Identifying and Praying into Our Core Values
The Lord spoke to me about my core values more than forty years ago when I was a young pastor, and what I learned then has stuck with me. At the time, I was not thinking forty or fifty or even a hundred years into the future; I was just thinking about the week ahead and my next Sunday sermon. Yet out of the blue, this sentence occurred to me, and I knew it was from God: “Your end-time worldview will determine your lifestyle.” The Lord wasn’t delineating to me what my end-time worldview should be. He was simply pointing out that [...]
Revelation’s Ultimate Purpose: Presenting Jesus to the World
The ultimate purpose of discerning revelation is actually presenting Jesus to the world. In other words, we let God’s word become flesh in us so that others can experience Him. One of joys in my life is the people I have the honor of working with. One of them is Jeffrey Thompson, the project manager for my ministry, God Encounters Ministries. Here, he tells about a revelatory experience he had with the Lord that expresses revelation’s ultimate purpose: One day not long ago, I was given the opportunity to preach at the church where I serve part-time on the pastoral staff. After [...]
Learning to Listen with Discernment
Learning to listen with discernment means that you begin to recognize the voice of God so well that other voices sound unfamiliar. In John 10:5, Jesus told his followers, “And a stranger they simply will not follow.” This statement needs to become a reality in your life. It takes practice and requires that you learn well the listening with discernment lessons freely offered to all of us by Holy Spirit. Don't be so overly zealous, that instead of making the time to take driver’s training classes, you quickly get into the fastest car you can find and go off to the races. Some, sad to say, end [...]
The Significance of the Prayer of Jabez
Greetings in the Lovely Name of Jesus! For the month of June, the Board, Staff and Team of God Encounters Ministries have been daily praying through the Prayer of Jabez as recorded in 1 Chronicles 4:10. This is a clear, precise, and powerful prayer for more of God the Father’s blessings and power in each of our lives. In asking for the Holy Spirit’s direction for our GEM’s Targeted Prayer theme for the fourth Thursday in June, I felt directed to extend an invitation for you to join us in this insightful petition to the Most High God! Dreaming with Others My [...]
Walking in the Father’s Blessing – A Core Value from James W. Goll
One of the primary tasks of the Lord Jesus Christ is to lead us to a right relationship with His Father. In fact, Jesus is the exact representation of His Father, even though that is not how our Father has often been presented by the church world. Our Father God is approachable and accessible. I have loved Jesus from day one. But like many of you, it has taken me some time to learn that our Abba Daddy God is a good, good Father. I have grown and changed a lot over the years. The singular most outstanding change, that continues to [...]
Character to Carry the Gift – A Core Value from James W. Goll
A river without banks is just runoff water. The charismata, Holy Spirit gifts, without character are a raft heading into swampy waters. But when character is shaped in the image of Christ Jesus, then the presence, power and authority of the Holy Spirit have an effective course through which to be channeled. Four Characteristics of Authentic Prophetic People Here are four aspects of prophetic people who continuously pursue an intimate and godly walk with Christ: 1. They Are People of Genuine Faith Abraham was captivated by God with a vision and purpose. But Hebrews 11:8–10 indicates that he stepped out, “not knowing [...]
10 Essential Guardrails for Hearing God’s Voice
In the journey of hearing God’s voice today effectively and accurately, you need the practical and personal work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus clearly told his followers that those who hear His words and put them into practice are wise! “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine, and acts upon them, may be compared to a wise man, who built his house upon the rock. And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and burst against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded upon the rock.” Matthew 7:24–25 To avoid error [...]
Investing in the Generations – A Core Value from James W. Goll
God Himself always thinks and acts generationally. Therefore, each generation of Christians, and especially leaders, need to see themselves as a bridge that builds on the past, lives in the present, and plans for the future. Part of the mind-set of a bridge generation requires recognizing and taking responsibility for passing on a solid legacy of faith and godly values to the next generation. Just how important is this “generational transfer”? One of our most critical needs today in the Church is that we renew our commitment to “generational transfer,” which is passing on to the next generation not just principles, theology, [...]