My message and my preaching was not in the persuasive words of men’s wisdom but in the demonstration of the Spirit and power so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men but the power of God.
Recently as I was thinking about the things that needed to be done that day, the Lord caught me by surprise and spoke very emphatically, I want my Son to receive His Full Reward!
That word literally arrested my thought processes and began a new hearing process in me. Something broke inside me when I heard those words and I began emphatically asking the Lord, what is the full reward you desire? His answer readjusted my thought processes. He said, “Every time someone is born again, filled with the Holy Spirit, delivered from addictions or demonic oppression, healed, raised from the dead and prodigals come back my Son receives His reward. I desire my people to operate in true supernatural power that flows out of relationship with Me, not from religion or religious traditions. I desire obedience rather than sacrifice, I’m looking for faith and demonstration of what I can do through my people.”
Sadly the church of today has retreated to operating in human power and fleshly demonstration through programs and super stardom rather than operating in the power and demonstration of the Holy Spirit that produces LIFE and AWE that show the world signs, wonders and miracles. It is so important for the church to operate in spiritual power in order for Jesus to receive His full reward! I am finding that people are tired of empty sermons that do not produce spiritual power followed by signs, wonders and miracles. In many churches today there is no opportunity when they gather to pray and demonstrate the supernatural ways of the Holy Spirit, that is a shame and dishonor to the Lord who gave His Spirit for change. I see many talk about the power of the Holy Spirit but few that operate in it. It’s time to see the power!
The apostles of the early church operated like Jesus did, in the power and demonstration of the Spirit, consequently the people stood in awe of what God did through them, that will bring His reward! It’s time for today’s church to return to the same pattern that Jesus implemented at Pentecost and the apostles followed. He said “you will receive POWER when the Holy Spirit comes upon you”. Those apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers of the early church operated in power and were unashamed and unapologetic for it. In my opinion many church leaders today have disqualified themselves by not following the pattern of Jesus, plain and simple. I find myself putting my brothers and sisters on the spot, as well as myself, in moving toward a church of power rather than tradition.
Recently I was speaking in a meeting with some well known church leaders and found myself greatly perplexed and frustrated when it came time to pray for the people. They did not know what to do and were awkward in attempting to pray and minister to them. In a few minutes they abandoned me for the green room and ran back to the hotel under the guise of getting with the Lord. As I prayed for another 2 hours , I had a couple of lay leaders join me and we saw many miracles take place. They said if you will show us how to do it we will help you! What FAITH! I thought, it is sad when those in leadership do not know how to minister to the people they are speaking to, yet they want the place of honor with no power to demonstrate the works of the Kingdom. My word for those kind of leaders is to move out of the way, the Holy Spirit is coming through. We are in it for Jesus to receive His full reward!
The Lord is intent on building His church of power and demonstration that will prevail against the gates of hell! I believe we are in for a hostile takeover of Holy Spirit in the church that will birth a move of God marked by His Presence so Jesus can receive His FULL REWARD!