The secular does not determine the relevance of God's Sacred Word. When we as the church look to the world to determine the relevance of scripture and we dismiss the priority of sound doctrine in pursuit of what we believe works for us, we subscribe to a gospel of preference and convenience rather than to that which brings personal and corporate transformation into the likeness of Christ.

When reading the scriptures it is abundantly clear that God is not concerned with winning favorable online reviews and ratings and it is just as clear that the church's greatest concern is not producing winning style points.

There is a distinction between the Sacred and the Secular. The first transforms the latter and is not molded into its likeness.

Matthew 4:4
4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’

1 Thessalonians 2:13
13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.

We are in a war that our Lord has already won and our prayer is that through God's gracious empowerment and by faith in Christ, we all may live in that victory even when the darkness seeks to encroach upon that for which it has no legitimate claim!
 
Colossians 2:14-15
14 He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross.

1 John 5:4
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.

1 Peter 2:9 But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God’s very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light.

10 “Once you had no identity as a people;
          now you are God’s people.
      Once you received no mercy;
          now you have received God’s mercy.”
 
Only your Heavenly Father can bestow upon you your truest identity and in Christ alone is your inheritance revealed.
 
In Christ, you are purposed to receive, to live, to move in, and to share from, the overflow of His exceeding abundance and transcendence, as is declared over, and poured into, your life through God’s Word.
 
In The Father's love you are not entitled to live with reckless decadence, but in His authority, to thrive in the unrestrained freedom and fullness of joy, a life not measured by its prohibitions but by our Father’s invitation into abundance through His Son.
 
You are infused with power and only conquered by confidence and occupied by inexpressible joy.
 
You are created by a transcendent God who made you unique, and filled you with His Spirit, making you one with those whose names are inscribed in heaven by the signature of the Father, written in Holy blood.  You are raised up in spirit to live beyond the reaches of mere and measured existence. You are empowered by the same Spirit, to be a World Changer and not merely an adherent to someone’s branding, bound to an assignment to that which is vain and soon extinguished. You are not a resident in the wasteland of mediocrity.  You are led by God’s presence to still waters, green pastures, and life eternal, undeterred by the storms of life. Eternity lives within you, not in the distant future but from the moment of your spiritual birth in Christ, your days here were seamlessly woven into timeless eternity.

Thoughts that were dropped into my heart during mediation that I wish to pass on to my friends:

It is my mission to love where love is absent, to lift up those who have been knocked down, to show kindness without condition, and to be generous from the best of that which I have been made steward. All of these are impossible without Christ being formed within me. Christ in me makes me what His character is, and the Spirit of God makes that functional, relational and effectual in and through my life (Galatians 2:20.)
 
Christ is revealed beyond the pulpit and not exclusively from behind it. He is revealed through personal transformation as I allow Him to advance such in my life. The man behind the pulpit must be a product consistent with God’s workmanship in the life of the man behind closed doors and among others on the avenues of life.
 
The stage of ministry and life is not a lofty platform designed to showcase human vanity. The stage is worldwide and encompasses every opportunity, that Christ may be elevated among everyday people through the Holy Spirit’s workmanship in my life.
 
The platform of ministry is not a man-made soapbox but is constructed upon the revelation of God’s grace and redemption raised up upon the Father’s love.  
 
God’s Love is a love which perseveres and always prevails. He has no struggle loving, even as He hates the darkness of sin that enslaves those trapped in the fallen nature of sinful man.
 
A Prayer and Declaration - May I desire and hunger for more of Christ in my life. May He be my passion, my hope, and the foundation upon which daily transformation is brought forth in me. Without Him I can do nothing. Without Him I would be trapped in the web of lifeless and vain religion. In Christ I have been reborn that I may be established in His highest and best for I have been created to know, to experience, and to excite others to discover for themselves.
 
Christ in me offers esteem rather than contempt to those existing without a sense of personal value, purpose, and promise. He has anointed me to introduce real hope to those whose worldly fantasies have lured them to emptiness and hopelessness.
 
This is a powerful gospel that transforms me at the deepest level. It serves as a crushing rebuke to the tormenting whispers of the enemy concerning past sin and the condemnation that belongs exclusively to the sinful nature which no longer owns me, as a child of God.
 
I am called to Love without pretense. It is not my mission to define Christianity, as God has already done that through the Word and by His Spirit. I have been called to declare what He has made known through His Word.
 
If my neighbor does not know the love of God, within my highest calling and purpose, I am appointed by God to share that with him.
 
This life is very brief and eternity is much too significant that I should not see the connection between the two.
 
Almighty God, make me in your image that in my life others will see the reflection of your only begotten Son, and that I may do the Works of My Father as my Savior and Lord has done, for the Father’s Glory.  I am not God, but He transforms my life into His likeness of His Son and empowers me by His Spirit to serve at His bidding.
 
Colossians 2:3
In him (Christ) lie hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge.

The tallest of mountains do not rise to infinity, the darkened ocean depths are never fathomless, and grief is never inconsolable. 

God is always infinitely higher, His knowledge is always fathomless, and He is always our consolation!

A Believer's Declaration:

God is always Greater and He is my Father. 

Jesus Christ is my Redeemer and my Lord, in Him I am always more than a conqueror.


Job 11:7-9
7 “Can you solve the mysteries of God?
    Can you discover everything about the Almighty?
8 Such knowledge is higher than the heavens--
    and who are you?
It is deeper than the underworld -
    what do you know?
9 It is broader than the earth
    and wider than the sea.

​Pastor Jonathan and I attended the CUFI (Christians United For Israel) Summit in Washington D.C. this week.  Among the many wonderful speakers was Vice President Mike Pence.  The thing that struck me was His obvious armor bearing spirit as he serves with President Trump.

This is not about a political tact or allegiance, but character.  

People of character genuinely honor those they serve and with whom they serve, even in the face of possible ideological or personal differences. People of such character do not take advantage of the personal differences with or perceived vulnerabilities of those with whom they serve in order to advance a personal agenda.  Vice President Pence laid down any personal agendas or ambitions that would conflict with his ability to serve (with) President Trump.  There have been obvious opportunities for a person of lesser character to subtly or overtly seize upon these moments to promote himself or his own agenda.  He has demonstrated integrity and a true grasp of loyalty.  Given the environment and the controversies that have permeated Washington VP Pence is a standout!!

This is a not a promotion of a political personality or party, it is simply an observation of how an individual of faith maintains personal honor and integrity in the service of a greater cause.

Having said all of this, it is my desire to serve our Father with Christ-like character, that I might honor those with whom I serve as we all may Honor our one Lord whom we serve together.  I pray that my involvement in a work that goes far beyond Bethel will never become about me or mine! 

Love my Bethel family!  Let's together get after the heart of the Father so that He can truly have ours!


Jonathan entered into a covenant commitment with David and he honored that to the point of divesting himself, and conferring upon Him, the recognition of His authority and leadership.

1 Samuel 18:3
Then Jonathan made a covenant with David, because he loved him as his own soul. And Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, and his armor, and even his sword and his bow and his belt.