The Lifestyle of a Prophet

I just finished reading The Lifestyle of a Prophet by James W. Goll and wanted to share his list of how to grow in the prophetic:

1. Go to church – be around God
2. Love mercy. Micah 6:8 says to do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with your God.
3. Pray in the spirit
4. Ask God! Listen! Seek!
5. Don’t share everything God tells you. Sometimes it’s God’s secret. Ask permission.
6. Love the anointing. The presence of the Holy Spirit. “Some things are better ‘caught’ then ‘taught’”.
7. Risk! Move out of your comfort zone. Step out in faith. Keep taking progressive steps and you’ll grow. Climb out of your boat and trust the Lord.

Goll tells us we are to have intimacy with God. We must lean on Jesus. Surrender to Him. Be passionate about the cross. And like good friends hang out together. Have a relationship that is established over time. Share your heart with Him. The way we hear His voice is through a relationship with Him. And what we hear we share.

I received this book from Chosen books in exchange for an honest review. The book is not an easy read if you are really trying to “get it”. But it is worth the effort.

Jesus and Pilot

Mark 15:1-15 Very early in the morning, the chief priests, with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin, made their plans. So they bound Jesus, led him away and handed him over to Pilate.
² “Are you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate. “You have said so,” Jesus replied. ³ The chief priests accused him of many things. ⁴ So again Pilate asked him, “Aren’t you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of.” ⁵ But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.

⁶ Now it was the custom at the festival to release a prisoner whom the people requested. ⁷ A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. ⁸ The crowd came up and asked Pilate to do for them what he usually did.

⁹ “Do you want me to release to you the king of the Jews?” asked Pilate, ¹⁰ knowing it was out of self-interest that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him. ¹¹ But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have Pilate release Barabbas instead.

¹² “What shall I do, then, with the one you call the king of the Jews?” Pilate asked them. ¹³ “Crucify him!” they shouted. ¹⁴ “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!” ¹⁵ Wanting to satisfy the crowd, Pilate released Barabbas to them. He had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.

Pilot was governor over Judea and Samaria for 10 years. His job was to collect taxes for the emperor Tiberius, keep peace and oversee building projects. Keeping peace between the Jews and Rome required calm leadership. But Pilot was a prideful man. He had done several things that really riled the Jews in the past. For instance; the Jews never used images. Normally Roman soldiers had a picture of the emperor on their shield, but past governors of this area, out of respect, would have the soldiers use plain shields in Jerusalem.

Not Pilot.

At the time he was living quite aways away in Caesarea and a huge number of Jews came to him to complain. He ignored them for about 5 days and when they didn’t go away he sent in his soldiers to surround them and threaten them with death. They presented their necks to him willing to be killed. Jews are very stubborn and very principled! Of course he couldn’t be the cause of such a large massacre so he backed down. But it really hurt his pride.

Another time he did something similar and this time the Jews wrote to Tiberius who rebuked Pilot. Pilot was totally shamed. So at this time he was caught between a hard place and a rock! He didn’t want to rile the Jews again – especially during Passover when there were so many of them in Jerusalem, but then again he knew Jesus was an innocent man.

At first he tried to just get them to deal with it themselves. But they weren’t allowed to crucify anyone in a public way and that’s what they were after for Jesus. He also tried sending the problem to Herod since Jesus was from his district, but Herod sent Him back. Then he offered up the chance to release a prisoner as was his custom during Passover, hoping they’d let Jesus go. He even gave them a choice of just Jesus or Barabbas who was a notorious murderer. Surely they wouldn’t let him go!

But they did! And when he asked what he should do with Jesus the frenzied crowd shouted “Crucify him.” Over and over.

Jesus never defended Himself so He could go to the cross. For us.

Isaiah 53:7 He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

Mark 14:66-72 The Rooster Crows

Mark 14:66-72 ⁶⁶ While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. ⁶⁷ When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.

“You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus,” she said.

⁶⁸ But he denied it. “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said, and went out into the entryway.

⁶⁹ When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, “This fellow is one of them.” ⁷⁰ Again he denied it.

After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”

⁷¹ He began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.”

⁷² Immediately the rooster crowed the second time. Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: “Before the rooster crows twice you will disown me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

This passage starts out at Annas’ house. He’s the high priest. His house would have had a large courtyard and it would have been gated. We know John got through the gate because he knew someone; possibly the gatekeeper. But Peter only made it as far as the courtyard.

This is a sad story of a man who denies Jesus. But it’s also a story about how God knew it would happen. Jesus prophesized about it before hand. And later we’ll see that He restores Peter.

For three years Peter had been taking steps of faith forward and it seems just as many steps backward. When he stepped out of the boat that time when Jesus was walking on water, it was a huge step of faith. But then he took his eyes off Christ and began to sink. Another time when Jesus was telling the disciples what was going to happen in Jerusalem Peter said basically “this must never happen!” And Jesus rebuked him saying “Get behind me, Satan!” He did many impulsive things. But his denying he even knew Jesus was his lowest point.

But Jesus has a plan for losers. His grace is profound. His grace is amazing! Christ will meet us at any point of our life. Do not resist His grace. Receive it through repentance.

During Peter’s first and second denials he started to back away from the courtyard to the porch (or gate area) and the girl who was accusing him kind of went after him. The third accusation happened about an hour later at the home of Caiaphas. This is verse 70 where the people standing near Peter said, “Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean.”

A Galilean’s speech might sound a little different. They might dress a little different. And they knew Jesus was a Galilean.

This time Peter actually cursed in a panic of self preservation.

And in verse 72 the rooster crowed. The sound pierces Peter’s heart and wakes him up to what is happening. He remembers himself saying to Jesus that “no matter if everyone leaves You – I won’t!” And six hours later he had denied Jesus three times. And Jesus had told him he would!

The rooster’s crow was a warning. Our warning could be financial ruin, a lost job, some kind of trial. Something that should stop us in our tracks and get us to stop doing something we’re doing. When it happens the right thing to do is recognize what you’ve done, repent and get your eyes back on Christ.

When Peter realized what he’d done he began to weep. We see his repentance here. He knew everything Jesus had ever done for him and he saw at this moment what he had just done to Jesus.

We do things to Jesus too. We deny Him. And when we do the Holy Spirit produces sorrow in us.

Luke 22:61 says when the cock crowed Jesus turned and looked at Peter. In spite of all of the stuff that was happening to Jesus (and He wouldn’t have been able to hear Peter’s words – He wasn’t close enough) –  Jesus knew. He knows everything. And can you imagine the look Jesus gave him? It wouldn’t have been a look of “I told you so.” Or a look of anger or condemnation. It was a look of kindness and love. Of grace. The look that says I know everything about you and I love you. I’m willing to restore you.

Jesus forgives! Jesus pursues us! God doesn’t bring us to Himself through fear or warnings of judgment. God brings us to Himself by His great love!

2 Timothy 2:13 says that if we are faithless He is faithful. Our salvation isn’t based on our works or getting it all right. HE is faithful. At one point Jesus had told Peter that Satan had asked to sift Peter and Jesus wouldn’t let him. Peter was His! And Jesus will not lose one of His own!

It Is Finished - Finding Lasting Victory Over Sin

I just finished reading David Wilkerson's book 'It is Finished - Finding Lasting Victory Over Sin'.  His message is basic Christianity, but it’s a message that so many people just don't get.

We can never hear this truth too often. Salvation is not by works. It is through faith alone. Yet Christians try and try and try to be good enough.

Pastor Wilkerson points out that the new covenant was made between God and Jesus. That Jesus would save mankind from their sins. He did this by living a sinless life and dying as a sacrifice for us on the cross and then 3 days later walking out of the tomb. When we try to earn our way into Heaven it's like saying the cross wasn't good enough. But God says it was!

The author also warns Christians not to be stumbling blocks to other believers. Too many churches tell their congregations you must do this or that. Pastor Wilkerson uses what Jesus said in Matthew 18:6-7 6 “If anyone causes one of these little ones—those who believe in me—to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. 7 Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come!" to show us how serious this is! He was expressing His wrath toward those who teach the cross is not sufficient to save.

Pastor Wilkerson says once we are saved and we are obedient to God it will be God (the Holy Spirit) in us who gives us victory over sin. But we must give up all struggle to get to that point. When we do we will be free. Share this book with people you don't think "get it". They will thank you!

I received this book from the publisher to review. All they asked was that I be honest about what I thought of the book.

Ephesus

My husband, John, and I were just in Ephesus. What a treat to stand in the theater where Paul preached!

Willing to Walk on Water by Caroline Barnett

Caroline Barnett's new book Willing to Walk on Water has inspired me to think about my passions. She has convinced me that God gave me those passions to use in service to others. For those who are afraid to say "use me" to God because He might send them to Africa, this book will show you that the abundant life God has for you when you say yes to Him is when you are doing the good works He prepared for YOU. You will be filled with joy, confidant with purpose and content in His will.

She also gives many practical ways to take steps toward lives of service. You don't have to quit your job, there are many things you can do on the side.

I also loved learning about Dream Center in Los Angeles which she and her husband, Pastor Matthew Barnett, run. The amount of good they do will blow you away!

I was given this book by the publisher to review, but told to be honest - good or bad.

It's all good!

About the Author . . . Caroline Barnett has a passion for inspiring women of the church to find their God-given cause. In her role at The Dream Center, Caroline has changed people’s lives through a wide range of outreach ministries—from starting a food truck ministry that currently feeds over 50,000 people each month, to founding Project Prevention, a foster care intervention program designed to assist families facing the threat of separation due to issues of poverty. Caroline is married to Dream Center founder and New York Times bestselling author Matthew Barnett; they live with their two children in Los Angeles.

1. What is your hope for this book, Willing to Walk on Water?

My hope for this book is that those who read it will be inspired to take their place as God’s children and fix our world. My hope is that they would experience the joy and fulfillment that comes through acting as His ambassador and the thrill of having such a powerful impact.

2. Tell me about the personal experience(s) which prompted you to write such a book.

Nine years into being a part of The Dream Center—a ministry that helps to heal and restore broken lives, broken homes, and broken communities through outreach and live-in programs, and through providing other social needs—God, through different revelations, changed my perspective of what we were really capable of. Before the revelations I had assumed even with our best efforts we could only scratch the surface of the pain and suffering that we see all around the world and in our communities. As you read through what God revealed to me you will see that all He needs is your willingness and you can be a part of His miracles
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3. How did you recognize God’s call and direction for your life?

At the end of my senior year in high school, I started seeking God for answers about life, and as I read the words of Jesus I felt a strong passion that I wanted to do what He was doing and what He was asking us to do. Suddenly every other dream I had in my heart seemed empty by comparison.

4. You talk about "triggers" within your book. What exactly do you mean by a "trigger?" Can you give me an example of a pivotal trigger in your life?

As Christians filled with His love, there are a lot of injustices in our world that bring us to tears. However, that does not necessarily mean that this will lead us to action. I believe all Christians are meant to be a part of healing an injustice. Our levels of commitment will look different, but it is meant to be an element of our walk with Him in this life. Our trigger is that injustice that doesn’t just bring us to tears but will ignite a passion so deep within us that we can’t know of its existence without doing something about it.

5. When did you realize what your “trigger” is? Can you share that story?

Sometimes in order to find our trigger we have to smell the smells, feel the fear, hear the cries, and be in the middle of the elements to know how passionate we are. That’s how I found my trigger. One day I was volunteering in the reception office of The Dream Center when we received a call from a social worker who told us of a family in need of food. What I saw that day changed my life. When we arrived at the dilapidated apartment building one mile away, we were shocked to find a mother of about twenty-five years old with eight kids who were only dressed in their diapers or underwear. There was no furniture in the home other than some couch cushions on the floor that were being used as beds. As soon as we walked in, the kids jumped into our arms and started eating some of the raw zucchini we had brought. I couldn’t believe how hungry these kids were. When I saw what life was like for a hungry child, my trigger was pulled and I determined then that I could not know about this and not do something about it. That’s when I went back to The Dream Center and asked permission to start a mobile food bank, because the reality is that the people who are really in need of food have no way of getting to us for help. Throughout my whole life, I have seen commercials of children starving around the world, and while those commercials brought me to tears, they did not prompt me to act. I didn’t truly understand my passion until I was face to face with a hungry child.

6. You have changed countless lives through your work at The Dream Center. How has this work changed you?

It has changed me in every way—what I value, my priorities, my view of this world, and the view of my life. It has changed me in every good way. There is no greater feeling than ending your day knowing you were used to be the hands and feet of Jesus.

7. What encouragement would you provide to those who feel the call from God to step out of their comfort zone to answer His call?

God wants you accomplishing and doing things you never thought you were capable of doing, for His purpose and to show off His glory, but also to make your life fun, exciting, and adventurous. You’re not fully living until you have moments when God pulls you through fears and challenges and you can look back in amazement at what you have accomplished in His name. My encouragement to you is to try it once and see if the adrenaline rush and satisfaction don’t addict you to wanting to live your entire life this way.

8. What response would you give to those who think they are too busy to take on one more role in life—despite God’s call and leading?

God does not ask us to do what He has not fully intended to enable us to do. If He asks you to take on another role, it will be for your benefit as much as for those whom you will help. He will give you the strength and energy. I once heard an incredible volunteer at The Dream Center say that she could take on five tasks God was not asking her to do and feel burned out, and take on twenty-five that He was asking and have excitement and energy to spare. Answering God’s call in this one area will positively affect every other area of your life. We feel overwhelmed when we assume we will have to do the task in our own strength.

9. You and your husband are very dedicated to The Dream Center. How does this impact your family life and raising children?

In our life no two weeks look the same. We are constantly trying to stay balanced. My seasons of involvement are always adjusting to assure that our kids are our priority. Matthew travels all year long for The Dream Center, so when he is gone I am not as available. We all love the work of The Dream Center, and our kids have a great compassion for people and they are very generous. Our kids enjoy doing outreaches and giving their toys to kids out on food truck sites. I want them to grow up and view outreach as a normal part of life, no matter where their dreams lead them.

10. You say in your book that by living out your own unique, God-given purpose, you will experience a reignited passion for life and true fulfillment. Has this been the case for you? How so?

When God designed us, He had these purposes in mind, so of course He knows that people accomplish more when they feel they are at their best and their talents and gifts are being used and refined. This will be work that doesn’t feel like work. What I have experienced in serving is that God multiplies our every effort—which makes it feel like I am running on a people mover instead of a treadmill. Also, as I see God’s hand move in the miracles of provision and in the lives of people, I can’t wait to get up in the morning to see what is going to happen next.

11. What is the best advice or encouragement that you have received?

My father-in-law, Tommy Barnett, always says, “It is okay to want to quit, as long as you never quit.” You see, we all have days when our flesh gets tired or in the way of our work, and we want to quit. However, when you stay steady and faithful, God then has a foundation to build something massive and strong. This applies to every area of your life, even you! Don’t quit on yourself—in growing, learning, and accomplishing, you have no idea the powerful impact God wants to make with your life!

This is a link to Chapter One: http://files.tyndale.com/thpdata/FirstChapters/978-1-4143-7229-7.pdf

To schedule an interview with Caroline Barnett, please contact: Katie Dodillet, katiedodillet@tyndale.com, 630.784.5275

The Belt of Truth

Here's the final part of my Sunday School lesson based on Larry Richard's book The Full Armor of God:

Ephesians 5:8-6:9 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) 10 and find out what pleases the Lord. 11 Have nothing to do with the fruitless deeds of darkness, but rather expose them. 12 It is shameful even to mention what the disobedient do in secret. 13 But everything exposed by the light becomes visible—and everything that is illuminated becomes a light. 14 This is why it is said:
“Wake up, sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”

15 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord, 20 always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. 21 Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ.

22 Wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands as you do to the Lord. 23 For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which he is the Savior. 24 Now as the church submits to Christ, so also wives should submit to their husbands in everything.

25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her 26 to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, 27 and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. 28 In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. 29 After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church— 30 for we are members of his body. 31 “For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32 This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33 However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.

6 Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother”—which is the first commandment with a promise— 3 “so that it may go well with you and that you may enjoy long life on the earth.” 4 Fathers, do not exasperate your children; instead, bring them up in the training and instruction of the Lord. 5 Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. 6 Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. 7 Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, 8 because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. 9 And masters, treat your slaves in the same way. Do not threaten them, since you know that he who is both their Master and yours is in heaven, and there is no favoritism with him.

Christ once said, “When Satan lies he uses his native tongue.” And Satan has been deceiving us with lies since the Garden of Eden. His lies are designed to appeal to the sinful nature of man. The world values possessions more then persons, achievement more then relationships, believes a bigger house or a new car will make you happy. And the world is more attracted to beauty, then charity. Satan spins these lies. Satan and his demons don’t have to influence people individually. They influence culture and get a whole lot more bang for their buck! We need the belt of truth. Living by God’s word, wrapping His truth tightly around us like a belt, provides us with the support we need.

Paul uses “light” here for truth. God has given us a beacon of light: His Word. The truth! Jesus is also the light and the truth. If you remember John 1:1 He is also the Word. And we are not called simply to believe the truth; we are called to live the truth. And according to Jesus; that will set us free. Paul talks about how family members should treat each other. We are to live out the truth in our families.
Many ancient writers wrote about household management and Paul wrote about it in many of his other letters too. The secular writers though were all about the father as the absolute head of the family and what the wife, children and slaves owed him. The Biblical ones hold him accountable for loving his wife, nurturing his children and treating his slaves with respect. He’s not a dictator but rather God’s servant.  Where he says wives submit to your husband and husbands love your wives as Christ loved the church: husbands and wives are to care deeply for each other and be concerned with each others personal and spiritual growth.

Marriage is a partnership in the deepest sense of the word. If one partner believes he or she is more important then the other that’s allowing the door to open to demons by preying on the other spouse’s resentment or hurt. We’re to serve each other. And we’re to help each other put on the armor of God.
Ephesians 6:17-18 adds 2 important lessons to our goal of defending ourselves from the schemes of Satan. Take the sword of the spirit which is the word of God and pray in the spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. Paul emphasizes prayer. Our safety depends on God’s mighty power. We must rely on Him and look to Him at all times, expressing our needs and concerns.
The author ends his book by telling Christians that we are authorized to cast demons out! He says any Christian living in fellowship with Christ can command demons in Jesus’ name and they will obey Him. First you have to deal with what’s going on in your life that’s letting them in though. Fix that and then cast them out. Then keep the door closed so they won’t come in again.

“Be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power.”