Ordinary or Extraordinary? - Part 2 of 2

Let’s recap for a minute. The enemy and system declare that we are “ordinary” beings that need to grovel and beg for forgiveness. But here is what God’s word tells us about ourselves:

1. We are created in God’s image - Genesis 1:27

2. God blessed us. Genesis 1:28 - Matthew 5: 3-10

3. Jesus dwells inside us and our bodies are holy temples - 1 Corinthians 3:16

4. We are given the powers to heal, cleanse, raise the dead and cast out demons - Matthew 10:8, Acts 1:8, and John 14:12

     So, do we call ourselves “ordinary” or are we “extra-ordinary?”

     Finally, I want to share with you how ingrained the “ordinary” label is that both the enemy and the system brand Christian Followers. My wife, Rachel, and I have had to go back into the system, and it is so disheartening to hear the negative messages that are being preached from many pulpits to God’s people. For example, in the Methodist church, each service has a “prayer of confession” in which the people are to recite out loud how they have fallen short of Grace and asked for forgiveness for their sins. 
     But, let’s go to God’s Word again and see what our Father says about sin. Romans 6: 6-7 “knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin. For he who has died has been freed from sin.” So, why, knowing that our old nature died with Christ upon the cross, must we continually confess our sins, when God wiped away those sins at the cross? 2 Corinthians 5:17 “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.” Is it no wonder why churches - locked into the system and preaching such negative messages to God’s people - have a hard time finding people to warm their pews? Is it no wonder why people are drifting away from churches because the messages have no relevance to their soul? Is it no wonder why people critique “how” preachers deliver a message – their oratory style, their use of words, etc. - instead of “what” is the message? Our son Chris recently delivered a message at a church service, and numerous persons came up to Rachel and me after the service to exclaim “what a wonderful job Chris did!”.  But not a single person remarked on the content of his message to the congregation. How sad and telling at the same time!

     It is these very strongholds that the sons of God must tear down and open up God’s peoples’ ears to hear the entire Kingdom message! How else can these persons become free?

So, the next time you hear or read about “ordinary people who are serving God in their little corner of the world” – know that according to God and His Word, there is nothing ordinary about us! We are extraordinary! 
Amen and Amen.      
~ Mike West

Ordinary or Extraordinary? - Part 1 of 2

     I often read “Our Daily Bread,” the pocket sized devotional published by RBC Ministries, as I have my cereal and morning coffee. I like to think of “Our Daily Bread” as “diamonds in the rough.” Sometimes some of the full Kingdom message is delivered within its pages, but often times it is not. The example I am about to share with you is one of those times that the message fell short of the mark. But it is to illustrate my point and to tear down one of the strongholds of the enemy and the system.
     The title of this “Our Daily Bread” entry is “An Ordinary Guy.” It reads in part: “Steve was an ordinary guy. He quietly served in a church I attended years ago. He helped prepare communion, shoveled the church sidewalks in the winter, and mowed the lawn in the summer. He spent time with teenage boys who had no fathers in the home. I often heard him telling people at church in his quiet way how good the Lord was to him.” The devotional goes on and concludes: “Our aim, as followers of Jesus, is to do the same – to bear witness of the Light. We’re just ordinary people serving God in our little corner of the world.”

     Now don’t misinterpret what I am stating. There is nothing wrong with Steve or how he is serving the Lord. If the Lord is leading Steve in these directions and Steve is following, than certainly, as Christians, that is what we are to do.

     But what I do take exception to is the word “ordinary” to describe Christian Followers. So we now come to the title of my message – Ordinary or Extraordinary?

     Let’s look more closely at the words ordinary and extraordinary. Ordinary is defined as: “of no exceptional ability, degree, or quality; average; of inferior quality, second rate.” Interesting? Now, on the other hand, extra-ordinary has three definitions: 1. Beyond what is ordinary or usual. 2. Highly exceptional or remarkable. Or here is a definition I really like 3. Employed or used for a special service, function, or occasion. Looks like extraordinary has a few “extra” qualities than ordinary, such as beyond, highly exceptional, and remarkable.

     Clearly the enemy and the system want followers to believe we are ordinary people “serving God in our little corner of the world,” but what does God’s Word say about us as Believers and followers of Jesus Christ? I always find that to seek answers, you go to the source! Let’s see what the Bible has to say to us in regards to our place with God? 

     Let’s start at the beginning. Genesis 1:27 “So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.” So we are created in the likeness of God! When I look in a mirror or at others, I am looking into the face of God! Genesis 1:28 “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.”  

     God blessed us - beings made in God’s own image - and we were given power over all swimming, flying, and moving creatures on earth! And to have a blessing is a powerful act and acknowledgement! Blessing comes from the Hebrew word “eulogeo” (eu, “well”, logos, “a word”) signifies “to praise” or “to consecrate a thing with solemn prayers” or “to cause to prosper, to make happy.” A blessing from God is a promise from the Most High that what is spoken onto us will be manifested! It is a sure thing. A done deal! And it has great power to manifest in our lives! Thank you God! 

     Jesus also taught us that certain attributes or behaviors are blessed by Him. Matthew 5:3-10: “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted. Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth. Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled. Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God. Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” So poor in spirit, those who mourn, the meek, those who practice righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers who will  be called sons of God, and those who are persecuted for His name sake, are blessed by God!   

     Again, blessings are powerful affirmations and gifts to us! And since God’s word is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow and never changes, than we know in our soul that God blesses us!  

     We also know that location matters! But, as Believers and sons of God, our worth is not defined or bound to a physical location. Instead, our worth is defined on how best we tend to the Holy Spirit, and it builds upon the location that lies within each of us. 1 Corinthians 3:16 “Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?” In fact, Jesus finds us of great worth, so much so that He commands us in Matthew 10:8 “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.” And God grants us these powers! Acts 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.” John 14:12 “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father.”

~ Mike West

The Power of Worship

WHAT IS WORSHIP?

Worship is an act of reverence [deep respect, love, and awe for God]!
Worship is demonstrating, presenting, or offering one's love to God!

WHAT DOES WORSHIP DO?
When we worship, we have come into perfect spiritual alignment with our spiritual Father, and it brings us into His presence or His face!

HOW DO WE WORSHIP?
We worship our Father in Spirit and in Truth! For our Father seeks such that would worship Him in this way! (St. John 4:23-24). The Father will seek us out when we worship Him!!

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN WE WORSHIP?
When we worship, we win!! When we win, that means we conquer, master, gain, obtain, attain, achieve, accomplish, succeed, and triumph in all that we do! "In all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us"!! (Romans 8:37). "I can do all things through Christ which strengthen me"! (Philippians 4:13).

**By design God created us to praise and worship Him! (Revelation 4:11) "Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created"!

That was one of the reasons for the lay-out of the tabernacle! This is the place where God meets man! "Thou shalt put the mercy seat above upon the ark; and in the ark thou shalt put the Testimony that I shall give thee. And there I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee from above the mercy seat." (Exodus 25:21-22). This was in the most holy place of the tabernacle.

WHERE DOES WORSHIP TAKE PLACE?
Worship takes place in the "presence" (or the face) of God.

HOW DOES ONE GET INTO GOD'S "PRESENCE" (OR HIS FACE)?
Let's take a walk through the tabernacle!

Psalm 100:4 says, "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto Him and bless His name!"

1. Come with "TOWDAH" (THANKSGIVING)! Come with extended or lifted hands. This is a sign of surrender! It's surrendering all to God! It's loving and adoring Him with all your being! "Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength"! (Mark 12:30). THANKSGIVING is also an attitude of gratefulness. "In every thing give thanks" (1Thes.5:18). This attitude of gratitude (thanksgiving) will spur, stir, and invigorate your spiritual awareness of and in God so much so that it will lift you into another altitude in God! It will make you feel like you can “run through a troop” and leap over a wall!! (Phil.4:13). Then "towdah" will advance you into "tehillah!"

2. "TEHILLAH" (PRAISE)!
Keep in mind that it was in the court yard that the sacrifice was killed! This is where God wants to get out of us everything that is not like Him [that which pertains to flesh or carnality]! But know without any doubt, whatever you're going through, you must keep and use your praise! This is the key to lock the door to the works of the devil and open the door to your victory! "I will bless the Lord at all times and his praise shall continually be in my mouth!" (Psalm 34:1). Ephesians 5:19: "Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord!" The only difference between "hymn" and "hymen" is the letter "e". The "hymen" is the thin membrane that covers the opening of the birth canal, which is the place of "reproduction!" Singing "hymns" in the midst of your storms can produce peace and a reproduction of victory in your circumstances!! To make it into the place of "WORSHIP" [God's presence or God's face], we must press through the veil of the flesh!! The next avenue to travel into this place is "YADAH!"

3. "YADAH" (THANKFULNESS) is reverence of God [respecting, honoring, and loving Him]! Now you're ready to "BARAK" God!

4. "BARAK" (WORSHIP)! This is where you're prostrate in God [adoring Him; saluting Him; congratulating Him; making spiritual love to Him!]

WORSHIP ushers you into God's PRESENCE! Worship is where God communes with us! (Exodus 25:22) "There I will meet with thee, and I will commune with thee above the mercy seat." This is in the most holy place! It is in God's PRESENCE that miracles happen! When we WORSHIP, WE WIN! This means we conquer and triumph!! In 2 Chronicles, 20th chapter, the Moabites and others were coming down to fight against the people of God. But in verse 18, Jehoshaphat and Judah worshiped God! Judah does mean PRAISE!! In verse 21, Jehoshaphat appointed SINGERS that should praise the beauty of holiness, and as they went before the army, God gave them the victory!!! They knew how to PRAISE AND WORSHIP the Living God!!

WORSHIP shifts or changes things! It rearranges the atmosphere and causes things to work in your favor!!

WORSHIP will resurrect any dead situation in your life when it has been brought into God's presence!! In Numbers chapter 17, look at how God proved Aaron as priest. He had Moses to take 12 rods and lay them in the tabernacle before the Testimony, where God met with Moses. The NEXT DAY when Moses went into the tabernacle of Witness, the rod of Aaron had budded, and brought forth buds, and bloomed blossoms, and yielded almonds! Keep in mind, this "rod" was disconnected from its original source, but it was still able to reproduce and bring forth!! A limb cut off from the tree can't survive! But because this "rod" was laying in GOD's PRESENCE, it was still able to produce and bring forth!! It's the anointing, God's "presence", that destroys the yokes of the devil! Come on, somebody!!! There is POWER IN GOD'S PRESENCE!!

WORSHIP confounds the enemy!! It opens doors that no man can close!! It closes doors that no man can open!! Oppression cannot stay in God's PRESENCE (FACE)! Depression cannot remain in the PRESENCE (FACE) of God!! Sickness cannot stay in God's PRESENCE (FACE)!! BECAUSE WHEN WE WORSHIP, WE WIN!!!!!!

~ Apostle Gracie Perry

If My People

God has always used holy men to bring restoration to his people. He (God) sent a number of prophets and leaders to teach, navigate, and guide the people into righteousness. Zerubbabel led a group of exiles to Jerusalem and began to rebuild the temple (Ezra 1-6). Then Ezra led a second group of exiles back to Jerusalem and helped restore the people to obedience to the Mosaic Law (Ezra 7-10). Then Nehemiah returned and motivated the people to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Finally Nehemiah returned a second time and exhorted the people to adhere closely to God's Law. Nehemiah makes it clear – God did not restore his people only 1 time; rather God repeatedly, constantly and continually restored his people. The pattern is clear - God continually restored his people. Just like today – God is using men and women of God to bring restoration to his people. But will they adhere?

God said in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.” Now pay close attention to what's being said here. God has not changed. He's still reaching out to us (His) people.

He's still calling for humility, prayer, seeking his face, and repentance. When we do this, God will hear, forgive, and heal our land. This is what a loving Father does. Therefore let us continue to look unto the author and finisher of our faith that we faint not nor become weary (Heb. 12:2, Gal. 6:9). Let us know that we are victors and not victims. Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering. Let us draw near with a true heart full of assurance of faith. (Heb. 10:22-23)

(Heb. 12:1) “Let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.”

- Minister Linda Lawrence