Know them by Their Fruit

Know them who labor among you. How? By their fruit. Not their works, degrees or spiritual pedigree. 

Why not works? The gifts and calling are without repentance. One can perform works through their gifts and not have an intimate relationship with God. 

Why not degrees? Degrees are not an indicator that one is walking closely with the Lord. In fact, when I earned my doctorate in 2008 I spent a lot less time in fellowship with God than I do now. Why? I simply didn't have the time. There weren't enough hours in the day. 

Degrees don't give you the juice (anointing and grace to bear fruit) . When I was in seminary I saw adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lewdness, idolatry, sorcery, hatred, contentions, jealousies, outbursts of wrath, selfish ambitions, dissensions, heresies, envy drunkenness (regularly smelled marijuana in one particular building), and  revelries ON CAMPUS. 

Meanwhile I know some folk who may not always get their subject-verb agreement right but know how to get heaven and earth to agree through prayer. 

I'm not saying one cannot be educated and oily (anointed). I know some REALLY oily professionals- lawyers, doctors (of letters and medicine), publishers, public administrators, etc. What I'm saying is education or lack of should not be a yard stick for assessing the grace of God on a ministers life. 

Why not by their spiritual pedigree? Just because their mentor or spiritual authority/father/mother has the juice doesn't mean they have it also. Many ministers are ordaining people to simply build a network. They're not pouring into or mentoring those they ordain. Or they're only pouring into a select few (sometimes those who make largest financial contributions). They're dead beat dads or moms. They have many so-called sons and daughters but aren't fulfilling motherly/fatherly duties. 

Why by their fruit? Intimate fellowship with God gives us grace- divine enablement, to bear fruit. Fruit of love, joy, peace, gentleness, goodness, kindness, faithfulness, patience, and self control are born out of intimacy with the Holy Spirit. Those who bear this fruit re-present God in the earth realm and are recognized in the realm of the spirit as God's ambassadors. These are the sent ones who show up in the character and nature of God.

Lord Breathe on Me!

Lord breathe on me. Blow on the embers. Rekindle the FIRE.  Holy Ghost Fire burn in me!  Baptize me afresh with your FIRE. 🔥🔥🔥Burn in my mind. Burn in my heart. Burn in my hands. Burn in my feet. Burn!! Burn away what's not like you. Set me ablaze for your glory. Awaken gifts! Let your fire be a catalyst to catapult me out of any form of stagnancy and complacency. Let my life cause others to turn aside, take notice of You , and answer Your call to surrender their lives!

https://youtu.be/1VBnnghI2AM

Heal Our Land

Shedding innocent blood is an abomination. God judges abominations. When innocent blood is shed it speaks and cries out for justice and recompense. Shedding innocent blood brings curses and judgments upon the land. 

2 Chronicles 7:14 tells us what is required for the land to be healed and released from these curses and judgements. In the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) it says "if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, pray, seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."

As we pray for our nation, ask forgiveness, repent on behalf of the nation, its founders, and leaders. Ask God to raise up godly leaders who will govern according to God's principles and precepts. Ask God to give us godly leaders who will enact laws, policies and practices which honor God. 

Appropriate the blood of Jesus which speaks better things on behalf of the nation. Present the blood of Jesus as a plea in the courts of heaven. Pray that the blood of Jesus will silence the accusations of innocent blood shed that the accuser of brethren is presenting in the courts of heaven against our nation.

Thess accusations include:

1. The blood of Native Americans who were intentionally infected with smallpox and killed in unjust wars cries out.

2. The blood of enslaved Africans who were slaughtered cries out. 

3. The blood of the unborn who reached an age of viability and were aborted when there was no medical need to do so cries out. 

4. The blood of those executed through capital punishment in unfair and unjust manners cries out. 

5. The blood of those who die at the hands of police officers who become judges, juries and executioners on the streets of our nation cries out.

Days of Fire

Images of riot fires in major cities around the county are not what any of us had in mind for Pentecost Weekend. The fires set by protestors responding in anger and frustration to George Floyd's death gives  the term "Days of Fire" a new meaning. I believe the timing isn't by happenstance.

Revival and fresh fire in the church will come when we REPENT for the sins which are at the root of the fruit of hatred, anger, violence, murder, lawlessness, etc. we're seeing. Those same roots bear fruit of strife and  disunity in the Body of Christ. The disunity in the Church fuels and legalizes in the spirit realm  disunity in  society at large. I've been praying about and lamenting about the disunity in the Body for a few years now. It breaks God's heart! 

We must see ourselves as children of God first and foremost- not white or black, not Democrat or Republican- but children of God. OT prophets primarily preached against idolatry, sexual immorality, shedding of innocent blood, mistreatment of the disenfranchised and marginalized, oppression and injustice. In the Body even God's mouthpieces- the prophets, feel like they must choose a side or camp which only addresses 2 or 3 of these things. Why? Parts of the message are seen as the message of the Black Liberation Theology Movement. Other parts are seen as the message of the White Evangelical Movement. No one seems to care that ALL of these things are central to the message of the RIGHTEOUSNESS and JUSTICE of God. 

Where are those who will cry aloud and spare not for the God Movement? 

The Idolatry of Political Ideology in America

Christians have made idols of political ideology. We blindly follow partisan politics without speaking Truth to power. God will judge God's house for this if WE don't REPENT! 

Where are Christian republicans who abhor "isms," injustice, and the mistreatment of the poor, marginalized, and disenfranchised? The OT Prophets warned God's chosen people about this time and time again. The Israelites were severely judged for these abominations. These things are overlooked today because those who hold power, wealth and influence have shaped the mental lenses through which we read and interpret scripture. 

Where are Christian democrats who abhor abortion of the unborn who have reached the age of viability? If there's no medical necessity to perform these procedures is this not the shedding of innocent blood? Where are Christian democrats who abhor the perversion of the institution of MARRIAGE  which is a HOLY institution created by a HOLY God even before there was the institution of religion? I'm not speaking of civil unions or equal protection under the law  for we are to render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's; and to God the things that are God's. I'm speaking of the use of the term MARRIAGE to describe relationships which don't align with the definition established through the principle of first use in ancient sacred and historical texts.

We're facing unprecedented challenges on many fronts in our society. Republicans are not solution bearers. Democrats are not solution bearers. The children of God who show up in the character and nature of the Creator are solution bearers.  So I encourage you to bow before God and not your idols of political ideology as you seek guidance, revelation, and insight on how to cast your vote in the upcoming elections. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the CHILDREN OF GOD- not republicans or democrats!

Happy Mother's Day!

“Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.” Proverbs 31:29 NRSV

According to The Passion Translation Study Notes: "These valiant and noble ones (daughters) represent the church of previous generations who remained faithful in their pursuit of Jesus. But this final generation will be the bridal company of the lovers of God who do mighty exploits and miracles on the earth."

Let the women arise and take our positions among this bridal company to do mighty exploits and miracles on earth. Let us take that which we've been endowed to bear fruit, advance the kingdom, and govern our spheres of influence in the earth according to God's precepts and principles. Let us re-present the King of kings in the personhood, power and presence of our risen Lord and Savior. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Out of Egypt

Too often we think of Christianity as a "white man's religion." Nothing could be further from the Truth. Like Jesus,  Christianity was birthed in Asia (Israel) and nurtured in Africa (Egypt)!  Christianity spread rapidly and intensely in North and Northeast Africa in the first five centuries.  We read about the conversion of the Ethiopian enuch in Acts Chapter 8. 

Church Fathers of African descent were at the forefront of efforts to outline important doctrines such as the trinity. They also addressed heretical teachings and preserved the integrity of the faith. They played a huge role in establishing fundamental tenets of the Church. In fact, we can thank our African brother Athanasius of Alexandria for what we know as the Bible.  Athanasius played a huge role in the canonization of scripture and was the first to develop a list of books which were to be included in the Bible. 

Because the African Church Fathers wrote and spoke in Greek and Latin, they are often referred to as Greek and Latin philosophers and theologians.  But these brothers were Black!  They were African!  And I assure you they also spoke their indigenous African languages.  Why am I sharing?  Knowing the history of our faith helps to dispel myths such as Christianity being a "white man's religion."  Included below is a link to a site with a synopsis of some contributions to Christianity by  several Church Fathers of African descent.  

https://ramonlmayo.com/2018/08/01/7-african-church-fathers-you-should-know/