At a young age, during my pre-teen years, I was outside playing in the leaves by myself when an audible voice called my name twice. It was at that moment that I knew there was a God and that this God was the God of the Bible. While it would be many years later that I heard the Gospel, that initial encounter as a young boy would leave an impact on me which continues to this day. His voice, if I can attempt to describe it, was like the sound of many waters and oceans and rivers and streams all at once…. and yet this doesn’t do justice to the voice I heard. God had called my name. Audibly.
While I knew instantly that this was God, I wasn’t Born Again at that moment; in fact, it would be several years later when I would hear the Good News of Jesus Christ. When I did surrender my life to the Lord, He would later call me into ministry, equipping me with prophetic gifting, specifically with an emphasis on the word of knowledge, dreams, visions and prophetic utterances (see here and here). I would also later be called to plant a church (see Global News article here) where the Presence and Power of God manifested regularly to save the lost and deliver the bound.
But don’t misunderstand me; moving in the prophetic and pastoring are not things to boast about and certainly aren’t trophies to wear for pats on the back. The prophetic, especially, was and is very difficult as it’s not exactly the glitz and glamour one often sees in false prophets and teachers such as Shawn Bolz, Kris Vallaton, Benny Hinn, etc. True prophetic ministry often clashes with established false authorities and thereby places the truly prophetic in a position of looking like a divider. Couple that with pastoring and you have a recipe for constant attacks from within and without. There’s nothing glamorous about ministry. Nothing at all. The benefit, however, is knowing you’ve pleased the Lord and obeyed Him, no matter what the cost; it’s seeing lives transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit.
In addition, as the old saying goes, “The higher the level, the higher the devil”. While this is a cliché among Charismatics and Pentecostals, it is nonetheless true. The enemy does all in his limited power to hinder those called by God, including sending people to deceive, false teachings, pride and a host of other evils. I’m certainly no exception to this, having been attacked many times through the years; some battles I lost, some I won. In some instances, my sin was ongoing and in other instances, quickly turned from. Some sin involved sinful practice while other sin involved unBiblical teachings. In all instances, the Lord delivered me through godly counsel, discipline, the removal of individuals from my life and most importantly through the convicting power of the Holy Spirit. Through each trial, test, battle and temptation, the Lord has come alongside me, providing empowerment to overcome. (If you’ve found yourself in a place where you’re seeking deliverance from the chains of sin, click here)
Whether you’re a new Believer or a seasoned saint, we all battle against temptation. Some we win and some we lose. As Christians, we’re not sinless … but as we continue to grow in the Lord, we’ll sin less. This is true of all genuine Believers. Some grow faster than others while some slower than others. God deals differently with each of His children, knowing exactly what their unique needs are, and He moves in and through them accordingly.
In the future, the Lord willing, I’m going to see another church planted where leaders can be raised up to plant churches themselves. This is the calling on my life, I believe, as well as leading people into an experiential walk with the Lord where all they do, experience and believe is based on Scripture alone. My heart’s desire is to reach the lost and see the church of Jesus Christ experience the Presence and Power of God tangibly.
My primary influences include the late Leonard Ravenhill. the late David Wilkerson, Pastor Tim Dilena, Pastor Mark Hillis, Pastor Daniel Jalbert and Zac Poonen.
Here on my website, you’ll find categorized Biblical topics on discipleship, leadership, church planting and more…all free of charge. There is no appeal for financial help and nor do I accept financial donations. In short, you’re free to download as much content as you want to … without any obligation. I have no desire for your money or your praise (or condemnation). My only desire is that what is found here is a blessing to you.
If you’d like to get in touch, click here. I’d be happy to connect with you!.
My reason for pointing the above out? There are wonderful saints on both sides of the theological fence and on all sides there are those who are Charismatic and those who are not. Personally speaking, I have no concerns over such differences and I myself lay claim to none of these teachings as being the standard. There is Biblical truth in both camps just as there is error in both camps. Thus, I place myself in no camp but the camp of Christian.
In short, we can find something wrong with anything if we look hard enough … but that’s not our job and nor should it be. However, when something is so far out into left field in either entertainment/worldliness or Charismatic chaos in theology and manifestation, we must never ignore such things but instead call them out as being the falsehoods they are.