Baptist Camping

A very proper lady began planning a week’s camping vacation for she and her Baptist Church group. She wrote to a campground for reservations. She wanted to make sure that the campground was fully equipped and modern, but couldn’t bring herself to write the word “toilet” in her letter. So, she decided on the old-fashioned term “Bathroom Commode”.

Once written down she still was not comfortable. Finally she decided on the abbreviation “B.C.” and wrote, “does your campground have its own “B.C.?”

When the campground owner received the letter, he couldn’t figure out what she meant by “B.C.” He showed it to several of the campers, one of whom suggested the lady was obviously referring to a Baptist Church since there was a letterhead on the paper which referred to a Baptist church.. So, he sent this reply:

Dear Madam,

The B.C. is located nine miles from the campground in a beautiful grove of trees. I admit it is quite a distance if you are in the habit of going regularly. No doubt you will be pleased to know that it will seat 350 people at one time, and it is open on Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday of each week. Some folks like to take their lunch and make a day of it.

The acoustics are very good, so everyone can hear even the quietest passages. It may interest you to know that my daughter met her husband there. We are also having a fund-raiser to purchase new seats, as the old ones have holes in them.

Unfortunately, my wife is ill and has not been able to attend regularly. It’s been a good six months since she last went. It pains her very much not to be able to go more often. As we grow older, it seems to be more of an effort especially in cold weather.

Perhaps I could accompany you the first time you go, sit with you, and introduce you to all the other folks who will be there.

I look forward to your visit. We offer a very friendly campground.

26 is the new 17

So, I realize at the time of posting this, it’s no longer my birthday per se, but I figure it’s still so until I go to sleep tonight.

Thank you to those of you who remembered it and left me comments on MySpace or Facebook. And especially thanks to those of you who contributed towards making it a wonderful day: Thirsa for spending the afternoon with me and the gift she selected, and Joel for the waffle-iron to make my grilled cheese sandwiches with (toastees, for you Dutch folk reading). The attention I got to milk and abuse from those at the Firehouse tonight for my own gain today was wonderful.

Most exciting, was the fact my silver, 4GB iPod nano came in the mail today. I purchased it online from Elektro Sky. This may seem like not much of a necessity, but someone like me is constantly reading and pumping himself full of Bible teaching, and granted I have a few gigabytes on it, I can plow through the podcasts I subscribed to in iTunes. Apple makes more complicated ones with 30 and 80GB, for like at least 300 euros, but something to play Bible mp3s and listen to the podcasts I’ve mentioned and previously reviewed suits my purpose. And having folders for music, since 4GB is a lot. Having a bit of a surplus in finances in time for my birthday creates the perfect justification for finally getting my hands on one and blessing myself.

Tomorrow people are coming out of the woodwork to pray for the FIRE for Life Summer School 2007 as it’s only a week away now, and this serves the perfect opportunity for the planning team to fellowship and “plan” any last minute details that need to work themselves out. I mentioned in the last post how many registrations there’ve been, and I’ve noticed several more in my email account. I can’t wait to see what God is going to do in and through us this year.

In summer school related news I posted Dr. Michael L. Brown’s message on standing with Israel from last year. I highly recommend giving it a listen, since it’s not something one can usually hear him preach on, but we were blessed last year. If you’re coming or planning on it, and want to have an idea of what you’re in for, then it’s worth the listen.

Otherwise, be blessed and highly favoured and I’ll talk to some of you in person soon!

Steve-a-rino.

P.S. The picture above is NOT the iPod nano that I bought. I found that picture on the website of some guys who did everything they could think of to find a way to break them since they are made of scratch-resistant, brushed aluminum casing. Despite the advertising, it’s possible. But most people won’t run them over with a car or drop them from 40 feet in the air on to concrete.

Only goobers eat peanut M & Ms…

Greetings fellow revolutionaries…

This is just going to be a simple update entry, seems how I have enough time on my hands to write a thorough study if only I had the inspiration to.

Things are slow but relaxed right now, and I’ve got several things I’m procrastinating doing for the Summer School at the moment, but nothing I’ll put off for too long.

We have, at this point in time, 42 registered people, not including the team or the worship bands. This is great news! We are already eclipsing last year’s turnout, and have never had so many registrations this early, as far as I know.

We could also use prayer for more worship people. All of our volunteers are only able to come the second week, so that means we need some teams or individuals to fill in the void for the first week. Not to worry, with prayer, this stuff will work itself out in time. In the weeks leading up to the summer schools in the past, we’ve ALWAYS had things fall into place at the last minute that in the natural, we had no clue how it would work itself out. We’ve learned when to be worried.

I also did something rather unusual but not if one obeys the Lord’s promptings: I took my Macbook to the Firehouse yesterday afternoon, and recorded myself preaching/teaching on the subject of faith for a few hours. I basically went over all sorts of blog entries I’ve written at this site on the subject and made 2 comprehensive mp3 teachings for the FIRE Nederland podcast. Expect them soon. I may save them for when things get so busy again that Dan and I don’t have time to regularly record our radio show.

It may sound narcissistic of me to have done, but let me explain why, and also encourage you to download them (when I post them of course). I listen to a lot of mp3s and teaching tapes from when I was in Bible school. I found that listening to teachings over and over again on the subjects I needed to grow in was a sure fire way to increase my understanding on them. So this will be a type of mp3 message I’d listen to.

So if you have an iPod or mp3 player and you work out a lot or you commute and are listening to things often, these are mp3s to listen to over and over again many times. Not because of my own voice or teaching on it–when in fact I could recommend and direct you to many other sources where I’ve also gleaned such stuff from.

Well, that is all for tonight. Blessings.

SATAN’S DEVICES TO DRAW THE SOUL TO SIN [12 devices and their remedies]

I By presenting the bait and hiding the hook:

For remedies, consider that
1) we ought to keep at the greatest distance from sin and from playing with the bait
2) sin is but a bitter sweet
3) sin will usher in the greatest and the saddest losses
4) sin is very deceitful and bewitching

2 By painting sin with virtue’s colors:

For remedies, consider that
1) sin is never the less vile by being so painted
2) the more sin is so painted the more dangerous it is
3) we ought to look on sin with that eye with which within a few hours we shall see it
4) sin cost the life-blood of the Lord Jesus

3 By the extenuating and lessening of sin:

For remedies, consider that
1) sin which men account small brings God’s great wrath on men
2) the giving way to a less sin makes way for the committing of a greater
3) it is sad to stand with God for a trifle
4) often there is most danger in the smallest sins
5) the saints have chosen to suffer greatly rather than commit the least sin
6) the soul can never stand under the guilt and weight of sin when God sets it home upon the soul
7) there is more evil in the least sin than in the greatest affliction

4 By showing to the soul the best men’s sins and by hiding from the soul their virtues, their sorrows, and their repentance:

For remedies, consider that
1) the Spirit of God records not only the sins of the saints, but also their repentance
2) these saints did not make a trade of sin
3) though God does not disinherit his sinning people, He punishes them severely
4) God has two main ends in recording the falls of His saints

5 By presenting God to the soul as One made up all of mercy:

For remedies, consider that
1) it is the sorest of judgments to be left to sin upon any pretence whatsoever
2) God is as just as He is merciful
3) sins against mercy will bring the greatest and sorest judgments on men
4) though God’s general mercy is over all His works, yet His special mercy is confined to those that are divinely qualified
5) the saints now glorified regarded God’s mercy as a most powerful argument against, and not for, sin

6 By persuading the soul that repentance is easy and that therefore the soul need not scruple about sinning:

For remedies, consider that
1) repentance is a difficult work above our own power
2) repentance changes and converts the whole man from sin to God
3) repentance is a continued act
4) if repentance were easy, the lack of it would not strike millions with terror and drive them to hell
5) to repent of sin is as great a mark of grace as not to sin
6) Satan now suggests that repentance is easy, but shortly he will drive his dupes to despair by presenting it as the hardest work in the world

7 By making the soul bold to venture upon the occasions of sin:

For remedies, consider that
1) certain scriptures expressly command us to avoid occasions of sin and the least appearance of evil
2) there is no conquest over sin unless the soul turns from the occasions of sin
3) saints now glorified have turned from the occasions of sin as from hell itself
4) to avoid the occasions of sin is an evidence of grace

8 By representing to the soul the outward mercies enjoyed by men walking in sin, and their freedom from outward miseries:

For remedies, consider that
1) we cannot judge of how the heart of God stands towards a man by the acts of His providence
2) nothing provokes God’s wrath so much as men’s abuse of His goodness and mercy
3) there is no greater curse or affliction in this life than not to be in misery or affliction
4) the wants of evil men are far greater than their outward blessings
5) outward things are not as they seem, nor as they are esteemed
6) God has ends and designs in giving evil men outward mercies and present rest from sorrows and sufferings that cause saints to sigh
7) God often plagues and punishes those whom others think He most spares and loves
God will call evil men to a strict account for all the outward good that they have enjoyed

9 By presenting to the soul the crosses, losses, sorrows and sufferings that daily attend those who walk in the ways of holiness:

For remedies, consider that
1) all afflictions suffered by Christians turn to their profit
2) all such afflictions only reach their worst, not their best, part
3) all such afflictions are short and momentary
4) all such afflictions proceed from God’s dearest love
5) it is our duty and glory to measure afflictions not by the smart but by the end
6) God’s design in saints’ afflictions is to try, not to ruin, their souls
7) the afflictions, wrath and misery consequent upon wickedness are far worse than those linked with holiness

10 By causing saints to compare themselves and their ways with those reputed to be worse than themselves:

For remedies, consider that
1) to be quick-sighted abroad and blind at home proves a man a hypocrite
2) it is far better to compare our internal and external actions with the Word than to compare ourselves with others worse than ourselves
3) though our sins may not appear as great as those of others, yet without repentance responding to mercy, we shall be as certainly damned as others

11 By polluting the souls and judgments of men with dangerous errors that lead to looseness and wickedness:

For remedies, consider that
1) an erroneous vain mind is as odious to God as a vicious life
2) it is needful to receive the truth affectionately and plenteously
3) error makes its owner suffer loss
4) it is needful to hate and reject all doctrines that are contrary to godliness, that lead to self-righteousness, and that make good works co-partners with Christ
5) it is needful to hold fast the truth
6) it is needful to keep humble
7) errors have been productive of great evils

12 By leading men to choose wicked company:

For remedies, consider that
1) there are express commands of God to shun such company
2) wicked company is infectious and dangerous
3) it is needful to look upon the wicked in such terms as Scripture describes them
4) the company of wicked men was once a grief and burden also to saints now glorified

- Thomas Brooks
(from the book Precious Remedies Against Satan’s Devices)

Hindu Prayer in Senate Interrupted

In the 207 years that US Congress has been in session, this past week saw the first congressional prayer to a false Hindu god. This video is getting a lot of buzz and spreading like wildfire on the internet, and knowing Ante and Kathy Pavkovich myself (not too personally, but from being a part of the FIRE Church body when I lived in Charlotte, N.C.) this strikes home a little. Keep them in prayer for being arrested for “interrupting Congress.” This kind of stuff is only what helps fuel the spiritual revolution in this generation….

Check out this video.

And here is a brief write-up by Flip Benham : http://www.christiannewswire.com/news/575363635.html

I’m sure they are going to be maligned in the media as narrow-minded bigots who only want their own religion allowed in the public square, but can you imagine the founding fathers of America who stood on Christian principles allowing such a thing?

Any thoughts?

How to increase your faith for the impossible – part 2

I thought I’d take the time to post another “how to have faith” entry, but this time just list several Scripture verses to help remove some misunderstandings about faith and how it works and what it is believers do have exactly. So this will be technical instead of deep and profound.

Why study faith?
Because the Bible is clear about what promises we are to obtain by faith, and what it produces in our lives or what lack of it will fail to produce. If God places within our hands the means whereby faith can be produced, then the responsibility of whether we have faith or not rests upon us. It is therefore necessary to know how this takes place if we are planning on going further into the promises of God that we obtain by faith.

Romans 12:3 – “For by the grace of God given to me, I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith God has assigned.”
We are each given a measure or amount of faith, by the grace of God.

Ephesians 2:8 – “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.”
The measure of faith that we each have, is a gift from God, that He gives based on His grace towards us. We don’t ‘earn’ faith, it is a gift given.

Romans 10:17 – “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the Word of Christ.”
Pretty simple and straightforward—hearing the Word of God produces faith. Therefore, it’s a good idea to make sure to read and study the Word of God, speak it and meditate on it, just like the following verse says:

2 Cor. 4:13 – “Since we have the same spirit of faith according to what has been written “I believed, and so I spoke,” we also believe, and so we also speak.”
What we believe influences what we speak. The Bible also says out of the abundance of the hear the mouth speaks. What is in your heart? What are you saying?

2 Thess. 1:3 – “We ought to always give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.”
Our faith can grow. If it can grow abundantly, then the opposite must also be possible, in that believers can fail to grow in the area of faith. If it can grow, or stay small, then that must mean believers can be at different degrees of growth when it comes to having faith, would it not?

Romans 4:19-20 – “He did not weaken in faith when he considered his own body, which was as good as dead (since he was a hundred years old), or when he considered the barrenness of Sarah’s womb. No distrust made him waver concerning the promise of God, but he grew strong in his faith as he gave glory to God.”

We can be strong in faith, or we can be weak in faith. Notice “Abraham grew strong in his faith AS he gave glory to God”. It’s reasonable to assume that your faith will grow if you decide to glorify God while you’re waiting for the promise you’re believing for to finally come to pass. Don’t keep asking God to fulfill His promise, but glorify Him and thank Him for it. 1 John 5:14-15 says “And this is the confidence we have toward Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, he hears us. And if we know that He hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of Him.” Thank God and praise Him for the answer to your prayer before the answer has been manifested. This is KEY to seeing the promise fulfilled.

Philippians 4:6-7 also brings this to light, as it says “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” If we believe God has granted us the answer to what we ask of Him we will not be anxious in waiting for its fulfillment. Anxiety over if God will fulfill His promise is symptomatic of a heart that is uncertain of whether God will in fact answer. If you are seeking something He has promised in His Word, then you can know His will on the matter, and seek the answer more confidently. If you don’t give your prayer with supplication AND thanksgiving (before the answer has come) then God won’t in turn guard your heart and give you the peace that keeps you from being anxious about it.

Another important component to developing faith is found in Hebrews 11. The whole chapter is great, but for brevity’s sake, let’s look at verse 6 “And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He is and that He rewards those who seek Him.” If you have a translation of the Bible that words it that believers are to believe that God “exists” grab a pen and scribble the word out and put “is” instead. Many modern translations mis-translate this when the original text has a connotation of God “being” [as He is]. Believers in Jesus Christ ALREADY know that He exists! What are believers to believe God “is”? Read the rest of the verse—that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him.

The believer will have a hard time standing on any promise in the Word of God if they stumble over the fact that God is provider or any other character trait made clear in His word about Himself. “God is not a man, that he should lie, nor a son of man, that he should change his mind. Does he speak and then not act? Does he promise and not fulfill? (Num 23:19) Any doubt of who God is and if He will perform what He has promised will cause the believer not to seek God, who is a rewarder of those who seek Him. It’s as simple as that.

I strongly suggest this past post on mountain-moving faith, for more on how we bring ourselves to that point, because I’m going to say some things as though the reader is already familiar with the concepts found in Mark 11:23-24. Jesus never told us just to believe. But he did tell us to speak, and believe that we will have the things we say/pray for. Again, notice the speaking and what we confess. What are we told in this passage to believe? That the things we say WILL come to pass. So what are you saying? Are you whining all the time about your problem? Or are you speaking victory and freedom? We are told to speak to the mountain what God’s Word says, but most Christians speak to God about the mountain.

Too many Christians are like Pharisees and don’t have a clue they are. I’m not talking about the legalistic obedience of man-made rules—I’m talking of the ones who won’t and don’t believe until they see. That’s not faith. “Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). If you could see it, then that wouldn’t be faith. When most Christians say they’re cautious and skeptical of something (like healing) and they won’t accept it until they see it for themselves, they’re really just broadcasting their ignorance and unbelief. Believing it when you see it is knowledge, but not faith. These believers are walking by sight, not faith. Bless their hearts.

More Scripture verses on faith:
James 2:5 – “Listen, my beloved brothers, has not God chosen those who are poor in the world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom, which He has promised to those who love Him?”
If we can be rich in faith, we can be poor in faith also, wouldn’t you agree? It doesn’t take being poor in this world’s standards to be rich in faith either, you know!

Acts 6:5a – “And what they said pleased the whole gathering, and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit”
If we can be full of faith, do you think we can be empty and lacking it? Or running on near empty?

James 2:22 – “You see that faith was active along with his works, and faith was completed by his works.”
Again, I hope my over-simplification of these verses doesn’t sound condescending or patronizing, but most Christians don’t think of these things: if your faith can be active, it can be inactive. It can lack actions to demonstrate or go along with the confession of your mouth. Faith is active and demonstrated by actions, not just a mental belief. Check this entry for more on how faith is not mental.

1 Tim 1:5 – “The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.”
If faith can be sincere, it can be insincere, no?

1 Tim 1:19 – “Holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this some have made shipwreck of their faith.”

How do people shipwreck their faith by the way?

1 John 5:4 – “For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world – our faith.”

Faith is how we overcome. If we are not overcoming, is it possible, according to this verse, that maybe–just maybe–we aren’t walking in our faith? If our faith is how we overcome, then yes!

Now I strongly suggest going over these verses for yourself, memorizing them, studying them, familiarizing yourself with them even if you think you already know them. And I don’t like formulas, but something that can help you is the following if you’re facing a mountain you need to speak to and throw into the sea—and make sure you have your bathing suit on too.

A Four Step Formula for Faith:
1- Find a promise in God’s Word for whatever you are seeking.
2- Believe God’s word as you would the word from a friend.
3- Do not consider the contradictory circumstances
4- Praise God for the answer, acting on the Word of God.

And be sure to let me know if you got that pair of socks you were believing for.

March 2008 Edit:
For more of this kind of teaching to build yourself up towards greater faith, I highly encouraged this class I did on Faith and Healing at the Fire For Life Summer School in the Netherlands, Aug ‘07.

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Darth Vader is NOT Your Father!

Greetings fellow canucks, yankees and dutchies reading….

I realize I have not really posted an update on my personal life or ministry, and there are rumors swirling around about developments in my life, and if you’re looking for me to confirm or deny anything you will have to wait until I’m allowed to. So stay tuned for a future post.

I have study-related stuff I’m working on for this blog, related to faith and confession, as per keeping on the theme I’ve embarked on in the last few months or so. But otherwise, I’ve been relatively busy and other things have been a higher priority.

The HRO prayer meetings on Mondays and the De Passie meetings on Fridays are done for the year since the school year in both places is ended, so that frees up quite a bit of my time for the month of July. I have a few hobbies and books to catch up on, maybe this blog will fit in that category, but not likely–if you stay tuned you’ll find out why…

Podcasting with Dan Slavin is fun. Very fun. Thank you to any of you reading this blog who listen and have given us/me input on how much various topics we’ve covered or messages from last year’s Summer School have impacted you. I’m already blown away to see how it’s reaching people. According to the statistics on the podbean.com site, we’ve got 57 subscribers on iTunes listening to “Fire on Your Head“. I think we’re beginning to hit our stride and develop a formula for how we do it. I’m also a lot more familiar with GarageBand on my MacBook (the program I use to mix and create the podcasts) so fine-tuning them after we record them is taking increasingly less time now.

I’ve got friends in Canada, the USA, the UK and the Netherworld who’ve recorded fake ads, fake news and introductions for us that I think really spruce it up–it helps balance out the seriousness of some of the harsh and blunt subject matter we cover in our discussions, when we have total screwball humor in there for good measure also. If you want an idea of what we’re missing, there’s the embedded player on my right hand sidebar, but I recommend using iTunes and subscribing so it downloads to your computer without streaming online, which helps make it more popular on iTunes and increase its chances of being listed in the “Podcasts of Note” section of the iTunes store. Who knows how far this thing could go? That, and it would help us avoid using up all the bandwidth Podbean.com offers before we have to upgrade our account with them.

This past week our subject was sex before marriage, porn, and masturbation, and other such things under that banner, and it probably won’t be the last time we visit it either if I know Christians in general. Of peculiar interest is that iTunes censored the word “masturbation” from the information menu detailing the subject of that particular episode. How interesting to be censored for something Christlike and honorable, but I think it’s subjective and happens to be on a list of words that are automatically blocked out if used. I try using provocative titles, but I had a hunch some of the leaders in my life would disapprove of the title “Do You Have the Balls To Quit Porn?” and decided to go with “Does God Really Kill Kittens” instead, which if you want to know if God really kills a kitten every time you masturbate, then ask your mother.

The FIRE For Life Summer School 2007 is fast approaching. We’ve had registrations as early as May, and so far I think we’re at like 15-20 people total already, which, is early. So hopefully that’s an indication of interest in attending by August 4th. I remember 2 years ago, we had a few registrations up to the week before it started, but there were still like 50-70 people in total who came.

Tonight at the cafe we prayed for Jerome Ocampo, who is speaking at The Call: Nashville today (07.07.07–at the time of writing this) and it dawned on me how international he and the speakers are that we have booked for this year’s conference. And how busy they are but are willing to take several days to come to Holland. I’d seriously pray about coming if you’re in the European area and have the money. Sample some of the messages on the Podcast by Jerome and others to get a feel for what to expect.

Anyway, I will post more later, I’m sure.

Blessings– and no, the picture I chose had nothing to do with anything on this blog entry. I just find my posts to look weird without pictures of some kind to go with them.

Prophetic or Product Driven Ministry?

There is an alarming reality that is taking place among those who are “called into the ministry” in this hour.

What I mean by this is that many of the modern day ministers of the gospel are not driven by the unction of a prophetic burden from the Lord. Instead, the driving force in their life and ministry is product promotion, which in essence is really self-promotion. Sadly, this ungodly phenomenon is not only permitted but also promoted. It is as if many of these individuals are proud of the fact that they have mastered the art of acquiring funds and support from individuals as their personal interests and kingdoms are being built on their ability to market themselves, while using Jesus as their mascot.

As I was doing college work in the process of acquiring a business degree some time ago, I had the opportunity to take various classes that dealt with many different marketing strategies. These concepts were taught in such a way as to teach us how to entice individuals into promotional themes that presented products and or services. I distinctly remember the projects I completed that were intended to instruct us how to psychologically draw people into marketing schemes. Even though much of what I learned was good and profitable when it comes to business, I know with certainty that many today cross a line when it comes to ministry and the concept of peddling the gospel (which often times is no gospel at all). This practice is blatant and practiced by many without shame. My heart is that true prophetic voices will arise in this hour and begin to deal with much of the ungodly practices of those who claim to be called of God to preach the gospel.

Some distinct differences between a prophetic minister and a product driven minister are as follows:

1) Prophetic ministers are committed to the preaching of the cross despite the cost to them personally and even financially. Product driven ministers stick their finger in the air and find out what is currently popular in the Church and adjust accordingly. In other words, if revival is popular they push revival, if prosperity is popular, they push prosperity, if the prophetic is popular, they push the prophetic, etc.

2) Prophetic ministers are not for sale (they have a continual awareness of the fact that they are purchased by the blood of Jesus). Product driven ministers can be bought (if the price is right). Despite the fact that many of them were born again of the Spirit of God and have experienced His divine touch, they are now more concerned with their own popularity and image than they are purity of heart, righteousness and the blood of Jesus that screams out for obedience to the Word of God.

3) Prophetic ministers resist the lime light of this present world and seek to push the image and glory of Jesus at all times. Product driven ministers are infatuated with their own image and identity and love to plaster it wherever and whenever they can so that people will be drawn to them and their position in the business of the Gospel Enterprise, that dethrones Jesus and enthrones themselves.

4) Prophetic ministers are consumed with the divine burden of the Lord and live out that burden. Product driven ministers are motivated by the next project at hand that consumes their energy. They are always thinking of the next promotion and how it can be presented in order to generate the most revenue while pushing self, self and more self.

5) Prophetic ministers walk in brokenness and humility (they realize their need of God’s divine assistance in their lives incessantly). Product driven ministers are consumed with arrogance and pride. They often times get to where they become hardened and demanding on others as they assertively push their own agendas, strategies and ideas. Sadly, they get to a place where their own kingdom building takes precedence over people, and if people get ran over while self and product are being pushed, then so be it. The idol of ministry (self) must stand and all cost!

6) Prophetic ministers embrace and live out the example of Jesus and set an example of complete servant leadership. Product driven ministers demand to be served and create a false world where they actually believe they are to be honored and served in such a way that those who serve them are some how supernaturally blessed just to be in their presence. Don’t get me wrong, I completely believe in serving others and consider it a joy to assist true men and women of God. However, if those men and women of God are not willing to serve others the same way, then in reality they have a spiritual disease that I call “Little Man’s Disease”. This is a condition that is often times rooted in insecurity and comes out with a mask of self-confidence, harshness and arrogance. The only cure is true repentance, which alone can lead to true brokenness. This disease has destroyed many (even those mightily used of God) and if it is not dealt with and corrected, often times it leads to a lifestyle of sin and compromise which in turn can and does lead to spiritual paralysis and or death. This can happen despite the fact that the machine of product driven ministry carries on in the eyes of the people.

7) Prophetic ministers naturally reproduce spiritual sons and daughters. Product driven ministers are too driven by self to produce anything but more of self. They might entice individuals into their arena for a season by offering them promises of assistance, mentoring, opportunity, etc. However, most of the time they leave a wake of people in their ministry path that have become wounded, disillusioned, confused and even backslid due to the example that was set before them. Sadly, the sons and daughters that are created are usually twisted into the same spiritually deformed, product driven, self-promoting individual that set the pattern before them.

I have only touched the surface on this subject and will be writing more in the future. My prayer is that God will grip our hearts in this hour and cause a genuine awakening to take place among His Church. I challenge all of you (as well as myself) to search out the origin of your actions within the House of God. Why do we do what we do? Are our motivations born from the heart of God or are they rooted in the deprivation of self?

We must get honest before the Holiness of Jesus and allow the searchlight of His glory to reveal anything within us that would hinder the eternal purposes of Jesus in our lives.

All For Jesus,

Keith Collins
Generation Impact Ministries