It is amazing how the scriptures can summarize our lives. I have written many times before that Ecclesiastes 3 describes 28 seasons of our lives. I do not recall my living out the season mentioned in verse 7 where it says there is a time:

Ecclesiastes 3:7 “A time to keep silence, And a time to speak”

I fell like Ezekiel that God spoke to:

Ezekiel 3:26 “I will make your tongue cling to the roof of your mouth, so that you shall be mute”
So I have asked the Lord what are you doing? And there has been no answer because it’s a time of silence.
One thing I have said is that I am pursuit of God only to be corrected when he “said, no Brian, I am pursuit of you,”

Take a moment and let Him catch you and ket os utter the words of Samuel:

Samuel 3:10 “Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!”
And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”

Can I encourage you to read the 1st chapter of the book of Haggai. Haggai in talking to the children of Israel about building the House of God. He expresses the fact that it was time to again sacrifice and build the temple of the Lord.  He goes on to tell people that they are too preoccupied with their own homes and lives. Here is what he said:

• Haggai 1:8 “Go up to the mountains and bring wood and build the temple, that I may take pleasure in it and be glorified,” says the Lord”

- Go up the mountain  - it takes effort to climb a mountain

• Bring wood - cutting down trees and then carrying the wood down takes commitment and work
• The result of cutting down trees and carrying them down the mountain is God gets glorified.

Well, that kind of scenario really doesn’t exist today so how can we apply the meaning of this and other verses? The major point is what can we do to help build the house of God so He can be glorified.

I am fully persuaded that every person in a local church has something to contribute.

Ephesians 4:16 “from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”

It clearly states that every person has a role/part to play in the building up the body known also as the church.

When I visit churches one of the places I go to get a sense of the church is the bathroom, The condition of the bathroom tells me a lot. Jesus came to serve.

• Matthew 20:28 “just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”

Almost 52 years ago I started serving in the local church by cleaning toilets. In all of the churches I have planted I cleaned toilets and I am still cleaning toilets today. Once a servant always a servant. The goal is to see every believer contributing to the building up of the church so our God can be glorified.

I talk to pastors all the time and perhaps their greatest disappointments and frustrations is trying to get people to serve somewhere. Pastors today are often exhausted because they are wearing so many hats.

• Acts 6;1-2 “Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists,[ because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. 2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables.”

Yes, we can help build the House of God so He can be glorified. Can you be a part of a local community working together that GOD CAN BE GLORIFIED…

Kind of a PS read the first chapter of Haggai it perhaps will give you some answers. 

Once again I am feeling stirred and provoked to more fully understand the present day reality that the Kingdom of God already exists. The truth is there is the kingdom (realm) of the world as we see it and then there is the truth/reality that another kingdom (realm) of a spiritual reality is very much in existence.

I believe if we can truly learn to live our every day lives in the Kingdom of God we would see far more manifestations of this Kingdom.

Here is what Jesus said about the this realm of His Kingdom

• John 18:36 (TPT) “Jesus looked at Pilate and said, “The royal power of my kingdom realm doesn’t come from this world.”
• Jesus replied, “My kingdom is not of this world [nor does it have its origin in this world]. 

Jesus tells us that in order to see the reality of this Kingdom a person has to be born again. So it can be seen.

• John 3:3 “Jesus answered and said to him, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”

Jesus tells us that we can actually enter this Kingdom now.

• John 3:5 “Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God”

The conclusion is that there is today an actual spiritual Kingdom we can see, enter and live in. The Kingdom of God was, is and is to come. 

The Kingdom was: Notice the words dominion, subdue they infer that they were to govern

• Genesis 1:26-28 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over [g]all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 28 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, “Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over every living thing that moves on the earth.”

In Genesis 3:23-24 God kicks Adam and Eve out of the Kingdom

• 23 “therefore the Lord God sent him out of the garden of Eden to till the ground from which he was taken. 24 So He drove out the man; and He placed cherubim at the east of the garden of Eden, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to guard the way to the tree of life.”

The Kingdom is: See above John 3

The kingdom is to come: 

• Revelation 21:1-4 “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea. 2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. 4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

More to come but for now let’s consider that we are to live our lives in our Father’s Kingdom and to see it manifesting in our every day lives. From Genesis we were to govern the Kingdom (it was taken from man), Jesus  restores the Kingdom and now we must learn its reality and our power and authority that has been transferred us.

• Matthew 16:19 “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”

Becoming Kingdom Minded…

Tonight here in the shelter I got involved in a conversation which touched on the need for all of us to be carriers of the anointing so as to bring about our Father’s kingdom.

As we were chatting I remembered back in the late 80’s and early 90’s I was a principal of a Christian school. I recalled how there were a few mornings that we never left the chapel. We would start every day with a chapel service and on different occasions the presence and power of God filled the room. Students were weeping, laughing, praying one for another, praying in tongues, prophesying and many were laying on the floor touched by the power of God.

There were a few times we never made it to the classrooms because the power of God was still moving when parents came to pick up their children in the afternoon. Even after the parents arrived God continue to move.

I so long for the days when we once again see God move in every area of our lives. When I was bi-vocational  having a secular job and working in the ministry I use to teach a bible study before work once a week. Even inside of a business setting God would move. There be prophesy, words of knowledge, laughing and weeping because God was present.

I continue to meditate on a verse from yesterday. It’s important to meditate/muse over scripture because it fills us with the heart and mind of our God which we can carry not just for a moment but that it becomes part of who we are.

• 1 Thessalonians 1:5 “For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.”

May those around us also know “know what kind of men we are.”

Father, move we pray that your Kingdom may come…

f you thought things were “nuts” before the events in Washington the other night. well things are worse. It has sent America and its people into even more division we’ve had the last four years. Everyone’s emotions are running wild. That seems to be an accurate statement.

If you thought there was division before the division now is worse. Yes, division is the devil’s play ground.

People are expressing themselves and sadly once its said it can’t be taken back. Hey, I have lots of thoughts and emotions and this is a time to do as Paul says, to “, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ.”  2 Corinthians 10:5

Perhaps there has never been a time when we must not react but rather respond. We must be honest and say, “I need the mind of God.” For sure there needs to be the application of:

• James 1:20 “for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”

We must remember God is neither deaf or blind. He has seen and heard everything. Wouldn’t this be the time that the sons and daughters of God demonstrate his heart and his character.

• Proverbs 26:4 “Don’t respond to the words of a fool with more foolish words, or you will become as foolish as he is!”

This is OUR TIME to be an example. I’m not saying we shouldn’t have strong emotions I saying those thoughts and emotions must carry the heart and breath of God. This is our time to shine. 

I’m convinced God is looking for people he can work through. Those that will carry his heart, his mind, His attitude. Frankly the world doesn’t need more carnal attitudes running around.

I implore you by the mercies of God we must be the priesthood of Jesus right now. We cannot give ourselves permission to be carnal. 

I believe the Lord is counting on us. We can carry out our plans and strategies or carry out His plans and strategies.

If we are going to live in our flesh there will be no need for you to carry the anointing. 

Hear this:
Ezekiel 22:30 “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”

The verse concludes by saying - “but I found no one.” I think He has found YOU…

Let’s be honest what has the church really done in the past 25 years. What have we done as individuals? We have done a good job at pointing fingers and criticizing just about everybody and everything while we have done what?

As a nation we have interfered with elections around the world. We have over thrown governments and we have established new ones. In 1963 we took prayer out of our schools and ten years later we legalized abortions. And the church did what? 

On December 24 I wrote how darkness was going to get darker but the glory of God was going to get brighter. Here is what I wrote;

To put it mildly it’s “DARK” and it's getting darker. Looking at the political and social landscape of the world especially here in America we continue to abandon the root core of this country. That root being faith in God. I think of the verse in 1 Samuel where Samuel is complaining they have rejected him.

He’s going to give us a new anointing to fulfill Isaiah 60:1-3:
“Arise, shine; For your light has come! And the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.
2 For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And deep darkness the people; But the Lord will arise over you, And His glory will be seen upon you.
3 The Gentiles shall come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising.”

The answer for America is not going to be found in the White House but rather in “YOUR HOUSE”. The answers for America is not going to be the government in Washington but rather the “GOVERNMENT “ YOU CARRY…

Isaiah 9:7 “Of the increase of His government and peace There will be no end.”

Yes, what took place in Washington last night was horrific but honestly what has been going on for years has been horrific.

But Rejoice Church - THIS IS OUR HOUR… THIS IS OUR TIME. The message that has been preached in our church for months has been? WE/YOU/I WAS BORN FOR THIS…

As I sat to write I had no idea what I was going to write and then I heard the old Rolling Stones song play in my head. I hadn’t thought of that song in literally in years. The song lyrics say, “time is on my side”. Then I felt a prophetic anointing rest on me.

Here is what I believe I am to write to so many of you. You have felt that it’s too late, that your time to be used in a more dramatic way has passed, that circumstances hindered you from stepping toward your dream.

Rejoice my beloved what you thought was just every day life and you had given up . Know this you have not lost one second. I have used everything to mold and shape you Remember John the Baptist he spent his entire life preparing for a very short ministry.

Hear this?  Your time is near, get ready to celebrate. I am about to redeem it all. Is not my name REDEEMER? In the crucible go life I have been preparing you.

• Zechariah 4:10 (ESV) “For whoever has despised the day of small things shall rejoice,”

Yes, time has been on your side. Look at all you have learned? Reflect on what you have learned and then step forward…

In Matthew 13 we find Jesus speaking to the multitudes as well as his disciples about the parable of the seeds.

He tells his disciples that they have been given the ability to understand the parable. Think for a moment you have been given the privilege and honor to understand and to know the ”MYSTERIES OF THE KINGDOM”.

• Matthew 13:10-11  “And the disciples came and said to Him, “Why do You speak to them in parables?” 11 He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.” 16 But blessed are your eyes for they see, and your ears for they hear”

Of all the billions of people that have lived and are living today you have been chosen to know him and his ways.

• Philippians 3;10  “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection”

• Acts 22:14 (Amplified Bible) And he said, “The God of our fathers has appointed you to know His will, [and to progressively understand His plan with clarity and power] and to see the Righteous One [Jesus Christ, the Messiah] and to hear a message from His [own] mouth.”

Think for a moment and then shout for joy…

I just sat down to ask the Lord what was on his mind. A number of years ago I realized he already knew what was on my mind. Though I do pray about all the things my life touches I perhaps am learning to spend more time asking Him what’s on His mind.

As soon as I sat I heard come and sit at my feet. Immediately I thought of the story of Martha and Mary in Luke 10.

It’s the story how Martha is busy serving and Mary is sitting at Jesus feet. Martha goes to Jesus to convince Him that Mary should be serving and not sitting, That’s pretty funny that Martha tries to convince Jesus that he needs to straight out Mary. If we are willing to admit it there are times when we pray and we try and convince the Lord to “enlighten” other people to what they should and should not be doing.

Martha is busy, busy serving and this is a trap we all can fall into. We can get so caught up in busyness that just like Martha we get distracted.

Here’s the account in Luke 10:

• 38-40 “Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”

Christmas is such a beautiful time of year. Yet it can easily become the season that we fall into  the Martha trapdo this and do that. Perhaps as we approach 2021 we can all purpose in our hearts to follow the response that Jesus gave to Martha.

Luke 10:41-42 “And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”

How true is that? We get caught up in doing and doing we can easily be ensnared with being worried and troubled by even the smallest thing. We need to break the cycle of “habitual living”.

We need to follow the counsel of Eli who gave these instructions to Samuel when Samuel was hearing God call him.

1Samuel 3:9 “ Therefore Eli said to Samuel, “Go, lie down; and it shall be, if He calls you, that you must say, ‘Speak, Lord, for Your servant hears.’ ” So Samuel went and lay down in his place.”

A short period of time goes by and this occurs in verse 10.

• :10 “Now the Lord came and stood and called as at other times, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel answered, “Speak, for Your servant hears.”

It takes desire and discipline to learn how to stop the busyness of our lives and sit with Jesus and say, “speak”, for your son, daughter is here and we are willing to listen and then to live out what is being said to us.

A good word for 2021 - “Come sit at my feet”.