A Lesson in the Shade...

But he himself went a day's journey into the wilderness, and came and sat down under a juniper tree: and he requested for himself that he might die; and said, It is enough; now, O LORD, take away my life; for I am not better than my fathers.

And as he lay and slept under a juniper tree, behold, then an angel touched him, and said unto him, Arise and eat. I Kings 19:4,5

Here, the Prophet Elijah displaying the proverbial “public success/private failure” syndrome for yet another moment in his career. Isn’t it something how no matter how many accolades, pats on the back or “good job” with thumbs up we hear it still depends on where/who they come from how much validity or weight they carry?

After defeating the prophets of Baal at “The Showdown on Mt. Carmel”, Elijah flees to the wilderness. Yes, the wilderness…the great incubator of purpose. (NOTE: So far, all of the patriarchs that I have studied in the Word of God at some point went by way of the wilderness – how ironic). As I was saying, he fled not knowing that he was being set-up for a divine visitation! He had just witnessed the miracle of God responding to his faith with fire, but little did he know that what he was really due for was a personal and private moment with El Shaddai.

Some say Elijah was pouting or whining; depressed even… somehow I think he really just felt his unworthiness and true insufficiency. You see, I have experienced some days when I sat down and queried God about how in the world He could choose me/anoint me for certain tasks. Tasks that I would have never picked me to do! Look what Father does for Elijah… He let him totally exhaust himself; I mean empty out his complaints, questions and ridiculous request. He allowed Elijah to work himself to the point where he could be ministered to. So the angel awakes him and instructs him to get up and eat. Why? God needs you totally alert and responsive to what’s next…. Go ahead have your pity party…don’t worry He won’t crash it. But when you get finished know that the bottom line is this: IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU!… Alright, the angel has Elijah’s attention… God has a question for Elijah. “Why are you here?”. The all-knowing God knew Elijah really didn’t know why he was there. Guess what the wilderness was less of your idea than you thought…it was a set-up!

More often than not we are brought to a place… a juniper tree…a wilderness to be reminded of grace. His grace that is sufficient. He brings us to a place to show us ourselves. A place where you can see yourself bold…you can see yourself strong, but never forget that your boldness is in the Lord. Never forget that your strength is in the power of His might. God knows what he has purposed you to be even when you do not. Likewise he knows what trials he has graced you for.

I said all that say, a private failure is not so bad once you realize the His strength is made perfect in weakness.

My prayer: Lord, I’ve seen what weakness looks like. Allow me the privilege of seeing perfect strength today.

“You don’t ever want to see You how the people see you…” E. L. Solomon, Sr.

Godspeed!
Samu-el

No Snatchies!

That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying Himself took our infimities, and bare our sicknesses. Matthew 8:17.

It was always the bullies who ended up with the most candy after a good night of “trick or treat”…. The big boys would lie in wait for the little kids who had been out for hours beating the streets collecting candy on Halloween. Soon as those little bags were good and full they would come out from nowhere grabbing bags and yelling “SNATCHIES!”.

I had an aha moment this morning…to the point until I had to ask myself “what are you doing?!?!?!”. Something I said that I had given over to the Lord to work out for me that I realized I REALLY had not because I was still trying to figured it out. How ridiculous is it for us to play snatchies with Jesus? He came all the way to where we are…worked/suffered to collect all this stuff and settle so many accounts for somebody like you or me to have the audacity to say: “you know what, thanks but no thanks I can handle this myself”… After all, isn’t that what we are doing we don’t believe?

I think I’ll stay here for a while…. Until next time! OH WAIT! I forgot to tell you this... If we beat the snatcher by saying NO SNATCHIES before they could grab the bag then we found "honor among thieves" HA! They would have to find another victim.

Godspeed!
Samu-el

Touch It!

Deuteronomy 28:8 The LORD shall command the blessing upon thee in thy storehouses, and in all that thou settest thine hand unto; and he shall bless thee in the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee.

When I was growing up we used to do this thing when somebody was being coerced into fighting… someone would stand between the potential fighters with both hands out (one in front of each opponent) and say: “The baddest one hit my hand”. Whosever reflexes were the best would tag first – thus the baddest one… Sometimes there was an actual fight… sometimes the hand-slapping contest went on into a deeper oblivion and a senseless seemingly unending debate of badness.

In May 2008 we at Shiloh began a daily confession of God’s Blessing Plan… Deuteronomy 28:1-14. After all these many days (over a year later) I saw this morning THE MOST SIMPLEST THING… In verse 8 (new beginnings) “…and in all that thou settest thine hand unto…” While I was stuck there I heard a question in the innermost part of my being… “Samuel, what have you put your hand on?”…WHEW!

Listen, the truth of the matter is this: God already has a reason to bless. How so? Because He is not liar and His promise IS to bless. So, it’s not that HE has no reason nor is He looking for one. The issue is what we supply/offer to Him to be blessed. Our faith directs or channels the blessings of God. It requires faith to put your hands on something…on anything.

I don’t know about you but I’ve already spent enough time slapping the hands of corporate America trying to prove my “badness”….enough time in the church trying to prove my rightful place and anointing. Enough time has been spent trying to convince family and friends of God’s call and election.

My prevailing thought has become: before I start looking around and dare ask why this or that has NOT happened or is still unsettled to ask myself: What did I set my hand to? Faith without works is dead! I dare you to give God something to add breath to…

Be Blessed!
Samu-el

"999"

In Biblical Numerics any number in triplicate form is the “height” of that number. The number 9 represents fruitfulness… 999 would then be EXCEEDING FRUITFULNESS!

As an act of faith, see today as a good day to proclaim the favor of fruitfulness in your own life. Across the nation, this month is a time of rededication, consecration and prayer for many Houses of Faith. Let’s join together in believing God for the strength to bring forth. Be a producer.

Jesus says to his disciples these words: "Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, AND ordained you, that ye should go AND bring forth fruit, AND that your fruit should remain: That whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you." John 15:16

At Shiloh, we’ve declared this to be the “Year of Manifestation”. Already we have seen evidence of effective prayer. In this ninth month we are pressing harder…pushing stronger…preparing for the possession. It’s REAPING TIME!

09/09/09 won’t happen again for another century; just like every other day God grants us…make the best of it! How? Ask something of the Father in Jesus' name by faith...see what happens!

Godspeed!
Samu-el

Can these bones live?

Again he said unto me, Prophesy upon these bones, and say unto them, O ye dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. Ezekiel 37:4

The question God asked the prophet Elijah was this: "Son of man, can these bones live?"...His response O Lord God, thou knowest.(Good answer)God's instructions to the prophet was not for him to try to resurrect the bones or to MAKE them live but rather simply to SPEAK to them. It was not until the prophet followed the explicit instructions from God to speak to the bones that God himself commanded the bones: "behold, I will cause breath to enter into you, and ye shall live.."

The same God told Moses to speak to the rock, it will give you water in the wilderness. He told Elijah to defy nature! He gives him permission to speak to the elements of heaven, they in cooperation held back the rain.

To the believer God’s word says: speak to the mountain, it shall be cast into the sea. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof...

*Back to the Valley…Not only does the Bible say that the bones were dry, but very dry. No situation is hopeless even if it is lifeless! Understand that God always speaks to the rudiments rather than the obvious. (Note: Jesus on the sea, his disciples in a tinzy..carest thou not that we perish? Shhhh...the water is rocking the boat and swish swashing up every side, but Jesus speaks to the wind. The wind? Yes. The wind was the root of the problem..). Healthy bones make a strong body!

It just doesn't make sense to put the whole body back together and leave out the bones. Isn't it ironic that God's major concern is the foundation FIRST? Uniquely, it was not for the prophet to answer whether the bones could live or not, but it was his to sit and marvel at what happens when we do what God tells us to do.

So when He asks you "can these bones live?" What do you say? Know this,He'll only ask if he wants to perform miracles for you! He only asks if doubts in your mind need to be erased! Remember, He already knows…

Godspeed!
Samu-el

Strength to Strength

Mark 3:27No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house.

Solomon, the wisest man to ever live, in retrospect of life says this: time and chance happens to us all. Time we can never avoid as long as we live, but chance is like the wind it comes and goes. Chance occurs in seasons as well as instances. Chance is sometimes the proverbial “opportunity knocking at the door”, other times it is the occasion to be made or to be broken. Strength happens to be one of the many “chances” we get in life. It is not inherent, it is acquired.

None of us really know just how strong we are until our strength has been tested, tried or given the occasion to tap into the reserve and go beyond the norm.

It is the trying of our faith that makes us strong! Be encouraged to know that resisting the temptation to faint (give up) is the only way to reap the WHOLE harvest the Father has intended for you...

Be Blessed!
Samu-el

con't

But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath: but let your yea be yea; and your nay, nay; lest ye fall into condemnation. James 5:12


Revival, I am persuaded, is not only on the way, but is in the now…right before our very eyes: a time of genuine spiritual renewal. Every decade in our country since the Azusa Street Revival has been marked by a national sweep or move of God. The early 1910’s – 30’s brought with them the inception and establishment of the Pentecostal/Holiness movement as we know it. The 1940’s were marked with signature miracles and healing crusades. Then came the 50’s and 60’s with its waves and waves of people becoming “born again”; the decade of Salvation… The 70’s generation experienced Deliverance it brought about the television evangelist and the church becoming more sophisticated, organized, fashionable and “refined”. The 80’s ushered in the WORD Church and marched out with Praise and Worship… the 90’s family and life. Here we are wrapping up the 00’s which have been most noted for the mega-church sensation and “true/pure” Worship.

*Note: Look at the names of ministries birthed during these decades. Most of the names are synonymous with what God was doing during the time ex: Pentecostal Temple, Redemption Family/Life Center, Deliverance Temple, Love Worship Center, Healing Tabernacle… etc.

Since there is nothing new under the sun and “That which hath been is now; and that which is to be hath already been…” (Ecclesiastes 3:15) looks like we’re about to start all over again. What am I saying? The first mega-church didn’t start in the good ol’ US of A; but rather at Jerusalem in the book of the Acts of the Apostles and when God was tired of them doing everything but what he commissioned the church to do He allowed persecution to come. Stephen becomes the first martyr. At his death the church is found doing what its intended purpose was, to go into the highways and hedges and compel men to come!

Though the book of Revelation foretells of the days when the church will again be persecuted… I don’t believe we are quite there yet. Why? Before God moves like that He always, always, always gives man the opportunity to redirect his attention. Even before that 50,000 plus body at Jerusalem was busted up they were given the chance to GO. Understand that God never sends anyone without equipping them first. Too many “Christians” today are not true disciples…therefore, I believe we are entering into the time of preparation…times of refreshing. To some of us who have been around for a while it’s inconceivable some times what new saints just do NOT know. It’s only because they have not been taught. I am very much looking forward to the resurgence of authentic Holy Ghost filled teachers/preachers declaring the unadulterated Word of God. Time is too short for the church to continue sleeping. Times are too critical to continue to allow compromise in exchange for popularity.

As for me and my house…restoration has already begun. We’re on our way back to the Old Landmark! It’s holiness or hell and we believe the Bible to be the only infallible written Word of God. It is our all-sufficient rule…. AMEN

Be Blessed!
Samu-el