Why Either/Or When God Intended Both

This morning I read a post on social media that said something to the effect that we needed to have Preachers that were Passionate more than Polished. I understand the sentiment that the person was getting at, yet my thought was why do we have to settle for either Passionate or Polished? Why can’t we have Preachers that are both Passionate and Polished? If we think about it…was Jesus not a Polished Preacher? Was Paul not a Polished Preacher? It is not either/or that we need, it is both that we need! We need Preachers that are both Passionate and Polished!

I believe we set ourselves up for failure by making us choose between two things in an either/or situation when God intended that we have both. Here are two more examples that most will be able to relate to:

Teaching or Preaching – another example of this failed ideology of either/or is about Teaching and Preaching. Some stress the importance of Teaching which is for Education, while others stress the importance of Preaching which is for Motivation. Again, why must we choose one or the other? Why can’t we have both? If all we have is Teaching, we have folks that know what to do, but no motivation to do it. If all we have is Preaching, we have folks that are motivated to do something, but have no clue what they are to do. If we have a balance of both we have folks that know what to do and are motivated to do it.

The Word or The Spirit – this is another example of this failed ideology of either/or. Some folks want to stress The Word! Just give me the Word brother, just give me the Word. All we need is the Word. There are others who stress how much we need a move of the Spirit. We just need to allow for a move of the Holy Spirit. We just need to have manifestations. Again, why are we choosing between two things as if we can only have one or the other when God intended that we have both the Teaching & Preaching of the Word accompanied by the Moving & Manifestations of the Spirit? Just the Word, Word, Word leads to dry Christianity. Just the Manifestations of the Spirit leads to flakey Christianity. It is not either/or we need…it is both we need!

We need to stop this either/or mentality in the Church! God is not making us choose! Why are we making us choose? He intended that we be both Passionate & Polished, He intended that we have both Teaching & Preaching of the Word, He intended that we have the Teaching & Preaching of the Word as well as the Moving & Manifestations of the Spirit. Let us take everything that God has for us!

Witnesses Of The Resurrection

As we are in both the Easter and Passover seasons right now, like many my thoughts get very reflective towards the death, burial and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. This past Wednesday night at our midweek service, I was meditating on these things and was drawn to this Scripture:

“And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all.” Acts 4:33 NKJV (emphasis mine)

The fact struck me the Apostles gave witness not to just Jesus, but to the resurrection of Jesus. Secondly, they did so with great power. Why would great power be needed to bear witness to the resurrection? Let us really simplify this text and boil it down to two basic points: WORDS & WORKS.

In our text, it states they gave witness. Other translations use the word testimony or testify. The Greek word used in this text is Strong’s # 3142 and really is better-translated testimony. The English dictionary defines testimony as:

·         A declaration or affirmation of fact or truth.

·         Any evidence in support of a fact.

·         A public declaration regarding a religious experience.

In other words, the apostles spoke about not just Jesus, but about the resurrection of Jesus.

“He looked ahead and spoke of the resurrection of the Christ, that HE WAS NEITHER ABANDONED TO HADES, NOR DID His flesh SUFFER DECAY. This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses.” Acts 2: 31 & 32 NASB (Peter’s sermon on the Day of Pentecost) (emphasis mine)

"So, having obtained help from God, I stand to this day testifying both to small and great, stating nothing but what the Prophets and Moses said was going to take place; that the Christ was to suffer, and that by reason of His resurrection from the dead He would be the first to proclaim light both to the Jewish people and to the Gentiles." Acts 26: 22 & 23 NASB (Paul before King Agrippa while in prison) (emphasis mine)

We must declare the resurrection, because without the resurrection we are just another religion…but, Jesus has risen and is alive forevermore. Telling folks about the goodness of Jesus and His miracles is not enough; it is His resurrection that is the anchor of our faith and the hope of our resurrection.

“And if Christ has not been raised, then our preaching is vain, your faith also is vain. Moreover, we are even found to be false witnesses of God, because we testified against God that He raised Christ, whom He did not raise, if in fact the dead are not raised. For if the dead are not raised, not even Christ has been raised; and if Christ has not been raised, your faith is worthless; you are still in your sins.” 1 Corinthians 15: 14-17 NASB (emphasis mine)

In our text, it states that the witness the Apostles gave was with GREAT POWER.

The word for power used in our text in the Greek is Strong’s #1411, a word which many of us are quite familiar with, it is the word Dunamis. Dunamis is defined in the concordance as:

·         Inherent power.

·         Power for performing miracles.

Paul uses this same Greek word – Dunamis in Philippians 3:10 where he speaks about the Power of the Resurrection.

“That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death.” Philippians 3:10 NASB (emphasis mine)

The apostles not only testified or spoke about the resurrection; they demonstrated it by the power to perform miracles.

“At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon's portico. And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number, to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on any one of them. Also, the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.” Acts 5: 12, 14-16 NASB (emphasis mine)

“God was performing extraordinary miracles by the hands of Paul, so that handkerchiefs or aprons were even carried from his body to the sick, and the diseases left them and the evil spirits went out.” Acts 19: 11 & 12 NASB (emphasis mine)

From these simple thoughts, we can draw the conclusion that to be a witness of the resurrection we must tell it and show it, or like the old kindergarten game we played in school: ‘SHOW AND TELL’. This is a concept the New Testament bears out quite well.

“For I will not presume to speak of anything except what Christ has accomplished through me, resulting in the obedience of the Gentiles by word and deed, in the power of signs and wonders, in the power of the Spirit; so that from Jerusalem and round about as far as Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.” Romans 15: 18 & 19 NASB (emphasis mine)

“And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. And my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.” 1 Corinthians 2: 1, 2, 4 & 5 NASB (emphasis mine)

Hindrances To The Manifestation Of The Five-Fold Ministry

I read a post by a minister friend the other day on Facebook that I fully agree with: “Five-fold Ministry offices of Ephesians 4:11-13 exist but very rarely operate as a team, let's believe for the creation of these this year.” However, after reading this statement it really made me think: “Why don’t we see them operate as a team?”

I believe one would be hard pressed to find a Pentecostal, Charismatic, Word of Faith, Deliverance, Apostolic or Prophetic Believer that did not believe in the Five-fold Ministry or Ascension Gifts of Christ for the Church today. With so many streams of the Ecclesia believing in their existence: “Why is it we do not see the full manifestation of them?” I have several thoughts along that line that I would like to share from what I have witnessed over the last 35 years in the Body of Christ.

I can recall back in the hay day of the Word of Faith movement back in the early 1980’s that Rev. Kenneth E. (Dad) Hagin taught on the Five-fold Ministry Gifts. Many Ministers from many camps or streams have taught these gifts ever since; yet my minister friend still needed to make the post on Facebook that I quoted to start this Blog some 35 years later. This Ought Not Be!

When I was growing up my Father was a Pastor of a local church. Shortly after I was married in 1982 and moved to Tulsa to attend Rhema Bible Training College, he left the Pastorate and started operating as a Missionary/Evangelist, yet many stilled referred to him as a Pastor. After some years, he received his Doctorate of Divinity and moved to Trinidad to operate predominantly as a Teacher and Administrator as the President of a Bible College, yet some still referred to him as a Pastor. Several more years passed and he and my Mom began to be recognized by many in the Body of Christ in certain circles or streams as Apostles; yet some still to this day refer to them as Pastors.

My own experience in ministry is somewhat different yet the same as well. I started in ministry operating in the Office of the Evangelist, yet some called me Pastor. After some 25 years or so God began to transition me into the Office of the Prophet, and to my surprise, folks began to call me Prophet. In March of 2016 after about 16 years of functioning as a Prophet, I was commissioned as an Apostle by my pears. Folks began to call me Apostle. Then God had me step into the role as the ‘Set Man’ or ‘Senior Leader’ of a local church, and guess what folks are calling me? You guessed it…Pastor!

How can this be? Could it be that with all our teaching on the Five-fold Ministry Gifts, folks still do not understand them? Are we not as smart as we think we are? Here are some of the Hindrances to their Manifestation as a Team as I see them:

Calling Everybody Pastor: We have this tendency in the church that if somebody is a preacher or minister they are automatically called Pastor, even if they aren’t. If you are the ‘Set Man’ or ‘Set Woman’ of a local church than you are a Pastor, even if you are not.

False Humility: We have people who are Apostles or Prophets who are afraid to refer to themselves as God has called, appointed, and anointed them; so, they refer to themselves as Pastors as if they are being humble. Apostle Paul said: “I magnify mine office” and “I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle.”

Apostles & Prophets Are Super Saints: Many have this thought that if one is an Apostle or Prophet, they must be some sort of Super Saint, always walking in the anointing and power of God never having a flesh moment and we just could not attain to that. Nothing could be further from the truth! Peter and Paul were Apostles that clearly had flaws and issues that are not hidden in Scripture. Moses and Elijah were two the greatest Prophets yet they also had flaws and issues a plenty, which Scripture also reveals. If all of them did so will Apostles and Prophets today.

Tradition: Jesus in speaking to the religious leaders of His day said: “…making the word of God of no effect through your tradition.” The Traditions that we hold onto…how we have always done it…how it has always been…impedes the progress and the manifestation of ‘Current Truth’ even though we want to experience it and know it is so.

Envy & Jealousy: Ministers that are insecure in their own calling, are threatened by others in other offices leading them to envy and jealousy of their Brothers & Sisters. This behavior is destructive and leads to the belittling of others and their calling; while making, themselves feel equal and adequate. This is nothing more than the enemy’s comparison trap which must be avoided at all costs.

Poor Understanding Of The New Testament Pattern: For all our teaching, you would think that folks would understand what Apostle Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:28 about FIRST APOSTLES, SECOND PROPHETS; but alas that is still not the case. Pastors are hardly mentioned at all in the New Testament and Apostles are mentioned repeatedly. Yet we see an abundance of Pastors, or those called Pastors (who might not be Pastors) and very few Apostles. Somehow, we have it reversed and are out of order as far as the New Testament Pattern goes. The New Testament Church was meant to be APOSTOLIC; NOT PASTORAL!

Lack Of Honor: A quote by a Man of God I greatly admire and honor comes to mind: “What you Honor you draw to you; what you Dishonor you repel from you.” Because we have not learned to Honor one another’s gifts and anointing(s) we are repelling each other’s gifts and anointing(s). If you don’t Honor my gift, you repel my gift; if I don’t Honor your gift, I repel your gift. With us acting like that please tell me: How can we be a Team?

Our goal is to see the Five-fold Ministry Gifts or Offices flow as a Team. My Minister friend said: “Let us believe for the creation of these this year.” I say: “Let us remove these Hindrances and watch them Manifest!”

What Leaders Need To Know

I recently read a post in one of the Ministry Groups on Facebook that I am a member of by a Minister Friend. He was starting some new training for those that would be going into leadership and wanted to know what things we felt were important for leaders to know. Right away several things came to my mind and this Blog is the result of that discussion.

Ministerial Ethics & Integrity:

If there is something that is sorely missing in the church today ethics and integrity are certainly among them. I am constantly amazed by Ministers and Leaders who I thought would know better, but don’t, and act with such a lack of ethics and integrity. There are just some things that you do not do as a Minister or Leader, but it seems many are not aware of what they are. Here are some of the things one should not do:

1.      Do not steal sheep.

2.      Do not encroach into another’s anointing or office.

3.      Do not usurp another’s authority.

Here are some things to do:

1.      Always submit to God ordained and delegated authority.

2.      Always respect and honor another’s office or calling.

3.      Always respect another’s sphere of influence.

I remember years ago, hearing a Man of God say: “Every traveling Minister should spend a year or two as the ‘Set Man’ in a local church; and every ‘Set Man’ should spend a year or two in traveling ministry; that way each would understand the other’s function and would know how to treat the other and what to do and what to not do.” I believe there is Great Wisdom in that.

Submission & Authority:

It should be readily understood and accepted that one can only exercise authority to the degree that they are under authority. That was one the greatest truths I learned when I was in Bible school. Jesus was amazed at the understanding of authority by the Centurion, because he said I am a man that is under authority and I have men that are under me; I say to this man go and he goes, and to this man come and he comes. I wish folks in the church understood this simple principle. As my Father put it in his message recently: "People who cannot follow, will never be allowed to lead."

The Differences Between The Classifications Of Gifts In The New Testament:

The New Testament is clear that there are three different lists of gifts; and yet many times folks approach the various types of gifts with statements like: “Well gifts are gifts.” That is quite ludicrous to say the least. Logic like that is like saying: “Well sports are sports.” Now you know as well as I do that baseball is a sport, football is a sport, and basketball is a sport; but they are nowhere near the same. Each sport is played differently and has different rules that govern it. So, it is with the gifts in the New Testament. The three groups of gifts are known as:

1.      Motivation – found in Romans chapter 12. These are the primary motivations of one’s life that drives them and really what makes them tick.

2.      Manifestation – found in 1 Corinthians chapter 12. These are the Gifts of the Holy Spirit which are manifestations that are given for the common good and operate as the Spirit wills.

3.      Ministry – found in Ephesians chapter 4. These are also referred to as the ascension gifts or the five-fold ministry gifts and are designed as equipping gifts so that the body be not tossed to and fro by every wind of doctrine and come to a place of maturity.

It should be evident that these three categories of gifts are not the same and have different intended purposes, yet it is amazing how many current leaders do not understand these differences.

Practical Ministries:

I can recall when I first enrolled in Rhema Bible Training College in September of 1982 and taking Rev. Kenneth Hagin Jr.’s class called “Practical Ministries”. It was one of the most foundational and important classes I took at Rhema. It underscored what I already knew from growing up in a Pastor’s home. “So many have delusions of grandeur that the Ministry is nothing but: Preaching, Praying and Prophesying…that you will live in camp-meeting and revival 24/7.” Kenneth Hagin Jr. said. Nothing could be further from the truth!

I can still hear him standing before us as he addressed first year Bible school students with his Texas drawl: “All right…you want to know how to spell Ministry? W-O-R-K! That’s how you spell ministry!” We need to learn that there is a lot of behind the scenes work that needs to be done that nobody sees. Folks just see what is done in public. That is the easy part. The tedious part is what is done behind the scenes…that is the real work.

There is no way that I can cover all the things that leaders need to know in one blog without turning it into a book. We could speak of overcoming rejection; observing and keeping proper boundaries and being adaptable, able to change; but time and space do not allow. I trust these simple thoughts will be of help to both prospective leaders and current leaders as well as the Body of Christ at large.

Thoughts On 2016-Understanding The Why Of The Process

2016 was an interesting year for many, me included. The year started with great Prophetic Promise and excitement. Then as the year unfolded many of us received curve balls that we were not expecting. Our choice was to go with what was cast our way, embrace it, and the find the purpose of God in it; or get stuck and stifled right there, no longer moving towards our destiny.

I discovered that even in the curve ball God has been working His Master Plan for our lives. He seldom operates or does things the way that we think that He will or should. After all, He is still sovereign and has promised to do a New Thing. Why are we so surprised when He does? Because it didn’t come the way we had the scenario worked out in our pre-conceived ideas.

I for one learned this more than anyone this year. Even though I have always preached that we can’t put God in a box and that He will seldom do it like we think He will; yet when it happened to me, I was totally floored. I made up my mind to embrace the assignment and in the process, discover the why of the process.

So often we want to understand the WHY before we embrace the process. That is not how it works. It is as we embrace the process that the why is made clear. I discovered this year that God really does know what He is doing even when we think He doesn’t.

Unfortunately, many never discover the beauty or irony of how this works because they want it all figured out with a pretty bow on it before they do anything. They are individuals with all the POTENTIAL in the world who never live up to it because they can’t embrace a process they do not understand. God has always operating an individual’s destiny as unfolding revelation. He told Abraham to go to a land that He would show him.

Most of us would have said: “If you don’t show me where we are going, I am not leaving.” Thus, we find the underlying issue why so many never move past POTENTIAL. I read somewhere that the “Just Shall Live By Faith”. If you know exactly where you are going, no faith is required. But when you embrace that you are going where only God knows; then you are walking “By Faith And Not By Sight”.

This year, despite being thrown a major curve ball that I never saw coming nor ever expected or wanted, I discovered the purpose and plan of God for my life by embracing the process. I now know why I received the assignment that I did that I was not expecting. It turns out that God actually had at least four reasons that I am aware of at the time of this writing, and I am sure more will be revealed in the process.

My advice to you is simply this: Even when you don’t understand the curve ball that seems to be thrown your way, embrace it and yield to the process of God, as you do you will understand the why of the process. 

Teach Them To Your Sons

All the way back in Israel’s history…there was a practice that we in the church today sure do need to resurrect. It was known as “Teach them to your Sons”.

“These words, which I am commanding you today, shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your sons and shall talk of them when you sit in your house and when you walk by the way and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand and they shall be as frontals on your forehead.” Deuteronomy 6:6-8 NASB

“You shall therefore impress these words of mine on your heart and on your soul; and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontals on your forehead. You shall teach them to your sons, talking of them when you sit in your house and when you walk along the road and when you lie down and when you rise up. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.” Deuteronomy 11:18-20 NASB

“Now therefore, write this song for yourselves, and teach it to the sons of Israel; put it on their lips, so that this song may be a witness for Me against the sons of Israel.” Deuteronomy 31:19 NASB

The pattern was always that Fathers taught their Sons, who in turn taught their Sons, and so forth and so on. The pattern was always to be multi-generational. “The God of Abraham, Isaac & Jacob”.

Yet in our day many of our Leaders both Naturally & Spiritually have forgotten and lost this pattern. What and how are we teaching our Sons…that they might teach their Sons? Apostle Paul instructed his Son Timothy, the Emerging Apostle:

“And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” 2 Timothy 2:2 NKJV

Do you see the pattern of Multi-Generational again? Paul…Timothy…Faithful Men…Others Also.

If there is not a burning desire to pour into the next generation and you are in leadership…then you surely cannot call yourself Apostolic or a Father. Teaching from a Pulpit or a Platform is not Fathering nor Apostolic. From the pattern of Israel it was something that was “Hands On”.

As we seek to be Apostolic Fathers…we must do more than just teach from the pulpit…we must be “Hands On” with the next generation to raise up Sons. Let’s Go For It Copying The Pattern As Old As Israel!

Hear And Be Healed

Yesterday I read a Facebook post by a friend of mine, Dr. Don Lynch, who asked as a conversation starter: “To what extent should miracles, signs and wonders be paired with preaching?”

I began to think almost immediately of all the Scriptures I have ever used in preaching along these lines over the years. But I couldn’t get the thought out of head even this morning. Then to my remembrance came this verse that Rev. Kenneth E. (Dad) Hagin used to quote way back in the early 80’s when I used to attend Healing School at Rhema while a student there.

“But despite Jesus’ instructions, the report of his power spread even faster, and vast crowds came to hear him preach and to be healed of their diseases.” Luke 5:15 New Living Translation (emphasis mine)

I want you to pay attention to what The New Living Translation brings out that other Translations don’t. They came to hear Him Preach…and to Be Healed of their diseases. They didn’t just come to be Healed…But to Hear and be Healed. Most other Translations just say: “…great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by Him of their infirmities.”

I am struck with the thought that many want to be healed, but don’t want to hear anything. They want you to lay hands on them and just ZAP it to them. Well thank God for the Gifts of the Holy Spirit being in operation as He wills, but if they aren’t…you better Hear The Word!

I am also reminded of the ministry of Jesus in Matthew chapter 4.

“And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease among the people.” Matthew 4:23 New King James Version (emphasis mine)

Again notice in the ministry of Jesus that He was not just Healing, but He was Teaching, Preaching and Healing. The Word must be proclaimed if we expect to see the Healing Power of God. God confirms His Word, and if we don’t put His Word out there He has nothing to confirm.

Remember the Great Commission in Mark 16?

“And He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. These signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover’….And they went out and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them, and confirmed the word by the signs that followed.” Mark 16: 15-18 & 20 New American Standard Bible (emphasis mine)

I want you to notice that in obedience to the commission that they received, that they went out and preached everywhere…and the Lord worked with them…and confirmed the word by the signs that followed. What if they didn’t preach? Then I dare say the Lord would not be able to work with them. Notice He confirmed the word. He only confirms the word! He will not confirm anything but His Word!