Prisoners of Hope!

In today’s reading, we read the 105th Psalm. Please read it for yourself:

Ps 105:6 O ye seed of Abraham his servant, ye children of Jacob his chosen.

Ga 3:7 Know ye therefore that they which are of faith, the same are the children of Abraham.

Ps 105:17 He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:

18 Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron:

19 Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.

I wish to focus on v19,  Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.

Joseph had a dream from God as a young man, and it was authentic. He would become the prime minister of Egypt. He believed that word, and then all hell broke loose against him. Instead of his brothers rejoicing and participating in his development willingly, they beat him up, threw him in a well, and sold him into slavery. Then, as God promoted him as a slave, he was falsely accused, and thrown into prison, and God was with him. Then, the chief cup bearer for Pharoah and baker ended up in prison, and Joseph’s gift of dream interpretation ‘read their mail’.

Looked like, finally Joe was headed for freedom, but nope, not yet…

There was a set time appointed by the Father for Joseph, and his life was on hold, while Egypt was being prepared for his leadership.

I love this verse. Joseph had a word from God!

Yet the very word he had received, tried him!

He had to believe he had heard God, no matter what the circumstances looked like…

Was Joseph trying the word of God?

Nope, the Word of God is already tried.

2Sa 22:31 As for God, his way is perfect; the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all them that trust in him.

Ps 18:30 As for God, his way is perfect: the word of the LORD is tried: he is a buckler to all those that trust in him.

Ps 12:6 The words of the LORD are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

So the word of God is already tried, God is holy and cannot lie.

It is us that need refinement, and believing a personal promise from God, when every circumstance is against us, provides that refinement.

Joseph is not alone in his trial, you and I are being tried too…

Job 23:10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Now, read: Heb 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Faith is a heavenly substance, and after we have believed we received, then what?

Then there is Bible hope.

In order to understand true Bible hope, I quote Kenneth Copeland:

“ If you look up the Greek definition of the word hope, you’ll find it means “to be intensely expectant, to be confidently looking forward to something you fully expect to happen.”

You can see this kind of hope in action in Philippians 1:19-20. There, the Apostle Paul says:

“I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and my hope…”

For emphasis, Paul used the two Greek words there that mean earnest expectation.

In other words, he was saying to them, “This thing is so inevitable I’m just burning up with expectancy!”

This sheds a brand new light on this wonderful verse brought before us pastors Terri and Steve Spanish of Victory.com, when we attended their connect group:

Zec 9:12 Turn you to the strong hold, ye prisoners of hope: even to day do I declare that I will render double unto thee;

When pastor Terri uttered those words, they literally leapt off of the page for me, under the illumination of the Holy Spirit.

Here is what I saw, clearly that night!

It is only after we have believed we received, that we need Bible hope. Hope is the total, passionate expectation that which we have believed, will surely come to pass.

The very word from God that we have believed, is what makes us a ‘prisoner of hope’. We see clearly by the illumination of the Holy Spirit, the vision of God for our lives, and no matter what the daily circumstances scream, we are captive to the vision. We have believed we have received, and each day, we fully expect that today is going to be the day it comes to pass!

This captivity, this heavenly vision, this faith in action, is what empowers us to:

2Ti 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

It empowered the apostle Paul, when he cheerfully proclaimed the gospel in chains:

Ac 26:19 Whereupon, O king Agrippa, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision:

The kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force!

We are in a war, it is the fight of faith!

To believe when it looks impossible, because faith makes the impossible, possible, in fact, inevitable!

When we have authentically heard God, that which He has spoken, tries us, refines us, forces us to grow, to discipline ourselves, to get equipped, trained, fit for service.

I believe this is what sustained Nelson Mandela through his years in prison, before becoming the first black leader in apartheid South Africa. God raised him up, through hardship, to be a vessel of great wisdom, compassion, mercy, strength, and forgiveness, in prison.

I believe he knew he would be President for many, many years before it happened, and that this inward knowing was his faith in operation, and that this word from God, tried him, just like it tried Joseph.

How about Martin Luther King? The words, ‘I Have A Dream!’ have been a battle cry against racism here in the United States since he rallied this nation to confront this great evil. He died for what he believed, yet his work is immortal, and still goes on today, for there is power in heavenly vision.

Think about President Abraham Lincoln: his repeated failures, yet, one of the greatest Presidents to ever live: http://www.abrahamlincolnonline.org/lincoln/education/failures.htm

As Paul Harvey says, ‘now for the rest of the story!”

Isa 61:7 For your shame ye shall have double; and for confusion they shall rejoice in their portion: therefore in their land they shall possess the double: everlasting joy shall be unto them.

Both yours and mine days of promotion and prominence will indeed come to pass, as we move forward in obedience to Holy Spirit, after we have believed we received.

Heaven is on its feet, the great cloud of heavenly witnesses, watching our course with joy, eternal testimony being written on parchment of time, we call, history.

Indeed it is HIS story, written in eternal record for all the universe to see, when we victoriously serve Jesus in this life!

Let the process have its work in you, remember, we never try the Word of God, it is trying us!

Let’s Pray:

‘Father God, I ask for confirmation, strength, encouragement, and fresh revelation of the vision for my brother or sister today. May we walk out, without compromise, the heavenly vision, and come out of this trial, perfect, entire, and lacking nothing. We ask this Father, in Your name Lord Jesus, Amen’

Jesus Marketing Plan!

Jesus marketing plan

Matt 8:1 ¶ When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.

As I work in ministry, how tempting it is to start networking, and knocking on doors to get speaking engagements, because truly, the Word of God burns within me, like a fire shut up in my bones!

Yet, instead, I have chosen Jesus method of public ministry, spending the needed hours quietly with my Father, praying, listening, and worshipping, so that I allow Him to open doors for my gift…He will do this for any of us, if we come away, come up the mountain, and spend the time needed in prayer.

Joshua 6:27 So the Lord was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout the land.

He will be with you, in your ministry, your business, your promotion, if you are seeking Him first, and His leading, timing, and way of doing things.

After prayer and fasting, and clear miracles from heaven we read in  Luke 4:14 “And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.”

Again we see our heavenly Father promoting Jesus here several verses later:

Luke 4:37 And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about.

When Jesus walked with our heavenly Father on the earth, even the king knew about it:

Matthew 14:1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus

When we walk with our Father, in spirit-led obedience, there is an honor that comes from heaven, that will bring promotion that no amount of networking can produce.

The ways of the kingdom, are often contrary to the ways of the world:

John 12: ²⁵ He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world shall keep it unto life eternal.

²⁶ If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will my Father honor.

Walking correctly with heaven is supernatural!
Needs will be met, miracles will be wrought, and people will seek you out for a Word from heaven.

I believe this works not only in ministry, but also in business, in our day to day jobs. God sets up divine appointments, and opportunities for promotion, miracles, and people who need ministry, for it is written: Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.

Truly, we do have friends in high places, the highest – the throne of God Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.

Let us live to please Him, and He will promote us His way, in His timing.

Let’s pray:
‘Father, I thank you for surrounding me with your favor, as with a shield. Thank you for grace, and intimacy with you today. I believe that you are opening doors for me, granting me favor, promotion, and fame, Your way. I choose to believe you are making a way for me, according to your perfect will, in Your name I pray Lord Jesus, Amen!’

The Great!

The Great I?

Pr 20:6 ¶ Most men will proclaim every one his own goodness: but a faithful man who can find?

“Look what God did for ME. Look at what I did! I built that!”

The insidious voice of pride…

Lucifer was the chief worship leader in heaven, yet he became lifted up in pride…

God only gives grace to the humble..

What about Jesus? His grace, goodness, gifts given that made it all possible. What about the person next to you, can we get out of ourselves long enough to at least ask how they are doing, and pray for them, or help them, recognizing that Jesus loves them too? Just sayin….

Let’s pray:
‘Father, put a muzzle on my mouth where I am blowing my own horn, and turn my testimony into praise, honor and glory to you. Help me to be faithful to you Lord Jesus, Amen’

Love My Enemies???

Love my enemies?

Mt 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Lu 6:27 But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you,

Two of the hardest verses in the Bible! Heard a business man this morning at men’s prayer ask for prayer for his enemies. I remember a couple of years ago, during an intensely competitive contract negotiation, that I found myself speaking evil of my competitors, trying to get that edge in the bidding process, to be awarded a very lucrative contract.
Heard another businessman, say, ‘It’s a dog eat dog, world, gotta do what you gotta do to win the rat race!’ Seemed like reasonable advice in the rough and tumble of construction contracts and bidding wars, but I was reading a good book one day, when the author made the statement:

‘Some say you gotta do what you gotta do, in order to win the rat race: well, I’m not a rat, and I’m running a different kind of race!”

The author is right. I am not a dog, I am not a rat, neither are you, if you are a blood bought child of the king, called to honor, dignity, respect, and the wisdom of God.

Reminds me of a funny story:
A farm boy got a white football for Christmas. He played with it awhile and then kicked it over into the neighbor’s yard. The old rooster ran out, looked at it, and called the hens to see it. “Now look here,” the rooster said, “I don’t want you girls to think I’m complaining, but I just want you to see what they are doing next door.”
Source Unknown.

Sure we work hard to feed our families, and to fight for our companies and ministries, but we are running a different race. An eternal race, with souls as the great prize we fight for. There are times God Himself will intervene in our lives, and businesses, and we will make decisions by His Spirit, that in the natural appear to be insane, for He may direct us to love our enemies, and to lay our swords down at times, as He has eternity, and eternal salvation on His mind.

We are all in business, the salvation business, the great commission, the harvest of souls. It has been said that Christian leadership can be the lonliness place on the planet, as we make decisions sometimes in love, in secret, in obedience to the Lord, that cost us personal sacrifices that only He can understand. Yet, understand, He does, and He keeps the books. There are things I have done, that at the time appeared business stupid, yet ten, twenty years later, bore much fruit for the kingdom, as He moved, saved, and transformed my previous enemies, and they came and told me about it, and that I was a major part of their salvation, My example caused them to come to Jesus, and change everything.
How we live, before our enemies in the business world, our leadership example in word and deed, will affect future generations.

Ps 73:15 If I say, I will speak thus; behold, I should offend against the generation of thy children.

Authority and Responsibility are simply two sides of the same coin. When we take responsibility to serve, go the extra mile, and pick up the slack to do what needs to be done, (even when it is not our job!), we find that we are promoted by God, and given more authority. Great authority, God’s way, is the grace and ability to serve more people. Dictators want authority, without responsibility. If we give them place in areas we have a God given responsibility to do for ourselves (is Food Stamps, government cell phones, benefits we didn’t earn) then we give them authority, they should never have been given.
I liked Ronald Reagan’s famous quote: ‘Me, I’m simply a servant of all, Guess you could call me the chief janitor in the White House’

Like Spiderman says as Peter Parker: ‘With great power, comes great responsibility’.

In the kingdom of God, it generally goes the other way: as we take more responsibility in serving, our promotion will come, and we will be given more authority, to serve more people.

Jesus summed it up like this:
Mr 10:44 And whosoever of you will be the chiefest, shall be servant of all.

Let’s pray:
‘Father, help me to be in the world victoriously, but not of it. Help me to gauge my decisions in light of your Word and Spirit, measuring my walk by your standards, not the mere standards of the world system, and business world. Speak to me, where I need to change and go, in your name I pray Lord Jesus, Amen’

Leadership Development and Timing!

Leadership Development and Process!
Luke 12:42

The Lord answered, “Who then is the faithful and wise manager, whom the master puts in charge of his servants to give them their food allowance at the proper time?

If we recognize that all authority, whether political or spiritual comes from God, we, as growing leaders determined to perform the perfect will of God for our lives, and the lives of those we lead, find ourselves, constantly, humbly, praying, seeking His face for wisdom, and studying to learn how to do things better

.

John 13:NIV
3 Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God; 4 so he got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing, and wrapped a towel around his waist. 5 After that, he poured water into a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet, drying them with the towel that was wrapped around him.
6 He came to Simon Peter, who said to him, “Lord, are you going to wash my feet?”
7 Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.”
8 “No,” said Peter, “you shall never wash my feet.”
Jesus answered, “Unless I wash you, you have no part with me.”
9 “Then, Lord,” Simon Peter replied, “not just my feet but my hands and my head as well!”
10 Jesus answered, “Those who have had a bath need only to wash their feet; their whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you.” 11 For he knew who was going to betray him, and that was why he said not every one was clean.
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.

Down is Up in God’s Kingdom.

Seems that the heart of true leadership, is the call to honestly love and serve God’s people. As we grow in grace and humility, it is only so that we can do more to empower, equip, prosper, educate, disciple, heal, and love the people God has called us to lead.

Mark 9:35 The Voice (VOICE)
It is only natural for the disciples to wonder which of them will be His right-hand man. Even the three disciples who have just seen Jesus’ glory revealed in the transfiguration cannot resist the attraction of honor. After all, who has a better claim than they do to being the greatest of Jesus’ disciples?
Fortunately Jesus overhears what is said and is quick to respond in mercy to correct their mistake. Greatness in His eyes doesn’t consist of seeing wonders or performing miracles or even fasting and praying. Instead, greatness is about humility and service. These are the heart of the kingdom of heaven.

35 He sat down with the twelve to teach them.
Jesus: Whoever wants to be first must be last, and whoever wants to be the greatest must be the servant of all.
As I am reading, yet another book on leadership, learning, growing, developing, and allowing my weaknesses of character and understanding to be exposed, and rebuilt upon the impregnable foundation of the Word of God, I read this quote, that prompted the writing of this article.

‘A new moral principal is emerging which holds that only authority deserving one’s allegiance is that which is freely and knowingly granted by the led to the leader in response to, and in proportion to, the clearly evident servant stature of the leader. Those who choose to follow this principal will not casually accept the authority of existing institutions. Rather, they will freely respond only to individuals who are chosen as leaders because they are proven and trusted as servants.’

Servant Leadership, A Journey into the Nature of Legitimate Power and Greatness, Robert K Greenleaf

Perhaps humility and servant-hood are new concepts in the business world, but they are not new to the kingdom of God. Seems that down is up in the kingdom, for God gives grace, that is power, authority, wisdom, and influence, to the humble…

2 Corinthians 8:9
You know the grace that has come to us through our Lord Jesus the Anointed. He set aside His infinite riches and was born into the lowest circumstance so that you may gain great riches through His humble poverty.

The riches of heaven come to us, because God, the Creator of Heaven and earth, not only humbled Himself to become a man, Christ Jesus, but then emptied Himself of every earthly rank, position, and privilege, and accepted a beggars death upon the cross, that the wrath, the judgment, the punishment each of us deserve, might be poured upon Himself. God within God, doing the infinite, that we, the finite, might be reconciled, to Him.

As leaders, we become shepherds, called of God to lead, feed, and protect God’s people, as they grow in their particular gifts and callings.

1 Peter 5: 2 When you shepherd the flock God has given you, watch over them not because you have to but because you want to. For this is how God would want it not because you’re being compensated somehow but because you are eager to watch over them. 3 Don’t lead them as if you were a dictator, but lead your flock by example; 4 and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will be crowned with honor that will shine brightly forever. 5 You who are younger in the faith: do as your elders and leaders ask. All of you should treat each other with humility, for as it says in Proverbs, God opposes the proud
but offers grace to the humble.[a]  6 So bow down under God’s strong hand; then when the time comes, God will lift you up. 7 Since God cares for you, let Him carry all your burdens and worries.

Humility is rarely a virtue that our culture values. We’re trained from an early age to show our strengths and hide our weaknesses. This type of thinking also spills over into our models of leadership, as we learn to dictate to others how they should perform.

Peter, however, says that we should be humble in our relationships with one another and not lead as dictators. In fact, this humility before one another and God is actually the position of the greatest strength. Our enemy desires to consume us, but we find strength to resist him when we are dependent upon God for His strength.

These verses bring me great comfort, as I daily prepare for the calling and task before me:

James 4:6 But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

James 4:10 Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

When I saw Sadhu Sundar Singh in Europe, he had completed a tour around the world. People asked him, Doesn’t it do harm, your getting so much honor?” The Sadhu’s answer was: “No. The donkey went into Jerusalem, and they put garments on the ground before him. He was not proud. He knew it was not done to honor him, but for Jesus, who was sitting on his back. When people honor me, I know it is not me, but the Lord, who does the job.”

Corrie Ten Boom, Each New Day

In the quote, that prompted this article, I am reminded of this verse:

Psalm 110:3 Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.

There is, I believe, a day of God’s power, an unveiling of a masterpiece, whereby God Himself, sets in the public eye, a leader that He may have been preparing secretly, for many decades. For those of us in that divine development process, this verse should again bring comfort:

1 Peter 5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

In order to be a leader a man must have followers. And to have followers, a man must have their confidence. Hence the supreme quality of a leader is unquestionably integrity. Without it, no real success is possible, no matter whether it is on a section gang, on a football field, in an army, or in an office. If a man’s associates find him guilty of phoniness, if they find that he lacks forthright integrity, he will fail. His teachings and actions must square with each other. The first great need, therefore, is integrity and high purpose.

Dwight D. Eisenhower, Bits & Pieces, September 15, 1994, p. 4

There is a set time, and appointed time for the release of our gift into the earth. Perhaps, like me, you clearly see that the time is close, and appears to be, NOW! Yet, despite the incredible vision God has given you, and the personal promises He has spoken to you, the time, is yet for an appointed time.

Habakkuk 2
King James Version (KJV)
2 I will stand upon my watch, and set me upon the tower, and will watch to see what he will say unto me, and what I shall answer when I am reproved.
2 And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it.
3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry.
4 Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

Daily, we seek Him, set upon our watch, listening carefully for what He might speak to us, carefully documenting and writing the vision, yet though we press for it in faith, it is for an appointed time, and there is nothing we can do to make it happen any quicker, so, if we are wise, we diligently prepare…

Ps 105:16 Moreover he called for a famine upon the land: he brake the whole staff of bread.
17 He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant:
18 Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron:
19 Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him.

The very promises of God, spoken to your heart, are testing and trying you.

You are not testing the word of God – it is testing you!

Notice this verse though. Before Joseph was brought from the prison to the palace, the Sovereign judgments of God were in the earth. Joseph was tried, trained, and prepared in the brutal circumstances of an Egyptian prison, yet the hardness worked a work in Joseph, causing him to become a strong leader, in what for Egypt, were some brutal times.

Brutal times are again coming to the earth, in many nations. I think of my years as a missionary, working underground in a mine, on boats, in the competitive field of triathlon, in construction.

There have been tough times, brutal people and circumstances, hard things that have happened.

Yet, over the decades, in places often far from the comforts of the familiar, of family, of friends, I have met Jesus, and walked with Him, daily now, for many, many years.

As much as I love my family, my church, my country, and now this country I am called to, I love Jesus more, and know Him….He has been totally faithful, no matter what people or circumstances have done to me…He is faithful to you too!

Let’s pray:
‘Father, keep me focused upon my purpose, Your personal promises to me and my family. May I not become distracted, discouraged, dismayed as I stay in the press towards the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. May I lead, and develop as a servant leader, daily, determined to grow, develop, seek, hear, and walk in holiness, without compromise, flying straight and true, to the calling You have placed upon my life, in Your name I pray Lord Jesus, Amen!’