I was in business for a few years before going to the mission field. In business there is one question answered before cutting payroll check. Do my beliefs work or not? The cash flow tells the story. The week before starting our 16 years on the mission field one of our Elders, Paul Kocher, said to me, “What God calls he pays for”. He did, thank you Lord. So really there is not that much difference between a business and church. Is God’s blessing on your work? Maybe you use the devil as an excuse for not having God’s blessing. If so then your devil is bigger than your God! Does your Christianity work?
It seems that Christianity has changed into a belief system that we call “our faith”. We protect “our faith” at all costs. If someone does not agree with our version of faith then we are offended at them and seek some type of separation from them. In Christianity it does not matter if there is no power in the message as long as we are right. Does your Christianity work?
Jesus said that we would do greater works than he did (John 14:12). He said that He would never change. Some say that the greater works is bringing people to salvation . That may be true but wait! Look at that scripture again. It says, “...works that I do shall he do also; and greater [works]..”. The word salvation is the Greek word “Sozo” which means salvation, healing, and deliverance. So even if the greater works is salvation it still must include everything Jesus did. Does your Christianity work?
Paul said that he fully preached the gospel by the power of signs and wonders (Romans 15:19). Paul told us to desire earnestly the gift of prophesy. Jesus told his disciples to go and heal the sick. Angels showed up on occasions. Christian had trances, dreams, and visions. Paul claimed to speak in other tongues more than anyone else. He spoke of 12 gifts of the Spirit that operate in the church. Just believing all of God’s Word is for today does not make us right. Does your Christianity work?
Mark 16:20 should humble every preacher of the Gospel. Jesus said that He would confirm the word that we preach with signs following. Apparently if there are no signs then God is not confirming the word you are preaching. This means that God does not agree with most of the stuff people are preaching. I went to Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry in Redding California because God has been confirming His Word at Bethel church with many mighty signs and wonders. People accuse us of having false signs and wonders. Ok then you prove it! Show me your true signs and wonders. If there is a false then there must be a true and apparently the critics have it. Does your Christianity work?
If you do not have the salvation, healing, and deliverance ministry that Jesus modeled, no matter how solid you think your doctrine is, then you are teaching or listening to a false message. It is a message based on human experience and interpretation of those experiences. God is not impressed with your message as He refuses to confirm it. If you own a public business your stock holders should receive the expected dividends. If you can’t fix the problem then they should take their investment elsewhere. Please ask yourself a question. “Does my Christianity work?”
I am very excited about what has been happening during our Sunday night service. We have begun to see revival breakthrough. We are seeing more of the Holy Spirit and less of us. I am excited about the increase in our worship time. We have had several outstanding worship services with different teams. One of those awesome times was with Kevin Cates. Kevin, Dee, and their daughter Victoria are somewhat new to Family of Faith. Kevin will be leading worship on a regular basis on Sunday nights. I believe we will have a night of Worship and seeking Father God's heart the next time Kevin is able to lead.
The word Glory speaks about the way God comes on us. People react different ways. Many of us are seeking a closer walk with God. Jesus loves us so much and wants to be part of our daily life. His intention was never to save us from our sins and then for us to wait until death to experience His Presence. You can walk in His Presence now. He fills us with laughter. This is caused by the new wine. New wine is mentioned in Acts chapter 2.
Honor Culture I have been teaching a class at NewArk School of Supernatural Ministry on honor culture. I am using “Honor Culture” by Danny Silk. I would recommend this book for anyone in any type of leadership position.
I worked and lived as a Missionary in Colombia and Honduras for 15+ years before returning to attend Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry in 2008. We were planning on attending just 1st year. It was so good that I had a strong desire to attend 2nd year. I ended up pulling my application for 2nd year after hearing from the Lord about taking a position with my sending church, Family of Faith Community Church here in Ohio. I was trained at Bethel as a church and school planter. I have already planted a school and there is no need to plant a church in Newark as I am on staff at a very good one that is pressing into revival.
God is performing signs and wonder throughout the world. He is manifesting His Presence and Glory everywhere.
I have heard feedback from people that say that I am seeking signs and I should seek Jesus instead. That is a bit confusing to me. Jesus is the one doing them, so if Jesus did not want to do signs and wonders, then I guess He just would not do them.
We are able to approach God because of His grace. His love towards us is amazing. There are two foundations of revival that everything else is built on. Love is the base foundation that is framed by grace. His grace is what gives us the ability to love. Grace has been grossly misunderstood. Grace is not the covering for sin. The blood of Jesus covers our sin. Grace is the ability not to sin. Every time you make a decision not to sin it is because of his grace. The scripture says,
If you have been a Christian for long you have heard the term, "I'm just a sinner saved by grace". In light of the teaching of the Apostle Paul does this not sound like an oxymoron?
While growing up in the state of Washington our high school had an unusual vacation called apple vacation. The Yakima Valley is well know for their apple orchards. One of my class mates dad had one of these orchards. Mr Cowan was a hard working man. He planted, nourished, and harvested his crops. This was his life but I never did call him an apple. Growing apples is what he does but it is not who he is.
