The Next Move of God: Unconditional Love

The next move of God will be spear headed by the unconditional love of God.  Love will define God's remnant as they move into new levels of power and demonstration.  Many of them are in a metamorphosis state as they struggle to get free from the old wine skin and break free from the system. I will visit these faithful warriors and start to reveal their true identity in me.  Many have struggled with their identity because it was difficult to accept who I made them to be. 

In the last season they were put into Saul's armor and wrongfully categorized.  It shall be that I will rebuild my church from the foundation to the roof.  I will put in order my living stones and place them in correctly.  I will change the governmental order of my church and bring back the fear of the Lord.  Greater authority will I give those who were faithful to me in the last season.  Those suffering from an identity crisis will know their place in me.  I am going to tear down and pluck up a system that was built on wrong motives, message and methods.  This must take place so that my kingdom can run effectively and so that my people can have a mighty outpouring of My presence.  

It will not be like times past.  I will spread my fire from one individual to another as I destroy the biggest identity crisis ever known to mankind...it is not knowing my unconditional love, not knowing who they are in me and not knowing what I called them to do.  These three things will come to the forefront of every conversation as I start to fix this problem.  The struggle in the old wine skin will end and my people will take flight.  They will once again start to pollinate the children of this world with my love and truth.  They will fill my baskets with fruit.  They will bring the fruit of their labors in the fields, as they bring many sons and daughters into my kingdom.

The Corporate Church

Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Him with her sons, kneeling down and asking something from Him. And He said to her, “What do you wish?” She said to Him, “Grant that these two sons of mine may sit, one on Your right hand and the other on the left, in Your kingdom.” But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”

They said to Him, “We are able.” So He said to them, “You will indeed drink My cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with; but to sit on My right hand and on My left is not Mine to give, but it is for those for whom it is prepared by My Father.” And when the ten heard it, they were greatly displeased with the two brothers. But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
(Matthew 20:20-28)

As you can see in every ministry there is the temptation to be seen and compete for position. It happened in Jesus' ministry and it has been happening ever since. Unfortunately, the corporate mentality has crept into church. We have made the Pastor the CEO and we have served the corporate church completely out of selfish motivated reasons! The whole reason the sons of Zebedee came to Jesus was to take the top positions in what they thought was Jesus' company. They wanted to be the right hand guys, part of Jesus' entourage, His yes men and did not care what it took to climb that corporate ladder.

Jesus compared their mindset with the rulers of the Gentiles "who Lord their authority over the people." In other words, he pointed out that the whole reason to want to be in a higher position was for the sole reason of exercising control over people. When you take a higher position in the corporate church you can wear a title. You can now be the head intercessor or the head of the music department. My husband Joshua has always said, "It is time for a title wave! When we all wave our titles goodbye." Unfortunately, along with title there is rank and special privileges. You now hold a place in the church that gives you some sense of control. Careful! This is also the fast track to becoming a target for pride.

Seeing their selfish motivated hearts Jesus warned them that they would drink of His cup and be baptized with the same baptism He was. What is that cup and what is this baptism that Jesus speaks of? Jesus speaks of this cup in the Garden of Gethsemane.

"He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” (Matthew 26:39)

It is the cup of laying our will down and our life for God's kingdom. In God's kingdom the only way up is down. It is a place of servant-hood. Jesus not only taught this but lived it as an example before all of us. Paul later passes on this mindset by saying, "Let this mind be in you..."who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bond servant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross." (Philippians 2: 5-8).

Think about this, God himself came to serve us. Now we want to be treated like gods so that we can be served. There is a huge gap in what Jesus demonstrated through His life and the kind of attitudes we now see in the church. Jesus warned his disciples that they too would be baptized with the same baptism he was baptized with. Since they had been baptized in water already by John what other baptism could there be? Our thoughts may immediately go to the baptism of the Spirit but Jesus wasn't talking about that baptism. He speaks of the one that John talked about "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire." (Matthew 3:11). There it is. The baptism of fire. What is this baptism of fire? John explains it this way, "His winnowing fan is in His hand, and He will thoroughly clean out His threshing floor, and gather His wheat into the barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” (Matthew 3:12).

Since many of us did not grow up in an agricultural society I will briefly explain this process. After harvesting the fields, they took the wheat to the threshing floor and the oxen would trod all over the wheat to loose the husks or chaff so that they would later take a winnowing fork and throw the wheat up in the air so the lighter chaff would blow away in the wind. Only what holds weight will keep from blowing away in our lives. Paul said, "that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting...(Ephesians 4:13-15).

For more on this process go to this link
http://www.biblewise.com/preview/images/teaching/2008/sep/harvesting_grain.pdf

Nervously you might be thinking so how does the fire come into the process? Let me first clarify what the fire isn't. The baptism of fire is not "the feeling like your body is going to burn up" in some kind of supernatural manifestation. People may shout fire and you may feel like you are on fire but that's not what this scripture is about. It is best described in this Messianic prophecy.
“Behold, I send My messenger,
And he will prepare the way before Me.
And the Lord, whom you seek,
Will suddenly come to His temple,
Even the Messenger of the covenant,
In whom you delight.
Behold, He is coming,”
Says the Lord of hosts.
“But who can endure the day of His coming?
And who can stand when He appears?
For He is like a refiner’s fire
And like launderers’ soap.
He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver;
He will purify the sons of Levi,
And purge them as gold and silver,
That they may offer to the Lord
An offering in righteousness. (Malachi 3:1-3)

The whole purpose of fire is so we may become purified, purged, and become an offering of righteousness unto God. Instead of fighting for position and control God wants us to become servants. He wants that whole corporate mentality to cease to exist in His church. If you continue to read in Matthew 20 two blind men are sitting on the side of the road shouting to get Jesus attention. Jesus asked them, "What shall I do for you?" They immediately asked them for their sight. Jesus granted them their sight. When the disciples came to Jesus he also answered them by saying, "What do you wish?" They did not get the same response from Jesus. What they were asking for was purely motivated by a selfish attitude. James tell us that all fighting and strife is motivated out of these attitudes.

Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members? You lust and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and war. Yet you do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.
(James 4:1-3).

Yes, I believe God is going to bring fire back to his church but it will be so He can burn up all of our selfish attitudes like chaff because in reality love and selfishness cannot co-exist. Like Revivalist Johannes Schonken pointed out, "The end result of revival is that people may say...they have been with Jesus." Let it be our goal in this season to have people recognize "that we have been with Jesus" and allow the process of fire purify us like gold.

Notes from Revival Meeting on October 25, 2013
by Dale Kizziar and Jaziz Hallas
Expounding on Prophets, Pitfalls and Principals by Dr. Bill Hamon Chapters 8-12

We Must Decrease That He May Increase

Thus says the Lord:
 Jeremiah 6:16
Love is so attractive and in essence that is who He is. If we are to have revival we must become love. We must decrease so He can increase. So my friends there lies the root of the problem. We have increased ourselves so much in the sight of others that they don't see Him anymore! The only solution is to take up the cross and deny ourselves. We must put away selfish ambition and empty conceit; esteeming others higher than ourselves. Philippians 2:3-4 We must humbly concede all of our plans to God so that He can take over our services and ministries. Then we must become like that humble man (William Seymour) at Azusa Street who buried his face between wooden crates and prayed for God's presence to visit His people.
Love is so attractive and in essence that is who He is. If we are to have revival we must become love. We must decrease so He can increase. So my friends there lies the root of the problem. We have increased ourselves so much in the sight of others that they don't see Him anymore! The only solution is to take up the cross and deny ourselves. We must put away selfish ambition and empty conceit; esteeming others higher than ourselves. Philippians 2:3-4 We must humbly concede all of our plans to God so that He can take over our services and ministries. Then we must become like that humble man (William Seymour) at Azusa Street who buried his face between wooden crates and prayed for God's presence to visit His people.

“Stand in the ways and see,
And ask for the old paths, where the good way is,
And walk in it;
Then you will find rest for your souls.

What people are really looking for is the presence of God. Not another song, another motivational speech, conference or guest speaker. They just want Jesus but we get in His way because we want to be seen. This world just wants to see Jesus but they see human flesh and are turned off by it.

Our mantra should be the cry of the Welsh Revival "bend us." Their plan of action:

1. Confess all known sin

2. Deal with and get rid of anything ‘doubtful’ in your life

3. Be ready to obey the Holy Spirit instantly

4. Confess Christ publicly

If we as a church were to truly just put into practice the 1st principle and humbly confess our sin; that alone would cause a great move of God! Before we can ever experience the times of refreshing we must come with penitent hearts. However, if we go around and act as if we are in need of nothing, we will not experience the very thing we need the most. The current mantra is: we have no sin, we need no conviction and we need no law! We are fine the way we are. The lukewarm church in Revelation also held the same view they did "not know that they were wretched, miserable, poor, blind, and naked." Yet the counsel of God remains the same, "I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see." (Revelations 3:18) It is only through the baptism of fire that may obtain the precious gold crown that Jesus wants to bestow on us.

My friends we can not wear a crown if we won't carry the cross. We have become ashamed of the gospel and rarely preach being crucified with Christ. We have replaced these biblical principles with modern doctrines that have steered us away from taking personal responsibility for the awful shape we are in. Yet, the bible warned us long ago... For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. ⁴ But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.
(1 Thess. 5:3-4) 

Could it be that the pregnant church has not given birth to revival because of the lack of repentance? Jesus warned us “Take heed that no one deceives you. ⁵ For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am the Christ,’ and will deceive many." Matthew 24:4-5 It is those who come in His name that we need to be worried about in these Last Days. Jesus tells us how we will know they are false prophets, "Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. ¹² And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold." Matthew 24: 11-12 These are the mark of false prophets. They are lawless and Jesus will say to them in that day, "I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!" These ministers thought they could work mighty signs and wonders yet be living outside of God's laws and principles. There will be no such thing! Our sin will never enter into the Holy of Holies; nor will we, be able to flaunt our works before a holy God.  

My friends, is there anything doubtful in our lives? Any sin? Let us confess to God what is causing us to stumble. Forgiving others who have hurt us. Laying down our pride. Picking up our cross and denying ourselves. Esteeming others higher than ourselves. Loving others unconditionally. It is what Jesus did. "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, ⁷ but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross." Philippians 2:5-8 

Oh Father, make us humble bondservants. Give us the mind of Christ. Give us that love. Help us decrease. Increase in our lives. Father let us never be ashamed of preaching the cross that you so humbly died on. Bring revival to our nation and to our lives in Jesus name.

Excerpts from my book Be Attitudes of Revival

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Top Ten Marks of a Great Church

For a new breed of Apostles, Prophets, Pastors, Teachers and Evangelists are going to lead by example this generation of Jesus lovers ~ jh
 

Harvest - Look for a church that is interested in winning souls and building the kingdom of God not their own personal kingdom.  Souls are not a means to profit or to build your own ministry. People know if you are recruiting them for personal gain or because you genuinely care for them. To seek and save that which is lost was Jesus' mission statement and it should be ours.

Therefore said he unto them, The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few: pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he would send forth laborers into his harvest. Luke 10:2

Equipping - Look for a church that is willing to train you to do the work of the ministry or be the one willing to teach others to do it.  The primary focus of the fivefold ministry is to get others busy doing the work of the kingdom not to do everything yourself. Learn to delegate and help people step out of their comfort zones.

And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; ¹² For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: ¹³ Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ: Ephesians 4:11-13

Worshipers - Look for a church that is not afraid to be intimate and expressive towards God in their worship! However, if you are in an uptight church break the ice and see how God responds to those who aren't afraid to passionately pursue Him. Stop being a fringe dweller. No one ever gets anything by watching on the outside looking in. No more window shopping or dangling your feet on the side of the pool. It's time to get wet!

But the hour cometh, and now is, when the true worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeketh such to worship him. John 4:23

Other Oriented - Get away from ego centric living where the main focus of ministry is getting personal words, feel good messages, seeing the latest conference speaker, continually having to be affirmed and prayed for. We need to maintain a strong walk with God on our own personal time. Church should be about equipping others so we can demonstrate His love to this world and being taught the word of God so we can be skillful.

Come, you blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world: ³⁵ for I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; ³⁶ I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and you came to Me.’ Matthew 25:34-36

Sending - If you are sitting in a church and waiting for an ordination or recognition to be sent then...sit on the pew no longer you have already been commissioned, ordained and empowered by Jesus! Even if no one ever recognizes your ministry just remember that Jesus already sent you.

And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature. Mark 16:15

How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? ¹⁵ And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:
“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,

Who bring glad tidings of good things!” Romans 10:14-15

Sensitivity to the Holy Spirit - This one is huge! Try to be in a place that is willing to break from the routine of the service to make room for the Holy Spirit to move.  Avoid making what you want to say more important than what God wants to do. We were all created to work as a team not lifting up one gift above the other and allowing for diversity in giftings. Our main job is to make a place for God's presence to dwell; everything else is secondary.



There are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵ There are differences of ministries, but the same Lord. ⁶ And there are diversities of activities, but it is the same God who works all in all. ⁷ But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: ⁸ for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, ¹⁰ to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills. 1 Corinthians 12:4-11

Prayer - Prayer is the ground of preparation, empowerment and demonstration! Things to look for in prayer meetings: Are the prayers being offered for others or it is it more self serving and need oriented? Is it a place of humility and worship or are people making long prayers to be noticed? Are people really praying or sitting around chatting and socializing? More importantly has prayer become a perpetually place of preparation where nothing is being done to walk out the prayers? Is it replacing all other aspects of Christianity such as sharing your faith, worship, preaching the word or ministering to others? Be careful for these pitfalls.

My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer Mark 11:17


“And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward." Matthew 6:5

And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words. Matthew 6:7
 
Unaltered Word of God - Look for a place that will not water down the gospel to please the crowds. The end result should always be doctrine that leads to godliness, character and a loving attitude. By nature we will always try to take the easy way out so make sure you are in a place that is challenging you to a higher level and causing you to grow. Also remember that all messages must be seasoned by grace. The method or delivery is just as important as the message. It must be conveyed with the same emotion that God would have in that situation. A messenger that has not been tempered by mercy can do much damage to the hearers and a messenger that has not been tempered by justice can just as damaging.  One will kill by the letter of the law and the other will forget the fear the Lord falling into lawlessness.

If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; 1 Timothy 6:3

Then He said to them, “Thus it is written, and thus it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead the third day, ⁴⁷ and that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in His name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. ⁴⁸ And you are witnesses of these things. Luke 24:46-48

“Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faith. These you ought to have done, without leaving the others undone. Matthew 23:23

Power and Demonstration - Don't be a follower be a leader! Signs and wonders should follow you wherever you go.... Only the power and demonstration of God's spirit will be able to break down spiritual strongholds, release the captives and bring freedom to the oppressed. Power confrontations are necessary in an age where the false prophets of Baal are trying to keep their altars lit by calling on their false deities. Be in a place where you encouraged to walk in the power of God. The resurrected Christ lives in you and you are equipped unto every good work!

And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;¹⁸ They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. Mark 15:-17-18

 But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth. Acts 1:8

Love - Wherever you go BE LOVE. Choose to infuse others with the love of God no matter what is going on. It is risky but don't be afraid to be transparent and forgiving with those who may not catch on to the unconditional love of God.  However, if you find yourself in a place that preaches hate from the pulpit, slanders each other and kills their wounded then run! The Holy Spirit will not stay in place in which He is grieved. Strife, division, gossip and slander is not work of God and it kills revival. It is spiritual cannibalism. If you find yourself in this situation pray for and love them from afar. You don't want to become what is next on the menu.

By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another. John 13:35

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ¹⁵ But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another! Gal.5:14-15

If you can't find these things where you are currently attending then...

BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE

Now go be the great church we have talked about!

For more information on this ministry you can visit. http://joshuahallas.com

Walk In The Power of God!

Now therefore, please be careful not to drink wine or similar drink, and not to eat anything unclean. ⁵ For behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. And no razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.”
Judges 13:4-5

We have all been taught the story of Samson in Sunday School. As children it was quite impressive to hear of a man with so much strength and power. We also were taught that Delilah through constant pressure and persistence finally caused Samson to tell her the source of his strength. His lack of discernment becomes his downfall and he ends up losing his vision being imprisoned by the enemy. Since this story is told to children we leave out all the gory details and just tell the kids about how Samson finally got victory over his enemies when he pushed over the pillars at their gathering killing them all.  

However, there is a great lesson in the story of Samson that has been overlooked that is key to walking in great power....CONSECRATION! Consecration means to be set apart for God's purposes. Samson was set apart by birth. The other day I was reading a post online and someone made an interesting statement about the powerlessness of the church. I thought about it and it came to me...the reason for the powerlessness in the church is that they been like Samson. They given over to the seduction of Delilah and have not kept their consecration to the Lord. The truth is the church has lost its vision and direction because it has been taken captive by the enemy. All over the world believers have given in to compromise and now have no power to escape their captivity. Yet, the key lies within their very reach. 

In Mark 9 there is a story of a boy who was demonized. The disciples tried to cast the devil out but they could not. Later on, "when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”²⁹ So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting." Mark 9:28-29 I used think that this meant that demons somehow knew that we were fasting and praying giving us power over them. The fact is demons don't care if you don't eat or pray. What they do care about is when a Christian consecrates themselves through prayer and fasting. See a lot of people use fasting as a means to diet and prayer to tell God about all their problems. However, to be truly effective you need to set time aside to seek God alone, denying yourself in abstinence and staying in a place of intimacy with God.

Until recently when I started going to prayer mountain to fast and pray during our event called "Come Away My Beloved" I had no idea how disconnected from the presence of God I was. You have no idea how the constant demands of our time, attention, and distraction take their toll on our relationship with God until you get away from it all. I didn't quite get the importance of this even though I read that Jesus made a habit to get alone and pray. Even in that wilderness experience he was putting death and overcoming the devil. It was after that Jesus returned in power. (Luke 4:14)

Which leads me to the second key: “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing." John 15:5  This word abide means to stay within, remain and dwell in God's presence. My friends don't expect to walk in great power if you never pick up your bible, pray or spend time in worship. Now a lot of people spend time in devotionals reading other people's material, give God their 5 minute prayers and sing songs to the Lord in their car. Praise God but that is not going to cut it. "Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone." John 6:15  Jesus spent time alone in prayer. He did not go to prayer meetings so everyone can see how spiritual He was. He did take his disciples with him but would still pray alone. I do believe in corporate prayer but not as a substitute for praying alone. "But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly" Matthew 6:6

Spending time alone with God is key to walking in great power! I know it is not easy because we are constantly in place of being able to be contacted by others and distracted. If someone messages us on Facebook it goes to our phone. Our e-mails go to our phones. There is texting, instant messaging, cell phones, IPOD's and all kinds of gadgets that interrupt our time. If you go anywhere there is music in the background and TV's. You almost have to leave the city and find a mountain like Jesus to be alone. I heard this from a Pastor and I believe it to be true, "Get anyone in a place of solitude and silence and they will hear from God!" I am going to add to that. Get anyone alone in a place of solitude, silence, prayer and worship; living their life in consecration...YOU WILL SEE GREAT POWER!

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Jaziz Gutierrez
http://www.loverevivalrevolution.com

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Engage God!

Engage: To attract and hold by influence or power

Not so long ago I was at a church service and the guest speaker was encouraging people to come to the altar to pray over their loved ones.  Strangely, many people continued to sit motionless on the chairs.  It was almost like they didn't hear what they were being asked to do. Again the invitation was given but only a few people came up.  The rest remained in their seats the rest of the night. It was literally like pulling teeth to get anyone to leave their comfort zone. As I was at the altar the Lord started to speak to me about this problem. 

First, we here in America have gotten used to coming to church and have everything happen behind the pulpit. Like the children of Israel we have sent Moses up the mountain to encounter God while we stay behind and build the golden calf. Our expectancy level only goes as far as believing God for a good sermon for the day. On the other hand, the only thing that is expected from the congregation in most cases is their tithe money and that is all. Honestly, I have seen more enthusiasm at a football game than I have seen in many churches.  At least at a football game people cheer and get into the game.  In some churches we can't even get people to stand up and praise God.  We have a lot to thank God about. He choose us to live life abundantly and be filled with His amazing unconditional love.  Unfortunately, many people don't receive this abundant life because they never engage God.  They never go beyond listening to the Pastor speak to hearing the Holy Ghost reveal himself through scripture, getting filled with His Presence, being touched in their bodies or being set free from their bondage.  They walk into church depressed, hurting, sick, addicted, unsaved and leave the same way they came in. This is religion.

I believe that God is about to change all of that. There is nothing more powerful than a group of believers coming into unity, with expectancy, ready to engage God so they can receive what they are believing for. If those believers love each other deeply than expect God to show himself mighty in them. As God starts to move on His people and they start to respond to the love of God be sure that every person that comes within that atmosphere will be changed forever.  As God's people ascend the mountain with Moses unafraid and unabated asking for God to show them His glory...will He not do it? My God this is how Pentecost was poured out.  A group of believers who prayed in unity, loved each other, were willing to lay their life down for the gospel and waited for the promise of the Holy Spirit. It was these empowered witnesses that received the Pentecostal fire. My friends, we already have this Holy Ghost fire and all we have to do is rekindle it at the altar of our hearts.

To rekindle this fire, we just need to engage God in our loving adoration.  He seeks those who worship Him in Spirit and in Truth.  All of heaven will stop to listen to just one thankful heart. It was always those who declared the Divinity of Christ who caused Jesus to pay attention. Jesus, son of David have mercy on Me was the cry of every desperate soul.  They would then throw themselves at the feet of Jesus and worship Him. My friends, if we are ever to get passed our mundane traditions then we must be willing to let go of our religious pride. We must be willing to leave that chair, go to the altar, weep, worship, pray or anything else that the Spirit of God moves upon us to do. If you are willing to do this...you will leave changed. Engage God!