"TO HIS HOLY HIGHNESS the WORSHIPFUL BISHOP

"TO HIS HOLY HIGHNESS the WORSHIPFUL BISHOP
REV. Dr. APOSTLE GRAND POOBAH"
-extracts by J. Lee Grady.

Jesus just wasn’t into titles. We shouldn’t be either.

I am often asked if I have a title, and my answer doesn’t satisfy
some people. I travel a lot, so I don’t consider myself a pastor. All
kinds of labels have been pinned on me: Reverend, prophet,
apostle … even bishop. Once I was introduced to a church as “Dr.
Grady” and I almost crawled under my seat. I only have a college
degree. There are no letters after my name.

I tell people: “You can call me Lee. Or if you want to sound formal,
you can say, ‘Brother Grady.’”

Today it seems we’ve developed a title fetish. For a while everyone
in charismatic circles was becoming a bishop (and some were
installed into this office with rings, robes and funny-looking hats).
Then the same guys with the pointy hats started calling
themselves apostles. Then the prophets got jealous and started
calling themselves apostles too! I knew one lady who, not to be
outdone, required people to call her “Exalted Prophetess.”

Now the latest fad is requiring church folks to address certain
people as apostles. (As in, “When Apostle Holy Moly arrives,
please only address him as, ‘Apostle,’ and then make sure he is
seated in a private room while his two adjutants, wearing dark
glasses, guard his door.”) They’ve even invented an elaborate
theology to go along with this ridiculous rule. It suggests that you
can’t receive the true anointing from a man of God if you don’t
honor him with the right title.

Sounds so very ooo-ooh spiritual to the naive. But it’s garbage.

Jesus didn’t play this religious game, especially when he was
around the Grand Poobahs of His day—the long-robed scribes and
Pharisees. After accusing them of loving the best seats in the
synagogues, He pointed out that they loved to be called “Rabbi” by
men (see Matt. 23:7).

Then He warned them: “But do not be called Rabbi; for One is
your Teacher, and you are all brothers. … the greatest among you
shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled;
and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted” (v. 8-12, NASB).

People have quibbled over these words for centuries, insisting that
ecclesiastical titles are not the problem; pride is what Jesus was
rebuking. I would agree that Jesus was going to the root sin. But
He was also asking these title-crazy guys if they’d be willing to
ditch their labels and act like normal people.

When I was in China several years ago, I met some amazing
leaders who had planted thousands of congregations. They had
also spent a lot of time in jail for their faith, and they’d been beaten
with iron rods for preaching the gospel. They were the bravest
apostles I’ve ever met. But when I asked them if they used
“apostle” as a title, one guy said: “We believe in those roles in the
church. But we prefer to call each other ‘brother’ or ‘sister.’”

That settled it for me. A few years later I met Iftakhar, a Pakistani
apostle who has oversight of 900 churches. He also has two scars
on his arm from gunshots fired by Muslim extremists who have put
a price on his head. When I asked him how I should address him,
he smiled and said, “Iftakhar.”

If these two giants of the faith—and true apostles—don’t require to
be addressed with titles, then Your Worshipful Grand Master Rev.
Dr. Bishop Jones (who claims oversight of maybe four churches)
shouldn’t wear his ministry role around his neck like a tacky neon
name badge.

If people can’t see the anointing on your life through your character,
then don’t cheapen the gospel by wearing a title you don’t deserve...

Jesus is the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Son of David, the
Prince of Peace and the Apostle of our Confession. Yet when He
came into this world He laid aside His heavenly glory and took on
the lowly name of Jesus. He wore no fancy robes. He demanded
no titles. He did not come to be ministered to, but to minister. If
we want to serve Him honorably, we must forsake our need for
fame and cast our crowns at His feet.

-Please comment on this article at the following website-

http://www.johnthebaptisttv.com/

Jesse and Kara Birkey
Reflect Ministry
www.reflectministry.com
jbirkey@reflectministry.com
813-405-7952

"God does not expose our needs in theory, but in relationship with others."

Posted via email from jessebirkey's posterous

WARNING: PRAY this PRAYER at YOUR OWN RISK

WARNING: PRAY this PRAYER at YOUR OWN RISK

-J. Lee Grady.

When I said to God, “Here am I, send me,” a real adventure began.

More than 12 years ago I found myself at a church altar in Orlando,
Fla. God had been dealing with me about leaving my comfort zone.
I had a great job with nice benefits, yet I felt spiritually unfulfilled.
I knew there was an amazing adventure in front of me, but I had
placed serious limitations on my obedience.

As I buried my head in the carpet in that church, I realized God
was requiring unconditional surrender. He wanted me to wave a
white flag. I knew what I had to say, but it was difficult to form
the words. Finally I coughed them up. I said the same thing the
prophet Isaiah prayed long ago: Here I am, send me! (see Is. 6:8.)

This is what I call a dangerous prayer. It’s risky because God
immediately takes you up on it. I believe when you utter these
simple words, heaven takes a Polaroid picture of you with your
hands up—and an amazing process begins. He closes in on us
in order to crush our fears and demolish our selfishness.

When I prayed this prayer in 1998, I immediately had a vision while
I was still on the floor. I saw a sea of African faces. I knew I’d be
going to Africa, and I was scared to death. I had no idea how I
would get there, what I would say or who would pay for the trip.
So I swallowed hard and prayed again: Here I am, send me!

Less than two years later I found myself standing on a huge stage
in a sports arena in Port Harcourt, Nigeria, speaking to 7,000
pastors. I did not enjoy the bumpy flight across the Sahara, and
my knees were knocking when I preached. I felt as if I had been
pushed way out on a limb. But even though I was terrified, my fear
was mixed with incredible joy. The Lord had overcome my
resistance, and He was using me! And since that trip I have
ministered in more than 25 other countries.

Grace is so amazing. God not only gives us the power to serve
Him; He plants in us the desire to surrender to His will even if we
are scared of the consequences. This is what the apostle Paul
described when he said: “For it is God who is at work in you, both
to will and to work for His good pleasure” (Phil. 2:13, NASB).

God has an uncanny way of wooing us into obedience and
submission. Our flesh may protest; our fears may paralyze us.
But in the end, if we will simply lift our hands in surrender, grace
takes over. He gives us power, strength and a willing heart. And
the results are supernatural because it is God at work in us.

Jesus taught His disciples to cultivate this willing spirit and to pray
this dangerous prayer. He told them: “The harvest is plentiful, but
the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to
send out laborers into His harvest.” (Luke 10:2).

This is what I call a trick prayer. You pray it at your own risk.
When we ask the Lord to send workers into His fields, we are
really praying, “Here I am Lord … send Mike … or Chuck … or
Barbara.” But the Lord of the Harvest will likely tap you on the
shoulder and say, “Well? What about you?”

The church has advanced throughout history because of people
who surrendered to God. One of them was the brave David Brainerd
(1718-1747), a missionary to American Indians during the First
Great Awakening. Although he died of tuberculosis at age 29, his
legacy of total consecration lives on in his journal, which was
published by his friend Jonathan Edwards.

Brainerd recorded this very dangerous prayer in his diary: “Here am
I, send me; send me to the ends of the earth; send me to the rough,
the savage pagans of the wilderness; send me from all that is called
comfort on earth; send me even to death itself, if it be but in Thy
service, and to promote Thy kingdom.”

We rarely hear prayers like that today. Brainerd’s passion would
be considered politically incorrect fanaticism today. We don’t
promote self-sacrifice; we have a new gospel of self-fulfillment.
We don’t talk about carrying a burden for lost people; we ourselves
are lost in our comfortable materialism.

I wonder what would happen if all of us prayed Isaiah’s prayer with
full sincerity before this year is over. What if you raised your hands
and left all your fears, worries, excuses, stipulations, limitations
and conditions on heaven’s altar—and invited God to use your life
in any way He wants. I dare you to try it.

Jesse and Kara Birkey
Reflect Ministry
www.reflectministry.com
jbirkey@reflectministry.com
813-405-7952

"God does not expose our needs in theory, but in relationship with others."

Posted via email from jessebirkey's posterous

The “FULLY PREACHED” GOSPEL

The “FULLY PREACHED” GOSPEL
-by David Wilkerson.

The apostle Paul said to his generation: “I have fully preached the
gospel of Christ” (Romans 15:19). And he described the “fully
preached” gospel as one that is much more than words. It is a
gospel of words and deeds! “For I will not dare to speak of any of
those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in
word and deed” (v. 18).

Paul was saying, “The Gentiles turned to Christ not because of my
preaching alone, but because my words were accompanied by
miraculous deeds!”

“In mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so
that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully
preached the gospel” (v. 19).

If Paul had preached and taught without signs and wonders
following, his message would not have had its full impact. It would
not have been the gospel fully preached! He said to the Corinthians,
“Truly the signs of an apostle were accomplished among you with
all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds”
(2 Corinthians 12:12)

Note Paul’s words in this verse: signs, wonders, mighty deeds.
Most Christians today cringe when they hear these words! Why?
Because these words have been made an abomination by
unscrupulous, power-hungry preachers and teachers! The great
tragedy is that such perversions have caused many God-fearing
pastors, evangelists and laypeople to turn away from the truth of a
fully preached gospel.

Beloved, God is still God—and He is mighty in working miracles
and wonders! He is still our healer and He wants to show Himself
strong on behalf of those who trust in Him! Great supernatural
workings took place in the New Testament church without any
perversions—without advertising, showmanship or any person
claiming all the power and authority. The ministry of Paul is an
example:

At Troas, while Paul was preaching a long message, a young man
fell asleep while sitting on a window sill and fell three stories to the
ground. The Bible says the young man was “taken up dead”
(see Acts 20:9-12).

When Paul got to where the boy was, he quieted everyone. Then,
just as Elijah had done, he stretched himself out over the dead boy
and suddenly life came back into the young man. The boy had
been resurrected—raised from the dead! What a mighty miracle!

After this happened, Paul did not send everyone out to spread the
news that a miracle had taken place. No, that was not what
happened at all. Everyone simply went back to the third floor, took
communion, and Paul continued preaching. Scripture does not
even mention the young man again. Why? Because the church
expected supernatural works to happen! They preached a full
gospel—with signs and wonders following!

MORE than PREACHING & TEACHING

I believe the gospel should be accompanied by the power and
demonstration of the Holy Ghost—working mighty wonders, proving
the gospel is true!

Paul boldly stated, “And my speech and my preaching were not
with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of
the Spirit and of power” (1 Corinthians 2:4). The Greek here means
“with proof.” Paul was saying, “I preach the gospel with proof. God
and the Holy Spirit are backing me up with signs and wonders!”
Hebrews 2:4 says that God did confirm Paul’s message with signs
and wonders: “God also bearing witness both with signs and
wonders, with various miracles, and gifts of the Holy Spirit,
according to His own will.”

The New Testament believers had one prayer: “That signs and
wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant
Jesus” (Acts 4:30). These apostles went everywhere fully
preaching the gospel.

“Many wonders and signs were done through the apostles”
(Acts 2:43). “And through the hands of the apostles many signs
and wonders were done among the people. . . . And believers were
increasingly added to the Lord, multitudes of both men and women”
(Acts 5: 12, 14).

Here is one of the most conclusive of all verses—proving that a
fully preached gospel must include signs and wonders: “They
stayed there a long time, speaking boldly in the Lord, who was
bearing witness to the word of His grace, granting signs and
wonders to be done by their hands” (Acts 14:3). This verse says
that the apostles ministered boldly for a long time, preaching grace
and repentance, and then God granted signs and wonders to be
done by their hands.

God’s last-day church will go “out and [preach] everywhere, the
Lord working with them and confirming the word through the
accompanying signs” (Mark 16:20). That is what God envisions for us.

The miracles of this last-day church will be genuine, indisputable,
undeniable, and yet they will not be well known. Instead, they will
issue forth from the hands of ordinary, holy, separated saints who
know God and are intimate with Jesus.

These believers will emerge from the secret closet of prayer—a
small, prepared army full of faith, with no other desire than to do
the will of God and glorify Him. They will be fearless and powerful
in prayer. They will open entire nations for the gospel and God will
confirm His Word by their mighty deeds!

Jesse and Kara Birkey
Reflect Ministry
www.reflectministry.com
jbirkey@reflectministry.com
813-405-7952

"God does not expose our needs in theory, but in relationship with others."

Posted via email from jessebirkey's posterous

1000 CHURCHES and 4000 HOMELESS??

1000 CHURCHES and 4000 HOMELESS??
-by 'Beres'.

I live in Nashville where more Bibles are printed than anywhere else
in the world. We have more Christian publishing houses in Nashville
than anywhere else on the face of the earth – more churches per
square mile – and, outside the Vatican, a greater percentage of
bodies in buildings on Sunday morning than anywhere else on
earth. So we in Nashville have a better chance to get it right,
wouldn’t you say??

We have 1000 churches and 4000 homeless people living and
dying under bridges and in culverts. I know because I have prayed
with them and lain with them as they died, and every week I feed
and pastor them. We can’t even get it right enough for every church
to reach out to 4 homeless people. And yes, that includes children
as young as they get.

Nashville is the headquarters for a swag of church denominations,
and para church organizations like the Gideons, and from this
buckle on the Bible belt of the richest nation on earth, missions
go out all round the globe. Those missions are funded with .01
percent of all monies collected in North American churches.

That’s right! For every $1000 collected by North American churches,
ONE Dollar is sent to evangelize those who have never heard the
name “Jesus” - but from the latest stats, are probably well aware
of the name “Coca Cola”.

And frankly, whereas I once despaired of these manifest failures
of the church, now I say, Bring it on! Let the world see forever the
rich failures of putting religion before Jesus, ritual before relationship,
rules before lives and liturgy before love.

When the world at large finally see that the emperor has no clothes,
so also will the light of the real gospel of grace and peace shine
the brighter. For where sin abounded, grace did much more abound!

Let it get darker, our Jesus will shine brighter.

-Please comment on this topic at the website below-

http://www.johnthebaptisttv.com/

Jesse and Kara Birkey
Reflect Ministry
www.reflectministry.com
jbirkey@reflectministry.com
813-405-7952

"God does not expose our needs in theory, but in relationship with others."

Posted via email from jessebirkey's posterous