Showing posts with label repentance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label repentance. Show all posts

Friday, November 6, 2015

"World Champions! A Prophetic Sign to the Church from Prophet Bob Jones, As Kansas City Royals Win World Series" by Bob Jones, Submitted by Bonnie Jones - The Elijah List


The Royals had come from behind again for an 8th time in their 11 postseason games, securing their first World Series title since 1985 (click here for story).
It's been thirty years since Bob Jones' prophecy that the Kansas City Royals would be World Champs. In the spring of 1985 when Bob brought this wild and outrageous prophecy, the Royals were in the basement. People laughed and sneered at Bob calling him a false prophet, but God would prove him to be trusted and true. The Royals began to rise in the stats and go on to win the World Series against the St. Louis Cardinals.
In the fall of 2010 Bob was in a powerful trance where the Father took him to a baseball field and reminded him of past revelation. He also gave Bob understanding of the present condition of the Church and things to come. I want to share this powerful experience, which also includes both "Baseball Prophecies" from 1985 and 1995.
These prophecies were parables to the Church, establishing love, faith, godly wisdom, grace and justice. After thirty years (that represents the royal priesthood), Kansas City once again holds the title of winners of "The World Series". I believe the fact that the Royals made a comeback in the 12th inning scoring 5 runs says there is grace for the royal priesthood of Believers to establish new government. And they will be the "World Champions" as you will read in Bob's last prophecy about the Church being International.
Be blessed as you read these exciting prophecies. Congratulations Kansas City Royals!
Bonnie Jones
The Prophetic Ministry of Bob and Bonnie Jones
World Champions!
(Transcribed from World Champions Message, By Bob Jones from 2010)
Home Base
A couple of weeks ago, I was in a high level trance; one of the highest ones that I have known in recent years. The Lord came and took me to a field and it had been covered with snow for two years. We walked out on this field and He told me to uncover a place where He pointed. So I began to rake the snow away from the place that He said, and I realized it was a baseball plate. I didn't rake off all of the snow I just saw it was a baseball plate. 
And He said, "That's all I want you to see. This is home base and now the sun will melt the snow off of the rest of it. You did all I want you to do right now. I just wanted to show you that this is home base."
I believe the Church is getting ready to come back to the bases. And home base is also the beginning and the end. It's where you start, and it's also where you win. I believe that we had a start, but I think we're coming into a year of winning.
Then He said, "Do you know what home base is?" And I'm thinking, No not really. He said, "I've given you revelation in the past where home base is. But mainly home base is going to be repentance and prayer. These things that I've shown you in the past, I can begin to bring it in step-by-step." He said,"This field had been snowed under for two years."
So I believe the Church is going through two years of really hard, dark times. It was like we didn't know where to go, and it was like a blanket of snow was on everything. I don't think this snow meant righteousness. I think it meant two years of trouble. 
These two years of trouble were coming to an end because it had accomplished some of the things it was meant to do.
Field of Dreams
He said, "This base is international!" So I'm not speaking about one church here; I'm speaking about the Church worldwide. 
And He reminded me that twice before I brought a prophecy about a baseball game. Also that it reminded me of a movie called, "Field of Dreams." So I think for two years we've been plowing things under in a time of not knowing what we were doing. But we were doing our best to obey what He was telling us to do just like the Field of Dreams. I believe that this "Field of Dreams" is getting ready to be revealed like it was in the movie. He told me to just repeat what you did twenty-five years ago.
Kansas City Royals – 1985
On May 21st of 1985, I brought a word in Kansas City about a baseball game, and it was about the Kansas City Royals. At that time the Kansas City Royals were then in the cellar. They hadn't won a game in quite a long while and nobody was paying much attention to them. 
My word was this, "The Kansas City Royals was going to come forth and was going to begin to win. They were going to be world champions in 1985."(Photo via flickr)
This is what I saw in the vision: I saw that it was the last half of the 9th inning and satan's team was in the field and the Lord's team was at bat, and the Lord's team had two outs. 
So the Lord sent in His first batter and this batter was Love. 
So satan pitched the ball and Love swung and it was a base hit. One on.
Love is the thing that's going to be the base. Love has got to be the basis of all things in Christianity. 
And I believe this is the year true Christians are going to be known for the love they have for one another. True servants of the Lord. They're going to be brought into a place of loving one another to where they have total control over their tongue, over their conversation, and how they express and present things. 
These three things: conversation, expression and presentation are going to be done in love. There's no defense the enemy has against love.
Instead of gossip, slander, and all of these wrong things, I think that when true disciples of the Lord speak, it will be something you want to listen to. Because if they haven't got something good to say about somebody, they won't say anything. But when they're saying something good about somebody you want to hear about it, because it's going to be the truth.
So, the first batter was Love. Well, faith worketh by love. 
Then the Lord sent His second batter out and His name was Faith. 
Faith pleases God and he can't fail. So, satan pitched the ball. Faith swung. Base hit. Two on!
So, I believe the Lord is calling us to a place of faith. Faith to me is three things. Humility to me is simply being obedient to the written Word of God, the logos, for it is the law book that shows us how to grow up. And if you grow up, your conversation is going to be right. I believe there's a work in humility that I could also call obedience, but you can also call it faith.
These three things I see as one: humility, obedience, and faith. 
You cannot study the Word without adding faith to it. If you obey it, then faith is going to automatically begin to move in you because you believe the logos. Then the living Words will start coming out of you. When it does, that faith can swing and it will be a base hit.
Then the Lord brought out His third batter. His name was Godly Wisdom. 
And satan pitched the ball, and Godly Wisdom looked over the ball and let it pass. Satan pitched the second ball; He looked it over and let it pass. Satan pitched a third ball; Godly Wisdom looked it over and also let it pass. Then satan pitched a fourth ball; Godly Wisdom looked it over and let it pass. 
You see, Godly Wisdom won't swing at what satan is throwing at him.(Photo via flickr)
Many times satan throws us things and our tongue can speak it, but Godly Wisdom won't allow it. Many times Godly Wisdom is in our ambitions and everything, because the enemy opens doors the Holy Spirit is not opening for us, and we enter those doors by not discerning whether the Lord wants us to or not. We should go to Him. 
When a door opens, we should go to find out who opens it, and you'll know real quick-like. Is it love? Is it faith? Well, if it's these things then it will be our witness to what the Holy Spirit's opening. But if it's our ambition, like money, then many times the enemy opens that door to distract us.
So Godly Wisdom looks them over and lets them all pass. Bases loaded! And the Lord is sending in a pinch hitter. Nobody's ever seen him before, and I don't think this generation has seen him. 
His name is Grace; great Grace.
So satan winds up and pitches. It was a tremendous hit. And satan's hollering, "Don't worry about it. I've got beelzebub (another name for satan or demon) in center field and he's never let a fly get by." By the way, flies mean lies. And so the ball is going to center field and beelzebub is hollering, "I got it! I got it!"
But it went right through his glove and banged him in the head, and down come beelzebub. Home run! Grand slam!
Why didn't Love, Faith, and Godly Wisdom get you through? They are only steps to prepare you for great Grace, and great Grace will get you home. The others will get you one base but great Grace will get you home!
I believe we are starting the Season of Love. And as we begin to love one another and be known throughout the world by the love we have for one another, we'll begin to see faith really rise up and get an answer to things. 
We'll begin to see the Body of Christ mature into Godly Wisdom to where we totally bridle our tongue so that when we speak, things happen. These are all a preparation for great Grace to get us home.
This was a parable of the Kansas City Royals when I brought it in 1985. They were in the cellar when I spoke this prophecy. I was pretty young in prophecy then and was really sweating it because it went all over town, and everybody said we'd know he's a false prophet because that's not going to happen.
Well, the Royals began to win immediately and they kept winning. They advanced to the World Series and the final game was played in Kansas City against the St. Louis Cardinals. After six games played they were tied with three games each. This was the final game of the series. 
And if I've ever seen a fix, Papa had a fix in on this game because the Cardinals were a powerful team, and everybody said Kansas City doesn't stand a chance because the Cardinals are a far better team. They had a far better coach and all the money was bet on the Cardinals. (Photo via flickr)
So the game was played. It really got frustrating for the Cardinals because everything they did disintegrated, while everything the Royals did ended in home runs. It finally ended with the Royals 11 – Cardinals 0. I believe that number 11 is important because we are getting ready to start 2011.
Atlanta Braves – 1995
In 1995, I attended a MorningStar conference in Fort Mill (in South Carolina). I was living in Panama City, Florida and I was on my way up there. I was thinking of that baseball game, and that I needed to bring that prophecy again. 
(Paul) Keith Davis was driving me and said, "Bob, I think you ought to bring that prophecy again." I said, "That's my confirmation." When I got there, I told them I have a prophecy I want to bring and I started sharing the baseball story with them. I hadn't heard this before, but as I shared it I said, "This year it will be the Atlanta Braves," and I didn't know that till the second I spoke it. But Atlanta Braves will be the World Champions this year. So needless to say we really watched the baseball games that year.
It was the sixth game of the World Series played in Atlanta against the Cleveland Indians. The score was 0-0 going into the last half of the 9th inning and Atlanta had 2 outs, and a man by the name of David Justice comes up to the plate. He hit a home run. I believe "David's Justice" has a real meaning to it. And Atlanta was the winner that year. They became World Champions. 
I believe the Lord is talking about world champions.
World Champs – The Church
Now this is the third time I'm bringing this prophecy. He didn't tell me the name of a baseball team. There's going to be winners. I think He said the Church is the winner this year. I think the Church has sort of been in the cellar. Like literally, on our knees praying.
I think the Church is going to come out of the cellar and out of the dark place. 
The cellar is dark. I think sometimes the cellar can be a comfort zone. I think we're going to come out of our comfort zone and we're going to come out into the light. And I think you're getting ready to see these four things working in the Church this year: Love bringing forth FaithGodly Wisdom, and get ready for Grace to come to the plate. 
(Photo via Pixabay)
Home base: I think everything He's talking about is home base. Everything He's talking about here will be international – worldwide. 
I think we're getting ready for our Father's game to start, and I don't believe the enemy's going to be able to stop the ball from rolling. And no matter what he pitches at the Church, the Church is going to knock in a home run, because I think our Daddy has got the fix in. And I think He's appointed the Church to begin to be aware this year – to where those that don't know Him will see there's something behind these people that are representing Him.
So I think that snow has melted and the trouble is long gone. I think spring is getting ready to spring forth in the Church, and I believe you're getting ready to hear the song birds again; praise on a level like we've never heard before. I think the long, hard winter is over but the trouble in the world is only beginning. And I think the trouble in the true Church is coming to an ending, by us joining one to the other in love. 
For there's no weapon the enemy's got that can defeat love. So get ready for love to be the main message you'll hear. 
And you don't have to worry about the faith because if you have love it will come. Where you have that love and that faith, it will discern to where Godly Wisdom will have its way.
I believe we're in a time of tremendous change. 
In a time where you're going to see Christians with a smile on her face because they're going to be world winners. Get ready because you're a winner! Our old winter is gone and you're the World Champions. It's getting ready to be revealed worldwide this coming year.
Bob's Prayer for the Body
In Jesus name, I do bless you. And let your eyes open to see that love will enter into you and have His perfect work in you and bring you to that place so you'll be a vessel of love poured out to all who come your way. In Jesus name, amen.
Bob Jones, submitted by Bonnie Jones

The Prophetic Ministry of Bob and Bonnie Jones

Email: click here
Website: bobjones.org
Bonnie Jones has a great love for the Lord, the Word, and the Cross of Jesus. She loves children and enjoys blessing them with a gift of joy, truth, love, and encouragement. Bonnie moved to Charlotte, North Carolina, in 2001 to attend Morning Star School of Ministry; in 2005 she met Bob Jones and they were married the following year 
(Bob Jones went home to be with the Lord in 2014). Bonnie moves in a seer prophetic gifting as well as healing and miracles. Her passion is to see women set free from the fear of man and step into their gifts and calling.
Bob Jones went home to be with the Lord on February 14, 2014. Bob was known as a contemporary prophet with a great love for the Lord Jesus and His truth. His prophecies have spanned over four decades as the Lord has enabled him to foretell earthquakes, tidal waves, comets, and weather patterns. 
Like Daniel who functioned at an incredible level, Bob has often told leaders their dreams and experiences, as well as the interpretation. After his death experience in 1975, God sent him back to minister to Church leadership and reach the multitudes with His love and truth, and to equip the saints with understanding of the spiritual gifts. God promised Bob that he would see the beginning of one billion souls coming into the Kingdom in one great wave of the end time harvest.

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Wednesday, September 30, 2015

Prophecy: You Can Sound the Alarm, But ... Jennifer LeClaire

Do you believe in miracles?
Do you believe in miracles? (Flickr )



Nine months ago, I heard in my spirit a strong and clear word from the Lord. This encounter was at a stadium prayer event that changed my mind about the supernatural—and signs and wonders have been following me ever since.
I'll always remember it. It was January 24, 2015 at The Response prayer rally in Baton Rouge. Thousands of people were crying out to God for our nation when I heard the words below in that still small voice I so love. I've waited nine months to release them on this platform because I wanted to gain a deeper understanding of what the Lord was saying—and I was waiting for His timing. I believe the time is now. Here is the prophecy:
"My blood is sufficient. My covenant is sure. 2 Chronicles 7:14 is truth. You need not operate in fear but embrace the power to cleanse that's inherent in repentance. I want to cleanse America. But it starts with purifying your hearts.
"The church in this hour must herald the message of repentance in the same way as preachers in the Voice of Healing movement heralded the message of healing. Then will you see the manifestation of My presence and the wells of the supernatural will be unlocked and many who are lost will be restored to My love.
"It starts with the message of repentance. This is the message that I need you to shout from the rooftops in this hour. Everything the church needs to fulfill her call in this hour flows from a contrite heart. You can sound the alarm but without repentance it will fall on deaf ears.
"Many are entering eternity every day without My Son because they have not heard this message. Some of them are sitting in the church right now. Start there with this message and it will position the church to rise up in My power for My glory."
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When I asked the Lord how the voice of healing preachers heralded the message of healing, He gave me three points: repetitive, passionate and scriptural.
The Voice of Healing preachers were repetitive. You heard many of the same core messages about God's power to heal and deliver over and over again in these tent meetings. The Voice of Healing preachers were passionate. Think of A.A. Allen jumping up and down and Jack Coe's exuberant singing. And, of course, the Voice of Healing preachers were scriptural. These preachers knew that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word (see Rom. 10:17) and they kept their messages in line with the Word of God.
Two-Sides to One Word
After much prayer, I've come to the conclusion that there are two sides to this prophetic word: We need to repent in the sense that we need to ask forgiveness of our sins and stand in the gap for our nation. Indeed, we need to see repentance in the church—widespread repentance. But it's not just changing the way we think about sin—and turning away from it—that is required in this hour. We need to change the way we think about the supernatural.
When Jesus rebuked the cities of Chorazin and Bethsaida for not repenting after they saw the mighty miracles He did (see Matt. 11:20-21), that word repent is the Greek word "metanoeo." Metanoeo means "to change one's mind, i.e. to repent; to change one's mind for the better, heartily to amend with abhorrence of one's past sins."
The spirit of religion, along with a lukewarm mindset, prayerlessness and the tradition of men, has all but killed miracles, signs and wonders in our churches. Paul saw this threat in his day, which is why he gave his spiritual son Timothy this advice about those in the church that "have a form of godliness but deny its power." In 2 Timothy 3:5 he said, "Turn away from such people."
We need to turn away from thoughts that limit God in our lives. We need to turn away from a powerless expression of the gospel. We need to turn back toward faith in God to heal the sick, cast out demons and, yes, even raise the dead. God is a God of miracles! Jesus walked on water. Jesus healed a man born blind. Jesus healed the deaf and dumb. Jesus fed many thousands of people with a few loaves and fishes—more than once. Jesus raised people from the dead. Jesus healed a man's withered hand. Jesus turned water into wine. Jesus healed a paralytic.
Getting Back to the Great Commission
I could go on and on—and it wasn't just Jesus. The apostles and the disciples in the book of Acts did miracle after miracle—even special miracles so that handkerchiefs which Paul had touched were brought to the sick who were then healed (see Acts 19:11-12). And Jesus told them, "Truly, truly I say to you, he who believes in Me will do the works that I do also. And he will do greater works than these, because I am going to My Father. I will do whatever you ask in My name, that the Father may be glorified in the Son" (John 14:12-13).
The supernatural is part of the Great Commission! A lost and dying world doesn't want to engage with a lukewarm religion. In fact, it's obvious that the world finds lukewarm Christianity tasteless. When Jesus issued the Great Commission in Mark 16, He was very clear that "these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues; They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover."
We need to repent—to change the way we think about the supernatural. We need to believe God to walk in His supernatural power. People are dying and going to hell because the power of the gospel has not been demonstrated. Religion in many cases has replaced relationship. It's time to press into what God wants to do in this hour—and I believe He wants to restore the supernatural to the church in a convincing way. Like Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, said: "For the kingdom of God is not in word, but power" (1 Cor. 4:20). 
Jennifer LeClaire is senior editor of Charisma. She is also director of Awakening House of Prayer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, co-founder of awakeningtv.com, on the leadership team of the New Breed Revival Network and author of several books, including The Next Great Move of God: An Appeal to Heaven for Spiritual AwakeningMornings With the Holy Spirit, Listening Daily to the Still, Small Voice of GodThe Making of a Prophet and Satan's Deadly Trio: Defeating the Deceptions of Jezebel, Religion and Witchcraft. You can visit her website here. You can also join Jennifer on Facebook or follow her on Twitter. Jennifer's Periscope handle is @propheticbooks.
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Tuesday, August 25, 2015

"I Am Releasing the WHISTLE BLOWERS Throughout the Earth!" Steve Shultz

August 25, 2015 - Important Repost from April 2, 2015: 
"I Am Releasing the WHISTLE BLOWERS
 Throughout the Earth!"
Steve Shultz, Albany, OR

Steve ShultzFrom the desk of Steve Shultz:

In light of many recent events in the media and news, some of our readers have written to me about this prophetic vision and word I posted on April 2, 2015 about God releasing "Whistle Blowers" throughout the earth... and as you can all see, it's been happening, BIG TIME!

Because of that, some have written to me asking if I would re-release (or repost on Facebook) this word because it's been coming true in a big way, even in recent days!

We are in a season of seeing more and more whistle blowers... and hidden things all over the earth have been or are about to be revealed.

Many of our readers know that I am a grace-filled messenger and I continually talk about God's amazing, life-giving GRACE.... and for that reason I believe He is giving a message to the Church at large about this as I share in this word:

"...He is going to release the whistle blowers, first a few at a time and then more, and finally a massive release of whistle blowers will be released on the earth, such that the hidden corruption many are playing with – "FROM THE AVERAGE HOUSE to the CHURCH HOUSE, from the STATE HOUSE to the WHITE HOUSE" – will be revealed to all.

"...this is a good time for EACH OF US to walk circumspectly, living a life of repentance, being faithful in the small things..."

I encourage all of us to read this word again and ask the Lord if there are any areas in our own lives that need a healing/transformation, etc.

Enjoy! And thanks for forwarding this to your friends! They can subscribe just below...

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Steve Shultz, Founder and Publisher
The Elijah List & Breaking Christian News 


http://www.elijahlist.com


P.S. – Oh, and a Quick Note to our readers: To have daily, encouraging prophetic emails from The Elijah List sent to your inbox, just CLICK HERE or go to: http://elijahlist.com/subscribe. PLUS: HEY! Please EXPLORE our more than 4,000 Christian Prophetic books, CDs, and gifts at: elijahshopper.com.


HR


Important Repost: "I Am Releasing the WHISTLE BLOWERS Throughout the Earth!"
Steve Shultz, Albany, OR

Prophetic word previously posted on April 2, 2015:

This week (in a vision), I saw a football field that looked more like a college field with the bleachers on only one side of the field. Both teams were playing on the "Left" and the "Right."

As the teams played, all seemed normal. From time to time, the refs would throw down a penalty flag, as one team or the other was caught in an infraction of both the letter and spirit of the rules. The crowd watching had no inkling that much more was going on, which was "illegal or improper" within the game – but the refs would only call the normal or rare penalty.

On the opposite side of the field was a large rectangular, plain brown building, with no apparent reason for it being there. Suddenly the door was quickly opened, and a man in a business suit and a nicely dressed woman came running out onto the field during the game. Each threw a penalty flag down and blew a loud whistle. The field refs were confused, as was the crowd. These "trespassers" were ushered off the field by security and the game proceeded.

Suddenly a large door opened in the same brown building and 4-5 people, dressed in various ways, from a plumber and a baker to a doctor and a nurse, ran out on the field in the middle of the game, throwing down penalty flags and all blowing whistles at the same time.

Finally, they too were cleared and the game continued one last time until suddenly, multiple doors were flung open from the brown building and hundreds and hundreds of men, women and children ran onto the field, throwing down penalty flags and blowing whistles. The sound was deafening. The game had been overwhelmed and had to be cancelled.

The official refs were left clueless as to what to do. Their day was finished as well. Their own GAME WAS OVER!

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WHAT THE SPIRIT IS SAYING:

I heard the Spirit say, "I AM releasing the WHISTLE BLOWERS throughout the earth! Prepare, for everything hidden will be revealed!"

Then the Spirit began to lay out God's plan:
He is going to release the whistle blowers, first a few at a time and then more, and finally a massive release of whistle blowers will be released on the earth, such that the hidden corruption many are playing with – "FROM THE AVERAGE HOUSE to the CHURCH HOUSE, from the STATE HOUSE to the WHITE HOUSE" – will be revealed to all.

I knew in my spirit that since the Whistle Blowers are being released, this is a good time for EACH OF US to walk circumspectly, living a life of repentance, being faithful in the small things, because God is about to BLOW HIS WHISTLE and RELEASE THE WHISTLE BLOWERS – and END THIS GAME.

Blessings,

Steve Shultz, Founder and Publisher
The Elijah List & Breaking Christian News 

Steve Shultz is the Founder of The Elijah List, the largest online publication focused on the prophetic ministry. Steve Shultz had his first prophetic dream in 1984 and spent much of the 1980's and 1990's learning to hear God's voice. His first book, "Can't You Talk Louder, God"details a lot of his prophetic journey. In 1994, God released him to prophesy to others and he's been doing it ever since. He began publishing The Elijah List in 1997, which now goes to many hundreds of thousands of readers daily through the web, emails, Facebook, and Twitter. 

When Steve ministers on the prophetic, his purpose is not only to encourage others with this prophetic gift, but to train them on the lavish grace and mercy given to us by Jesus Christ. "Ministry to others without really stretching them regarding the PROPHETIC GRACE and THE GOODNESS OF THE LORD, would be no fun at all!" he says. Steve has been married 37 years and he and his wife, Derene have 3 grown children and one grandchild.

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Wednesday, July 1, 2015

A Surprising Prophetic Word About the Supreme Court Same-Sex Marriage Ruling

God is compelling his bride, the church, to rise up in intercession, and now.
God is compelling his bride, the church, to rise up in intercession, and now. (Lightstock )
As news began to spread regarding the Supreme Court's 5-4 decision to legalize homosexual marriage in America this past week, my heart was filled with an unusual mixture of hope and crisis as I got on my knees before the Lord.
I immediately began to seek the Father regarding His perspective on the ruling and I believe He said to me, "In the natural, the Supreme Court justices have just legalized homosexual marriage in America, but little do they know that they also just authorized an awakening of the Spirit in My bride. For know that now is the time to turn inward, it is a time of repentance and fasting for My people. Has their laziness and blindness on the issue of sexual immorality in their midst not given the homosexual agenda its true power? America has now legalized homosexual immorality because the American church legalized heterosexual immorality first."
I immediately received a powerful vision of intercessors gathering from all over America in response to the ruling. They gathered and began to pray, but what they were interceding about was very displeasing to the Father. I listened very carefully to the cries and prayers of the intercessors in the vision and this is what they were crying out: "Father, we repent for the sins of America! Father, we ask that you would turn the hearts of homosexuals back to you. Father, bring justice to these people!"
As I listened in to these continual prayers, the Father said to me, "Do you know what's wrong with these prayers Jeremiah? They are all focused on the call for America to repent when I have called My bride to repent! You must tell the intercessors to shift their focus from America to My bride. Their self-righteous hearts and blindness to their own sin is a stench in my nostrils. The issues coming forth in the United States is not an American problem, it's an American Church problem."
America is in a crisis, but the American church is in a greater crisis. We are and will continue to reap what we have sown and that is seeds of silence and tolerance on the key issues of our day that have come before the Father as sin.
As Abraham Kuyper once said, "When principles that run against your deepest convictions begin to win the day, then battle is your calling, and peace has become sin; you must, at the price of dearest peace, lay your convictions bare before friend and enemy, with all the fire of your faith."
I believe that God the Father is releasing burning and shining lamps in America to sound the alarm and wake up the bride of Christ from her slumber (see John 5:35). He is bringing forth a worthy bride in the earth right now who will make herself ready by voluntarily choosing to love His Son Jesus.
In Revelation 3, Jesus told the church at Sardis, "You have the appearance of being alive, but you are dead." It is this same message, that the American church has every sign of thriving, every program known to man, every self-help workshop, yet they are spiritually dead that will awaken the bride and call her back to her first love.
I want to encourage intercessors and leaders across America to take the plank out of our own eyes before we begin judging homosexuals and the lifestyle that they have chosen (see Matthew 7:5). While I do believe that these individuals are choosing to blatantly sin and will be judged by God Himself for their behavior (see Romans 14:12), we have an obligation as believers in Jesus Christ to look within our own lives and in our own spiritual communities and ask the Spirit of truth to search us inwardly before we begin calling others to accountability (see Psalm 51:6).
My hope today is in Jesus Christ and in His desire to call His bride to the place of repentance and fasting in this hour. There is no other hope for the American church. We must remember that the heart of a religious Pharisee continues to cry out, "Thank God I'm not like them" (see Luke 18:11). May we repent to the Father for our failure as the bride of Christ to preach holiness and purity to those that call themselves believers in Jesus and for our self-righteous attitudes toward those who are in need of His grace and mercy.
I fully recognize the crisis that is here and will only increase in the days ahead if we as the bride of Christ do not turn to the Lord Jesus and repent of our sins. Let us choose wisely which path we walk. Shall we put our hope in Him and the invitation to look inward in this hour and examine our own hearts as the bride or shall we welcome continual crisis by becoming more consumed with the American problem than the American church problem?
Remember, reformation never comes to a society before it first comes to the church!
Jeremiah Johnson planted Heart of the Father Ministry in Lakeland, Florida and is on the Eldership Team. A gifted teacher, book author, and prophetic minister, Jeremiah travels extensively throughout the United States and abroad as a conference and guest speaker. Jeremiah and his wife, Morgan, reside in Florida with their two children: Bella Grace and Israel David. Check out Jeremiah's new book release, I See A New Prophetic Generation and visit him online at Behold the Man Ministries or connect with him on Facebook."
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Wednesday, April 22, 2015

7 Reasons Why Christian Leaders (and Christians) Fall

7 Reasons Why Christian Leaders (and Christians) Fall


How can you avoid falling as a Christian?
How can you avoid falling as a Christian? (Flickr/Creative Commons)
​Recently​, two of my heroes have fallen from grace, and some of my friends in pastoral ministry have taken detours in their destiny as well. Moral failings among leaders are becoming an epidemic. No one is beyond the reach of Satan's grasp. Although I'm disappointed, my faith is not shaken because only Christ should be placed on a pedestal.
Why do they fall? They fall for the same reason that all Christians fall. Each of us are drawn away by our own evil desires and enticed. When these desires are acted upon, they lead to sin (cf. James 1:14-15). Sin has a life cycle—it either grows or withers depending on whether we feed or starve it. John Owen, the prolific Puritan author wrote, "Be killing sin, or sin will be killing you."
Consider the following ways that sin gains entrance:
1. "It will never happen to me." 1 Corinthians 10:12 reminds us that if we think that we are standing firm, we should be careful that we don't fall. "Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall" (Prov. 16:18). Pride says, "I've never committed adultery. It will never happen to me." Humility says, "By the grace of God, I haven't, but I can." Strength is found in admitting our weaknesses: "For when I am weak I am strong" (2 Cor. 12:10). Pride opens the door to compromise and unwise decisions; it ignores conviction. Conviction is not always a hammer to the head, it's a still small voice to the heart. Many confuse God's patience with His approval. C.H. Spurgeon rightly noted, "We are never, never so much in danger of being proud as when we think we are humble." As notoriety increases so must humility. ​Sadly, the opposite often happens.
2. I'm "too busy." We are all susceptible to putting God second and ministry first. If we're too busy to cultivate a prayer life that places God first—we're too busy. Men would live better if they prayed better. We're often too busy because we're doing too much. "When faith ceases to pray, it ceases to live" (E.M. Bounds). It's hard to fall when you're always on your knees. Moral failing cannot gain a stronghold in a broken, praying heart that spends time in the Word and obedience to it (cf. James 1:22). Nine times out of 10, when a person falls, he or she has no meaningful prayer or devotional life. It's impossible to spend extended time with God and not be changed and challenged.
3. Holiness is compromised. The enemy attempts to draw us away from God's holy standard. I vividly remember a story of a young boy who kept falling out of his bed. He finally asked his mother why he kept falling. She wisely answered, "It's because you don't stay far enough in." In the same way, many of us fall back into sin because we don't get far enough into God's framework of safety and protection via holiness. In the words of Isaac Watts, "True Christianity, where it reigns in the heart, will make itself appear in the purity of life."
Holiness must come from brokenness and humility, not legalism. A low view of holiness always damages morality ... we rationalize instead of repent. I'm convinced that today's media plays a significant role in the decline of holiness. Sadly, Hollywood, not the Holy Spirit, influences many. We cannot fill our mind with darkness all week and expect the light of Christ to shine in our lives. Before a person falls their mental diet is very unhealthy. They simply act on what they've been feeding their mind. "Take every thought captive to obey Christ" is not a recommendation, its vital to victory (see 2 Cor. 10).
4. Many build unhealthy relationships with the opposite sex. We must be on high alert in this area and have tremendous steps of accountability in place. The devil doesn't show those involved in counseling appointments, inner office meetings and private "fellowship" the pain and anguish and the years of regret that moral failure brings; he deceives them with a false sense of freedom in ministry ... that we are simply "helping" the other person.
If you are married and attracted to another person, or if the potential is there, take steps now and remove yourself from the environment. I'd rather be called "un-approachable" than "flirtatious." Adultery begins with small compromises. We're often too smart to take deliberate plunges, but we're easily enticed to take one step at a time, one compromise at a time, one bad choice at a time until we're at the bottom. Don't fight sexual desires and don't entertain them ... flee (cf. 1 Cor. 6:18).
5. We fail to strengthen weak areas. We all have cracks in our armor. The demands of life often tempt us to seek gratification in unhealthy ways. The enemy uses "opportune times" to draw us away from God. (cf. Luke 4:13.) The line is so thin that it is often hard to determine when we cross over. Weak areas such as drugs, alcohol, pain meds, sex, anger, marriage issues and so on are "opportune times" for the enemy to strike. We must expose these areas through repentance, and install safeguards and accountability. To be forewarned is to be forearmed.
6. Accountability is often breached or minimized. Accountability is a safeguard, but its not bullet-proof. Accountability, by itself, doesn't work—it's not realistic to ask others to hold you accountable. Your heart must be focused on honoring God's Word. Accountability simply adds another level of security in the battle against sin. It's healthy to say to those we trust, "I'm struggling in this area. Can you pray with me and ask the hard questions from time to time." The enemy loves to work in darkness and deceit. Exposing cracks in the armor helps others keep an eye on them as well.
I have accountability software that sends all websites visited to my wife's email every week. This is a major deterrent and it makes me very conscious of even seemingly innocent sites. To some, this may seem extreme, but we need to be armed for the enemy who steals, kills and destroys. The greater our influence, the greater the need for accountability: spiritually, financially and relationally.
7. A sense of entitlement. Feeling a sense of entitlement is often the beginning of justifying wrong choices and can lead to "the King Syndrome." As popularity increases, we begin to follow our own set of rules. We can easily become jealous and judgmental of those who seem to have "all the fun." 
As Oswald Chambers states: "God buries His men [and women] in the midst of paltry things, no monuments are erected to them; they are ignored, not because they are unworthy, but because they are in the place where they cannot be seen." Luke 16:10should be a great encouragement, "So you also, when you have done everything you were told to do, should say, 'We are unworthy servants; we have only done our duty'." Sin can be silenced in a thankful heart set on worshipping God. God has given us the privilege to serve Him, proclaim His truth and help others. Don't allow frustration and negativity to lead you down the wrong path. We are not "entitled" to anything ... it is by sheer grace that we are blessed.
If you are on the cliff or have already fallen ... take time now and repent. It will hurt, but the fruit of repentance far outweighs the fruit of exposure that will surely come (cf. Num. 32:23). God's grace will see you through. A penitent person turns from sin. They accept full responsibility for their actions without blame, resentment or bitterness. They seek forgiveness without conditions and stipulations. They take full (not partial) responsibility for their actions.
There can be no "buts" when repentance is genuine. "I am sorry. I was wrong. Please forgive me," are often (although not always) healing words and signs of repentance. Excuses need to stop before healing can occur. There are consequences for past mistakes, but it's best to live in God's healing arms of forgiveness, rather than to live broken outside of His will. Which way will you turn?​
Listen to "Desperate for More of God" audios here: humelake.org/news/speaker/shane-idleman/
Pockets of true revival are breaking out across America. Want to know more about the next great move of God? Click here to see Jennifer LeClaire's new book, featuring Dutch Sheets, Reinhard Bonnke, Jonathan Cahn, Billy Graham and others. 

    Shane Idleman is the founder and lead pastor of Westside Christian Fellowship in Lancaster, California, just North of Los Angeles. He recently released his 7th book, Desperate for More of God at shaneidleman.comShane's sermons, articles, books, and radio program can all be found at wcfav.orgFollow him on Facebook at: facebook.com/confusedchurch.​​​​

    Thursday, September 11, 2014

    An Appeal to Joel and Victoria Osteen

    An Appeal to Joel and Victoria Osteen

    Joel and Victoria Osteen
    Joel and Victoria Osteen (Lakewood Church, Facebook)

    In the Line of Fire, by Michael Brown
    Dear Joel and Victoria, I hope and pray that you will read this letter and that you take to heart the things I'm sharing. I write as a friend wanting to help, not an enemy wanting to hurt, and everything I write, I write out of love for God, love for you, and love for the church and the world.
    I have said many times that I'm glad to see your smiling faces on TV as you speak about Jesus rather than some stern-faced, joyless, angry Christian leader. And I believe you genuinely do care about people and want them to find wholeness in the Lord.
    Joel, I appreciate the fact that you end every service by asking people to get right with God, having them pray a prayer where they say to Jesus, "I repent of my sins, come into my heart, I make you Lord and Savior."
    The big problem is that you haven't told them what their sins are, and you haven't told them what real repentance is. And since you are speaking to people around the world, you can't possibly assume that all of them understand the meaning of sin and redemption and repentance. (Most American Christians don't even understand these things today.)
    In short, you have not shared with them the whole counsel of God, and by telling them only part of the story, you have done what the false prophets of ancient Israel did: "You superficially treat the fracture of My people saying to them, 'All is well, all is well,' when nothing is well" (Jer. 6:14, my translation).
    A true physician tells his patients what they need to hear, not what they want to hear. As one preacher of old, Jean Daille, once said, "Ministers are not cooks, but physicians and therefore should not study to delight the palate, but to recover the patient."
    Have you been more of a junk-food cook than a physician? Have you been afraid to tell people their true condition? Have you been so concerned with making them feel good about themselves and giving them a sense of hope that you failed to diagnose their terminal sin disease?
    Paul said to the elders of Ephesus, "I testify to you this day that I am innocent of the blood of all, for I did not shrink from declaring to you the whole counsel of God" (Acts 20:26-27).
    Do you really believe in your heart of hearts that you have declared the whole counsel of God to your listening audience?
    God has given you one of the largest platforms for the gospel in human history. Can you say before Him that you are "innocent of the blood of all"?
    Have you ever taught extensively on the words of Jesus from the Sermon on the Mount? Have you ever worked your way through one of the letters of Paul? If not, why not?
    Proverbs tells us that, "Whoever rebukes a man will afterward find more favor than he who flatters with his tongue" (28:23). Do you believe God's Word, or do you feel you have found a better way to do His work?
    I appreciate the fact that you hold up your Bible before you preach, as your father did, and you have people make a confession about God's Word, as you also learned to do from your father. But do you really preach that holy Word?
    Shortly before Paul was martyred for his faith, he reminded Timothy that, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness" (2 Tim. 3:16).
    He also gave him this solemn commission: "I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom: Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching" (2 Tim. 4:1-2).
    Is this your pattern of preaching and ministry? Do you rebuke in love (Prov. 27:5) as well as exhort and encourage?
    Perhaps it's time to ask yourself honestly where you fit in this warning from Paul: "For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths" (2 Tim. 4:1-4).
    Wouldn't it be utterly heartbreaking if, on the day you stand before God, you discovered that you were one of these teachers? Wouldn't it be tragic if your efforts were found to be wood, hay and stubble on that great and glorious Day (1 Cor. 3:11-15)? And may I ask you candidly if you even talk about that holy day of accounting?
    Some Christians have referred to you and Victoria as outright heretics, others have said that you are fighting against the Holy Spirit (since the Spirit convicts the world of sin but your preaching does not), others have said that you are a pagan religionist, while others have said that your superficial message of material prosperity cannot bear the weight of the gospel.
    These are very serious charges, but rather than just saying, "Hey, I'm just going to love everybody and stay in my lane," perhaps you should ask if these leaders might be saying something you need to hear. Is there any truth at all in their words? Could it be that God's lane for you is different than the lane you're in?
    It would be far better for you to see your TV ratings fall and your crowds dwindle than to displease the Lord. (Perhaps if you preached the whole counsel of God, your audience would end up even bigger.)
    By all means, you should be an ambassador of hope and joy—that's all part of the gospel—but if you don't speak about sin plainly and without compromise and if you don't tell people that there will be suffering and hardship in this world as we follow Jesus, then the hope that you offer will only go skin deep.
    Have you ever wondered about how your message plays out among Christians who are going through hell on Earth because of their faith in Jesus? Have you ever thought about what your message sounds like to persecuted believers today who just had to leave their homes and possessions behind to flee for their lives?
    And Victoria, if I may speak with you for just a moment, your recent comments that have gone viral have drawn a stream of well-deserved criticism, even if some of it came in an ugly and wrong spirit.
    The reality is that our lives are supposed to revolve around God; He doesn't revolve around us. And even though worship and praise are good for us too, since they focus our attention on who God is and bring us into His presence, we do not worship or serve Him for ourselves but for Him. As Paul wrote, Jesus died for all so "that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised" (2 Cor. 5:15).
    This is Gospel 101, as basic as it gets, yet you turned things upside down during that one regrettable moment on TV, a moment that reflected a wrong, off-base theology that starts with us and that says God is here to please us rather than starting with God and recognizing that we are here to please Him.
    Joel and Victoria, I know these words have been strong, but they are written with love and concern. And since I have no connection to anyone on your team and I don't know of any way to reach you directly, after prayer and reflection, I felt that this was the best way to go, addressing public statements publicly, jealous for the Name of Jesus, jealous for your massive listening audience, and jealous for both of you.
    Without a doubt, there are many people you have helped; you have also hurt far more than you realize. I pray you will take this to heart.
    Michael Brown is author of Can You Be Gay and Christian? Responding With Love and Truth to Questions About Homosexuality and host of the nationally syndicated talk radio show The Line of Fire on the Salem Radio Network. He is also president of FIRE School of Ministry and director of the Coalition of Conscience. Follow him at AskDrBrown on Facebook or at @drmichaellbrown on Twitter.
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