

# MANY ARE CALLED

RICK REDDICK

#

Smashwords Edition

Copyright © 2014 Rick Reddick

(All Scriptures are NKJV unless otherwise noted.)

License Notes: This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this ebook with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each person you share it with. If you're reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then you should return to Smashwords.com and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

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# ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This book is dedicated to the saints throughout the ages who have faithfully gone before me. Your teachings have afforded me the opportunity to build my life and ministry on the sold foundation of Jesus Christ. My writings are the accumulation of your timeless truths.

To my wife, you have endured with me through many hardships. Word's can not express my gratitude for your enthusiasm to esteem God's work in me even when it appeared that we would not make. I am sure that many rewards await you in the next life.

To Noah, Jeremiah, Ricki and Hosanna, my four precious children, everyday with you is a gift and a blessing. Your joy and love for the Lord gives me hope. Better days are coming to this world because of who you are.

# Contents

Chapter 1 - THE FATHER'S LOVE

Chapter 2 - BRINGING THE KINGDOM

Chapter 3 - WHO RULES THE NATIONS?

Chapter 4 - NATURALLY SUPERNATURAL

Chapter 5 - MARKETPLACE DESTINY!

Chapter 6 - MODERN EVANGELISM

Chapter 7 - TENT MAKERS

Chapter 8 - TEACHING PRINCIPALITIES

Chapter 9 - ARMED BY THE CROSS

Chapter 10 - GRAY MATTERS

Chapter 11 - WORLDLY FRIENDSHIP

Chapter 12 - ROLE PLAYING

# Chapter 1

### THE FATHER'S LOVE

How do Christians fulfill our purpose? Experiencing the fatherhood of God is an essential part of this process. Before Jesus began His ministry, **"a voice came from heaven which said, 'You are My beloved SON; in You I am well pleased." (Luke3:22).** If our Savior needed heavenly affirmations to accomplish His calling, how much more do we? To further our understanding in this matter, Jesus proclaimed, **"Do not fear, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom" (Luke 12:32)**. Notice how He linked **"your Father"** with **"the kingdom"**. The two are inseparable. We cannot understand His government or walk in our purpose without knowing His fraternal nature. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit is always revealing this aspect of our Lord's character, yet some people do not perceive God's government manifesting on earth because it often happens differently than what has been taught or expected. Misunderstanding how God's kingdom operates is not a new error:

Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, "The kingdom of God does not come with observation;

**"nor will they say, 'See here!' or 'See there!' For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you"** **(Luke 17:20-21).**

The Pharisees sought visible identification concerning when the kingdom of God would arrive, yet Jesus pointed them to the fact that God's government was already here, and that He had placed it within them. Since Jesus taught that His kingdom is already here, how then do we recognize it? His government is revealed as we identify with the great passions in our hearts. By realizing that every good gift comes from God (see James 1:17), especially the deep desires of our innermost being, we are able to connect with His destiny for our lives. My vocational journey is a good example of how we display His kingdom by pursuing our purpose.

My professional career as an electrician started in my hometown of Tampa, Florida, and continued when I moved to Fort Mill, South Carolina. As an electrician, I dutifully performed my job's responsibilities, yet deep inside something was missing. While I enjoyed being able to earn a living and provide for my family, the sense of satisfaction that I was fulfilling my purpose eluded me. My answer was to seek greater professional achievement. After studying hard and educating myself, I became a licensed electrical contractor in the state of South Carolina. Sadly, instead of finding peace in this achievement it only brought further frustration. As I would soon learn, my problem stemmed from misunderstanding the fatherhood of God and His kingdom.

As a child growing up in the Tampa Bay area, I had severe dysfunction in my relationship with my natural father. Due to his own personal issues, he failed to be there for me during my adolescent years. Before we could be properly reconciled, my dad died unexpectedly from a brain aneurism. He had previously given his heart to the Lord. So I knew that he was in heaven, but that did little to heal the wounds left behind.

After having my own children, I eventually came to a point where I was overwhelmed by my own parental inadequacies. My fraternal shortcomings and the responsibilities of electrical contracting made me desperate for fatherly wisdom and guidance. Thankfully, a spectacular breakthrough came one warm fall evening. While spending time worshiping the Lord, I had the following supernatural encounter:

All of the sudden, The Lord's presence drew near, and I sensed that He wanted to talk. So in self-pity, I complained, "Lord, my life is so hard. I feel so alone."

The Lord gently responded, "Someone here wants to talk to you."

At this point, my natural father stepped forward, "Rick, I am so proud of you. You have done more for your children than I ever did for you."

As tears started to flow, I responded, "It is so hard, feeling so alone."

After what seemed to be a few minutes, the Lord continued, "You can speak to your Father anytime. You can come to this place and talk to him." As He spoke, I sensed my natural dad moving to a position behind my heavenly Father.

This brief, but much needed, supernatural experience enabled me to accurately perceive God's fatherly love. For the first time, I realized that I had a perfect parent, and that He wanted us to have normal conversations. My Creator wanted to talk to me like a father and son would talk to each other. As I practiced talking to God in this manner, the wounds left by my natural father were healed, and the endearment, **"Abba, father"** became a present reality for me **(see Mark 14:36 KJV).**

DREAMING LIKE GOD

This revelation of God's fatherly love propelled me towards fulfilling my ultimate dreams. Having always loved to fish, and having always dreamed of fishing for a living, I sold my electrical contracting business in Fort Mill, South Carolina and opened up a charter fishing company in Charleston, South Carolina. Most human beings have wonderful dreams for their lives, but not all of them realize that these aspirations of greatness come form their heavenly Father. Some people are unaware that their honorable desires and the good things they hope to accomplish are actually God's will impressing upon their spirits. As a result, they fail to connect with His kind intentions for humanity. I thought that being a good electrical employee was my godly duty, yet I failed to realize that my dream of fishing for a living was actually God's call on my life. **"God does not show favoritism" (see Romans 2:11 NIV)** , so what he does for one believer He will do for all.

Since dreams help to define us and create vision for our lives, mankind must come to understand their wholesome aspirations. Without this vision, personal fulfillment perishes, and in turn, God's plan for our lives remains undefined. Thankfully, Jesus describes what operating in our purpose looks like:

"Be dressed for service and well prepared, as though you were waiting for your master to return from the wedding feast.

"Then you will be ready to open the door and let him in the moment he arrives and knocks. There will be special favor for those who are ready and waiting for his return.

"I tell you, he himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat! He may come in the middle of the night or just before dawn.

**"But whenever he comes, there will be special favor for his servants who are ready!" (Luke 12:35-38** **NLT).**

Parables often have many layers of understanding, and my explanations are simply one alternative train of thought to some of the traditional interpretations. The phrase above, " **be dressed for service** " gives us a possible key to understanding this narrative. By translating this phrase into modern vernacular, we could say, "make sure to wear your uniform." Such terminology implies a vocation, an occupation, or a job. Jesus is revealing that the events in the parable are related to the vision we should have for our natural professions.

He continues by saying to be **"well prepared."** At times I have thought that my presence in a situation will cause God to automatically make it favorable for me, yet in retrospect, that rarely happens. Instead, before being released to gain His favor, I must submit to His preparation process. I must become "well prepared".

While my fishing business was based in Charleston, South Carolina, I also ran charters in Tampa, Florida. For three consecutive years my Tampa charters ventures never turned the kind of profit I expected, yet I continued this practice because I sensed the Lord calling me to take chances in Florida. The third year of running charters in Florida was the least profitable because a massive oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico hampered the tourism industry. One day, while talking to another charter captain, he informed me that the oil company responsible for the spill was paying settlements to business affected by this tragedy. So after a few months of seeking God, I decide to file a claim.

Around the same time, God revealed that I was called to move back to Florida, specifically the Clearwater area just west of Tampa. Rather quickly, God began to close doors in Charleston. One of them was the fact that I could not come to agreeable lease terms with my landlord. Knowing that I was called back to Florida, I decided to move to Clearwater when my lease expired, but with no money and the freshness of the recent failures with my Tampa chartering ventures in mind, this was a giant step of faith. When these pressures seemed to peak, I got the news: my claim had been approved. Through this blessing God provided the money to move, to get out of debt and to invest in my business.

His kingdom manifested in my financial situation, but had I not chartered in Florida, I would not have been eligible for this settlement. It seems that my preparation for this blessing came through being obedient in spite of the monetary difficulties. My experience with this Tampa chartering venture and my understanding of the preceding parable highlight the fact that, Jesus is continually observing us to see if we are properly preparing for His kingdom. Jesus will stand at **"the door"** of our careers and knock. If we open them to Him, He will bless us beyond anything we can ask or think.

When God's government comes into our vocations, the Spirit creates dwelling places for Jesus. The Lord is seeking to do more than just visit us from time to time, rather He is seeking to inhabit the places that mankind opens to Him. He can not inhabit something we are not passionate about. He must lead us to the great desires of our hearts before He can dwell in our vocations. I could not be fulfilled as an electrical contractor because I was in the wrong profession. I had not attained the " **special favor"** Jesus mentioned in this parable because I had not yet followed the dream He placed in my heart.

Once we are committed to achieving our purpose and working hard to make our dreams become a reality, Jesus comes to serve us in our occupations: " **He himself will seat them, put on an apron, and serve them as they sit and eat."** Our Lord will give us a seat of authority while feeding us spiritual and natural provisions because we have been faithful to follow His leading. To emphasis the importance of our faithfulness, Jesus taught _The Parable of the Talents_. The "talents" in this allegory are a biblical symbol of our dreams and God-given abilities.

"For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them.

**"And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one,** _to each according to his own ability_ **; and immediately he went on a journey.**

Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents.

"And likewise he who had received two gained two more also.

"But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord's money.

"After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.

"So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, 'Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.'

"His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.'

"He also who had received two talents came and said, 'Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.'

"His lord said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord'" (Matthew 25:14-23).

When Jesus spoke in parables, he often used the term "master" or "lord" to symbolize God, and in this story, the Lord had given talents to three men, each according to their individual abilities. These three servants received a provision that if properly used would generate wealth. This allegory teaches us that God has given all of mankind specialized talents. Personally, one of my skills is being fishing captain, and after connecting with this talent, I was enabled use this God-given ability to reach the zenith of charter fishing achievement—an appearance on a television fishing show. The details of how this achievement was accomplished are covered in another chapter.

In this story, the first two servants were given more authority, when they acted faithfully. The Lord said to them, " **I will make you ruler over many things."** God desires that we have authority, but we must realize that our dreams of vocational fulfillment originate from Him. By failing to believe in this aspect of His goodness, we end up like the unfaithful servant.

"Then he who had received the one talent came and said, 'Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed.

"And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.'"

"But his lord answered and said to him, 'You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed.

'So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest.

'So take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.'"

"For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away.

"And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 25:24-30).

When called to give an account, this servant confesses his fears, and blames God for his failures. " **Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. And I was afraid."** This steward could not accurately perceive the Master's good dreams for his life. Like the two other servants, he was called to be " **ruler over many things,"** but this failure disqualified him from inheriting God's blessing. The Master responded by calling him an **"unprofitable," "wicked and lazy servant."** The servant's behavior revealed his ungodly character. His legalistic view of the Lord was sinful, and it caused him to slander the Father's nature. Obviously, God reaps where He has sown and gathers where He has scattered seed. This servant represents the portion of humanity that does not believe their dreams and aspirations are the same as the Lord's. This mistrust causes God to consider us wicked. Doubting that He has good intentions towards us is the same as calling Him a liar.

In this parable, Jesus is revealing that we are only stewards of our God-given abilities, and that we can squander these talents by not pursuing the dreams in our hearts. According to the Lord, ineffective people are considered unprofitable and cast into " **outer darkness"** where there is " **weeping and gnashing of teeth."** This deep lamentation of sorrow comes from seeing our wasted opportunities. Thankfully, in this life, repentance is always available, and God forgives us when we seek His mercy. If we have been squandering our abilities, we can simply turn to His love. His transforming power is waiting for us.

The Scriptures clearly reveal that wicked deeds will earn people eternal punishment, yet the root of this everlasting commendation comes from one source—not believing that God shares our dreams. " **If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" (Matthew 7:11** **NIV).** The Father has prepared " **good gifts"** for us, and one of these is our calling. Finding fulfillment in the great passions of our hearts is a magnificent endowment from Him. As we seek Jesus first and submit to His preparation process, He will grant us our innermost yearnings.

A GODLY INVASION

Since God wants to give us the desires of hearts (see Psalms 37:4), why do we sometimes fail to receive them. One of the reasons is because we often forget that in the beginning, the earth was a gift, to be stewarded by mankind. " **Then God said, 'Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion...over all the earth'" (see Genesis 1:26-27).** It actually blesses the Father when we show interest and place value on His gifts. We would be discouraged if we gave someone a gift that they never used. In the same way, our creators want us to take pleasure in the things He has given us, especially our earthly vocations.

The first man, Adam, was unable to properly enjoy his occupation in the Garden of Eden. The Scriptures attest that he wanted to be like God, thereby implying that Adam wanted to be master of more than just the Garden. His sin was proof that he was not content with his job of ruling the earth. The result of his failure was that the world was placed under the influence of Satan.

**The devil led** [Jesus] **up to a high place and showed him in an instant all the kingdoms of the world.**

**And he said to him, "I will give you all their authority and splendor, for it has been given to me** [by Adam] **, and I can give it to anyone I want to" (Luke 4:5-6 NIV).**

With the devil firmly in control of the earth, mankind was limited in his ability to experience God, His kingdom and His gifts. Adam's ability to find vocational success was greatly hindered by the following judgments:

"Cursed is the ground for your sake;

'In toil you shall eat of it

'All the days of your life.

'Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you,

'And you shall eat the herb of the field.

'In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread" (see Genesis 3:17-19)

To reverse these curses and reclaim control of the earth, our Father sent Jesus to die on the cross. Through His death and subsequent resurrection, Jesus stripped Satan of his authority. Just as Adam's sin gave legal rights over the earth to Satan, Jesus' victory gave Him lawful authority over this planet and all of creation. Even so, Jesus has not yet assumed total control, and all things are being progressively put under His power. " **For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet" (I Corinthians 15:25)**. Since all of His enemies have not yet been defeated, the Lord expects His children to regain His authority over the earth. The Father is passionate to see His children take back the dominion that Adam lost in the Garden, thus establishing legitimate authority in the earth.

As believers experience the Fatherhood of God and His gifts, they become equipped to defeat Satan, fulfill their callings and complete the mandate in Mark 16:15 to **"go into all the world."** This scripture reveals our Lord's cosmic focus as it relates to His people. The word " **world"** comes from the Greek word _kosmos_ , and we derive our English word "cosmos" from it. So then, _kosmos_ implies every aspect of the world we live in and beyond. It speaks of the orderly arrangement of the universe. After believers execute our call to restore this earthly realm to Jesus, who knows what amazing spiritual adventures await.

On these journeys, we are to " **preach the gospel to every creature" (see Mark 16:15).** The Greek word for " **creature"** is also translated _building_ , _creation_ , and _ordinance_ , thus implying much more than just individuals. Our commission or mandate is to bring the kingdom of God to the fallen realms which are currently occupied by the devil and his angels. By trusting in God's fatherly love and His dreams for our lives, we are freed from a meager Christian experience and released to reclaim the _kosmos_ for His sake. Incredibly, His plans are often fulfilled through the very things we are personally excited about.

# Chapter 2

### BRINGING THE KINGDOM

The desire to see God's government possess the kingdoms of this world, that is, a love for His kingdom, is a great motivator when it comes to individuals pursuing their callings and vocations. Many aspects of worldly influence are currently under the enemy's control, but as more Christians begin to walk in their individual destinies the darkness that now covers much of the earth will be expelled. Such passion to see God's influence in fallen earthly realms is something the Apostle Paul continually demonstrated in the New Testament. While in the city of Paphos, he encountered a dark spiritual power that was operating in a place of authority reserved for a believer. Upon seeing this, Paul's great love for the kingdom of God provoked him to action:

**They** [Barnabas and Saul] **traveled through the whole island until they came to Paphos. There they met a Jewish sorcerer and false prophet named Bar-Jesus,**

**who was an attendant of the proconsul** [or governor] **, Sergius Paulus. The proconsul, an intelligent man, sent for Barnabas and Saul because he wanted to hear the word of God.**

**But Elymas the sorcerer (for that is what his name means) opposed them and tried to turn the proconsul from the faith**. **Then Saul, who was also called Paul...(see Acts 13:6-9 NIV).**

Preceding Acts 13:9, the great Apostle is always referred to by the name " **Saul.** " After this verse, he is always referred to by the name " **Paul.** " Was there something about these events that caused the apostle's name change? Let's first take a look at Saul. He got dramatically saved on the road to Damascus. During that experience, many things were said about his calling and destiny. It was announced that Saul was to speak before Gentile rulers:

But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings..." (Acts 9:15 NIV).

Then Saul went through a period of revelations concerning the gospel of grace (see Galatians 1:12). He operated in ministry as a prophet/teacher (see Acts 13:1). He had a dramatic commission in front of many people, where the Holy Spirit said, **"Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them" (see Acts 13:2 NIV).** Then he went on his first missionary journey as second in command behind Barnabas while retaining the name " **Saul.** "

Early on this journey, they came to Paphos, where they encountered a false prophet named " **Bar-Jesus.** " The word "Bar" means _anti_ or _against_. This Jewish sorcerer was working "against-Jesus", standing before the governor using deceptive witchcraft. In spite of this, the proconsul—after hearing about the ministry of Barnabas and Saul—requested that they come, and speak the word of God to him. As they ministered to the governor, Bar-Jesus opposed them and tried to turn the governor away from the faith.

We do not battle against flesh and blood or merely human influence. Rather, our conflict is against evil spiritual powers. When people are being used by such spirits, they typically do not know the gravity of their condition. Jesus loves all mankind, especially those under demonic oppression. We can address the spirit speaking to them, but we must do this while maintaining a love for the individual.

ENGAGING THE BATTLE

Even so, speaking the truth is not always pleasant to behold. Consider Saul's response to Bar-Jesus:

Then Saul, who was also called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked straight at Elymas and said,

"You are a child of the devil and an enemy of everything that is right! You are full of all kinds of deceit and trickery. Will you never stop perverting the right ways of the Lord?

**"Now the hand of the Lord is against you. You are going to be blind, and for a time you will be unable to see the light of the sun."** **Immediately mist and darkness came over him, and he groped about, seeking someone to lead him by the hand.**

When the proconsul saw what had happened, he believed, for he was amazed at the teaching about the Lord (Acts 13:9-12 NIV).

What would elicit such a sharp rebuke from the apostle? The obvious reason is that the governor was interested in the Lord, and Bar-Jesus was trying to turn him from the faith. Jesus had prophesied to Ananias that Saul was called to stand before Gentile rulers. When arriving at this destiny, Saul finds an evil spiritual power operating in witchcraft or illegitimate authority. Inspired by his love for the kingdom of God, Saul proceeded to remove the Jewish sorcerer from the governor's presence.

It appears that a love for heavenly influence was motivating Saul. He could not allow this false spirit to operate in what should have been God's sphere of authority. This victory was a turning point in his ministry. Throughout the remainder of the written New Testament, he is always referred to by the name "Paul" and almost always listed before Barnabas, or other fellow ministers. Regardless of Saul's prior spiritual experiences, it appears that he had to defeat this counterfeit authority in order to be propelled into his ultimate vocation as the great Apostle Paul.

WHAT ABOUT US?

In Matthew 10:18, Jesus prophesied concerning the plight of all believers, **"On my account you will be brought before governors and kings as** _witnesses_ **to them and to the Gentiles"** **(NIV).** Like Paul, we should not be surprised to find a Bar-Jesus spirit opposing us when desire to be a witnesses for Jesus. The process of overcoming illegitimate authority pursuant to our individual callings is one way the Lord measures our love for Him. Will we pursue His purposes when great darkness is coming against us?

In Revelation 2:26-27, Jesus explains that the reward for overcoming the false prophetess Jezebel: " **To him who overcomes and does my will to the end, I will give authority over the nations- 'He will rule them with an iron scepter; he will dash them to pieces like pottery'-just as I have received authority from my Father" (NIV).** The nations are our inheritance (see Psalms 2:8), but to gain this authority we must defeat counterfeit influences. Motivated by love for God and His kingdom, we are to fervently chase the callings He has placed on our hearts. If we are in the wrong profession, like I was in the electric trade, then we need to find the correct one. Seeking to fulfill our destiny will inevitably lead us into conflict with demons that seek to oppose Jesus and control believers, but by overcoming these spirits, we place them under the authority of the risen King of Glory. Jesus taught that it takes a militant spiritual posture to bring the kingdom of God to Earth:

And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force (Matthew 11:12).

Christians passionately pursuing their individual callings is one way in which the kingdom of Heaven will triumph over earthly realms of influence. Believers can no longer wait for God to possess what He has called _us_ to overcome. Often we must make the first step, and then He will give us victory through His supernatural power. Our love for God is the compass that will keep us heading in the right direction. It is not just the great Apostle Paul, but EVERY believer who aggressively pursues their purpose is positioning themselves to be used by God in remarkable ways and in the following paragraphs, we will see this more clearly.

HEAVENLY CITIES

Just as God has an amazing purpose for every individual human being, our Lord has a special function for every city on earth. In the Book of Revelation, chapters 2-3, seven specific messages are given **"to the seven churches which are in Asia" (see Revelation 1:4).** Each of these churches had a precise need related to their city. Our Father is always speaking to the local church. He is continually revealing His will for our cities. When Jesus looks at His church, He sees one global church made up of many local churches. Jesus does not evaluate us through our doctrinal and denominational differences. Instead, His messages apply to all who are in Him.

Currently, wicked spiritual principalities are hindering some of God's plans for our cities. The primary evil manifesting in a city usually reveals the nature of its ruling spirit, yet seeing its influence with our natural eyes is not enough, we also need supernatural revelation to accurately expose fallen angelic territories. Not long after I was saved, the Lord revealed to me the name of the principality controlling the city of Clearwater, Florida. He called it "the Spirit of Religious Error." This immediately made sense because Clearwater is the spiritual headquarters of the Church of Scientology and while driving through downtown, the oppression emanating from the many properties owned by this cult is palpable. The beliefs of this new age false religion are bizarre and in some cases documented to be abusive. This cult even boasts of having Hollywood celebrities as part of its membership. Because of Scientology, religious error emanates from the city of Clearwater.

The fact that Lord revealed this spirit's name to a baby Christian is remarkable. Due to my immaturity, I had no idea what to do with this knowledge. I had previously read accounts of individuals getting harassed by principalities for confronting them, and that scared me. After telling a Christian brother about my fears, he challenged me, "What are you going to do if God's calls you to pray for a city." So that night, instead of praying for the city, I rebuked the principality over Clearwater, and went to bed. After a few hours of sleep, I found myself in the following dream:

It was late at night and I was walking up the Memorial Causeway Bridge that joins downtown Clearwater to Clearwater Beach. A man was walking next to me saying blasphemous things. At the top, I looked over to the northeast corner of downtown and saw six religious cults grouped together. Then, the principality began to appear before me laughing in a sinister voice. Before he could fully manifest, heaven opened up, a white light shown down and separated me from seeing this hideous creature.

Obviously, my rebuke did not work. Instead of displacing this evil, the principality intimidated me by flaunting his power. The Lord knew I would make this mistake, but gave me the revelation of its name anyway. Why? One reason was to begin to reveal my call to Clearwater. If God did this for me, it is possible that Christians all over the earth are receiving similar calls to their cities.

DAVID'S LION AND BEAR

King David's life is a dramatic example of a believer's call to defeat high level evil authority.

But David said to Saul, "Your servant used to keep his father's sheep, and when a lion or a bear came and took a lamb out of the flock,

"I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it.

"Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God."

Moreover David said, "The LORD, who delivered me from the paw of the lion and from the paw of the bear, He will deliver me from the hand of this Philistine," (I Samuel 17:34-37).

Interestingly, David's natural occupation helped prepare him to battle Goliath. His victory over the lion and bear created personal confidence that the Lord would deliver him from the giant. Bears and lions are deadly animals, yet David fought up close and personal with these wild beasts. His assurance of victory was the nearness of the Lord's presence. Likewise, the spiritual battles we encounter are training for our ultimate destinies. Our mission is to display the courage of David while standing against evil. Maybe I should not have rebuked the Spirit of Religious Error, but like David, I proceeded with faith in God's delivering power, and God protected me.

David was aware of Goliath's size and strength, and it seems that God wanted me to have a similar understanding. I needed to respect the power possessed by the Clearwater principality (see Jude 8-10). Sadly, it took me a few years to heed this warning. Eventually, the events in the dream faded from my conscious memory, and one night, I decided to go fishing at the base of the Memorial Causeway Bridge. Once there, I decided to stand close to the roadway so I could cast my line near the bridge pilings. My wife was with me and she kept warning that it was too dangerous where I was fishing. Wisely, she stayed far away from the road. After a few minutes of pleasant disagreement (arguing), I heeded my wife's advice and moved away.

Shortly there after, we heard tires screeching. We turned to look in that direction and saw a SUV speeding and weaving through traffic. Right before it entered the base of the bridge, the driver lost control and the SUV began to flip its way up the bridge. At the top, the SUV jumped the rail and plummeted into the water. Had I been standing in that previous location, the SUV could have struck me as it passed by. Immediately, I ran to the top of the bridge. Once there I saw the driver lying in the street with a devastating wound to his head. In the meantime, the SUV sank to the bottom, and two men swam up from the depths. In shock, my wife and I left the scene greatly shaken. Watching the news that night, we learned that the men in the SUV were driving drunk and that the driver died.

My experiences with this principality highlight an important fact: the enemy release great wrath when God expose His hold over a territory. Therefore, all believers must maintain a sober assessment concerning the evil we are called to fight. This means knowing our current level of authority. We gain this ability by having a specific commission from the Lord. Eventually, the Lord revealed my authority over this principality. Nearly, ten years after the first dream and five years after the SUV incident, I had another dream:

While walking up the Memorial Causeway Bridge during the day, the Lord gave me a staff from heaven. Then, he began to tell me how He allowed Scientology to posses the buildings and hotels in downtown Clearwater so they could be handed over to His church. At the top of the bridge, I looked to the place where I previously saw the six cults, and now the principality was standing there imprisoned in a ring of fire.

Receiving the staff from heaven was a commission from the Lord that I am called as one of his shepherds in this city. With this vocation, comes an equipping to protect the Lord's sheep from this spiritual giant of religious error. King David was also a shepherd called to protect God's flock—Israel. His clash with Goliath was also a battle with the spiritual darkness or principality controlling the Philistines. His authority over this giant came from the fact that God had previously anointed David to be king (see I Samuel 16:1-13). David's mandate equipped him to defend the people of Israel.

Spiritual warriors, operating under the mantle of David, will clearly see the demonic powers that rule cities and nations. Without this vision, we would not know where to aim our attacks. While pursuing our individual callings, we will face many spiritual enemies, but that should not discourage us. Their evil power pales in comparisons to God's goodness, and defeating supernatural evil is a byproduct of His kingdom coming to earth. Jesus said, **"Nevertheless do not rejoice in this, that the spirits are subject to you, but rather rejoice because your names are written in heaven" (see Luke 10:20).** Our main focus should be the kingdom of heaven, yet we do not want to ignore or be unaware concerning the influences of hell (see II Corinthians 2:11). Situational victories over the devil are accomplished when his deceptions are revealed. For this reason, we need to see Satan's territories.

WRESTLING MATCHES

While the prophet Isaiah was receiving his famous revelation concerning Lucifer, the evil supernatural king of Babylon (see Isaiah 14:3-21), it is highly unlikely that the demonic realm just sat there patiently. Isaiah likely had to personally wrestle with the Devil in order to receive this revelation.

**For we do not** _wrestle_ **against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places** **(see Ephesians 6:12)**.

This scripture and my experience with the Spirit of Religious Error reveal that some type of intimate personal struggle will be necessary to displace high level supernatural evil. Sadly, many Christians are not aware of the leading spiritual influences over their cities. Because principalities control the spiritual atmosphere over natural areas, they are able to interfere with our prayers and hinder supernatural revelation (see Daniel 10:1-14). Therefore, we must be aware of their presence and tactics if we are going to fulfill our destiny.

These evil powers are fighting us regardless if we know it or believe it. Ignoring their authority and thereby thinking that we can coexist with them is an error we can not afford. We must realize that the same evil spirits controlling cities are also seeking to influence the local church (see II Thessalonians 2:3-4). In fact, their grasp over unbelievers is relatively secure, so instead they focus on believers. Much destruction has been released on the body of Christ because we have failed to properly discern this evil. Principalities and powers are not simply cast out or rebuked like ordinary demons. Instead, high level fallen spirits are displaced when believers fulfill their purpose to specific cities or nations.

When we are confronted with supernatural evil, their spiritual intimidations must be resisted. The Holy Spirit in us is greater than all the antichrist spirits in the world. We have been given authority to overcome all the power of the enemy, and Jesus promised that nothing will harm us (see Luke 10:19). We have nothing to fear. Like Jesus, our lives and ministry should " **destroy the works of the devil"** **(see I John 3:8)**.

DAVID'S BROTHER

After hearing Goliath taunt the army of God, David asked " **What shall be done for the man who kills this Philistine and takes away the reproach from Israel? For who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God?" (I Samuel 17:26).** The Scriptures reveal that David had radical faith, and that this confidence caused others to stumble:

Now Eliab his oldest brother heard when he spoke to the men; and Eliab's anger was aroused against David, and he said, "Why did you come down here? And with whom have you left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know your pride and the insolence of your heart, for you have come down to see the battle" (I Samuel 17:28).

David's courage was exposing the insecurity going on inside of Eliab. He simply did not believe that someone, like his younger brother, could defeat Goliath. We should understand that, on occasion, our faith to defeat giants will cause others to falter. When I have told people of my commission to Clearwater, some of them have warned me not to take on the "giant" dwelling there. This well meaning advice is fear based, God has called me to this city and on some level this will involve engaging this dark spiritual ruler. Many believers are finding themselves in similar predicaments. God is commissioning them to face powerful forces of darkness in spite of the well intentioned counsel of those around them. If God is revealing principalities to us, it is because we are called to succeed in their territories. We must pursue God's plans, regardless of other people's opinions. Like David, we will defeat the enemies we are called us to fight.

SPIRITUAL LONERS

While it was David's personal battle to kill Goliath, the entire army of Israel was needed to plunder the Philistines.

Therefore David ran and stood over the Philistine, took his sword and drew it out of its sheath and killed him, and cut off his head with it. And when the Philistines saw that their champion was dead, they fled.

Now the men of Israel and Judah arose and shouted, and pursued the Philistines as far as the entrance of the valley and to the gates of Ekron. And the wounded of the Philistines fell along the road to Shaaraim, even as far as Gath and Ekron.

Then the children of Israel returned from chasing the Philistines, and they plundered their tents (I Samuel 17:51-53).

David's natural weapon was a sling shot, but what really killed Goliath was the truth that any soldier in the army of God is more powerful than all the demonic giants in Satan's kingdom. Even so, one man or woman can not single handily accomplish all God's purposes. Even Jesus needed help from others when He walked the earth (see Matthew 27:32; Luke 8:2-3). Sometimes one believer, like David, will have the authority to initiate the displacement of a principality, but it will take a team effort from the local church's to plunder his goods and take possession of his forfeited spiritual land. Just as a quarterback can not win a football game without the help of his teammates, no one Christian can single handily displace high level supernatural evil without assistance from other believers. Clearwater and all God's cities that are to be redeemed will be delivered by a joint effort of the Lord's people coming together for His purposes. Contending for our cities and defeating the spiritual Goliaths that control them will be normal Christianity in the coming days.

# Chapter 3

### WHO RULES THE NATIONS?

Now that we have a glimpse of God's purpose for individuals and cities, let's consider the Lord destiny for nations. To gain this enlightenment, we must understand that certain promises of God were meant to be attained in this life, not only the next. In Luke 18:29-30 Jesus explains that **"no one who has left home or wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of THE KINGDOM OF GOD will fail to receive many times as much IN THIS AGE and, in the age to come, eternal life" (NIV).** Jesus clearly said that we have an inheritance to be received " **in this age."** Once we realize this truth, our individual callings take on great last day importance.

**And again, Isaiah says, "The Root of Jesse** [Jesus] **will spring up, one who will arise TO RULE OVER THE NATIONS; the Gentiles will hope in him" (Romans 15:12 NIV).**

Traditionally, it has been taught that "in the age to come **",** Jesus will take over the nations of the earth and incorporate them into the kingdom of God—limiting this prophecy to a far off future event that takes place in the Millennium. What if, however, " **in this age"** Jesus desires " **to rule over the nations"** through us? Could this be how we prepare the way for the Lord to return at His Second Coming?

The prophecy that Jesus would rule _over_ the nations must be understood in the context of Him first ruling _through_ them before He returns. The Father calls believers to spheres of authority in these kingdoms so that the Son, operating through us, can take possession of the earthly realm. When believers have the leading influence in a specific sphere, Christ-likeness is then spread throughout it. Amazingly, Christianity will again rule the earth, but not through the domination and intimidation as displayed by the Holy Roman Empire in the Dark Ages. Rather, saints will lead by example as the bride, the Lamb's wife, who is the glory of the Son. Their leadership will manifest love and liberty on levels yet to be understood or experienced by fallen humanity.

TAKING NATIONS

One of the New Testament Greek word translated **"nations"** is _ethnos_. It means _a race or a tribe_. In modern English, we derive our word "ethnic" from it. _Ethnos_ means much more than just physical countries with identifiable boundaries; it implies their culture as well. Many places in the N.T. Scriptures, the word "nations" could be used as a synonymous term for cultures.

A society's culture is defined by their art, entertainment, government, education, businesses, religions, media, and family life. With this in mind, we can easily understand why Jesus would want to rule these nations now and not just when He returns. If believers occupy these spheres of influence the reality of who Jesus is will be demonstrated all over the earth. It is possible that when He returns at the Second Coming as the King, it will be because Christians have prepared a kingdom on earth for Him.

When the Lord told me to build Him a dwelling place in Clearwater, I understood because of a previous vision I had:

While looking out over the Gulf of Mexico, I saw the New Jerusalem (a biblical symbol of the Lord's church) waiting to come ashore to Clearwater Beach.

In both of my dreams concerning the principality, I was walking from Clearwater Beach to downtown. The point of resistance was the top of the Clearwater Memorial Bridge, an overpass built above an underwater, natural spring. In the Scriptures, springs often symbolize eternal life (see John 4:10-14). Therefore, this city's purpose is to send forth clear waters of everlasting life to the nations. Presently, Scientology has claimed this density by making Clearwater its world spiritual headquarters.

The Spirit of Religious Error has illegitimately used God's intention for this city to pollute nations with dirty spiritual waters, all the while preventing the New Jerusalem from coming ashore. The kingdom of God can not fully manifest in this city until the Lord's people fulfill their purpose. Once that happens, the strongman will be bound in ring of fire and clear waters will go out from this city to the nations. Presently, Scientology has a worldwide culture, and while the spiritual reality over this city needs to be unveiled, the long term focus for Clearwater should be making it the first victory against this cult, leading to an eventual defeat of this false religion s global influence. The earth is full of territories like this that need to be invaded by the New Jerusalem. Which culture is the Lord calling you to?

REDEEMING CULTURES

In Matthew 25:31-46, Jesus reveals what it takes for a culture to enter the kingdom of God:

"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his throne in heavenly glory.

**"All the nations** ( _ethnos_ ) **will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.**

"He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left."

"Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world.

'For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in,

'I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink?

'When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you?

'When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

"Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

'For I was hungry and you gave me nothing to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink,

'I was a stranger and you did not invite me in, I needed clothes and you did not clothe me, I was sick and in prison and you did not look after me.'

"They also will answer, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or needing clothes or sick or in prison, and did not help you?'

"He will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.'

"Then they will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life." (NIV)

The requirement for entering into " **the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world"** is that they ministered to the needs of the afflicted. The result of abandoning this ministry is condemnation, " **into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels."** Whose responsibility is it to care for the afflicted? Christians. Jesus does not expect unbelievers to bear good fruit. Rather, He is looking for believers who will go into the culture and demonstrate His nature. The fruit being that the orphans, widows, prisoners, and the sick and poor are cared for.

These nations will be judged, according to whether or not Christians took authority in them. Individual believers are responsible to find what aspect of society's culture they are called to and then attain preeminence in that vocation. Once in their calling, true Christians will display the attributes required in order to be a "sheep nation". The "goat nations" are the ethnos that did not have believers gain preeminence in them; as a result, they will be condemned with the devil and his angels.

The Lord has an intense love for those suffering under oppressive cultures, like Scientology. The Fort Harrison Hotel in Clearwater is the central governmental building of their world headquarters. For decades, this hotel was a special downtown landmark, at one point being operated by Ransom E. Olds, inventor of the Oldsmobile. In 1975, the Church of Scientology purchased this building under cover names to conceal their identity. Since then, three suspicious deaths have occurred in the Fort Harrison Hotel, and in 1997, about the same time the Lord was revealing this principality to me, the police received over one-hundred and sixty 911 calls from the hotel, but were denied entry every time by the cult's security.

Clearly some very dark things have occurred in this hotel, and as _The Parable of Sheep and Goats_ reveal, God is highly concerned with how the afflicted are treated. The longer this false religion is allowed to operate, the more people will suffer. If God's people do not fulfill their mission to Clearwater, then this city and the culture it represents might be eternally judged as a goat nation. God wants to lift this principality's worldwide oppression by placing His people in positions of natural and spiritual authority.

God used Jonah is similar way. He was a prophet called to demonstrate the Lord's authority over a secular culture. He was sent to the capital of the dominant world power of his day, the city of Nineveh of the Assyrian Empire. Since a capital city represents the leading influences over a country and in this case the known world, we can say that Jonah's purpose was global in the ancient sense. The prophet's initial reluctance to operate in His vocation almost resulted in the annihilation of Nineveh's inhabitants and thereby, possibly destroying their worldwide culture. Jonah eventually obeyed God's directives, and the inhabitants of the capital of the Assyrian Empire were restored to God, yet the Bible does not clearly reveal if this revival spread past Nineveh. However, shortly after Jonah preached there around 758 B.C., some historical clues hint at a monotheistic awakening across the kingdom of Assyria. Either way, Jonah's story reveals the great importance of believers walking in their individual callings.

Whether or not we pursue our destiny can determine the eternal fate of cities, states, nations and possibly the world. The stakes are remarkably high, but God trusts us. He has no other plan. We are the plan of God " **in this age"** to prepare the kingdoms of this world to receive the King of kings. Peter said that we could speed up the coming of the Lord (see II Peter 2:12). We do this by aggressively following the great passions in our hearts.

Often, Christ's desire to rule the nations comes through our zeal for "worldly" achievement. Jesus has sent and will continue to send marketplace apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers to secular cultures. These believers are called to bring godly influence to the artistic community, the entertainment realm, governmental bodies, education systems, businesses realms, religious systems and media outlets. God has placed Christians in these vocations so that their worldly or secular achievements can become powerful tools to promote His government.

God has not abandoned this world. He is coming to possess it, first through His saints, then with His holy angels on that day when all of humanity will see His return. The importance of each individual Christian walking in their specific callings is a truth that is being dramatically restored to the body of Christ. What appeared to be worldliness just few decades ago could actually be the Lord operating through His people to bring the kingdom to our cities and nations. Therefore, having a strong understanding of the process necessary to fulfill our individual callings is crucial. We are alive at what might be the most exciting time in the eternal plan of God. The kingdom is coming and we want to be prepared for it!

# Chapter 4

### NATURALLY SUPERNATURAL

God's plans for individuals, cities or nations can be delayed when supernatural encounters are rejected or limited. When the voice of God is restricted exclusively to the Written Word or when spiritual gifts are only allowed to be used by a few select people, God's plans are always hindered. **"For the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" (see Revelation 19:10)**. If we claim proof or witness of Jesus' presence in our lives, but lack " **the spirit of prophecy,"** we have missed an important element of Christianity.

The Bible clearly teaches that all believers are to seek and function in supernatural gifts (see I Corinthians 12:31; 14:1), but operating in these gifts does not automatically mean we are called to pulpit ministry as an apostle, prophet, evangelist, teacher or pastor (see I Corinthians 12:29; Ephesians 4:11). Much harm and confusion has spread through the body of Christ by not making this distinction. Sadly, assuming titles and offices for ourselves has been a popular Christian practice.

Consider Abraham: In Genesis 20:7, Abimelech had a dream where the voice of the Lord told him that Abraham was a prophet. In contrast, in Revelation 2:20, Jezebel called herself a prophetess, not God. If we have not heard God's voice declare our calling, simply ask Him and He will clearly reveal it through the operation of supernatural gifts.

DREAM OF VISIONS

The importance of supernatural experiences operating in our lives can not be overstated. Did you know that Mary's husband, Joseph, had dreams that protected the young Jesus and possibly ensured the salvation of mankind?

An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him."

When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt (see Matthew 2:13-14).

Joseph's obedience and openness to this heavenly dream sheltered the Messiah, but what if Joseph did not believe in spiritual dreams? Could his unbelief have endangered the infant's life? Or even worse, could it have allowed Herod to prematurely kill Jesus, and thwart God's purpose for the cross? Who knows, but one thing is for sure—if God used a dream to protect His Son, we should pay attention to ours.

**Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared** _in a dream_ **to Joseph in Egypt,**

saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child's life are dead."

Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel (see Matthew 2:19-21).

Joseph's dreams contained direction and protection, and ours have similar importance. Following God and connecting with our purpose requires obedience to spiritual encounters. Our dreams are usually riddled with symbolism (see Numbers 12:6-8). This subjective nature of dreams often leads people to easily dismiss them (see Ecclesiastes 5:7). Visions, on the other hand, are not so easily rejected. These supernatural experiences often reveal foundational purposes for the life and ministry of believers. When God wants to communicate something of great importance, visions and dreams allow Him to bypass our mind, and speak directly to our heart.

In order to have my own charter business and access to a television fishing show, I had to be obedient to supernatural encounters. The first major spiritual experience for my fishing career was the breakthrough that came while worshiping God that night. That night I did not physically see the Lord or my natural father, rather, I sensed their presence in a dim vision. This occurred while my eyes were closed, and the conversation took place in my mind. Had I not been open to this process I could have missed being released into one of my destinies.

The next important revelation for my purpose came through a series of dreams. For most of my Christianity, I have made it a point to write down my supernatural encounters. While living in Charleston, I studied these experiences. It became very clear that I was to return to Clearwater, start a church there, and continue my chartering business in the Tampa Bay area. In this season of mediation, I had the following dream/encounter:

A famous fishing woman, a T.V. personality, called me and wanted to do a Tampa charter in March. The host of a different Tampa fishing show, _Flats Class T.V.,_ had referred her to me. I was shocked, but agreed, wondering why she did not just fish the guy from _Flats Class T.V._ I told her that we could fish for snook in March. She was excited about that.

This dream, like many dreams often are, was very emblematic and highly personal, requiring proper interpretation through those prisms. Since the events in this dream were taking place in Tampa, it confirmed my call to leave Charleston and move to Clearwater. In the natural realm, the host of _Flats Class T.V._ has a very successful fishing show. Therefore, his recommendation spoke of a higher level of authority being given to me in this industry. March is a prophetic month, often meaning to "march" forward. Snook is a type of fish that I am highly specialized at catching. With all these symbols in mind, the Lord was saying that I should move forward with snook fishing to purse T.V. opportunities.

Now, these symbols were fairly clear to me, but let's examine how these events came to pass. After moving to Clearwater, the Lord, in another dream, revealed that I was in a rehabilitation process and that this would occur through charter fishing. Then a second dream about rehabilitation, informed that I should fish around the Sunshine Skyway Bridge at the mouth of Tampa Bay. Fishing this area re-familiarized me with snook and tarpon fishing. A tarpon is a majestic fish that is only targeted for a few months, and the Sunshine Skyway Bridge is a hot spot during this season.

One night, I received a charter call around 9:30. This customer wanted to go fishing in the morning for red fish or snook. Since, it was tarpon season and these other species had not been biting very well, I told them I was not interested and politely hung up. Immediately, the Lord convicted me. Sensing I made a mistake, I called back and we planned the trip for snook and red fish the next morning. On that trip, I decided to take a risk and fish in an unconventional spot around the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Once there, my gamble paid off—we caught many snook.

This charter and the dream gave me the confidence to approach a local T.V. fishing show, _Hooked on Fishing_ , about filming an episode targeting these snook. The host agreed and the episode was a success. Had I failed to submit to the Lord's gentle nudge, and call my potential customer back, I would not have known about the snook bite, and without that understanding, I would not have pursued being a guest on _Hooked on Fishing_. This filming experience gave me knowledge and connections that would be important for what was about to happen.

A few months later, on a night when my wife and I had plans for a date, I received a weekend job offer for deep sea fishing. This job would require forty-four hours on the water, and I would have to cancel my date. We desperately needed the money, but I did not have peace about going. Previously, God warned me in a supernatural encounter that I should not seek to make money from deep sea fishing. Rather, I needed to work in the shallower inshore waters. So against my need for money, I obeyed God and went on the date.

While out, I was reacquainted with an old female friend. As we were talking, she mentioned that she operated a video production company and that she was interested in filming a fishing show with me. I agreed and immediately realized that she was the "famous fishing woman" in my previous dream. Once again, had I not obeyed God, I might have missed this opportunity.

After mediating on all these supernatural experiences, I was assured that God was calling me to my own fishing show. So I called the host of _Hooked on Fishing_ for advice. He was happy to help and suggested that I try to find a T.V. station that needed fishing content. He even referred me to a station. After making contact with that station, I was told to submit a pilot episode, which I promptly did. Filming this pilot increased my passion to having my own fishing show. Remarkably, this potential opportunity for worldly media access was being accomplished through supernatural leadings. Due to the financial commitment involved, my fishing show is currently on hold. Many aspects of our individual callings are a work in progress to be accomplished in the appropriate seasons with the appropriate provisions. Even though I have not yet attained this promise from God, this process reveals some of the ways in which the Lord keeps us moving towards our purpose.

The prophetic experiences related to my charter fishing vocation have mostly been seen **"through a glass, darkly" (see I Corinthians 13:12 KJV)** , but my calling to church plant in Clearwater, as we have seen in a previous chapter, has been vividly displayed before me. Clear, dramatic supernatural encounters mean that the Lord is placing a high level of significance on the message being relayed.

In the Book of Acts, releasing the gospel to the Gentiles required a series of vivid supernatural experiences (see 9:3-16; 11:5-18). These understandable and direct visions were needed to embrace the shift of God's plan. When God directs us towards new and challenging adventures, high level prophetic experiences often occur. We need such vision to align our natural circumstance with His heavenly directives because **'where there is no vision, the people perish"** **(see Proverbs 29:18** **KJV)**.

A SAFE RULE

It is important to understand that the Scriptures, not supernatural encounters, establish doctrine. Almost every cult or false religion is based on a "spiritual experience" that added to or contradicted the Written Word of God. People failing to properly judge these encounters have led to bizarre belief systems being spread over the earth.

"For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book;

"And if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book" (Revelation 22:18-19).

Avoiding the curses mentioned above is not difficult. God does not complicate this issue. Supernatural encounter are given to direct us and deepen our understanding of what the Written Word has previously established, while not adding to or taking away from our fundamental doctrines.

Our Lord gives spiritual gifts to empower, encourage and build up mankind. Therefore, whether subtle or dramatic, the directives of supernatural encounters should always be obeyed to the best of our understanding and ability. Limiting or rejecting spiritual gifts is a tragedy that causes people to miss their destiny in the kingdom of God. We can not complete our mission in this life without being open to God's supernatural ways. Besides, Christianity is boring when the kingdom of God is not permitted to manifest through His gifts. Thankfully, religious traditions that limit supernatural experiences will shortly vanish. The coming generations simply will not endure a powerless Christianity. If you do not know how to experience His gifts, simply start by seeking them in your life. Then God will show up and direct you in marvelous ways.

# Chapter 5

### MARKETPLACE DESTINY!

Did you know that some of the great biblical heroes brought the kingdom of God to cities and nations through their secular achievements? These leaders were at the forefront of God dealings with mankind because of their creativity and dedication to excellence in natural affairs. Joseph, for example, became relevant to Egyptian culture through his vocational diligence.

**And** [Joseph's] **master** [Potiphar] **saw that the LORD was with him and that the LORD made all he did to prosper in his hand.**

So Joseph found favor in his sight, and served him. Then he made him overseer of his house, and all that he had he put under his authority.

So it was, from the time that he had made him overseer of his house and all that he had, that the LORD blessed the Egyptian's house for Joseph's sake; and the blessing of the LORD was on all that he had in the house and in the field.

Thus he left all that he had in Joseph's hand, and he did not know what he had except for the bread which he ate (Genesis 39:3-6).

The Lord's favor caused Potiphar to give Joseph authority. He was made manager over Potiphar's house and field, thereby making him responsible for other slaves and farming. The Lord highlighted Joseph's ability to properly mange these earthly possessions, and Potiphar responded by promoting him. But, Joseph's fortuitous situation did not last. He ends up been falsely accused by his master's wife, and then thrown in prison.

But the LORD was with Joseph and showed him mercy, and He gave him favor in the sight of the keeper of the prison.

And the keeper of the prison committed to Joseph's hand all the prisoners who were in the prison; whatever they did there, it was his doing.

The keeper of the prison did not look into anything that was under Joseph's authority, because the LORD was with him; and whatever he did, the LORD made it prosper (Genesis 39:20-23).

While incarcerated, Joseph's ability to manage became evident again, and the keeper of the prison promoted him to a place of leadership. In this new position, Joseph was able to minister dream interpretations to important leaders in Egypt—the chief cup bearer and the chief baker. Although in prison, his proficiency as a manager created witnessing opportunities to high ranking government officials. Joseph's access to this sphere of authority came from his faithfulness to earthly responsibilities. His humble attitude and submission to the Lord's process positioned him for one of the greatest exaltations in human history.

When the king of Egypt had two dreams that no one could interpret, the chief cup bearer was reminded of Joseph's abilities. The servant recommended Joseph, and he ends up interpreting Pharaoh's dreams. The king was so impressed by Joseph's skill that he made the following declaration: " **You shall be over my house, and all my people shall be ruled according to your word; only in regard to the throne will I be greater than you." And Pharaoh said to Joseph, "See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt" (Genesis 41:40-41).**

Pharaoh **,** Potiphar and the keeper of the prison all perceived Joseph's aptitude in earthly management while sensing supernatural favor upon his life. The king of Egypt made him the second most powerful man in the earth. Egypt was the dominant world power of Joseph's day, and this son of Jacob stood in authority over that entire kingdom. He was a prudent and godly manger in Potiphar's house and in the prison, such diligence led to his promotion to the right hand of Pharaoh. Joseph's faithfulness to his secular vocations, regardless of his circumstances, is a message to all believers. If we are diligent to obey God, He will promote and reward us.

DAVID THE SOLDIER

King David accomplished great deeds for God and the children of Israel, but he started out as a humble shepherd. David gained access to spheres of influence beyond tending his father's sheep through his natural and spiritual abilities. When King Saul needed a skilled musician to rid him of a tormenting spirit, the kings' servants found David:

**Then one of the servants answered and said, "Look, I have seen a son of Jesse the Bethlehemite,** _who is skillful in playing_ **, a mighty man of valor, a man of war, prudent in speech, and a handsome person; and the LORD is with him" (I Samuel 16:18).**

Consider their description of David and the order in which He was noticed: First, he was a skilled musician; second, he was full of courage; third he was a proficient soldier; forth, he used his words wisely; and fifth, the Lord was with him. God's favor combined with David's character and his vocational success as an instrumentalist gave him this initial access to the most powerful man in Israel. This occurred before his battle with Goliath. Then after defeating the giant, David gained an even greater level of access to Saul's realm of authority.

So David went out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved wisely. And Saul set him over the men of war, and he was accepted in the sight of all the people and also in the sight of Saul's servants. (I Samuel 18:5).

This second promotion came through David's proficiency as a warrior. His talents kept causing Saul to take notice of him. A few decades later, Solomon wrote that **"a man's gift makes room for him, and brings him before great men" (Proverbs 18:16).** Solomon probably learned this truth after hearing about his father's rise to leadership.

DANIEL THE STUDENT

The Book of Daniel is considered a precursor to the Book of Revelation, and is known for having great prophetic pictures and deep insights. It's author, Daniel, gained spiritual influence over the nations of Babylon and Persia. His rise to power began when the king of Babylon, Nebuchadnezzar, was looking for " **young men in whom there was no blemish, but good-looking, gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand, who had ability to serve in the king's palace, and whom they might teach the language and literature of the Chaldeans" (see Daniel 1:4).**

The king's men found Daniel, but notice that it was the fact that he was " **gifted in all wisdom, possessing knowledge and quick to understand"** that gave him access to Nebuchadnezzar. Such talents are only obtained by reading, studying and observing historical facts. Daniel had to have a certain skill set in order to be taught " **the language and literature of the Chaldeans."** Daniel was a proficient student. He was known to study the prophecies of his predecessors.

In the first year of Darius the son of Ahasuerus, of the lineage of the Medes, who was made king over the realm of the Chaldeans —

**in the first year of his reign I, Daniel** _, understood by the books_ **the number of the years specified by the word of the LORD through Jeremiah the prophet, that He would accomplish seventy years in the desolations of Jerusalem, (Daniel 9:1-2).**

It appears that Daniel enjoyed learning and reading. God took his motivation and blessed it with divine empowerment. God gave him **"knowledge and skill in all literature and wisdom,"** and **"understanding in all visions and dreams** " **(see Daniel 1:17).** The Bible clearly reveals that these abilities came from the Lord, but Daniel received them because he was faithful to develop his natural passions. Our gifts bring us before great men when we develop them in a responsible way.

Daniel's ministry outlasted two Chaldean kings—Nebuchadnezzar and Belshazzar. Nebuchadnezzar died a natural death, and then King Belshazzar took his place. Belshazzar was removed from office when Darius, a Persian king, took control of the kingdom. This new ruler, like the kings before him, also sought Daniel's leadership.

It pleased Darius to set over the kingdom an hundred and twenty princes, which should be over the whole kingdom;

and over these three presidents; OF WHOM DANIEL WAS FIRST: that the princes might give accounts unto them, and the king should have no damage (Daniel 6:1-2 KJV).

What did Darius observe concerning Daniel's character that compelled such a great promotion? " **Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an EXCELLENT SPIRIT was in him" (see Daniel 6:3** **KJV).** The word " **excellent"** means _of a very high quality or standard_. The word " **spirit"** has many definitions, and one of them is _attitude_. These descriptions allow us to perceive Daniel's personality. He demonstrated an attitude that demanded an extremely high quality or standard of accomplishment. The end result of Daniel's spiritual posture was that " **the** **king thought to set him over the whole realm" (see Daniel 6:3** **KJV).**

FISHING FOR EXCELLENCE

Like Daniel, having a dedication to excellence is an important characteristic if we are to be successful, but learning to walk in this understanding is not always an easy process. My father, grandfather, and cousins passed down to me two generations of fishing knowledge. At first, I was not equipped to handle this blessing. Fishermen usually lead rough lives and mine was no different. At the age of seventeen, I dropped out of high school to become a commercial fisherman. (Commercial fisherman catch fish to sell in markets. Charter captains, on the other hand, get paid to take people fishing for recreation.) On these trips, we made birth in Tampa, Florida and made way, eight hundred miles to the south, to Columbia, South America. An average voyage lasted around twenty-four days. My job, as the greenhorn, was to remove the guts and ice the fish.

One night, I was required to work an electric fishing reel. The captain, my cousin, came out to see how things were progressing. Physically exhausted and beat down, I complained, "I can't do it."

He became furious, profanities began to fly, and he yelled, "I DON"T WANT TO HEAR, 'I CAN'T.'"

Humbled and almost crying, I returned to my gutting job. After, we got back to the dock, I quit in defeat. A few months later, my cousin was ready to give me another chance. On this trip something changed in me, I was able to do my gutting job so well that I was promoted from greenhorn to mate. By the time I had completed two more trips, I was one of the top mates in the Tampa area.

Although my cousin' methods were rough, God used him to impart a spirit of excellence within me, while unwittingly affirming the spiritual truth, **"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13)**. Often, Christians have viewed this verse through the prism of weakness, thinking that this verse only applies to enduring trials. While it is true that we can endure any hardship with the Lord's help, it is also true that we " **can do all things"** necessary to be successful in our perspective cultures. We can become the best musician, the best artist, the best engineer, the best fisherman and so on because the One who created all vocations lives inside of us.

CREATIVE EXCELLENCE

Joseph, David and Daniel all had an excellent spirit that granted them worldly authority, but what happens when believers failing to possess a similar aptitude? The answer: earthly spheres of influence are squandered to the lost. The film industry is a prime example. A few Biblically based films have risen to preeminence since the industry was created, yet the majority of movies are non-Christian, and these ungodly films frequently make millions of dollars. What is the reason for this disparity? Obviously, many of these movies gratify the carnal nature of mankind, but another element of their success is that unbelievers have mastered the craft of storytelling.

Since Christians have the Creator of the universe living in them and the greatest stories ever told are created by God, this should not be the case. With hard work and a dedication to excellence, we have the ability to write screenplays and produce movies with more depth than anything Hollywood could imagine, and in the days to come, as more believers realize their call to the film industry, Christian movies will become increasingly more successful.

In spite of the moving industry being surrendered to the world, God has had His presence in certain secular films. Consider this godly theme in many modern movies: one person dies to save their friends, family or the world. Without realizing it, Hollywood testifies that the world needs a savior and that a man will be chosen for the task. Some of their best films affirm the truth in our gospel. By possessing an open mind, we can see how certain secular movies often teach godly messages without using contemporary religious terms and phrases.

The famous Christian author, C.S. Lewis, was a master of this technique. In his day, literature was the premier storytelling vehicle. Today, this has largely been replaced by the film industry. Lewis saw the need to invade the entertainment culture with a kingdom message. He did not use overtly Christian's phrases in _The Chronicles of Narnia_ series. Instead, he used symbols to reveal spiritual truths. As a result, his works continue to invade secular entertainment today. C.S. Lewis was decades ahead of his time. He produced respectable Christian works of art that are enduring beyond his death. How many souls have _The Chronicles of Narnia_ touched?

UNCONVENTIONAL MEANS

With these thoughts in mind, we can see how God sometimes uses peculiar methods of motivation, " **I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation" (see Romans 10:19).** The word **"jealousy"** means _to desire something possessed by somebody else._ It seems that our Father allowed secular achievement to surpass Christian accomplishment in hope of making us envious. As charter fishing captain, I am frequently challenged by other captains who are better than me. At first this greatly agitated me, but eventually I realized their successes were meant to provoke me towards possessing an excellent spirit, that is, studying harder and preparing better. Christians, not unbelievers, should be running the affairs of this world, yet as long as unrighteous people continue to rule this world, hell will keep being released. Such lost souls are ignorantly fulfilling their call to bring Satan's kingdom to earth. If God is our Father and Jesus purchased this world with His own blood, why have we abandoned aspects of this world and her systems?

Fortunately, the redemption of the earth is taking place, but the Lord's victory is not automatic. No longer can we sit inactively while the world around us becomes darker and darker. Achievement, invention, creativity, and inspiration should be flowing like a river from believers who are connected to the Creator of the universe. While we seek a kingdom that is not of this world, that does not mean we are to abandon this one to the Devil and his antichrists.

A sense of duty should not compel us towards achievement. Rather, we should understand that it is our privilege to conquer the spheres of influence we are passionate about. A fire should burn in our hearts to find our passion and then do whatever necessary to connect with it. God loves us that much. He can conquer the kingdoms of this world and give us abundant life while doing so. Nothing will be easy, but in the end, it will always be worth it. By seeking preeminence in our vocations, we can store up treasure in heaven because a Christian's eternal rewards are based on their successful works on the earth (see Matthew 16:27).

DIVINE INSPIRATION

When God promotes someone, the amount of influenced gained is always proportionate to the quality of an individual's work. David was one of the best musicians in the land because he practiced. Daniel was the wisest man of his time because he studied books. Joseph rose to leadership because he managed well. These saints understood the balance between their natural talents and their divinely powerful weapons (see II Corinthians 10:4). They did not trust exclusively in their earthly abilities. Rather, they used spiritual empowerments, combined with their natural talents, to affect their perspective cultures. Likewise, we will not rise to supremacy in our vocations without understanding the correlation between the heavenly and earthly realms.

Developing spiritual and natural abilities requires discipline. Having a commitment to excellence in our individual callings is how we manifest our trust in God. He loves us and desires to promote us, yet our advancement comes through personal endurance and maturity. The Father is seeking effective servants who will bring His kingdom to all spheres of worldly influence. Receiving this heavenly authority comes by proving our trustworthiness with earthly responsibilities (see Luke 16:10-12).

Joseph, David, and Daniel were God's chosen leaders for their times. They were all challenged to believe in God's love for them in spite of their circumstances. Joseph was betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and then imprisoned. David was persecuted and hunted like an animal by the very people he was anointed to lead. Daniel grew up as an exile in a foreign land and was thrown into a lion's den for worshiping God. These facts teach us that while seeking to accomplish great feats for His kingdom will often be led into dire circumstances. We must realize that His love is present regardless of how our difficult situations make us feel.

When we have real achievements, worldly leaders will promote us, but we could also be hated and persecuted by jealous people. This journey is not for the timid. The Lord will have a bride who is worthy. Mature believers will fulfill their purpose regardless of the price. **"We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God" (Acts 14:22).** When we are overcome by difficulties and hardships, His grace is sufficient in these times of weakness.

# Chapter 6

### MODERN EVANGELISM

As more believers connected with their callings, a new kingdom minded evangelistic force will be seen in the earth. Jesus said that **"repentance and forgiveness of sins will be preached in his** **name to all nations" (see Luke 24:47** **NIV)**. This proclamation of God's salvation has already been accomplished in many countries. The current practice of soul winning has fulfilled much of the church's mandate to lead people towards repentance and forgiveness, but it seems that more is needed. Cultures must be discipled, not merely preached to for a few hours. If it took Jesus three years to make twelve disciples, then we should also be committed to a long term plan for our nations.

To complete this godly invasion of society we must **"be as shrewd as snakes" (see Matthew 10:16).** Snakes are good at judging situations. By concealing themselves in their environment, they are able to patiently wait for the opportune time to strike. Interestingly, Jesus commanded us to mimic this behavior. After gaining new influences, we should wait until the Spirit reveals the appropriate time to witness for Christ. If a snake reveals itself before the proper time, its prey might escape. Such premature exposure could also make the serpents become the quarry. Like snakes, Christians must discern the proper timing in order to influence cultures (see Proverbs 15:23).

At times I have failed to properly understand the seasons of the Lord. After moving back to Clearwater, I was reacquainted with a high school friend, named Philip (not his real name). This friendship had been dormant for fifteen years, and now God was reestablishing it. Philip was not saved, and it seemed that the Lord was beginning to draw him, but giving him a copy of my book, _Life in the Light_ , brought God's work to a screeching halt. As a youth, I greatly admired Philip and often sought his approval. And, as an adult, I continued in these errors. My reason for giving him a copy of my book was for some type of personal affirmation. What a mistake. Then next time I saw him, he lambasted me for being a hypocrite, and then effectively shut me out of his life. Sadly, I had failed to seek the Lord's leading for Philip's life.

When believers are being led by the Spirit, we possess the wisdom and knowledge the world needs. One of the most effective way to get our message out is to practice Matthew 5:16: " **Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven."** Our works _,_ not only our words _,_ is what mankind should be noticing. Using our words unwisely minimizes our effectiveness. Some of what made Philip stumble was the Christian words in my book.

In Matthew 10:32, Jesus said that **"whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven."** Errantly, some overzealous saints have interpreted this verse to mean that the first thing people should know about us is that we are Christians. This practice usually repels the lost. Our confessions should come after they have seen our **"good works**." This builds the necessary trust required to penetrate unbelieving hearts. Usually, we need to let our quiet deeds illuminate the fact that we possess something different.

A shrewd practice is to befriend unbelievers before witnessing to them. Sometimes people are ready to believe upon our initial encounter, other times it takes patient endurance to be given the opportunity to share Jesus. As we saw with Philip, being out of season in our witnessing can thwart the Spirit's work in a person's life. Clever believers wait for the best opportunity to speak about Jesus. By seeking to hear our Shepherd's voice in the lost, we can then discern the timing of God for their lives (see John 10:27). By penetrating their hearts with truth at the precise moment, we can effect eternal change in an individual's life.

PROGRESSIVE AUTHORITY

Disciplining individuals and their cultures is part of our commission. Jesus said, **"All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations** [ethnos] **" (see Matthew 28:18-19).** In the Old Testament, humanity was to experience God in one physical place—Jerusalem. In the New Testament, this occurs as believers **"go into all the world" (see Mark 16:15)**. To assist us with this task, Jesus describes what disciplining cultures should look like:

"And these signs will follow those who believe: In My name they will cast out demons; they will speak with new tongues;

"they will take up serpents; and if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover" (Mark 16:17-18).

The first sign that follows " **those who believe"** is that " **they will cast out demons."** By fulfilling our personal commissions, demons will be displaced from individuals' lives. Like Paul battling Bar-Jesus, removing counterfeit spiritual authority is part of our personal callings. It is not a matter of _if_ we will battle evil. Rather, the question is _when_ and _where_. As we focus on the kingdom of God, we will be given the opportunity to cast out individual demon spirits.

The second sign is that " **they will speak with new tongues."** The traditional Charismatic and Pentecostal view of this scripture infer the baptism in the Holy Spirit, as evidenced on the Day of Pentecost. While this interpretation has merit, there could be an additional meaning. The word " **tongues"** could also have been translated _languages_. Remember Daniel. He was chosen by Nebuchadnezzar because the king was looking for someone **"whom they might teach the** _language_ **and literature of the Chaldeans" (see Daniel 1:4).** Part of our commission is to learn the languages or tongues of different cultures. Practically speaking, knowing a nation's language gives us access to their society. Daniel's understanding of Chaldean speech allowed God to give him specific prophetic insight concerning that nation. While seeking to fulfill our callings, we will be required to learn the language of our individual fields, and these skills will appear as " **new tongues."**

As a small business owner, learning the languages of accounting, tax preparation, website design and optimization, engine mechanics and so on has been a vital part of my experience. Instead of paying others for their services, studying and teaching myself these vocations has been required for survival. The age old saying, "Necessity is the mother of invention," has been true in my life. To accomplish our purpose will, at times, require us to be stretched beyond our present levels of education.

The third sign is that " **they will take up serpents."** Since casting out demons is already covered in this narrative, it would appear that picking up serpents has another meaning. Snakes are sometimes used as biblical symbols for earthly leaders. Worldly rulers are often cunning in relation to their surroundings, and always looking for opportunities. Fulfilling this aspect of our commission means we are to " **take up"** seats of authority currently possessed by ungodly leaders. By rising to superiority in our individual vocations, we can remove the serpents controlling these spheres of authority.

The fourth sign is that " **if they drink anything deadly, it will by no means hurt them."** While pursuing our passions, we will necessarily interact with spiritual toxins. Trusting the Holy Spirit to keep us and protect us is essential. Having faith in our Protector allows us to bump elbows with unclean people and unclean things. If Christians walking in their purpose brings them to less than holy places, they can be assured that **"it will by no means hurt them."** On this journey, we may stumble and be tricked by the Devil, but God's Spirit is always present to help. " **If anyone sins, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous" (see I John 2:1)**. We simply pick ourselves up, and keep moving forward.

Becoming reacquainted with Philip meant traveling to unsavory environments. His profession is an M.C. (master of ceremonies) at dance clubs and I accompanied him to work a few times. By esteeming the Lord's work in his life, I was able to overcome any fear of my surroundings while in these bars. Not to mention that God always protected me. Since that day when Philip called me a hypocrite, the Lord has been slowly reopening his heart towards me, and the ending has yet to be determined in his life.

The last sign and end result is that " **they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover."** The kingdom of God will touch the needs of the afflicted, when believers walk in their callings. These five signs give us an outline for kingdom evangelism, and reveal how Christians should manifest to the world. This process is much different than just getting people saved and joined to a religious system. Rather, it reveals the warrior nature of God, calling His children to redeem the cultures of the earth.

On that day when Christ returns to establish His thousand year reign, the Word of God, symbolized as a sword, will come out of His mouth to strike the nations (see Revelation 19:13-14). We should be careful not to ascribe human time frames to these events. **"But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day" (II Peter 3:8).** According to this scripture, the day of His return could be as long as a thousand years. During this period, the body of Christ could be the weapon coming out of His mouth. If so, it seems then that He is waiting for us to evangelize our cultures with His kingdom message, and after we fulfill this mandate, all of heaven will proclaim that **"the kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ" (see Revelation 11:15).**

# Chapter 7

### TENT MAKERS

The pathway towards accomplishing our purpose is not always clear cut. Why else would the Psalmist make this statement, " **Tell me clearly what to do, and show me which way to turn"** **(see** **Psalms 5:8** **NLT)**? Apparently, there was something about his life course that was hard to navigate. Our path is often spread out like a rabbit trail. In God's wisdom, He gives us just enough revelation concerning our destiny to keep us moving forward. If we seek Him, God will reveal our ultimate purpose, but the individual steps will usually remain somewhat veiled.

One reason the Father incrementally directs our lives is so that we learn to trust Him. God promised to give the children of Israel a land flowing with milk and honey, but He said nothing of the wilderness journey between Egypt and the Promise Land (see Exodus 3:8). This step was veiled so Israel could develop faith in the Father's goodness and love. As the children of Israel journeyed through the wilderness, they struggled to believe in God's affection for them. When faced with life threatening trails, they challenged God's character. Before we are too hard on them, we should consider what our response would be in similar situations. Is our faith in God's love solid and immovable? Mercifully, He gave us their story as an example of what not to do.

After our deliverance from Egypt and receiving the calling of God, we usually begin the rabbit trail. This path is prepared by God to suit our spiritual needs. The children of Israel had lessons to learn as they journeyed through the wilderness, and so do we. Our trail is rarely orderly or neat. Perceiving this path through a cloud of internal darkness and feeling like we are groping through obscurity just to find the next step is not unusual.

During these times, friends and family often struggle to understand our situation. Our circumstances can not be rationally explained, and we find ourselves having **"been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men" (see I Corinthians 4:9).** Explaining my call to move back to Clearwater was quite humbling. It meant forsaking a five year business investment in South Carolina. Friends and family warned me that charter fishing success in Florida would be difficult. Nevertheless, I obeyed God's call, and eventually He gave me many vocational and spiritual achievements in Clearwater.

Likewise, Moses was also made a spectacle when he left his Egyptian position of influence, vice-president over the most powerful kingdom in the world, to tend sheep in the wilderness of Midian (see Hebrews 11:24-27). Such actions surely appeared irrational to Moses' friends and family. Being a shepherd was considered an abominable occupation to the Egyptians (see Genesis 46:34), but Moses pursued the calling of God regardless of what people thought. Other biblical heroes had to endure similar misunderstandings.

SOJOURNERS

Abraham left his hometown of Haran not knowing his final destination. He moved his entire life at the command of God even though the Lord's instructions were void of practical details (see Genesis 12:1-5). Abraham was ordered by God to simply go.

By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.

By faith he made his home in the Promised Land like a stranger in a foreign country (Hebrews 11:8-9 NIV).

Throughout the ages, many saints have left all to follow God, but Abraham forsook everything " **even though he did not know where he was going."** The land of Canaan was southwest of Haran. Abraham probably felt uncertain about his decision to travel that direction. It appears that God did not clearly reveal this step because " **by faith he made his home in the Promised Land**." Leaving Haran demonstrated Abraham's trust in God, but it took drastic faith to believe that his decision to travel to Canaan was the Lord's will.

A bit of uncertainty will be present as we seek to fulfill our callings and inherit the promises of God. The courage of Abraham will be necessary. Movement towards our perception of His will is often required before we receive the heavenly confirmation that we have arrived in the right place. It was not until AFTER Abraham settled in the land of Canaan that God revealed that he was in the correct location (see Genesis 12:4-7). Whether or not we made the right decision is often not revealed until after we make it.

One night, while at a friend's house, I was introduced to a man, Socrates Charos, whom had a successful ministry in downtown Clearwater. After sharing my dream with him about walking up the Memorial Causeway Bridge and receiving a staff from heaven, Socrates revealed that for many years he would walk with his staff to the top of the Memorial Causeway Bridge and pray for downtown. This profound confirmation of my destiny did not come until after I moved back to Clearwater.

CORRECTING MISTAKES

Even when believers receive such dramatic confirmations, we do not always make the correct choices. When a famine came on the land of Canaan, Abraham fled to Egypt, and almost lost his wife to Pharaoh (see Genesis 12:10-20). Later in his life, he repeated the same mistake with King Abimelech, and almost lost his wife again (see Genesis 20). In both instances, God rebuked the kings instead of chastising Abraham. Why? When Abraham left Haran, he had to choose a path. Now, Abraham was groping his way through the Promise Land trying to select the correct passageway. The fact that Abraham continually looked for the right path pleased God so much that He made up for the patriarch's mistakes. God will so the same for us when we make mistakes while attempting to follow the rabbit trail.

The patriarchs', however, did make the correct decisions not to build houses in Canaan. Rather, Abraham **"lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob" (see Hebrews 11:9** **NIV).** Tents are temporary structures that can be easily put up or taken down. The fact that the patriarchs lived in tents reveals an important truth: when following God's call, we must, like Abraham, be willing to relocate quickly and easily. Too much baggage or attachment to a specific area can hinder us from following His will. The amount of spiritual insight we personally receive from the Lord is proportionate to us pitching our tent in the correct place. Abraham learned of his ultimate destiny in Canaan, not Haran.

As believers aggressively pursue their purpose, tent dwelling will be required. Relocating from city to city can be part of the Lord's rabbit trail. When I committed to passionately finding my calling, it required a series of moves. In the span of six years, I moved from Tampa, Florida to Fort Mill, South Carolina to Charleston, South Carolina back to Fort Mill then to Isle of Palms, South Carolina and finally home to Clearwater, Florida. While living in each city, I gained knowledge and wisdom that helped me on my journey, but when spiritual revelation dried up in one location, I sensed it was time to move to another.

CREATIVE FAITH

The Scriptures never say that Abraham's faith was perfect, only that he was the Father of it (see Romans 4:11). He gave birth to faith! Abraham believed God for things that had never previously occurred. We have no written record of following events taking place before Abraham's life:

* God sending a man to a strange land to inherit territories possessed by others nations (see Genesis 12).

* A man interceding for a city to prevent judgment (see Genesis 18:16-33).

* Group healing (see Genesis 20:17-18).

* God opening the womb of a barren woman (see Genesis 21:1-5).

* God raising the dead (see Hebrews 11:9).

Abraham's faith was creative. His ministry brought new spiritual realities into earthly existence. He truly called **"those things which do not exist as though they did" (see Romans 4:17).** So radical were his beliefs that a place in the afterlife was named after him (see Luke 16:22). Throughout history, the natural and spiritual decedents of Abraham have been known for their innovative thinking. The man credited with the initial idea for the internet was Jewish, Leonard Kleinrock. Consider what such ground-breaking thinking has created.

With just a few clicks of a computer mouse, individuals can be globally interconnected. In previous ages, travel and interconnection was a much more difficult process, requiring a large investment of time and money. Remarkably, the internet has eased this burden and accelerated our pace of life. Although much evil can be done through the web, God has a plan for this technology. The internet has become the modern equivalent of ancient Roman highways.

The Roman Empire came to world dominance a few decades before the birth of Christ. A creative characteristic of this kingdom was their ability to build highways. These pathways provided swift travel for their armies, and increased their nation's ability to maintain rule over conquered kingdoms. No previous world power developed such an extensive transportation system. Biblical historians have stated that these Roman roads helped New Testament Christianity rapidly spread across the known world. Early believers used this human technology: they traveled these highways on their missionary journeys.

All technologies originate from God. New scientific discoveries are simply the unveiling of knowledge already possessed by Him. The Lord has always known that information could be stored on a computer and that this information could then be networked over a copper wire or through the atmosphere by satellites and antennas. However, humanity has just recently begun to understand these methods of transferring information. How many more discoveries await mankind?

The voice of one crying in the wilderness:

"Prepare the way of the LORD;

Make straight in the desert

A highway for our God" (Isaiah 40:3)

This prophecy was fulfilled in the ministry of John the Baptist (see Matthew 3:1-3). John was an anti-type of the prophet Elijah, and Jesus revealed that all last day saints will operate under a similar mantle (see Matthew 17:11-13; Malachi 4:5). Throughout history, Elijah's anointing has helped mankind to **"prepare** **the way of the LORD."** Technological inventions like ancient Roman roads and the internet have in certain situations become **"a highway for our God."** Therefore, one function of this last day ministry of Elijah is to discover and create new spiritual and earthly technologies.

Today, the internet is rapidly advancing the gospel. Social networking sites are encouraging the interchange of cultures, and God's kingdom is being revealed through them. Biblical messages are being globally streamed in real time. God's word is traveling across the world in an instance. The availability of truth is so prevalent that Habakkuk's prophecy is being fulfilled: " **For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD" (see Habakkuk 2:14).** Individuals, cities and nations are being influenced by modern technologies. When believers fail to use modern inventions for Christ, the Devil is often allowed to pervert them. This must stop. No longer can we allow the ungodly to pervert human innovation and creativity. We must proclaim His kingdom through contemporary methods.

EXTRACTING INFLUENCE

Wise Christians will attempt to learn from those who possess a more advanced natural and spiritual skill set than theirs. They will seek to gain knowledge, creativity and innovation regardless of the vessel that is teaching it. Both believers and unbelievers have real accomplishments in their lives, and having a humble posture allows us to learn from them. Unfortunately, some saints have been cutoff from their purpose by their unwillingness to listen to others. Josiah was a godly king of Judah whose reign had been prophesied many years before His birth (see I Kings 13:12). Josiah instituted great reforms in Judah, but this great leader failed to hear the Lord's voice through Necho, king of Egypt:

After all this, when Josiah had prepared the temple, Necho king of Egypt came up to fight against Carchemish by the Euphrates; and Josiah went out against him.

**But he sent messengers to him, saying, "What have I to do with you, king of Judah? I have not come against you this day, but against the house with which I have war;** _for God commanded me to make haste. Refrain from meddling with God, who is with me, lest He destroy you._ **"**

Nevertheless Josiah would not turn his face from him, but disguised himself so that he might fight with him, and did not heed the words of Necho from the mouth of God. So he came to fight in the Valley of Megiddo.

And the archers shot King Josiah; and the king said to his servants, "Take me away, for I am severely wounded."

His servants therefore took him out of that chariot and put him in the second chariot that he had, and they brought him to Jerusalem. So he died, and was buried in one of the tombs of his fathers. And all Judah and Jerusalem mourned for Josiah (II Chronicles 35:20-24).

Josiah struggled to recognize Necho's mission, and it cost him his life. The king of Judah should have encouraged Necho to fulfill his purpose rather than fighting against him. Josiah's failure is a warning to us. We need to honor God's work in others, especially when they do not meet our expectations of righteousness. King David made a similar mistake by not paying attention to the warning issued by Joab.

So David said to Joab and to the leaders of the people, "Go, number Israel from Beersheba to Dan, and bring the number of them to me that I may know it."

And Joab answered, "May the LORD make His people a hundred times more than they are. But, my lord the king, are they not all my lord's servants? Why then does my lord require this thing? Why should he be a cause of guilt in Israel?" (I Chronicles 21:2-3).

Joab's character was deceitful and murderous. He had previously committed serious sins (see II Samuel 3:22-29). David struggled to hear the Lord's voice through this man of questionable integrity.

Nevertheless the king's word prevailed against Joab. Therefore Joab departed and went throughout all Israel and came to Jerusalem. Then Joab gave the sum of the number of the people to David (I Chronicles 21:4-5).

And God was displeased with this thing; therefore He struck Israel (I Chronicles 21:7).

So the LORD sent a plague upon Israel, and seventy thousand men of Israel fell (I Chronicles 21:14).

The king's failure resulted in the loss of " **seventy thousand men of Israel."** One can hardly imagine the sorrow David felt for his mistake. If we can learn from David and Josiah's examples, we will be spared from great anguish. God's voice is often found in those we consider less spiritual than us. That is why Jesus said we could learn from babies (see Matthew 21:16). If the Lord opened a donkey's mouth to rebuke Balaam, He can easily speak to us through people who are different from us. By accepting God's presence in others, we can glean from their knowledge and experience. Josiah's sectarian spirit caused his premature death, and David's failure cost Israel tens of thousand of lives. How much life are we missing when we reject His voice in believers and nonbelievers?

Hearing God's voice in others does not mean that we should bare an equivalent burden with unsaved individuals in business and spiritual ventures, marriage or other serious relationships. Being **"unequally yoked together with unbelievers" (see II Corinthians 6:14)** will always lead a Christian towards unnecessary heartache. Saints faces serious challenges as they pursue their callings, and unbelievers are not equipped to handle these difficulties. In certain situations, we can glean from their skill and knowledge, but we should not bind ourselves together with them. Even believers can be unequally joined with other believers.

When Abraham was called to leave Haran, God told him to leave his family there (see Genesis 12:1). Yet, in spite of this command, Abraham's nephew, Lot, traveled with him (see Genesis 12:4). Abraham, not Lot, was called to father a nation, and God commanded him to forsake his family because of this irregular destiny. Later in the land of Canaan, Lot's employees had contention with Abraham's (see Genesis 13) and at one point Abraham had to go to war to save Lot's life (see Genesis 14). In the Promise Land, Abraham's relationship with Lot was a continual source of agitation. Lot desired to dwell in the cities of Sodom and Zoar (see Genesis 13:12; 19:18-22), but Abraham heart was to live in tents (see Genesis 13:18). Differences in character lead these relatives down very different paths. Eventually, Abraham made the right choice and separated from Lot. Likewise, if we have unequally yoked ourselves with others, we should repent to God and to the individuals we have joined. All parties involved suffer, believers and unbelievers alike, when we fail to understand this principle.

When saints realize that we are all children of Abraham and maintain the proper relational boundaries, we can do his works (see John 8:39; Galatians 3:7). We will have to risk everything and sometimes move form place to place to follow what we think is God, but in the end, we will be vindicated before our family and peers. God will exalt us after we have made an effort to obey His will. As we pursue our purpose, the spiritual descendants of Abraham will create natural and spiritual technologies, yet to accomplish this task, we must discern God's workings in the believers and unbelievers who have gone before us. Building on their successes and learning from their failures will enable us to become all that we are called to be.

# Chapter 8

### TEACHING PRINCIPALITIES

Seeking to fulfill our calling usually leads us towards perplexing circumstances, " **and without controversy great is the mystery of godliness" (see I Timothy 3:16).** God's dealings with mankind always spark debate. Job was tormented to a degree that one can hardly envision. Just thinking about his situation is difficult. In addition to Job's physical sufferings and losses, he had to endure his friends' slander. Most of the Book of Job is the record of his acquaintances trying to reprove Job's alleged sinful behavior (see Job 4-37). By God's own declaration, Job was the most upright man in the earth (see Job 1:8), yet his companions were overtaken by the controversial circumstances surrounding him.

Now when Job's three friends heard of all this adversity that had come upon him, each one came from his own place — Eliphaz the Temanite, Bildad the Shuhite, and Zophar the Naamathite. For they had made an appointment together to come and mourn with him, and to comfort him.

And when they raised their eyes from afar, and did not recognize him, they lifted their voices and wept; and each one tore his robe and sprinkled dust on his head toward heaven.

So they sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great (Job 2:11-13).

Originally Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar planned on comforting Job, but after seeing his condition they were dismayed. His friends sat there for seven days without being able to speak. Their minds could not comprehend the evil that had recently happened to Job. When they finally spoke, all they could do was accuse him. Their attempts to rationalize God's dealings with mankind caused them to assume Job's affliction was his own fault. They reasoned that only a sinner could be judged so severely. Ignorant that the Father was teaching principalities and powers the manifold wisdom of God (see Ephesians 3:10), they maligned Job's character. It took a direct word from the Lord to correct their misunderstandings (see Job 38-41).

Somehow, the author of this biblical Book received insight concerning the supernatural events taking place between God and Satan (see Job 1-2). If Job wrote his own Book, as is commonly believed, then some level of personal understanding concerning his sufferings and controversial circumstances were achieved. In God's own ways and timing, He will reveal the reason for our trials, but during these tribulations, we are required to trust His goodness, regardless of what our circumstances or friends communicate.

A BAREFOOT PROPHET

In the year that Tartan came to Ashdod, when Sargon the king of Assyria sent him, and he fought against Ashdod and took it,

at the same time the LORD spoke by Isaiah the son of Amoz, saying, "Go, and remove the sackcloth from your body, and take your sandals off your feet." And he did so, walking naked and barefoot.

Then the LORD said, "Just as My servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and a wonder against Egypt and Ethiopia,

"so shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians as prisoners and the Ethiopians as captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, with their buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt" (Isaiah 20:1-4).

In order for Isaiah to complete his purpose, God required him to walk around barefoot and naked for three years. One can barely imagine the difficulty in fulfilling this aspect of Isaiah's calling. God made the prophet's behavior " **a sign and a wonder against Egypt and Ethiopia**." When God addresses a nation in Scripture, He often speaks to their natural and spiritual leaders (see Isaiah 14; Ezekiel 28:1-19). Isaiah's nakedness was teaching these earthly rulers and their evil principalities. His life metaphorically predicted the coming nakedness of the demonic realm when disarmed by Christ (see Colossians 2:15).

Isaiah's bareness and vulnerability was the very thing that God used to chastise unbelieving cultures. We will come to a similar place of weakness while seeking to fulfill our destiny. God will sometimes require our obedience even when it cost us our dignity. Our lives are not our own. We are bought with a price. The Father will use our controversial situations for His purposes.

To become a published author, the Lord required that I arrange my life in an unconventional way. My charter fishing business only creates seasonal income. During the off season months, God calls me to write. Each year, when the fishing slows down, I endure the same trial of having trust the Lord to meet my financial needs. When I get weak, I seek the Lord about a normal job, but the answer is always the same: use my time to write and trust God to provide for my needs. The Lord uses this awkward employment situation to accomplish His plans through my life.

As we pursue His call on our lives, difficult decisions must be made. We may find ourselves in unfavorable circumstances, having to choose a humiliating natural posture for the advancement of His kingdom. We are admonished to " **trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5).** This warning to "lean not on your own understanding" reveals that following the Lord will lead us to a point where things just do not make any sense. Obedience can not always be rationalized, and a full understanding of His directives is not always immediately attained. Isaiah probably had to forsake his "own understanding" to walk around naked, and from the scriptures above it seem that at the end of three years the prophet attained understanding for God's radical command.

WHAT KIND OF FIRE?

"Lie also on your left side, and lay the iniquity of the house of Israel upon it. According to the number of the days that you lie on it, you shall bear their iniquity.

"For I have laid on you the years of their iniquity, according to the number of the days, three hundred and ninety days; so you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Israel.

"And when you have completed them, lie again on your right side; then you shall bear the iniquity of the house of Judah forty days. I have laid on you a day for each year" (Ezekiel 4:4-6).

God required Ezekiel to lie in bed for four hundred and thirty days. Like Isaiah, Ezekiel was made a sign and a wonder for a specific period of time. We should not be surprised if while pursuing our callings God makes us a sign and a wonder to our cultures.

"Also take for yourself wheat, barley, beans, lentils, millet, and spelt; put them into one vessel, and make bread of them for yourself. During the number of days that you lie on your side, three hundred and ninety days, you shall eat it" (Ezekiel 4:9)

"And you shall eat it as barley cakes; and bake it using fuel of human waste in their sight" (Ezekiel 4:12).

So I said, "Ah, Lord GOD! Indeed I have never defiled myself from my youth till now; I have never eaten what died of itself or was torn by beasts, nor has abominable flesh ever come into my mouth."

Then He said to me, "See, I am giving you cow dung instead of human waste, and you shall prepare your bread over it" (Ezekiel 4:14-15).

Ezekiel was ordered to prepare his food over a fire made from human excrement. So sensational was God's command that the prophet's response was " **ah".** Eating food prepared in this manner was repulsive to Ezekiel. So he pleaded with God, and the Father, in His kindness, changed His mind. God permitted the prophet to use cow excrement instead. Not that animal dung was any better. Ezekiel's food would still taste like—well you know.

The Lord was teaching spiritual truths through these extreme circumstances. Food speaks of provision, and God was revealing that Ezekiel's sustenance would come to him in a detestable way. The taste would remind him of the process necessary to fulfill his calling. Trusting God to provide for our needs means accepting His sustenance regardless of how it is prepared. During my slow fishing months, God's provisions almost always arrive in a way that is controversial and humiliating. As a man, I want to provide for my family by the strength of my hands, but God continues to remind me that His plans are accomplished, **"Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit" (Zechariah 4:6).**

A KING'S PROVISION

Believers are not excluded from sometimes being provided for by others **.** Even the mighty King David was occasionally reliant on strangers.

David sent ten young men; and David said to the young men, "Go up to Carmel, go to Nabal, and greet him in my name.

"And thus you shall say to him who lives in prosperity: 'Peace be to you, peace to your house, and peace to all that you have!

'Now I have heard that you have shearers. Your shepherds were with us, and we did not hurt them, nor was there anything missing from them all the while they were in Carmel.

'Ask your young men, and they will tell you. Therefore let my young men find favor in your eyes, for we come on a feast day. Please give whatever comes to your hand to your servants and to your son David'" (I Samuel 25:5-8).

David had previously been anointed ruler of Israel, but now he needs help from Nabal (a man whose name means _fool_ ). David, a proud warrior, was probably humbled by this dilemma. Having to rely on a stranger to feed you, your family and your army is not the position a king should be in. To make matter worse, Nabal does a foolish thing and scornfully rejects David's request.

"Who is this fellow David?" Nabal sneered. "Who does this son of Jesse think he is? There are lots of servants these days who run away from their masters.

"Should I take my bread and water and the meat I've slaughtered for my shearers and give it to a band of outlaws who come from who knows where?" (I Samuel 25:10-11 NLT).

Similar to Ezekiel, David's provision came in a detestable way. In seeking to provide for those under his authority, David ends up being humiliated before his men. Although Nabal rejected his request, the fool's wife, Abigail, wisely brought provisions to David (see I Samuel 25:14-27). When David's natural strength could not sustain his needs, a woman took care of them.

Writing during the off season has required me to ask family for money, to borrow, to barter, to receive financial help from friends, and even be on government assistance at times. These facts are humbling and can hardly be observed without stirring controversy. Nevertheless, after years of seeking God, it has become clear that this is His path for me. Like David, to fulfill my calling, I must receive His provision in the way He gives it.

TRICKERY HONORED?

In an attempt to receive the Lord's provision, we can at times manifest ungodly behaviors. Jacob swindled his brother, Esau, out of his birthright. Then, when their father Isaac was about to die, Jacob pretended to be Esau so he could receive his brother's blessing (see Genesis 25:29-34; 27). Believers do their best to follow God, but fulfilling our purpose is not always a sanctified process.

Later in life, the Lord allowed Jacob to experience similar treachery at the hands of his uncle Laban (see Genesis 28-31), thereby reaping what he had sown in his dealings with Esau, yet we have no written evidence that God ever verbally rebuked Jacob's craftiness. In Genesis 32, when Jacob was fleeing from Laban, he found himself in a wrestling match with God, and because of Jacob's persistence to be blessed, God changed his name from "Jacob," which means _supplanter_ , to "Israel," which means _contender with God_ (see Genesis 32:28). Apparently, nothing could deter Jacob from obtaining the heavenly benefits placed on his family line. If he had to wrestle with God, so be it (see Genesis 32:24). In spite of Jacob's previous trickery, his aggressive posture caused God to declare, **"Jacob I have loved; but Esau I have hated" (see Malachi 1:2-3).** Apparently, God viewed the forceful nature of Jacob's behavior in a positive way. _The Parable of the Unjust Steward_ gives us a glimpse at our Lord's perspective on such matters:

[Jesus] **also said to His disciples: "There was a certain rich man who had a steward, and an accusation was brought to him that this man was wasting his goods.**

"So he called him and said to him, 'What is this I hear about you? Give an account of your stewardship, for you can no longer be steward.'

"Then the steward said within himself, 'What shall I do? For my master is taking the stewardship away from me. I cannot dig; I am ashamed to beg.

'I have resolved what to do, that when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses.'

"So he called every one of his master's debtors to him, and said to the first, 'How much do you owe my master?'

"And he said, 'A hundred measures of oil.' So he said to him, 'Take your bill, and sit down quickly and write fifty.'

"Then he said to another, 'And how much do you owe?' So he said, 'A hundred measures of wheat.' And he said to him, 'Take your bill, and write eighty.'

"So the master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly. For the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light" (Luke 16:1-9).

A key to understanding this parable is found in the statement, **"The master commended the unjust steward because he had dealt shrewdly."** The Lord was more pleased with the unjust steward's aggressive actions than He was displeased by the method. Of course, lying and cheating are sins, but God was revealing that " **the sons of this world are more shrewd in their generation than the sons of light."** Often, unbelievers have a more aggressive posture towards their passions than Christians. That is why it pleases God when believers whole heartedly pursue their purpose, even if they manifest sinfulness during the process. God will deal with our sins in time, but it seems that our inaction, laziness and lack of passion can be greater hindrances to fulfilling our callings than dishonest behavior.

Submitting to God's provisional process is never easy, but the alternative is a boring life void of excitement. Playing it safe in Christianity will lead us towards unfulfilled dreams. If we find ourselves in the failure of inactivity, all we need to do is repent. Then, God will reveal our destiny and ignite our passions. Like Job, David, Isaiah and Ezekiel, we will have to endure controversial circumstances, but they are only for a season. **"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life" (see James 1:12 NIV).** When God calls us to contentious situations, He is seeking to bless us. The **"crown of life"** could also be called "the authority or kingship of supernatural living." By enduring our trials and seeking to complete our callings, we are empowered and privileged to administer kingdom provisions on earth.

# Chapter 9

### ARMED BY THE CROSS

On this journey towards fulfilling our purpose, God will arrange our circumstances so that we are forced to pick up our crosses daily (see Luke 14:27). Our Lord fashions this suffering to fit our specific needs, and this typically occurs through our difficult situations. The type and duration of our crosses are determined by God, and like Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane, we usually agree with the Father's will only because there is no other way (see Luke 22:42).

Job had to endure the loss of his children, his earthly wealth, and the unsupportive attitudes of his wife and friends. Isaiah was humiliated daily by his nakedness. Ezekiel lied in bed for months, eating disgusting food. David was unable to feed those under his authority. These great men of God experienced death through these circumstances. On a much smaller scale, my cross has been to receive financial support in humiliating ways. This kills my tendencies towards self reliance, and places me at the mercy of God. If he does not provide, I do not survive. Thankfully, He has been faithful to supply all my needs (see Philippians 4:19).

Enduring the process of the cross enables us to properly manage the blessings we are called to inherit. Jesus gained authority through His cross, and we receive authority through our situational suffering. Through such events, Christians are being empowered to defeat our final and greatest opponent. " **The last enemy that will be destroyed is death"** **(see I Corinthians 15:26).** Ever since Adam ate from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, death has reigned (see Romans 5:14). When Old Testament believers died, their spirit and souls did not go immediately to heaven, instead, they went to the righteous side of Hades (see Luke 16:19-31). After His death, Jesus descended into Hades, and set these deceased believers free from prison (see I Peter 3:19-20; 4:6).

And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice, and yielded up His spirit.

Then, behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom; and the earth quaked, and the rocks were split,

and the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised;

and coming out of the graves after His resurrection, they went into the holy city and appeared to many (Matthew 27:50-53).

This subterranean jail break was a major step in defeating the grave's power over mankind, but, presently, death is still operating in certain spheres of the Lord's creation. Why? When Jesus resurrected Himself, He removed the sting of death and finished His work (see I Corinthians 15:55; John 19:30). Therefore, we are the next step in the process. By passionately pursuing our callings, His life is brought to places currently under death's control. All believers are the weapons God is using to defeat this final adversary.

DOUBLE TROUBLE

To become these effective weapons we will need a double blessing, portion or anointing, yet to attain this divine empowerment, we must understand II Kings 2:9-10.:

Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask! What may I do for you, before I am taken away from you?"

Elisha said, "Please let a double portion of your spirit be upon me."

So he said, "YOU HAVE ASKED A HARD THING..."

What a strange response? " **With God all things are possible" (see Matthew 19:26)** , He does not become overburdened by giving us a double portion **,** anointing or blessing. Granting us heavenly benefits is not " **a hard thing** " for Him. He created the universe by merely speaking words. So why would Elijah make such a peculiar statement? Elijah understood that our level of anointing or blessing is often proportionate to the amount of suffering and trials we encounter. When Elisha asked for a double portion, he was also asking for twice the troubles Elijah had encountered. This was **"a hard thing."**

A similar example is found in the life of Job. After suffering incredible trials, **"the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before" (see Job 42:10).** All of his losses were restored to him in a double portion because He endured extreme suffering. Not understanding these passages has allowed some believers to think that inheriting God's blessings will always come through an easy path. On the contrary, receiving a double anointing often requires picking up our crosses under the most severe trials.

THE ARMIES OF THE LIVING GOD

Having a determination to embrace the cross and fulfill our callings causes Satan's army to rally against us. When Nehemiah returned to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall, he met intense demonic opposition (see Nehemiah 4:1-3, 7-8, 11; 6:1-11). Remarkably, the enemy's intimidation tactics had little effect on Nehemiah. He understood that Satan was ultimately resisting God's plan, not mans'. Even so, Nehemiah prepared the Israelites to fight as they worked. " **Those who built on the wall, and those who carried burdens, loaded themselves so that with one hand they worked at construction, and with the other held a weapon" (Nehemiah 4:17).**

A sword is an offensive weapon used to conquer foreign enemies and a defensive weapon used to protect one's homeland. Soldiers in the Lord's army possess the sword of the Spirit, the Word of God. We use His Word to overcome the adversary and to protect the interest of His kingdom. His truth is the most powerful force in the universe. Therefore, a spiritual military armed with this weapon has unlimited power.

The prophet Elisha accurately perceived this strength in God's army. As a seer, he had extraordinary insight into the natural war plans of his Syrian enemy (see II Kings 6:8-10). On many occasions, he prevented the armies of Israel from being attacked. " **Therefore the heart of the king of Syria was greatly troubled by this thing."** After learning that Elisha was responsible for Syria's defeats, the king **"sent horses and chariots and a great army"** to destroy the prophet. **"They came by night and surrounded the city"** where Elisha lived. Then, early the next morning, the prophet's servant saw this vast army, and cried out, **"Alas, my master! What shall we do?" (see II Kings 6:11-15).**

Believers should not be surprised when we encounter similar predicaments. The enemy often flaunts his power to intimidate us, and if our focus is only on our natural surroundings, like Elisha's servant, bewilderment will always follow. Our call to fallen spheres of authority is to influence them with heaven. Evil earthly or supernatural power should not sway our confidence. The Spirit of Religious Error sought to terrorize me, but God has prophesied that he will be bound in a ring of fire. This supernatural vision enabled me to see God's will for Clearwater, and empowered me towards fulfilling my calling.

After accurately seeing the condition of our natural or spiritual surroundings, we are to turn our attention to the will of heaven. When faced with problems, we must have the vision of Elisha. **"Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them" (see II Kings 6:16).** The prophet's discernment brought stability and peace to what appeared to be imminent destruction, and then he sought to impart this tranquility to his servant.

And Elisha prayed, and said, "LORD, I pray, open his eyes that he may see." Then the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw. And behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha (II Kings 6:17).

Because of the prophet's prayer, the young man was given a vision of the army of God. Elisha knew that when faced with overwhelming odds, his servant needed to see his trials from a kingdom perspective. It seems that Elisha had become accustom to such severe trials. Remember, he was anointed to encounter twice the hardships as his predecessor Elijah. To fulfill this difficult mandate, Elisha had to comprehend the strength of God's armed forces.

David is another believer who walked in this understanding. Part of His courage to fight Goliath came from perceiving the potency in God's army.

**David said to the Philistine, "You come to me with a sword, with a spear, and with a javelin. But I come to you in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the** _armies_ **of Israel, whom you have defied" (I Samuel 17:45).**

David had faith in the spiritual power willing to fight on his behalf. When we truly realize the power of His might, we are emboldened to defeat giants and vast armies. Nothing is impossible when we understand that **"those who are with us are more than those who are with them."** While seeking to fulfill our purpose, we will have to embrace the cross, and overcome death, but in the end we will receive God's Medal of Honor. Even mighty angels will respect our accomplishments, yet one of the greatest rewards we can receive is the privilege to participate with the Father's plan for Jesus to inherit the earth. Placing our focus on Him and the inheritance due to Him equips us to complete our callings.

# Chapter 10

### GRAY MATTERS

When describing our New Covenant, Paul declares, **"The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life" (see II Corinthians 3:6). "The letter"** refers to the written regulations in the word of God. These laws kill true spiritual growth. In contrast, " **the Spirit gives life."** Our progress towards completing our purpose can be gauged by how strictly we adhere to rules. New believers often cling to regulations, and such behavior is understandable. The consequences of sin are so destructive that rules are often needed to provide a safe passage way through life's experiences. The Law of Moses was given to the children of Israel for that reason. It highlighted their immaturity, and their need to be guided by a tutor (see Galatians 3:24-25).

In contrast, spiritual adulthood should occur as we pursue our individual callings. During this process, God will gently reveal our legalistic tendencies, while challenging our faith. Obeying laws does not require faith. However, being lead by the Spirit does. Submission to God is much harder when our necessary behaviors appear to conflict with certain rules.

"Have you never read what David did when he was in need and hungry, he and those with him:

"how he went into the house of God in the days of Abiathar the high priest, and ate the show bread, which is not lawful to eat except for the priests, and also gave some to those who were with him?" (see Mark 2:25-26).

David violated God's law for a meal, but this disobedience led to life. Simply put, without food he would have died. The Devil, also known as the accuser of the brethren, probably tried to condemn him, but his faith in God's mercy gave him comfort. David was running for his life. He needed help and food. He assumed that God would understand.

In the above scripture, Jesus recounted David's actions to correct the legalistic tendencies of religious people. His disciples were being accused of picking grain and eating on the Sabbath, thereby violating the Law of Moses (see Mark 2:23-24). Jesus explained that if David was permitted to eat the show bread because he was hungry, then surely His disciples could pick the grain to eat on the Sabbath. Both actions were against the Law of Moses, but Jesus defended David and His disciples' behavior.

Or consider Isaiah's bareness: the Law sternly prohibited seeing another person's naked body (see Leviticus 18 & 20), but with this prophet, God superseded His own regulations to teach a message through the prophet's actions. It seems that the Lord deemed the message more important than the rule.

Cooking food over a fire of dung was and is clearly unclean (see Ezekiel 4:14), yet God required Ezekiel to break this law of cleanliness. Similarly, Peter struggled with the concept of eating unclean food when God commanded him to consume certain animals (see Acts 10:9-16). These saints either literally broke a law or at least violated the spirit of these regulations, and while pursuing our callings, we may be similarly challenged. God allows this because He wants us to realize that His grace and mercy supersedes the enforcement of regulations in certain situations.

Presently, the United States of America, the land of the free, has more written regulations than any other nation. It is almost impossible to know and obey all these U.S. laws. Because of this disparity, most government agencies have leniency when it comes to certain regulations. Automobile speeding, for example, usually permits a citizen to drive in excess of ten miles per hour over the limit without receiving a citation. Technically, every driver not going the exact limit is breaking the law. Since Christians are called to obey civil authority and U.S. regulation is out of control, how do we remain law abiding citizens? The answer can only be determined by an individual's relationship with God and what their conscience allows.

The National Marine Fisheries Service (N.M.F.S.) is an unrestrained government agency that has been destroying commercial fishing communities for decades. The N.M.F.S. frequently overly restricts individual's rights to responsibly and conservatively harvest fish from our oceans. Countless fishermen have been forced into unemployment due to their burdensome laws. The N.M.F.S. openly admits to using unproven science in their decision making process. This system leaves hard working fisherman with a choice: obey the government and go bankrupt or disobey and face the legal consequences.

As a fourth generation commercial fisherman, I have struggled with this dilemma. The N.M.F.S. has unjustly limited my ability to provide for my family. My personal conviction is that the Lord gave mankind authority over fish (see Genesis 1:26; Isaiah 60:5), and any government that restricts this God-given right is violating the Scriptures. Like speeding, my obedience to these regulations has been a matter of conscience between myself and the Father.

My understanding of Jesus justifying His disciples and David's actions, Isaiah's nakedness, and Ezekiel eating unclean food encourages me to believe God gives grace in such matters. We must follow His Spirit, not the letter. Even so, obeying the current fishing regulations is a priority for me, and I have stopped fishing for many species due to the N.M.F.S. regulations. Rebellion is not the answer. In the end, trusting the Lord's leading through our conscience, getting involved in the political process and praying for human governments are the solutions to the problem.

MERCY TRIUMPHS

Unlike the convoluted U.S. Judicial System, God has clearly reveled laws in the Scriptures, and when mankind sins against these regulations, the Father will tolerate it for a season. But if we fail to correct our ways, eventually He will judge us. Incredibly, when mankind repents for themselves or their nation, God sometimes postpones or cancel this judgment (see Exodus 32:7-14; Isaiah 38:1-8; I Kings 21:17-29).

Consider the message God gave Jonah, **"Yet forty days, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" (see Jonah 3:4)**. This prophecy did not come to pass because the Ninevites **"turned from their evil way; and God relented from the disaster that He had said He would bring upon them, and He did not do it" (see Jonah 3:10** ). If Jonah's message was just an admonition of what would happen when the Ninevites failed to repent **,** how many other cataclysmic biblical prophecies can be avoided? Only God knows, but one thing is certain: the Lord has a record of relenting when we ask for forgiveness (see Numbers 14:11-20).

When David had Bathsheba's husband murdered, the king placed himself under a death sentence (see Exodus 21:23). After being rebuked by Nathan the prophet, David confessed his sin, and his verdict was lifted. **"Nathan said to David, 'The LORD also has put away your sin; you shall not die'" (see II Samuel 12:13).** The king deserved death, but the Lord spared David after he repented. God's mercy always operates by a higher law than His judgments (see James 2:13). So then **"shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not!" (see Romans 6:1-2).** Jesus does not give us a licensee for bad behavior or indiscriminate law breaking. Rather, we are to use our freedom to obey the Law of the Spirit (see Romans 8:2), that means seeking God's perspective on a regulation.

The difficult choice to obey " **the Spirit"** rather than " **the letter"** faces all believers. God challenges us to obey regardless of the cost. When Peter and John were commanded to stop speaking in the name of Jesus, they had to make a choice—obey God or human authority (see Acts 4:18-20). Christians all over the earth are making similar decisions everyday because bad governments continue to restrict freedoms. Even in the United States, we should prepare to speak the truth despite the consequences, but that is nothing new for true patriots. When the Declaration of Independence was sign on July 4th, 1776, it was an act of treason, and punishable by death. If the Continental Congress adhered strictly to the letter of the law, we would not have the United States of America. The Colonial States understood that the British Government was overreaching and needed to be resisted. God honored their disobedience to England, and granted the Continental Army miraculous victories against the British Red Coats. While seeking to comply with **"every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake" (see I Peter 2:13),** we may face situations, like Peter, John and the Founding Fathers did, where obeying God, rather than man is required. Such obedience will take strong faith in the Holy Spirit's leading.

FAITH THAT OBEYS

Legalism or strict adherence to rules makes us weak, kills true spirituality and prevents people from hearing God's voice. His Spirit bestows life, and sometimes this comes through obedience to the Lord's higher laws of mercy and grace. The Bible left many gray areas concerning what is right or wrong with human behavior. If the Scriptures do not specifically condemn an action, then the morality of this behavior is to be determined by the individual and the Holy Spirit. Believing that our actions are permissible without having the letter of the Law's approval requires confidence in God's mercy.

Our Father often hides Himself in these gray areas, but to understand this we must first examine why God does not totally reveal His glory to mankind? When the Lord revealed a small amount of His power at Mount Sinai, the Israelites became fearful (see Exodus 20:18-21). God is more powerful than our human minds can comprehend. Seeing all of His power would prompt our devotion out of fear. Instead, He allows us to understand Him through a progressive revelation. This teaches us to love Him, and then, He reveals His power and majesty. This inability to see God gives us the freedom to have a relationship with Him. Likewise, not having every human behavior regulated by the Bible gives us the liberty to grow into our individual callings. We need this freedom to explore new ideas and behaviors not specifically forbidden in the Scriptures.

The Bible clearly defines what is sinful. We should be careful about adding further restrictions. If we step outside of what is morally acceptable to Him, the Spirit is able to convict us. His reprove is soft and gentle, whereas the letter is rigid and final. Finding His leading through the gray areas of the Scriptures is our challenge, but arbitrarily choosing which laws to obey is not the Lord's way. Rather, following God while not allowing anything to hinder our purpose is our goal.

It is important to understand that fallen earthly authority operates through legalism and that God's kingdom operates by " **the Law of the Spirit" (see Roman 8:2)**. Over burdensome laws and excessive regulation are currently destroying many free countries. It seems that if the Devil can not control a country through a dictator, he will attempt to control them through human judicial systems. Thankfully, obeying God's Spirit gives us victory over the kingdoms of this age, and the ultimate judge of our behavior is God, not man. Of course, wicked people have used and will continue to use the phrase, "God told me to" as justification for their evil behavior, but sensible people know better. If the Lord is calling us to do something, it will have heavenly love and motivation attached to it. To walk in our purpose, we must be free from the tendency to substitute rules for the voice of His Spirit. In the end, He will always lead us towards moral behavior.

# Chapter 11

### WORLDLY FRIENDSHIP

To walk on the Earth as Jesus did, we must reevaluate scriptures that have been errantly interpreted to mean that Christians should live totally separate lives from "the things of the world." James 4:4 is one of them:

Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

The word **"friendship"** can be defined as _the mutual feelings of trust, affection and behavior that typify relationships between friends_. James is revealing that trusting in the world system as our source of security is equal to adultery, and that this attitude causes the Lord's envy: **"the Spirit who dwells in us yearns jealously" (see James 4:5).** James was writing to proud, wealthy people who needed to be reminded not to trust in their riches (see James 2:1-7; 4:3; 5:1-6). He was not saying that believers should avoid secular friendships, but that we should humbly realize true prosperity comes from heaven, not money (see James 4:6).

Another scripture frequently misrepresented is I Corinthians 15:33: **"Bad company corrupts good character" (NIV).** Paul wrote this passage while making his defense against resurrection deniers. Hence the question, " **How do some among you say that there is no resurrection of the dead?" (I Corinthians 15:12).** Certain believers in Corinth were rejecting this aspect of Christianity, and because of this false doctrine, the apostle had to admonish them to " **come back to your senses as you ought" (see I Corinthians 15:34 NIV).** Paul was not promoting segregation form the world. Instead, he was teaching the Corinthians that by saying " **there is no resurrection of the dead,"** their good character was being corrupted. Interestingly, this chapter does not even mention a Christian's relationship to the world. However, I Peter 2:11-12 does:

Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul,

**having your conduct honorable** _among the Gentiles_ **, that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may, by your good works which they observe, glorify God in the day of visitation.**

Peter argues that because our earthly journey is brief, we should use our time wisely. Then, in describing how to accomplish this task, he writes that we are to live " **among the Gentiles"** in a way that enables them to " **glorify God in the day of visitation."** On the contrary, the only time we are commanded to separate ourselves from a sinner is in reference to an unrepentant brother. Paul explains:

I wrote to you in my epistle not to keep company with sexually immoral people.

Yet I certainly did not mean with the sexually immoral people of this world, or with the covetous, or extortioners, or idolaters, since then you would need to go out of the world.

**But now I have written to you not to keep company with** _anyone named a brother_ **, who is sexually immoral, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or an extortioner — not even to eat with such a person (see I Corinthians 5:9-11).**

Christians that practiced sexual immorality, covetousness, idolatry, revelry, drunkenness, and extortion were to be avoided. In contrast, the " **people of this world"** who committed these sins are those whom Jesus socialized with. We are called to do the same! Mature Christians can go into dark places and be the light of the world. Our distinction from the lost is manifested more by our inward heart attitude rather than our outward behavior.

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness.

"Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness" (Matthew 23:27-28).

If we abstain from earthly pleasures while harboring sinful heart attitudes, we are no different that the Pharisees. We want to " **outwardly appear righteous"** while maintaining our inward integrity. The Lord commands us to **"be holy, for I am holy" (see I Peter 1:16).** The Hebrew and Greek words translated **"holy"** mean _sacred_. When something or someone is dedicated or devoted to God it is consider sacred. The articles in Moses' tabernacle and Solomon's temple were considered holy because they were totally dedicated to God. Now, His temple is the church, and her articles (people) are to be completely devoted to God. Our holiness is found in our level of commitment to the Lord and His purposes for our lives, not always in our outward behavior or the friends we have.

DON'T BE DRUNK WITH WINE

Strict abstinence from alcoholic drinking has traditionally been seen as a "holy" Christian behavior. While such actions appear to be godly, this practice often ends up alienating believers from the world. On occasion, to gain access to the life of an unbeliever, it can help to have a drink with them, but even the mention of alcohol causes some Christians to manifest a deep seated fear. Many believers are profoundly scarred by the effects of alcoholism, and these unhealed wounds have caused them to totally reject this practice. This is understandable, drunkenness is ugly, and it always leaves a trail of destruction in its wake. However, if we desire, a proper balance can be achieved.

Before getting saved, substance abuse was a problem for me, so for the first ten years of my Christianity abstinence was my practice. After being released into my fishing calling, a change occurred. While living in Charleston, I started to understand that rigidly avoiding alcohol could hinder my access to other captain's lives. So from time to time, I took the liberty to have a drink with them, but due to my past, I was still very apprehensive about alcohol. The Lord had to reshape my perspective.

The first notion God challenged was thinking my witness was being hurt by being seen around alcohol. The Holy Spirit helped me by showing me the importance of the friendships I was making. While socializing with my peers in drinking environments, they began to talk to me about their personal struggles, and this became extremely important to me.

The next thing I had to overcome was the fact that having a drink could be enjoyable. This caused me to study the Scriptures, and the first passage that came to mind was the clear command to avoid drunkenness. " **And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit" (see Ephesians 5:18 KJV).** The word " **drunk"** is defined as _having drunk too much alcohol and lost control over behavior, movement, and speech._ By understanding what the word drunk actually meant, I came to peace with the fact that drinking could be enjoyable, and that as long as I did not lose control over my behavior, movement, or speech, I was not violating God's commandments.

With this knowledge, I began to comprehend that God had actually given mankind alcohol as resource to be responsibly enjoyed (see Psalms 104:14-15). That is why Moses told the children of Israel that they could buy wine or other fermented drinks (see Deuteronomy 14:22-27 NIV), why Jesus turned water into wine (see John 2:1-11), and why Solomon suggested, **"drink your wine with a merry heart,"** **(see Ecclesiastes 9:7).** I further understood that drinking was to be controlled by the Holy Spirit, not fear or a set of rules, and that Jesus could keep me balanced, while giving me mastery over the deceitfulness of alcohol (see Proverbs 20:1).

Now I realize having a drink from a position of happiness, not depression, is key. Using alcohol, or any substance, to remedy an unhealed area in our soul can lead to addiction. In contrast, drinking because we are content and enjoy our life in Christ, as Solomon suggested, causes us to avoid extremes. This is not to say that we SHOULD or HAVE TO drink, only that the Scriptures permit this behavior.

Some people can not drink responsibly, and for them abstinence is the answer. Consider Samson. In order to keep his physical strength, he was to maintain his Nazirite vow. Part of his commitment forbade the consumption of alcohol (see Numbers 6; Judges 13:4-5; 16:17). Apparently, the use of intoxicants would make him weak. The spiritual implication from this is that habitual or excessive drinking diminishes our moral bearings, and as the Scriptures reveal, even an abstinent Samson's often lacked good judgment. Refraining from drinking was part of his calling, and for people with a similar missions, there is wisdom in this self-denial. That is why **"it is not for kings to drink wine, nor for princes intoxicating drink" (Proverbs 31:4),** and why pastors should not be **"given** [controlled] **to** [by] **wine" (I Timothy 3:3)**. High callings require clarity of mind that alcoholism can diminish.

Even so, LEGALISTICALLY avoiding alcohol is not the solution. Opportunities to let our lights in shine in the Devil's territory can be missed when we are not willing to have a drink with unbelievers. When we do choose to have a drink with someone, it shows them what a life led and controlled by the Spirit looks like. This is one way we can be an example of a moderate lifestyle before them, and fulfill the command to, **"Let your moderation be known unto all men" (see Philippians 4:5 KJV).** By bringing Christ to places where alcohol is consumed His kingdom can reach lost souls that might not enter our churches. Yes, this takes a certain level of maturity and temperance, but God is able to keep us from falling. We need to accurately assess our condition before we partake of liberties that have addictive elements. This is not a practice that all believers should participate in, but if the Spirit leads a Christian this way, then He will certainly provide the necessary grace.

INSTRUMENTS OF MUSIC

Just as having a drink has been traditionally frowned upon by the church, worldly music has been equally maligned **.** For most of church history, secular songs have been branded as "Devil music," and the church frequently made people feel guilty for liking non-Christian melodies. As a result, believers felt that if they listened to anything other than worship songs, they would be spiritually contaminated.

While it is true that certain worldly music has evil and degrading elements, secular melodies have frequently possessed a better artistic quality than Christian music. This disparity can be vexing for believers, like myself, who love the creative quality of music. After many years of only listening to Christian music, I got burned out by this inequality, and started listening to classic rock. Once I journeyed into the rock and roll sounds of the 1970s and 80s, a surprising thing occurred. Instead of hearing _only_ evil in the music and being spiritually defiled, I heard the transparent cries of musicians who were in pain. As I listen to these songs, my relationship with God was not harmed. Rather, they helped me sympathize with the musician's fallen human condition. I soon realized that not all secular music was evil, and that some of it was simply natural and neutral.

The aggressive nature of rock and roll music often made it hard for the church of previous decades to receive these melodies. As a result, these artists turned to the worldly venues where they would be accepted. Maybe if the church had given these musicians opportunities to freely express their talents, they would have used their skills in a more positive way. Fortunately, the church has changed its outlook. Now, believing artists are finding constructive means of expression in the church.

Even so, some believers are not content with only using their skills in the church. They want to invade worldly culture with divine inspiration. For example: Christian disc jockeys and musicians are creating music under the anointing and successfully invading worldly arenas like dance clubs, video games, concerts, television shows and movies. These believers are pioneering spiritual breakthroughs in places that the traditional church has often snubbed. Their works do not use overtly Christian phrases, but their hearts are sold out to Jesus. By examining such successes, we see that God honors a mankind's creations, even when they do not verbally or specifically give Him glory.

Love songs between a man and woman are a similar example. Clean, wholesome love songs do not specifically honor God, yet He allows mankind to create them. In fact, God esteems romantic works of arts so much that He placed the Song of Solomon in the Scriptures even though His name is not even mentioned once in Solomon's melody. God honored the creativity expressed by Solomon, more than He was concerned about having His name proclaimed. This tells us that our Father loves human ingenuity so much that He has given us the freedom to honor non-sinful relationships, behaviors and practices with our works of art.

Sadly, much of the modern arts have largely been plagued with evil and sexual perversions, yet in the days to come, God is going to redeem worldly art for His purposes. As unsaved artist begin to see the supernatural experiences of believers, they will become envious of our creative abilities. Simon the sorcerer **"was amazed, seeing the miracles and signs which were done" (see Acts 8:13)** by Philip the evangelist. Evil Simon was converted by seeing supernatural ministry. Similarly, the artistic community will be reached as they see our heavenly abilities manifesting in the natural realm.

When God calls us to a new sphere of influence, we will have to walk in greater liberties. With each realm of achievement there comes a new responsibility that requires fresh creativity. Such ingenuity can only come from a place of free expression. Errantly, the world celebrates decadent lifestyles because they think such behavior is the only way to receive inspiration. Christians, however, know better, but we must demonstrate it by our successes. While sinful lifestyles, free from moral constraint, do have temporary creative power, the world needs to realize that the freedom found in Christ creates eternal works of art.

RETURN OF THE WISEMEN

Throughout the Scriptures, Jesus used _worldly realities_ to teach _spiritual truths_ , but when believers fail to understand this proper balance and focus only on the heavenly realm, they often become unnecessarily weird. While the Gospel is peculiar, that is, it can not be understood in a rational way, we do not want to turn people away because we are irrational. We should be practical about what is practical and spiritual about what is spiritual.

**Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside** [unbelievers], **redeeming the time (Colossians 4:5-6).**

It takes wisdom to use our liberties correctly. **"All things are lawful..., but all things are not helpful" (see I Corinthians 6:12).** Anything that diminishes our ability to walk in wisdom, especially towards unbelievers, must be avoided. If worldly pursuits are damaging our witness and our relationship to Christ, then we should take a break from them. Eventually, God will make us strong enough to influence our cultures, but wisdom discerns the Lord's timing. Sometimes we are called to battle for worldly kingdoms, other times we are called to rest and be refreshed in the safety of our spiritual camps (the church).

If we get out of balance while pursuing what we think is the Lord's will, we should not be too hard on ourselves. Misusing our liberties is part of the learning process. When we overstep His bounds, God brings about the necessary conviction to return us squarely on the path of life. To accomplish our purpose, we must have a wise, balanced attitude towards worldly cultures, we may need to reevaluated scriptures that seem to teach religious segregation, and we might have to use our liberties while socializing with unbelievers in their secular environments, but isn't that exactly what Jesus did?

" **The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, 'Look, a glutton and a winebibber, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!' But wisdom is justified by her children" (Matthew 11:19).** Jesus was seen " **eating and drinking"** with " **tax collectors and sinners."** They were His friends, and He enjoyed their company. In this verse, Jesus said of Himself that He drank while on the earth. What liquid did He drink? The religious slander was that he was " **a** **winebibber,"** but what gave people the impression that He was drinking wine? Apparently, His associations led some to errantly believe that He was a drunkard. From this, we learn that the Son of God was not overly pious while He preached and demonstrated the kingdom. It did not matter that other people falsely accused Him. For the sake of associating with tax collectors and sinners, Jesus ate and drank at their dinner parties. Regrettably, the Church, including myself, has often failed to properly represent Jesus. His ministry took place amongst the heathen **,** and this teaches us that He desires to spend time with mankind, regardless of our condition or location. His presence seeks to invade bars, dance clubs, restaurants and wherever the lost are gathered. We have been given this great opportunity to represent His government in dark places.

# Chapter 12

### ROLE PLAYING

What role does the church play when it comes to individuals fulfilling their callings? The Bible clearly identifies certain responsibilities placed on the body of Christ. One of these is the mission to proclaim that mankind and the earth are to be eternally joined with Christ. This ministry of reconciliation is a chief function of God's love (see II Corinthians 5:18-20). Important aspects of this ministry are healing, deliverance and restoration. As believers mature in their callings these ministries should be evident. When Jesus walked the Earth, He went around destroying the works of the devil (see Acts 10:38). Since Jesus now dwells in His church, we should be a sanctuary that releases the enemy's captives from bondage.

A great emphasis is placed on physical healings in the body of Christ, yet many believers fail to realize that is only one aspect of this ministry. In I Corinthians 12:28, the term **"gifts of healings"** is listed as one of God's spiritual endowments given to Christians. Notice that the words " **gifts"** and " **healings"** are both plural. This implies different manifestations of this empowerment, such as, spiritual, cultural, national, and soulish healings. Physical healings draw large crowds because seeing the Lord's power is amazing. Other healings are less dramatic to the natural eye, requiring patience and endurance to see the final outcome. As the church completes her mandate to set people and cultures free, a proper balance will be achieved between all the different types of healings.

Presently, the Spirit of Liberty is hovering over the Lord's body with gifts of **"healing in His wings"** **(see Malachi 4:2).** Believers are being equipped to cure this planet's most severe dilemmas, but before we can heal others, we must first be delivered ourselves. Being released into our destinies without having been set free from major bondages can have devastating consequences. After David committed murder and adultery, God rebuked the king, **"By this deed you have given great occasion to the enemies of the LORD to blaspheme" (see II Samuel 12:14).** In this reprimand, an interesting fact was revealed—David's sins emboldened God's enemies. The king's failure probably permitted the Lord's enemies to think that God would be unable to establish David's throne forever as previously promised (see II Samuel 7:4-16).

Centuries before, Moses understood this principle and reasoned with God that if the children of Israel were destroyed in the wilderness, other nations would say that God was not able perform what He promised (see Numbers 14:13-16). Therefore, after being released into our callings, we do not want excessive baggage weighing us down. Christians reaching positions of influence only to fall to basic sins gives a measure of legitimacy to Satan's blasphemies, further darkens evil men's minds and strengthens the lie that God is not able to do what He promised. The church is called to be a place where people can be freed from sin so that God's enemies are rebuked, not emboldened.

REVEALING PURPOSE

Fortunately, if we do fail, God is able to restore us. Part of this restoration is reaffirming mankind to our original destiny as stewards over the earth. Our commission is to go into all the world, not into all the churches. Sadly, we have at times tried to make the world esteem the organization of our churches, but that was never God's intention. The system of the church is not the pattern for the cultures of the earth. Rather, the kingdom of heaven is the blueprint for the kingdoms of the world.

The tendency in Christianity has been to encourage congregations of apostles, prophets, evangelist, teachers, and pastors, hoping the world will be drawn to our buildings and services. Erroneously, believers, including myself, have been told that feeling called to anything other than this fivefold ministry meant you were a sub-par Christian. Such narrow and false teachings often frustrate Christians and repel unbelievers to our message.

Ten years into my Christian journey, while operating my contracting business, the Lord revealed that my calling was fifty percent to traditional Christian ministry and fifty percent to the marketplace. At first, this revelation disappointed me. The thought of being stuck in my contracting business was depressing, but the thought of ministering to the Lord's people was exciting. Thankfully, becoming a charter captain brought this fifty-fifty calling into balance for me. I would get to experience fulfillment in a natural and a spiritual profession. In my opinion, the privilege to serve the children of God is a high calling, but limiting that to only taking place from behind the pulpit is an error that Christians can no longer afford. The vast majority of believers are called to the marketplace. How else could the kingdom of God come to earth?

With this in mind, we can see how one of the church's responsibilities is to encourage people to pursue their passions, not try to define them. Defining a Christian's purpose is best accomplished by the wisdom and skill of the Holy Spirit. Fellowships dedicated to getting people healed and connected with their individual purposes will be attractive to those who are perishing. Unbelievers want the freedom to explore their non-sinful aspirations, but continuing to preach that worldly achievement is ungodly has kept and will continue to keep them from Christ.

A church that is skilled in deliverance and restoration will reach the multitudes, and inherit the wealth of the nations (see Zechariah 14:14). In God's eyes, people are the wealth of nations. Humanity's purchase price was the crucifixion of the Son of God. The price of one soul is invaluable. How radically different would the world be if we could truly see each others' worth?

A FREE SOCIETY

If the life of one human being is invaluable, how much more important are entire countries? When a country is ruled by an oppressive government, their citizens can not reach their full potential. Individuals can not pursue their passions without their leaders honoring God-given freedoms. If a government _does_ promote these personal liberties, that culture has the opportunity to advance the kingdom of God. Societies that respect freedom have the potential to attract the Spirit of the Lord in a special way (see II Corinthians 3:17).

When free countries honor their citizen's rights, they are often hated by dictatorial nations. People living under repressive governments often fail to understand that constitutional liberties allow for good and evil to prosper at the same time. While democratic countries' perversions are seen all over the world, so are their honorable deeds. Such is the nature of freedom. Whenever good is accomplished, evil is also present. Modern democracies need a greater influx of Christianity into their governments. The Lord's body is made up of people who can handle constitutional freedoms properly.

Churches represent the spiritual conscious of a nation. During America's Revolutionary War, the pulpits were used to speak treasonous messages towards the British king. In fact, Patrick Henry's famous line, "Give me liberty, or give me death!" was made before the Virginia political convention that was being held in St. John's Church. The Lord's body played an important role in the establishment and founding of the United States of America. In contrast, a tragic misuse of Southern American pulpits was for the promotion of slavery. This error was eventually righted by the devastating Civil War and the subsequent Civil Rights Movement.

Likewise, the church played an important role in establishing Nazi Germany. The majority of German believers adopted the centuries old theology of Judenhass, the rejection of Jew's right to exist. Hitler's was able to exploit this belief system and create a religious reason for the concentration camps. German Christians who sought to resist Hitler struggled to do so because they were in moral agreement with his actions towards the Jews. There were small pockets of racially tolerant Christians in Nazi Germany, but they either fled, or were murdered, or ended up in concentration camps. By studying American and Germany history, we can see the church's ability to affect the course of a nation. Had the American church healed the wound of slavery, a civil war could have possibly been avoided, and had the German church healed their wound of racism, the Holocaust and maybe even World War II could have possibly been avoided. Great power for good or evil can be wielded from the pulpit.

The enemy understands the authority granted to the church, and therefore uses religious and political doctrines of demons to imprison governments (see I Timothy 4:1-3). The devil's lies, at times spoken from behind the pulpit, have deeply wounded many countries. In spite of these misuses, the church has the "gifts of healings" needed to restore afflicted populations. Presently and throughout history, the Lord has strategically placed Christians in governmental callings all over the earth. " **The LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath" (Deuteronomy 28:13).** In the Scriptures, animals often symbolize countries (see Daniel 8:19-20). The tail of an animal can only follow its head **.** It can not lead. Our Father desires His headship in positions of governmental influence. Believers are called to " **be above only, and not be beneath** " so that they can stand for good in the face of evil.

Whenever governmental leaders represent the interests of heaven, evil is always defeated. The American independence from Britain in the Revolutionary War was successful because the Founding Fathers trusted that God supported their cause. Abraham Lincoln believed that the Untied States could not be great while enslaving other human beings. This gave him the courage to fight and win the Civil War. The defeat of Nazi Germany and the Empire of Japan in World War II was accomplished by Franklin Roosevelt and Winston Churchill believing in the nobility of their cause. The collapse of the U.S.S.R. and Eastern European communist countries in the Cold War was achieved because Ronald Reagan declared that communism was evil. All of these leaders were eventually aligned with God's will, and most of them were professing believers.

Their victories required different types of natural wars and the loss of precious human lives, but freedom eventually prevailed for countries that aligned themselves with heaven's plan. But just because a country is made free does not mean that it will automatically remain that way. For liberated countries, like the United States, our democracies will always be in danger of being subverted by Islamic law, socialism and communism. These totalitarian systems are built on lies, and one of their main falsehoods is the belief that governments or the false god Allah determines which rights are granted to mankind. In contrast, the United States Declaration of Independence acknowledges that mankind receives their rights from the God of the Bible, not government or fake deities.

Evil dictatorial philosophies can be defeated when their subjects turn to the true God for deliverance. Even the might United States must realize that she is dependent on God for protection from the three-headed serpent of Islamism, socialism, and communism. Obtaining, or in America's case maintaining, freedom will take courage, and once countries start turning towards God, they will almost certainly find themselves in a similar predicament as King Jehoshaphat.

Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, "A great multitude is coming against you..." (see II Chronicles 20:2).

Jehoshaphat was being attacked by a three-headed coalition—the Moabites, the Ammonites, and the Meunites. The king was vastly outnumbered, and this caused him to seek the Lord. Jehoshaphat and the tribe of Judah fasted and prayed. God promptly answered, **"Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God's" (see II Chronicles 20:15).** The people of Judah had to understand that God would fight for their freedom, that is, when evil nations seek to enslave God's people, the Lord defends their liberty.

For Judah and all countries that desire freedom, obeying the Lord's command is crucial, **"Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the LORD will give you" (see II Chronicles 20:17 NIV).** First Jehoshaphat had to move his army into battle formation. Then when the enemy advanced, the king had to " **stand firm.** " Likewise, if democracies are to maintain their liberties or enslaved countries are to be made free, they will need an army of believers willing to stand for truth in the face of overwhelming odds. At times, the temptation to flee will be present, but like Judah and Jehoshaphat this army will " **not love their life even when faced with death" (see Revelation 12:11 NASU)**. Freedom comes with a price, and God will require that we all die in some way to accomplish His purposes. For some this is a natural death, for others it occurs in the soul. Warriors in all ages have paid and will continue to pay the ultimate price so that freedom can be nurtured and protected.

Dying so others can live is God's way. Sacrifices for the sake of freedom must always be revered and remembered. They will always be necessary as long as natural and supernatural evil exist. Prayer, intercession and repentance can sometimes prevent earthly and spiritual war, but in some cases battles are necessary to make freedom accessible. God ordained armies for this reason (see Romans 13:1-4). Soldiers are required to lay down their lives for their fellow countrymen. **"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends" (see John 15:13).** Laying down our life for others is the ultimate display of God's liberating kingdom.

When the destruction of our country is knocking on our doorstep, Jehoshaphat's instructions give us hope: **"Have faith in the LORD your God...and you will be successful" (see II Chronicles 20:20 NIV).** By following these commands, the natural lives of his soldiers were protected. Oh how modern countries desperately need to learn Jehoshaphat's wisdom. How many lives could be saved if governments would turn to the Lord? When societies are properly restored to their Creator, they will be given supernatural weapons to overcome their natural and spiritual enemies.

Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated ( II Chronicles 20:22).

God will radically deliver any country, free or enslaved, that trusts Him. He can fight our battles much better than we can. When Judah went to spoil their enemy's goods there was **"more than they could take away. There was so much plunder that it took three days to collect it"(see II Chronicles 20:22 NIV).** Such is the victory for individuals and governments who trust in the Lord!

PROTECTING KINGDOMS

When believers fulfill their callings to governmental influence, they create safety for those under their authority. Asa, king of Judah, instituted reforms in his land that created a place of refuge from the evil of his day. While enduing many trials and tribulations, Asa did what was good and right in God's sight, and, as a result, his country was blessed with ten years of peace. Asa rose to leadership after the Jewish nation had been divided into the two kingdoms of Israel and Judah.

In those days it was not safe to travel about, for all the inhabitants of the lands were in great turmoil.

One nation was being crushed by another and one city by another, because God was troubling them with every kind of distress" (II Chronicles15:5-6 NIV).

Asa, however, was not subject to this turmoil and distress. His eagerness to be right before God created a place of safety for the inhabitants of Judah. In fact, the Lord's protection was so attractive that **"they came over to him in great numbers from Israel when they saw that the LORD his God was with him" (see II Chronicles 15:9).** Like King Asa, every believer is called to create places of safety for hurting souls, regardless of our age.

In Joel 2:28, God prophesied that " **your old men shall dream dreams."** Older men and women usually possess vision and wisdom by the virtue of their age and experience. In most cases, their days of youthful dreaming have passed, yet according to the preceding scripture, elders will have the dreams of their youth restored. God remembers their unfulfilled aspirations, and He will reignite their destinies. The Lord's promise in Joel 2:25 will become a reality to them: " **So I will restore to you the years that the...locust has eaten."** The Lord has a season of restitution reserved for elderly men and women.

The fact that **"your young men shall see visions" (see Joel 2:28)** reveals another aspect of this prophecy. Young men are known for their dreams, not their vision. Vision speaks of maturity and purpose. A youth movement that is wise beyond its natural years is implied by this scripture. Theses purposes of God being revealed through young and old believers is helping mankind realize its ultimate destiny—sitting with Jesus on His throne.

To him who overcomes, I will give the right to sit with me on my throne, just as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne (Revelation 3:21 NIV).

When we hear this promise, we rightfully get excited because there could be nothing greater than sitting on the same throne as Jesus. However, to sit there we must overcome. What then must we battle and prevail against? Consider that a throne represents influence over people. So sitting with Him means that we have accomplished our purpose and overcome the evil authority that is manifesting in this present world system. Sitting with Him on His throne is heavenly reward we can experience in this life.

It seems that the coming of the Lord's government is dependant on us being dedicated to fulfilling our individual destinies. Jesus needed the twelve disciples to walk in their callings to accomplish the Father's will in His day. Now, He needs the entire church to do the same. The greatest adventure a person can experience is found in knowing and seeking to fulfill God's call. Our Father is inviting all of humanity on this journey. Let's get the word out. The world needs to know God's amazing plans for mankind.

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With all the turmoil in the present world systems, it has never been more important for believers to walk in our individual callings. Our Creator has a special destiny for every human being, yet to fulfill this purpose, we need to demonstrate heavenly authority while living on earth.

Rick Reddick is a professional fisherman (licensed charter captain) and the founder of Clearwater Fellowship Church. He has written articles for Christian journals, fishing magazines and has a published print book, _Life in the Light_. Rick and his wife Dawn, reside in Florida with their four children: Noah, Jeremiah, Ricki & Hosanna. Connect with Rick at info@clearwaterfellowshipchurch.org .

