Ambition

Many years ago, Beverly & I were going through a season of uncertainty. (Well, actually, God was maturing me & I found myself looking at the grass in someone else's yard while I was struggling with my purpose, place & plan.)

I remember talking myself into doing something that seemed exciting. Doing so required us to move. I also remember justifying it to everyone & looking for people to agree with me. Because I wanted this so bad...for the very first time in my life...I didn't seek counsel. I told my leaders what I was going to do...rather than asking them to bathe this major decision In prayer.

I made the decision on my own. It was good at first. But then things got really rough. (Much rougher than the "season of uncertainty", I previously mentioned.) Bottom line...I missed God & our family paid a price for it.

In hindsight, I asked myself, "Why didn't someone ask me the hard questions? Why didn't someone force me to see all the things I couldn't see?" I made a vow to God many years later that if I was ever in a position to speak into someone's life, I would do so without fear of offending the person who needed to hear It. I knew that if someone would have been the "bad guy" & told me what I didn't want to hear, at the time, it probably would have spared my family some of the grief I put us in.

Since then, I've been able to bring counsel to many people. Some we've helped & some we wish could have helped. I also adopted the philosophy, "Inquire" or "Inform." Which means = when someone comes to me & says, "God told me..." then I already know they aren't talking with me to inquire prayer & fasting...but rather informing me of what they are going to do. I recognize the approach...because, like I said, many years ago I did the same thing.

It took me years to understand that "some things are taught" & "some things are caught." You can learn from other people what TO DO & what NOT TO DO, if you pay close attention.

Best advice I could give someone, "Always seek counsel." The Bible said that wisdom is in a multitude of counselors. And for those who say, "I can make my own decisions...God speaks to me."...yes, you are correct...He does. However, God will use men to confirm what He has spoken. We need a covering that cares more about the well being of our family than they do about our ambition.

At the end of the day, you'll get to your destiny...at an even greater acceleration...if you walk in alignment in every step.

Every Blessing!

Influence Needs Confluence

“Life’s most persistent & urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’” - Martin Luther King Jr.

Life is a process & every process requires commitment. If you have the opportunity to help someone who has committed to process, use your influence to help them achieve their goals.

But also be cautious where you lend your influence. Some people will take from you to benefit themselves with little regard to helping others along the way. INFLUENCE needs CONFLUENCE!

#Alignment #Protocol #Blessing #Favor

ALIGNMENT structures ANOINTMENT for ASSIGNMENT

The complexities of ministry are best understood in retrospect. As I look back over my shoulder, I see more clearly the path that God laid for my future. 

I didn't set out to "pastor."  I did, however, feel the "pull & desire" to SERVE in ministry wherever, whenever & whatever.  It's as I served the Lord & His leaders that doors began to open for me. Doors I didn't imagine. Doors that my leaders helped open for me, through the Holy Spirit's leading. 

I remained "undercover" (and still am). I never made a move without FIRST coming to my leader(s) & laying before them the burden & burning of my heart. Then I left it there & kept doing what I was doing. No rush. No hurry. Sure, I was full of excitement & expectation but not looking for a "new thrill"...when everything God had for me was already before me & if I would just OCCUPY what I was already assigned...my NOW would produce my NEXT.

When the Lord begins to order your footsteps, He ALIGNS you. 

• He aligns you to His Kingdom purpose
• He aligns you with those you're serving 
• He aligns you in such a way that there is no confusion

The ALIGNMENT structures the ANOINTMENT 

that equips you for the ASSIGNMENT!

There remains in me an inward confidence & a Godly fear all rolled into one.  A confidence that God will NOT fail, has not failed and never will fail. This knowledge keeps me on the edge of my seat with an expectation that God is at work IN all things and THROUGH all things in my life. 

When you feel the STIRRING of The Lord, it's not always a change of BOATS...but rather a knowledge of where to best CAST your NET for Kingdom Harvest.  It's so important to be in covenant with a spiritual father/mother who will GUIDE you, PROTECT you & COVER you.  Without their blessing & covering, you'll be tempted to do things in the FLESH while trying to classify it as "The SPIRIT" leading.  For this reason we find a DIFFERENCE in those who are SENT and those who WENT. (Read more about this subject)

God is a God of order. He doesn't operate in confusion, coercion or collusion.  He operates in the LIGHT.   For example: If God has truly spoken to me about something He wants me to work towards, He will have me consult with those I'm "under" & "submitted" to.  He WILL NOT have me get everyone else's opinion (those who I'm not submitted to), work my own plan & then try to lay it out before my leader as if it's an already done deal. He will have me operate in ALIGNMENT because ALIGNMENT structures the ANOINTMENT that equips me for my ASSIGNMENT.

In the Kingdom of God, PROTOCOL is PARAMOUNT.  Without it, we are a runaway train heading down the wrong track.  May I also add, a dangerous practice in the Body of Christ is identifying ourselves by titles BEFORE our gift is fully proven.  (Notice that the early church knew this & set up PROTOCOLS when laying hands on anyone.)

If God has CALLED you, rest assured He will QUALIFY you...and it won't be in the way you see it or expect it.  We must get our eyes off of PEOPLE and quit listening to POPCORN PROPHETS who are gifted in TALK but lack a quality WALK in the Kingdom of God.

Friend...everything isn't "Thus saith The Lord!"  Allow me to teach here:  It's best to give prophetic words without a label. There's no need to say, "The Lord said or the Lord told me to tell you" unless necessary. 

Stay in ALIGNMENT & you'll receive the ANOINTMENT for the ASSIGNMENT.

Selah 

Popcorn Prophecy

QUIT RUNNING TO & FRO COLLECTING "WORDS" Last week I shared a message called, "KNOWING THE WILL OF GOD". In my short journey with God, I've discovered that I must have an EAR to the voice of JESUS & those He has placed over me in Him. Instead of getting everyone else's OPINION of what I should do...I should be listening to the voice(s) of those He has set over my life to INSTRUCT me, CORRECT me, STRENGTHEN me & INVEST in me. What does it say about me...if I go to everyone else trying to get DIRECTION but I neglect the voice(s) of my leader(s). I say, It speaks volumes. Many people, in this last day, are driven by POPCORN PROPHECY. They run to anyone who seemingly has a "WORD" to give. But friend, we must be aware of the person(s) who are constantly giving WORDS out to everyone else but their own life is lacking stability. The Apostle Paul birthed many believers. He LED them & FED them. Since he had INVESTED in them, he had the authoritative right to be DIRECT with them & place a DEMAND on them. Again, be very careful running to and fro, collecting opinions. And on another note...as a Pastor, when I hear the same name of a person coming up in multiple conversations, I realize that there is TOO MUCH TALK going on. Lord have mercy. Sister Hoopindidle is not your counselor. Your counselor is the HOLY GHOST. Everything you have need of is in the WORD of God. You don't need a word from Sister Hoopindidle to get you through...you need an ALIGNED WORD from The Lord. And guess what? He's often using your PASTOR to point you in the right direction. I pray each of us will have an EAR TO HEAR according to the PATTERN of the five-fold GRACE GIFTS. (Ephesians 4:11-12) PS: If you're need a word...here it is..."Get To Church!" 😁

In Alignment, Out of Alignment

When you've been down the road enough, you become aware of patterns and behaviors. I've seen just about everything you can imagine & can usually discern which way the water is flowing. Although I can't read people's minds, their behaviors are pretty predictable.

I shared this morning, in our 2020 Leadership Class, that everything we do must come under the covering of our spiritual authority. (i.e., decisions, plans, intentions, etc.) It's not that God doesn't speak to you but He will use your spiritual authority to CONFIRM what He has already spoken. UNTIL THEN...you receive counsel, remain steadfast, unmoveable & abounding in the work of The Lord. (And you keep doing that regardless.)

However, we live in a culture (sadly, even in the church world) where people do WHAT they want, WHEN they want, the WAY they want...and THEN desire a "blessing" after the fact. It DOESN'T work that way.

In EVERY move I've made, whether it was in ministry, work, family, moves, major purchases, etc., I've sought counsel from my covering BEFORE I had discussions, made decisions or put one foot in front of the other. Nothing was done in secret. That's called total transparency and it can afford you the greatest BLESSING you've ever experienced.

The reason I feel so strongly about this is because I know it works. It's in order. It's in alignment and it speaks volumes of a submitted heart. I deeply desire the blessing of my leaders. Their covering is not only sustaining it's protecting.

The Scriptures teach us that "wisdom is in a multitude of counsel." Obviously, you can get the opinion of your family & your friends. But there's nothing like the voice of your spiritual authority - the same leadership you gave the right to speak into your life...in every area. The same people who have stood with you, prayed for you, interceded on your behalf & have spiritual insight & wisdom.

The same leader I needed when I was down...I need when I'm up. I cannot disregard their voice just because it's not what I want to hear.

May you always be found in spiritual alignment.