Lately I’ve been thinking alot about what church is and is not. The other day over a celebration outing for my husband’s birthday a pastor said over ice cream “church is a business, no one really knows all the things that go into having church”. True. As an Executive Pastor, I do alot of the behind the scenes work in my church for various different projects. However, I also see that people come and people go. I see that people prefer a certain style of ministry and many decide if they will stay in the “church” based on time of services. Preferences seems pretty normal right? I mean I have preferences too. But is that church? No.

Frank Viola has had alot lashed out on him because of his take on what church is. I am currently reading Reimaging Church as well. I really am flowing with what he has to say about what church is and isn’t. A good summary can be found here. But like I tell my friend, my sancocho theology is showing again! As i’ve posted in my blog recently, I don’t like the flaky stuff that happens in alot of Pentecostal churches but I still believe wholeheartedly in the power and movement of the Holy Spirit which is why I couldn’t stay very long in really great churches I’ve seen around me. As a matter of fact, the openness to the Holy Spirit was one of my criteria for the church I would ultimately join in South Florida after my church plant experience.

 In that regard I look forward to reading the new book by Francis chan “Forgotten God-Reversing Our Tragic Neglect of the Holy Spirit”. But with all my love for the Holy Spirit, a focus or openness to it doesn’t mean that is “church”.

I am often at this place, questioning what is church? When I see some crazy things going on and I see what some people think is a “powerful service” because of those flaky things that went on, I want to run because everything in me says this is not what God intended. Yet those very same things that I think are off are things that God used to touch someone. That is why the above summary by Frank is something I’d like you to read. God uses alot of things but that doesn’t make it church, holy, or his original intent.

If there is ANYONE reading this, please share your thoughts on what YOU think church is and isn’t and what you wish services would focus more on?

J. Lee Grady is the Editor of Charisma Magazine and he wrote this post I’ll like to share with you.

“I hate to be a party pooper, but the Bible warns us to “be of sound
judgment and sober spirit” (1 Pet. 4:7). There is plenty of freedom
and joy in the Holy Spirit; we don’t have to quench it by introducing
people to pagan revelry. Christian worship is not about losing
control. Those who worship Jesus do it “in spirit and in truth” (John
4:24), and our love for God is not measured by how violently we
shake or how many times we fall on the floor.”

Visit Charisma here.  Read the rest of the article here.

Psalms 85:6 says: Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?

In reality, we all need a real revival. Christians who are going with the flow of serving God and unbelievers who need to pointed to salvation. As I mentioned in my last post, I believe in God’s move of the Spirit, I just don’t believe in man’s move calling it God’s Spirit. There is more of that going on than true revival and I’m so sick of it.

Revival comes from the word “revive” which means literally “to live again” or “to come back to life.” The lack of the presence of God in church meetings and the numerous problems in the church are seen to be evidence of the need for revival. But I often wonder – if we have never experienced revival, then how do we know what it is? And if we don’t know what it is, then how can we be so sure that we want revival?

Apply this illustration to yourself. Revival means to come back to life. But this implies something more – to say that you need to come back to life is to say that you are dead. This is a startling revelation. Revival can only come when you admit that you are dead and far away from God. Are you in need of revival today? If you see yourself as being alive and yet sense that something is still lacking in your spiritual life, then it is the natural life, or the flesh, that still has to die.

“Self is the opaque veil that hides the face of God from us. It can only be removed in spiritual experience, never by mere instruction. We may as well try to instruct leprosy out of our system. There must be a work of God in destruction before we are set free. Let us remember that when we talk of rending the veil we are speaking in a figure, and the thought of it is poetical, almost pleasant, but in actuality there is nothing pleasant about it. It is never fun to die. To rip through the dear and tender stuff of which life is made can never be anything but deeply painful. Yet this is what the cross did to Jesus and it is what the cross would do to every man to set him free” (A.W. Tozer, The Pursuit of God).

How much of your own life is merely religious activity and how much of it is truly born of God? Do you allow the Holy Spirit to conduct your life? Or do you have your own agenda? You may be excelling spiritually compared to others, but without revival this is still a status quo experience. Even if you are above average compared to others, you are still very religious. Listen I think this happens more than we care to admit. When I see myself getting into this frenzy I have to stop and remember why I do what I do. It’s not about the activity or the “call” it’s about the one who called me!

This revelation challenges everything that appears to be a move of the Holy Spirit in the Church. Although many appear to have a measure of the Presence of God in their lives, most Christians rely on the strength of their own flesh and much of their activity is devoid of the Presence of the Holy Spirit. I am preparing for a retreat with the theme “Keeping In Step with the Spirit” and my heart is so grieved by what I’ve been seeing. We need more of the Holy Spirit in our lives, we most certainly do. But instead we crave the hyper-emotionalism, we chase after “anointed” speakers who we think can take us closer to the throne of God. It’s just sad how much of the Word most believers DON’T KNOW.

The contrast between a religious experience and real revival is seen in Luke 7:36-50. In this passage Jesus is invited to have dinner with Simon the Pharisee. A woman, who perhaps had been a prostitute, comes and stands behind Jesus holding an alabaster jar of perfume. She then sits at His feet weeping and begins to wet his feet with her tears, wiping them with her hair and kissing them. She pours perfume on his feet, weeping all the time.

Simon the Pharisee is content to have Jesus, a great prophet, at his table and hear his teaching. Perhaps he may be able to pick his brains for some interesting sermon material, or gain some insight into the scriptures. He is disturbed by this woman, a repulsive sinner, who is carrying on at Jesus’ feet. To his dismay, Jesus doesn’t seem to care and goes on teaching:

“Simon, two men owed money to a certain moneylender. One owed him 500 denarii, and the other owed him 50. Neither one of them had the money to pay him back so he canceled the debts of both. Now which one of them will love him more?”

Simon replied, “I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.”

“You have judged correctly,” Jesus said.Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your home. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman has not stopped kissing my feet since the time I came in. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven – for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.”

The woman in this passage has no name. She is of no position in society; she has no reputation. Simon was a man of great reputation – a teacher among the Jews, God’s chosen people. Yet the woman was more highly esteemed in Jesus’ eyes.

Jesus turned to the woman and said, “Do you see this woman?” Jesus was able to praise the person of low esteem because she saw her desperate position in life. She humbled herself, lowering herself at Jesus’ feet and shedding many tears. Her love for Jesus consisted of a great awareness of her need and a deep thankfulness for Jesus as her Savior.

Simon the Pharisee, on the other hand, was self-righteous. He had already arrived at a high position in life and did not perceive a great spiritual need in himself. He saw himself as already having great favor with God. Simon looked to Jesus solely for intellectual stimulation. Simon was absorbed by Jesus’ teaching and neglected his great need for spiritual salvation. Jesus turned to Simon and rebuked him, “You did not wash My feet … You did not give Me a kiss… You did not put oil on My head.”

Now I ask you – be honest with yourself – which one of these people do you more closely resemble – Simon or the woman? When was the last time you truly wept before the Lord? When was the last time you truly thanked Jesus for redeeming your life from the pit? Are you like the sinful woman who bathed Jesus’ feet with her tears? – Or are you like Simon who looked to Jesus to feed his intellect? Although his head was swollen with theology, his heart was shrunken and lukewarm

The woman in this story brought an alabaster box of ointment. Back in those days perfume was very expensive – a person would have to spend a life’s savings to buy enough perfume to anoint another person. The woman came with one purpose only – to worship Jesus. She poured her life out at his feet, then as she cleansed Him with her tears and hair, the fragrance of God came back upon her.

If you desire the fragrance of God in your life then you must spend time loving Jesus and pouring your life out to Him. God is not impressed with your natural talents or your intellect. We are the ones that need to see all that. The glossy veneer of religion is more repulsive to Jesus than the sin of a harlot. Imagine that! You may have three degrees and a colossal I.Q. but if you are not intimate with Him then you are dead and you need revival. So again I say don’t we ALL need REAL revival?

So, What Is Real Revival?It is a realization of a great need for forgiveness, deep conviction of sin, followed by repentance and a fresh experience of joyful obedience. This experience begins with personal holiness and results in the transformation of society. A.W. Tozer has said, “Revival changes the moral climate of a community.”

Psalms 85:6 says: Will You not revive us again, that Your people may rejoice in You?

The greatest characteristic of revival is the great joy found in the people of God for the work he has done in their lives. A revived people speak only of loving Jesus. They have a set of doctrines but these are merely primary teachings. They have moved on to a passionate love relationship with their Savior. Their lives are a testimony of his holiness.

Of course, it is important to receive biblically balanced teaching. But if you are like most Christians in America today, you have already soaked in enough teaching to save China. The great need for the Church today is not more teaching, but realization of need and conviction.

We have become like the church at Laodicea. Jesus beckons to us, “Behold I stand at the door and knock.” Although we appear to be rich in God on the surface, in our hearts we have become miserable, wretched, poor, blind and naked. Many churches in America today are among the richest and most prosperous that have ever appeared on the face of the earth. And yet Jesus is pounding on the door! While many are excelling among their peers, few are changing the moral climate of our nation. Most spiritual experience remains within the four walls of a church building, but little emerges on the outside. We still are inwardly focused, survival oriented and unfortunately sometimes that takes precedence over revival in our hearts.

We are in the end times for sure. The Word tells us that there will be all manner of errors and deception bring people into  bondage to evil spirits instead of true faith in God through the Messiah Jesus. Sadly we are  seeing more and more error and deception taking over the professing church of Jesus Christ. 

People all I am saying is DISCERN. Pray earnestly for the Holy Spirit to show you in some form or manner if something is truly of God. Remember that our Word also tells us Matthew 7:22-23 “Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles? Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’

“Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God…”  John 4:1

“Test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid every kind of evil.” John 5:21-22

Ok I got all this off my chest. I’m good now. J

I’ve posted on this blog, updated my status on Facebook, and twittered many times how I am a Pentecostal. Thru and thru I am not ashamed that I believe in the HOLY SPIRIT, that I believe all his gifts are manifested today and not something we should look at only as a historical frame of reference. Yet sometimes I feel like other Pentecostal, evangelical, Charismatic  family members think I am unholy. Maybe even God forbid “not Spirit filled”. Why? Because I don’t believe in the abuse of power. The abuse of unknowledgeable people and feeding them a rah-rah theology where everything is roses when you serve the Lord. And better yet, I’m seen this way because I don’t think every one falling out on the floor, someone breathing on me or blowing wind in my face is so “powerful”. Truth is I think many Christians are just down right gullible. Yeap, I said it. Impressed with visibly powerful speakers and even the not so great speakers just because they have “revival talk”.

I am hard to impress. I am a big advocate for discernment. Let me see your fruit. Let me see how you treat people on an every day basis. Let me see how you try to handle your life and how you make decisions. That usually tells me a lot. But let’s say I don’t know the person, I am still not one to go all weak knee’d because someone is giving me a prophesy.

I mean if a so called “revivalist” says you should know who she/he is and that you are in for “a treat” because you are there to hear them, that’s scary. Right there I would tune out. Unfortunately, people are so hungry in our day for “true revival” and a move of God that they eat anything.

We’ve already read (if you are a reader) of the false revivalists and revivals out there. Come to find out all these lies. Yes, there are big movements attracting thousands of seekers of the supernatural but no change in the towns, cities and countries where these campaigns are held. We should not be surprised since the Word of God tells us that false prophets and ministries will arise and even the elect (those who say they are disciples of Jesus), that’s you and me if you are not sure, will be deceived.

Yes there’s a lot of talk about revival because many see our time as the final harvest of the age. I think that is right. However, there is emphasis on power, dominion, miracles, signs, healings, spiritual gifts, prophecy, etc, and the Body of Christ rising up in power and the sons of God manifesting themselves to the world. Yet, disturbingly, in relation to this kind of teaching, there is often a haughty, arrogant-like spirit that accompanies it, which honors God with the lips and not the heart. This is evidenced by the lack of real fruit in many Christians’ lives, and the preoccupation with money, and physical and financial success. There is also a severe lack of the fear of God, while these preachers rant and rave about ‘God saying this’, and ‘the Holy Spirit saying that,’ and ‘the Lord commands this. They are not feeding the sheep of God, they are often trampling on them, lording it over the flock, using manipulation and control to force feed the people with contaminated milk! And of course, they are living an entirely differerent lifestyle (like the stories I’ve posted of fallen mega church pastors). This is not the meek and humble way of Christ, who guides His Sheep with loving care, being an Example to the flock in righteousness and truth and life.

Yet I believe that there is an element of truth in the teachings and ‘prophecies’ that speak of a revival and a harvest before Christ returns, but I don’t believe it will necessarily be the kind of revival that most Christians are expecting. I don’t think it will be all the BIG revival campaigns or the “special revivalists” coming in to share the “glory” with a church and as soon as he/she leaves the “glory” departs with them. Duh. No. I believe in my heart that when we expect things to always be like that we are like the Jewish religious leaders in Jesus’ time who expected their Messiah to come like the Grand King they expected not a lowly boy born in a barn. Why does everything have to be big and flashy with God? Do I believe he wants the best for us. Yes. Do I believe he is going to give you EVERYTHING you desire. No. Why? Because God’s ultimate desire for us is for us to desire him above all things. When our focus is on the “things” then our first priority is getting those things even if we are using God (or so we think we are – uh he is smarter than that) to get them. This is where I believe a lot of the newer churches have it right. A focus on intimacy with Christ, discipleship, learning and education, understanding the Kingdom not a salivating congregation waiting for  “thus saith the Lord you shall be great and thus saith the Lord you will expand your territory”. And no I don’t believe you should be travelling after every so called man/woman of God to see what they will “prophe lie cy” to those who attend. God should be speaking TO YOU through His Word. If you only hear from God when you run after a person who tells you “come to my conference and you will receive a prophetic word” you already missed it.

Bottomline, I believe true revival based on the patterns in history on true revival are divinely disordered. They are not so planned and easily advertised. Revival  happens to a church it is not planned by the church. We just use the word “revival” instead of using “special campaign” or something of that sort. If we could plan a true revival, then we could also plan signs and wonders would we not? This is something that has been stirring in me for a while because of the lack of discernment I see, even in pastors who give out their pulpit to any Prophetress X or Evangelist y or Revivalist A.  This is why I respect my old pastor Marc Rivera so much and others like A. R. Bernard and T.D. Jakes. They are VERY CAREEFUL who they give up their pulpit. We should all be that careful.  

Almost two years to the day after Randy and Paula White announced their divorce, another Florida megachurch pastoring couple has made it official that their marriage is over. Zachery and Riva Tims, the founding pastors of New Destiny Christian Center (NDCC) in Orlando, Fla., have officially ended their 15-year marriage two years after it was discovered that Zachery Tims had an affair with an exotic dancer he met in Paris. You can read the rest of the article here.I just read this story and when I read stuff like this, I just don’t know what to do. It pains me to see disasters of this magnitude strike at the heart of Christianity here in America. One part of me really wants to let them have it, because if you think that this makes my ministry easier - you are wrong. I have had too many people come through my church or come to my CEFL events desperate to connect to God and His people, but couldn’t. They just can’t trust the church or it’s people anymore. I can’t say I blame them.

One part of me is hurt. Can I understand how this can happen? Of course I can, you can too. Pastors and spiritual leaders don’t have a temptation exemption certificate they can show Satan or his demons every time he tries to destroy them. Families, children, marriages and spouses are damaged, hurt - sometimes beyond the point of repair. 

 I just want to scream! It is obvious that from these large mega church ministries, the leadership was highly qualified, capable people who are gifted of God to do His will in this world. Thousands of people were saved, changed, healed and restored through the mercy of Christ. But now what? How many are going to be lost? How many are not going to be saved? The pastor who should be pastoring thousands is now only going to lead hundreds. Great things for the cause of Christ will never happen. I am not purposing that God is derailed beyond hope because of our mistakes. But what is the real cost of our sin? There are consequences people!!!

Listen I know what I am talking about because I’ve experienced this kind of hurt.  Those of you who know my story know my husband and I share freely about a stupid mistake he did years ago. But this is what I believe. Neither one of us were pastoring. Neither one of us had a flock of sheep we were preaching to that looked to us for guidance, direction and hope. I believe if you commit this sin while pastoring you disqualify yourself FROM EVER pastoring again. Did I say that clearly enough?

Now don’t get me wrong…before you send me an email saying how terrible I am get me here…I believe in reconciliation, restoration but I just can’t see myself sitting under a PASTOR who was getting his freak on Saturday and then preaching on Sunday. Let me explain it to you this way, like I said its not that pastors don’t get tempted. Yes crazy thoughts go through our minds too! Yes we sometimes think of things we should not do. Yes we sometimes remember days we consider to have been fun in our past where we were doing things we know we cannot do now not because of a “do/don’t” list but because we know God is truly offended by them.

HELLO we are people too, flesh and blood, red cell/white cell blood carrying folk with desires and needs just like you but the word tells us to carrying ourselves in a manner worthy of our calling. It also tells us that we will be judged higher than others. So I would rather sit myself down, resign from my post as a pastor and become a regular lay person or not go to church at all then do what some of our highly visible preachers are doing.

 A friend made a suggestion on my Facebook page that I thought was a good one. Why don’t ministers travel with their spouses. Especially if they are always out somewhere. The truth is that when you are alone that is when the enemy will come at you more than ever! My pastor just shared a testimony of a trip to Russia or Turkey (I forget which) where he actually got a phone call from a woman asking if he wanted to have sex. He said no and called his wife immediately! It doesn’t have to happen internationally either…my husband the day before he was supposed to preach at our church was approached by a woman who asked him if he wanted to “talk” across the street in her apt (he was in Walgreens at the time). His heart raced knowing that was truly the enemy in disguise. He RAN out of that place and called me to tell me about it. His preaching the next day was ON FIRE I might add.

This all goes to show that this is real and happens more often than you think and yes it happens to women too. My mom used to say that what you do in the dark will come to the light. I believe that. Thus, my friends, please pray. Pray for every pastor you know personally and every pastor you are blessed by on TV. The devil is having a hey-day with marriages period!!! Our congregations are full of marriages that are dead, people who believe in a God who can do “signs and wonders” by raising the dead or growing a limb,  don’t believe in a God who can restore a marriage! I don’t get that!I want to cry right now. My spirit is grieved at this moment. Would you pray for marriages with me today…especially those marriages of your leaders, pastors, etc. Thank you.