Word of Truth International Ministries

It is Our Time!

2011-04-18T13:35:00.000-04:00

By: Reverend Solomon Turner, Jr.

“It’s God’s scheduled time for vengeance, the year all accounts are settled” (Isaiah 34:8 The Message Bible) It’s our time! Stay in faith! Do not cave in or quit! The Glory of God is continually filling the Church. Some of you may think I am endeavoring to hype you up. However, I am being led by Holy Ghost to ignite your faith and awaken your pure mind.

“Never give up. Eagerly follow the Holy Ghost and serve the Lord.” (Romans 12:11 Contemporary English Version)

Yes and Amen

All the promises of God are yes and amen. “For the Son of God, Jesus Christ, whom we proclaimed among you, Silvanus and Timothy and I, was not Yes and No, but in him it is always Yes. 20) For all the promises of God find their Yes in him. That is why it is through him that we utter our Amen to God for his glory”. (2 Corinthians 1:19-20 English Standard Version) Locate The Promises of God. Then be tenacious in your pursuit of Him. The Promises will follow. Be like the old bull dog that latches onto a new bone. The bone and dog are inseparable. Jacob exhibited that type of determination to apprehend his yes from God. In Genesis 32:24-29 we read:

“And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the breaking of the day. 25) And when he saw that he prevailed not against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh; and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was out of joint, as he wrestled with him. 26) And he said, Let me go, for the day breaketh. And he said, I will not let thee go, except thou bless me. 27) And he said unto him, What is thy name? And he said, Jacob. 28) And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel: for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed. 29) And Jacob asked him, and said, Tell me, I pray thee, thy name. And he said, Wherefore is it that thou dost ask after my name? And he blessed him there.”

Unlike Jacob, we do not have to physically wrestle angels or God. Our Heavenly Father has given us richly all things to enjoy. (See 1 Timothy 6:17) Our faith is the instrument used to access The Wealth allocated to us. Do you now understand my desire is not to inflame your souls with false expectations? My goal is to strengthen your inner man, and then you can begin to possess The Promises of God. The Rich Treasure of His Glory is hidden in your recreated spirit. It is also, your passionate pursuit of Him that will set you on course for all that He Possesses.

I am honored to have my grandmother still alive. She is in her late nineties and lives on the west coast. Often, upon completion of our somewhat lively conversations, I will ask this mature saint, “Do you have a word of advice for me?” Her response is always the same and quite simple - “Keep the faith!” I respond to her answer as if I heard it for the first time. Her words are dear and precious to me. I apply the spirit of keep the faith daily. We should always hold faith and the pursuit of God as dear and precious. How else will we acquire our much desired yes or amen from The Father?

A Soul Possessed

For us to experience The Manifestation of God everything else must become secondary. You may be thinking, “I have so... many things pressing me and I simply do not have the time.” Well, I must ask you a question. What has your passive pursuit of Him accomplished? More than likely, your passive pursuit has brought you another step closer to being lukewarm. These are not the days for that sort of behavior from Believers.

Moses in Exodus 33:13 declared, “...shew me now thy way, that I may know thee, that I may find grace in thy sight...” Moses asked God to show him His Path of Life in order that He could actually be known. David wrote in Psalm 63:8 Amplified Bible, “My whole being follows hard after You and clings closely to You; Your right hand upholds me.” Again, David wrote in Psalm 107:9, “For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.” Paul in Philippians 3:10 Montgomery’s New Testament wrote of his unwavering purpose, “I long to know him in the power of his resurrection...”

These men were not examples of an indifferent approach to know God. They were willing to hazard their lives to enjoy The Prize of God’s Presence. Seeking God was their profession. Your impact may not be as significant as Moses’, David’s or Paul’s; but, your purpose is still the same ... impact your world.

Led of Holy Ghost or the Flesh?

Has circumstances ever forced you to make decisions without consulting your Heavenly Father? Listen Saints, even one time is too many. Making life decisions without God’s Help is cousin to committing spiritual suicide. The door will be open to the spirit of deception. He will not hesitate to lord over you.

Jesus said it best in John 6:63, “It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” The words “profiteth nothing” means to: benefit not. The flesh does not benefit us regarding spiritual matters. Consequently, any decision made without The Counsel of Holy Ghost is costly.

The latter words of John 6:63 reads, “...the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” I like what the GOD’S Word Translations says, “Life is spiritual. Your physical existence doesn’t contribute to that life. The words that I have spoken to you are spiritual. They are life.”

A Board of One

Frequently, I have pulled aside to hear The Distinct Voice of Holy Spirit. The noise around, including my flesh and mind, hindered me from hearing The I AM. My body, now realizing a meeting was about to be held, would go reluctantly screaming and complaining. My soul recognized a change was on the horizon. Then it would begin to protest and fabricate excuses for not attending. My soul and body knew I was about to convene my board-of-one meeting. They were equally aware that I (my spirit man) would have the final say-so.

Like David, I had to encourage myself. (See 1 Samuel 30:6) Next, I would let my body know it would not dominate my life. Paul said it this way, “But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection...” (1 Corinthians 9:27) I crucify it to extinguish the passions associated with selfishness. (See Galatians 5:24) I mortify or subdue it. (See Colossians 3:5)

“For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.” (Romans 8:13) Furthermore, I would say, “The object of my earthly walk is not to waste time depriving you of your inordinate passions. Rather, we (spirit, soul and body) are to live through our union with Holy Spirit in order to truly live. Meeting adjourned!” It would behoove you to have a meeting of your own to rid yourself of any inward confusion regarding Our Father’s Willingness to bless you in these times.

“And ye shall seek me, and find [me], when ye shall search for me with all your heart.” (Jeremiah 29:13)

Operating in Humility

2009-12-01T18:11:00.000-05:00

By Solomon Turner, Jr.

The importance of operating in humility is extremely vital to realizing The Gifts and Graces of The Almighty. The value of it, in our times, warrants explanation.

This Word from The Lord came while writing this letter:

“I AM working on your behalf far beyond your sensory perceptions. The Glory will be so strong It will be as if your challenges never existed. You will wonder what took you so long to say yes to My Plans for you. To have a Glory Encounter it is imperative that you cooperate with Me by humble compliance to My Directives. Whatever I instruct you to accomplish is not troublesome or upsetting.”

Recently, while meditating on how to receive from The Outflow of Hashem’s Glory, I came to understand Him even more. He has never delayed His Power from flowing out of us; it was our inability to accept what He was saying or doing. We actually rejected Divine Thoughts and dismissed Them as “foolish or imaginary”. Consequently, for many years, we have missed out on His Intervention into and for our lives. What Hashem Desires for us is far too marvelous for the natural mind and can only be comprehended through our renewed mind.

We further determined, if we could not process in our minds The Move of Hashem, we would not participate with Him. Many times a Move of Hashem has been called heresy simply because we did not lower the estimation of ourselves. That way of thinking has proven to be unprofitable.

Every Promise of Hashem is contingent upon our fulfillment of His Condition. The moment we meet His Prerequisite, His Glory is released to amply satisfy our petition. If you have ever been on the receiving end of an Answer from Hashem, nothing is more important at that moment. Once the revelation to a prayer is deposited into your spirit, joy unspeakable is no longer a song we sing, it is a reality. However, remember that humility is required to hear from Hashem.

Pride - The Path to Destruction

The introduction of pride was found in iniquity and iniquity was found in the enemy. When Adam abdicated his dominion over the earth he received the nature of a new, but cruel, overlord. Pride is in the nature of every non-believer and it can also inhabit the unrenewed mind of the Believer. As with the characteristics of any sin pride will attempt to seduce Believers into accepting it as a normal part of their lives and eventually alter their perception of Hashem. Remember, no place should be given to pride since we have a new nature filled with Hashem.

“Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18).

That scripture more than adequately describes the eventual demise of the enemy. He lifted himself above Hashem because of pride. Pride. That is what set him on the course of destruction. Subsequently, his insolence was short lived in The Presence of Hashem and he was cast out of Heaven. (Ezekiel 28:13-19 and Luke 10:18)

We read in James 4:6 “...God resisteth the proud...” Who can successfully stand when it is Hashem Who is opposing? The word “resist” means to oppose. Proud minded people are a god unto themselves. Their haughty ways of thinking sets them above everyone including The Most High. With this mindset, it is impossible to cooperate with Hashem.

“You're cheating on God. If all you want is your own way, flirting with the world every chance you get, you end up enemies of God and his way. And do you suppose God doesn't care? The proverb has it that "he's a fiercely jealous lover." And what he gives in love is far better than anything else you'll find. It's common knowledge that "God goes against the willful proud; God gives grace to the willing humble." (James 4:6 The Message Bible)

Humble Enough to Receive

“... He gives us more and more grace (power of the Holy Spirit, to meet this evil tendency and all others fully). That is why He says, God sets Himself against the proud and haughty, but gives grace [continually] to the lowly those who are humble enough to receive it)” (James 4:6 Amplified Bible)

The phrase “those who are humble enough to receive it” stands out like a florescent yellow bumper sticker on the rear panel of a black Lamborghini Gallardo Coupe AWD.

Consider Moses

“(Now the man Moses was very meek, above all the men which were upon the face of the earth)” (Numbers 12:3). Who exactly was he? Moses spoke with Hashem face to face. He beheld the form or shape of The Almighty. He wrote the first five books of the Old Testament. The Glory of Hashem literally appeared on his countenance. (Exodus 34th chapter) In fact, the mighty acts of Moses, that we read, were accomplished because he was humble enough to receive from Hashem.

Jesus our Example of Humility

“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (6) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (7) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. (9) Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name:” (Philippians 2:5-9)

Jesus made Himself of no reputation. He disrobed Himself of The Glory which was always His. In humble compliance to The Father’s Will, by faith, He actually emptied, deprived and relinquished Himself of Deity. He took upon Himself the form of a servant to appear before sinful man. Philippians 2:5 instructs us to allow this mind to be in us. We are to divest ourselves of all thoughts inconsistent with Hashem. That is true humility.

Throughout the year I have endeavored to assist you in adjusting your way of thinking to help rid you of anything that might delay your living in the land of more than enough. Acting in humility will bring us the next step to Manifesting The Glory. It is time for an attitude check. Team up with Hashem.

“The reverent and worshipful fear of the Lord brings instruction in Wisdom, and humility comes before honor” (Proverbs 15:33 The Amplified Bible)

Holy Ghost Involvement

2009-12-01T18:08:00.000-05:00

By: Solomon Turner Jr.

“Resolve in life is not a matter of time; it's a matter of the degree of Holy Ghost Involvement in your life.” This Word from The Lord has brought me to one basic understanding: without His Involvement in every area of my life I am much like a puppy chasing its' tail. Simply said, I am wasting energy, time and accomplishing nothing. Jesus said it this way, “...without me ye can do nothing” (John 15:5). I have concluded I must stay in tune with God to release the fullness of my purpose.

Hashem (God) does not fellowship with angels as He does with us. The angels' purpose is clear - service to Him and us. (See Hebrews 1:14) We were not an after thought in The Mind of The Creator. We were in Him before the foundation of the world. (See Ephesians 1:4) His Thoughts have always been to have a family of beings, like Himself, surrounding Him and enjoying the wonders of His Creations. Psalm 115:16 reads, “The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men .” 1Timothy 6:17b Amplified Bible declares, “...God Who richly and ceaselessly provides us with everything for [our] enjoyment”.

In the beginning, our Heavenly Father fully intended to have intimate fellowship with His Creation. The Nature and Character of His Intense Love could only be satisfied by surrounding Himself with beings made in His Class. Consequently, without Hashem's Involvement in human affairs, we are incomplete and without purpose.

Hashem Prepared a habitation for Adam by fashioning a place appropriate for him to live and thrive - the Garden of Eden. The Eden Project is where Hashem began to introduce His Man into His Inheritance. Everything Adam needed was found in Eden . He was clothed in Hashem's Glory. Finally, Hashem created a woman for His Man. Let all the brothers say, “Amen”. The Father's Intent was abundantly clear. It was through Adam and Eve He would receive His Heart's Desire. At last, there would be a civilization of beings that were in His Image and Likeness. (See Genesis 1:26-27)

Routinely, Adam and Eve were in intimate fellowship with The Great “I AM”. Their methodical encounters with Him brought them to extraordinary places of harmony with Him and one another. Today this is only eclipsed by our experience in Christ. It was a common occurrence for The Adams to have Hashem's Divine Embrace.

Their level of fellowship became extremely intense. Out of their abundance of time with Hashem, the Adam's characters developed increasingly and they received a most treasured possession - the power of choice. How else could they have made such a fundamentally unsound decision to disobey Hashem's Simple Instructions? “And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die” (Genesis 2:16-17).

While the instructions were clear and the consequences of disobedience were devastating to all, the power of choice had been executed. Both Adams preferred their way over Hashem's Way and thereby subjugated themselves, and us, to the god of this world. (See Romans 5:17 and 2 Corinthians 4:4)

They never fully realized their potential in Hashem. It was irrational behavior for the Adams to rebel against Hashem. Therefore, hiding themselves from The One Who was their Life was a continuation of their fallen state. We have a snap-shot of their breach of routine found in Genesis 3:1-13. The pattern of making decisions without Hashem was handed down from generation to generation and the consequences as well.

Before you point the finger of criticism toward the Adams, consider your own shortcomings. How many decisions have you made and not considered the consequences or even thought to consult Hashem? It is easy to determine how closely you are walking with Him. The aroma of His Sweet Presence will be unmistakable when you are around others. Your speech and actions will give you away. So, let us not judge Adam and Eve or anyone else without first judging ourselves.

You should never attempt to hide your shortcomings, errors, false steps, blunders, boo-boos, snafus, slip-ups or whatever you may call your misbehaving. It is separation from Hashem. He is aware of them anyway. Go to 1 John 1:9, apply That Word, turn from wrongdoing and then go on your way. Realize He is faithful and just to forgive and cleanse you from your sins.

Every living thing has a habitat. If a creature were removed from its' natural habitat it will die eventually or mutate to adapt to its' new home. I am not writing about evolution. Similarly, Adam compromised his Maker and natural habitat ( Eden ) because of disobedience. He was forced to leave his environment. Ultimately, the Adams mutated and became alienated from their Creator. Also they had to adapt to their degenerated surroundings outside of Eden . (See Genesis 3:23-24)

The world's condition is also estranged and alienated from Hashem. (See Ephesians 4:18-20) Sadly, this is the state of some believers. Whenever we choose to take matters into our hands and not consult Hashem, He is positioned outside of our lives and limited in His Ability to assist us. He then receives bad press and is erroneously viewed by many as cruel and inhumane. You and I can give Hashem a “make over” in the eyes of the world by our simple compliance to His Directives.

Additionally, to realize our purpose, we must mutual regard each another. I must remind you of the commandment that fulfills all others, “Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself ” (Matthew 22:37-39).

Not only are we to be attentive toward Hashem, but also each other. “Now ye are the body of Christ , and members in particular” (1 Corinthians 12:27) . I Corinthians 11:29-30 reads, “For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body . For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.” Note a couple of important points mentioned in the previous verses. One, we are The Body of Christ and two if we improperly discern His Body it will lead to weakness, sickness and even death.

Now that I have your undivided attention, “It is time to treat one another substantially better than we have in the past”. The answers we desire from our Heavenly Father are contingent upon how we interact with each other as mentioned in the previous paragraph. Your brothers and sisters in Christ are linked to you and the fulfillment of your purpose. They are equally important in The Eyes of Hashem. We collectively are The Body of Christ. We need one another!

The stage is set for Hashem's Glory to shine. I have heard it said, “Don't mess up the set up”. Purposely consult Hashem as if your life depends on it, because it really does. There is no doubt our purpose can only be realized by spending time with Hashem. Finally, make Love your principal quest.

Why are there so many sermons on faith and so few results?

2009-12-01T18:05:00.000-05:00

By: Solomon Turner Jr.

I have often asked myself, “Why are there so many sermons on faith and so few results?” Certainly, it is neither The Word of God nor God’s Anointed Messengers who preach. So, where is the problem?

One possible answer could be that believers are only hearing The Word and not obeying It. (See James 1:23) I can hear the wheels turning in your mind, “I am doing all I know to do”. Perhaps that is the problem; you do not know enough. Now, put your rocks back in your pockets. I am not writing to frustrate you, but only to assist you in receiving what God already has for you.

The Blood Tie between God and His Sons is the fundamental theme throughout the Bible. Jesus’ Earthly Mission was to recover and reestablish The Family of God. He is The Bridge that was provided. He came as a man and descended to allow us to ascend. He willingly set aside His Deity to comply with The Father’s Mandate to be The Mediator between God and Man. He did this so that after His Resurrection and Ascent, we would have a high level of fellowship with Him.

Fellowship with God has to do with righteousness. (See Ephesians 4:8-10, Hebrews 12:24 and Philippians 2:5-11) “For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). The God that made the heavens and the earth in the first chapter of Genesis is The Same that made you righteous. Selah!

Although, Christians have accepted Jesus as their Savior, knowing Him more intimately has been elusive in thought and especially in action. How many times have you asked, “Lord, what do You want from me? You may have also asked, what else is there for me to do?” If The Father required works, you would have received your answer long ago. He is looking for Relationships.

Let us assume you are obeying (doing The Word). You are not in sin, you are walking in the fruit of the spirit, and you tithe and give offerings. Outwardly, you have done all the right things. Yet, you know, something still is missing. I believe the problem is Christians really do not know God The Way He Desires to be known. If you continue to stay unfamiliar with His Ways, the answer to your problems we will remain a mystery.

Allow me to submit a definition of “righteousness” that changed my life forever. Righteousness carries the meaning of, the equality of character or act. Additionally, righteousness carries the meaning of, “God’s Character taking possession of our souls to perform an act.” We have been made equal in character with God and we possess the ability to act like Him in ruling and reigning. The only difference between us and The Father is we are dependant on Him.

If there is any uncertainty about what I have written, you have substantiated what I perceive to be a deficiency in the Body of Christ - not understanding righteousness. Have you read in your Bible that Jesus was threatened to be stoned to death because He called God, “His Father?” “Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making himself equal with God” (John 5:18).

Granted, we have come a long way in our understanding of who we are in Christ. However, The Freedom Delivered to us by Jesus Christ is still judged with a sneer of skepticism. This resembles the Pharisees and Sadducees of ancient time. Anyone who opposed them was considered a blasphemer and a perpetrator.

Further revelation of that same skepticism is in the latter part of John 5:18. The very thought of man being equal with God will cause religion to raise its unbelieving prideful, head and scream, “That cannot be! I can not imagine man being equal with God.” From the religious perspective, it is as if, Genesis 1:26-27 was never written.

The Apostle Paul makes it apparent that not following God’s Prescribed Way of maintaining a Relationship will lead to our own understanding. This provides the enemy with an opportunity to release a flood of religious dogma. Eventually, sin consciousness will separate us from the intent of The Father’s Righteousness. “For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God” (Romans 10:3).

The Secrets of God are waiting for those who would dare approach Him on His Level!

Righteousness also carries the meaning of, equality and balance. God did not lower His Standards. He is endeavoring to elevate ours. Now, use your faith for these next statements. In Relationship to The Godhead we are on the same level. There is parity between believers and God. Remember, it is not your right standing, it is HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS. God has leveled The Relationship Playing Field. Our responsibility is to simply receive The Character of God as The Way of Exchange with Him.

We are created in God’s Image and Likeness. We have His Genetic Imprint indelibly encoded on our spiritual DNA and we are predisposed to act like Him. This is similar to our grown children. My wife and I no longer talk to them as toddlers or high school students. They look and speak like us, therefore we communicate with them on an adult level. Likewise, The Father has been waiting to talk with us on His Level. It is time we respond to Him as Mature Christians!

In conclusion, I do not believe we have a faith problem as much as a clear conscious toward God problem. What do I mean by that? We do not believe He Meant what He said regarding His Desire for intimacy with us. Now, if you were assuming Jehovah is excited about the prospect of our becoming more familiar with Him, you are absolutely correct! There is only one catch - you must meet Him on His Terms. Be encourage, the best is still yet to come.

Tribute to My Mom

2009-12-01T18:00:00.000-05:00

By: Solomon Turner Jr.
Greetings Partners & Friends:

This month's letter is a tribute to my Mom, Alma L. Lacewell. Proverbs 10:7 declares, “The memory of the just is blessed...”. In the month of September 2008 Mom moved to Heaven. The memories I have of her are of a gentle and patient spirit. Her Godly Influence on my life is constantly being unveiled. Bear with me as I attempt to share with you, from a son's perspective, the nurturing of a prophet. Any idiosyncrasies and faults she may have had were greatly outweighed by The God Kind of Love she possessed and released toward me.

The Bible directs us to, “Remove not the ancient landmark, which thy fathers have set” (Proverbs 22:28 ) . This scripture has great significance to me. Also, its' meaning has transcended my life. It has enabled me to impact the lives of those whom I have come in contact with nationally and internationally. The landmarks of respect for people, specifically the elderly, love for life and most importantly Love for God have their roots embedded in how I was instructed from a very early age by Mom.

The Lord released me to ask Mom questions about the days when I was still in her womb. Prior to our conversation in my prayer time, The Word of The Lord came to me in vision form. (See Genesis 15:1 and Acts 9:10-12) God told Jeremiah, He knew him from the womb. (See Jeremiah 1:4-5) I was blessed to have had similar visual details of an event that occurred prior to my birth.

Let me begin my tribute with information I was permitted by Mom to share. These intimate details of a sequence of events gave me further revelation into my part in Jesus' Ministry. I believe this is the appointed time and Mom validated the details as accurate. I asked her, if I could reveal this information, in the future, as it might prove to benefit others in The Body of Christ.

My parents lived as newly weds in a small two-room flat with a tiny bathroom located in downtown San Francisco, on the corner of 5 th Street and Harrison. That old apartment building has since been demolished and replaced with new construction. My father was a heavy equipment operator, short on tenderness, but long on excessive drinking. Often he would over indulge in strong liquor, whiskey as I recall. It was his way of escaping reality. Disagreements between Mom and Dad were very common.

The pressures of being young, living cramped together and now an unexpected and unwanted pregnancy were key factors in pushing my father over the edge. He became angry and violent. I was not wanted by him. The alcohol fueled his displeasure in life; he began to lash out against Mom. While physically pressing her, he backed her against a small icebox located in the corner of the flat near a half-shaded window and hit her in the stomach. That was the enemy's attempt to hurt her and destroy my life.
What would drive a man to such a level of disappointment can only be described as demonically induced. Of course, I now realize it was an attempt to abort The Anointing that was in Mom's belly. Just for the record, I hold no malice towards my father. In fact, he lived with our family, La Vita and his five grandchildren, plus me for a season. I had the privilege of leading Daddy in accepting Jesus as Lord of his life. So, my earthly father is in Heaven as well. HALLELUJAH!
My parents later separated when I was age three and eventually divorced. Mom and I moved to Sacramento, California. I remember how she worked tirelessly to keep food available and clothing for me to wear. It seems as a direct result of the abuse experienced in an immature marriage relationship, she became an unwitting God Directed Protector of The Anointing. Anyone, she felt that approached me with aggression, faced a barrage of words with the tenacity of a mother bear defending her cub.
“If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?” (Psalm 11:3)

As a child, I frequently heard, “Ther e is something different about that boy ” . Not different as in weird or strange, but different meaning not like the other children in my closely-knit neighborhood. Though reserved in nature and slow to respond to the turbulent times which marked the early sixties, there was a quiet storm brewing in me.
As a youngster, with a vivid imagination, I could go on trips all over the world without leaving our roach infested, though tidy and clean, house in The Big Valley in California where I grew up. In a childlike, yet strange way, I sometimes felt there was an Invincible Force desiring to come out. Yes, there was Someone on the inside. Little did I know Who He was.

Like many of you, I had a “drug” problem growing up. Every Sunday, Mom drug me to church - without exception. She drug me to afternoon services. If there was an evening service, she drug me there as well.

It was church or correction for mouthing off in disobedience. Having seen the consequences of too much lip, I quickly learned to comply. It was compliance or consequences. I chose compliance. My foundation was laid without my participation. That same foundation remains true over a half century later. Thank God!

Mom never spoke mean-spirited towards me. Of course, we had our differences especially during my teenage years. I remember a particular incident when she was doing something I found disagreeable to me. Selfishly, I told her of my disappointment. It hurt her deeply. Seeing the hurt on her face and the despondency I had caused, hurt me. I never intentionally desired to discourage Mom. I relented then later apologized for my insensitivity. I believe this act gave place for God to continue His Work in me.

Do you remember that quiet storm I wrote about earlier? That was a storm of rebellion towards God and Mom's ways. I was ready to do what I thought was right for me. The lyrics in one secular song of my era says, “It's my thang, I do what I wanna do”. Without going into further details about my rebellious years, it was Mom, through her Love, that kept me from straying too far from my Godly Origin.

I know I grieved her with my skewed opinions on life that were so contrary to how she raised me. Still, she never said a negative word. In her sweet Baptist way, she encouraged me to do what was right. In fact, I now realize God, Mom and my family were all in league in applying prayer pressure to turn my life around and eventually lead me to my Heavenly Father.

The enemy hates the office of the prophet. Many passages in the Old and New Testaments will substantiate my statement. If the enemy could not kill the prophet, he would attempt to censure The Word of God through this office. If those ploys were unsuccessful, he would endeavor to dilute the office by introducing false prophets (lying pretenders). My beginnings were not an exception.

Parents, allow me to encourage you with life lessons from Mom. Never try to mold your children into the image you desire for them. In fact, do not force them at all. Instead, nurture them. “Train up a child in the way he should go [and in keeping with his individual gift or bent], and when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6 Amplified Bible). The words train up carries the meaning to dedicate . That is exactly what Mom did to me - she gave me to the Lord.

Hannah (1 Samuel 1st chapter) went childless until she vowed to give the son she desired to The Lord before he was born. From her dedication to The Lord came the prophet Samuel. The principle of seedtime and harvest went in effect. The son she gave, God gave to Israel a prophet. We all have benefited from Hannah's devotion to God.

Some may have thought I was just a Momma's boy. Well, they were entitled to their opinion. However, I will let you in on a secret; God was nurturing a prophet to give to the world.

We love you,

But What About Me?

2009-12-01T17:56:00.000-05:00

By Darnishia Slade

“You don't understand my situation. My Mom and Dad won't do anything for me. My Dad doesn't pay child support. They won't let me do anything. I can't wait to get out of this house. I want those new gym shoes and my Moms won't get them for me. I know what I'm doing. I'm grown! Why do they treat me like a kid anyway? They don't trust me. You ain't my Momma/Daddy.”

While working with young people in the church, I have heard many phrases like those listed above. Why is this? Where does the problem really lay in honoring your parent(s) and step-parents? The world would say these issues of disrespect and recklessness are caused by the infusion of television, movies, music videos, video games, hip-hop, rap, etc. To some extent this is true. However, the root of the matter is the lack of fear and reverence for God and His Word. In Deuteronomy 8:6 (Amplified)

Deuteronomy 8:6

“ So you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and [reverently] fear Him.”

Moses admonishes the Israelites to “do all the commandments from a good heart with a regard to God as Lord and with a holy fear of Him.” Let's take this a step further. Even when you are watching an awards show you'll often see individuals who “thank God”, but rarely acknowledge Jesus. Often their lifestyle and what they portray on the big screen or videos are totally against The Teachings of Jesus. They praise God but have not made Jesus Lord over their lives. Scripture speaks directly to these type of individual.

Revelation 3:15-17 Amplified

“I know your [record of] works and what you are doing; you are neither cold nor hot. Would that you were cold or hot! So , because you are lukewarm and neither cold nor hot, I will spew you out of My mouth! For you say, I am rich; I have prospered and grown wealthy, and I am in need of nothing; and you do not realize and understand that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.”

Please understand, as a Believer, it is God Jehovah-Jireh that is your Provider. He causes you to increase in every area of your life. Because you have purposed in your heart to receive Jesus and make Him Lord over your life, being lukewarm (proud, disrespectful and rebellious) is not an option. You were created to look totally different from the world. Therefore, you cannot serve two masters. God's wants you to choose a life of blessings (Deuteronomy 30:19).

Let's take a look at Ephesians. In this chapter the Apostle Paul is writing a letter to the members (Saints) of the Church at Ephesus . Notice, these are the people in the Church, not the world. We could very possibly infer that the youth in the Church had issues in this area. Let's dissect Ephesians 6:2-5 (Amplified) specifically:

Ephesians 6:2-3

“ Honor (esteem and value as precious) your father and your mother--this is the first commandment with a promise. That all may be well with you and that you may live long on the earth.”

Do you see any where it says to honor your parents based on how they act or treat you. Now, to bring balance, take a look at verse 4:

Ephesians 6:4

“ Fathers, do not irritate and provoke your children to anger [do not exasperate them to resentment], but rear them [tenderly] in the training and discipline and the counsel and admonition of the Lord.”

I know what you're saying right now. “See, I told you, my momma and daddy are not supposed to provoke me and treat me any kind of way.” You are absolutely right, and God will hold your parents accountable for their behavior. However, YOUR commandment in verses two and three didn't change. You still have a responsibility to “honor them, that all may be well with you”. You may even be in a situation where the father you've never known may resurface in your life. What will you do? How will you handle the situation? Although he may never have been there, would you still honor your father and show The Love of God?

As humans we sometimes have the tendency to behave very selfishly. We think it's all about us, but let's think about that. When Jesus willingly came to the earth in human flesh, he was spit on, talked about, beaten and hung on a cross to die. Was that about Him? Let me help you out - NO! He did it out of Love, for you, so you may have eternal life. Let's look at it from this angle:

Ephesians 6:5

“ Servants (slaves), be obedient to those who are your physical masters, having respect for them and eager concern to please them, in singleness of motive and with all your heart, as [service] to Christ [Himself]—”

Paul, under the Unction of Holy Ghost, had instructions for those who were slaves at that time. Slaves were encouraged to serve their masters with all of their heart as a service unto Christ. How much more are you to honor and reverence your parents as a service unto The Lord?

James 4:7-8

“ Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”

So, WHAT ABOUT YOU? It's really about demonstrating God's Love on earth and doing what He Commands in His Word. Make the decision to honor God's Word by honoring your mother and father. Advance God's Kingdom by allowing His Love to show in your life and in your relationships with your family. He will be pleased with you. His Promise is to make everything well with you AND you'll have a long life on earth too!

For more information on the author please contact Darnishia Slade [dslade@cfaith.com].

Walking with God: Are you a sheep or a donkey?

2009-12-01T17:12:00.000-05:00

On Sunday, February 20, 1983, while preparing my son for his ride to church, I remembered a comment I’d said in the early stages of my pregnancy, “I will never send my child to Sunday school; either we go together or no one will go.” Nine years later, I was about to do the very thing I said I would never do. Would I heed those words spoken as a mere child of 16 or would I ignore them? That Sunday, years ago I was led to attend church service with my son. And my obedience to His leading was the beginning of a life of faith that would teach me how to hear and obey a small inner voice.

Here Am I

As I recall this incident in my life, I remember the passage of Scripture which references Moses seeing a burning bush: ”The Angel of the Lord appeared to him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush; and he looked, and behold, the bush burned with fire, yet was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside and see this great sight, why the bush is not burned. And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the midst of the bush and said, Moses, Moses! And he said, Here am I.” – Exodus 3:2-4As with Moses, God desires us to turn and see. In 1983, at 25 years of age, I was bitter, self-centered and even suicidal. I was headed for destruction. Not because I did not know the Gospel, but because I had allowed bitterness, anger, unforgiveness, pride, arrogance, jealousy, envy and even hatred to consume my life. I was so far from my roots; I was unrecognizable to those who once knew me. But God interrupted my life that day and used an innocent statement to lead me out of darkness into His marvelous Light.

The Shepherd Must Lead

In order to walk with God we must allow the Shepherd to lead. Sheep, by nature, are known for their harmless temper. They are easily swayed, submissive and meek. When a shepherd leads his flock, there will be some sheep closer to the shepherd than others. Those who are closer will receive rest, water and nourishment. Likewise, walking with God positions us along side Him and places us in a position to hear His voice. Are you hearing His voice? Are you following His lead? If not, could it be that you’re not following closely enough?

The Blessing In Following

When I look at the last 24 years of my life, I see how God has taught me to walk with Him. When God spoke to me in that still small voice in 1983, my life changed. I was not intending to serve the Lord on that day. I had no conviction about my eternal state at all. I only wanted to honor that 16 year old girl.

As with Moses, God is looking for someone to turn and see what He is doing or saying. He needed Moses for an assignment that could only be done by someone who would be sensitive to the supernatural in order to do the supernatural. Will you be counted as one whom God can use for His good pleasure? Follow Him, listen to and obey His voice and begin to experience life in abundance. Copyright © La Vita Turner

For more information on the author please E-mail Minister Turner at Lasol@cfaith.com