Are you Jesus?

A small disclaimer...I did not write this story nor do I know if it actually happened. However, the message in this story should be true in the life of every Follower of Christ! Let this encourage you today to spend time in the presence of God like Moses did. When Moses came back to the people he was glowing because of standing in the glory of God. Spending time with God will change our countenance, attitude, fruit, and how we treat others. Read this story and be encouraged today.

A few years ago a group of salesmen went to a regional sales convention in Chicago . They had assured their wives that they would be home in plenty of time for Friday night's dinner. In their rush, with tickets and briefcases, one of these salesmen inadvertently kicked over a table which held a display of apples. Apples flew everywhere. Without stopping or looking back, they all managed to reach the plane in time for their nearly missed boarding... ALL BUT ONE!!! He paused, took a deep breath, and experienced a twinge of compassion for the girl whose apple stand had been overturned.

He told his buddies to go on without him, waved good-bye, told one of them to call his wife when they arrived at their home destination and explain his taking a later flight. Then he returned to the terminal where the apples were all over the terminal floor.

He was glad he did.

The 16 year old girl was totally blind! She was softly crying, tears running down her cheeks in frustration, and at the same time helplessly groping for her spilled produce as the crowd swirled about her, no one stopping and no one to care for her plight.

The salesman knelt on the floor with her, gathered up the apples, put them back on the table and helped organize her display. As he did this, he noticed that many of them had become battered and bruised; these he set aside in another basket. When he had finished, he pulled out his wallet and said to the girl, 'Here, please take this $40 for the damage we did. Are you okay?' She nodded through her tears. He continued on with, 'I hope we didn't spoil your day too badly.'

As the salesman started to walk away, the bewildered blind girl called out to him, 'Mister.......' He paused and turned to look back into those blind eyes. She continued,
'Are you Jesus?'

He stopped in mid-stride, and he wondered. Then slowly he made his way to catch the later flight with that question burning and bouncing about in his soul:
'Are you Jesus?'

Do people mistake you for Jesus? That's our Destiny, is it not? To be so much like Jesus that people cannot tell the difference as we live and interact with a world that is blind to His love, life and grace. If we claim to know Him, we should live, walk and act as He would. Knowing Him is more than simply quoting Scripture and going to church. It's actually living the Word as life unfolds day to day. You are the apple of His eye even though we, too, have been bruised by a fall. He stopped what He was doing and picked you and me up on a hill called Calvary and paid in full for our damaged fruit.

Tips I've Learned for Worship Leaders

This week I simply wanted to share some tips I've learned for leading worship. If you are a worship leader, I hope this encourages you and helps you lead God's people into His Presence!

• Give the Church room for their own voice to be heard; allow space where the congregation sings out on a worship song while the band accompanies them and the vocalists hold back from singing in their mics. This technique can also be used to encourage a 'new song' to be sung by the people but this takes time and teaching. It's good to remove lyrics from the projector screen...occassionally.
• Encourage your band of musicians to play together and work on music dynamics. A band needs to make one sound of music, not various instruments doing their own thing...that becomes distracting and down right annoying.
• Honestly, I can talk way to much while leading worship. This causes people to connect in worship then disconnect and then reconnect and back and forth...if I keep talking. Go with less is more UNLESS the Holy Spirit tells you to speak! You'll notice a huge difference in the response of the people as you lead them instead of always interrupting the worship flow.
• Let the Holy Spirit flow as you worship the King. Be sensitive to His move. If you have to change your song list or order of service to do what He wants...THROW IT ALL AWAY if you need to! It's okay. Afterall it's His Church. I'm not advocating chaos or confusion, not at all. But we need to let the Lord direct His Church!
• Let the people 'respond' to worship, don't push them or scold them. Now there are times when rebuke might be needed but I've heard that used on very rare and bold occassions. Worship Leaders should lead by example and teaching!
• There is something about a 'Shepherd's voice' while leading worship. There is a time for shouting praises, exhorting, even more declarative or militant style worship, but the Shepherd's tone and volume actually draws people deeper into God's Presence.
• I like this term...'humble confidence.' This simply means in humility know your skill, trust the anointing of God and then follow Him.
• Lead worship as if the platform is level with the congregation seating but realize that when you do step onto the platform, no matter how high it is, you have been placed their with great responsibility and sacrifice. Walk humbly in it. It is reverent and holy unto the Lord and should be honored and respected.
• There are times when we cue the vocalists or band to sing a chorus or verse again but never cue the congregation, why? Sometimes it may not be needed but to keep distractions from becoming an issue learn to naturally cue the congregation during a song. You don't need to intro the Church every single time you sing a chorus, bridge or verse but learn how to gently guide them with small verbal cues.
• Worship Leaders: submit to the Senior Leadership of your church. The Senior Pastor of your church should be seen as the Head Worship Leader! You will find great blessing in this if you submit to it!
• Your attitude can make or break the team's attitude which will affect the attitude of worship! Keep your attitude in check even when sound issues come up, a projector isn't working, a musician shows up late and not in dress code...!
• Bring, usher and lead the people into the Presence of God...DON'T JUST GO IN ALONE!
• "Ministry is the overflow of time spent with Jesus." So take time to worship Him and discover Him on your own!
• Worship Leaders are Butlers for God to His people. Butlers open the door the people are knocking on, take their coat, encourage them to prepare to meet the King, walk them to the Throneroom and then encourage them to stay as long as they can in His Presence! Awesome!
• When it comes to the Manifest Power and Presence of God, I have a problem with being seeker-sensitive. God loves people more than I do so if I submit to Him He'll show me how to lead believers and unbelievers alike into His Presence. It's not about being seeker-sensitive but about leading a diverse congregation of people! Learn how your people respond and teach them from there!

There is so much more I could share but for now this is enough. I hope this reequips and encourages you to work on your skill as a worship leader!

In pursuit of Jesus,
Jarrod

Creative Worship

I'm reminded of Darrell Evan's song titled New Song Arisin' and my heart is stirred! Check that song out if you've never heard it!!! There truly is a new song, a roar out of Zion taking place in The Church regardless of denominational positions!

Over the past two decades worship in the earth to the King of all kings has become more expressive, more dynamic, more creative than ever, at least from where I'm standing. Dance is being restored in the church...even in more conservative denominational congregations! Art is being restored in the church through drawing and painting, and in some circles, even through scultures, clay, photography and more!

Why? Why is all of this creative worship happening?

I believe the Lord is restoring worship to The Church in this hour. Notice I said "worship to The Church" and not 'worship FOR The Church.' God wants to receive willful and creative worship from His Bride, The Church. I believe the Lord is rebuilding and restoring His favorite house of worship in the Church...The Tabernacle of David; where people danced, and celebrated, and created heavenly worship to the King. And most importantly, where people were IN HIS PRESENCE!!! God our Father desires to have us near Him!

Recalling the preparation of worship in the Old Testament, master craftsman in wood, precious metals, etc. were called in for specific work on the temples and artifacts for worship! What do we see happening in The Church today? Artists are being stirred and equipped to do the same but not on a 'house of worship' but to the Glory of God!

Creative worship also means we are taking the time to think things out; what lyrics go well to express this thought in this song, should the paint stroke of the brush go this way or that, should the dance be upbeat or slow, should it be a hymn or chorus, should the photograph be in grayscale or the original color, etc. Creative worship requires us to ponder and meditate on what pleases and blesses the Lord! Spend time with the Lord and He'll direct your creativity!

One last thought on why all this creative worship is happening...
I have 3 children and 1 child on the way. My kids love to imitate my wife and I, both the positive and negative things...they mimic us and reflect us! Follow me on this...God our Father is our CREATOR and we are His CREATION! When we create holy and 'good' things we are imitating our God! The created ones reflecting the One Creator! How amazing is that?!

Recieve this as an encouragement today to be creative and give God your life-worship! Write poetry, take a photograph of His creation then share it with others, mold clay, write a song, learn an instrument, practice singing, attend a conference and learn, act in a drama for evangelism, dance in worship and most of all...LIVE HOLY AND CARE FOR OTHERS! Give God your creative worship today!

In pursuit of Jesus.

The Fear of Uncertainty

2 Timothy 1:7
"For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, of love, and of a sound mind."

Isn't it interesting that when we give in to satan's temptations of fear we then turn over to him power, love and a sound mind. Satan uses 1 thing (fear) to steal 3 things (power, love, sound mind) from us!

As you know, we are all living in an age of uncertainty. That's obvious. The market going up and right back down; earthquakes everywhere; illness and disease; etc. The list goes on.

This Fear of the Uncertain has been breathing down my neck lately, more so than before.

Recently my wife and I were faced with a test of faith when she started showing some complications with her pregnancy; Baby #4 for us! All in all, the complications were scary and unnerving because we've experienced these things before and experienced miscarriage and heartache thereafter. You can imagine what the enemy was barking at us with! He is such a liar.

But then there is the Living God who conquers all fear! Experiencing the fear of uncertainty brings opportunity to trust in the Lord and grow in faith! This is so true and can be difficult to walk through but the rewards are great and bountiful!

We spent time in prayer, crying out before the Lord, venting fears and worries, casting our cares on Him and receiving prayers from many others!

Elizabeth is now 10 weeks along and today we received the report of the Lord at the doctor's office...the baby is healthy, has a strong heartbeat, is about 1 1/2 inches long, loosk great, and the complications she was experiencing are healing well!

My God, Jehovah, is faithful and He is not deaf! He is good!

So, let me encourage you. When you are facing the fears of uncertainties do not replace God with worry or anxiety. Cast the anxiety and worries on Him and use the fears you face as opportunities of grace, opportunities for deeper faith!

Life-Changing Quick Quotes from People you know!

Today's blog is definitely different. I'm going to let others speak to you who have invested into my own life and caused great change by the power of the Holy Spirit and God's unchanging Word! Enjoy.


"Keep your eyes on what's important."   
Elizabeth Herald, my wife

"Today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday."   
Pastor Ed Herald, my father

"If there are problems in the pew it very well might be because there are problems in the pulpit."
Pastor Ed Herald

"The greatest battle is the battle over self." 
Pastor Ed Herald

"Do we have people coming to worship or do we have people coming already worshipping?"
Vince D'Acchioli

"You can tell the character of a man by looking into the eyes of his wife."
Vince D'Acchioli

"The remedy to everything is to Follow Him!" 
Pastor Alan Latta

"There is a roar of Zion happening in the earth."
Klaus Kuehn

"If I do this willingly I have a reward but if against my will I have been entrusted with stewardship."
Andrew Ironside

"Ministry is an overflow of time spent with Jesus."
Darrell Evans

"When we spend time in God's Presence we are transformed more and move into His image."
Apostle & Pastor Olen Griffing

"If you have no private victories you fall publicly."
Pastor Ed Herald

"You don't really "know" something until you "do" what you know."
Apostle & Pastor Olen Griffing

"There is a living difference between confession and repentance; it's all a change of mind and perspective."
Pastor John Parks

"God wants to flow in us, through us, and AS us."
Pastor John Parks

"Grace is the motivation to be holy; the means to be holy."
Pastor Joe Oakley

"Holiness is not something we do; holiness is something we become, it's a Spirit."
Pastor Kerry Kirkwood

"You cannot go into the Presence of God without receiving vision."
Dr. Leon Van Rooyen

"Christianity is not about saving your skin. It's about giving up yourself for the glory of God."
Eric Ludy

"Learning to live in this world is imperative to spiritual maturity."
Bill Swindle

"We need to stop getting carried away by the enemy and remain where God has planted us."
Pastor Ed Herald

"God does not exist to fulfill our purposes or needs. We exist to fulfill God's purposes!"
Dr. James MacDonald

"Humility is not something you are but something you do!" 
Dr. James MacDonald

The Threshing Floor...of Repentance

I've been spending some much needed time in prayer today and just sensing the contriteness and repentance that's been coming over the leadership and people of Victory Christian Center as of late. It's powerful and goes so deep.

While I was spending time on the threshing floor of repentance that Lord stirred me up in my prayer that story of Jesus talking to His disciples about what makes a man unclean (Matthew 15:1-20). I've read this passage many times but one word smacked me upside the heart!

Matthew 15:15, 16
Peter said, "Explain the parable to us." (Please read the previous verses to know what Peter is referring to.) "Are you still do dull?" Jesus asked them.

I know I need to be careful not to take the scripture or individual words out of context but that word DULL just hits me. All I can do is reread and recite that question, "Are you still so DULL?" I can hear the holy attitude and compassion of Jesus; His head slightly turned in contemplation and His eyes peircing His disciples hearts by asking, "Are you still so DULL?"

I imagine a sword with both sides unsharpended, unuseable, thick and not fulfilling it's purpose. Under the conviction of the Spirit and in the threshing floor of repentance I ask myself, "Am I still so dull?"

With our hearts contrite, pride humbled, and attitudes in check let us question our motives, attitudes, weaknesses, goals and dreams. Can we ask ourselves today, "Are we still so dull?"  When will we be sharpened and ready for the Master's use? Let us begin today in the spirit of repentance. Let repentance work it's way into the secret hiding places and compartments of our souls and let healed and redemption take hold.

Repentance is a GOOD THING! Contriteness is a GOOD THING! Rebuke the fear and let the Holy Spirit flood your being!

Some practical things we can do while threshing away in life to become sharpened swords for Christ...
    -turn off the radio and spend time meditating on God's Word; don't let your mind be empty, renew your mind with God's Word like water and soap washes dirt off our hands.
    -seriously...have an attitude of gratitude and give thanks. You've heard it said in God's Word to "pray without ceasing." This refers to well over 100 hundred blessings the Jews would recite to the Lord DAILY. So there you go...BLESS GOD all the time, give thanks, pray about everything..GOD IS NOT DEAF!
    -stay in this season of repentance, rest in God's grace and purpose in your heart to let the Holy Spirit produce His fruit in you.
    -spend less and less time on social medias and socialize with Jesus!
    -make sure to go to Church every chance you get and spend time with the Beloved Bride of Jesus...your brothers and sisters.
    -ask the Holy Spirit to reveal things in your life you need to repent of and then repent quickly...turn away from those things and honor and obey God

All in all, let contriteness fill your heart. Spend some time in the threshing floor secret place.

Worship & Creative Arts Interview...

Hello friends, this week's Blog is a little different. When you can, check out an interview I recently did with co-laborer and friend Doug Faulkner of the Immanuel Bible Foundation in Normal, IL. We talked together about Worship & Creative Arts in The Church. It was a great discussion. It's broken into 3 parts for better listening; in total the interview is about 45 minutes in length. Thank you for taking the time to listen. Many blessings!

Worship & Creative Arts Interview with Jarrod Herald

It's Time To Rise!

I'm convinced that people are hungry for the manifest presence of God. Something tangible, something more real than their heart can conceive. I believe, as well as many of my pastoral and worship leader friends, that revival is coming. Not just some 'scheduled' revival, which there is a place for that. But something greater.

What I'm talking about is the Outpouring of God's Spirit. I desire it and I'm HUNGRY for it. We can see the stirrings of it around us. Like pastoral prayer gatherings, uniting clergy from multiple denominations, and they are all saying the same thing..."we want God's Spirit to be poured out like never before!" From concerts to conferences to gatherings to rallies to Facebook posts to Blogs like this...something is stirring in the hearts of God's people AND people who have not yet called upon the Lord to be saved. People, in general, are looking for The Truth they can hold on to and that won't let them down!

There is a drawing in, if you will, from the Father's compassionate heart! Something is happening. Believers are going through pruning, unbelievers are asking questions, some believers are actually going through seasons of doubt that, in turn, cause their faith to grow stronger! Think about it.

Let me get to the meat of what is coming up.

I'm convinced that we, this generation, have the opportunity to prepare and witness the next Great Outpouring of God's Spirit. I believe it with all of my heart. Revival and uniting the Body of Christ has been a major focus in my spirit since I started in ministry.

We have the opportunity before us to Prepare for Rain...the greatest Rain of His Spirit in the History of the World. It's Time To Rise! It's time to take your place and answer the high calling that God has placed on you! No more holding back...I'm serious! No more doing it solo! We're done with that. It's either we're united now or divided in the future!

We're witnessing networks and associations form that bring believers and church leaders together! And let me share with you our upcoming worship and arts conference that stirs up artists and worshippers to prepare for rain in their communities, cities, states and countries!

Time To Rise is all about 'reequipping the artist and inspiring the worshippers.' Worship Teams come to be refreshed, musicians and vocalists come for training, artists come for inspiration, pastors come for ideas, worship leaders come for networking and so much more. I could plug a whole more of what the conference provides but let me share just this one major point...

I sense that Time To Rise is just one of the peices the Lord is using in uniting the Body of Christ in the Midwest for the Great Outpouring that's coming to Illinois and beyond. I believe it. Yeah, you'll have to take my word for it if you haven't experienced a Time To Rise conference or if you don't attend this year's conference. But...you could also come be a part! It is so beautiful to see the Body united in worship under the banner, the Name of Jesus Christ.

Let me close this blog with a scripture that the name of the conference came out of...

John 4:23, 24
"Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks."

It's Time To Rise!

Keeping The Main Thing...The Main Thing!

The past few weeks the Lord's grace has been revealed in my life to bring me through more pruning. Don't get me wrong! Pruning is good for us. The Lord does it and allows it because of His great compassion and love for us, He wants us to be prepared for what is to come, and, simply, He wants us to produce more good fruit.

I've recently been challenged to keep the main thing...The Main Thing.

Here's one of the ways I've been challenged by this. Ministry should not only start at home but it should begin with my servant-leadership toward my beautiful and caring wife, Elizabeth. I should consider the ministry and the visions that God has given her to fulfill BETTER and GREATER than my own. This is Biblical...read Ephesians chapter 5! I want my wife to be RADIANT! Keeping the main thing, The Main Thing. Sadly, at times, my leadership has kept Elizabeth from shining brightly. Men, as Dr. Tony Evans puts it, 'our wives are who we lead them to be!' (paraphrasing)

To continue the thought, here's a "What If" question for you:
What if...my sons and daughters see their daddy pouring attention, resources, wisdom, and value into their mommy and the purpose God has for her?

WOW! Talk about raising up Revivalists; children who will run after God passionately!!! If my wife receives this kind of attention from me, what kind of discipling and value will my children receive!? Believe me when I say that Elizabeth and I are working hard to raise up men (sons) and women (daughters) of God who Follow Christ, pursue holiness, and pursue pure religion!

I realize that The Main Thing, in a Christian's life, really covers many priorities and what I've shared with you is just one of my Top Priorities.

Check out what else God's Word says...

Philippians 2:3,4
"Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility value others above yourselves,  not looking to your own interests but each of you to the interests of the others."

I hope this has encouraged and challenged you. Follow Christ.

My Daddy's Resemblance...

          You can pick out a Herald easily from inside a crowd of people. I don’t know if it’s because we’re sometimes loud and laughing a lot or if it is because of our facial features and height. I’ll bet on all of those descriptions! But anyway, Herald men, especially, have defined chins and hairlines…most of which are receding. I know you are probably laughing right now but it’s something I’ve had to come to accept. (Haha.) All in all, Herald’s look a lot a like. My brothers and I look a lot like our dad, Ed Herald; we resemble him. Believe me, my brothers and I take pride in that because we honor and love our dad.
       
          Continuing on…so, last night, before going to bed, I spent some time in prayer over my household, my wife and children. I just prayed aloud declaring the goodness of God and sang that beautiful worship song ‘I worship Almighty God, there is none like You. I worship You O Prince of Peace, that is what I long to do. I give You praise for You are my righteousness. I worship You Almighty God, there is none like You!’ It was, and always is, so peaceful in God’s presence, isn’t it?! I love Him!
         
        As I prayed I began to turn my praise into confession and petition, asking the Lord to continue to do a changing work, a sanctifying work, in my life, for the benefit of my wife and children and those around me. During this ‘praise to petition transition’ I felt my words turning more toward God as my Father. I began praying something like, ‘Lord, let my life reflect You, that when people see me they see my Daddy’s resemblance.’ I literally stopped praying and pondered on what came out of my spirit, O that Groaning, that came out in that prayer.

       Isn’t that the ultimate goal in redemption?! To be returned back to God our Father in intimate relationship, communion, fellowship and be in His likeness. Oh I long for that!!! The Psalmist puts it beautifully this way in Psalm 17:15, "As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness; I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness."

       Resemble means “to be similar to somebody or something in appearance or behavior.” Oh Lord, show us mercy and compassion all the days of our lives. We need His grace in order to become like Him. I want my behaviors, mannerisms, words, actions, thoughts, attitudes, reactions, pro-actions, everything I am, to resemble, to reflect my Daddy, Abba Father, Almighty God.

       May that too be your prayer today: ‘Lord, let my life reflect You; that when people see me they see my Daddy’s resemblance.’

Bringing Up…Martyrs

Last week at a Homeschool Convention in Naperville, IL Elizabeth and I heard Eric Ludy preach a bold and passionate message about raising and training his kids to be heroes. The message was called Hero Training. What he said next was extreme but true. He believes that he and his wife must bring up their children to be martyrs for Christ!

This sounds extreme and radical but so true! We should all be in that kind of training no matter what age. I heard a pastor recently pray this kind of prayer, “We have mixed the American dream with the Kingdom of God. Lord forgive us.” That pastor was right on!

This mixing of the American dream and the Kingdom has caused us to loose sight of the fact that we MUST be willing to lay down our life for King Jesus. Sadly, the American dream has changed into looking out for #1. There is no selflessness in that.

I’m also not talking about what other religions might demand of their followers to kill ‘infidels’ (incident people) in order to be a ‘martyrs’ for their ‘god’. I’m talking about following in the steps of King Jesus. Let’s take a look at the scripture to bring truth to this challenge to bring up our children as martyrs…

John 15:13

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” 

We will not purposefully place our kids in harms way but they will be ready nonetheless to lay down their lives just like their mommy and daddy are. More importantly, they will be willing to lay down their lives for the sake of others because that is what their Savior Jesus Christ did for them.

Let us raise our kids to follow hard after Christ, even if it costs them their lives. If we do not raise them with this possible end we could risk their faith being more shallow and superficial than we’d want to admit. Raising children in the fear of the Lord (obedience and reverence before a Holy God) and preparing them to lay down their lives is the ultimate goal. Again, we MUST bring up our children in the footsteps of King Jesus. Jesus gave His life, why shouldn't we teach our kids to be prepared to do the same?

We’re bringing up martyrs. Ready. Willing. Surrendered. Set apart.

The Romans 12 Challenge

What a powerful passage of scripture we read in Romans chapter 12. Wow! 21 verses challenging us to live holy, resist worldly conformity, be connected as One Body, use our gifts, love others and hate evil and much more! Let me share with you a challenge I believe the Holy Spirit has placed in my spirit: memorize Romans 12 in its entirety! I'm up for the challenge and I'd like to pass it on to you as well!

I heard a story one time of a man who decided to read the Bible from cover to cover in 1 year, so he did. This same man decided to read the entire Bible in one month, so he did. He kept reading the Bible over and over and over until he read the Bible around 140 times through and through! Then one day this man died. Those loved ones he left behind commented on his life and said that he was one of the most angry, hateful and unfriendly men they knew! WHAT?!?!? Here is the lesson we should learn:  the problem this man had was that he got into the Word of God but didn't let the Word of God get into him!

Is that you? Is it me? Are we just reading the scripture to read it or to know it, apply it?

Romans chapter 12 verse 2 has been running through me the past few days and coming out of my mouth in delcaring God's Word.

Romans 12:2, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - His good, pleasing and perfect will."

John W. Ritenbaugh says, "If we fail to sacrifice ourselves, the world will have free sway and squeeze us into its mold. The world has an influence on the mind (called "the heart" in the Bible), on our emotions, and on our attitudes, and this influence ultimately shows in our conduct. Conduct begins with our attitudes, with our points of view, with our values, standards, and ideals. If those values, standards, and ideals contradict the way of God, we cannot resist the world's constant pressure to squeeze us into its mold."

Read more: http://www.bibletools.org/index.cfm/fuseaction/Bible.show/sVerseID/28248/eVerseID/28248#ixzz1O21yfQNy

Amen! This challenge for anti-conformity to the world is one we must all heed and apply. If we don't keep ourselves in check we will create vulnerability for sin! Do not conform my friends! This is a command I take to heart today. There is so much more to say on this but for now let's move on.

The second part of this passage is so encouraging. It says that we are to 'be transformed by the renewing of our mind.' We can be transformed by the changing and controlling of our thought life, attitudes, habits! 2 Corinthians 10:4-6 says, "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled."

Thank You Lord for Your confirming Word! There is transformation that happens in the patterns and habits of our thoughts. Isn't that so true?! The transformation could be good or it could even be bad...depending on what thoughts you are enteraining. I'm not trying to write a "self-motivation, think yourself happy" message today. I simply want GOD'S WORD TO GET INTO ME as I get into God's Word! I don't want to miss this and so many times I feel as though I do. I share this challenge with you as well to let God's Word get into your deepest thought patterns and allow it to come out of your heart...make it your new default! Whenever bad situations or temptations come up allow the Holy Spirit, the Living Word of God to swell up within you and come out. Let's receive this challenge today!

One more thing. I recently heard it said that negative, dark thoughts that we've held on to or been tormented by for years or decades could actually be replaced, renewed or covered with a new thought within 4-6 days! There is research to support this; forgive me I don't have the link or researchers info. But trust me on this. God's Word already says it! "Be transformed by the renewing of your mind!" When evil thoughts come your way, capture them and cast them down; renew your mind! When old memories of hurt, failure or fear arise, renew your mind and replace them with the Word of God!

Let us be filled with courage today to know that when we apply God's Word and allow it to produce fruit within us...we shall be renewed, we shall be transformed. Take on the Romans 12 Challenge today, memorize it, quote it and allow it to change you forever!

And remember, when the transformation occurs you will be able to "test and approve what God's will is." In other words, you will be able to examine, assess, try, investigate, check, endorse, support, agree, and back-up the will of God; becoming partners with God in His will! What a great reward! Let us know His will!

Go out victorious!

No More! No More! No More!

No more! That's it! We're done with the old man, we're done with the old things of this world!
We're done with being walked all over by the evil one. No more! No more! No more!

Do we realize who we are in Christ? I mean it, do we?
Do we realize that we are "more than conquerors"? Don't believe me, check out God's Living Word!

Romans 8:31-39 (NIV)
³¹ What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? ³² He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? ³³ Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies. ³⁴ Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us. ³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁶ As it is written: For your sake we face death all day long; we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

It's time to declare No More! Satan get behind me NOW! Stop letting the enemy steal your joy. Know and remain who you are in Christ! I love that verse: "No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us." You are loved and made victorious through the Giver of Life, the Redeemer, Jesus Christ!

I heard Dr. David Jeremiah preaching this week on 88.5 FM (WBNH...just a small plug there) about the Armour of God! He said something that became even more clear to me and has equipped me as a Follower of Christ. We need to realize that the Armour of God is CHRIST! PUT ON CHRIST! PUT ON CHRIST! When you put on the helmet of salvation you are putting on Christ. When you take up the sheild of faith and the sword of the Spirit you are TAKING UP CHRIST! Do you want to be victorious in this life? Then PUT ON the One who has never failed, never sinned, never lost a fight...PUT ON CHRIST!

Here's the real challenge in this life: REMAIN THERE and KEEP THE ARMOUR ON (Christ!) Our identity is secure when we remain in Him. Check out John 15 (NIV) for a moment...

John 15:1-8 (NIV)
¹ “I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ² He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. ³ You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴ Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.
⁵ “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶ If you do not remain in me, you are like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷ If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you. ⁸ This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

Listen, I'm not just trying to find scriptures to simply support my own idea. Sincerly, I sense this need to declare unto you DON'T GIVE UP and that you need to tell the adversary...NO MORE! Put on the Armour, put on Christ, remain in Christ, be secure in who you are in Christ, stop letting satan walk all over you. You are a child of God and you are actually above the evil one.

Stand strong and be steadfast.

The Press

Are you facing hardships right now that just seem to be taking a toll on you?
Do you feel as though you are in a season of things being 'pressed' out of your life?
Do you feel change in the air? Does it seem like the trials you are facing are causing you to 'reprioritize?'

Let me encourage you to not curse the season or changes you are going through. Worship the King of kings right on through it. I too am going through a season of pressing. I've shared this with believers here at Victory about this very thing and many, many others are also experiencing this. A season of reprioritizing is going through the entire Church, and I mean The Church, not just our local congregation.

I repeat, don't curse this season you are in. Bless it and thank God for His faithfulness to rip things from our lives that cause us to be blind or idle or deaf to His move.

Remember, at times, the pressing point, or to some, the point of feeling like you're going to break down, is actually you're point of BREAKTHROUGH. DON'T GIVE UP! PLEASE don't give up!

Throughout the Psalms we read worshippers laments, cries for mercy, declarations of God's goodness and enduring love, and sometimes even, Lord forbid, expressing anger or depression or disappointment. Be filled with courage right now to not give up! Worship through you're season and trust in the Lord. Don't curse the season but bless it and thank God for it! Why??? Why??? Why???
Here is an analogy to consider: Did you know that in order to get the 'impurities' out of gold they have to put it through the fire!? You may feel like you're in a fire work pit right now but hold on and stay faithful. When you come out of the firey season you are in...you'll be coming out as pure gold ready for the next season of use in God's Kingdom that He is setting up even now.

This is to the Glory of God and the praise of the risen Savior Jesus Christ. Worship through your season and hold on. Don't give up. Even when things fall to peices all around you let your worship grow in genuineness and give God the praise due His Name!

I look forward to sharing more with you soon. We're Preparing for the Rain of God's Spirit in these Last Days!