“Behold, I am coming like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake, keeping his garments on, that he may not go about naked and be seen exposed!” (Revelation 16:15 ESV)   So much of my church has fallen asleep; so many have removed their garments and even forgotten where they have put them. My people are not ready for my return and they no longer see my hand in operation around them. They have learned to operate independently from me and have adopted the ways of the world. Much of my church has joined the kingdom of the world and many are so sleepy they no longer realize…

Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when Christ appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he is pure. (John 3:2-3)   Real purifying hope is not based on who you are, but upon who you will become. Right now, you are my child, but in the natural order of all things, a child doesn’t remain a child forever. Your hope must be in the fact that your own childhood is coming to an end, and…

“For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Corinthians 10:3-5)   It’s not that you don’t wage war, my child, you just wage it in a completely different way from the world. Your weapons are not only different, they are much more powerful than the world’s weapons; able to tear down strongholds…

“Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good … All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines.” (1 Corinthians 12:7, 11)   I always pour out my Spirit for the common good, so if my people are selfish and uninterested in the good of others, I will cease to pour it out. Saying “Come Holy Spirit” is not enough if you are not more concerned with others than you are with yourself. My Holy Spirit was always meant for the streets, not just the churches; for the unbeliever, not…

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” (Hebrews 12:1-2) “Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it.” (MSG)…

One thing I ask from the LORD, this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple. (Psalm 27:4)   When this is the only thing you ask for, the only thing that you seek, you will discover that all other things will be given to you as well. I truly want you to dwell in my house with me all the days of your life; I want you to gaze upon my beauty, for it will create a beauty in you that is…

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)   You don’t have to straighten your own path; you don’t even need to know the twists and curves that are ahead, I ask you only to trust me completely and do not trust in your own understanding. I ask only that you submit all your ways to me. In return, I will straighten the path that is before you and you will feel as though you are on a smooth straight highway with no sharp turns or dangerous…

Peter said to Jesus, “Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you wish, I will put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!” When the disciples heard this, they fell facedown to the ground, terrified. But Jesus came and touched them. “Get up,” he said. “Don’t be afraid.” When they looked up, they saw no one except Jesus. (Matthew 17:4-8)   I want you to see no one except…

And they sang a new song, saying: “You are worthy to take the scroll and to open its seals, because you were slain, and with your blood you purchased for God persons from every tribe and language and people and nation. You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God, and they will reign on the earth.” (Revelation 5:9-10)   It’s important to remember that it was the lamb, not the lion, who was worthy to take the scroll and open its seals. A lamb that looked as if it had been slain. In my kingdom, this is what authority looks like: humility and sacrifice….

This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light; in him there is no darkness at all. (I John 1:5)   This is an important message in understanding me, for the closer that you come to me (and you are allowed to come as close as you like) the more my light will illuminate your life. You cannot come close and keep some things private, for in me all things are revealed. It is this fact about me, that I am light, that keeps many from the relationship that I long to have with them. Each person must choose between intimacy and privacy,…