Culture
Annoyed in the Place of Prayer
It's not the words Bishop Mariann Budde spoke.
“In the name of our God, I ask you to have mercy upon the people in our country who are scared now.”
“I ask you to have mercy, Mr. President, on those in our communities whose children fear that their parents will be taken away.”
“May God grant us the strength and courage to honor the dignity of every human being…”
These are direct quotes from the message that Bishop Mariann Budde released to the nation at the inaugural prayer service. It's hard to argue with the words, which, I'm sure, were carefully poured over and selected. Mercy, strength, courage, honor, dignity. All good things.
THERE'S MORE THAN WORDS TO BE EVALUATED
While it's true that some campaigning Christians are creating unnecessary division with rants and accusations, there are others who are celebrating the Bishop's rallying cry as heroic and undeniably “Christian.” The divide within the church is wide.
Those who are leaning left predictably do not discern the spirit behind the words. I've watched many previous radicals for Jesus become disillusioned by the church. It's terribly grieving to see people who were champions for holiness fall for the religious deception of the day. Grieving, but not shocking.
What has shaken me is the number of authentic lovers of Jesus actually buying into what Bishop Budde is selling. I'm stunned. They are actually supporting her message.
More than any time in history, we need the gift of discerning of spirits in the church. Many false-teachers will arise with convincing words in their mouths. The Anti-Christ himself will be seductive, brilliant, charismatic and full of words that will appease many of the most spiritual among us.
GREATLY ANNOYED IN THE PLACE OF PRAYER
This message by Bishop Budde was filled with “true words” and delivered in the place of prayer. After reading the following passage of Scripture, you can't deny the irony.
“As we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a slave girl who had a spirit of divination and brought her owners much gain by fortune-telling. She followed Paul and us, crying out, “These men are servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to you the way of salvation.” And this she kept doing for many days. Paul, having become greatly annoyed, turned and said to the spirit, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.” And it came out that very hour.” (Acts 16:16–18, ESV)
The slave girl was driven by a spirit that benefited many. Lies weren't being spewed. In fact, the truth she shouted was clear and powerful. Then why was Paul greatly annoyed?
It wasn't the message that bothered him. It was the spirit. It was the agenda. It was the defiance.
Today's authentic, Spirit-filled Christian nation is annoyed at the wicked spirit that was catapulted into our country. The prayer service was desecrated and curses, intentional or not, were released.
The passage in Acts continues by revealing what happens when the Spirit of truth confronts, delivers and dares violate the agenda of the religious. Attacks. Beatings. Imprisonment.
Oh, and keep reading a little further and you'll see:
“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened.” (Acts 16:25–26, ESV)
FALSE LOVE
Many on the religious left are crying out with a message of supposed love, though their definition doesn't pass muster when compared with Scripture.
From my article, The Great Love Deception:
Keep in mind that false or tainted love doesn’t flow mostly from an evil, debased heart. It also doesn’t mean that there is nothing about the argument or viewpoint that is true. A person who craves pure love can, in their zeal or in their weakness, allow impurities into their expression of love that twists and compromises it. The reason I needed to say this is to encourage you if you’ve been hit by the false-love spirit. Your desire for manifested love is very probably true, yet the enemy can come in and confuse the process.
The inaugural prayer sermon feels like love, and many of the points can be accepted as true. However, the deconstructed and the liberals most often fail to understand what true, biblical love looks like.
It has to be said, without any nefarious motive or ill intent, that Bishop Budde endorses a heretical message and is a leader in a heretical movement, the Episcopal Church. She cannot be considered a sister in the Lord. This is enough to raise red flags regarding her sermon.
While I'm confident she has many impressive and honorable traits, that's not enough to pass the scriptural litmus test. Many of society's nicest, most honorable, kind and caring people are not believers in Jesus and his truths.
Yes, the unsaved can at times be kinder than the saved. That's a sad indictment on the church. That being said, it doesn't exonerate those who endorse and spread heresy. Their message is eternally deadly.
THE ANOINTING MATTERS
No Spirit-filled Christian would believe Bishop Budde's message carried the anointing of the Holy Spirit. It did not.
It was fueled by agenda, erroneous beliefs and human wisdom that was wrapped in the guise of love.
This doesn't mean we hate, despise, shame or seek her destruction. God loves her passionately, just as he loves those she referenced in her message.
It's time for the church to exhibit true love that cannot be counterfeited by those who do not know God. It won't always affirm, appease, tolerate or include, but it does reveal the burning passion of Jesus for mankind.
An Open Letter to Normal Christians
Delay is no longer an option.
The term normal Christians is in no way meant to be disparaging. It's defining.
For the sake of this letter, a normal Christian would be someone who faithfully connects in a church, develops life-giving relationships with other Believers, gives joyfully, loves to worship and has a desire to grow in their relationship with Jesus.
Further, they may be in the Spirit-filled camp or may align with any number of additional authentic, Christian expressions. These are people many would consider the spiritual backbone of society. Some may be candidates to serve as elders, Sunday School teachers, small group leaders and pastors. This healthy, vibrant church crowd has a significant measure of devotion, or at least wild curiosity.
However, such a devotion to their “Jesus experience” isn't enough. This is the purpose of this letter.
YOU WERE BORN FOR MORE THAN THIS
There's a difference between our personal journey and our ministry. Now is the time for ministry. Revival needs you.
We are on a rescue mission to save multitudes from the torments of Hell. When this is what drives us, it becomes quite clear, quite fast, that personal edification and satisfaction once or twice a week won't suffice.
The experience God has for all of us eclipses the “church as usual” paradigm that nearly every Christian is familiar with today. A massive, all-encompassing reformation, a radical revolution, is required.
Revival is not a meeting under a tent and it's not a pie-in-the-sky dream. Revival defined is simply biblical normalcy. When we are living a biblically normal life, the fireworks start exploding all around.
You weren't born to stop short at a church commitment, bedtime prayers and a nice, safe, Christian life. Simply, you weren't created to be normal.
THE SIN OF BEING AVERAGE
In this hour when normal, average Christianity will compromise the advance of revival and the salvation of millions, I must challenge you to radically, comprehensively reconsider your spiritual life. Everything must change.
Satisfaction with the present is fatal to the future. ~Glen Berteau
While the church you attend might not be ready to cater to the hungry, desperate remnant, you have no choice but to join the ranks of the radicals. Burn hot, contend in fervent intercession, discover your spiritual gifts, shift atmospheres and unite with a Gideon's army to route the enemy and call down fire from Heaven!
THE CALL OF ALL
Again, this letter is being written to normal Christians. It's time to awaken the Jesus freak within and live a life worthy of a bloody cross and an empty grave.
It's time to lay down the dream of finding a happy church experience where the baristas know your name. The call of all in this desperate and glorious hour is to die to self, take up our cross and burn with Holy Spirit fire. No longer can we be satisfied with lesser things. The deep is calling and we must respond.
If your church doesn't provide the opportunity to rage on fire like this, then, don't jump ship. Stay faithfully connected while you add to your weekly schedule prayer meetings, prophetic gatherings and city-focused missions. Find a tribe that will not stop until full-blown revival, reformation and revolution strikes your city.
GET COMFORTABLE BEING UNCOMFORTABLE
Ben Johnson, the new Head Coach of the Chicago Bears, announced to his team, without apology, that they must get comfortable being uncomfortable.
For too long the church has been about us. Our experience, our satisfaction, our enjoyment, our promotion, our ministry, our connection, our growth. A shocking shift that's coming to the church is a disruptive departure from the tired, powerless norms of the previous generations. The remnant must arise and the focus now becomes an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in the region.
The only way to see this come to pass is if we cancel the “sail away party” on the cruise ship and enlist on the battleship. You are a soldier not a tourist. You're on a mission, not on vacation.
No longer is the church to meet our demands and expectations. We are there to meet the demands of the mission. Blood, sweat and tears will flow as we pray continually, walk in the spirit, burn white hot and run toward a fulfilled assignment.
THE BLUEPRINT
The severity of the season demands all hands are on deck and ready for war.
Instead of Ted Talk-style encouraging nuggets of truth to help us get through the upcoming week, pulpits must erupt with prophetic revelation as anointed men and women of God equip the saints for battle. The goal isn't to alleviate stress. It's to become specialists, Navy Seals, Green Berets, people who have the skills, devotion and passion necessary to look wickedness in the face and blast the light of Jesus into dark, demonized territories.
This means we must gather frequently, pray strategically, grow in the prophetic, understand our authority and advance in our supernatural superpowers. This type of life starts on our own, in our prayer closets, but it can't end there. The corporate assault necessary against the kingdom of darkness requires a unified advance. This is why this letter is so critical. You can't be normal. You can't be average. You can't do it alone. You are needed in the war room and on the front lines.
So, all who are living a predictable, typical, normal, average, tired life that looks no different than the way most every other normal Christian is living, pray for shift.
A mighty shockwave will indeed impact you, shaking you off your feet and driving you to your knees. If God is to manifest today, we cannot remain the same. Today's church shows little blood, bruises, tears or desperation as a result of the cross they supposedly carry. Most don't even bear a single splinter.
You were called to be different.
BURNOUT! Are American pastors too busy?
According to Barna, one third of pastors are considering quitting.
One in five have considered self-harm or suicide within the past year.
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I'm writing this from the SonScape Retreat Center in beautiful Divide, Colorado. The solitude, rest and fun that my wife and I are having along with other ministry couples and the incredible ministry staff is good therapy indeed.
Hard driving, production minded, spiritual leaders often admit they are burning out, losing the passion and considering stepping out of ministry while, at the same time, refusing to stop, breathe and refresh. The idea of a sabbatical never even enters their minds, or, if it does, they are convinced their board would never grant such a request. The only option is to keep working until the fire eventually goes out and families are left emotionally destroyed.
Last night, a former pastor shared a story with me of his desperate need for a short, six-week sabbatical a few years back. Many in his church aggressively campaigned against it, presuming he wasn't worthy of such an extended “vacation.” It went to a vote and his request barely passed. Upon returning, the tide had turned against him in even greater measure, and he resigned on the spot. Forty years of pastoral ministry was over.
We must understand that pastors are often depressed, have high blood pressure, are constantly attacked, poorly supported, in counseling, on medication, suicidal and desperate to quit. Further, pastor's wives are often ripped to shreds by destroyed friendships, gossip against their husbands, manipulative parishioners and nonstop unrest. It quite literally is a pandemic.
Even after three decades of ministry and reaching 55 years of age, I know I have so much to learn. In fact, after a week at SonScape, I'm invigorated, not discouraged, by my past blind spots. The fresh perspectives and input by the leadership team is making me excited about healthy shifts to life and ministry.
The point? Pastors especially need to continually re-sign up, get healed and allow themselves to come alive with what the next season holds.
Barna reports:
Henri Nouwen famously characterized the role of a pastor as being a “wounded healer.” This perspective underscores the importance of congregants, church staff and others actively supporting their spiritual leaders. Such care acknowledges that a pastor’s resilience and well-being are fundamental not only to their personal lives but also to the health of the communities they serve.
We must rest and play.
Sabbath means rest. It also means celebration.
The New Covenant Christian should be living a Sabbath life, playing, celebrating, rejuvenating, and ensuring they are not burning out, fading and emotionally dying. This isn't a Sunday plan of action. It's every day.
Sadly, the families of pastors and ministry leaders are often strained due to the unnecessary and unrealistic demands of the church. Vacations, recreation, turning off the phone and retreating to recharge are fiercely frowned upon by many. Pastors, after all, must be fully available, dead to their own desires and crucified by the demands of the people, right? It's dysfunctional.
When we launched our current ministry, I made it clear that I'd be burning hot and working hard to fulfill the vision God has given me. I also clearly communicated that I would not apologize for tending to my own heart and to my family. Ministry is a major focus, but not the only focus. It's also not the primary focus. I know, that sounds sacrilegious to some.
I let my leadership team know they would have room to grow into key roles in the ministry. When we move out of the way and encourage them to advance in ministry, it's quite powerful. Additionally, I said my family and I would be involved in other ventures on a regular basis. Vacations. Retreats. Recreation. Fun. Rest. Other ministry. Personal growth. The baton of leadership would often be placed in their hands.
Our current trip to Colorado will last three weeks. We've been away from the church several additional weeks this year as well. Additional time away is coming next year. If the church is dependent on me being front and center at every service, my leadership is failing.
I won't apologize for the priorities, and I believe pastors will be well served to adopt the same demeanor.
Schedule rest and fun on your calendar.
Block out significant time every year to disengage fully from the church. No ministry phone calls, no church work and no pastoral responsibilities. Play with your kids, date your spouse and relax.
Do not apologize to anyone. It's time to confront the ridiculous burnout culture in the church.
Preventative maintenance is necessary
The threat of depression, fatigue, disillusionment, health issues, emotional crashes, relational crisis and more severe consequences like heart attacks and marital affairs demand our immediate attention.
If we delete the noise on a regular basis, become unreachable at times, delegate authority and responsibilities and tend to our hearts, the crisis moments will begin to diminish.
I strongly recommend scheduling retreats like the one my wife and I are currently enjoying as often as you can. Our lives have been dramatically impacted here.
Focus on the Family and many other reputable organizations provide preventative maintenance opportunities that focus on everything from your marriage to your emotional health, and so much more.
Classes, workshops, retreats and other helps will strengthen your heart, your family and your ministry.
Churches, invest the money in your pastor.
The church should be budgeting a significant amount of money for self-care. Pastors don't need the added burden of attempting to finance strategies to support their emotional health. Church boards, pay up.
Pay for a month of fun and rest every year for the pastor and his family.
Pay for retreats and workshops several times a year.
Pay for training for other ministry leaders so they can be ready to lead when the pastor is tending to his heart.
Create a culture of spiritual, emotional and physical health in the church. This will not only strengthen the pastor, but everyone that attends will experience the benefits and, hopefully, tend to their own hearts in a similar manner.
We need more pastors and leaders, not less. This burnout crisis must be dealt with and the hearts of pastors and their families must be tended to.
Revolution Resistance – Is the Cost of Revival too High?
People are excited about dramatic change in the church, until they aren't.
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Never has the expression of Christianity needed transformation more than now. I suppose one could argue the nailing of the 95 Theses by Martin Luther compares, but we are in the last of the last days. Shift must happen immediately.
People can get amped up about a shiny, new model of ministry that emphasizes what their spirits are crying out for. Reformation and an intense resolve to advance the Kingdom of God sound good. It feels good.
The current expression of the American church has become so ingrained in us that we presume it's orthodox. It's the default blueprint that can be improved upon, but not violated.
I propose it's time for violation. Tear it down and build it back up according to the paradigm God reveals.
The Struggle
Different ministries with visions unique to their location, the five-fold office(s) of leadership and the directives of God will determine the schematic of the church experience.
The City Church Paradigm
The revolution will result in different churches, within scriptural boundaries, functioning differently. Apostle-led churches will look very different than teacher-led churches. However, the various expressions of the church on the local level will be incomplete until they all come together on the city level. Kingdom-minded local churches will strategically unite, eliminate redundancies, share a common city-vision and encourage the people to connect in multiple locations.
This sounds smart, until pastors become threatened with losing “their people.” When tithes and laborers start heading down the street to another local church, support for this refreshed and strengthened church structure diminishes.
This is a much bigger topic than can be addressed here, but suffice it to say, there is a healthy method to facilitating the city church model. Flaky commitments and church hopping can't work. Sadly, even a healthy approach is too risky for many.
Intense Holy Spirit Activity
Yes, there are a handful of churches that do not temper the wildfire of the Holy Spirit. However, when the Spirit of God truly moves, the experience includes both discomfort and comfort, risk and reward, crushing and healing, surrender and freedom.
When this type of atmosphere is promoted amongst casual Christians who are not familiar with such supernatural activity, the resistance comes in full force. Visitors run away. Members complain. Half-committed people head for the door.
A Culture of Intercession
Possibly the most important and disruptive transition is a return to strategic prayer. Sunday mornings must be dominated by tongues of fire, groans of intercession and bold prophetic decrees. I'm not talking about hiding this in a lonely prayer room before the service begins. Prayer will be front and center in the sanctuary and will dominate the clock.
Pastors know the people will flee in terror should they implement such a thing, so, it doesn't happen. The revolution resistance is strongest when it comes to leading the people into the realm of the Holy Spirit via vein-popping, tear-inducing, fire-breathing intercession.
Sadly, many pastors know nothing of such a supernatural lifestyle and would be lost themselves in a culture of prayer.
No wonder Leonard Ravenhill said: Pastors who don’t pray two hours a day aren’t worth a dime a dozen!
Reduction of Pastor-Led Churches
I'd encourage you to read my article on this topic, The Coming Shift Away From Senior Pastoral Leadership.
Here's a portion:
The coming church will look so different than the church of today that we will find ourselves speechless. Everything man-made is going. Everything that God deems good but outdated is going. The coming church will be defined by fire and it will repel the lukewarm and religious—as it draws in the hungry and desperate.
Corporate leadership will shift from pastors to apostles and prophets primarily. Instead of merely relaying information, messages will be mostly challenging and directive with a clear expected response as the body is rallied to fulfill a corporate mission together. They will lead with the expectation that the entire unit will be moving in step with them as they fulfill the vision of the church in unity.
In the coming church, pastors will mostly be relieved of primary church leadership responsibilities and will be released to spend most of their time one-on-one with people and in small groups.
Of course, you can predict the resistance to this mega-shift in the church.
The burdens that will be lifted from their shoulders will cause them to wonder why they ever resisted at all.
There's More
Space doesn't allow me to address the many additional changes that are coming.
I cover a lot of it in my book The Coming Church. I'm making it available to you for FREE. No strings attached.
Download the book now at HERE.
5 Marks of “The New Normal”
The shift must come to every church –immediately.
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There are over 19,000 cities in the nation and not one is experiencing the biblical normalcy of revival. Yes, there are pockets of Holy Spirit activity, but when considering regions, there's no smoke, no fire.
Every church and every Christian must not only be ready for reformation, they must initiate a massive revolution. Our daily experience will soon look nothing like it does now.
5 Marks of the “New Normal”
ONE: A radical devotion to the local church
A casual “commitment” to the most important, catalytic and strategic vehicle for the advance of the Kingdom in our nation's cities will result in devastation.
Lesser activities, entertainment and endeavors must yield to the schedule of the church as we gather with extreme discipline several times each week.
No longer can we allow schisms, opinions, frustrations, offense or any Leviathan or Absalom influenced emotion to derail us. The fire on the altar must never go out and the laborers are needed to tend to it.
TWO: A troubling, challenging, fiery church culture
Even in the most Spirit-driven churches it's easy to spot disinterested, disengaged people who are more interested in clock-watching and the buzz from their phones than in going deep in God with their fellow warriors.
A seeker strategy in the church over the past decades has resulted in a babied, hyper-sensitive people who will refuse to return if the fire gets too hot or the challenge is too intense. Of course, there's a ready remnant, but they are the exception.
We need to get used to anointed preaching that is roared from the pulpit and a vision that puts a tremble in our spirit, troubles us to the core and awakens us to action.
THREE: Spirit-filled, prophetic intercession that consumes our lives
Church services must look nothing like they have, and leaders have to be okay with the masses heading for the exits. The church gathering is not for the lost. It's not an evangelistic tool. It's a Believer's meeting. It's a prayer meeting.
Decrees, declarations and an atmosphere filled with fiery tongues must overwhelm the sanctuary every Sunday morning. The prophetic charge will shock the meeting and shatter the heavens as we move beyond tired, predictable church services.
Leave the list of desires and expectations at the door when searching for a church. It's not about us. It's not about “good teaching, good worship and good children's ministry” like so many have on their church shopping list. It's all about sacrificial, tear-inducing, desperate intercession.
When our lives, night and day, are filled with prayer like this, anything less when gathering as the church body won't be tolerated.
FOUR: Repentance and holiness are non-negotiable
Wickedness in our culture has flooded into the church, and it's time for aggressive, ferocious preaching to return to the pulpit. It will offend the casual and will invigorate the remnant to move into deeper realms of holiness and intimacy with Jesus.
Those who are driven by an independent spirit, who refuse to relinquish control of their lives and who scoff at such a separated, consecrated life will cause many problems. Apostolic, prophetic leaders must be ready to confront the attacking demonic spirits that will manifest through gossip, accusation, lies, hatred and manipulation.
Yes, a focus on holiness and a call to repentance will result in a spiritually violent assault. This is evidence that it's a great threat to Satan.
FIVE: Ministry will dominate our priorities – and our families will thrive
Cindy Jacobs prophesied over my wife that it was time to start a school of the Spirit, and that it would dramatically impact our children and family. We responded, and our family is burning in the furnace of ministry together.
The end-time season we are in will absolutely consume our thoughts and our plans. While much of the ministry will happen as part of the local church army we are assigned to, our focus will also expand into the city and beyond.
Every moment of our lives must be lived in the Spirit, understanding the critical call to fulfill our unique mission. Whether it's marketplace ministry, leading small groups, training for missions or any number of other ministries, we have to be locked-in. Every Believer is a minister.
We must be careful not to underemphasize our role in the local church as it is the primary strategic company that God has ordained. The foremost emphasis is intercession, and from there you will discover what your future role will be.
We are living in critical times.
Don't allow recent political victories to lull you into a state of comfort. The enemy is ramping up the assault and we can't afford to take a break.
Everything in our lives and in our churches must dramatically and immediately shift if we hope to see revival come, the Kingdom advance and the darkness recede.
This is our new normal.
Will this Election Launch Revival?
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The fervor surrounding this election has broken the scale. The church seems to have been awakened to the responsibility to cast their vote. Lines of cars heading to polling stations led to lines of people willing to wait for hours in some locations. This is very good.
It would seem the passion for righteousness is suddenly spiking and hopes for a mighty move of God are trending upward. Then again, maybe not.
Five Reasons Revival Should Not Be Expected – Yet.
ONE: Where are the lines?
I'm not talking the lines to pull the lever and vote. I'm referring to the lines to the prayer rooms. While intercession has been on the increase over the last several years, a culture of fervent, strategic prayer has not overtaken most of our churches. Fiery prayer must be the primary activity of every Believer. The pastors and the leaders who promote this in their churches will be key catalysts of authentic revival in the nation.
TWO: Who cares?
I hear more about how the election will effect Bitcoin than I do revival. I've been a raging, desperate revivalist for nearly three decades, and I'll never forget the sad epiphany I had near the beginning of my ministry journey. I discovered almost nobody cares about revival. It's not something they think about. It's not on their grid. They don't pursue it. They don't care.
THREE: Why would it?
I agree that having a wicked leader leading a nation can result in a weeping church that cries out night and day for God to intervene. In that regard, yes, a national election can impact revival. Aside from a negative stimulus and other nuances in the grand scheme, we have to understand that secular politics have little to do with spiritual awakening. Spiritual awakening, on the other hand, will have a mighty impact on the politics of America.
FOUR: Is it a priority?
Obviously, if few care about revival, why would we presume strategic pursuit of it would be a priority? For too many, the focus is not on awakening. People are paying close attention to other important yet lesser issues such as the economy and national security.
Of course, some of the policies we are campaigning for like the ending of abortion are at or near the top of the list. I do not mean to minimize desperately critical issues. What I am attempting to communicate is simple. For most, revival is near the bottom of their list of priorities, if it's on the list at all.
FIVE: Have we paid the price?
It's clear we haven't prayed the price. Sadly, few have paid the price either. They have not counted the cost and shifted their life sufficiently to have any expectation of revival coming to America. The price is too high.
The benefits of revival are nuclear in power, invaluable beyond measure. Any price is worth what this nation, our churches and our families would experience should a supernatural outpouring visit us. Dramatic miracles, healings, encounters, freedom from demons, moved mountains and a massive harvest of souls is held back by a quasi-interested church.
REVIVAL IS ON GOD'S AGENDA
As many have said, we aren't waiting God. He's waiting on us.
Let me make it clear with a shout from the rooftops! I believe a planet-shaking, supernatural outpouring of the Holy Spirit is coming. I sense it can come much sooner than later should the remnant church take it up about a hundred levels.
Revival is simply defined as biblical normalcy. We are supposed to be living in revival at all times. Jesus has done all that needs to be done for us to initiate revival, to live in it, to minister in it and to invite a dying world into it.
Winning an election does little to cause a sleeping church to start doing what must be done for revival to break out. The prerequisites are nonnegotiable and few have even started on them.
Intense prayer, determined growth, active faith, radical surrender and locking into a church that is giving itself to nonstop advance toward city-wide and national revival are critical first steps.
A politician can't do that for us.
Yes, a righteous leader can promote righteousness in a deeply wicked nation. There is much good that can come which is why our vote is so important.
But the day after election day, our responsibility shifts. It's time to fill the prayer rooms, to contend for revival and to cry out for God to move powerfully in America.
The level of our celebration or depression following the election is directly related to the level of our pursuit of revival.
If we prioritize a move of God more than the appointment of a politician, we'll be as invigorated and focused after the votes have been tallied as we were before.
Trump: Democratic Party is ‘Demonic’
DEMONS ARE MANIFESTING
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On the heels of my article released two days ago titled, "Demons aren't Hiding this Election Season," former President Donald Trump made quite a remarkable declaration. As reported by Newsmax, Trump said, "This is a group of people, large group of people, larger than people think, but it's a very demonic party."
He distinguished between the party and the Democratic voters, clearly stating that the party was the target of his comment. However, one could argue that "guilty by association" may apply here, at least in part.
BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT ARE COMPROMISED
It must be said that you can find wickedness and corruption on both sides of the divide. A secular political system, sadly, is not a holy institution.
That being said, it doesn't take much analytical prowess to see exactly what Donald Trump is seeing. As I wrote in my previous article, "Whether it's God causing the veil to be lifted between the natural and the supernatural or if Satan has just upped his game, the truth remains. Demons have come out into the open."
The paradigms of the left boldly embrace some of the most demented wickedness our nation has ever known. These atrocities are strategically, directly inspired by the most unholy forces on earth. It's not difficult to arrive at the conclusion that Satan is advancing an end-time scheme to destroy people and our nation.
Time and time again, the Democratic party is campaigning for the cause of darkness to take dominion.
No, Republicans aren't as pure as the driven snow, but the policies and ideologies put those of the left to shame. While perfection is no where to be found, it's obvious to many that the advance of righteousness drives the agenda of most right-leaning American citizens.
A GODLESS PARTY
I'll never forget a story from a ministry friend of mine who was attending a pastor's meeting in Detroit several years ago.
When asked if anybody had a prayer request, my friend stood up and requested intercession for the ending of abortion. He was stunned when a prominent pastor rose and confronted him. He told my friend that he needs to understand that many in the room were proponents of "a women's right to choose." Yes, these were pastors. Professing Christians. Spiritual leaders in our nation.
Yesterday I saw a church sign with a message shaming anybody who would vote Republican.
Not only do we have a godless political party, we have a crisis of godless churches.
Any political or spiritual leader who would so aggressively promote the barbaric act of infanticide (abortion) as a right has been fully baptized by murderous demons.
Any who would endorse drag queen indoctrination of children in our nation's libraries and schools have been seduced by a perverse spirit that is determined to destroy our kids and families.
The unbridled hatred that many spew when even the scent of a Republican enters their safe place is a picture of demonization that's taking place all of the nation. The fangs are out and the venom is injected all over social media. Our nation is manifesting demons at a record pace.
Yes, I know, there's weakness on the right in regard to these and other dark topics as well. I pray Donald Trump and others discover the depths of God's heart and rise up as prophets in our nation. However, as it stands, the difference between the left and right is stark. The contrast is sharper than in any time in history. The left is dark and getting darker by the day.
PRAY AND VOTE
The demonic anointing that has saturated so much of the Democratic party demands the church hit its knees and pray with deep passion. Repentance must shatter the atmosphere of our nation.
In a state of fervent intercession, cast your vote for righteousness, and then pray again. Don't stop. Let the echo of rended hearts crying out be felt from coast to coast. It's time for the church to rise up and the political system to yield its position of national leadership to those who live holy and surrendered lives.
It's time to route the nation of the demonic influence and see life and righteousness return. That's how you make America great again.
Demons Aren’t Hiding In This Election Season
The demons are here, and I'm not talking about Halloween.
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It's November. The haunts of October are gone, and visions of joy and merriment are upon us as Thanksgiving and Christmas draw near, right? Not so fast. Imps and evil entities are very much among us as America is getting close to matching the supernatural climate of many third-world countries.
Disturbing demonization is openly visible in many places such as Haiti and parts of Africa. The enemy doesn't hide there.
Last night I was flicking through Instagram and was bombarded by not one, but many, videos of left-leaning liberals erupting with animalistic growls and curses. Some of you may have seen similar behavior as it seems to have become fairly normal in this political season. People ripping Trump signs out of the ground and spitting verbal assaults at any who would confront them is happening from sea to shining sea.
Of course, we know about the riots and fires and looting that have been on the increase over the past several years. This is most certainly wicked, evil behavior, but what we are seeing now is different. Manifestations of actual demons have become commonplace.
EXPOSURE
Many prophetic voices have declared our recent spiritual history has been one of exposure. God, who is as just as he is good, is out to cleanse and purify his glorious church. While this has certainly happened, and has revealed terrible wickedness, I believe it was only the beginning.
The devil is being exposed as well. Whether it's God causing the veil to be lifted between the natural and the supernatural or if Satan has just upped his game, the truth remains. Demons have come out into the open.
Students are identifying as “furries,” crawling on hands and knees. Drag queens have infiltrated public libraries and are indoctrinating the next generation. Twisted demons are among us and it has nothing to do with October 31st.
Many years ago, I felt strongly that we would soon see actual demonization become quite common in the streets, schools, businesses and parks of our nation. People don't know what to make of it other than to accept it as the new normal. To their unrenewed minds, supernatural beings inhabiting people isn't within the realm of possibility. At worst, they might need a mental health check. At best, these are their new crusaders, people who have had enough and who are responding in hatred and rage against the machine.
My wife, two young daughters and I were coincidentally in Philadelphia the day of the Presidential debate. We were greeted with brash signage, high fences, strange individuals and more SWAT and tactical police than you could imagine, walking the streets with assault rifles and body armor.
It was daylight and we felt safe as we passed through to see the Liberty Bell. On the way back, someone yelled out at me. After brief small talk, he began hurling accusations, calling me a homosexual. He then confronted my daughters, asking if anyone ever accused me of being gay. It was time to move on, and when we did, he started shouting loudly through the square, “He's a homosexual! He's a (expletive) homosexual!”
The devil is not hiding.
WICKEDNESS INCREASING
The church in its current state is nearly hopeless against this bold, new advance of the enemy.
We don't need any more supposed political pundits in the pews. We must have prophets! It's time to equip fire-breathing intercessors, prophetic messengers, deliverance ministers and others who will expose the darkness (though it's exposing itself without much help) and confront the spirit of the age.
All sorts of wickedness is on the rise. We shouldn't be surprised if it becomes culturally acceptable to take abortion to the next level. A spirit of Herod has no problem killing children under the age of two. Why did Herod endorse this? To protect his throne. Don't doubt for a minute that today's demonized political system would affirm such a strategy. Politics is one of Satan's primary vehicles to deliver it's wrath.
The devil is not hiding.
Fiery, strategic prayer meetings must take over as the primary gathering. Sunday mornings must become furnaces of intercession where groans and cries echo. A righteous President will help a little, but that cannot be our focus. It's time for the church to repent, to pray, to rend its heart and to get equipped to fight a hoard of demons who have boldly emerged from their dens.
Is Kamala Harris the Enemy?
HATRED WILL FUEL THE ENEMY'S PLANS
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The political spirit in the church just may be doing more damage than any of us realize. I'm often stunned at the cold, heartless retorts and accusations that are hurled by professing Christians at those who endorse opposing political views. This is more than a political spirit. It's a spirit of witchcraft.
When Christians vomit curses on political figures (or anyone), the enemy's power is supercharged and wicked schemes become strengthened.
In our ministry we often contend in fiery, strategic, life-giving intercession for the world's influencers, including people like the Pope, LeBron James, Taylor Swift and, especially in this season, individuals like Donald Trump and Kamala Harris.
Quite often, especially when inviting people to join us in prayer for Kamala Harris and others on the political left, I hear the cold, heartless retorts. Supposed blood-bought Believers come out of their skin, shocked that we would ever pray for them. Many refuse to pray at all. Others pray for God's severe judgment. I've heard others predict their soon-coming torment in the fires of Hell. These national leaders are being assaulted by the enemy and cursed by the Christians.
Pray for a dramatic encounter with Jesus? Not a chance.
Contend for the Holy Spirit to wrap them in love? No.
Intercede with passion understanding that Heaven would not be the same without them? For many, it's laughable. For others, offensive. They don't want Kamala Harris anywhere near them. They certainly don't want her mansion next to theirs in Heaven.
A SPIRIT-FILLED FEMALE PRESIDENT
I'm not prophesying or predicting the results of the upcoming election. My educated guess is that Donald Trump just may win it. I'm simply suggesting a glorious, nation-sharking possibility that would be felt around the world for generations to come.
What if our love for Kamala Harris was so deep, so moving, that we prayed relentlessly for God to transform her life?
What if Kamala trembled under the weight of God's glory, hit her knees, wept uncontrollably and cried out for Jesus to flood into her life?
Should that happen, and should she be elected, she'd be the first female, Spirit-filled, passionate lover of Jesus to hold the highest office in the nation. The earth would quake.
Sadly, the alternative approach is being employed by many Christians. They take careful aim and fire off curse after curse in an attempt to destroy Kamala Harris (and other "enemies"). They spiritualize their hatred as sanctioned holy warfare when it's nothing more than sinister witchcraft.
Gossip. Cursing. Accusation. Hatred.
That sounds like the battle-plan of Satan. It is.
It's also the blueprint for many Christians in this political season, and it's grieving.
CHECK YOUR HEART ON ELECTION NIGHT
At Revival X, our ministry in Branson, Missouri, we'll be going deep in intercession and worship on election night. We'll pray for the Holy Spirit to move supernaturally and for both candidates to be drawn into an authentic encounter with Jesus. We will give no room for curses, anger, finger-pointing or shaming. The devil is not allowed to attend our prayer event. Kamala Harris is not the enemy.
Ask God to search your heart on election night. If you feel yourself despising either candidate, campaigning for their demise, turn off the news broadcast you are watching and take time to repent. Don't allow a wicked spirit to convince you to align with its war plans. This nation needs a surrendered, love-driven church to contend for a move of God unlike any we've ever seen.
On the other side, I know there's energy surrounding Donald Trump unlike any we've ever seen in our nation's history. Again, check your heart. The answer for our nation isn't the election of Donald Trump. While God can certainly use him in a profound way, the intercessors cannot come down from the wall presuming ultimate victory has come. The war will only rage hotter, and the enemy will take its plans of destruction into the next phase.
A righteous President will benefit our nation a little. A righteous, praying, repentant church will benefit our nation more than we could ever measure.
Over Half of Christians Consume Porn
BARNA REPORT REVEALS DISTURBING TREND
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No naked people. For Believers, the clear, biblical standard is to live pure, holy lives free of forbidden sexual imagery. No naked people in our sexualized thoughts unless, and only unless, it's our spouse. Sexual lust steals, kills and destroys in ways few other sins can.
A disturbing recent Barna report reveals that 54% of practicing Christians are consuming porn. Seven percent view porn daily. Fifteen percent weekly.
Possibly even more troubling are the arguments I've heard on the topic. Some Christians have challenged me by saying it's not possible for a man to avoid lust, as if it's an expected part of our make-up. Others proclaim Scripture doesn't forbid all sexual lust, only lust about married women. The deception is widespread.
After writing an article on the topic several years ago, I was contacted by a Christian sex-therapist. In his long letter he vented his frustration and firmly renounced the idea that lust is inappropriate. In fact, he proudly revealed how he actually prescribes sexual fantasy about strangers and other people to those who are struggling in the area of sexual intimacy.
SEVEN DANGERS OF PORN AND SEXUAL LUST
ONE: No Intimacy with God
The authentic Christian life demands intimacy with Jesus. The parable of the virgins clearly reveals how intentional our pursuit of God must be. It wrecks my heart to know that people live outside of an all-consuming, loving relationship with the Lord.
When counterfeit intimacy takes the place of the authentic, only despair remains. Praying in the Spirit is not possible. Faith fades. Love dissipates. Hope is gone.
TWO. Shame
When the serpent told Eve, “You will not surely die,” he knew the result would be fig leaves. Shame. Adam and Eve did die, spiritually, and their innocence was gone. How often do people make that late-night decision to enjoy some sexual entertainment with the thought that, “I will not surely die?”
Of course, the “repentance” rarely works and, according to Barna, many will be back at it again the next day or later in the week.
THREE. Demonization
The Bible reveals that “the curse without cause shall not come.” Well, the counter is true as well. When there is cause, when we open the door to the enemy, all sorts of wicked schemes are initiated. When we view porn or lust, we open the door to the devil.
Demonization is when evil spirits attack, torment and refuse to stop. There is a license, a permission, that allows them to remain. Sexual lust is one such permission, and unless true repentance occurs, deliverance cannot be experienced.
FOUR. Wounding our Loved Ones
There are women (and some men, I'm sure) who worry continually about their spouses falling into porn. If it happens, it rips through their heart. The pain is extreme and difficult to heal. Further, parents often fear their children falling into this vice, knowing how spiritually and emotionally deadly it is.
FIVE. Failure to Fulfill our Calling
We are all ministers and we all have a ministry. I'm convinced that my failure to fulfill my ministry directly impacts people's eternities. When we view porn, when shame overwhelms us, when demonization is deep and when there is wounding all around, any thought of advancing in ministry is shot until we repent.
SIX. Living in Adultery
Scripture reveals the true impact of inappropriate sexual lust. Adultery. When we watch porn, we are committing adultery with every person on the screen. When we lust, the same is true for every person in our thoughts.
SEVEN. Eternal Separation from God
Many Christians will be shocked to find themselves in Hell one day. When we live in sin, devoid of true repentance, we cannot presume to be saved. An eternity of torment awaits. This truth grieves me like no other.
FREEDOM
If you are struggling with lust, don’t despair. Don’t quit contending for intimacy with God. You can absolutely find freedom! God loves you with a passion that’s deep…and he is longsuffering. He will be with you in your journey to freedom.