I desire to hear these four words: “Well done my child…”
I don’t want to fear, I don’t want to swallow lumps or sweat profusely. I want to painstakingly look Him in the eyes, knowing I have nothing to hide. Knowing that I have done all that was requested of me. And finally, knowing that the same arm of mercy that brought me to such a place, would also grant me access into His eternal Kingdom.
At that moment, I’ll be a free man. No more guilt, no more shame, no more fear or anxiety. There will be nothing on my tongue but praise and adoration. You won’t find me here. I’ll no longer be characterized by the wounds of yesterday. But I’ll be identified by my new name, redeemed. You’ll find me somewhere in the Kingdom singing at the top of my lungs!
The tune may not be precise, and the rhythm may not be established, but the message will be crystal clear. My heart will bleed the words: “Worthy! Worthy! Worthy is the Lamb that was slain! Slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and glory.
Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever, and ever, and ever…amen…”

We live in a world of Never give up. Never back down. The social order of today’s environment teaches us that surrendering is unethical. Everybody looks out for number one. Everybody fights their own battles. It’s all about me. It’s all about what I am dealing with. It’s all about what I suffer with. Incorporating religion just makes us selfish in the name of Christ. I don’t believe He is pleased. We are not to be the center of our own universe. He is the master. We are servants to Him.

Recently, I was reading an article by pastor Glenn Goodwin (Des Moines gospel assembly) on Narcissism. In Greek mythology, Narcissus was the stunningly handsome son of a river goddess who fell hopelessly in love with his own beautiful face as he saw it reflected in a pool. As he gazed in fascination, unable to remove himself from his image, he gradually pined away until he starved to death. Since then, a person in love with himself has been called a Narcissist.

In this article he points out that we are surviving in a “what’s in it for me” generation. And if ever there was a time where the Apostle Paul’s words to Timothy were true, it’s today. In 2 Tim 3:2 he’s dealing with men loving themselves more than God. He goes on to name off all the attributes of an untoward generation. And horror of horrors, they fit perfectly into the mold of this dispensation. Bro. Goodwin stated that: “Satan offered the crown without the cross to Jesus. Jesus wisely rejected the offer. Anyone who expects blessings without suffering is falling to the devil’s tactics. But if we suffer for Him, we will reign with Him. II Timothy 2:12.”

The Lord has been showing me how self centered and proud I am. Colossians 3:5 mentions inordinate affection being a form of idolatry. Inordinate means unrestrained or overindulgent. Even the very things we spend the most time doing, are very me-centered.
I have taken a small face book hiatus for the time being. (Don’t shut me down, I’m not coming against face book!) I have, and enjoy my face book very much. I think it can be a very uplifting tool. But I’ve noticed how me-centered it is. Every time I log on, I’m flooded with status updates that consist of mutual’s broadcasting their every move and decision. What is it in us that feels the need to share every detail of our life with the whole world? “I went to walmart at 4 am this morning. “I’m driving to McDonalds in the rain!” “I wore socks with sandals today, and everybody made fun of me.” Why do we feel the need to let everybody know everything we do? Maybe there is no harm in those things, I’d say there’s probably not. But the root of the issue remains. We want to be seen and heard and noticed. There is something in our spirits that wants to promote our self. Jesus said in the 12th chapter of John, If I be lifted up from among the earth, I’ll draw all men unto me. He also told a multitude of Jews, in the 6th chapter of John that they could only come if the spirit of the Father draw them. If we’re so wrapped up in ourselves, we’ll never have the impact of Christ.

Back to my previous point. We rarely hear about surrendering anymore. It’s far more common to hear “win, succeed, dominate, or conquer” rather than “yield, submit, obey, or surrender.” Two leading snags in today’s surrender are fear and pride. We fear because we’re too stubborn to trust. And we’re too full of carnality to look past our poisonous pride and realize that He’s holding the reigns.

I was watching the Christian station recently, and Christian artist, Kirk Franklin was being interviewed, and he made a valid point that stuck with me. A man was getting his car detailed, and he found himself in a foul mood due to the fact that he had endured an extremely stressful week. While getting his car serviced, one of the workers, with a lesser position, the “runt with the grunt job” as some would say, asked him: “How are you today?” And he replied, “I’m okay I guess, and you?” And the worker replied: “Oh I’m blessed!” And he said it shocked him because it was obvious that this man lacked wealth. He wasn’t popular, nor was he appreciated at his job. He said it was infrequent to hear such a positive response in such a negative society. The common response typically involves grumblings or complaints. It seems as though, the ones who do without are the most positive. Perhaps they have learned that their dependency cannot be in mortal things. God has allowed them to see a deeper side. Not the “Easter God” or the “Christmas God” or the “Commercial God” but rather, the “Every day with Jesus” God. The God of dedication. The God of commitment. The God that grows sweeter day after day. They have learned to surrender everything to Him and completely rely on him to supply and provide all of their needs. He promised to do that, y’know.

Romans 12:1 says: “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.” Holy and acceptable. You’ll never be either of these, until you surrender full control to Christ. A leading aspect in surrendering is making a sacrifice for those you dislike. There is nothing more efficient than laying down your luxuries, and inconveniencing yourself for somebody you’re not fond of. The Lord recently dealt with me on this subject. It’s easy to get down and pray for those whom you consider a friend. There’s little sacrifice there. But when you ask God to help those who have offended you, or stabbed you in the back, a healing process begins. What first got my attention on this matter, was the lyrics: “I’ll talk to my father for you, and if I know my father, here’s what He’ll do, He’ll lay at your feet all the things you pursue. It’s no bother, for my father will do this for you.”

And the thought occurred to me, it’s our responsibility to pray for those who wrong us. Matt 5:44 and Luke 6:28 repeat the thought: “Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you.” The hardest part of praying for them, is watching God answer those prayers. If you ask God to bless them, don’t be angry when He does.

These are some of the most beautiful lyrics ever written.

I have wrestled in the darkness of this lonely pilgrim land
Raising strong and mighty fortresses, that I alone command
But these castles I’ve constructed by the strength of my own hand
Are just temporary kingdoms on foundations made of sand
In the middle of the battle, I believe I’ve finally found
I’ll never know the thrill of victory ’til I’m willing to lay down
All my weapons of defense and earthly strategies of war
So I’m laying down my arms and running helplessly to Yours ·
I surrender all my silent hopes and dreams
Though the price to follow costs me everything
I surrender all my human soul desires
If sacrifice requires, that all my kingdoms fall I surrender all
· If the source of my ambition is the treasure I obtain
If I measure my successes on a scale of earthly gain
If the focus of my vision is the status I attain
My accomplishments are worthless and my efforts are in vain
So I lay aside these trophies to pursue a higher crown
And should You choose somehow to use the life I willingly lay down
I surrender all the triumph, for it’s only by Your grace
I relinquish all the glory, I surrender all the praise
I surrender all
· Everything I am, all I’ve done, and all I’ve known
Now belongs to You, the life I live is not my own
Just as Abraham laid Isaac on a sacrificial fire
If all I have is all that You desire, I surrender all.

I’d like to focus on the last line of that song. “Just as Abraham laid Isaac on a sacrificial fire…” If anybody was a prime recipient of Godly surrender, it was Abraham. I spoke with Jordan Evans a while back, and he and I had a good discussion on Abraham and his sacrifice. Jordan was sharing his thoughts and opinions on the matter, and things that had never stuck out to me before began to catch my attention. Sarai told Abraham, in the 16th chapter, to bear a son with Hagar, their Egyptian handmaid. As a result, Ishmael was conceived when Abraham was fourscore and six. [Eighty six.] After that, nothing is recorded until Abraham was ninety nine. That’s a thirteen year period that no record was taken. I know that Abraham must have done a lot of evaluating in that time. This isn’t verifiable, and I can’t prove this, but I personally believe that God dealt very strongly with Abraham in this time. Perhaps even a little testing and shaking, to prepare Abraham for the work that was ahead. He tells him in the 17th chapter, Abram, I am the almighty God. Walk before me, and be thou perfect. I will make my covenant between us, and will multiply thee exceedingly. God was reassuring him of a promise He made him in the 15th chapter. Abraham was lamenting with God for a son. All he had was Eliezer, the steward from Damascus. God spoke to him, and told him to step outside and look up at the stars. “See if you can count them.” “Impossible” Abraham replied. “So shall your seed be.” And when Abraham was ninety nine, God told Abraham he’d have a son. Abraham laughed and told the Lord, “I’m nearing one-hundred years old! Sarah is ninety! You’re going to bless US with a son?” The Lord told them: “Yes indeed, and his name shall be called Isaac.” So Sarah gave birth to Isaac, the child promised of God. Now alas, Abraham is a father. He watches with pride as he sees his promised child growing up. He see’s him as he learns to walk, as he says his first words. Abraham has great anticipation of what God is going to do for this child. Abraham knew that, because God promised him this child that He would use him in a great way. Then, God speaks very unexpected words to Abraham. Take Isaac down to Moriah, and kill him. Abraham never said: “Why Lord?” He never said, “Lord, you promised to multiply my seed!” He responded immediately. He rose up early in the morning, and saddled his mule. Him, Isaac, and two of his servants were on their way. Abraham didn’t even know where to go once he got to Moraih. God said go, and I’ll show you. I personally am not able to do that. I demand to know every minute detail. That’s a characteristic that I must eradicate. How could Abraham so freely give up his very son after waiting for so long? How could he just react to such a request without even asking for an explanation? Abraham had experienced enough tribulation. Abraham had suffered through many hard times. So when the Lord bid Abraham to perform such an act, although the grief must have weighed heavy, he did not argue. He had been so desponded in the past, that he was willing to do ANYTHING to avoid entering into that misery again. Even if that meant sacrificing his own son.

We must get to that place. That is TOTAL surrender. When we are willing to leave behind the things that mean the most to us, that is when we have found complete, Godly surrender. Rest assure. God will send us on some crazy journeys. We wont make it a dime cheaper than any of these men.

After finding the exact place God had in mind, Abraham camped. The next morning, he rose and told his two servants to wait for him. He told Isaac to follow him up the hill to worship. I can’t imagine what must have been going through his mind as he prepared to kill his beloved son. My mind can not fathom such aguish. Isaac carried the wood as they made their way to where the sacrifice would take place. Abraham had fire in one hand, and a knife in the other. Isaac said: “Father, where is the Lamb?” Abraham said: “The Lord will provide.” What an attitude! What a determination! What trust! Abraham approached the exact place. Built an altar. Tied up his son. Laid him upon the wood, and prepared for sacrifice. The smell of sorrow and agony was in the air. Abraham lifted his hand, gripping the knife that would straightaway puncture through his promised, miracle child. I believe Abraham had tears of sorrow streaming down his face as he looked into the terrified eyes of the child he loved with all of his heart. Just as he was about to steal the life of this helpless child, “Abraham! Abraham!” he heard. “It is I” He replied. “Don’t lay a finger on him, you have proven yourself to fear God” God sent an Angel to cease this wonderful act of faith. Abraham lifted up his reassured, tear-filled eyes, and behold! There laid a ram, caught in the thicket. So he and Isaac slaughtered the alternative sacrifice. Abraham called that place: Jehovah-Jireh which is Hebrew for: “The Lord will provide.” A Latin interpretation is “Dominus videt” which, converted to English text means, “The Lord Sees.”

God is all about the last minute stuff. Abraham was clutching the knife, and on his way in before God moved. There’s too many pictures to paint here, but I’m writing a blog, not a novel. Don’t think that just because you surrender and God doesn’t move instantly, that He has forsaken you. He just doesn’t get in a hurry. Time is no element to God. After all, He created it. We must find the same determination. The determination that leaves us with fire in one hand, and a knife in the other! The determination that says, I can conquer anything as long as I have the Word of God in my hand, backed by the fire and operation of the Holy Ghost!
Jeremiah Beck pointed out that, Abraham, Isaac, and the ram act as a type of the divine sacrifice. Our heavenly father was so concerned about our welfare, that He delivered his only son. Just as Isaac carried the sacrificial wood up to the place where he would be executed, so did our father carry the weight of our mistakes and misfortunes. And just as our transgression was on its way to engulf us, Jesus, the ram in the thicket, made an appearance to relieve us from our much deserved punishment.

Another statement Jordan made was: “You surrender in everything you do. Rather it’s to yourself, rather it’s to God, or rather it’s to the world. In every aspect of life, in every decision you make, you are surrendering one factor over another.” Why is surrendering so hard? Why do we clutch the weights that detour us, yet let go of the truth that frees us? It’s simply because we don’t trust. We don’t really believe that God will supply our needs. We believe He has the power. We believe He has the ability. And we know He has the authority. We just can’t seem accept that He’ll do it for us. We think that, because we’ve made so many mistakes, God is not interested us. There’s an old chorus that was written by Bill and Gloria Gaither, inspired by Mark 9:24 that says:

I believe, help thou mine unbelief. I take the finite risk of trusting like a child. I believe, help thou my unbelief. I walk into the unknown trusting all the while. I long so much to feel the warmth that others seem to know But should I never feel those things, I claim Him even so. I believe, help thou my unbelief I walk into the unknown trusting…

The longer we wait to surrender, the more consequences we’ll have to pay. God is a forgiving God. He’s a God who loves to see His children surrender and admit they can’t do it without Him. But the longer you wait, the more problems you face. Please allow me to make an example. If one of your addictions is smoking, and you finally surrender to the Lord and put that into His hands, you’ll be free from it. It will no longer be a chain that binds you. But due to the number of years you took part in this addiction, you’re a potential candidate for lung cancer. If alcoholism is an addiction, God awaits your submission. God will forgive you, but unless he touches your body, then you are a prime suspect for a liver disorder. To look at it from another angle, if you battle with gossip, that is an attribute that must be laid down. You CAN NOT make the Kingdom if you struggle with a destructive tongue. God can deliver you from that. God can forgive you of that. But even His amazing forgiveness doesn’t take away the number of precious saints you’ve hurt and destroyed. These are just a few common illustrations. My point is, let God come in and clean house while you have the opportunity. Don’t procrastinate until it’s your final escape. Don’t wait to respond because you simply have no other way to turn. Don’t make God your last resort.

I was talking to Eric Whalen recently, and he asked me: “Do you think Judas could have been forgiven, had he asked?” Briefly, I was baffled. I had never put much thought into it. My wheels began to turn, and I came to the conclusion that, he most certainly could have. If Judas, in the beginning had repented, Jesus could have forgiven him and raised up another to take his place. But, Judas, could not have forgiven himself. See, Judas only did that which God allowed him to do. He simply carried out the plan that God had preordained. There will always be a Judas. In a great house there are vessels of honor and dishonor. Judas reached a point of no return, and there he killed himself. What a type. We all have a past. We have all made mistakes. Some worse than others, but that is completely irrelevant. My sin, be it smaller or larger than yours, still must be forgiven. We cannot make the Kingdom if we have sin in our lives, regardless of the severity. One sin is one too many. But all too often we hold onto things, rather than just surrender them to the Lord. We walk around dragging the chains of guilt and defeat behind us until we absolutely hang ourselves. “What a friend we have in Jesus All our sin and grief to bear What a privilege to carry Everything to God in prayer. Oh what peace we often forfeit Oh what needless pain we bear All because we do not carry [surrender] Everything to God in prayer” All He wants is to help. All He is, is love. All He wants, is to forgive. He longs to wipe off past regrets and free us of our guilt. But as He attempts to reach down and wrap His warm, loving arms around us, we push Him away. Don’t ask for forgiveness until you’re ready to embrace it. He offers soothing forgiveness at the instant of repentance. As long as you keep saying “I have done too much” or “He could never forgive me,” then you’ll walk around miserable just as Judas did.

Realize that God can, will, and wants to redeem you! The problem is you. You won’t let him. After God sends you the alternative, you reject the ram and slaughter the child! I have mentioned this in past writings, but Bro. Rob Massey said it best. He said, when a father is teaching his son to walk, he expects his son to fall. He doesn’t expect him to go from crawling to sprinting overnight. And, every time the child falls, there he stands waiting to pick him back up. He doesn’t say after five or six failed attempts “You ignorant child! Stand up! What is wrong with you! Why don’t you just walk!” No. Quite the contrary. He is by his side, waiting for him to fall, so he can lift him up as many times as necessary. (Proverbs 24:16) Your father is that way. He knows you are going to fall. He knows you are a weak. He is waiting to redeem you. Let Him.

One of today’s most beloved hymns is “I surrender all” The author, Judson W. Van DeVenter was an aspiring artist in the late 1800′s. He trained under a German art teacher and later became an art supervisor. It was during this time that he attended a revival at the church in which he was a member. He began to feel God calling him and beckoning him to the ministry. Due to his love and passion for art, he resisted. He ran from God for the better half of five years before he finally yielded. The definition of surrender is To cease from fighting due to inability to win. In other words, you can resist, and you can run all you want. But in the majority of cases, those who run, eventually surrender. If God wants you, He will have you, or you will be miserable until you pass from this life. Upon finally surrendering to the will of the Lord, Judson W. Van DeVenter penned these amazing lyrics: ·

All to Jesus I surrender, Humbly at His feet I bow
Worldly pleasures ALL FORSAKEN, Take me Jesus, TAKE ME NOW
· All to Jesus I surrender, All to Him I freely give
I will ever love and trust Him, In His presence daily live
· All to Jesus I surrender, Make me, Savior, wholly Thine
Let me feel the Holy Spirit, Truly know that Thou art mine
· All to Jesus I surrender, Lord, I give myself to Thee
Fill me with Thy love and power, Let Thy blessing fall on me
· All to Jesus I surrender, Now I feel the sacred flame
Oh, the joy of FULL salvation! Glory, GLORY, to His Name!
I SURRENDER ALL – I SURRENDER ALL
ALL TO THEE MY BLESSED SAVIOR I SURRENDER ALL…

I recently listened to Doctor Tony Evans, and his words so enlightened me. He shared a fact on the African impala that went as so: The African impala has the ability to jump ten feet high, and thirty feet out, in one single move. That is a massive jump. In seconds, this animal can cover up to thirty feet of earth. But if you take the African impala, and incarcerate him in a fenced in area, he won’t move. Regardless if the fence is only three feet tall, he will stay put. So here is this massive jumping animal, and all of his power, confined in a diminutive space, because he will not jump where he cannot see.
And I realized that, we are the same way. We have the authority and the power that God Himself has given us through the precious gift of His Holy Ghost. He presented us with the comforting assurance that He will lead and guide us if we would only let Him. And because we will not walk by faith, because we will not launch out into the deep unknown, because we refuse to close our eyes and trust that God is holding the reins, we imprison ourselves. I recently relayed this illustration to Tristan Evans, and her response was “We tend to get angry with those who put up the fence. When in reality, what is a little fence to God? We are like adults still living in the playpen. It’s time to grow up.”

There is only one way. And regardless of how determined you are to convince yourself that you can do this on your own, you can’t. Jeremiah also injected the chorus “On Christ the solid rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand.” I found that to be very fitting. It’s in this time of bondage that God seems a thousand miles away. It seems like God is rejecting our prayers. We feel like He has stripped us of His spirit and covering. I’ve gone through many spiritual droughts. They’re miserable. We live in a world of lost and undone people. People that are sick and hopeless. If it wasn’t for the trials we go through in our walk, we’d never be qualified to help anybody else. You cannot appreciate the light until you’ve lived in the darkness. I hope that I haven’t covered too much ground for such a direct subject. But if I may tie up these ends, it is vital that we seek God like never before. The drumbeat of Gods fury resounds. This perfect work will go on. If we don’t forsake the love of self, if we don’t put God on the throne of our hearts, if we don’t fully and completely surrender our wills and wants over to God regardless of the sacrifice, then we have wasted our time. I would HATE to see God raise up another group of people, because we just couldn’t get it right.

May God help us!
Help us oh God, to get this right. Help us to get back to the place you’ve purposed us to be. To live and walk in the beauty of Your eternal holiness…

“Take your time, but hurry up!”

As I sat there finishing up my meal, I realized everybody else was ready to go. Some headed to the door, some to the restroom, and there I sat. Eating alone.
However, I didn’t take any offense to this. In fact, at the time, I never thought a thing about it.
But later as I pondered this scene, I began to feel grieved. I know without a shadow of a doubt, that God is patient. And as I’ve already stated, there are certain elements we hang on to even after the Lord convicts us about them. He doesn’t cut us off or eternally judge us for that. Instead, He gives us time to overcome, and space to work on our problems. With that being said however, there may come a time where we’ve exhausted our grace period, and find ourselves left alone. God will extend patience to us, but He will not place His plans on hold for us. His work will go on. His church will march triumphantly regardless if we’re a part of it or not.
So without rambling on and boring you, I just wanted to get that point across. Don’t beat yourself up because you keep struggling with an issue, or because you’re confined by a downfall that you can’t seem to overcome. God is merciful, and He’s patient. But at the same time, He’s a God of movement. Don’t become so engulfed in your trash that you’re left alone as the cloud of God moves on.
We’re living in a serious time. A time of separation. A time where flirting with sin is unethical and illogical. A time where God has SO much competition. Sometimes, God would have to absolutely scream to get our attention. But He doesn’t do that. He speaks with a still, small voice that we often drown out. He doesn’t compete. He doesn’t barge in.
I was talking to Jordan Evans a few nights ago, and he quoted “God don’t play second fiddle.”
And He certainly does not.
I’m a common recipient of grace, and without it, I wouldn’t be writing this, and you wouldn’t be reading.
We’ve all fallen upon His mercy and redemption. And that is certainly why it’s there. But I’d like to admonish you to get serious, lay aside the weights and substances that define you, and allow God to inject His overcoming power into your life. Myself included. Just one touch of the masters hand can free us from the chains that bind us. Just one submersion of the holy ghost can shatter the bonds of sin and set our spirit free.
This is serious! There is a higher calling! There is a better way of living! We don’t have to fall prey to sin every single day. We don’t have to be a victim of guilt and shame. We can walk above the elements and substances that have made us who we are.
But the only way this is possible, is if we quit procrastinating, quit putting the Lord off, and quit compromising with the things that hinder us.
Maybe they’re not sin. Maybe we don’t really see anything wrong with them. But perhaps the lord does! He longs for a closer, more intimate relationship with us. He is calling us to a higher level.
He came to give us life, and it more abundantly. We don’t have to just exist. We can live and walk in the newness of life. I’m not trying to be fanatical, I’m just being real. This opportunity is at our fingertips!
The table is spread, all we have to do is eat.
So please, consider this. Let’s step up, get rid of anything that doesn’t bring glory to Christ. Be it sin or not. It’s there’s no eternity in it, then it benefits us nothing. If it doesn’t bring glory to God, then consider putting it away. For what could be worth forfeiting such an opportunity? This higher calling requires sacrifice, but if it means nothing to you, then it means nothing to Him.
From time to time the Lord will convict me to go through my things, and throw away anything that He’s not pleased with. That’s a very hard step to make, and most of the time I fail it. However, I said that not for any recognition, but there is one thing I’ve learned from it. Countless times I’ve been convicted over certain things, and I’ll obey the nudging of the spirit and throw them in the trash. After a matter of time, those things find their way back into my possession. So my prayer has changed. “Lord, take the love and craving for these things out of my heart.” It’s not enough to just get rid of the material. If I don’t eradicate the appetite for these elements, then that victory is only temporary. But I have to get down the very root and core of why these things hold precedence in my life. “Create in me a clean heart oh God.”
Many are called. Many have this opportunity. Many are given the same chance. But few are chosen. Few sacrifice their loves and pleasure to put the will of God first in their life.
I’m struggling and striving right beside you. I haven’t reached this place myself. But I’m headed that direction, because I KNOW it exists. I know it can be done. So come on! Go with me! By all means, outrun me! I have so much work to do, but I can’t do it alone.
I’ll meet you at the top!

Oh Hallelujah, He’s waiting on the hilltop!
Come on, lets go up to meet Him.
We’ll never know what He can do, until we learn to trust Him,
Come on up, He’s waiting for you!

I am a very ignorant, free spirited person. I like things my way. I like to be in full control.
And honestly, I never saw a problem with that. I looked at myself as just “an okay person.”
How foolish of me.
God has been holding a mirror in front of me, and showing me the way He sees me.
I have not been impressed. At all. In fact, I have been quite disgusted.
I’m seeing things in me that I never knew existed. I’m not altogether sure why I’ve been ignorant to them, considering I’ve been told countless times. Through the years, from golf cart rides to advisory luncheons,  I’ve been told time and again that I needed to change a lot of things.  And I have completely disregarded all guidance. Not so much because I didn’t trust them, or just wanted to rebel, but more so because I did not see myself. 
I am so sorry.
Until you see yourself, and your problems, it’s impossible to change.
Believe me when I say, God is showing me. I’m squirming and burning, but I can’t get away. My only other option now is to yield.
A friend of mine told me recently that I have two personalities. A deep, spiritual, considerate side. And a loud, foolish, obnoxious side.
As much as I wanted to defend myself, I had nothing to stand on. How to you debate truth?
It amazes me that the very ones who have tried to help me over and over again, have yet to give up on me. I can certainly say that I would have long ago.
Truth is. I’m tired of defending myself. I’m tired of justifying myself. I’m tired of painting this picture of pseudo holiness.
I’m ready to live the life I portray. I’m ready to be real. I’m ready for God to be pleased with me and my actions.
I don’t plan to be ‘failure free’ from now on. I don’t claim a divine conversion that has revolutionized my life or anything like that.
God doesn’t always speak in a booming voice. It’s the still small voice that holds the most power.
So I am sure that I will mess up again, probably before the sun goes down.
But rest assure. I am trying!
Please believe me, I truly am.
I am listening to the counsel I am being given. Some by God, and some by very wise patriarchs in my life. I have eaten a bit of crow over the past few weeks. I’ve burned and wriggled some. But this is my last resort. I’ve done it my way. I’ve trusted in myself and my own intellect. And I have fallen time and again. I’m tired of running. I’m tired of bucking. I’m ready to step out and trust the order I’ve been placed in.
I am far from perfect. But with your forgiveness, and a few prayers, perhaps I can move closer to that objective. Not because I am worthy of it, because I’m most certainly not. I have nothing to offer, save what God has given me.
My whole life, every struggle, every trial, every obstacle, has contributed to my testimony. From birth to date, every event was nothing less than the composing of my testimony. These things are absolutely necessary in order for me to even have an account that God can use. But what good is a testimony if my actions have diluted my impact? What value does my story hold if my salt has lost its savor?
God help me!
I haven’t held on my entire life just to lose the testimony God has given me. But if the listeners are skeptical due to my conduct, then I have failed as a Christian. And I most certainly have at times.
I humbly ask you all. If I have ever, through an event or an action, offended you or disappointed you, I am so terribly sorry. I was so wrong.
I can’t lose you people. You’re all that I have.
My intentions have never been to blatantly offend. My ignorance and free-willed determination has left a bloody trail of upset people. I have no idea how to take it all back or make it all right. Truth is, I can’t. This is only a starting place, but I must begin somewhere. I covet your forgiveness.
I plan to do a lot of things differently in the future.
If you see me regressing in to my old habits, please feel free to correct me. Keep me in check. I need your prayers.
I love you all so very, very much. You people are my lifeline. I don’t know what I would do without this wonderful people. Thanks for never giving up on me.
I aim to do this right, I want to make it.
I ask one more favor. If you are aware of anybody that has possibly been offended by me, please make sure they get a copy of this. I have absolutely no way of knowing who all I have offended. I want to exhaust all resources in attempt to right the wrongs.
I did not write this letter for ANY other reason than to resound my request for your forgiveness. Please do not extend any sympathy or elevation towards me. That was not my purpose.
Thanks for everything. Again, I sincerely apologize.
Please pray that God would continue to show me and help me.
I want to make it.
Oh I want to see Him, look upon His face.
There to sing forever of His saving grace.
On the streets of glory, let me lift my voice.
Cares on passed, home at last.
Ever to rejoice.

I’ve answered the questions countless times.
“Why don’t you date?” or “When are you going to find yourself a woman?” or my favorite is, “Hey Kyle, want me to hook you up with someone?”
As much as I appreciate the concern, no thanks. First of all. I’m not a big fan of the “friends hooking up friends: theory. However, I realize there are times where the Lord may deal with an individual about a potential couple. I’m not taking away from that. But when you exhaust your resources trying to find a mate for your buddies, you’re leaving God completely out of the equation. Match-making is His job. To suggest or advise is one thing, but to “make it happen” is another. I want no part of that.

The Lord dealt with me early on about dating and marriage. For the record, marriage is a word I attempt to leave idle. I figure I’d best work on the dating part first.
I deal with attraction and emotions just as strongly as any other young male. There’s a huge part of me that wishes I could just forget about my convictions and jump-start a relationship. But there’s another part of me that can’t seem to disobey Gods counsel.
I’ve seen relationships fail time and again. I’ve seen close friends hang their heads in guilt and regret because of their relationship choices. And while I don’t hold that against them in any way, I hope to beat the odds. I realize that I’m subject to fail just like anybody else. If ever I do, please spare me some mercy. But at this point, the Lord has kept me and held me safe of those mistakes. It is only because of His grace and mercy that I‘m standing, and may I NEVER pretend that it was my own accomplishment.

The Apostle Paul instructed the church at Ephesus to love as Christ did. “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.”
The more I read Paul’s writings, the more wisdom becomes evident. I believe I can put my confidence in his counsel, as it came through him from the Lord.
If I casually date, or take advantage of the privilege, then I am in no way loving her as Christ loved the church. That recommendation is completely disregarded the moment I start flirting with girls that I have no intentions of being with.
I want to love my wife with purity, whomever she may be.
I want to offer her all of me, not just what is left over from a string of past relationships.
The more I give away now, the less I have to offer my her.
A while back, bro. Billy Brown preached a message on the topic of purity that has left a permanent mark with me. He was making reference to young couples crossing boundaries. He stated that any relationship held together by lust or sexual activity will never last. He said: (paraphrasing from the best of my recollection) “When you become familiar with each other, and cross God’s boundaries, your relationship will crumble. Then as you both grow older, supposing you repent, receive forgiveness, and stay in the church, you’ll have to continue to face each other for years to come. What happens when that young girl you fooled around with becomes a song leader? Can you watch her sing and play the piano and not feel uncomfortable? When that young man you expressed liberty with becomes a minister, can you listen to him preach and not feel awkward? Obey the boundaries the Holy Ghost establishes.”
 

We as called out young men in this body can not settle down with just ‘any’ girl. She has to have an understanding of the work God has called us to. She has to have a vision and revelation of the what time frame we’re living in and where the church is headed.
The same goes for the young ladies. If God has called you to this work, you can’t settle for smooth talking, muscular jocks who just make you feel good. If we are going to dedicate ourselves to Christ, and work in the order He’s called us, then casual dating is not an option. This is serious business. We’re diluting our calling. And when we get caught up in relationship drama, we’re not only robbing ourselves of our gift, but we’re robbing the church as a whole.

When I was eighteen, my good friend Jonathan Durr passed along some advice that was completely ludicrous to me at the time. He told me that a man would be wise to wait until he was at least twenty three or twenty four years of age before considering a courtship. I laughed at him. When I was eighteen I knew I wasn’t ready to date, but I also knew I wasn’t going to wait that long. I am now twenty one, and dating is still out of the question. Between that time and now, my life has taken SO many changes. I realized that I had no clue who I was then. Apparently Jon’s counsel was directly on point.
My only reason for bringing that up is to say, when you’re younger, you’re convinced that you have life figured out. You’re positive that you know who you are and what you want. Please consider this. You don’t. I promise you, you don’t. Between eighteen and twenty one, the Lord completely transformed my thinking process. And He still is. I’m certain that in two or three more years, I’ll be saying the same thing all over again.

My goal in life right now is to fall in Love with Christ.
If I can’t fall in love with Him, then I don’t deserve to date any of His daughters.
If I can’t learn to love Him with unconditional passion, then I am not qualified to be a Godly husband. And neither are you.
At one time, I thought I knew how to love Him. I thought my life was where it needed to be, my ducks were in a perfect row, and I was ready to pave my future. In my arrogance, I let my guard down. And naturally, the female aroma infiltrated my hormonal nostrils. I got caught up in all these thoughts and emotions and made a huge mess of everything. It has taken me months upon months to clean it all up. I’ve vowed to labor in another field. I want to fall in love with Jesus all over again. I want to impress Him. I want Him to be pleased with me. I want Him to smile every time He looks at me. I can’t stop until His thoughts are my thoughts, and His ideas are my ideas. Until I can’t get Him off my mind, and until I can’t go anywhere with talking about Him, I’m not ready to start a life with anybody.

Also. Keep this thought in mind. Be considerate when you pray. Remember that God really does know what is best for each individual. I can recall a period of time when my prayers were blueprints and instructions for God on how I wanted Him to build my life. I had my castle all drawn out for Him. I told the Lord who I wanted, why I wanted her, and all the reasons He needed to give her to me. Ironically enough, God didn’t listen to my commands. His ways are higher than ours. Just because it SEEMS right, and just because you KNOW WITHOUT A DOUBT that God wants you to be together, be considerate. Remind Him in praying that you want His will for your life, regardless of what it is. Sometimes God may send an individual into your life for a season. When that season is over, don’t get mad at God. Don’t question why it seemed so right if it wasn’t meant to be. God may have used them to keep you out of another situation. He may have joined you together for a season to distract you from a much harsher situation. Give God His deserved honor, He has your best interest at heart, I promise.
Also. Avoid being bias in your prayers. I have fretted countless times: “Lord, does she like me? Oh God, am I getting on her nerves? What should I do different? Will this impress her? Should I ditch the paisleys? Polyester suits…probably a bad idea huh Lord?”
He showed me something a while back. This eye-opener works both ways. Stop worrying about those inessential things that drive you insane. Those that are truly seeking after God, those that really have a heart after His, will be too busy listening for Gods will to notice your unmatching socks or out-of-style comb-over.
F.A.Q.: “What are your preferences in a woman?”
I can’t quite seem to answer that question. I want her to meet the criteria that I stated earlier, but to say I’ve set out personal preferences is not altogether true. I must have faith that if God has joined us together, no lack of preference will separate us.
One simple theory that we cannot seem to grasp, is that God is highly capable of making our decisions for us. He knows exactly what we need, and exactly who to send. If we could just realize that. We don’t know how to let God make our decisions for us. It is so much easier to give Him the reigns instead of stressing over which move to make.
News Flash: It’s not about you! It’s not about your wants or prefrences. It’s about what God wants FOR you. So instead of  carping over rather he/she likes you, make sure God wants him/her to like you first. And if He answers with approval, you should probably start by ditching the polyester.

I’ve prayed many times, “Lord, when you do send me a companion, let me love her like You do. Help me to appreciate her the way You do.”
Not only will she deserve love, but also credibility for putting up with me and all my problems.
If I can’t love her as He would, then my relationship will fail. The same method applies to you.

I’ve read book after book on dating advice. Eric and Leslie Ludy, Michael and Debbie Pearl, Joshua Harris, just a few of the great authors who changed a lot of outlooks on dating. These books are fantastic reads and I don’t want to depreciate their value in any way. In fact, I highly recommend them. But at the end of the day, I’ve learned that God, and only God could lead me into the relationship that He wants me in. He is the best counselor. Next in line is my Pastor and his wife. I, as well as many of you, have Godly parents to turn to as well. These are the tools given to shape our spiritual dating life. Let’s take advantage of them.

I can’t wait to be a husband. I love kids more than life itself, I’m anticipating fatherhood. I struggle just like everybody. I want the mystery of this life-chapter to be solved at times. But even more so, I want it to last. I want to get it right the first time. If I fail to apply the God-appointed order, I’m asking for trouble.
God help us get this right!

Recently I was talking to Joshua Turrentine, a close friend of mine, and he gave me a few sobering pointers. He said a companion is meant to be a help-meet, not a help-complete. She is meant to accelerate our relationship with God. She is not required to perfect us.
All too often we feel empty or lonely, so we turn to the wrong alternative. The problem is not a lack of female involvement, but rather a lack of contentment with God.
I’ve seen good couples break up because they just couldn’t make it work with each other. I think the problem is typically handed off to the companion, when all the while the problem is a lack of Godly direction in the relationship.
Put God first.
If He is not the sole authority in your relationship, expect a split. It will not work any other way.

Just a few more opinions in closing.
I ran this thought past Kyle Morgan and Jordan Evans a few months ago, just to make sure I wasn’t crazy for feeling this way. Their exact words to me were: “Absolutely.”
It was comforting to know I wasn’t alone!
So from the unanimous guys perspective:
 Let him do the pursuing!
If he is interested in you, he’ll let you know it somehow or another.
When a girl pursues me, or makes it a point to go out of her way to impress me, that instantly raises a red flag.
That is my job. I am not fascinated or impressed by a girl who aggressively pursues me. 
And to the girls, if a guy is receptive of your abrasiveness, there may be a reason. Be careful.
Being patient is the hard part. A couple days ago, Daniel Brockman comically said to me, “Where are all the in-betweeners? There’s a huge group of older girls, and an even larger group of young girls, where’s our age bracket?”
It does seem that way at times. It tends to get frustrating because at times there seems to be nobody. And I’m sure you’ve all felt that way. But have hope. God will deliver just in time. 

Sis. Kathy Harr jolted some sobering words into me last week. I walked by her, not paying her any attention when she reached out and took my arm. “Kyle, don’t even think about settling down with some last minute girl. God has brought you too far, and now is not the time to give up. He has somebody perfect for you, hang on just a little while longer. Just give it a little more time. He has a job for you to do, and He won’t make you do it alone! Just give Him time to work.” Tears were rolling down her face, and I was fighting them away myself. I needed to be reassured so badly. And now I’m passing on her advice to you. Just a little while longer. God has called this group of young people to do a mighty work! He will not make us go alone. He will supply our help-meet as soon as we’re ready.
Until then, let us spend every moment learning what it means to fall passionately in love with the one who loves us unconditionally.
I want to do this right! And I know you do too. Even to the ones who have erred from doing things in order, let God make the difference. He’s a perfect redeemer. That’s what He does. Let Him do His job. Our guilt and stress has hindered God from using us long enough.
I can’t rest until I know I’m nestled in the core of His will. I admonish you to do the same. Is there any other way?
The psalmist penned it so beautifully. He perfectly captures the love and concern that God has for us. As you read this, forget all about your petty problems and realize God is crazy about you and has no intentions of leaving you alone.

O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it. Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother’s womb.
I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.
For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.
Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting…
~Psalm 139~

I’m tired Lord. I’m so tired.
I’m weary. I’m wayward. I’m despondent.
I’m thirsty. I’m parched. I’m cracked.
Fix me.

I’ve repented.
I’ve fallen upon Your mercy.
I’ve relied on Your forgiveness.
Enough is enough.

Back to the outer courts.
Back to the laver.
Back to the looking glass.
It stinks here.
It’s hot here.
I don’t belong here.
I left long ago.
Home?
Anywhere but here.

Your temple.
I’ve been there.
How innocent.
How virtuous.
How…familiar.

One day?
Perhaps I’ll come when I can stay.
In and out. Back and forth.
Me.

Please.
Change my heart oh God.
Make it ever true.
Cast me not away.
Take not Your holy spirit from me.
Renew me.
Unworthy.

I don’t deserve You.
I don’t understand You.
Me? A beggar.
You? A wonder.

Where?
Where can I go to hide from Your grace?
What corner of the earth provides escape?
If You’d leave me alone, perhaps I would be at ease.
Unlikely.

Never.
You never give up.
You never forget.
You hold me.
You ease me.
You comfort me.

Mind blowing?
Your grace.
Your mercy.
Your redemption.
Your tolerance.

Love. You…love me.
You want me. I need you.
I am willing.
I give You my all.
I surrender.

Nothing.
I have nothing.
But it’s Yours.

Hold me.
Correct me.
Chasten me.
Embrace me.
Change me.
Oh God… Change me.