Answering the Call #1: Matthew 22:14

Greetings Sons of God! Yes, even you my Sister’s; for you are sons of God in female bodies. This verse, Matthew 22:14 “For many are called, but few are chosen”, occurs at the end of a parable told by our Lord Jesus which is both prophetic and revelatory. Jesus favored teaching this way, in parabolic language, that is He preferred teaching in “a short statement or comments that conveyed a meaning indirectly using comparison, analogy or the like”. Many of the “mysteries” of the Kingdom of God were related to use in parables, and now with the help of Holy Spirit, we can begin to understand and interpret their meanings and deep spiritual truths. This parable, sub-titled “the king’s marriage feast”, tells about a “certain” king. When Jesus injected the word certain into a parable He was speaking about a real person, place or event but again telling the story for as an analogy. This King, if one reads the parable and has revelation knowledge, is without a doubt speaking about God, the Father who had made a marriage for His Son (who without a doubt was/is Jesus). The King sends His servants (the Patriarch’s, Priest’s, and Prophet’s) to call “them that were bidden” or had been previously invited to the wedding (without doubt the Children of Israel), but the refused to come. The King still sends out other servants, who alert those invited to come to an already prepared wedding feast, but they made light of it going about in their own ways doing business and other activities of their daily lives. Some of those invited individuals even took some of the King’s servants and mistreated and killed them. This action, the refusal to respond to an invitation, especially to a wedding, was almost unheard of in Biblical times; weddings and wedding feasts were occasions that commanded the attention and attendance of more than just the bride’s and groom’s family and friends, but often the whole population of towns and villages would come out, as well as some enemies who would become friends because of the celebration of the covenant of marriage. Jesus tells us that the King was “wroth” and sent His armies (angels/judgements, etc.) to destroy those people and burn their cities. Again, if one reads this parable with understanding, one can see the almost the entirety of history of the Old Testament in these verses. Now the King takes a unusual step, He sends forth yet other servants with the command…,”Go ye therefore unto the highways, and as many as ye shall find, bid to the marriage”. The highways in Biblical times were dangerous places to be. Almost always one would encounter thieves and robbers over the road, who would relieve you of your money, and sometime your life. These individuals who the King sent for, and invited the to His son’s marriage, were the criminals, sinners, drunks, etc. as well as some of the poor, infirmed, non-citizens, etc. When the King came into the wedding feast and saw one of those who now were invited, but not dressed in the right clothing, He ordered that the invited guest be bound and casted out. What then is the revelatory meaning of this Scripture? I believe one can see the prophetic meaning rather clearly looking both before and ahead in how God has dealt and will deal with His people, who should have come to Jesus in the pardon of their sins; and to those who did come but like the 5 Foolish Virgins of Matthew 25, they were not ready to attend the Marriage Supper being clothed in their own (righteousness) or some other (religious) “clothing”, instead of the righteousness of God which is in Christ Jesus. The revelation is that many have been previously called (invited/bidden) in the foreknowledge of God…called before the foundation of the world…but some have taken the invitation lightly and have been burden with “the cares of this world…”, thus, they have been to busy to not only have the will and Word of God revealed to them, but even if they have a revelation they don’t act on it (in and by faith), and thus produce no fruit. Those who have “answered the call” by responding to the invitation, getting properly dressed, and then attending the marriage are those who were indeed chosen. It’s all a matter of choice!

A New Year?

If the predictions of the Mayan culture are correct, we have less than 20 days before the end of the world. While I do not agree or believe in that prediction, we are nevertheless totally not ready for the end of the world, nor ready for the beginning of a New Year. As a Christian, husband, father and minister I have admittedly been "miss in action" for the closing months of 2012. Confess is good for the soul, goes an old saying, so I confess I have fallen short, way short of being all of who I am and "Whose" I am. I let things, people and circumstances rule and super-rule over me most of 2012 and have come to this the closing month of the year reflecting. What does 2013 hold for me, only time will tell but am I ready even for it? I continue this my first blog in many months under this account in this time of reflection and repentance. I can and must do better. With the help of the Lord and staying faithful to His Word my "new year" can be different, better and more prosperous than 2012 and all the years previous. Out with the old, in with the new! This begins today, days before 1/1/2013 in and with me.

The Gathering of the Wheat and of the Tares

“The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field: but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way. But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then the tares appeared also. So the servants of the householder came and said unto him Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? From whence then hath it tares? He said unto them, an enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, wilt thou then that we go and gather them up? But he said, nay; lest while ye gather up the tares, ye root up also the wheat with them. Let both grow together unto the harvest: and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, gather ye first together the tares, and bind them in bundles to burn them: but gather the wheat into my barn.” “He answered and said unto them, He that hath the good seed is the Son of Man; the field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one; the enemy that sowed them is the devil; the harvest is the end of the world; and the reapers are the angels. As therefore the tares are gathered and burned in the fire; so it shall be in the end of the world. The Son of Man shall send forth His angels and they shall gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and them also which do iniquity; and shall cast them into a furnace of fire: there shall be wailing and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear”. The words written above appear in the 13th chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, in verses 24-30 and 37-43. Some years ago, in my first pastorate, I was dealing with church members who acted more like devils then saints. In prayer for a solution to this dilemma, the Lord gave me these Scriptures and revealed to me an understanding of not only what I was going through, but prophetically showed me what was going to happen, and that is now happening in the Church. First, notice that Jesus told the parable in its entirety, and then gave us the meaning of the parable in its entirety. Nothing is left much to “private interpretation”, so disagreeing with what I am about to write won’t matter; it is the revelation God gave me, and I have lived long enough and have enough Scripture and spiritual discernment to see it coming to pass! Even though Jesus told and explained the parable in two parts, the parable is one. And like in many in ways in life, church and ministry things occur in seemingly “parts”, but from a “God’s eye view” they are indeed one. With that in mind let us look at the parable and its explanation: 1. The “man” who sowed the good seed is later explained as the owner of the field or the householder. Again, without too much left to misunderstanding, this person is the LORD God Himself who indeed is the owner of all creation, the homeowner of this planet, the provider, the one who will disburse, and send the angels, the Son of Man! 2. The good seed are the children of the kingdom, the sons/daughters, descendants, and offspring of the “man”. In this parable they are sown first to “seed” the field with the idea and purpose to reproduce other or more good seed like themselves; to literally fill the field! 3. The field, owned by the “man”, sown into by the “man” and expected to produce by the “”man” is the world we live in. In this Scripture the word for world is not the same word “world” as in 1 John 2. The word world of 1 John 2 is cosmos and means the world system which is under the influence and dominion of Satan. The word world here in this parable, and in John 3:16, is the word meaning the people of the world. 4. The “men that slept” are the ones given the care of the sown seed, which are the spiritual leaders (ministers, elders, pastors, etc), who the Lord tells us are asleep at the switch. In that state of sleep (ill prepared, unresponsive, careless, etc.) they are unaware of the approach, of the work in sowing the tares and in the departure of the enemy. 5. The enemy (“his enemy”; the householder’s enemy) is the devil. Satan’s sole purpose is to destroy in this way is not to stop the growth of the wheat, or otherwise hinder its process, but to corrupt the field in sowing the tares among the wheat. When he is finished with his sowing, and being undetected by the “men that slept”, and knowing full well the tares would grow up among the wheat causing the corruption and offense, he goes his way no doubt down the road to continue his demonic activity in another “field” owned by the householder. 6. The tares are the children of the wicked one, the enemy who is the devil and Satan who are in the owners field (His kingdom). A tare is a weed that looks just like wheat, having the same appearance, but cannot and will not produce or reproduce after its own kind (the Law of Genesis). In other words, tares are unfruitful; since they are not the real wheat they cannot and should not be expected to reproduce, grow or yield. However, they are taking of the ground space, water supply, etc that the wheat would have occupied had the enemy would have not had access to the field. 7. The servants, or the reapers, are the holy angels who alert the owner of the predicament, who knows full well what has happened. They, the servants, suggest an early harvest as a solution to the problem, whereupon they are told to “let them (the wheat and the tare) grow together until the time of the harvest, or until both reach maturity and it is time for harvest. 8. The time of the harvest is the”near” end of the world, of this present satanic Babylonian world system (New World Order). Notice here there are two (2) “gatherings” at the time of the harvest, and two (2) descriptions of the gathered. A). The angels are sent forth to “first” gather the tares (out of His kingdom) into bundles (groups, movements, etc) “to be burned”. They are gathered, but not burned at this time; they must wait until the second gathering and for those gathered to complete, finish and accomplish what the owner originally intended for them to do. B). The angels are again sent forth to “then” gather the wheat, who now can fulfill their purpose which is to reproduce and produce more like them, and then bring them into the owners barn (His glorious Kingdom). 9. The harvest is the end of the world, this present satanic Babylonian world system (New World Order). After the harvest of the tares into bundles, and after the wheat have produced, then the finally judgment is decreed; the tares are thrown into the furnace of fire, and the righteous shine forth in the Kingdom of God. With all this being said, I believe we are beginning to see the “gathering” of the wheat and of the tares. Groups of “tares” are being assembled, those groups or movements seemingly in the Church who have abandon Biblical Christianity and “the faith once delivered unto the saints” for what I call 21st century, new age, American Christianity and a faith that is tolerant of all manner of sin, uncleanness, shame and filth. We see now in these days whole groups of churches and church leaders who promote homosexuality, adultery, fornication, etc and do it in the Name of the Lord. Church leaders are greedy, heady and high-minded seeking money, power and fame; having dominion over people and their lives in “cult” like control and influence. The tares are indeed being gathered (identified) out of His kingdom! Soon the fake will be clearly seen because the real will rise to the top. The wheat gathering is beginning to occur also. The “good seed, children of the kingdom” are being manifest. We shall come forth and shine like the sun, bringing light, truth, integrity, and the Word of God unto this lost and dying world. There will be a great harvest, a great in-gathering of souls in these days; so great that one church, denomination, group, fellowship, etc will not be able to contain them all! And then, as this harvest is happening, and as the tares are gathering, and as the enemy is mounting his greatest demonic onslaught I believe two things will occur: A) The anointing (the Person, the Power, and the Presence of God) will be seen all over this earth through the people of God, who will march as one man proclaiming Christ crucified, buried and resurrected the third day. And the Lord will work along with us, confirming the Word preached and taught with miracles, signs and wonders! B) Then after this last great revival, we shall all be changed in a moment in the twinkling of the eye, and meet the Lord in the air! So, let the gathering begin!

Going Back to My Roots

It all began on the 3rd floor of my family home in Harrisburg, PA. In June of 1974, in the front bedroom at 2311 North 6th St, I received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior after reading a rain soaked Bible tract that I allowed to dry. My testimony of the experience I had after reading that tract and praying that prayer was not something, but "someone" came into that room, filling the room and me with a presence of such power but also of such love, overwhelmed I sank to the floor crying but worshipping the God who had just written my name in the Lamb's Book of Life. I visited that same floor in the same room in the same house nearly 4 years later. Going to church that Sunday morning, arriving and intending to attend the Adult Sunday School class, I was immediately interrupted by a "voice" who told me to go back home. Of course since no one was there behind me, and since I had just arrived at church, I refused and protested. The voice spoke again, more firm yet more loving; this time I obeyed, left the church with a weird look on my face and even a stranger stare from my Pastor. Upon arriving back home I went up stairs, same room, same floor; laid out on the floor in my Sunday go-to-meeting suit, opened my Bible, read Ezekiel chapters 2 and 3 and then that same voice said to me, "today I have called you to be a prophet to my people". I would have yet one more experience on the 3rd floor of that old house. This time I was in the back bedroom, laying on my bed reading my Bible, when I looked out of the door and saw myself looking back at myself laying on the bed. The "me" standing in the door looked like me, but the "me" on the bed hair on my head and face was white as snow. The same voice spoke again, saying, "and the Word became flesh and dwelt among them; stay in My Word, meditate in it day and night". Now to a young boy and man these experiences were and are a defining moments in life. The LORD God who chose me from my mother's womb had sovereignly saved, called, and anointed me and set me upon a course that I still travel these 30+ years later. But and of course I detoured, delayed and at times helped almost destroy that divine purpose for my life. And you know the funny thing, it wasn't that many "bad" things I did or got involved in, but it was a plenty "good" things that almost stopped the train in its tracks. You know, good things like meeting a girl, getting married, having kids, working a job, going into the ministry, becoming a leader in the church, moving from Harrisburg to Philly to Georgia; all good things in and by themselves, but derailing moments because they seemed good. I have learned that all good things are not all God things. Of course none of this caught the Lord by surprise. He knew when He called me, anointed me that I would be sitting where I am today, being into what I am into today, being happy for life, happy for marriage, happy for children and grandchildren; but strangely feeling unfulfilled, all good mind you..but just something missing?? So guess what He did, just a few days ago? No one but the Lord could take you back some 30+ years in my case in memory and experience, and speak a word into my spirit; and here is the really weird thing; it was the same word He spoke those 30 years prior! Well, its up to me now. Having more days behind me than in front of me now, more body aches, lack of vigor, gray hair and grandkids! You must know our Lord has a sense of humor; He confirmed and affirmed again that same Word to now a much older preacher, but again it has set me on a much clearer path into destiny. So, like Jacob (Israel), I go back to Bethel! Like Moses I return to Horeb, like Paul I travel again to Lystra and Berera. I return to my roots; roots of revelatory teaching and preaching, roots of the office and the anointing of a prophet, roots of one who saw the Lord after His resurrection! I go to the wall, to keep the watch, to sound the alarm, to blow the shofar and warn the people..whether they hear or forbear!

Don't Shut Up

Three great men were promoted to glory recently.

One was a world famous man of God who left his comfort zone in rural Pennsylvania and went to the mean streets of New York, began a ministry that revolutionized the treatment of people with addictions, former gang members and former inmates. Through his ministry and his church millions have been touched with his preaching, writing and witness for Christ. In this age when there are so many “false prophets” David Wilkerson was truly a Man of God, a Prophet to this nation and a blessing and gift to the Body of Christ.

Then there was another great man, who I knew personally but never had the opportunity to meet face-to-face. This man was 32 years young, vibrant, inspired, anointed. We connected through the fellowship of churches and ministers I help to begin, and as leaders especially from oversees gathered this man became a serious servant and worker of God. Taking simple instruction, great faith and little resources he put together a national fellowship of like-minded pastors and church leaders from all over Nigeria West Africa. They began to work together saving souls, conducting healing meetings and other evangelistic outreach services. He began a youth conference that year by year increased with young people and children that a few years ago we stopped counting. His influence, ministry, smile and character influence people all over West Africa, as well as here in the United States and even as far as Russia and Poland. David Amaji was truly a Man of God, a Servant of Christ, a Friend, a Brother, a Bishop in the Lord’s Church.

The third man I write of is the hardest for me, for I knew this one more personally than the others and knew him longer than them all. Born into an obscure family in a small city in Pennsylvania he had no claim to fame at all. He never was called to the ministry in any capacity greater or further than that of a deacon. He never achieved any degrees in the religious arts or for that manner in any other major or minor educational industries or the like.

He never spoke in front of even a small crowd, and never entered a prison, hospital, Bible study, church, etc to preach, teach or anything like that. He did however, over the course of a school year in 1974, witnessed to one person almost every day about what a joy it is to be a Christian and how good it was to go to church.
The school year that year in 1974 lasted from September to June, some 9 to 10 months. For at least 3 days of every week for 9 to 10 months this man spoke, talked, witnessed for Christ to this other guy who often blew him off and really began to get quite annoyed with his talking about church all the time. On the way home the last day of school, June 7, 1974 the guy who this man was witnessing to all those days, weeks and months found a rain soaked Bible tract laying on the ground, picked it up, took it home and when it dried he read it…and believed!

The guy went onward to be baptized in 1975, called to the ministry in 1978, began ministering in nursing homes, small churches, on the street, in county jails, etc. He eventually became a Sunday school teacher, then a Superintendant, a Minister, an Elder, an Associate and Assistant Pastor, then a Pastor, Prison Chaplain, a Founding Pastor and now a Bishop. Many folks have been saved and still are been saved, healed and delivered under his ministry. He has established churches, planted churches, developed ministers, ministries, pastors and other church leaders. That guy is the man he is today, with a loving saved wife, a son who got saved under his ministry, a daughter and grandchildren whose destiny is fixed…that guy wouldn’t have done any of that, wouldn’t be where he is today if it were not for that great man he met and who wouldn’t shut up all those years ago. The guy by now you know is me...the great man, who if God is true and right, and if He keeps count and record, all what I have, may have, will or ever accomplish, do or minister should be credited to that great man..my childhood best friend...William R. Piper, Jr.

To say I was affected by the death of Bro. Wilkerson goes without saying. Who shall pick up his “mantle”? Who shall take over his ministry? Who can cry aloud unto this nation and unto this apostate church? And what of the mantle and ministry of Bishop Amaji? Who shall guide his pastors? Who shall reach the youth there in Nigeria and beyond? Who shall stand in the gap and make up the breach? I was and I am affected by the death of these men, but God will supply…He has a ram in the bush…there is another!

Affected by the death but glorious promotions of Wilkerson and Amaji...yes; devastated by the death of Piper...why? Simply this, he was my friend...my brother...my “boy”, my “ace”. There is no one to replace him…and yet I rejoice! He is in glory, with the Father and with Christ! He has made it, graduated, promoted, glorified and immortal now! Death has no more sting, the grave has no victory! I can hear him say...”work the work that He has sent for you to do; while it is day…a night is coming where no man can work”.

My brothers and Sisters…join me...let’s do the work...let’s make of the breach, lets stand in the gap and if nothing else...let’s be a faithful witness…one who won’t shut up!

Shalom!

“In Memory of Deacon William Richard Piper, Jr.”

Enter into the Rest of God

“And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from theirr labors; and their works do follow them”

WOW! I just read that the Rev. David Wilkerson was killed in a car crash in Texas. The news of this tragedy hardly made the top news sections of CNN or the like, but the vibrations from this shocking event will surely shake the earth, especially here in the United States, as well as worldwide.

Pastor Wilkerson was just no ordinary preacher. In this day and age when the Church has so many preachers, pastors, bishops, etc, gifted, talented, popular and problematic, Pastor Dave was a prophet, a herald, a visionary, a dreamer. Surely he will be missed by his family, close friends and loved ones. Missed also by the countless men and women who have been blessed and inspired by his preaching, ministry and church on Times Square in New York City.

Of course Pastor Dave started Teen Challenge, a ministry that has helped so many of those with addictions that the count is lost. His newsletter from the Times Square Church was always timely, prophetic, edifying, encouraging. His death will leave a hole in the prophetic atmosphere as well as a hole in this preacher’s heart.

When someone of this magnitude passes on I for one know the end is near. Who shall take up this prophet’s mantle? Who will be bold enough, bad enough, anointed enough, fear God enough to stand on a Times Square in every village and hamlet (sounds like MLK), on every street corner, in front of the crack-house, the whore-house, or the White House and proclaim Jesus Christ and Him crucified! This mantle is not needed in Heaven…no one there needs to hear this Gospel of the Kingdom; no one there needs to be convinced or convicted of sin and their need for a Savior. No, this mantle…this gift, this office, this message is needed right here on planet Earth…preached to the sinner, lived before the just and the unjust, testified of before kings, presidents, prime ministers and politicians.

This mantle, the message of the Cross, the Gospel of Christ needs to be preached, proclaimed, lived, and walked, testified and demonstrated. This burden removing, yoke destroying power of God cannot be diminished, diluted, discouraged, destroyed or disappointed. This Gospel of the Kingdom shall be preached unto all the world for a witness unto all nations…and then, the end will come.

Pastor Dave…rest on now, your labors have not been in vain.

FIRE REVIVAL!

Holy Greetings unto you in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!

Saints and Friends, please allow me to say that it is an honor and a privilege to serve God, the Father and His Son our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ alongside you in these last days! It is no mistake that for a time and season, for a day and hour we have been called, appointed, commissioned and anointed to finish this race and the ministry given unto us before the foundations of the world!

My desire in this new blog post is to speak unto you as a pastor, bishop, co-laborer and friend. Friend, I used that word above. It is a word that has lost meaning and force in our days and times; so I don’t speak the word…friend, as it is now spoken, but I say…friend as in the meaning and true sense of the word…friend in a covenant relationship!

You see in covenant and as friend’s I rejoice when you rejoice, I weep when you weep, your needs are my needs. I suffer afflictions, persecutions, bonds, as being with you in those same afflictions, persecutions and bonds. We laugh together, cry together, and go into and through together! Our churches and ministries go, grow, build, succeed together; we are joined at the hip…we are bone of bone, flesh or flesh! We stand, we fight, we win not being two but being one…one in Christ, one in blood, one in the Name of Jesus…with one purpose, one mind, one heart…”one Lord, one faith, one baptism”!

Being in this covenant relationship, I wish to share our heart with you on the “move of God” that is in the earth realm today, present and progressing to a finish…it is the beginning of the move of the Spirit of God in the greatest harvest and in-gathering of souls that has ever hit this planet! We say “souls”, for God is not remotely interested in “church membership”, but He has been and always will be after souls. Jesus didn’t come, suffered, bleed and died…and yes, rose again for “members” in the sense of “nickels”, “noses”, and “numbers”. Those things might interest us, or should I say interested us in past tense, but now the “interest” of God has and is our main focus and primary cause and reason to be!

Recently I have had the honor and privilege to spend time with and minister alongside the Archbishop and General Overseer of the Pentecostal Methodist Evangelical Church, Apostle Andrew T. Holtz. We saw God move…did you catch that… I said “saw” God move in four services in three states in two weeks. The Sovereign Lord sent “fire revival”, saving, healing, delivering, confirming and challenging!

I must admit that in the past few months, really since the ending/beginning of 2010/2011, I have been caught in an exciting life changing and anointed "flow". That prophetic, creative, teaching desire...passion, thought...motivation, inspiration has been renewed and strengthen in my life in a way that rivals the days of my early ministry and those days and times I ministered at the prisons.

Please let me share this…hear my heart, I realized then, as I do now, that walking in the Spirit, living that high life isn't something you do just on days of service or study, but truly everyday you and I can be on a mission for God in that we are obeying, seeking and fulfilling that Great Commission given as the marching order and a standing command that could be lived and experienced every day.

We should and can everyday create with the words of our mouths relational divine moments of opportunity to minister to people everywhere and anywhere we go by simple allowing God, the Holy Spirit to minister, walk, and talk in us, to us and through us to that man, woman, child, brother, sister, friend, acquaintance, whomever!

Outreach, evangelism, discipleship that is the mode and method we as this “last” church ought to be following everyday; this was and is the life and ministry of Jesus Christ! The "first" church did this; they preached Christ and Him crucified! They lived so much by the example of Jesus that they were called “little Christ’s” (Christians)! And because they died to self and selfish ambitions, because they lived and walked in their new nature choosing not to live and walk anymore after the nature and character of Satan, they in their lifetimes “turned the world” upside down! And they did it with all of the modern advances, books, bibles, commentaries, etc we have today. They had that same Word and that same Spirit and those same promises we have today, and daily thousands were added to the church!
This "fire" revival will sweep over neighborhoods, communities, cities, regions, nations and around the world. Millions, if not billions will hear, some for the first time "this" Gospel of the Kingdom...and then as the Lord said in Matthew 24:14...then the end shall come.

Right now, where you are and as a point of contact, and if you agree...let this post be our touching and agreeing connection! Proclaim with me, “Let the fire fall”! Lord, use me to turn this world (locally and globally) upside down! Let the fire fall! As I go, everywhere making disciples of the nations...let the fire fall!

And the Lord went with them confirming the word with miracles, signs and wonders! Heal the sick...raise the dead...cast out devils!