Poor in Spirit

It may seem strange, but if you are depleted of joy, peace, happiness, passion, and the spirit of God, you are a prime candidate to benefit from all that the Kingdom of God has for you. In fact, Jesus said, "blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of God."

Poor in spirit literally identifies the mental and spiritual state of being in need due to an emptiness that exists in a person. This life is replete with situations that drain us of all that we have in our spirit. Sometimes it is a relationship. Other times it is the stress of the job or a personal flaw in ones character. Whatever the source of our depletion, it has the ability to slow us down, leave us impotent, and cause us to fall on the wayside and even loose faith.

The good news is Jesus has the answer for poor spirits. He has the ability to refill, revive, renew, deliver, encourage, restore joy and confidence in the life of a person who is at his/her lowest spiritual level. What must you do if you are poor in spirit? Reach out to Christ by simply saying, " I need You".

I guarantee that Christ is all you need. After you have extended the invitation for Him to come in and take residence, you will experience the joy of His grace and unconditional love. You will feel the reviving of your spirit to a place of peace and comfort.

The blessing is you are in a position to receive. You are blessed because Christ has been waiting for you to invite Him to get involved in your life. You are blessed because He not only wants to revive your spirit, but literally give you the Kingdom of God.

Will you accept His grace, mercy and love today? You do not have to be poor in spirit any longer. Regardless of what depleted your spirit, Christ can bring you back to a level of fulfillment in Him.

Kingdom Agenda

Matthew 28:19-20

"Go therefore into all of the world making disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son and the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe everything that I have commanded you; and lo I am with you always, even until the end of the age."

God has always been focused on His agenda since the beginning of time. In fact, the first man, Adam, was charged with taking dominion over God's creation along with his wife;however, Adam was not focused and allowed the enemy to come in and delay the call upon his life to demonstrate dominion.

No problem. God always knows what needs to be done. God sent His Son, the second Adam, to come into the world and once again demonstrate for man the Agenda of God and His Kingdom.

This agenda is found clearly in Matthew 28:19-20. The first item on the agenda is go and make disciples of all nations. God desires that all persons come to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. This commission can be completed in a number of ways. Those ways include through missionary trips, outreach in the community, evangelistic events, use of technological tools and good ole fashion one on one ministry.

The second item on the agenda is to lead the person to make a public declaration of their faith after receiving Christ. This public declaration is baptism. Declaring publicly that one is dying to sin and arising alive to Christ as demonstrated in the sacrament of baptism.

The third item on the agenda is to teach the new disciples how to be a man or woman of the Kingdom of God. How to be saved and live a life according to Kingdom standards. Notice, this requires a deliberate and spirit directed effort to help the new believers grow and develop into men and women of God. Teach them what? All that I have commanded you. Jesus directed the disciples to teach the principles of the Kingdom to every new convert to ensure the perpetuation of Kingdom principles.

It is safe to say that if we are not reaching out through evangelistic efforts, demonstrating and leading new converts in the sacraments of the church and using the gift of teaching to inform the new converts of the principles of the Kingdom, then we may not be implementing the Kingdom's agenda.

Reflect on what you are currently doing for God. Are you implementing His agenda or your own agenda?

God, Get the Glory!

• Take some time and enjoy this audio message excerpt entitled, "God, Get the Glory" focusing on John 11:1-45. 

Shift-Come into Alignment-Stretch-Go Forth!

This new year will bring many challenges. However, challenges do not have any authority over the power of God. It is imperative that you rest in the assurance that God has everything in control.

Many have made resolutions about things that do not profit them spiritually, but for you, I want you to Shift. Shift! Make the necessary adjustments in your life that will sustain your walk with me. Move away from things and people who are not focused on Kingdom business. Time is of the essence! Don't miss what I am doing in the earth during this season.

Not only must you shift. You must then Come into Alignment. This is necessary because in your shifting, you have the ability to still be off course and not totally in sync with my will. There is a specific line that I have drawn in the spirit for you to begin your journey from. It is the starting place of my will for your life. The Holy Spirit will guide you through each step that you must make to align. Don't fight the process! It could prove to be harmful and discouraging for you. Time is of the essence! Come into alignment quickly.

I know that you are struggling with this new alignment. That is why I have directed you to Stretch. Stretch beyond your own expectations and see the expectations that I have for you in the spirit through prayer, fasting and studying my word. Stretch! Reach for the impossible even when it strains your spiritual muscles. Stretch! Venture into those vocations that you thought you were not qualified to do. I have made a way for you. Stretch! I require more of you than I require of those who are around you. I will not place more upon you than you can bear.

Finally, Go Forth! No need to second guess. I have spoken. Why wait? Why contemplate? Move into the things that I have already spoken in your spirit. I have already gone before you. Go Forth! The work of the Kingdom cannot wait. Don't miss your time and your season. Go Forth!

The Higher Calling in Christ!

¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.- Philippians 3:13-14

The New Year brings with it an array of emotions for many people. There are some who continue to replay the painful and disappointing events of 2012. There are also those who had an awesome year and they have resolved to take a slack posture this year because everything seems to be going so...smooth.

Well, I like the Apostle Paul, who wrote this letter to the church of Philippi from a physical posture of discomfort, but with a powerful spiritual posture of great faith and hope. Paul offers us in this dispensation a hope as well as we enter a seemingly uncertain place in the new year.

There are four things that God would say to all of us who desire to receive directions for entering the year of 2013. Well, I believe that He has already embedded those directions within the scripture text referenced above.

Point 1: You must shift your focus. This is why the Apostle Paul encouraged the saints of Philippi to forget what is behind. The things that took place in 2012 cannot be erased. You may have the opportunity to improve some of the situations, but you cannot dwell on past failures and disappointments too long. In 2013, you must move on and begin to shift your mind to those things that are ahead. It is difficult to focus on the past and embrace the future at the same time. You must let go of one of the two.


Point 2: You must come into alignment. This simply means begin to believe what God has already ordained for your life. Accept the will of God for you as a member of the Body of Christ and as an individual believer. Look at Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. He had to shift His focus off of the horrible method of death on the cross. Instead, He came into alignment with God's will because He saw your future and my future at stake. Nevertheless, Thy will be done (Luke 22:42).

Point 3: You must stretch out. In the text, the Apostle Paul directed the saints to strain forward. Stretch out. This is significant! The posture you had in 2012, it just will not work. God wants to stretch you beyond the point that you have already determined you cannot go any further. Therefore, He is going to stretch you and stretch you. He is going to stretch your faith, commitment, trust and your ability. Stretch out! Reach for it knowing God has already planned everything ahead of you. Stretch even if it hurts. Get uncomfortable! You will not regret stretching when God gets finish using you.

Point 4: You must go forth. There is no more time to contemplate. You must move and move now in that which God has called you to do. Take the first step. Walk in your calling with the assurance that you have been anointed to do the job, to preach, to teach, to witness, to sing, to serve, to lead. Go Forth!


It is simple my brother and my sister. You have only to shift-align-stretch-go forth.  The Higher Calling in Christ is waiting for you!

The Christian Response to Crisis

We have all been alarmed by the horrific tragedy of loosing over 25 lives in Newtown,CT at a local elementary school. Our minds work overtime trying to find a reasonable explanation for such an unthinkable situation. Our hearts go out to the families of the deceased children and staff. What can we do during such a crisis?

• We must pray for the families who are experiencing very difficult pain and loss. Pray that the Lord will surround them with the right people who will help them grieve healthily.

• We must commit to educating parents and guardians within our own sphere of influence to cover their children in prayer each day.

• We must minister to children in a manner that causes them to understand the importance of having a relationship with Jesus Christ and to talk with Him daily.

• We must pray for city officials and school officials for wisdom to ensure such tragedies do not happen in other schools.

• We must be listening ears for persons who have no faith in God during these times of crisis. We must be the reflection of who Christ is with persons who have no faith in God.

• We must attend PTA (Parent & Teacher Association) meetings to ensure that we are all informed about the numerous concerns involving our school systems. This is important whether you have children or not.

• We must help our children in our churches all of the country to be little lighthouses of Christ's light everyday.

• We must respond to this crisis with love, wisdom and understanding that can only be obtained from Jesus Christ.

These are only a few steps that can be taken in the wake of tragedy that involves the lives of children. One of the final things I would ask all Christians and nonbelievers alike, please love on your children a little bit more. Spend quality time with them a little bit more. Cherish the priceless moments you have with the small packaged gifts God gives us through our children a little bit more.

Recovery In Sight!

Luke 15:17-22 (NIV)

¹⁷ “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! ¹⁸ I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. ¹⁹ I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ ²⁰ So he got up and went to his father.

“But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.

²¹ “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’

²² “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. ²³ Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate.²⁴ For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate.

The pain of a man in the middle of a devastating failure is unbelievable. He cannot in his mind recover because he has lost so much ground. The enemy darkens his mind to believe that there is not hope beyond the stumbling block that he has walked into or created himself. What should he do? He should run to the Father. However, he is too embarrassed to run even to the father for fear of rejection. What he does not know or seem to understand is, the Father loves him unconditionally regardless of the failure or mistake.

My brother, failure in any area of your life can feel tragic and almost the end, but God has an everlasting love for you even in your darkest hour. He knows you. He knows your tendencies even better than you. He also knows the spiritual deficits that are in your walk with Him. He is more concern with helping you ensure that you do not find yourself in the same position again. There is forgiveness even after a great fall.

What does the Father require of you? He requires you to confess the failure with full disclosure to Him. I know, you say, “Well, if God already knows everything, why does He want me to confess it to Him?” He knows everything and He knows that you will get more benefit communicating the mistake to Him instead of holding out on Him. Tell the Lord that you are sorry for your sin. Yes, call it what it is. Don’t sugar coat it, just call it plain sin.

That’s actually the first step to recovery. Admitting that there is a weakness or struggle that causes you to sin against the will of God. Once you have confessed, then you need to find another Christian brother whom you can trust with your struggle. Don’t allow the enemy to convince you that you are ok. You are not! However, you will be ok once you begin the road to recovery in Christ.

Once you have confided in a good strong Christian brother, allow him to hold you accountable concerning your area of weakness. This may require prayer, fasting, and certainly reading the word of God to build up your spiritual man.

Don’t allow the spirit of guilt to overshadow the grace of God extended to you. By that same token, do not take the grace of God for granted. Use it sparingly.

Listen my brother! The process to recovery can be very slow, but if you are committed to the process, the process will be committed to your recovery. Whatever you do, do not give up. Recovery is in sight. The Father is waiting for your return.