Tag Archives: Corruption

Are You Chasing the American Dream or God’s Dream?

Posted on by under Bible, Christian, Christianity, Commitment, Covenant, Disciple, Discipleship, Excellence, Faithful, Hard Work, LifeGiving, Mandate, Mature, Maturing, Message, Mission, Movement, Revolution, Righteousness, School Of The Spirit, Teamwork, Training, Transformation

I was sitting on my couch while my grandson Noah ate a tomato, a red, white and blue Popsicle, a small plastic cup of extra large Virginia peanuts in Sea Salt, and a grilled cheese sandwich. We were in between pool visits at the condo complex where Donna and I currently reside. We had to vacate for a couple hours because the pool was being shocked with chlorine because of all the rain that has fallen here the last week.

As I sat on the couch this thought flashed in my mind: “The American Dream is killing American Christianity, or Christians in America.”

“What on earth are you saying Kevin?” I am so glad you asked!

Please remember, God told Adam and Eve that if they ate the forbidden fruit they would die. Of course the devil caused them to doubt what God clearly communicated. They ate but they did not physically die. Instead, they died spiritually in the sense they cut themselves off from the sweet spiritual fellowship they had enjoyed with God in the Garden. They were literally the original walking dead. Are you dead and don’t know it?

God has a dream for every person on the planet. Years ago in the church my wife Donna and I pastored for 16 years we had a young girl that went to heaven in her spirit. What she experienced was mind blowing. She saw and spoke with Jesus and He took her to His bedroom. She reported that she was shocked and said to Jesus, “Why do you have a bedroom? The Bible says that you never sleep nor slumber.” Jesus responded to her saying, “That is true! But I wanted you to see where I dream about you.”

God has dreams about us?

God has dreams for us?

Is this true?

I believe that He does dream about us and have dreams for us. Ephesians 2:10 – “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”

Granted, this verse does not have the word dream in it but it clearly communicates God had foreknowledge [prepared beforehand [in advance]] of what our purpose in life would be.

The question is this – which dream [plan, purpose] are you chasing – the American Dream or God’s Dream?

If those two are one and the same then glory to God! If they are not then . . .

Jesus said this, “36 For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? 37 For what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” [Mark 8]

Losing one’s soul can mean more than one thing but I am convinced it means losing the very essence of who God created the person to be and what they were saved to do.

There is so much compromise and corruption in the organized Christian church that it is no wonder the world we live in is winning the war for the hearts and minds of the planet’s population. It is one thing to have so much compromise and corruption in the world’s systems and structures but to have them so prevalent in God’s system and structure is unconscionable.

According to Scripture Christians are supposed to be in the world but not of the world. Yet, instead of infiltrating and transforming the world the world continues to infiltrate and transform the church by infecting Christians with the ways of the world. In fact, James said wanting to be like the world makes a person an enemy of God [See James 4:4]. The English version of James’ wording is this: “Makes himself an enemy of God.”

Yes, God has enemies contrary to what some would have us believe!

The word ‘himself’ is not in the Greek so it reads this way: “Makes an enemy of God.” The Greek word for ‘makes’ means to appoint, ordain, set in place or position.

The person making themselves friends with the world has the creative ability to make themselves into an enemy of God. ‘Enemy’ in the Greek literally means to be in opposition to God, or to be the opposite of God, to be an adversary to God like Satan, to be hostile to divine government.

Jesus said, “Why do you call Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say?” [Luke 6:46]

Say what?

What is He saying?

What are you saying in what you are chasing?

I don’t know about you but to me that does not look or sound like a very good place to be!

James was writing to people who were God’s kids. We know this because of what he wrote in chapter 1:

“1 James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.

2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

One may think that James was writing to dispersed Jews. He was not. Here is why I say that:

  1. “Brethren” means from the womb and unless unsaved Jewish people are clearly in the text the word refers to Christians [See Romans 9:3; Hebrews 7:5].
  2. He would not have encouraged unbelieving Jews to allow the testing of their faith to produce endurance because they had not exercised faith in God or His plan of salvation in the Person of His Son the Lord Jesus Christ.
  3. He would not have written to unbelieving Jews to let endurance produce in them perfection [full grown, mature, reached their fulfilled and finished character], and complete [in all its parts, free from sin, entirely whole in spirit, soul and body].
  4. He would not have written to unbelieving Jews telling them they lacked nothing [being inferior in any way]. By the way, Jews thought they were God’s only kids and that they lacked nothing as it pertained to their relationship to God [See John 8].

The American organized church has some decisions to make as it pertains to who they want to be friends with!

Jesus said this about who His friends were, “You are My friends if you do what I command you.” [John 15:14]

In fact, He told those Jews who believed Him that to be His disciple they had to continue in His Word [John 8:31].

Jesus did not mean read the Scriptures daily. It means being continually transformed by the Word of God and the God of the Word.

By the way, the whole point of Christianity is discipleship to the Lordship of Jesus, not just a conversion [See Matthew 18:3; 28:19; Mark 10:15; Luke 18:17 – Study the words ‘children’ and ‘child’ in MT 18:3; MK 10:15: LK 18:17 – In fact do a study on the different meanings of the 4 words for ‘child’ in the New Testament].

So many American Christians are chasing the wrong dream for their life and in doing so are in danger of leaving a legacy of mediocrity, if not outright compromise and corruption to their children and their children’s children.

It is interesting to me that people of great faith and small financial portfolios are considered failures in today’s American Dream church construct, but Scripture tells us something entirely different.

James 2:5

“Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?”

The Greek word for ‘poor’ in this verse is the same Matthew used in chapter five verse three where he wrote that Jesus said this, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

It is interesting isn’t it that Jesus began teaching His disciples about kingdom life in an Old Testament Jewish culture with the recognition that without God you are spiritually bankrupt. Many of those He taught that day were financially well off.

Possibly two decades later, James, Jesus’ half brother [same mother different father] who was not present when Jesus taught the Sermon on the Mount, writes those who are the spiritually richest are some of the most materially poorest people on the planet. My how times and priorities have changed!

The inheritance a righteous man is to leave to his children’s children has been reduced to material things which are temporary. Why isn’t great faith considered precious in the sight of God’s people anymore? Why do so many of God’s people see giving their children an advantage in life is more about natural and material things instead of spiritual things such as a sold out life to Christ, and a lifestyle of unmitigated faith in Him and faithfulness to Him?

It seems Christians have allowed the world to dictate the priorities for so many of the people of “faith.”

Keep in mind faith means complete trust in and fidelity to – God – at ALL costs! What does it cost to be Jesus’ disciple? EVERYTHING! Salvation is free to the one receiving it – Jesus paid for it in full! Discipleship to the Lordship of Jesus means the person forfeits all rights to their life to Jesus – He paid for that privilege!

Please do not misunderstand what I am saying. I am not anti-prosperity for Christians or even Christian ministers and ministries. There are abuses within both sides of the prosperity and anti-prosperity Christian camps. What I am getting at in this Blog is your dream, your dream life, and your pursuit of it.

There are those who even take the easy road to Christian licensing or ordination by purchasing theirs online.

Instead of accepting the process and responsibilities kingdom culture [God’s dream] requires they take the world’s way [a short cut] of getting licensed or ordained by doing an online search and paying for it.

When we have not prepared by paying the necessary price pressure causes us to compromise [take the road of least resistance]. Compromise more times than not leads to corruption.

This may not be exclusively an American way but it is indicative of where Christianity is in the world. It is a very sad commentary of the compromise and corruption so many “believers” have settled in, and for.

Think about this for a moment. Only in a compromised condition would someone think it is okay to purchase online a license or ordination to do Christian ministry. Is a person who does that submitted in a tangible way to the person or organization who sold them the license or ordination? Is it a one time fee or a yearly fee? Where in Scripture does a person seek ordination? Doesn’t God have a say who represents Him in ministry?

To me it is the same as “gaming the system.”

It makes me wonder if those who take the easy way to licensing or ordination would hire or use a doctor, lawyer, plumber, electrician, contractor, jet pilot, or any other number of normal jobs and professions where the person purchased their license online instead of earning it through the relevant educational and training process.

It certainly speaks to the lack of honor, respect, and value people, even Christian people, have for ministries and ministers.

In a time of God ordained personal transition 20 years ago I was offered an opportunity to get ordained from an organization I had no relationship with. The people I was relating to did not ordain ministers and they recommended that I use the organization as they had a relationship with the leaders of that organization. I chose not to go that route and instead waited on God trusting the kingdom way would work out. A few years later someone senior to me in age and years of ministry contacted me about ordination and I was re-ordained by someone who valued me, my call and my current place in God. I received an immediate upgrade in several areas. One being revelation in God’s word began exploding in my spirit.

Jesus said this to His original disciples and all who would hear what He was teaching. I wonder how this sermon would be received today in most modern, especially American, organized churches.

Luke 16

“10 ‘He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much. 11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you? 12 And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.’

14 Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and were scoffing at Him.

15 And He said to them, ‘You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.

16 The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.'”

Many marvelous things are detailed in this discourse. I will start at verse sixteen and work my way back to verse ten.

Verse 16 – “The Law and the Prophets were proclaimed until John; since that time the gospel of the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is forcing his way into it.”

Keep in mind John’s voice [message] was the first the natural Jew had heard in over four hundred years [Malachi to John the Baptist]. Jesus is revealing in verse sixteen, 1] God’s kingdom arrived with John. Remember John preached, “Repent, for the kingdom of God is here” just like Jesus, 2] God’s kingdom was not static but advancing even then, 3] People were doing what was necessary to not miss out on what God was doing, and 4] John began the messaging of the kingdom of God’s ministry in the earth [gospel of Jesus Christ].

This is also what Mark wrote in chapter one of his gospel.

1″ The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

2 As it is written in Isaiah the prophet:

‘Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way; 3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, make ready the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.’

4 John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5 And all the country of Judea was going out to him, and all the people of Jerusalem; and they were being baptized by him in the Jordan River, confessing their sins. 6 John was clothed with camel’s hair and wore a leather belt around his waist, and his diet was locusts and wild honey. 7 And he was preaching, and saying, “After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals. 8 I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” [I exegete John’s lifestyle and apparel in my Book, Welcome to the Wilderness]

It is interesting to me Mark reveals the gospel of Jesus Christ includes the baptism in the Holy Spirit [Verse 8].

Selah

Verses 14, 15 – “14 Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and were scoffing at Him. 15 And He said to them, ‘You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God.'”

Man pleasers and man pleasing abounds in the modern American Dream church.

And it can be traced many times to pursuing a paycheck, position and or promotion!

One of the attributes of a Pharisee is they talk a great game but are horrible at playing it. In Texas there is a saying, “That person is all hat and no cattle.” Growing up my mom had a Chihuahua named Sheba who was ferocious when a door separated her from the person approaching it. Once the door opened she either ran for cover or rolled over to have her belly rubbed.

Are you ferocious behind the door? Have you run for cover? Have you rolled over to have someone rub your belly?

Jesus called them out on the fact that they may have fooled the people but they had not fooled the Father. How many people who claim to love God and are serving Him are serving Him for what they can get out of it not what the people they serve are getting out of it. Also, the religious system was so corrupt in Jesus day those in positions of authority had gotten there by intrigue instead of integrity. Some things never change do they?

Verses 10-13 – “10 ‘He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much. 11 Therefore if you have not been faithful in the use of unrighteous wealth, who will entrust the true riches to you? 12 And if you have not been faithful in the use of that which is another’s, who will give you that which is your own? 13 No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.'”

This is a classic text on commitment to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Faithfulness in insignificant things includes things that do not garner the attention or praise of men but gets God’s attention. Now you can see why the Pharisees were listening closely. Jesus taught His disciples in the Sermon on the Mount that if their righteousness did not exceed the scribes and Pharisees they would never enter the kingdom He said was given to the poor in spirit [Matthew 5:20,3]

The Pharisees had perverted the privilege to be the keepers of God’s Word yet were preaching and teaching from a commentary of a commentary of what God had said [written]. And they did not even abide by their own compromised teachings they were so compromised and corrupt. They were being weighed in the balance of God’s divine justice and had been found wanting. And they knew it and were growing more incensed about it.

Jesus called wealth unrighteous! How can that be? Is wealth unrighteous? What if it had been earned legally, ethically and morally? Well, if it was earned by someone who did not glorify God in earning it or who was selfishly spending on themselves instead of using it to further the advancement of God’s kingdom then absolutely it is unrighteous.

I am reminded of a parable Jesus told that illustrates this perfectly, at least to me it does.

Luke 12

16 And He told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man was very productive. 17 And he began reasoning to himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?’ 18 Then he said, ‘This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. 19 And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.”‘

20 But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?’ 21 So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

There is so much I could write about this parable such as God called this man a fool when Jesus said that was not allowed [See Matthew 5:22]. Also, those who are enriching themselves and who are not rich toward God will leave what they accumulated to “who knows.”

Taking it easy was not what God had in mind for the man who was mindless in his eternal preparation.

Remember, all the silver and gold is God’s so how we steward what He entrusts to us reveals how much He can trust us with “true riches.” True riches? What on earth, I mean in heaven, are true riches?

In the Greek the word riches is not in the text. So, what Jesus said is, “Who will entrust the [what is] true to you?”

The word ‘true’ in the Greek speaks of possessing the real nature of what is entrusted as well as the person who entrusted it to you. The juxtaposition of what is unrighteous with what is true is compelling. True riches as compared to what compromised people consider wealth was to provide a clear path to divine purpose [God’s dream] for those Jesus was addressing. True riches could also mean things that are eternal instead of temporary. Maybe true riches are mainly spiritual, not material.

Next, Jesus emphasized the importance of honor for others and their stuff. He stated a person that could not be trusted with what belonged to another person COULD NOT be trusted with their own stuff. In other words, if we will not honor the person who gave or lent us something then God is not required to honor us with our own stuff. It would be foolish of God to entrust things that are valuable with a person who has no value for what was valuable to someone else.

Maybe that is why so many “believers” work so hard to obtain more stuff! Selah

Jesus concludes by emphatically stating God would not allow a person to serve Him and mammon [material things and the spirit that makes it a priority]. “You CANNOT serve God and mammon!” I hope you heard what Jesus said. Jesus did not say, “You will not serve God and mammon.” He said, “You cannot serve God and mammon” which to me means even when people believe they are they are not because God refuses to share the glory with an unholy spirit called mammon.

What dream are you chasing – American or God’s? You cannot chase both unless God says the dream you are chasing is the one He prepared for you and is preparing you for.

Receive and steward God’s passion, power, presence, priority, process, promises, protection, provision, pruning, purging, purity, and purpose!

Dr. Kevin M. Drury, DMin
A radical spiritual revolutionary
Revolution Movement Co-Founder

For more information on my current ministry go to:
http://www.revolutionmovement.org

If you would like to contact me for ministry email me at:
kdrury@revolutionmovement.org

You say you want a revolution! Join our movement and turn your world upside down so God can turn the world He owns and loves right side up through you!

Creeping Corruption!

Posted on by under Bible, Christian, Excellence, LifeGiving, Righteousness, School Of The Spirit, Training

Corruption corrupts and one devastating characteristic of it is that it can creep in unnoticed.

I find it interesting how our President hesitates to call, or never calls Islamic jihadi terrorism terrorism, but jumps to conclusions and asserts himself as knowing what happened and why they happened in non Islamic jihadi events.

Do you remember the beer summit where he jumped to the conclusion a police officer was out of line in arresting his professor friend?

There are many patterns that have emerged in the 7 years of his leadership that are extremely troubling.

He said “I am going to fundamentally transform America” and tons of people cheered thinking his changes were going to be positive. Others cheered because they hate America and its core values and they understood he was going to create chaos which he has done.

As a former athlete I understand the importance of developing good fundamentals and the continuing focus on maintaining good fundaments.

As a minister of the gospel of the kingdom of God I understand the importance of the fundamentals of the [our] faith.

Fundamentals are the basic or core beliefs and ways to do things the correct way. That is why you see things in the New Testament such as:

Jude 1

“3 Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints. 4 For certain persons have crept in unnoticed, those who were long beforehand marked out for this condemnation, ungodly persons who turn the grace of our God into licentiousness and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.”

Jude warns true believers in Christ Jesus about contending for THE FAITH and then describes the faith as the one that was “once and for all handed down to the saints.” Jude then warns how certain persons have crept in unnoticed to undermine God’s grace and turn it into something Jesus nor His apostles ever meant it to be.

In other words Jude was saying that “the faith” and “the grace of our Lord” is susceptible to be perverted by perverted people whose mission in life is to pervert that which is given to liberate people.

Jude describes them so we can recognize them!

 10 But these men revile the things which they do not understand; and the things which they know by instinct, like unreasoning animals, by these things they are destroyed. 11 Woe to them! For they have gone the way of Cain, and for pay they  have rushed headlong into the error of Balaam, and perished in the rebellion of Korah. 12 These are the men who are hidden  reefs in your love feasts when they feast with you without fear, caring for themselves; clouds without water, carried along by winds; autumn trees without fruit, doubly dead, uprooted; 13 wild waves of the sea, casting up their own shame like foam; wandering stars, for whom the black darkness has been reserved forever.”

They ~

Are revilers of things they don’t understand – Barack Obama has reviled Christianity and true Christians from the onset of his Presidency, even to the degree of bowing before foreign heads of state. The only head of State or king a true Christian bows to is Jesus Christ the King of kings and Lord of lords.

Are like unreasoning animals destroyed by the things they instinctively know – Barack Obama is a ravenous wolf hell bent on destroying the fabric of our society for his own personal, political and religious gain. But he will not be successful ultimately because he is contending against the true King.

Go the way of Cain – Cain killed his brother when he did not get his way with God. [I have a blog on Cain]

For financial gain rush headlong into the way of Balaam – Balaam was a  false prophet for hire.

Perish in the way of Korah – Attacking God’s true person of authority never ends well in the end.

Are selfish and fearless imposters who join in the love feasts [communion meal]. These imposters are “hidden reefs” that cause the shipwreck of other people’s faith who are not spiritual enough to recognize the danger they pose.

Are clouds without water – They have the appearance of refreshing and providing for the cultivation of people’s productivity but instead they are empty and void of any real help.

Are carried about by winds – They are not anchored to real truth. They are not moved by the Spirit of God. They are moved by “winds” which are unseen forces of destruction. They are not their own person. They have given them selves over to others who rule through them.

Are autumn trees without fruit – They have tons of colorful leaves but there is nothing in them that is of real benefit. They look good and that is all they have to offer.

Are doubly dead – They live but have no real life in them. They gave up the life God gave them and in the end will die an eternal death separated from the God who gave them life and promoted them to places of prominence.

Will be uprooted – Their root [core values] will be exposed when God topples them over.

Are wild waves of the sea – They are tumultuous in their representation of the sea of people they were called to lead and influence in a positive way for God.

Cast up their own shame like foam – They will have no one to blame when they are exposed as frauds because they made the decisions to be shameful in their behavior. Like foam they have no real substance!

Are wandering stars – They are rebellious and wander from the course God designed for them. They left the call of God on their lives to answer the call to self reliance and self indulgence.

Will end up in a very dark place – ‘Black’ means totally obscured and unable to see clearly, a cloud. The reference is that they chose to allow their judgment to be clouded and so their eternal state will be confusion and derision. The word ‘darkness’ literally means the absence of light. Jesus said that He was THE light of the world. When they chose to reject Jesus they chose to live without His light. Their end is complete misery!

These folks according to Jude have been “long beforehand marked out for this condemnation.” I believe our President is one of these people. He came to us as a wolf in sheep’s clothing, claiming to be a Christian yet his beliefs and policies are anti Christian to the core.

I am NOT saying Barack Obama is the anti Christ! I am saying I believe he was marked by God long ago, just as Pharaoh of old was marked and raised up by God so that God’s power could be manifested on behalf of His covenant people.

Barack Obama came to us as a wolf in sheep’s clothing! He discarded his sheep’s clothing rather quickly and for some time the emperor has been naked, revealing his ravenous ways.

The naked truth is President Obama is not a good sheep. And he certainly is not a good shepherd of the sheep.

I believe the people of God are on the precipice of major breakthroughs as God reveals His power, dominion and authority, in and through His real sheep [covenant people].

Psalm 110

A Psalm of David

“1 The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.’ 
2 The Lord shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies! 
3 Your people shall be volunteers In the day of Your power; In the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning, You have the dew of Your youth. 
4 The Lord has sworn And will not relent, ‘You are a priest forever According to the order of Melchizedek.’ 
5 The Lord is at Your right hand; He shall execute kings in the day of His wrath. 
6 He shall judge among the nations, He shall fill the places with dead bodies, He shall execute the heads of many countries. 
7 He shall drink of the brook by the wayside; Therefore He shall lift up the head.”

Jesus, as the good shepherd has begun the execution of kings as He judges among the nations. He is filling the places with dead bodies and He will execute the heads of many countries.

This Psalm is not talking about literally killing leaders or the people they are leading. It is talking about the release of God’s power and authority in the earth through His people which will result in the elimination of ungodly rule through ungodly rulers.

Verse 1

“The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.'”

  • For all of the rapture enthusiasts – Jesus is not coming to rapture [rescue] you off this planet so you will not have to execute your assignment.
  • Jesus is remaining in heaven ’till’ something significant happens and that significant happening is the surrender of God’s enemies to God and the submission of His enemies to God.

Verse 2

“The Lord shall send the rod of Your strength out of Zion. Rule in the midst of Your enemies!”

  • Zion, according to the writer of Hebrews tells us in chapter 12, is the blood bought Church of the living God.
  • The Lord is sending His authority out of His people, the Church, which is made up of people born again through the blood of Jesus. This began on the day of Pentecost in the first century.
  • These people will rule with Him “IN THE MIDST OF HIS ENEMIES.”
  • This means Jesus and His people are ruling right now as He sits in heaven at the right hand of Father God.

Verse 3

“Your people shall be volunteers in the day of Your power; In the beauties of holiness, from the womb of the morning, You have the dew of Your youth.”

  •  God’s people will be so excited about the release of God’s power they will line up to volunteer to be a part of what He is doing in the earth. Right now you can’t depend on God’s people to even show up for a prayer service, or a worship service. BUT a day is coming when there will be so many volunteers leaders won’t know what to do with all of them.

Verse 4

“The Lord has sworn and will not relent, ‘You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.'”

  • God is committed to a new type and level of priesthood that is eternal in nature and rewards victory over God’s enemies.

Verse 5

“The Lord is at Your right hand; He shall execute kings in the day of His wrath.”

  • Jesus is currently at the right hand of the Father and He is presently executing kings in the day [not days] of His wrath.
  • The day of His wrath was in 70A.D. when He came in vengeance to destroy Judaism and Judaism’s leaders. He continues His execution of His plan of world dominance as He set it forth in the Garden of Eden and it will end with the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdom of our God and Christ.

Verse 6

“He shall judge among the nations, He shall fill the places with dead bodies, He shall execute the heads of many countries.”

  • Jesus’ judgment extends out from Jerusalem and Judaism to all of the nations [ethnic groups] and [the] countries [they live in] on the planet.
  • This judgment is judicial in nature and not militaristic. The dead bodies are not literal. They are the bodies of governments that are no longer viable in the affairs of the citizens they were leading.
  • The execution of the head of many countries speaks of the removal of the leaders who do not lead under His leadership [Lordship].

Verse 7

“He shall drink of the brook by the wayside; Therefore He shall lift up the head.”

  • Jesus shall drink by the brook [stream, torrent].
    • This word is related to the word used in the Old Testament where God told His covenant people in the OT to go in and “possess” their inheritance. This possession was the dispossession of everyone and everything that stood on and in the way of them obtaining the inheritance God promised them.
    • In the Old Testament the connotation was physical warfare and the killing or enslaving everyone that stood in the way.
    • In the New Testament our warfare is NOT against human beings, even though our enemy the devil uses human beings as tools through wish he plies his trade [craft and craftiness].
  • To drink means to drink and to give a drink.
    • It also means to irrigate which means to provide life giving nourishment to what you have planted.
    • Irrigate medicinally means to apply a continuous flow of water and or medicine to a wound or organ.
  • Jesus, the Head of the Church, His covenant people, and the Head of the brook, stream, river, torrent of anointing and power will lift up the head [authority of His kings and priests] so that He and they together will complete the mission of transformation of the earth back to God’s original design.
    • The world and worldly people are sick with sin and the only cure is the Cross of Christ Jesus, and the message of forgiveness of iniquity and sin and the healing of physical infirmities that flow out from it.
    • This message under the anointing of the Holy Spirit will bring redemption, reconciliation to God, reconstruction and the revitalization of the people and planet God so loves.

Romans 15

 18 For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient — 19 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 of Christ.

The “fully preaching” of Gods’ gospel is in the POWER of the Holy Spirit with MIGHTY signs and wonders so that the Gentiles [every person not related to God the Father through faith in His Son Jesus Christ]. The end result is obedience to God!!!!!!

By the way, the word for signs and wonders in Hebrew [the language of the Old Testament] is môphêth [pronounced mo-faith].

Come on everybody! Mo-faith produces signs and wonders and signs and wonders produce mo-faith.

Where are God’s volunteers?

Do God’s people not realize we ARE IN THE DAY OF GOD’S POWER?

“You shall receive POWER after the Holy Spirit comes upon [up and on] you.” This is speaking of the believer being immersed [baptized] in the [Person] of the Holy Spirit.

Christian, have you been immersed in the Holy Spirit since you believed in [and received] Jesus Christ as you Lord?

If not, why not?

What are you waiting on?

Volunteer yourself to receive POWER from on high!

Barack Hussein Obama, as the anti shepherd, does not believe in our core, basic values so he works to undermine and weaken them in order to create disorder so his value system can be implemented.

His value system is “divide and conquer” so that more un-godly governmental control can be exerted on the citizenry he is supposed to lead to, and in, their personal freedoms.

His value system is “America and God loving people” are the problem and we need to be put in our place. That is why he has constantly attacks Christianity and our deeply Christian roots as well as blamed America and apologized for America everywhere he goes, especially on foreign soil, and specifically in the Muslim world.

Remember the memo that went out early in his “reign” that the people “we the people” had to be wary of were “Bible thumping Christians, ex military and other people he is afraid of.

Barack Obama crept in under the pretense of “hope and change” flashing his big smile and a lot of people took the bait. Those who did not were viciously maligned as racist and ignorant.

Wake up America!

“If the foundations are destroyed what can the righteous do?” [Psalm 11:3]

The first thing they can do is repent for being duped and for allowing the foundations to be destroyed. Many Christians voted Obama into office – two times!

They can humble themselves and pray!

They can seek God’s face [pleasure] and turn from THEIR wicked [twisted] ways!

They can quit blaming others and take personal responsibility for their personal irresponsibilities.

They can view the world from a Biblical perspective and judge what political leaders say and do, and how they vote on critical issues. Then they must vote out all of the liars who make promises they never keep as well as all of those who never intended to defend the Constitution.

Christians should base their vote on the plumb line of Scripture, not their felt needs. They must vote according to Biblical principles such as individual freedom and responsibility as well as life is valuable and children are a gift from the Lord. Therefore a Christian must never vote for a politician that allows for the murder of the unborn.

They can vote for the people who are the closest to those values!

Oath of Office for President of the United States

US Constitution, Article II, Section 1

Before he enter on the execution of his office, he shall take the following oath or affirmation: “I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States.”

Somehow and somewhere in our nation’s past this oath to defend our Constitution has been reduced to “Defend the Homeland.” I know this did not start with Barack Obama. It may have started with George W. Bush after 9/11’s attacks on our “homeland”.

Look, I am all for defending our Homeland but not at the expense of our Constitution. Our Constitution continues to be cast aside so that the Government can “keep us safe”. The Government is diverting our attention away from their abuse of our liberties as they work feverishly to remove them all in the name of “security”.

Until God’s covenant people wake up, rise up to their rightful place of responsibility and begin exercising the authority they have been given our country will continue to go down the wrong path because we will be led by people who think we ARE the problem.

We are not THE problem! We are THEIR problem!

Wake up America!

Wake up Christian!

Wake up American Christian!

Rid yourself of all creeping corruption. Return to the principles of THE FAITH which Jesus authored, handed off to His hand picked successors, who then found faithful people to carry His torch on down to our generation.

Will you be one of His torch bearers? If so, let’s go!

There is a dark world that needs your light [life]!

Dr. Kevin M. Drury

One of HIS Hisstorymakers!

What Were They Thinking?

Posted on by under Bible, Christian, LifeGiving, Righteousness, Training

Ananias and Sapphira found out the hard way what it is like to walk into the glory of God with corruption in their heart.

Acts 5:1-16

“1 But a man named Ananias, with his wife Sapphira, sold a piece of property, 2 and kept back some of the price for himself, with his wife’s full knowledge, and bringing a portion of it, he laid it at the apostles’ feet. 3 But Peter said, “Ananias, why has Satan filled your heart to lie to the Holy Spirit and to keep back some of the price of the land? 4 “While it remained unsold, did it not remain your own? And after it was sold, was it not under your control? Why is it that you have conceived this deed in your heart? You have not lied to men but to God.” 5 And as he heard these words, Ananias fell down and breathed his last; and great fear came over all who heard of it. 6 The young men got up and covered him up, and after carrying him out, they buried him.

7 Now there elapsed an interval of about three hours, and his wife came in, not knowing what had happened. 8 And Peter responded to her, “Tell me whether you sold the land for such and such a price?” And she said, “Yes, that was the price.” 9 Then Peter said to her, “Why is it that you have agreed together to put the Spirit of the Lord to the test? Behold, the feet of those who have buried your husband are at the door, and they will carry you out as well.” 10 And immediately she fell at his feet and breathed her last, and the young men came in and found her dead, and they carried her out and buried her beside her husband. 11 And great fear came over the whole church, and over all who heard of these things.

12 At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon’s portico. 13 But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, the people held them in high esteem. 14 And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number, 15 to such an extent that they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and pallets, so that when Peter came by at least his shadow might fall on any one of them. 16 Also the people from the cities in the vicinity of Jerusalem were coming together, bringing people who were sick or afflicted with unclean spirits, and they were all being healed.”

All those who have been praying for a return to a 1st century church better understand what you are actually praying for because God is not returning to, or for, a 1st century church. God is developing a 21st century church, and maybe even a 22nd century church where the “glory of the latter house will be greater than the glory of the former house.”

It is God’s mercy that has kept our prayers for the glory of God to increase from being fully realized. When it comes in its fullness [the 1st century was a down payment] there very well may be more than a “couple” fall down dead in His presence.

This IS the New Testament friends!

God has never tolerated sin – NEVER!

The sons of Aaron found out what it was like to enter God’s presence incorrectly. Fire from the altar killed them. Why? They offered “strange [unauthorized, unacceptable and unwelcome] fire”.

Isaiah 4 tells us “before the glory” there is a “spirit of burning and judgment” to “purify the daughters of Jerusalem [the Church].”

I don’t know about you but I want to continually step into the spirit of burning and judgment so I will be purified in order to handle the glory.

The Bible says, “For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” [1 Peter 4:17]

Many see this as God punishing people. I see this as God redeeming people. God will judge His people so His people will be able to represent Him [Holy] to the world.

“What will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” They will repent or die! At least they will get the opportunity to repent. Ananias and Sapphira did not get that opportunity. They should have lived repentant lives.

God did not kill Ananias nor Sapphira. Their sin killed them. “The wages of sin IS death.”

What “hidden sin” do you carry in your heart that you carry into your church services?

What guarantee do you have that God will not withdraw His hand of restraint and unload His glory in your church service Wednesday night, or Sunday morning, or some other time when you walk into your “sanctuary”?

Instead of offering some strange fire why don’t you locate His fire and step into it until it purifies you to the point that when He pours His glory out you can not only stand it, or stand up under it, but you can transfer it to other people.

Re-read the story of Ananias and Sapphira again. You will find some interesting information.

1. There was no memorial or funeral service
2. There was no eulogy
3. There was a removal of the dead bodies and a burial – period
4. There was a holy respect for the Christian community
5. There were no “seekers” “checking” “church” out
6. There were real Christians added to the church
7. Then there was an increase in God’s power being released through the apostles
8. Peter, the one who delivered the judgment of God to Ananias and Sapphira, especially operated in increased power. The glory was so strong on him that as far as his shadow extended people were healed and delivered
9. Surrounding cities and their citizens were impacted as well by those who demonstrated a healthy respect [honor, awe] of the Holy God that allowed 2 church member’s membership to expire.

Friends, God is not just interested in you, your church, or your city.

God is interested in you impacting cities around you!

The church my wife Donna and I pastor in beautiful Brunswick and the glorious Golden Isles of Georgia, USA [Bethel Church] have always had people from a minimum of 6 counties, and at times as many as 9 counties, attend our services.

Currently there are people attending who drive between 1 – 1 1/2 hours one way to be in the Presence of God. Some are members,  and even leaders, and some are here because they see us a “city” of refuge.

Wise men [people] still travel to find and get it on what God is doing in the earth! There will also always be people who are not interested or aware of what God is doing in their city or region. And then there will always be those who will criticize or attempt to kill what God is doing.

What are you doing with what God is doing?

What Were They Thinking?

Wouldn’t you like to ask Ananias & Sapphira, “What were you thinking?” We don’t really know what they were thinking because the text in Acts 5 does not tell us.

Peter asked them both some questions but Luke, who wrote Acts, does not say what they said, if they said anything at all in defense of their defenseless deception.

V5 says this about Ananias, “As he heard these words [questions] He fell down and breathed his last.”

I believe before Ananias fell down dead, he fell down. He chose deception and in that choice he chose death.

Verse 8 says, “Peter responded to her” which indicates Sapphira may have asked him, “”Where is Ananias?”

Sapphira did answer the first question Peter asked her. Then she fell down dead as well. Luke uses the word “immediately” to describe how swift she lost her life.

This word ‘immediately’ is the same word used in the Gospels to describe how quickly the disciples Jesus chose, chose to follow him and dropped everything to follow Him.

There is a false perception [which is a deception] that under grace Christians can get away with sin. Grace is not a get out of jail free card folks. Read carefully 1 John 2:1-6 and notice John writes to “little children”.

“1 My little children, these things I write to you, so that you may not sin. And if anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 And He Himself is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the whole world.

3 Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. 4 He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. 5 But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him. 6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.”

“Little children” is “paidion” and is the 3rd level of maturity in the first level of 4 levels of maturity. Little children can understand they do not have permission to [may not] sin.

John goes on to say, “If” not “when” we sin. Sin should not be an issue if we are growing up in Christ Jesus.  I can hear those saying, “Kevin, you are crazy. No one will ever live a sinless life.”

Jesus did!

Jesus was tempted in every way that you and I are but He did not send. This means He chose right over wrong! It means He chose eternity over the temporary! It means He chose to be faithful to who He was and what He came to accomplish over what others wanted Him to be and to do!

So did Joseph and Mary! At least they were sexually sinless.

There are so called “believers” today that think it is archaic to remain sexually pure. It is only impossible to those who believe it is impossible, or to those who really do not care to remain pure because they believe “God will understand.”

Anything we see as impossible, is!  If we believe we can’t, we won’t!  If we believe it will not work, it won’t!  Deal with it!  “According to your faith will it be done.”

Your faith is not showing!

Those who know [have an intimate relationship with] the Father through Jesus the Christ, will keep His commandments. If you read chapter 2 you see the commandments have to do with love, not LAW.

Love supersedes LAW because it is based on the person’s heart that we love, not their rules! In fact, Paul says in Galatians 5 that those who live according to the Spirit are above the LAW.

If we do not keep His commandments we are liars and the truth is not IN us.

“We ought to walk as Jesus the Christ walked”. Jesus is our role model for all life and ministry.

Grace is God’s ability that lifts us up, not lets us down.

Grace is God’s enablement that causes our commitment to live godly in this perverse generation to grow more concrete.

Titus 2:11-14

“11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.”

Grace has appeared to ~

1. Bring salvation to all men – does not mean all men are saved or will be saved
2. Instruct us to DENY ungodliness [this means to say “no” to it not deny that it exists]
3. Instruct us to deny worldly desires [carnality, immaturity]
4. Instruct us to live sensibly, righteously and godly [be like God [Jesus]]

~~~ The result of us being taught to live like God is ~~~

We will look for the appearing of the blessed hope and glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ [in us not for us]. In other words, Jesus becomes more prominent in our lives [lifestyle].

Some of us are praying faithfully and with great fervor for God’s glory to invade our lives and areas of responsibility. As I wrote above if we are serious about God increasing His glory we best be serious about being prepared to host and handle it.

Jesus [the glory of God in earth in a man [John 1:14]] lived His life as an example of giving Himself to God’s purposes in order to redeem us from –

EVERY lawless deed [including using His name without having a real relationship with Him [Luke 13:23-28]]

And to ~

Purify for Himself, for His own possession, a people who will be zealous for GOOD deeds.

Or, a people who are possessed by God!

So, I believe it is possible that Ananias & Sapphira thought that they could get away with sin. After all, they most probably had said a prayer, possibly even were baptized in water, and therefore, thought because “in Christ God had reconciled the world to Himself, not counting men’s sins against them” – they were good to go!

Whatever they were thinking did not work out the way they thought, or they would have not approached God [His delegated authority – Peter], trying to get away with lying.

We see how “that worked out for them.”

“There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death” [Proverbs 14:12; 16:25].

1 Timothy 1:5-11

“5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, 6 from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk, 7 desiring to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor the things which they affirm. 8 But we know that the law is good if one uses it lawfully, 9 knowing this: that the law is not made for a righteous person, but for the lawless and insubordinate, for the ungodly and for sinners, for the unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers, for manslayers, 10 for fornicators, for sodomites, for kidnappers, for liars, for perjurers, and if there is any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine, 11 according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which was committed to my trust.”

The law was never intended for the righteous person! It was for those who violate God’s heart!

Galatians 3:19-25

“19 What purpose then does the law serve? It was added because of transgressions, till the Seed should come to whom the promise was made; and it was appointed through angels by the hand of a mediator. 20 Now a mediator does not mediate for one only, but God is one. 21 Is the law then against the promises of God? Certainly not! For if there had been a law given which could have given life, truly righteousness would have been by the law. 22 But the Scripture has confined all under sin, that the promise by faith in Jesus Christ might be given to those who believe. 23 But before faith came, we were kept under guard by the law, kept for the faith which would afterward be revealed. 24 Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. 25 But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor.

1 Corinthians 6:9-11

” 9 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And such were [past tense] some of you. But you were [past tense] washed, but you were [past tense] sanctified, but you were [past tense] justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.”

God has a standard! God’s standard is very high! God does not have a bell curve where he rounds everybody’s  “score” up. God calls every body up to His standard!

Jesus the Christ IS God’s standard!

Keep the faith! Keep the passion!

Our hunger and thirst for God is our escort into our deep satisfaction in God!

Dr. Kevin M. Drury
A Hisstoymaker