Be Like Nehemiah As the world awaits the proverbial ‘changing of the guard’ in the United States of America, some are fearful, meanwhile many are jubilant. As I have said many times before, God is the one who promotes and demotes. He does whatever He pleases. We may not understand God’s will, but we […]
It doesn’t matter what field or profession you are in – whether you are an entrepreneur, a doctor, teacher, nurse, store clerk or politicians, head of state – we all need encouragement. Oftentimes, people want others to feel as if they are not making a difference, whether it is in your personal life, job or […]
Job 33: 14-18 says “For God may speak in one way, or in another, yet man does not perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, while slumbering on their beds, then He opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction. In order to turn […]
Photo: Donald Trump by Gage Skidmore WARNING AND WORD OF THE LORD TO THE LEADERS February 14, 2017 TBN is heading for a fall and there will be serious exposure. Many will be surprised. The exposure will come because too many Christians are looking up to them. Many will fail. Pray For Pat Robertson The […]
Oftentimes there are Scriptures that are popular but often misunderstood. One such Scripture is I Kings 13 – Young Prophet, Old Prophet. Those who are immature or misinformed tend to quickly turn to this Scripture when they don’t want to submit and are walking in disobedience. They often try to use this Scripture in the context of age citing that they are the young ones that the Lord is working with now and so they don’t have to obey those before them including their shepherd. In no respect was this Scripture speaking about age or seniority.
In this Scripture – I Kings 13 – the Lord was speaking about the lifestyle of a prophet, and it meant that an ‘old prophet’ was one who was stuck in the old ways – and one who has fallen into apostasy; one who compromised the word of God for material and other gain. It meant that an old prophet was one who had gone back to their old lifestyle and was no longer walking in truth. It also meant that they were no longer walking in the fruit of the spirit, but were instead walking in the flesh. Thus, that prophet backslid but still functioned in his/her authority like Balaam, and those who were on Jezebel’s payroll.
The ‘young prophet’ referred to one who walked in truth, holiness and righteousness regardless of the cost. They had a holy lifestyle nor tell people what they wanted to hear. Micaiah (I Kings 22) is one example of the Young Prophet and so is Jeremiah.
So, it is possible to be young in the faith and even young in age and still be an Old Prophet if your lifestyle does not line up with the Word of God. Whenever a person is not walking in the truth, God refers to them as old, and we must always remain Young! This is why as Christians, we can’t mix or fellowship with other Christians who are not walking in the truth or holiness. The word even says we are not even supposed to eat (network or affiliate) with them. (I Corinthians 5)
Many time people will say they are walking in favor; but favor is something that one has to maintain true Obedience (Deuteronomy 28: 1 – 14) True obedience and genuine submission to Godly authority. (Luke 2: 49 – 52) Hence favor – like faith – has a measure. It increases as we continue to walk in God’s perfect will. Favor also has to do with those to whom you submit and those you serve. For example, Ruth and Naomi, Elisha and Elijah, Jacob and Laban. Last year’s favor cannot deal with this year’s issues So when a person continually walks in disobedience, then that grace and favor will cease to exist and then you will get a true revelation of what favor is all about.
Many times, people say that they are called and chosen by God, but remember that the word says that many are called and few are chosen. So, to be chosen, a person must be able to pass the tests in the timing of God. Of the 32,000 that were called, less than 1% passed the tests; and these tests were simple instructions and required attention to detail and vigilance as well as focus on the kingdom. There must be a steadfast focus on the Kingdom!
So, while many say that they are called and chosen and can’t even submit to the leadership of a good mentor, they need to think again. Would the Lord give authority to the ones who won’t don’t or refuse to submit to authority?
God’s criteria for using someone within the Kingdom to carry out His will and purpose is higher and He will not change His word to fit into our desire rather than His will.
The cry locally and globally regarding sexual impurity in the church on the part of the church leader leaves a lot of questions and opportunities. Were those with the titles of Bishop or Pastor within the local church afraid to address these serious matters because they were afraid of financial fallout and popularity. Everyone needs to really read and seek to understand I Corinthians 5. We need to judge within the church and let God deal with the world.
The Church seriously needs to look at how they select leaders – are they selected by level of education, societal status. Leaders must be selected by the Holy Spirit and the Word particularly Acts 6; I Timothy 3: 6, Luke 6: 12 – 17.
Finally, many attend churches, but did God lead them to where they are going or is it simply a physical attraction?
January 21, 2017
Apostle Dr. Steve Lyston and Bishop Dr. Doris Hutchinson – RWOMI.
Ezekiel 22: 30 says, “So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one.”
Many times, people will criticize the Church and ask what they are doing about the negative happenings within a nation or the world. But we must recognize that we are the Church – every profession – and we have a responsibility individually and collectively, to stand in the gap for nations. We have become a nation of people that have become caught up in our own little issues/problems/situations forgetting that we also have a duty to each other and to our nation. Some are so caught up in showing off their latest ‘self-improvement’ projects – who has the latest clothes or enhanced body parts – and when tragedy strikes then is when they get concerned.
When negative happenings begin – Murder, Rape and Famine and then Hopelessness sets in, it means that there is a break/breach within the spiritual walls of the nation. If someone breaks into a home, if the owner simply adds a burglar alarm without fixing the breach – the broken window/door – then their efforts are wasted. Hence, God wants persons of every profession at every level to make themselves available to Him to be used to rebuild the walls – not the physical, but spiritual walls. We need to ‘Stand in the Gap’.
Standing in the gap is a metaphor for committed intercession. When there is a gap between man and God, someone needs to stand in and intercede so that God can repair the breach for us. Hence we have a responsibility to first identify the breach in every profession and stand in.
When there is a breach in the walls everything comes in – anything takes place. So if we are looking for restoration of the family, a good justice system, good governance and healing within a nation, then it is the responsibility of everyone to stand in the gap that the spiritual barriers will be rebuilt. Regardless of the systems or laws put in place, no change will come if there is a gap in the wall.
Every Profession
In order to be effective, every profession knows its own terminologies and jargon and so, knows the precise words to use as opposed to the ordinary lay person who would not be as knowledgeable in that area. For example, a lawyer knows the jargon and terms that he/she would use for certain matters, like ‘petition’, ‘counter-petition’ ‘recuse’, ‘abrogate’ so they could pray accordingly employing those terms that John Q. Public would not ordinarily know. A person who deals with the economy of a nation need to stand in the gap for the things that of that industry that are affecting the nation – inflation, devaluation of the dollar, fiscal policies and so on. They know the terminologies to use as they pray to stop the negative and ask for the increase of the positive. Doctors would know the diseases that are plaguing the nation and would pray accordingly for them to stop using medical terminologies. They would stand in the gap to minimize sicknesses and diseases that are eating away the nation – cancer, HIV, and others and that God will release medical breakthroughs to heal the nation. Security forces also need to stand in the gap, they can’t simply focus on the physical, but also the spiritual aspect.
Interestingly, there is a name of God – a name ascribed to God which represents every one of these industries in our society.
Effective intercession brings change within a nation, but each person who stands in the gap must realize that we cannot operate the same way that we operated 20 years ago. 20 years ago, we did not have the technological revolution we now have and now as knowledge has increased, so has the technological warfare. There are now games and software that are designed to pollute the minds of our youth and encourage them to commit crimes and do other things; and this is a breach. So, we need people to rise up in the Information Technology arena to use the relevant jargon and references as they stand in the gap and fight for our young people and the future of the nation.
Recognize that the mind and eyes are direct links to the soul and as such whoever will control the mind and eyes will control the next generation.
So, it is the responsibility of every profession to stand in the gap that change will take place.
2017 is a very significant year for every believer to rise up and fulfill their God-given purpose. We must walk in obedience according to Deuteronomy 28: 1 – 14 in order to receive the promise. Many persons have great expectations, but those will only come to fruition if we begin to change some things about ourselves now.
Prophetic Revelation
The Lord is showing me that the spirit of Incest will rise – especially that fathers will want to have sex with their daughters and uncles with their nieces. It is happening right across the board with families to destroy the institution of family and many are afraid to talk. We need to rise up against this spirit that is rising up to destroy the family. We also need to deal with the spirit of incest which is also destroying the church. Pastors and Bishops are ‘feasting’ on the flock so-to- speak and many of the churches sweep it under the carpet while they allow them to remain on the pulpit. But they must remember I Timothy 3. God is going to expose more of these issues. If we are the church and we are supposed to bring healing to the world, then it must start within the church. The spirit of Eli has to be broken and HOLINESS must reign if we are going to deal effectively with Perversion and the Spirit of Incest.
We also need to cry out against the Media, Hollywood who are promoting perversion and incest. It is extremely rampant, especially among Caucasians. Pray for Maryland. Pray against riots in Indianapolis Pray for the state of Alaska, as government officials are planning to go there regarding oil – potential problems. Pray for the souls of Beyoncé, Kim Kardashian, Lady Gaga, Jamaican singer Sanchez and Boy George. Pray also against a freak accident on Usain Bolt. He needs to seek the Lord and turn his life over to the Lord now. Single Christians need to read the story of Ruth in the Bible again and line up accordingly. Pray against meteorites creating havoc and against severe cosmic activities. Donald Trump needs to be wise regarding Russia. Russia is not his friend. There is a subtle plan to trap him and it can cause impeachment and topple his presidency. He needs to seek God as never before. The enemy will not come in a way to which he is accustomed. They are coming in suits and ties.
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