A Deadness in the Desert!

As I was eating breakfast at a local Whataburger recently, a gentleman I know well from a local church was there as well. He called me over to his table and began sharing with me how the church he attends is falling apart. With a sadness in his voice, he shared how so many people have left what was once a very strong, prominent church in the area.

It is sad how much of this is happening all around us. As I read and study about church growth, I am faced with the truth that across our nation the church is in a great demise. People are leaving the church in far greater numbers than the ones joining up. Churches across the nation are closing their doors due to major losses within their congregational numbers. Out of my heart, I cry: “LORD, what is happening in your church today?”

I was reminded of Ezekiel’s journey out to the valley of dry bones. I went back and turned to the story in Ezekiel 37. In a prayerful spirit, I began to read, asking the Spirit to reveal to me what is happening in the church of the LORD JESUS CHRIST today. I read these words:  “The hand of the LORD was upon me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the LORD and set me in the middle of a valley; it was full of bones. He led me back and forth among them, and I saw a great many bones on the floor of the valley, bones that were very dry. He asked me, ‘Son of man, can these bones live?'” (vv 1-3).

The Spirit of the LORD began to reveal to me how “dead” the church in America had become. Self-satisfaction, self-seeking, self, self, self had doomed the church and led to its eventual demise. Rather than being an object for disseminating the grace and mercy of CHRIST to save the uttermost, the church had turned to gaining wealth, being prosperous by worldly standards, turning inward to self-satisfaction rather than recognizing its mandate to win the lost at any cost.

Rather than being a hospital for those who were down and out, beaten up, brutalized by the wickedness of this world to run to, the church became a resort for the membership. Instead of feeding the homeless, the church turned to fellowshipping within the context of their own four walls. Rather than getting dirty for GOD by engaging the people on the streets with the good news of salvation through JESUS CHRIST, the church spent their finances upon a facility that is no longer throwing out the welcome mat to those lesser individuals. I could see JESUS walking into most churches today and being thrown out because He just doesn’t fit in to their scheme of things.

So, can these bones live? Can these churches be resurrected? By the power of the Spirit, YES! Problem is those in control will never let go and let GOD! I believe GOD is raising up from among these an army of individuals who are sick and tired of the status quo. They are sick of churches that have become centers of entertainment. They are sick of pastors preaching pansy messages that lack any substance, that lack the power, the fire and the anointing of the HOLY GHOST! Preachers standing in their pulpits more worried about what time it is—I can tell you what time it is—It is time for the CHURCH to arise in the power of the HOLY GHOST and to get back to meeting the spiritual, physical, emotional, and mental needs of a lost dying world.

GOD is calling His people out of the deadness of religion into a life filled with love, mercy, forgiveness and goodness one for another. Do you hear His call today? Are you tired of dead, dry sermons? Are you ready to Be the CHURCH? Get ready, GOD is doing a sifting and a shaking!

Source: Wrapped Up in the Church!

Wrapped Up in the Church!

I have been seriously searching for some strong direction from GOD in my life as of late. The tug of the ministry call has been heavy upon me and I am grateful for numerous opportunities to share in area churches over the past couple of months. But, in my spirit I continue to sense the Holy Spirit leading me to step out of the box, to prepare for something more than just the ordinary. Recently, I was preaching at an area church and a woman came up to me and said, “I don’t know you but the LORD told me to tell you this, ‘Take the Plunge!'” She turned and walked away. Since that time, I have been praying and meditating upon that thought, trying to decipher what the LORD has been trying to tell me.  

As I was sitting at my desk praying and meditating upon the LORD early this morning wondering why I have yet to find a church to pastor, the LORD very clearly spoke to my spirit and said: “Danny, don’t get so wrapped up in the church that you can’t be the Church!” As I’m thinking about this and still trying to make heads or tails out of the “Take the Plunge!” word, I am beginning to see that GOD has a plan that goes beyond what I can imagine. He has something far better, far more reaching; a plan that will make a significant impact upon the world He has placed me in. I only need to respond with a heart that says, “LORD, You lead and I will follow!”

It is so much easier to find a little niche in an established church than to step out in faith and follow the leadership of the Holy Spirit as He leads into unknown territory. It’s easier to take the work that someone else has started and to continue to march on with it. Please don’t get me wrong. That is how the local church continues to move forward but GOD seems to have something different in mind for me. I am not here to run down the local church in any way. I highly respect and hold in high regard all who work together to maintain the local body but sometimes GOD has something more He needs done and so He goes looking for individuals like myself that don’t necessarily find comfort in the boat.

From this, GOD instructs me to not allow myself to get so wrapped up in an established church body that He can’t better utilize me in the field “being the Church.” As I drive up and down the streets of the city where I live, I see more and more lonely, hurting people that are not being reached by the activities of the local churches. I see people who are homeless and helpless. I see kids running wild, raising themselves. I see those strung out on drugs and alcohol trying to cope with a meaningless life and my heart goes out. Young women discovering they are pregnant with nowhere to run to, no one who cares, discovering very quickly that life has taken a turn they simply aren’t prepared to encounter. My spirit cries inside my chest for all of these and more.

What am I to do? How am I to carry such a burden? How do I fund a ministry that requires so much? GOD says, leave that to me….

I believe there are so many others out there that GOD is calling forth just as He has called me. Don’t forsake what GOD wants to do through you. Trust Him and follow after Him and allow Him to lead you into the fields that are white unto harvest today….

So Caught Up in the Moon We Missed the Son!

“The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky proclaims the work of His hands.” (Psalm 19:1)

I’m amazed by the amount of stargazing being generated these days by supposed “Christian” authors and preachers. These individuals have turned the eyes of many, both Christian and non-Christian, toward the skies in search of the fourth and final blood moon of this series this evening. Don’t get me wrong, I am as excited to see the phenomena as the next guy but I recognize that too much emphasis placed on particular heavenly events turns us from seeking the Son to seeking the stars. We can easily slip into the ungodly practice of allowing the stars (astrology) to dictate our lives.

The church’s attention, and that of many unchurched, has been focused upon this phenomena due to some books that have been published recently pointing to it and a film that was released that drew the attention of many. These books and the film certainly helped popularize some individuals as well as increasing their financial worth, but how much TRUTH did their star-gazing contain? Now please don’t get me wrong or think me too pessimistic but when I see these things happening I go back to THE BOOK to see what God has to say about it all.

Following the creation of the heavenly “lights” in Genesis1:14, GOD said, “They will serve as signs for festivals and for days and years.” GOD certainly declared these as signs pointing to specific times and events within His scheme of things but over-sensationalizing such events can lead people astray. The Psalmist tells us: “He made the moon to mark the seasons; the sun knows when to set” (Psalm 104:19). Again, noting GOD’s purpose of the heavenly bodies as markers of specifics in His perfect scheme of things.

Certainly our world is changing rapidly. GOD’s Word indicated that would happen as the end grew ever nearer. But, when we sensationalize events rather than the SON as so many are doing, we draw attention away from GOD the Creator and sensationalize His creation. There is definitely a reason for al the happenings in the sky and the reason is much simpler than we want to imagine. These are all declarations of GOD’s glory that He may receive the glory. “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky proclaims the work of His hands” (Psalm 19:1).

The soothsayers pointing us to the stars, the sun and the moon will be able to point us all back to happenings because of the blood moon phenomena because so much is happening globally right now; however, the phenomena was not the reason why. It is all a part of GOD’s purpose and design of things for His eternal glory. The true CHURCH of the LORD JESUS CHRIST needs to rise up and declare the truths of GOD’s WORD. We need to lay aside the books based upon the thoughts of human authors and rely fully upon the truths proclaimed by the GOD of the universe.

It is time to get back to preaching JESUS CHRIST to a lost and dying world. It is time to lay aside the human books and get back to the BOOK. The eclipses will come and go as will the blood moons the meteor showers and all the other phenomena of the created things; but, the truth of GOD’s WORD will prevail forever. It is time to quit focusing on the moon and start focusing on the SON of the LIVING GOD!

Is Your Church a Great Commission Church?

What is deemed to be the most important command JESUS gave to His church just happens to be one of the least practiced by the church. Matthew recorded it well and many of us can quote it quite freely: “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen” (Matthew 28:19-20). Luke expanded on the command by saying: “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

It is very apparent that the divine mission of the church is winning the lost—in our towns, our states, our countries and our world. As I observe the workings of many different churches, I discover quite quickly that few offer anyone any sort of invitation call to come to Christ. How can a church be winning the lost in its area to Christ if a call to Christ is never given or a message of repentance and salvation is never proclaimed? Simply put, they can’t! So…what is going on in these churches today? How are they getting around carrying out the single most important command JESUS gave to His Church?

It doesn’t take long sitting in many of today’s churches to realize that the Spirit has departed. The desire to win the lost is gone. The desire to see lives changed is gone. The desire to evangelize locally as well as around the world no longer exists. Seems the only care is to coddle the saints in the pew with a message that doesn’t disturb their chosen lifestyle nor does it create any sense of conviction over their ungodly choice of habits. In a nutshell, these churches are no longer churches of the LORD JESUS CHRIST rather they have chosen to forego their responsibility to Him choosing personal satisfaction as more important.

Everything these churches do is designed around their own satisfaction and pleasures. Outsiders are left outside. Cradle-rockers are discouraged from speaking up or speaking out. Providing a turkey dinner to a hurting family at Thanksgiving or Christmas may be the biggest venture these churches make in sharing JESUS with anyone outside.

So, what defines a Great Commission church? What will one look like? Space only allows a short critique but you’ll get the idea quickly. The passion in the pastor’s message will burn like fire in your soul, bring the Spirit’s conviction upon the heart’s of all and a massive descent upon the altar will occur during the invitation with the unsaved crying out for JESUS. The church will have an array of ministry opportunities available for every member both in the church, throughout the community and around the world. Every member will be involved in a ministry activity that utilizes their special giftings and talents. The church will be a living organism that is like a magnet for others in the community. The church will be a place where everyone feels welcome and the needs of those hurting will be met. A positive, vibrant atmosphere will be evidenced throughout.

So, based upon this short critique, is your church a Great Commission Church? If not, are you willing to work to change it and if the status quo simply says NO, are you willing to find a church that is? The harvest is plenty and the workers are few. There is no time to be wasted sitting around hoping your church will somehow, someday catch a fresh vision.

Least Likely to be Chosen!

When I look at my own shortcomings, it is hard for me to understand why GOD would choose to use me for His purposes. I look around at others that GOD works great things through and with my eyes, I see just ordinary individuals. Yet, I can look at the ministry GOD is working through them and see that GOD surely makes no mistakes. Fact is, it is really easy to belittle ourselves and to start believing we are worthless to the cause of Christ. Certainly, in and of ourselves we are, but GOD looks deeper.

I’m reminded of the word of the LORD to the prophet Samuel as he was going forth to anoint the next King of Israel. Samuel was faced with a challenge as Jesse had a number of sons to choose from. But the LORD spoke these words to Samuel. “But the LORD said to Samuel, ‘Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart'” (1Samuel 16:7).

Today, you may see yourself as one of the least likely to be specially chosen to carry out the purposes of the LORD. But I challenge you to remember, GOD is not looking at what you look like on the outside. He is looking at your heart. He is looking for the individual whose heart is sold out to the cause of Christ no matter what circumstances arise.

Often, the least likely become the most likely!

Just Maybe We’re Doing It All Wrong?

I was recently scanning through various “Christian” articles on the internet and stumbled across one that “hit me between the eyes” with words of truth I had never given a great deal of thought to. It had to do with church and the idea that maybe we are doing this whole “church thing” wrong. Stick with me a few minutes, please.

It seems easier for most of us to tell people all about our church than it is for us to tell people about our Jesus. We are able to sit down and tell our friends and co-workers all about how great our church is, how exciting our preacher is, how much there is for the kids to do, etc., etc. But, when it comes to talking about Jesus, we flounder and falter, if we do it at all. We can carry on about the extension works of our church but can’t even bring up JESUS in the process.

I had to ask myself a big WHY to all this. And I arrived at this conclusion. It is because in talking about our church, we are talking about something that we have had a part in building. We have all worked together to design it’s facilities and its programs. We have contributed greatly to building a fine edifice that we can be proud of. Whoops! I went there…. I used that “proud” word. Pride is why we can talk all about our church but can’t carry on a conversation about our SAVIOR.

We can walk around patting ourselves on the back for a church facility worth millions of dollars, talking about how our church is the fastest growing in the area, our church reaches thousands through its outreach programs and TV appearances; but, we never bring up JESUS? When I see a multi-million dollar church being built, my heart cries out because I recognize how much good those millions would have been in the hands of people on the front-line really talking about Jesus, really working for Jesus, impacting a world that is dying and going to hell.

I have to stop for a minute and consider what GOD’s Word has to say about all this: “And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit” (Ephesians 2:17-2).

This passage doesn’t seem to mention a physical structure or man-conceived programming. It appears that JESUS is what it is all about. The church is a group of people wholly committed to the plans of JESUS. I believe it is time we get back to the basics. It is time for us to begin talking JESUS rather than all about our church. It is time for us to look at the finances we have been blessed with as a body and ask GOD how they can best be used to share JESUS with a lost and dying world.

Much of my ministry has been front-line ministry. I have worked with individuals who didn’t necessarily “fit-in” to the local church; fact is, the local church didn’t want them coming in and “messing up their fine facilities” or “bringing their dirty children in and mixing in with our kids.” Hmmm, there is a problem there—a pride problem—that hinders the church from truly reaching out and impacting lives. As a front-liner, I have also struggled to survive, usually working a full-time job while ministering during every other opportunity I could muster. All the while, churches, which should be investing in this work, are too busy dumping all their money into their little group and its activities. Where is JESUS in all this?

Church, pastors, preachers, church leaders, church members—it is time to stop pushing your agendas and start pushing JESUS! The church is not your building and all its finery—the CHURCH is the Body of CHRIST fulfilling His plan and purposes in this lost world! Think about it: we just may be doing it all wrong—but we don’t have to continue that way!

LORD, Please Send Someone Else!

How often do you find yourself feeling unprepared to carry out a task the LORD is handing you? If you are like me, it is certainly more often than I would like. Simply feeling capable of carrying out an assignment from the LORD brings up within me those feelings of inadequacy and incompetency. LORD, there must be someone around here better equipped to carry out Your awesome task. You know what I mean? You been there before? Certainly, we all have at one time or another. 

The fact is most of GOD’s servants have had similar feelings in similar situations. Think about what Moses said when GOD sent him to speak to pharoah. “Moses said to the LORD, ‘O Lord, I have never been eloquent, neither in the past nor since you have spoken to your servant. I am slow of speech and tongue.’ The LORD said to him, ‘Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the LORD? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.’ But Moses said, ‘O Lord, please send someone else to do it'” (Exodus 4:10-13).

Moses was overcome with feelings inadequacy and begged the LORD to choose someone else for the job. But GOD knew different. Certainly, He recognized Moses’ inabilities. But, GOD only needed a vessel willing to be used. He only required a humble attitude in Moses that was willing to say, “Yes, LORD, send me, use me!” When Moses did submit to the LORD, we all know the great things GOD carried out through him.

You and I are in that same spot right now. GOD is wanting to manifest His power and His goodness through us. He is wanting to reveal to this lost world how mighty and powerful He really is. And He wants to do that through you and I! He wants us humbly say to Him, “YES, LORD, here I am, send me, use me!” Through His people, He desires to do great and mighty works.

Instead of saying, LORD, please someone else, I encourage you today to step up to the plate as GOD lays out His assignment for you and say, YES, LORD, take me, use me, LORD, to impact my world by your great power.