Preaching Points » Headline

Despising youth…

Jay Jones — Thu, 26 May 2011 17:36:56 +0000

When I was about 6 years old, I distinctly remember being fascinated by the red glow a spiral-shaped coil of metal on the top of our stove. My mother turned it on to heat up while she filled a pot with water. In a moment of curiosity, I quickly reached out and touched the surface of the burner to see what it felt like, and it was then I learned a lesson that would forever be, excuse the pun, “branded” in my mind… The lesson was, “don’t touch things that will burn you”.

At such a young age I encountered an experience that, no matter how old or young I was, I could speak of. I could warn of. I could advise about. To deny me the space to speak about my experience would be disrespectful at the least, but potentially damaging to those I could help at the worst. I taught my younger brother the lesson as soon as I could, and to my knowledge he has never made the same mistake I did. It seems there was validity in what I was able to share.

Obviously, I’m headed somewhere with this. I am growing concerned about a trend that is crippling us as a movement. Indeed I’ve written articles and posts about it, and shared my feelings with other men I respect, both older and younger. This trend is that of, “despising the youth” around us.

I realize that we have seen an increasing number of young men and women grow disinterested in traditional Pentecostalism, and an ever-widening gap between those who are considered “young” and those, “old”. But this is not a new problem. I think it’s just becoming more noticed now that it is reaching what, in my estimation, is a critical mass. It has grown to a point where it can no longer be ignored. The concern I have is definitely for those youth and the direction they’re headed, but it’s also for an aging population among us that is further pushing the wedge into this divide rather than mending the breach.

Shame on those among us who, with all seemingly good intentions, further cripple our movement with an exclusionary disrespect and segregation of a generation who will one day replace us. They will not be trained through expulsion, led by castigation, helped by neglect, encouraged by insults or empowered by ridicule. To deride a generation saying they don’t have, “enough corn in the crib”, are “all hat and no cattle”, “wet behind the ears”, or whatever other self-aggrandizing statement can be quickly quipped, is nothing more than a shovel-full of dirt being dug into the grave of our future efforts to evangelize the world.

I am now 39 years old, have been in ministry for more than 20 years, have married, buried, consoled, counseled, prayed with and for more people than I could count, though the faces of radiant joy and overwhelming grief and suffering regularly show themselves vividly in my memories. I have experienced life and death, blessing and cursing, trials and triumphs, successes and failures, injury and healing, miracles and disappointments… yet to some, I am but a “young man”. I realize that I have much more life to live, and many more lessons to learn… in fact, I often feel inadequate with my knowledge and frustrated with the shallowness of my accomplishments. But on this side of the middle of life, I can see that life has taught me many lessons of value. Men my age and even older are still considered a voice of youth or even inexperience by men not much older who may have a few more gray hairs, but perhaps not equal experience or wisdom. Understand that I am not making a case to demand or even desire respect or a “place on stage” from anyone… I am certainly quite confident in the reality of my life and ministry, and receive all the validation I need from the God who called me and the people whose lives I’ve influenced. What bothers me is the pattern I see where aging men further separate themselves from a generation that needs them the most by demeaning their voices, minimizing their experiences, and marginalizing their value among us.

I realize that this may sound disrespectful to an older generation that has earned a place among us as elders and leaders, but that is not the intention. In fact, I love, admire and respect those who have lived a life of sacrifice and paid a price to earn a voice among this world. My intention, rather, is to speak a cautionary word to those who might see their age, position or experience as validation in the suppressing of a voice we desperately need among us.

As the icons and heroes, conference-speakers and camp-preachers of our younger days age and die, we will be faced with the fearful reality that, though there may be some to take their place next year, the crop is growing thinner and thinner. Next decade, if the Lord withholds His coming, how many ministers will we have in our movement? How many pastors, preachers and elders?

Further castigate and demean the youth of today if you wish. Quiet the voice of experience, whether it be young or just “young”, if you wish. Make pithy remarks about the accomplishments of a generation younger than us if you wish. But when we sit on the edge of our bed in years to come with whited hair, frail bones and weathered skin… and when we consider the vast expanse of unharvested fields and lack of laborers in that day… just remember that we had a choice today to contribute to it, or try to make it better.

1 Timothy 4:12 “Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity.”

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The Vigor of Prayer

Jay Jones — Fri, 25 Mar 2011 15:06:58 +0000

The early church was born in a prayer meeting, and as they continued in prayer, miracles, signs and wonders took place. They experienced the vigor of prayer, great revival, and tremendous church growth. Vigor is defined as energy; force; drive; vitality; strength; spirit; dynamism; enthusiasm; gusto; intensity, etc. God desires that we activate the power that He gave to us through prayer. He gave His disciples “power and authority over devils, and to cure diseases” (Luke 9:1). We too have access to God’s power and authority. The apostle Paul admonished “Be careful for nothing; but in EVERYTHING by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Phil. 4:6).

II Thes.1:11 states “Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power.” The Greek rendition of power (dunamis) here means force; might; violence; strength; mighty work, etc. Matt. 11:12 relays “The kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force.”According to God’s plan and through His Spirit, prayer has the power to turn people from the power of Satan to the power of God. Acts 26:18 says, “To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto the power of God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in me.”

Light is a kind of “energy” that exists as a range of electromagnetic radiation that can be detected by the human eye. Have you opened your eyes and evaluated your life lately to determine if you may be wasting some valuable time on “formless energy”…trivial things that are temporal and don’t really matter in the long-run? Remember, prayer has eternal value and when we pray in accordance to the will of God and choose to release our energy or vigor in that capacity, then it will be very rewarding.

God is light. In the beginning He said, “Let there be light,” and the darkness dissipated at the entrance of it. Although the power source may have been connected partly and previously through the initial infilling of the Holy Ghost, when Christians pray, it continually turns on God’s “light switch” in their lives. The light activated from that switch also shines upon the lives of others who sit in darkest, blinded by the god of this world. We then can see the chains that bind others and direct them to God so that He can set the captives free. That light creates a fire when ignited by the burden of the Lord and we may effectively engage in fervent prayer. John the Baptist declared that Jesus would baptize “with the Holy Ghost and fire.” If that fire is truly shut up in our bones, as was the case with Jeremiah, then surely we will speak God’s Word in prayer. Jer. 23:29 says “Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD.” Ps. 119:105 also declares “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” That fire can burn away the chains and that light can cause the blind to see!

Once while in the corner of a dark church closet, engaged in vigorous intercessory prayer for a lost soul (stranger) that I beforehand just had met on the streets, a brilliant, bright, white, natural light suddenly appeared in the corner where I was praying and hovered above and overshadowed me for about one minute! It was unlike anything I had ever seen or experienced before! What emanated from that comer was not an overhead fluorescent light activated from a light switch that was turned on nor an iridescent lamp that was swiftly plugged into a power socket, but rather it was light generated from “power from on high!” It was evident that this glorious presence of God was manifested by tapping into the Power Source through prayer. Another young lady in the church was present nearby when the light appeared. So, she was a witness of this divine manifestation also, and this was such a testimony…she shortly later received the Holy Ghost. No human being had cut on the light to generate this power, but rather God Himself was the power source…and the light, as well! He is the Light of the World. Ps. 27:1 says “The Lord is my light and my salvation…” God is “the light that shineth in darkness and…the true Light, which lighteth every man that cometh into the world” (John 1:5, 9). This appearance of light is just a glimpse of what God desires to unveil. Light travels at a speed of about 186,000 miles per second. God is faster. Time cannot even measure or confine Him. In fact, God is Omnipresent. He’s already there. Miracles can happen in an instant! Prayer is exciting! Prayer is powerful!

Just as His presence descended upon the mercy seat behind the veil on the Ark of the Covenant in the holiest of holies, so does His light and fire consume the sacrifice of prayer to bring mercy in this sinner’s stead. God has many wonderful ways in confirming that He has heard our prayers when we go beyond the veil and abide in that secret place under the shadow of the Almighty. King David relayed “For thou wilt light my candle: the Lord my God shall enlighten my darkness” (Ps. 18:28). Truly, what we need to help the despondent and destitute in this world is not a Doctor’s degree in “psychology,” but rather we need the Master’s degree in “kneeology,” and can obtain it when we kneel to the Master in prayer and let Him “teach us to pray.”

Pursue God with passion and pray with vigor, and be as like David in this context…”a man after God’s own heart.” Observe the many songs that he sang and the prayers that he prayed, particularly in the Book of Psalms. Notice how God was with David and how he was even named in the lineage of Christ. Wow! What will be your connection to God? More than ever, will you pray with vigor? If God sees that fervency, vigor, and passion (fire, energy, and light) emitting from you, How can He refrain from blessing you as you pray according to His will. Whosh…there comes down the Fire, Power, and Light on the mercy seat to consume that sacrifice…of prayer. What an attraction! God wants to greatly use you; so, like never before, experience the vigor of prayer!

Flo Shaw
International Coordinator
World Network of Prayer

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White Noise

Jay Jones — Tue, 04 Jan 2011 17:54:59 +0000

A few years ago while I was working in the offices of General Motors, I was shocked at an inter-office memo I had received.

The note was to explain about a new â€œnoise filtering systemâ€ that was to be installed in the 1,000-plus employee complex within the coming weeks. It wasnâ€™t the system alone that got my attentionâ€¦ it was what I read next.

The memo went on to say that white noise is merely a constant flood of sound that fills the air around you. Itâ€™s purposes is to dampen the other sounds and â€œchatterâ€ that fill the room. As the memo went on, they described how the white noise at first will be irritating to us; it would be very noticeable, but we were encouraged to ignore this irritation. â€œBefore you know it, you wonâ€™t even realize itâ€™s thereâ€ the memo said, â€œyou will become de-sensitized to the noise, and it wonâ€™t be offensive to you anymore.â€

There is nothing wrong with white noise in an office spaceâ€¦ actually it can be a very good thing as it drowns out the sounds around you. What disturbed me was the thought that â€œwhite noiseâ€ enters into the spiritual lives of Apostolic people every day! As we are bombarded daily with temptations and we are assaulted by the blunt sinfulness of the world, it first is irritating to us. But the problems start when we begin to get accustomed to this sin, and it is no longer offensive to us.

Letâ€™s not let the sinfulness of this world drown out the voice of God in our lives.

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The Secret Mistake Of The Titanic

Jay Jones — Fri, 08 Oct 2010 18:45:33 +0000

For 100 years, the real reason for such devastating loss of life on the Titanic had been kept secret. A navigational error was at fault for the initial collision with the iceberg, but it has been revealed that the reason for it’s quick sinking was the rash decision of the ship’s owner, J. Bruce Ismay. He insisted they continue sailing when they should have just stayed still. Instead, because of their movement the ship sank hours faster than it should have. “If Titanic had stood still, she would have survived at least until the rescue ship came and no one need have died,” said the granddaughter of the ship’s Second Officer.

How often does calamity end in loss of life because of hasty decisions? Spiritually, much peril could be avoided by exercising patience and letting God take control of the situation.

1 Samuel 12:16
“Now therefore stand and see this great thing, which the LORD will do before your eyes.”

Ephesians 6:13
“Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

The Titanic hit an iceberg in 1912 because of a basic steering error, and only sank as fast as it did because an official persuaded the captain to continue sailing, an author said in an interview published on Wednesday.

Louise Patten, a writer and granddaughter of Titanic second officer Charles Lightoller, said the truth about what happened nearly 100 years ago had been hidden for fear of tarnishing the reputation of her grandfather, who later became a war hero.

Lightoller, the most senior officer to have survived the disaster, covered up the error in two inquiries on both sides of the Atlantic because he was worried it would bankrupt the ill-fated liner’s owners and put his colleagues out of a job.

“They could easily have avoided the iceberg if it wasn’t for the blunder,” Patten told the Daily Telegraph.

“Instead of steering Titanic safely round to the left of the iceberg, once it had been spotted dead ahead, the steersman, Robert Hitchins, had panicked and turned it the wrong way.”

Patten, who made the revelations to coincide with the publication of her new novel “Good as Gold” into which her account of events are woven, said that the conversion from sail ships to steam meant there were two different steering systems.

Crucially, one system meant turning the wheel one way and the other in completely the opposite direction.

Once the mistake had been made, Patten added, “they only had four minutes to change course and by the time (first officer William) Murdoch spotted Hitchins’ mistake and then tried to rectify it, it was too late.”

Patten’s grandfather was not on watch at the time of the collision, but he was present at a final meeting of the ship’s officers before the Titanic went down.

There he heard not only about the fatal mistake but also the fact that J. Bruce Ismay, chairman of Titanic’s owner the White Star Line persuaded the captain to continue sailing, sinking the ship hours faster than would otherwise have happened.

“If Titanic had stood still, she would have survived at least until the rescue ship came and no one need have died,” Patten said.

The RMS Titanic was the world’s biggest passenger liner when it left Southampton, England, for New York on its maiden voyage on April 10, 1912. Four days into the trip, the ship hit an iceberg and sank, taking more than 1,500 passengers with it.

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Praying the Will of God

Jay Jones — Mon, 06 Sep 2010 22:32:18 +0000

Written by Myron Powell

1 John 5:14-15 (NKJV) Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

Confidence

Boldness = â€œCome boldly before the throne!â€

Confidence in Him, not in ourselves!

Speak the language of faith, not fear! Because God doesnâ€™t respond to fear!

Hebrews 11:6 (NKJV) But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Faith can never go past your question!

Godâ€™s Will

Our confidence comes from asking according to Godâ€™s Willâ€¦

His Will is His Word! The two flow and do not violate one another!

Learn to pray Godâ€™s Word and you will know His will!

Pray the sermons/messages you hear alsoâ€¦

Romans 10:17 (NKJV) So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Mix the Word with faithâ€¦

Hebrews 4:2 (NKJV) For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.

If you know His Word, you will know His willâ€¦

Mark 1:40-41 (ESV) And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, â€œIf you will, you can make me clean.â€ 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, â€œI will; be clean.â€

Once you know the will of God (which is the Word of God), you will pray confident prayers!

Too many people are praying in darkness; thus the Word of God â€œenlightensâ€ youâ€¦

Psalms 119:105 (NKJV) Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.

Psalms 119:130 (NKJV) The entrance of Your words gives light; It gives understanding to the simple.

God hears us

God listens to faith-led prayers, prayed in accordance to His willâ€¦

1 John 5:14 (NKJV) Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us.

Get to know the Word of God and you will be praying the will of Godâ€¦

Salvation of the lostâ€¦

2 Peter 3:9 (NKJV) The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

John 3:16 (NKJV) For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

Mark 16:15-16 (NKJV) And He said to them, â€Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16 He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned.

Healingâ€¦

Isaiah 53:5 (NKJV) But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed.

And we KNOW He hears us!

How do we know He hears us? By praying according to His will (which is His Word)!

1 John 5:15 (NKJV) And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

NOTICE what happens to prayer warriors who pray the Will of Godâ€¦ WE HAVE (receive) THE PETITIONS THAT WE HAVE ASKED OF HIM!

Ask in faith believingâ€¦

Know His Word and you will know His willâ€¦

Pray by faith; not by sight!

Pray in the spiritual realm, not the natural realm!

You know the will of God, so quit expecting BAD things to happen!

DONâ€™T NULLIFY YOUR PRAYERS WITH DOUBT!

Matthew 21:21-22 (NKJV) So Jesus answered and said to them,â€œAssuredly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will not only do what was done to the fig tree, but also if you say to this mountain, â€˜Be removed and be cast into the sea,â€™ it will be done. 22 And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive.â€

James 1:6-7 (CEV) But when you ask for something, you must have faith and not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like an ocean wave tossed around in a storm. 7 If you are that kind of person, you canâ€™t make up your mind, and you surely canâ€™t be trusted. So donâ€™t expect the Lord to give you anything at all.

Myron Powell is the pastor of The Church of Omaha in Omaha, Nebraska. Read Myron’s blog, ‘Sound Words‘, and purchase his books from LuLu.com.

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Building a Ministry that Lasts

Jay Jones — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 20:14:37 +0000

Do you know of aÂ former minister or even aÂ former “Apostolic” Minister who now preachers a watered down version of truth? Chances are you do. When I considered all those who used to preach the gospel but have walked away from Apostolic ministry, I was amazed at the number. If this is your label, God isnâ€™t finished with you. God is able to restore if we sincerely repent. Just because you failed or quit doesnâ€™t mean that you will never again serve the Lord. You have a choice concerning your future. Stay where you are or get up and start serving God from where you are.

When you donâ€™t know what to do, do what you know to do. While I believe you can be restored, the purpose of this article targets prevention.

To avoid washing out of Apostolic Ministry, hereâ€™s 10 things to do:

1. Get some rest. Take some time off regularly without feeling guilty about it. During this time, resist the powerful temptation to make phone calls and email or fix problems involving the church. Rest your mind, body & ministry. Contrary to some theories, reading does help restore your thought and cognitive processes. Pick up a biography, leadership book or even a fictional novel. New ideas and concepts invigorate and energize your mind.

2. Include your family in the excitement of ministry. Many preachers have felt the tug of war between family and work of God because they exist in two different worlds. When you discuss the church and work of God, use positive words. Your family canâ€™t see the joy of ministry if all they hear is the negative of ministry. Frequently say â€œIsnâ€™t it awesome that Daddy is a preacher?â€, â€œWorking for God is the coolest thing to do with your lifeâ€, â€œItâ€™s fun working for Jesusâ€ and â€œI love working in ministry, donâ€™t you?â€

3. Develop a prayer life. It is entirely possible to work as a preacher and not regularly pray…donâ€™t get caught in this trap. Develop a prayer life. If you have a productive day of knocking tasks off your â€œto-doâ€ list and forgot to pray…you have failed. On the same token, if you didnâ€™t get much accomplished but you took time to pray you have recorded a success in the record book of eternity.

4. Protect your morality with a vengeance. Never meet with a person of the opposite sex without a witness present. (Assuming you are male) When you email someone, include your wife in the cc (carbon copy) list not in the bcc (blind carbon copy) list. You want the recipient to know that your spouse will be privy to any and all information. Spouses should treat this information with respect and extreme privacy. You could destroy your husbandâ€™s ministry with careless gossip. Never reveal a conversation without checking with your spouse. You do not want him blindsided if the confidential information gets out. Thereâ€™s rarely a need for things to be repeated outside of the confidence of the pastor. We must learn to forgive and pretend it never happened. Church should be a safe place to fail without the fear of embarrassment. Ministry leadership is built on trust. Be a good steward of the trust of the people. If your marriage is in trouble, keep it in the bubble. Donâ€™t share your frustration with anyone outside of an agreed confidential source. Take time off to work on your marriage. You do not need a special occasion to invest in your marriage. Unlike anyone else in the church, your relationship with your spouse could effect the eternity of many trusting people. Too many ex-apostolic saints blame the break-up of a pastorâ€™s home for their walking away from God.

5. Never settle for dead church, “getting by” or “making due”.Summertime and the holidays are notorious for travel by the saints. Almost every week you will have someone out of town or getting ready to leave. Itâ€™s easy to become frustrated with the attitude of people who seem to live in a constant state vacation and excuses. Donâ€™t allow a few unfaithful people to frustrate your ministry to the faithful. People will miss. People will have good times and bad times. People will have times of feeling overwhelmed and giving up. Be patient with people. If they continue to get back up eventually they will outgrow some of these bad habits. It seems that the longer some saints have lived for God the less â€œspiritual-bipolarâ€ they are. When thereâ€™s absolutely every reason in the world to expect a low-attended or dead service push for a breakthrough. Never give into the temptation to â€œjust get it over withâ€. Some of our greatest victories have occurred when we thought it would be a down service. It also is great promotion for those who miss, when they hear about something great happening at church. People in our congregation hate to miss for that reason. I do too. I train our service leaders to (a) Promote worship (b) Acknowledge that the service is tight or dead and (c) lead the people into a breakthrough. Eventually they will forget what normal (dead church) is like.

6. Dream big, get a plan and be strategic. Write out what you would like to see happen in your church in the next 10 years and promote it among the church. Every year around the first of January I cast vision for that year. I read off about 30 big things that we will do before the end of the year. I also cast vision for the future. Make sure your plan includes developing the people. Cast big vision for something that no one could do on their own. Every individual longs to accomplish big things with their lives. Help them to do this. Be realistic, think in terms of steps. For example, if you are wanting to license ministers, first establish a ministers class. Nourish and cultivate any potential in ministry. Teach your ministers leadership material. Kill programs that have outlived their usefulness by introducing something â€œbigger and betterâ€. Never put something into leadership until you have given them a clear list of requirements and expectations (that you are willing to enforce).

7. Make things simple. If you cannot describe your process of becoming an engaged member of your church then how do you expect anyone else to remember. What are your â€œtrueâ€ requirements for membership. Do your people know what they are? How often do you mention them? How often do you enforce them. Remember requirements that are not enforced are simply â€œsuggestionsâ€. Do your guests know where to go and what to do to go to the next level at your church? Establish a place where all their questions can be answered (ie. membership table or guest relations kiosk). Do you assume that everyone knows the following words and phrases: altar call, Holy Ghost, speaking in tongues, Acts 2:38, tithing, praying through, membership, worship, faith, baptism, etc…

8. Pastor, get a pastor! If you are sitting under a pastor this point is not for you. You already have an authority. If you do not trust him, LEAVE. If you do trust him do not go outside his ministry for counsel without his approval. If you are a pastor, find someone that will be honest with you and stay in contact with them regularly. Submit yourself to their authority and ministry. If they say â€œjumpâ€ donâ€™t say â€œwhyâ€…say…â€off whatâ€? I would recommend finding several apostolic men that you trust. These preachers must not be â€œgiven to changeâ€.

9. Be Apostolic. Too many ministers have heard the siren call of â€œcheesy & greasy churchâ€ and have been won over by the numbers, money and easy commitment. When Jesus said â€œtake up your cross dailyâ€ he wasnâ€™t talking about jewelry. Ministry is supposed to be difficult at times. If you never run head first into Satan it could be that you are headed in the same direction. Thereâ€™s something sad and tragic about those who leave the apostolic truths that they have been raised with. Itâ€™s almost always a slow fade done in the name of evangelism. One day you wake up and realize thereâ€™s not much difference between you and the majority of the â€œchurch worldâ€. God has called us to separation from, the world, but that separation is also UNTO HIM. You will never give up anything that God does not reward you with a closer walk with Him. The last day compromising â€œApostate Churchâ€ would be a popular wide & easy road. Few will choose the right (more difficult) path…be one of the few.

10. Stay Positive. In ten years of evangelizing I met a lot of ministers who were poisoned masses of negativity. It seems to effect ministers in two primary ways: bitterness and discouragement. Opportunities for bitterness never cease and thereâ€™s no greater distraction for a minister than anger. Hereâ€™s some basic truths: You will be done wrong. You will be done wrong by other ministers and people in your church. You will be done wrong by people you help the most. You will be done wrong by your organization (whatever one that is). People will judge you, talk about you, slander you and even work to destabilize you. Remember, they did the same thing to Jesus and your ministry isnâ€™t any better than His. Remember, God has been too good to you and brought you through too much for you allow bitterness to take root in your spirit. If certain friends consistently pull you down with negative or angry talk, change the talk or change the friends. The second â€œGoliathâ€ of a preacherâ€™s spirit is discouragement. One of my mentors Bro Johnny Godair told me several times, â€œRemember in regards to church momentum, itâ€™s never as bad as it seems. Itâ€™s also never as good as it seemsâ€. Todayâ€™s quitters are tomorrows regretters. Donâ€™t let summertime get you down. Sometimes the adage â€œwhen it rains it poursâ€ should read â€œwhen it rains it hurricanesâ€. Thereâ€™s an ebb and flow of church growth. Donâ€™t allow the growth reports of others intimidate you. The best kind of growth is steady growth. We should strive for souls and church growth and even make it our number one priority, however getting someone talked into the water and prayed through is the easy part. What you do afterward in discipleship is the real challenge of church growth.

Finally…the best way to longevity in ministry is to establish your ministry in scripture. Let God talk to you every day from His Word. Itâ€™s a lamp to your feet (shows you where you are standing) and a light to your path (shows you where to go from here).

Rob McKee – Pastor
The Pentecostals of Katy

This article evolved from a conversation with my best friend (fellowÂ Pastor MyRick Johnson). A few weeks ago, we met for lunch and were discussing â€œlongevity in ministryâ€.

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The Big Dog

Jay Jones — Mon, 12 Jul 2010 17:12:49 +0000

By Fred Kinzie

You’ve often heard it said, “Old men for counsel, young men for war.”

As an older minister, and throughout my pastoral years, it has been my pleasure and privilege to counsel and help many young men in the early years of their ministry. In our church, there has always been at least one and often as many as five young ministers, either aspiring to the ministry or in their beginning years. Then some of those pastoring or evangelizing, sensing my concern for them, have talked with me about some of the bumps and distasteful situations they have encountered.

Some young ministers have been deeply hurt, not physically, but spiritually. Sometimes an older minister unknowingly shunned them, treated them unfairly (at least, in their opinion), or took advantage of them to the extent that they were left disillusioned and disappointed. Or perhaps a successful minister their own age shunned them or made some snide remark that cut them to the quick. Satan has always been exceptionally busy trying to derail promising messengers, or at least to sidetrack them.

Regardless of the circumstances, young ministers definitely need help. Counseling with some of them, I often close by relating the story of the big dog, a story I read many years ago in a magazine. It so impressed me that I have never forgotten it. It goes something like this.

A discouraged, distressed young man seeking emotional help visited an older friend. The young man had been deeply hurt by the actions of a fellow employee who had taken advantage of him and then belittled him in front of his peers. The matter affected his efficiency at work. Every time the fellow employee came by the work area, he added fuel to the fire, so much so that resentment was about to explode within the young man.

The young man and his older friend were discussing the situation when the older man, hearing his dog growling, turned to see what was wrong. He then said to the young man, “I want you to see something that is about to happen.”

The two men were standing close to the porch, some forty feet from the open front gate. The older man’s dog, a poodle, had been stretched out on the porch sleeping, but now he was growling at a big, gangling, long-eared hound striding lazily toward them on the sidewalk.

The older man said, “Watch these dogs.”

“What about them?” answered the young man.

“See that old hound coming down the sidewalk?”

“Yeah, I see him,” the younger man answered as he gazed in the direction the older man indicated.

“Watch what happens as he nears my gate.”

When the hound was about fifty feet away, the poodle’s growling increased and he began barking excitedly. He then jumped off the porch and scurried out through the gate onto the sidewalk, all the time growling, hissing, and jumping stiff-legged back and forth toward the hound as though unafraid of him.

As the hound drew nearer, the poodle backed up the front walk toward the two men, still barking, his hair bristled, his lips curled up, and his teeth showing. When the big dog was almost in front of the house, the older man said, “Now, watch this!”

The poodle was now wedged between his master’s feet, cowed down and whining pitifully, scared that the big dog might be coming after him.

As the big, gangling, long-eared hound passed the gate, ears flopping in time with his gait, he turned his head sideways enough to glance at the poodle. Then he lumbered on, not even breaking his stride.

The poodle, assured of his safety, slipped out from between his master’s feet, scampered back to the sidewalk, and barked boldly once again. In a moment it was over. The hound was out of sight and the poodle was back, stretched out on the porch and panting profusely as though he had been in a big fight.

“Now, friend,” the older man advised, “when you are harassed at the plant, remember to be the big dog. Don’t break stride! Keep on as though nothing had happened or was said about you. When you’re no longer frustrated and annoyed by the harassment, it will cease.”

Relating this story to a frustrated, disturbed young minister seems to hit the mark. When a person rises above the things that “get under his skin,” he has won a victory! After all, God’s guidance and directions are the important items in a person’s ministry, so why should he allow a lesser voice to rule this life or to disturb his peace of mind?

David, when his brother, Eliab, taunted him for coming to the battlefield seemingly uninvited, could have been riled to the point of losing his composure. But, fortunately, he kept his cool by keeping his eye on the bigger picture, that of whipping the giant and gaining a much needed victory for Israel.

David was the big dog! And so can any person be when he is confronted with a barking poodle.

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Revelation and Relationship

Jay Jones — Wed, 12 May 2010 04:27:02 +0000

The Old Testament revelation of God seems to center around His mighty works. When we look closely at these works we find that the revelation goes much deeper than showing God as a God with power to create and perform. A misunderstanding of the purpose of the revelation of God will lead us to a misunderstanding of God Himself. Such misunderstanding will lead to grievous errors in interpreting the purpose and intent of scripture.

Godâ€™s self-revelation to His people is the focal point of Godâ€™s revelation in the Old Testament. We tend to look for the revelation of His purposes. Without seeing the revelation of His person and the revelation of His character we will not properly understand the revelation of His purposes. In actuality what God does is based upon who He is.

The Genesis account of the self-revelation of God is necessary when really determining a full revelation of God. He began with self-revelation so that Israel would know in going forward who He was, and that who He was is the determining factor in what He does. Therefore we see that revelation leads to relationship.

Since Godâ€™s desire in creating man was a desire of relationship we assuredly know that any revelation He gives us is for the purpose of furthering that relationship. If we do not see Godâ€™s self-revelation as the basic revelation and the basis for all revelation then we will understand nothing of God and His ways. To a great extent the creation of the world is merely a manifestation of the character of God.

When we look at the incredible intricacies involved in the creation process we see the character of God displayed. The very fact that God says â€œIt was goodâ€ or â€œIt was very goodâ€ denote that what He had created measured up to His standards of what was necessary for relationship to occur. In this God reveals a compassion, concern and care that are indicative of who He is.

When man would first view those things which God created he would be given insight into the character and nature of God. With the fall of man another revelation of God would be brought forth: Not only was God a Creator but he was also a righteous Judge and merciful Redeemer. This follows the pattern of the purpose of Godâ€™s self revelation.

His purpose in creation was relationship; in being merciful to the sinner God continues in His purpose. With the advent of extended mercy to the sinner comes the opportunity to be declared righteous. That righteousness would flow from the character and nature of a holy God. Once it is applied to the life of an individual, through grace, it is then intended that the relationship experience a new depth, namely one of becoming like Him.

To become like Him means that we begin to apply the communicable attributes of God into our lives. The incommunicable attributes remain His alone and He does not expect us to manifest those, nor can we. Holiness is a communicable attribute and indeed can be manifested into our life. In fact, He commanded us to be holy as He is holy. This can only be done through relationship.

Ultimately, holiness is intertwined in the knowledge of the revelation of God and the intimacy of relationship with Him. It is the natural spiritual progression of knowing Him. To be anything less than holy is to prove that true relationship does not exist. The reason for the lack of relationship could well be the lack of revelation of God and His purpose.

Written by Rev. Ron Wofford

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Who Killed Jane Doe?

Jay Jones — Fri, 02 Apr 2010 18:39:46 +0000

Name changed to protect the family of a dear friend.

My heart is so heavy right now. Ashamed. Disappointed. Reflective. Did I mention ashamed?

Jane Doe came into my life nearly 13 years ago. My younger brother brought her to a church revival service, and the youth group I pastored took her in with warm acceptance. A heavy-set girl, barely 20 years old, newly married. Very beautiful. A laughter that cracked the atmosphere and made joy rain down on those around her. Jane was so moved during one of our revival services that she began weeping as the Sprit moved upon her. Overwhelmed, she exited the sanctuary and went to the basement ladies restroom to make sense of what was happening. My wife followed her, and found Jane kneeling on the floor repenting. As she began to pray with her, Jane lifted her hands to worship God and He filled her with the Holy Ghost… right there on the floor of the ladies’ restroom. I baptized Jane, and for a couple of months her and her husband attended and grew, though he would never surrender to Christ. They disappeared, divorcing sometime during their absence, and it was years until I heard from Jane again. We had moved two hours away to start our church in Kentwood. Life marched forward.

The phonecall came about two months ago… I didn’t recognize the number, and let it go to voicemail since I was busy at the time. I didn’t recognize her voice… it wasn’t full and happy like I remembered her. She simply stated that she got my number from a friend and asked me or my wife to call her back… she needed help. In the midst of busyness, Jane’s message became cluttered with other phone calls, voicemail and requests, and I let it slip away.

The phone rang early this morning, and my mother shared the news that Jane Doe committed suicide sometime during the late hours of the night.

All of the consoling words I could think of… that I’ve spoke to others… the words that release a person from guilt and absolve them from responsibility… they just don’t fit here. She cried for help, and I silenced her. Busily attending to the scrapes and bumps of chronic complainers while the gaping, gushing wound of an old friend continues to drain behind me until her life just vanishes away. I’m so ashamed. I didn’t mean to neglect her, but I did. She reached out to me and I didn’t answer. I should have. Perhaps some people wouldn’t care, but I do… deeply.

I’m reflecting today. I’m going in to work late to get away alone and further analyze myself. I need to learn from this. I love people… I love souls… I genuinely do. My heart breaks open into intercession for the lives God brings into mine. Somehow I created a system of priorities that shut out someone I perhaps could have helped. I know I can’t take the responsibility for Jane’s life… but I feel complicit in her death. While I thought I was the right kind of person, I find that part of me still needs to change… to make room… room for people like Jane Doe.

Thanks for letting me bare my broken heart.

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Are You Too Comfortable For God?

Jay Jones — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 14:53:26 +0000

By Johnathan Pagan

God wants to bless us. Better job. Better cars. Higher salaries. Make us happy. Give us comforts in life we never had before. He is such a wonderful God. Right?

Have you ever stopped to think that maybe Godâ€™s definition of blessed and ours is not congruent?
Have you ever thought about how the supernatural move of God took place n the Word in the lives of Biblical characters whose life examples leave us with horrible occurrences?

If Abraham was a friend of God then why did God make him leave his family, friends, home, to go to a place he didnâ€™t even know the name of and then, to top that off, God demands the sacrifice of his only son? If that happened today I would look at the guy and probably say â€“ â€œYOU are out of the WILL OF GOD, BOY!! Go back home!â€

If Moses was in the will of God then why would God remove him from a palace and put him in a desert herding sheep? Can the will of God be for anyone to take a lower position in life? Many leaders look at those who do so today and declare, â€œI think that God is going to elevate you in his will, you may need to wait for the next opportunity where your benefits arenâ€™t taken awayâ€¦â€

All the heroes of Hebrews â€œHall of Faithâ€ were incredible! Look how these men walking the power of God during their lives! They had a God who was totally in control of their lives! They must have had 401K benefits, comfortable living, increased blessing, and bliss! Letâ€™s take a lookâ€¦.

Abraham was in the perfect will of God, promised lands, nations, and blessings. The only ground he ever owned after he went through all he did was the small parcel of ground on which he and his wife were buried.

Noah was in the perfect will of Godâ€¦ but he ended up building a boat in the middle of the desert and was misunderstood by his generation and ended up with a church of 8 folks. Not one convert (he must have taken a pastorate out of the will of God, right?)

Jacob was in the perfect will of Godâ€¦ and ended up being tricked and deceived by an ungodly relative who stole years of his life.

Joseph was in the perfect will of Godâ€¦ having dreams from God, yet abandoned by his family, tossed in a pit, sold into slavery, accused of rape, imprisoned.

No one was ever in the will of God like Jesus Christ. He was led of the Spirit and full of the Spirit.

Yet, he was born in a stable, almost murdered by a king, the most misunderstood man of his day, couldnâ€™t rub two nickels together, forsaken, beaten, abused, crucified and laid in a borrowed tomb.

He never married. He never built a new home, never saved money, never advanced, never built a real kingdomâ€¦ he lived a life that was obviously NOT blessed!

If we looked atÂ someone todayÂ with the same lifeÂ characteristics as Jesus ChristÂ we would say,Â â€œWhat a wasted life!!â€

Yet the perfect will took him hereâ€¦ HOW COULD THIS BE THE WILL OF GOD? The will of God isnâ€™t always what we think it should be.

Born in a stable â€“ yes, but I doubt three rich kings could find him at the Comfort Inn.

Almost murdered by a king â€“ yes, but what an opportunity for his father to have angelic visitation.

The most misunderstood man that ever lived â€“ yes, but also the most quoted man that has ever lived.

Couldnâ€™t rub two nickels together â€“ yes, but he could get money from a fishes mouth.

Forsaken, beaten, abused, crucified, and laid in a borrowed tomb â€“ yes, but he changed the course of all humanity!

God is more interested in our walking by faith than in our comfort! The life of faith will not always give you palaces and pleasantries, raises and royalties â€“ THE SUPERANTURAL MOVE AND WORK OF GOD FINDS ITSELF IN THE PLACES OF DISCOMFORT.

Have you ever been changed by a comfortable message?
Have you ever been healed by a comfortable prayer?
Has anyone ever been transformed by a comfortable altar call?
Has there ever been a soul born again and discipled via comfortable means?
Has there ever been a financial miracle not preceded by uncomfortable and sacrificial giving?
Has comfortable worship ever launched you into his presence for long term transformation?

NO! NO! NO! â€“ These people of the Hall of Faith are not just to be admired by us â€“ they are our EXAMPLES which we should follow!!

Name one miracle that came as a result of comfort? Jesus never said, â€œSit in you Lazy Boy and be thou healed!â€â€¦ ANYWHERE YOU FIND THE TRULY SUPERNATURAL YOU FIND AN ABSENCE OF THE COMFORABLE! Muddy spit in the eyes, Paul and Silas shackled in prison, Naaman dips 7 times, and rooftops being ripped off are always the atmosphere of the miraculous!!

We want to know, are the pews padded? How long is the prayer meeting going to be? Is he going to preach long? Can we just fast from sun up to sun down? How much money can I give and not be uncomfortable?

Peter was in the boat. The storm is raging. He sees what seems to be Jesus.

He doesnâ€™t get â€˜spiritual stupidityâ€™ and just jump into the water and try to walk on it. He asks, â€œIf it is you, bid me come!â€ I am not talking about taking drastic measures just to see if something will happenâ€¦ I am trying to get us to see that God has already made provision for the miraculous in our lives. We know it is him on the water! We need to get out of the boat where we know he is out of the boat!!

We need to rid ourselves of this â€œthe will of God is comfortable, pleasing, smooth sailingâ€ mentality!!
Jesus said that particular dimensions of his will wonâ€™t even come without the elementary discomforts of prayer and fasting!!

We are crying out for comfort! We like our salaries, our vehicles, our clothes, our styles, our ideas, our fashions â€“ AND GOD SAYS WE ARE POOR, NAKED, AND LUKEWARM!!

He said we are to receive a â€œNew Comfortorâ€â€¦

A Comfortor granted by heaven that gives us the only comforts we should be thriving on! When we are comfortable in the flesh this NEW COMFORTOR is grieved!! We are praying for God to resurrect living flesh and He is resounding â€“ NO!!- my resurrection power will only be found where the flesh has been killed!

Paul, if you are not shipwrecked you wonâ€™t get to Melita. If you are not in the storm you will not reach the barbarians on the island and shake off the vipers!

God did not save us and turn us into little sheltered, ideal, materially prosperous, happy, giddy, living in bliss little children of the Almighty! I think not. If we looked at the lives of the disciples and all of the battles they went through we would shake our fist at hell and declare this is an â€œattack of Satan!â€â€¦ but, just maybe Jesus put you guys in that boat, told you to meet him on the other side, then he roused up a storm, tossed you on the see, so you could have the chance to know him as no one in the history of all humanity ever will â€“ the water walker and wind-calmer!

Maybe when we think we are under an â€œattack of Satanâ€ we are really under an â€œattack of Godâ€. I need more of those. So Lord, move me from my comfortable place. Maybe I should understand that if I am not walking with some sort of limp, Jacob, I have probably not experienced the blessing that God really wants me to have.

I NEED AN ATTACK OF GOD!

Are you to comfortable for God?

Johnathan Pagan is a bilingual minister with the UPCI and has been involved in the Kingdom of God as pastor, evangelist and missionary. He has functioned for the last 8 years as the Administrator of a wonderful and growing Church in Southern Illinois. His writings can be seen at his blog, “Leaders Mettle“.

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