Pastor Mike's "Blog"

Change is in the Air!

2009-04-27T10:01:00.001-04:00

United Christian Assembly 4/26/2009
– Change is in the air,
Those that have been stuck, change is in the air,
Those that have been stuck, change is in the air,
Some have been stuck in the past – in the unforgiveness and bitterness of the past, Change is in the air,
Some have been stuck in the rut of church - change is in the air,
Some have been stuck looking at themselves in the mirror, admiring My handi-work, change is in the air,
Some have been stuck, waiting for what they think I should do, change is in the air,
Some have been stuck in relationships – change is in the air,
I will change your hearts
I will change your hearts
I will not change the past
I will not change my plan
I will not change my purpose
For you
I have called you individually to be a people – change is in the air
I will cause you to come together in such away that you will be known for your love for one another and for me.
Change is in the air,
I know that you do not like change but you cannot grow with change
Some things must die so new things can live
Have you not seen even in My creation that new life always comes from death. Did I not say in My Word that unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies it remains alone?
Did not your New Life come from My death?
You must let go of the past- all of it! Yes you have been hurt, you have been carrying the hurt – give it to me, it is my burden, let it go and receive the healing that I have for you. -REPEAT THIS-
Don’t minimize the hurt, even from childhood, The price has been paid, vengence is mine, I will repay, The things done against you will not be forgotton by me. You must let them go and walk in Me.
Change is in the air – change is in Me – I am like the wind, you do not know where I come from or where I am going, you must embrace Me and ride with Me. There are times and seasons that have been ordained from the beginning – this is a season where I am moving, do not be left behind and miss this move that I am doing. It is not what you are expecting – it will not look like what you have experinced before, It is something that I ordained from the beginning and I will bring it to pass – will you come with Me and receive the New Wine – if so you must first be willing to have your old wine skins changed so they can hold this New Wine.
The choice is yours, the time is now, Change is in the air.

Do you believe this?

2009-04-22T13:31:00.000-04:00

Do you believe this?

Luke 24:1-12

It was early Sunday morning… The first day of the week,… it had been an awful, terrible “weekend” – In the past week so much had happened.

Wasn’t it just a week ago that Jesus came riding triumphantly into Jerusalem? The people were praising him so loud that the religious people were nervous… in the past week…

Monday, Jesus cursed the fig tree and cleansed the temple.

Tuesday, the fig tree is withered… Jesus answers every question with such wisdom that it leaves the Pharisees speechless.

Thursday – the celebration of the Passover feast, the washing of the feet and the institution of the Lord’s supper, Jesus prays…

Thursday was a long day… after all the great things…
Betrayal with a kiss.
Arrest
Desertion
Trial(s)
Peter denies him…
Judas kills himself
Dragged before Pilate
Sent to Herod
Back to Pilate
Mocked by soldiers
Beatings, whippings
Led to Golgotha
DEATH – darkness, earthquake, torn veil, dead people raised and walking all around the city.
Burial

Guards set

That brings us to today…. You wake up and it’s like the old song… 3 cups of coffee and I still can’t clear my head of what went down…
If you have ever lost a loved one, un-expectantly, you know how they might have felt –
Except that not only was this a loved one but all of their hopes, trust and faith had been placed on him.
He was supposed to be the Messiah and now He was dead?
Let your imagination take you into their shoes – disappointment, fear, shock, grief, anger…

All your hopes, dreams and expectations have been shattered!

The death of Jesus paid the price for all of our sins! All the sins of man-kind were placed upon Him as he hung on the Cross.

We must – die to ourselves, “take up our cross and follow Him.

Galatians 2:20 (NKJV) 20I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

We must identify with His death to receive eternal Life.
Romans 6:6-7
6We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. 7For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin.

But-

We have resurrection power living within us! We cannot stop with the crucifixion of Christ –

We MUST live in the power of the Resurrection!

Romans 6:5 - 11 (NLT) 5Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised to life as he was. 6We know that our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin. 7For when we died with Christ we were set free from the power of sin. 8And since we died with Christ, we know we will also live with him. 9We are sure of this because Christ was raised from the dead, and he will never die again. Death no longer has any power over him. 10When he died, he died once to break the power of sin. But now that he lives, he lives for the glory of God. 11So you also should consider yourselves to be dead to the power of sin and alive to God through Christ Jesus.

Romans 8:11 (NLT) 11The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.

1 Corinthians 6:14 (NKJV) 14And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.

Colossians 3:1 - 3 (NKJV) 1If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. 2Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. 3For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

John 11:25 - 26 (NKJV) 25Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”

When we apply the Death and resurrection of Christ to our lives, when we become “born again”, when we are converted, when we enter into a deep love relationship with Him…

Just believing in God does not do it.
Going to this Church or any other Church does not do it.
Being a good person does not do it.
Giving money does not do it.
Buddha, Mohammad or confusicous, new age stuff, wicca, and every other “religion” will get you the same thing – eternity in hell – separated from God. ACCORDING TO JESUS!
He is the one who said that No man comes to Father but by Him,

Peter said - Acts 4:12 (NLT) 12There is salvation in no one else! God has given no other name under heaven by which we must be saved.”

I know that many of you have heard this time and time again. If you have and you already know Christ as your personal Lord and Savior – PRAY for those that may not yet know Him.

To wrap this up I have 2 questions – depending on where you are in Him.

1) If you know Him – are you living a resurrection life? Are you living in and by the power of the Holy Spirit, the same power that raise Christ Jesus from the dead? Do you understand that the Kingdom of God is within you, that wherever you are the Kingdom is?
2) If you don’t really know Him, if you know about Him, if you are not sure that if you died today you would be with Him in paradise, my question for you today is, Can I introduce you to My Savior, My Lord, My Best Friend, My Creator, My King? It is so simple, yet so profound. It’s not what you can do but what He has already done. He doesn’t care where you’ve been or what you’ve been doing. He changes you from the inside out. Let me ask you like Jesus asked Martha, Do you believe this?
She replied -

John 11:27 (NLT) 27“Yes, Lord,” she told him. “I have always believed you are the Messiah, the Son of God, the one who has come into the world from God.”

What will you do with Jesus?

One of the 7 realities of “Experiencing God” is the crisis of belief which is always followed by major adjustments -

Fear not!

2008-12-19T10:25:00.002-05:00

“Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people."

"God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind."

Merry CHRISTmas!

A "word" for the Church

2008-12-15T12:02:00.002-05:00

“In the next season of life for us as a church we will experience God in new ways – We must be prepared for His coming – He is exposing, pruning, testing our hearts through various trials. When trials come to your life and to the life of the Church realize that God is at work – He is moving – embrace the test, embrace the changes, learn the lesson(s) and apply it to your lives. Remember that we are called to live by faith – sometimes that means that there are bills to pay and no money, sometimes that means that we risk our reputations by speaking or acting in obedience to God. Sometimes that means that we don’t know what our foot is going to land on or even if it is but we step anyway!”

“The Presence of God will bring with it newness – revival, renewal an excitement and a passion about God and the things of the Kingdom but it will also bring with it a new fear of God and new call to holiness and purity. The days of playing church and pretending, hiding behind a mask will end. The gifts of the Spirit will be in full operation, yes the healings will come, The word of knowledge will be working with the word of prophecy and the hidden things will be exposed. Get and keep your heart clean and pure – be open and honest with God, allowing Him to enter every area of your life.”

Not by Might

2008-12-09T10:34:00.002-05:00

"This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: "Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit," Says the Lord of hosts." Zec. 4:6

There will be times when obeying God will lead you to impossible situations. If you look at your own skills, knowledge, and resources, you will become discouraged. However, when you became a Christian, God placed His Spirit within you. You now have the resources of heaven at your disposal. The success of your endeavors will not depend on the way you use your own resources but on how you obey the Spirt of God.

Some men's sins....

2008-12-03T10:59:00.002-05:00

1 Tim 5:24-25 "Some men's sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later. Likewise, the good works of some are cleary evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden."

2 Tim. 3:9 "...but they will progress no further, for their folly will be manifest to all..."

Those that have hidden sin in their lives (we all do to some degree) will not get away with it. Sooner of later it will be exposed. Bring it into the light and deal with with now. You will not progress or grow in the things of God until you do. And you may well save yourselves much shame, pain and embrassement.

The Jezebel Spirit

2008-12-03T10:52:00.002-05:00

Characteristics of a Jezebel Spirit
1) Refuse to admit guilt or wrong
2) Takes credit for everything
3) Uses people to accomplish its agenda
4) Withholds information
5) Talks in confusion
6) Volunteers for anything
7) Lies convincingly
8) Ignores people
9) Never gives credit or shows gratitude
10) Criticizes everyone
11) One – upmanship
12) Sequesters information
13) Uses information
14) Talks incessantly
15) Spiritualizes everything
16) Is insubordinate
17) Is pushy and domineering
18) Is clairvoyant
19) Uses the element of surprise
20) Sows seeds of discord
21) Commands attention
22) Is vengeful
23) Attempts to make you look like you're the Jezebel
24) Insinuates disapproval
25) Knows it all
26) Is ambitious
27) Gift giving
28) Is independent
29) Is religious
30) Hides

Brokeneness

2008-09-16T14:02:00.000-04:00

Do you remember singing that wonderful little song, “Brokenness is what I need”? It is what we need yet it is usually not what we want. The message on Sunday really ministered to me. I need to be broken, stay broken and live a life of brokenness. I need to always know how desperate I am for Christ. I need to walk in a place of complete dependence on Him. And, so do you. So, I’m still praying that prayer that is so difficult to pray but it is the heart of God. “Make me more like you”, realizing of course that for me to be like Him, I have to die and be denied.

To judge or not to judge

2008-07-21T15:50:00.000-04:00

Matthew 7:1 - 6 (NKJV) 1“Judge not, that you be not judged. 2For with what judgment you judge, you will be judged; and with the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. 3And why do you look at the speck in your brother’s eye, but do not consider the plank in your own eye? 4Or how can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove the speck from your eye’; and look, a plank is in your own eye? 5Hypocrite! First remove the plank from your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. 6“Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.

John MacArthur’s New Testament Commentary is quoted below as He did a great job explaining what I was trying to say:

“It should be noted that this passage has erroneously been used to suggest that believers should never evaluate or criticize anyone for anything. Our day hates absolutes, especially theological and moral absolutes, and such simplistic interpretation provides a convenient escape from confrontation. Members of modern society including many professing Christians, tend to resist dogmatism and strong convictions about right and wrong. Many people prefer to speak of all-inclusive love, compromise, ecumenism, and unity. To the modern religious person those are the only “doctrines” worth defending, and they are the doctrines to which every conflicting doctrine must be sacrificed.”

“Right doctrine not only is compatible with true holiness, unity, and fellowship but is absolutely necessary for them to exist. Only right doctrine, biblical doctrine, can teach us what true holiness, unity, and fellowship are—and are not.
In many circles, including some evangelical circles, those who hold to strong convictions and who speak up and confront society and the church are branded as violators of this command not to judge, and are seen as troublemakers or, at best, as controversial. Yet at no time in the history of the church, or of ancient Israel, was spiritual and moral reformation achieved apart from confrontation and conflict. God’s prophets have always been bold and controversial. And they have always been resisted, often by God’s own people.”

“…Nor does this or any other part of Scripture teach that we are never to evaluate, criticize, or condemn the actions or teachings of another person.
The entire thrust of the Sermon on the Mount is to show the complete distinction between true religion and false religion, between spiritual truth and spiritual hypocrisy. Jesus places God’s perfect and holy standards beside the unholy and self-righteous standards of the scribes and Pharisees and declares that those who follow those unholy and self-righteous standards have no part in God’s kingdom (5:20). No more controversial or judgmental sermon has ever been preached.
If this greatest sermon by our Lord teaches anything, it teaches that His followers are to be discerning and perceptive in what they believe and in what they do, that they must make every effort to judge between truth and falsehood, between the internal and the external, between reality and sham, between true righteousness and false righteousness—in short, between God’s way and all other ways.
A few verses later Jesus warns, “Beware of the false prophets” (Matt. 7:15). In other words, we are to judge who speaks for God and who does not. Jesus tells us to confront a sinning brother privately with his sin and, if he will not repent, to take one or two others with us to speak to him, and if that does not cause him to change, to bring him before the entire church. If he still does not repent, he is to be put out of the church and regarded “as a Gentile and a tax-gatherer” (Matt. 18:15-17).
Paul tells believers, “Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them. For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting” (Rom. 16:17-18). He also instructs saints not even “to associate with any so-called brother if he should be an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler—not even to eat with such a one” (1 Cor. 5:11). Obviously such commands demand that we employ a certain kind of judgment before we can obey.
Every message we hear is to be judged for the soundness of its doctrine. Paul told the Galatians, “But even though we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to that which we have preached to you, let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:8). John says, “If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house, and do not give him a greeting; for the one who gives him a greeting participates in his evil deeds” (2 John 10-11).
Not to rebuke sin is a form of hatred, not love. “You shall not hate your fellow countryman in your heart; you may surely reprove your neighbor” (Lev. 19:17). Refusing to warn a person about his sin is just as unloving as refusing to warn him about a serious disease he may have. A person who does not warn a friend about his sin cannot claim love as his motive (see Matt. 18:15). The author of Hebrews calls for a level of spiritual maturity wherein Christians “because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil” (5:14).
But Jesus is here talking about the self-righteous, egotistical judgment and unmerciful condemnation of others practiced by the scribes and Pharisees. Their primary concern was not to help others from sin to holiness, but to condemn them to eternal judgment because of actions and attitudes that did not square with their own worldly, self-made traditions.”

So my wrap up on this is… We are called to not be judgmental, look down upon, or ever think that we are better than someone else. That is not the same as judging between, good and evil, discerning between darkness and light. We cannot excuse sin, we must as Eph 5 says: “find out what is acceptable to the Lord. 11And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather expose them” – This doctrine of not judging is a very dangerous one to the Church of Jesus Christ and is already being used to allow homosexuality and other sinful behavior in the Church. We as the saying goes must “hate the sin and love the sinner” ~ I know that is a cute little saying but it is the truth… It doesn’t matter what someone is doing, or not doing, they are still to be loved, that doesn’t mean that we just excuse the behavior but real love confronts and helps the person see and move from their sin.

In that we must take heed lest we fall, I have no room to throw stones….

Some More.....

2008-07-09T16:31:00.000-04:00

Well, we thought we would be home late tonight...not - flight cancelled - this time we ended up stranded in Orlando - could be worse...
As I process more of the revival I think that God is doing many things but the top 3 are (from my view point)

1) Healing people to point them to Christ
2) Enabling the saints for the work of the ministry - "You can do it!"
3) Confronting religion and the traditions of man.

The Gospel is being preached - the saints are being released and the Glory of God is evident.

His,

P Mike

more!!!

2008-07-08T01:10:00.000-04:00

It's 1:10 am and just getting back from the revival meeting! We both are dripping with oil as we got prayed for with the other 8-9,000 people!

As Jesus told John's disciples - “Go and tell John the things which you hear and see: 5The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6And blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.”

more later today....

More on Lakeland

2008-07-07T09:09:00.000-04:00

Saturday night we arrived at the tent at 4:30 (the meeting starts at 7) there were already about 200 people in line.... We did get great seats and were in the midst of awesome praise and worship that lasted until 9:15! The presence of God was rich! The message from Jeff Garvin was soooo encouraging! It seems that one of the themes is tearing down religon! I saw one t-shirt that said 0% religion - 100% Jesus! Jeff's testimony of his wife's tubel pregancy in which she was told she needed a DNC because the baby had died and she was in danger. He prayed over his wife and the next ultra sound showed a live baby in her womb! No longer a tubel pregancy but a normal one with a live baby - he then introduced his 24 year old daughter who was dead!!!! Wow!

Sunday morning we attended Ignited Church... 1 st thing we noticed is that if you are not early you park at Walmart and walk about 1/4 mile.... then you end up in the "overflow" room.... The power and presence of God was tanglible in that place as well! We received prayer from Pastor Strader and knew that God was touching and imparting!

Sunday night.... again we arrived early! Worship was soooo sweet! During worship I entered into that "sweet spot" of intimacy with my Father! He spoke some encouraging things to me and some challanging things to me... The worshp leader, Roy Fields spoke... Wow! annoited to praise and worship and speak! Again the testimonies of his personal life were so powerful and again it was about being REAL not religious!

All for now!

Revival in Lakeland

2008-07-05T14:36:00.000-04:00

1st observation - We already have revival in Jericho - smaller scale (so far) but never the less we are experiencing God in a similar way.... We have not seen the healings and resurrections the way that is happening here but ~ it is only a matter of time and hunger. Are we hungry enough for God? Not just to see signs and wonders but to know HIM in a deeper way - not looking for His hand but His face?

2nd observation - so far I heard teaching that started with repentence! The message of Salvation - loud and clear! I also understand that this is not a church and Todd Bently has not been charged with overseeing the souls that are in this meeting. That is huge! In a meeting like this it seems like "anything goes" - I don't think that is completely true but to a casual observer it may seem that way. The thing to remember is that Todd is not these people's pastor nor is he supposed to be. Correction comes from the authority that God has placed in your life - not an evanglist that you don't know....

Today (Saturday) we attended the morning session - powerful teaching! The message was:"7 keys to transformation in you city."

I only got 6 ----

1) Know your sphere of field of ministry -
2) In your sphere of ministry do NOT be seeker sensitive but be presence sensitive. Don't just do signs and wonders but be a sign and a wonder.
3) The fear of the Lord must return to the Church - You come to the place that you love Him so much that you don't want to grieve Him.
4) Demonstration of God's power through signs and wonders - "if it's in the Bible it's available to you"
5) Create a structure that can maintain and facilitate multiplication - Don't be small minded, raise up leaders!
6) Enlarge your secret place - you start in your "closet" but your secret place must grow so that wherever you are you are in your secret place!

Declare the Church a "sick free zone..." much depth into this beginning with 1 Cor 11:28 -

"When there is REAL unity in the Church there will not be any sickness in the Church..."

All for now....

To get some...

2008-07-04T15:49:00.000-04:00

The first day of our trip to "get some" came with a gift from Papa God... our first flight was cancelled.... a test. so.... by cancelling our first flight we arrived in Orlando about 5 hours sooner then expected! Sooner? how can that be when our flight was cancelled? God is good! More to come....

David and Goliath

2008-07-01T09:33:00.000-04:00

As I read this morning about David and Goliath I noticed something that I had never seen before... (how many times have I read or heard this story???) David asked the question, "what's in it for me?" What does the man who kills this giant receive? Now I know it's not about me, it's not about what I want or desire. But could it be OK to desire a greater glory in Christ? Is it OK to ask the question, "what's in it for me?" I don't know.... I do know that in 1 Tim. 3 Paul tells Timothy that "If a man desires the postion of a bishop, he desires a good work." David never took credit for what happened to Goliath but it did open up the pathway to his destiny.... So maybe there is a giant or two that I (or you) need to kill, receive whatever the reward is, and take the road to fulfilling our destiny.

"God ain't Jack"

2008-06-26T08:56:00.000-04:00

Wow, what a thought that was brought forth... We come to church and bring out the box that we keep God in and we wind it, and wind it and wind it.... Then when God shows up we are surprised... We get all excited, praise Him and worship Him, then when the clock turns 12 we put God back in the box, pack up and go home only to repeat the same process the next Sunday...

God ain't Jack

Fathers

2008-06-12T11:41:00.000-04:00

Spiritual fathers and mothers

A spiritual father is one who: cares deeply for you and can interact with you and help you sort out nagging questions when you run into problems. He will encourage you and give you positive feedback as well as leave an imprint in your life. He will help you grow up spiritually. He will be ready and willing to serve and encourage you.

“Being a father or mother in the Lord is not limited to those who are pastors or spiritual leaders. There is also a very crucial need for other spiritually mature, caring people to act as “fathers and mothers” to other believers” … “We need to turn loose these “moms and dads” in the church to be who they are.

“If we fail to take the next steps to become spiritual parents, we remain spiritual babies- spiritually immature and lacking parenting skills.”… “Through modeling and impartation, spiritual reproduction happens naturally.”

“Just how do spiritual young men and women grow up to become spiritual fathers and mothers? There is only way – to have spiritual children! You could memorize the entire book of Leviticus and repeat it backwards but your knowledge and expertise would not make you a spiritual father. Spiritual parents become parent by having spiritual children.”

The Spiritual Mentor (Ron DePriest) pg 156 – “The indication is that there can be more than one father who will input into your life – but not many.” (1 Cor. 4:14-15) … “You cannot successfully be a spiritual father to many sons and daughters.”

Phil 2:19-22 “…I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. 20For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. 21For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. 22But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel.”

1 John 2:12-14

Malachi 4:6 “And he will turn the hearts of the fathers to the children, and the hearts of the children to their fathers, lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.”

My thoughts –

Every person needs a spiritual father and/or mother to help them, to lead them, to believe in them. If only the few that are Sr. Pastors are to be fathers then most of the church will be left fatherless… One person or one couple can only father and mother a handful of people successfully. No one can or should try to father an entire church. It is the responsibility of the five-fold ministry to equip the saints to do the work of the ministry… if only the “elect” few are to father or mother others in the church then many will never reach their destiny in Christ. I, as a gift to the church should be raising up sons and daughters who will raise up their own sons and daughters who will also raise up sons and daughters. (I am reminded of 2 Tim. 2:2)