Pastor Steven Watkins & JP Grier
Wind River Reservation August 2020

TAKING AUTHORITY

One might wonder how we got to the point of making the decision to post on Facebook the recent declaration, COVID = FEAR, JESUS = HOPE.  About a week and a half ago while driving to do an errand it was only all to clear the spirit of anti-christ and oppression was rising and taking its toll on our local community much less our country.  While driving to the post office recently, I saw a young man in his mid-twenties, late morning babbling to himself while walking down the street dressed like a Harry Potter witch. He was oblivious to those around him with a ridiculous grin on his face that was clearly demonic.  (I blessed him from my car) standard practice, and continued to the post office. Upon arriving, I went inside only to have a postal clerk interact with me for about 10 minutes in the dismissing manner!  This man was angry and sullen and all through our interactions he never once looked at my eyes but instead looked just to the right or left of my head to avoid the face.  I’ve learned enough to recognize a demon when I see it in someone  This clerk was controlled by a demon and while there was no one in the post office, he kept making me go back and forth from the service counter to the forms counter to repeatedly fill out a form he had decided was going to be a point of power between us that bordered on the bizarre!  The hostility coming off the man was stifling! After the third trip back and forth I smiled and knew what was occurring in the spiritual realm…. attack. I got the form, filled it out, and left the post office.  What was going on? Why was it escalating?

When I left the post office, I was resolute to do something the Lord put on my heart a week prior which was to post an order for T-shirts with the slogan on it Covid = Fear, Jesus = Hope.  I walked into the printer shop whom I knew from our previous SFC T-shirt runs and told Sandy what I had in mind.  She immediately said excitedly “she wanted to design it.”  I was truly appreciative as had no idea what it was supposed to look like.  I just knew it was time to declare in a different way… aggressively. Like so many people, who are frustrated with what is occurring with the unrest and unraveling occurring across the planet, Sandy was looking for a way to express her voice.

That declaration Covid = Fear, Jesus = Hope was launched on the SFC Face Book page July 24, and has generated the most shares, (83 currently) and close to 4,500 hundred reactions, 97% favorable.  It has also drawn more fire from Muslims, from Hindus and Atheists than any vpod to date. Why?   Previously all of our vpod’s and Blogs has been almost never opposed.  This opposition provides opportunity (when the response is not over the top) to proclaim Jesus as Lord over the planet.  Around 20 people a day are sending us questions about Jesus, about faith, about prayer and for the most part are genuinely seeking hope in the midst of the anti-christ spirit over the planet.  What surprised me the most was the numbers of Hindus advocating for Shiva, the Hindu God which means “Destroyer.”  I’ll talk a little more about this in a separate release.

When Covid first arrived, it was clear in the realm of the spirit a great spirit of fear was being released over the planet. This was “Phase One” of whats occurring now. Prophetical names we know well such as Rebecca Greenwood, Chuck Pierce and Dutch Sheets were seeing in the realm of the spirit the “Dragon” unleashing Covid on a vulnerable world. What’s the one thing a dragon brings with it besides destruction…  Fear.

SECOND PHASE: INTIMIDATION

I was given a rather unusual (even for myself) glimpse during this time, into what was occurring during the social unrest over the last couple months with the worldwide protest.  While working with an individual going through the process of deliverance the Lord let me know in no uncertain terms at the beginning of the riots surrounding the tragic death of George Floyd, a second spirit had been released over the world which was the spirit of “Goliath.”  Goliath if you remember held an entire army at bay, paralyzed in fact.

One man does not hold an entire army in a grip of fear.  But a principality can.  The riots over the last several weeks were irrational, uncommonly violent, and represented a demonic spirit.  The push back in the spiritual realm and even personally over the released word of Covid = Fear, Jesus = Hope was severe to our ministry because the “word release” was hitting it’s target in the spiritual realm.  Jesus and who he is… by release of truth… uncovers the plans of the enemy!   Every time someone clicked on the link and agreed with the truth statement the agreement in prayer got even more powerful!

THIRD PHASE: CONTROL

It was again during this time in a deliverance the Spirit gave sight to the spirit being released as a third wave assault on earth. Leviathan. The combination of worldwide governmental response to Covid and the riots saw something else appearing in the spiritual realm which was an anti-christ control spirit sent to neuter the church by silencing it.  Churches have been forced to close their doors, told they couldn’t sing and prohibited from assembling.  Secular governments shut borders, and sporadically controlled their populations against a disease which has less than half the annual mortality rate of tuberculosis which has been around much longer.  This reaction is not the reaction of a rationale society.  What has been produced is irrational fear and real uncertainty which has opened the door to a spirit of control or “Leviathan” to emerge and attempt to establish a worldwide system of authority using the Covid pandemic as its catalyst.  Snakes do what snakes do, which is, they control their victim and crush its opposition before devouring it.  This is a rather apt picture of what is going on now with the power dynamics taking place across the globe between political enemies.

HOW DO WE THE BRIDE RESPOND?

We declare and pray.  A true declaration is really a prayer form that is aligning with and declaring what already is a truth principle and the intent of God the Father.  The enemy kingdom hates these declarations because when God’s people exercise their authority through their commander the Son of God, and declare and pray, they practice warfare in the spirit realm or the “taking down of strongholds” 2nd Corinthians 10:4  The results of this warfare can also be seen in the material realm as part of its result.  People get healed of Covid, (we’ve seen many to date through international prayer efforts),  communities receive peace and begin experiencing restoration, people are eager and desirous to receive Jesus as savoir.   We pray for the right things though, not our political agenda, but that the leaders God has put in charge are given his wisdom and that the people being subjected to fear are protected and their eyes opened to truth. And we declare against the enemy’s kingdom as a defeated kingdom on borrowed time. We declare Jesus is King, God is supreme, and fear does not prevail!  Keep on declaring church Jesus = Hope!  We have been given “authority to tread on the scorpions and snakes” (Luke 10:19).  We are the watchmen and women on the wall sent to protect the world and set the narrative to God’s plan in the name of Jesus our King.  Let’s continue to do so and not grow weary!   What an amazing time we live in!

Be still….and know that I am God…. (Psalm 46: 10)

I would like to invite you as many of you follow Sentinel For Christ from all over the world and some of you are new, to take a breath. Chaos is not in control.  The God of the universe is in control.  He is the one who loves us from all nations and peoples. Even if it was just you or me on planet earth, I believe He would have sent Jesus for us.

God’s love and concern over us is a truth principle embedded into the fabric of the heavens and the universe; even the ground of our planet that if you believe it, it has great power to meet us with whatever is confronting us. Right now, there is a supernatural attempt to saturate the world with fear and hopelessness.  It’s trying to root itself in communities and nations to cause disorder and unbelief.  God is in control and the enemy of men and women, satan, will not prevail.

Right now, let’s proclaim something clear. I want you to speak it as you read it where you are. Jesus is King, not a virus, not chaos, and not division.  Jesus is also King over all governments, nations and peoples.  I know as I’ve been around long enough as some of you spoke those words the power of God was felt within you in a way that immediately changed the atmosphere around you. You actually felt it. Christian or just someone seeking after God.

It’s been a long time since the world was facing a crisis that put people on edge and caused this type of concern and worry.  We are seeing just how fragile and vulnerable our society; our nations and our planet really is.  Last week while purchasing groceries before all the lockdowns and restrictions were in place, I could feel the profound anxiety surrounding me. The elevated level of fear amongst the people in my immediate vicinity was shocking.  I prayed quietly for all of them and myself, “Lord break this atmosphere which hangs over the planet right now.”

Psalm 46 is a prayer for the world right now. It gives us appreciation that all generations face times of uncertainty or “seasons” when it feels like the wheels are coming off everything.

Notice the circumstances reflected in this short little Psalm.  Its brief but powerful in its implications

“GOD is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth gives way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” (Psalm 46:1-3)

That’s a picture of a unstable earth where uncertainty prevails and even the security of what seems unmovable is toppled.  But notice even in this circumstance God, “is a refuge and strength.”  Right now, in your country, your home, or your circumstance, God is a refuge for you.

God is not far from anyone one of us regardless of where we live or what surrounds us. This Psalm’s promise is “He’s a place we can go.”  That’s what a refuge is.  It’s safe.  He a source of strength.  Many need His strength right as their strength has been far overwhelmed.  God waits to give His strength to those who ask.  Because this is a promise of God it reflects an reliable aspect of who He is right now, not back in history but now in our present circumstance. The amazing fruit of believing this promise is:

Fear, anxiety, even dread can be managed.  Even wiped out.

“THERE is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, the holy place where the Highest dwells. God is within her; she will not fall; God will help her at break of day.  Nations are in uproar, kingdoms fall; he lifts his voice, the earth melts. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. (Psalm 46:4-7)

It’s the river aspect of this Psalm I wanted to highlight. At first it puzzled me.  Water of many types, oceans and rivers are used in the scriptures of the Bible to say something about God and particularly how He interacts with people. This “river” mentioned in Psalm 46 is no exception.

The river is a picture of the favor of God.  Its not a picture of a raging torrent but a supplier of life-giving pouring favor (kindness) from God over the earth by the vehicles of streams which branch off of the main artery.  Just like a naturally occurring river runs it course over the ground, and divides into smaller streams which water the area providing life to the earth, the river of God waters the earth with His favor. In this Psalm the portrait is God’s abundant favor to the earth flowing over it to reach the people he loves, everyone.   The writer of this Psalm thought it so important in the midst of raging uncertainly to point this out.  This river which reaches out to the world makes the very City of God glad, the place where He dwells.

How could it possibly accomplish that you might wonder?  Because the effect of the water pictured here is God’s favor which will have its intended effect on the people God desires passionately to bless.  All we have to do is ask and receive it.

God’s heart is glad when reconciliation and restoration take place between His people and all of us, even if we don’t feel like we know Him that well, we still are His people.  We may feel forgotten but we’re not forgotten.  As you read this you are not forgotten by God.  In fact, it’s quite the opposite you are loved deeply and desperately by Him.

“For God so loved the world (men and women) that He gave his only Son that whoever would believe in Him would not die but have everlasting life.”   (John 3:16) God the Father in Jesus invested a long time ago in the world when he committed His Son Jesus to rescue the earth through the cross. 

COME and see what the LORD has done, the desolations he has brought on the earth.  He makes wars cease to the ends of the earth. He breaks the bow and shatters the spear; he burns the shields with fire. (Psalm 46:8-9) 

What does it mean for God to bring a desolation on the earth. The “desolations” here are in the context of the wars referred in verses 8 & 9.  God will put all chaos and war to an end.   There is spiritual war occurring in the heavens and earth and wars amongst nations. God, however will end all of them.  Why do these things occur in the first place?  The truth is desolations don’t have to come.  They occur when we get to far from the river.  In the same way a city won’t thrive without water, if we run to far from the favor of God’s toward us, we can find ourselves in a desert, either physically or spiritually.   Even the busiest among us can be profoundly isolated in life.  God’s antidote is to be connected to this life-giving favor and kindness offered by Him. It doesn’t take a tragedy or a pandemic to cause it, but adversarial times certainly have the ability to reveal it.   

Notice one more aspect of a river.  Smaller streams flow towards a greater river.  Many of us may be coming into contact with God now feeling like we have little or no knowledge about Him, about religion, about church and how to have a relationship with God.  I know many have the impression of God on their hearts right now as the world feels completely unsettled.  One voice we might be hearing is loaded with fear, even frustration as fear and anger are common partners.  This is not the voice of God’s favor.  We want to be sensitive That God desires to comfort us in this midst of what is occurring.  This is how God’s voice speaks.  God’s voice is never detached from the circumstances that surround us. This is why so many of us fail to recognize it.  We think if God would speak to us it would be recognizable like human communication.  But the Bible tells us “God is Spirit, and those who reach for Him and seek to have relationship with Him must come through spirit.” God is speaking to the world now through His voice which is a desire for comfort.  This voice of comfort is like that smaller stream which we stumble upon that provides life and leads to even greater life, the greater river referred to in this Psalm. He is already communicating to people encouraging them to reach out for Him as he will provide.

Why not tell God right now, if this is speaking to your spirit “I hear you Lord.”  “I receive your comfort.”

Now let me share how beautiful, how personal this river truly is.

“On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stood up and called out in a loud voice, “If anyone is thirsty, let him come to Me and drink. Whoever believes in Me, as the Scripture has said: ‘Streams of living water will flow from within him.’ (John 7:37-38) 

Jesus was referring to the Spirit of God.  The Spirit of God is the very personality or you might say the “being” of God Himself. The God of refuge of Psalm 46; is Spirit and desires to be experienced and living through a human being who thirst for Him. This living water Jesus was referring to reflects the gift of intimacy of this possible relationship.  The “rivers” in Jesus words are metaphor for God’s Spirit living in those who thirst for him.  The river of God, His presence, His favor and comfort are found in the Spirit of God which can live in us.

And all it takes is a thirsting for Him to receive this.

Consider what a thirst means. It’s not anything intellectual or emotional other than a real need for something that provides life. In this case water.  But the life-giving water God offers through His Son Jesus is much more than physical water.  Its spiritual life that comforts, and soothes and provides purpose and resilience even in the midst of uncertainty and surges up into something more than “life as we know it.” It becomes eternal life.

When men and women reach out to God, this transformation can occur. When they “thirst” for Him and acknowledge Him (which is a form of self-surrender) and simply ask for Him; He reveals Himself in the face of His Son Jesus.  God does not withhold life to those who seek Him.  Then what was an encounter at a small stream of God’s presence.  His grace leads to a river of favor which becomes eternal life, complete, abundant.  When this occurs the truth of the Psalms final declaration become an amazing reality for those who surrender to Him: 

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” The LORD Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress. (Psalm 46:10-11) 

God is waiting for the world to ask for help.  He’s also waiting on those who know Him to walk like they do.

When things get tough in the world its remarkable just how quickly God is held high and exalted.  God is exalted because He never left.  He’s always been there.  It’s just people tend to find Him easier when things feel desperate.  The beauty of God and His love is He’s not far from anyone.  I find great comfort in that.  He has an invitation now for each and every one of us:

So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand (Isaiah 41:10).

God and His Son Jesus have the world in control.  They are not going to give something ibroken to us.  Jesus made that clear when he said:

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

Reach out and ask God for the peace needed in your circumstance right now.  Its there for the asking if you want it.

J.P. Grier

M.S. Counseling M.C.M. Pastoral Counseling

JP Grier is the founder and contributing writer at SentinelforChrist.com – A network of Christians helping each other to press deeper in Christ.  You can reach JP at: sentinelforchrist@sentinelforchrist.com

Last fall, when I first moved to Colorado, two COTH missionaries were home visiting and recruiting for short-term summer mission trips to Cambodia. I had been asking the Lord at that time for an opportunity to go on a mission trip, which I’d never done before. I knew people went on mission trips and I wanted to get involved, I just didn’t know how! After they made the announcement at church one Sunday, I thought to myself, I’m going on this trip! Lord, send me!!!! And He did. I had to raise $3,000 to fund the plane ticket and the trip, and not only did God supply, he oversupplied.

So, this past June I went on a 2-week mission trip to Cambodia. Our mission was to share the gospel in villages that had been identified as having NEVER HEARD OF JESUS. So for two weeks, everyday, we’d jump in a van, drive out to the villages, split up into groups with our translators and go house to house sharing Jesus, praying for healing, praying for deliverance, and whatever else the Holy Spirit had in mind. We taught the people how to hold their own church services and we connected them with a local city pastor who we brought with us to the villages to keep track of the new believers and follow up with them!

I had never felt so free and full of joy as I did while I was there. I remember one night walking home from dinner only a few days in feeling the dread of returning home. And I just remember I kept saying to the Lord over and over, “Wow Lord, it would be so amazing if this was my life,” but in reality, I didn’t think it ever could be. I didn’t know why at the time, I just didn’t think it was an option for me. But, over the course of the trip, the desire to do full time missions just began to grow inside of me. And I knew it was a desire He was putting inside me. One night after saying to the Lord again, “Wow, I would just love if this was my life,” He said, “Well, it can be.”

After I heard that, I started asking Holy Spirit to reveal the impossibilities I had in mind that were preventing me from believing this was an option. He had me write down all my fears: I would have to leave my Social Psychology PhD program, which although that would be a huge relief to me (I’d been praying for God to peacefully release me from that commitment for at least a year now) I’d be disappointing a lot of people. First, I’d be letting down my department, my lab, and my advisor, who had financially invested in my training through scholarship and grant funding. Not to mention that I am his first graduate student as a new faculty member. But, most importantly I’d be letting down my parents, who invested so much financially and emotionally into my education and my “success” my whole life. Not to mention that they don’t have the faith we all have. Not only that, but I would have to give up the idea of a stable income and secure job and put all of my trust in the Father to provide. This reminded me of a prophetic word I’d gotten the previous spring which was that God wanted me to know him as Father, my provider.

As I continued to process on the trip, Holy Spirit revealed another fear. I kept questioning whether I was “good enough” at evangelizing to be a missionary. I kept saying to the Lord, “But Lord, I don’t feel like I’m especially gifted in sharing the gospel. I don’t feel like I have a special gift to do this. I feel like missionaries are these special anointed people and I’m not one of them.” After that the desire began to grow even greater, but I felt frustrated because I felt like God had to be the one that put this desire in my heart, but at the same time, I didn’t feel like I had his approval!

Later on one of the co-leaders gave me Matthew 7:7 – “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” And that night I got on my knees and wept before God and I confessed the burning desire in my heart to be a sent one to the nations and to do full time missionary work. I laid out my heart before the Father and I asked him to send me. And I told him, that if this wasn’t his will for me, I wouldn’t go. I knew that there were so many fears associated with following this call that I had to know that I know that I know that I know that HE was the one who was sending me and that this was HIS will for my life.

A few days later one of the leaders (a full time missionary that was from China) was asked to share a word of encouragement with our team. He shared on Hebrews 11: the power of bold faith. I remember him talking about how in America, people are encouraged to do what they are good at. That people pursue what they are naturally gifted in. And he started talking about how he wanted to be like the patriarchs of the faith. He didn’t want to pursue what he was good at. He wanted to do something that took faith to pursue. He wanted to do something where if God didn’t show up, he would 100% fail. Something that he had no talent in what so ever where he had to depend on God every step of the way. And he started talking about how he was super shy and evangelism never came naturally to him and to do that, he needs God 100% of the time. He felt like that was pleasing to God and wanted to continue to pursue what he couldn’t do on his own. Through him I knew God was speaking straight to me. He was telling me, “you are qualified because I’ve qualified you.” “You don’t need to be special; you need me. You don’t need a certain gift or quality or way of speech. You need me. I am the gifting.”

While the trip was coming to a close we did what they called a spiritual debrief where they prepared the team to return the states by telling us what kinds of things to expect upon reentry and prayed over us and prophesied over us. One of the leaders shared with me during the prayer time a vision she’d had while praying for me. She saw a pearl being washed in the ocean and purified and refined and she said she believed that over the next year God was going to purify me and prepare me for what was going to be next. And I knew then that God was guiding me to stay in my program for one more year and that he was releasing me after that (I had promised my dad the spring before that I would do one more year of school before I made a decision about leaving).

After I got home I was trying to readjust and wondering if this had all just been a lot of emotions from the mission trip. Maybe I was just carried away in the hype of everything. So I asked God to confirm the call to missions and he was over the top faithful in doing that. First, he did it in my alone time with him. I was praying that if HE was the one sending me, that I would know I had his approval. And he gave me Haggai 2:23: “’On that day, declares the Lord Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,’ declares the Lord, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the Lord Almighty.” I didn’t know what signet meant so I looked it up and its defined as a small seal, especially one set in a ring, used instead of or with a signature to give authentication to an official document. And I felt like he was saying he was officially signing off, I had his approval.

That Sunday I got home, Pastor Steve preached a message on God’s heart for the nations.  Looking back at my notes from that Sunday, I wrote down Psalm 2:8, “Ask me and I will give you the nations. And the ends of the earth for you possession.” Later that Sunday night I went to Upper Room and they preached out of 1 Samuel 9 and spoke about our purpose. All I remember was the founder of Upper Room preaching about how her and her husband had plans to move to Bethel, but hadn’t told anyone. And right before they were about to go, a couple from church sat them down and read them Amos 5:5: which says, “do not seek Bethel, do not go to Gilgal, do not journey to Beersheba. For Gilgal will surely go into exile, and Bethel will be reduced to nothing.” In other words, seek Bethel and die! And her point was that when you are seeking the Lord with your whole heart, He WILL correct you if you’re going the wrong way.  That gave me peace and I said to the Lord, “Lord, I believe it is your will for me to leave school at the end of the year and go to Overland Missions Training School next August. Please correct me if this is not your will.”

Since then, I’ve gotten two prophetic words from people who know nothing about me. One was that God was sending me to the nations and He was giving me the grace to choose where I wanted to go. The other was that I was called as an evangelist to the nations and he gave me Mark 1:38, “Jesus replied, we have to go to the surrounding villages so that I can give my message to the people there, for that is my mission.”

I am still in awe of what has happened over the past year. But, isn’t just like God to qualify the unqualified. I am so humbled and so honored and so grateful to receive a call to the nations. Its too big for me to even fathom. But, I believe God is calling each of us to dreams too big to fathom. He is calling us to pursue things that are so big, that without him we would surely fail. He is calling us to pursue Him with our whole hearts whatever that looks like. And I know some of you know that the Lord has put a burning desire in your heart to do something. And you are waiting on his approval. You are waiting for the green light. You are saying to the Lord, “Here I am Lord, send me!” And I feel like the Lord is saying over you today Matthew 7:7 – “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.” He put that desire in your heart for a reason, and if you would only ask, He will gladly open that door. And if you feel like you need the Lord’s approval in private, He’ll approve you in private. If you ask Him to confirm His will for you He is faithful to do it.

I pray for anyone reading this today Father that you’ve called into full time ministry. I pray that they would have the same revelation that you gave me. That they are chosen. Not because of anything they can do, but what you WILL do through an empty vessel who says, “Here I am Lord, send me.”

Lena Wadsworth City on The Hill Church Boulder, CO.

Let’s talk about how many Christians go about discovering their calling.  The fact is something bad happens or they encounter some form of trial by fire and the people surviving this ordeal conclude that because they survived it, this is a sign of God’s calling.  The ordeal is assumed to represent God’s intent for their life and therefore the pain they incurred, or the lesson learned, in order to have purpose must now be associated with a calling.  It would appear in some way the scripture does actually support this type of experience-based trial by fire turning into to something specific, something God can use.  2^nd Corinthians 1: 3-4 reads:

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,  who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

It seems this is spiritual support that experiences in life can lead to something we can use for the Kingdom of God.  However, that is a far cry from arguing God determines our calling form an experience or series of them.  Despite this most Christians will define their calling in the context of their personal experiences.

What concerns me in the process of determining calling over our lives is this.  If we are determining from experiences what our calling is, who’s ultimately in the driver’s seat?  I mean, I have talked to many people who recovered from drugs and they were convinced their “calling” was to become a substance abuse counselor. Or perhaps they suffered from some situation that brought a trial on their life and by reason of surviving it, they then became an advocate either for or against it?  I want us to digest for a minute when we look at the scriptures and the lives of people reflected in the pages of the Bible; do we see this type of fixed appointment from heaven?  This is question of major importance to consider as none of us wants to think were supposed to go one way and it be in opposition to God’s intent for our life is right?

Let me move to the more personal.  After all this is important. I don’t think it will do you the reader any good by commenting on such an important decision from a distance.  I want to be in the will of God.  If I am, then it doesn’t matter what else is going on.  I’m not interested in running someone else’s race, nor having anyone else tell me what my race is or what it supposed to be to fit their agenda either, (yes this is done in the church of Jesus more than we care to admit).  I want to run my race, and I want to run it well. I want to run with Jesus.

I know what a trial by fire is like.  My former spouse and I (whom I’m happy to say is a Christian) brought upon each other a divorce that was so painful and hurtful to each other we were both nearly ruined in the process.  Now we had help and some of the contributors are out of the picture now, but let me sum it up. By the end of it, we had lost over a million dollars, multiple homes all of our assets and savings, we had lawsuits and counter suits going on in multiple court venues with over 16 judges involved. After the cash ran out, which was quick mind you as attorneys are expensive, I ended up representing myself in legal proceedings for several years in divorce proceedings, civil court proceedings, criminal proceedings, the appellate courts and yes even up to the state supreme court. By the end of it I lost my health, my career, and all material assets.  As I lived in a different province (or state) for over five years I had to fly back and forth so often I stopped counting after 70 court appearances. You can imagine I got very familiar with the air crews.   I didn’t win anything, I lost everything except for my faith.  Somewhere in the midst of the worst of it and the worst of it involved incarceration, Jesus showed up enough to let me know He was there in the midst.  He had to be, as no one else could be. It was that intense.

That experience left a mark on me. And I survived it just like others who survive such things.  But how this relates to calling reveals itself in the following.   I was so sure that I had learned such profound truths about what men go through in the family court system I thought my “calling” in the Kingdom of God was to be a divorced men’s advocate.  In my passion about what had occurred I thought God must have brought me through it so that I could bring others through similar circumstances. I decided my purpose was to reach out and minister to men going through divorce and try to keep them from destroying themselves, their children and their ex-wives.  I had so identified with this “trial by fire” it had become a brand upon me so it became my identity.  I was a Christian, I was passionate, and I was even effective in this form of ministry but it wasn’t how God saw me.  It wasn’t how he wanted to use me and thank you Jesus if I would have stayed in it, I’m afraid I would have remained only partially healed.  God burned out a lot of the old self in this process and taught me how to rely on him when it was desperate. Trust me it was desperate. At one point I was staring at nearly three decades in prison. But if I would have settled for a divorced men’s ministry, I never would have had enough of the “dross” removed to have the gold prepared for something new, something beautiful.  I wouldn’t have been remolded into the new creation God wanted in me.

“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” 2 Corinthians 5:17

If I would have settled for that calling, which I assumed must have been God’s will for my life, I would have stayed bitter. I never would have learned to love people, and I never would have learned to pray for my former wife and mom of two of my kids until she came into the Kingdom.  I simply would have been one more Christian who thought he knew better than God what God’s plan for my life was.

Starting to sound familiar?

Most of our trials, especially the ones that burn white hot, are not for purposes of establishing calling. Most of the time, they are the product of our own mess to the point we have given satan an opening to destroy us or advance the purposes of his kingdom through us.  God in his mighty sovereignty and magnificence, turns this against the enemy and uses it to make something new, something beautiful, something suited to His plan for our life.  That is of course if we let Him.  Too many of us immediately assume while God is still purifying us, we have found “our calling.” Because we really don’t know how to listen to God or to wait on the Holy Spirit, (I know you probably do but I’m telling you most people don’t). We never become who God wants us to be because instead of accepting the invitation of a divine trajectory, we settle for the spiritual version of retirement we call “our calling.” We never become who we are meant to be in Christ.

Let me talk about this concept of “divine trajectory.”  Jesus called it “picking up our cross and following him.” Really focus on that statement “follow Him.”  It’s really at the heart of what we are talking about when we are trying to figure out calling. It’s quite the opposite of what we traditionally think of in calling.  You see in this impulsive assumption of what our calling is, we often assume we lack something and are deficient.  That’s always what happens when we take up our cross and follow ourselves.  We approach life from a position of deficiency.  This type of assumption forms in us a perception that we are not complete enough to do the work God wants us to do until we reach some goal that tells us “now you’re ready.”  I don’t know about you, but my Bible says it was immediately Jesus Christ seated us in the heavenly realms with Him” (Ephesian 2:6).  That sounds like we are in a pretty incredible place in Jesus now.  Notice Colossians 1:10-13 infers because of the immediate Kingdom transfer that occurs when we accept Jesus lordship over our life, we are supposed to be bearing all sorts of fruit.  All sorts of fruit, now. That sounds pretty immediate and part of the transfer of becoming a Christian.  It doesn’t support the idea we wait under some non-scriptural assumption of the umbrella of calling.  When Jesus gave Peter the Keys to the Kingdom, it was because Peter had just confessed Jesus.  You and I if we have confessed Christ have access to these same keys which are part of the work of the Church and the Kingdom of God.  They are the keys of doing the work of the Kingdom, ushering it in on earth and manifesting it.  We are actually in a better position. Because when Peter heard it Jesus had not risen from the dead! Now these “keys” come the presence and power of the Holy Spirit to do Kingdom work now, not waiting until God confirms a calling.

Don’t misunderstand me, sharpening spiritual skills is important. Gaining knowledge and experience is too.  The New Testament repeatedly emphasizes growing in knowledge and growing in love, but these are not determinative to calling.  You have in Christ, at the time of your faith in Jesus began, commenced your calling.  It’s your race.  We spend way too much time waiting on others to confirm us and verify us when we are supposed to be having the Holy Spirit do this (Rom 8:16-17).  This is a left-over human need of affirmation from the world of the flesh.  So many Christians are out of the lane God intends for them to drive in seeking affirmational security.  I better say that again as I feel we need to hear it again.  If you are waiting for affirmation from others about who you are in Christ, or an appointment to office or calling, you may be waiting a long time.  God appoints offices and if we seek the Holy Spirit, He will reveal this in his time.  That’s a higher level of responsibility.  Don’t confuse office with calling.  You have already been called.  You see a spiritual trajectory is when someone understands their calling is already under way and they step into what God directs them to do.  This is completely backward to the way most Christians practice their walk.  They wait, and wait, and continually pursue what they already have.  Now by trajectory I mean this means a direction in alignment with the will of God. Jesus already told us what this would be.  Its starts with “preaching the Kingdom” that’s the primary mission, everything else is second to it.

We want to make sure whatever we are doing is preaching the Kingdom, in word, in action and in deed.  Now Jesus is still our commander and King, and to accomplish Kingdom work we align ourselves with the format He said would help us.  This means we need to become experts at letting the Holy Spirit comfort and commune with us, (John 14:17); we need to become experts at letting Jesus Spirit teach us in all things and remind us of what Jesus himself said (John 14:26); and we need to get out of the way so Holy Spirit can testify to us about Jesus, (John 15:26) and believe and seek the “all truths” that Jesus says the Holy Spirit will be conveying to us (John 16: 13).

That means prolific, generous, copious, determined time in the presence closet where Jesus promises to reward.  This needs to be a supernatural desire for intimacy with Jesus (a hunger) that comes from a supernatural source.  We can’t achieve this if we are still pursuing some flesh-based idea of calling.  In fact, that’s a trap by which the enemy keeps many of God’s children wandering in their own life deserts for years.   Trajectory is understanding who we already are, “the called or chosen” and living in it now.  It’s the meaning and understanding behind Paul’s statement:

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:13-14

We often gravitate towards what’s familiar simply because it’s familiar.  Consider the share earlier. Who would I be now if I had stayed married to the experience of a painful divorce?  I sure wouldn’t be who I am today, that much I know.

There’s another concern we should mention about “fire trials” and calling.  Fear and fire often go together.  Uncontrolled fire is one of the most intimidating forces of nature. In terms of the supernatural it has its counterpart as well.  Trials bring out what is vulnerable in us, always.  In fact, our ability to successfully make it through a trial really has to do with how well we cooperate with the change that is needed in us to mature, to gain authority, and to step into deeper levels of relational intimacy with Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

We have a tendency to think of ourselves as inadequate in the fire, and we are without Jesus.  But that’s not who we are which I think we’ve pointed out.  Still the fear of inadequacy plays a huge part in most Christians when it comes to calling.  Think of incredible journeys in the Bible around calling, Moses, David, Esther, Abraham & Sarah.  It’s a long list.  All of these were taken completely out of their comfort zones, and moved into completely different authorities under the power and training of the Holy Spirit.   I’m sure there was a potent level of fear involved with these transitions!  You and I can’t shortcut this either.  I wish we could. In my flesh I also would like to “called” to the familiar.  However, the greatest impact we have is almost never in the form or manner we assume it will be.  Even Jesus.  He was a carpenter.  A tradesman.  And if our Bible is true from cover to cover, Hebrews 2:17-19 tells us he encountered “everything” we would so he could relate to us as a perfect Savoir and Advocate.   It was no easy step moving from carpenter to roaming preacher, harassed by the government, often without a roof over his head.  Jesus step into calling, paved the way as an example for us.  Reliance on the Father, trust in the goodness of the Father, and willingness to let the Father implement His plan through the Son’s life.  Now that should blow your minds because you and I have this privilege also.  So, as a bit of encouragement, like Paul, don’t carry around the past too close to your heart.  It has a clever way of delaying your maturity and even throwing you off track.  Particularly don’t let the fire reignite the past mistakes and doubts as fires have a way of doing this.  Recognize the pattern of how this occurs and press into your trajectory. The enemy’s tactic is to spin this into a confused web about calling and identity and stall the process of you stepping into who you are now in Christ as a new creation.

Start living the Jesus expression you are meant to be now, in your family, in your work, even in your possible sorrow and brokenness.  The Christ that is living in you and through you is meant to be a light to the world now.  Our calling is the reality of the risen Christ living in us where we are “living by faith in the Son of God who loves us and gave Himself for us.”  Man or woman, new believer or veteran, step into what already is for the Believer. Stop believing the delay tactics of the enemy.  Let go of some of the “fire memoires” of the past. They don’t establish your calling that’s accomplished already. They are sharpening points on your trajectory with God which Jesus uses to make you one awesome Kingdom building, love establishing, force to be reckoned with… Now, not later.

J.P. Grier

Pastor Steve, Pastor Gia, and our new friend who got her sight back!

On May 11^th 2019 we were once again headed for another area of ministry in the beautiful country of Georgia.    The previous night we held service with our friends from Pastor Elguja’s church in Batumi.  This day we were driving north and were going to visit two churches in the area of Zugdidi.  One was led by Pastor’s Gia and Ia his wife. The other by Pastor Gela. We were accompanied by Levani our driver, his wife Salome and their lovely 3-year-old amazing daughter!   Nona our translator was with us who was familiar with the area had worked with Pastor Steve before.

At about 10 am in the morning our little van rolled into Zugdidi. Zugdidi is on the northwest coast of Georgia about 12 miles from the east coast of the Black Sea. We all had a chance to share some coffee and tea downstairs at the church as Pastor Steve caught up with Gia and Ia.  Pastor Gia and his wife were beautiful Christians and as we swapped ministry stories and heard about the churches local efforts it was like a family reunion with these folks. We spoke about the recent conference with David Hogan and each one shared how David’s message had penetrated their hearts and stirred a desire for a stronger commitment to Jesus.  David Hogan has that effect on people. The effect the conference had on the Spirit filled churches in Georgia was significant.  A shift was taking place in the spiritual atmosphere which we were aware of.  Several days prior, when we still were in Tbilisi, I had a dream confirming this. Now that we had been in the country for nearly ten days Pastor Steve and I had both sensed on multiple occasions the spiritual warfare that was occurring. When it comes to warfare the Kingdom of Darkness uses two primary weapons, diversion and deception.  Now these may take many forms but they strive to produce chaos and complacency in the church. Just consider from our own lives how often we are easily distracted and stumble in our effectiveness in advancing the Kingdom of God.  There’s a cost to discipleship.  Disciples by the way are effective.  They don’t stumble for years wondering what their “calling” is.    Jesus exhorted his hearers to consider it.  My extreme grace friends might want to consider the following words of Jesus

“For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it?” (Luke 14:28)

Let’s be rock solid about what Jesus is talking about here.  He’s talking about becoming a Christian, one of His disciples, someone who professes to be “owned by Jesus!”

We can be so determined to get people to commit to Jesus we often step on the Holy Spirit who is working on someone’s heart whispering to them, “Consider the choice your making before you come to me.”  It’s a big decision. Obviously, Jesus thought so in Luke as the whole of the section is about discipleship costing everything, requiring commitment, consideration and certainly contemplation…everything. Let’s be careful when overemphasizing human comforts prosperity and health, over the reality of the Kingdom.  While God desires to give us these blessings so does the enemy if it will keep us out of the effectiveness associated with being a disciple!  Jesus says like a person building, “plan ahead know what you’re doing and what you’re getting into.”

Here’s why Jesus tells us this.  Because He knows how important this choice is for ourselves and for everyone around us. I got news for some of us.  The reason we haven’t brought anyone to Christ for some time isn’t because the worlds so hostile.  The problems us!  Ouch! I know that stung. But trust me when I say I’m telling you this as for too long I thought the problem was others when the problem was me.  It was Jesus who said…

“The harvest is plentiful the workers are few…” Matt 9:35

A worker is not our awesome worship band or our amazing pastor or our amazing children’s ministry although they truly might be incredible.   A worker is someone who walks in the supernatural, in courage, often into uncomfortable challenging situations and does the work Jesus did, just like Jesus.  Here’s what Jesus thought of someone who had considered the commitment to Him and then backed away from it.

“No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” Luke 9:62).

You examine the context carefully and the relation between Luke 14 and come to your own conclusions.  I think the warning is clear.  Paraphrased it goes something like this…

“Don’t think of coming to follow me unless you understand how anti-world and possibly even anti-popular you might become. Because if you start this journey and then bail, you were never part of My Kingdom in the first place.”

Now I know that statement, will rub some wrong.  But if you want to see the type of impact Jesus had, we must count the cost, step up to the plate and do the works Jesus did.  Jesus did an awful lot of works.  There’s room for variation and creativity.  But Jesus activities pointed to one thing, putting people in right relation to God. Let’s make sure were not professing to be a follower of Jesus who confuses that.  Jesus finishes what He starts in those who passionately follow Him. While growth may be slower than we like, God is working out the details to release Himself to the world through us as ambassadors of reconciliation!

Another common deception of satan is to convince us “we are out of balance” if we get “too fanatical” or “too devoted” about Jesus. This type of Christian is confused and will never reach their potential. Satan’s objective is to keep you thinking things like paying all your taxes, being responsible, having an ordered house, no criminal record and fairly well-behaved kids and going to church and attending the men’s and women’s annual retreats represents the “Christian life.”  Make a mental note to yourself right now.  We can never be “too devoted” to Jesus. If we are fearful of what devotion to Jesus might cost, we’re not counting the cost; we certainly haven’t grabbed the plow.  We may have fallen back to deceiving ourselves thinking “I‘m not that bad?” “I’m avoiding temptations and not getting into to trouble?”  The reason this attitude permeates so many ineffective Christians is because it does take a fair amount of fortitude, mental energy and personal integrity to not be overwhelmed by a world which promotes short cuts and self-indulgence! Please let’s be honest, to keep yourself clean and out of trouble in this world requires you to go against the flow of popular opinion which can be exhausting.  However, we are not to mistake this struggle as discipleship as Jesus described it. That would be a grand failure to satan’s deception.  Disciples grab the plow, do the work, cultivate the harvest, and produce fruit… period.  Fruit according to Jesus is people coming to know Jesus because of the Jesus living in us and ruling us.

Back to our story.

Our mid-day service in Zugdidi started around noon.  As worship started, I surveyed the church and to my surprise (and thankfulness), no one was presenting as overtly demonized. Pastor Steve started his message and spoke of his early trips to India on mission and he shared how he felt unprepared, exhausted and how amazing God was to cover and bless their team in spite of their human limitations.  I really like that about God. He waits for us to exhaust ourselves with ourselves to begin to start using us!  Pastor exhorted us to think big!  If we thought small, we would get small.  That’s a spiritual principle worth noting.  When he concluded, we used the same format and asked if anyone wanted prayer for anything. Pastor Steve, myself Nona and Pastor Gia stood center front and received folks for prayer.  It was relaxed and people shared their petitions through Nona, (who was amazing!) After praying for a couple people a woman in her early sixties came forward and asked for prayer for her eyes as she had retinal neuropathy due to diabetes and it had progressed to the point she couldn’t read any more.  This was difficult for her as she couldn’t read any of the church’s printed literature for Bible studies, weekly announcements or anything.  Pastor Steve turned to me and said to me “Jim why don’t you pray for her” which surprised me a bit as I was again enjoying praying alongside of him while he was leading the prayer interventions.  As I started to “wind up” for a healing prayer, the Holy Spirit stopped me dead in my tracks and the impression was “simple.”  Pastor Steve had just shared not 20 minutes prior how in India when he was exhausted God used the simplest forms of prayer to accomplish mighty things including, I might add, opening the ears of the deaf and the blind.

I said “eyes open in Jesus Name”

As it came off my lips, it was clear this is what the Holy Spirit wanted me to do as opposed to running off in some overly verbose sounding prayer that used all the right verbs and adjectives and a couple charismatic jargon statements thrown in.  While I do speak in tongues this time the Spirit said, “Don’t.”

“Eyes open in Jesus Name”

Pastor Gia prayed in Georgian as it was important for him to convey to the woman her request had been directly addressed. We are a family remember?  We take care of each other.  The woman returned to her seat and we kept praying for folks who came forward.  Suddenly we were interrupted by the woman we had just prayed for. She was holding up a card and saying she needed to give her testimony.  In the short time between her sitting down and us continuing to pray she had taken the step to pick up an informational card which contained about 10-point font (I can’t read that without my glasses!).  She was excitingly sharing that she could read it!  She continued to grab other church literature objects and was reading them to us from the front!  Needless to say, it was an amazing moment of healing! We had the privilege to participate in a miracle Jesus wanted to do for this lovely woman whose eyes were holding her back.

Now to my skeptical evangelicals who have deferred to teach their theology that healing and signs are not for this age or limited to the time of the Acts of the Apostles I offer this…

Try convincing the sister who got her sight back.  I think she would beg to differ!  But please feel free and go argue with Jesus over why your right and present your secular, skeptical rationale for modern days miracles. Jesus, Paul nor any other New Testament said this would happen.  Be prepared, God won’t send anyone your way that needs help. Not with that unbelief.  You see we get what we pray for and aim for.

I guess we know where I stand on the issue!

Please accept my apology.  You see I’m not very tolerant when it comes to Christians who either claim they walk in power (when they don’t) or they doubt and criticize the miraculous as “sensational.”   I’ve been embarrassed by the former and had to clean up after them.  Now as for the latter…, I listened to them for 30 years and they didn’t have any answers as to why I couldn’t walk in any power or freedom that matched what Jesus said I should have and what the New Testament promises.  I know the journey God brought me through to change the way I think; especially about His Holy Spirit and how the Holy Spirit is meant to take over my life and conform me not only in to who Jesus is, (Romans 8:29) and…don’t miss this…

Do the things He actually did… (John 14:12)

After the Holy Spirit comers upon you, you will have power. God will mightily move within your life: the power of the Holy Spirit will overshadow you, inwardly moving you until you know there is a divine plan different from anything you have had in your life before. – Smith Wigglesworth

If we don’t believe this is God’s goal we can be prepared to receive in proportion to our faith.  Which usually means we’re more concerned with the opinions of others and potentially looking silly than walking out our faith.  I think we should warm up to the idea of looking stupid or fanatical for the Name of Jesus!

Ignore the skeptics criticism.  Jesus would put it “let the dead bury the dead” (Matt 8:22) Start walking eagerly in the power Jesus carried and said we were supposed to carry.  I’ve noticed, the non-believing world has more faith and a greater hunger for the miraculous than most Christians! Being conformed to Jesus is the most wonderfully transforming new birth journey we could ever hope for!  It’s bringing the Kingdom of God to Earth and uprooting the territory of the Kingdom of darkness!  But to be effective, it comes with a cost.  Yes, anything of value costs. Obedience for one, purity for two.  These go hand in hand with each other and never stop confirming and conforming the life of the disciple.  Let’s bring a Gospel that is complete which has the power to transfer us from the Kingdom of darkness to the Kingdom of God, and has the power to transform us physically, mentally, emotionally, and of course spiritually.  The world has heard plenty of talk about intellectual Jesus for centuries and look how far that’s gotten us?  Look at the condition of the world? Of the church?  The Gospel is commissioned and confirmed, that’s right confirmed, by the power of the one behind it!

After one more church meeting, including another deliverance, we headed back the 90-minute drive that night to Batumi.  We had a lot to be thankful for, salvations, miracles and new freedom as well as the encouragement we received from our Georgian family.  The Gospel in its entirety, in its power has the ability to do this for us.

You might be thinking “Yes!” I knew this Gospel was possible!” Jesus is excited to get with the business of taking you to the place where you walk in the freedom, joy, and the impact you’ve desired for years.  If you believe in the immersion and overwhelming power of the Holy Spirit, you can break those issues you’ve wanted to be free from.  But that power, comes from us believing how desperately we need the Holy Spirit’s personal presence.  The cost?  “Asking Seeking and Knocking….” (Luke 11: 9-13). Let’s let go of the teaching that redefined what Jesus offered for modern day; non-power filled intellectualism.  Soon there will be a great exchange that takes place in the church.  Jesus through His Holy Spirit is going to blow away the notion of comfort-class Christianity which has become the standard of the church.  That’s what the world is waiting for and that’s why people responded to Jesus in the first century.

Count the Cost, expect the change, walk like you believe it. Jesus will pick up the rest.

“Lord Jesus, we know we are meant to be world changers, and walk in the power and revelation of your Holy Spirit. Help us to count the cost, put our hands to the plow knowing you have us covered and you love it when we partner and become excited with your desire to reach the world for your Kingdom.”

J.P. Grier

M.S. Counseling M.C.M. Pastoral Counseling

JP Grier is the founder and writer at SentinelforChrist.com – A network of Christians helping each other to press deeper in Christ.

Joseph Stalin’s Childhood Home
at the Joseph Stalin Museum Gori,
Republic of Georgia

I happen to be an American who loves Georgia and its wonderful people.

On May 8^th 2019 we were in a car with Pastor Mamuka from Word of Life Tbilisi and the regional director of the Word of Life Churches, heading north to Gori after a three-day conference with Evangelist Missionary David Hogan in Tbilisi. I was glad to be going out to a less urban environment into an environment where I knew we would have more interaction with the Georgian people and individual churches.  There was a tremendous peace upon me while sitting in the back of car and listening to Pastor Steve try and share in English with Pastor Momuka.  The day was incredibly bright and the green hills of the Georgian countryside reminded me of a time the earth was pristine and I was thinking about the New Heaven and the New earth.  Maranatha Lord Jesus!

While looking west towards a line of hills, God’s Spirit moved inside me and asked “Are you ready to follow me wherever I send you?” I felt a sense of peace and a supernatural kindness of God at the same time this occurred which was awesome.  It was yet another one of God’s supernatural moments which have been occurring since 2015 when God woke me up to the reality of His Holy Spirit in a deeper and more intimate way.  It was also a little surprising as we were already on mission to have God saying this now. I’ve gotten a lot better as I’ve gotten older at not resisting the Holy Spirit.  I assumed this spiritual impression and peace was God encouraging me and confirming my work over the past year particularly in international missions.  I was having an accelerated and incredible time of growth travelling with my mentor Pastor Steve Shank and getting thrown into some hair-raising situations that brought the supernatural adrenaline rush!  Now I realize when I say that it sounds a little self-serving, but it’s not.  I was having fun serving the Lord.  The joy was truly unspeakable!  I can attest God has truly been faithful to give me the “desires of my heart” (Psalm 37:4).  I consider myself abundantly blessed!

So with my spiritual “pat on the back” from God while I was sitting there in God’s peaceful presence, not two minutes later, Pastor Mamuka’s phone rang.  It was Bishop Natasha who was responsible for linking up Pastor Steve with the Republic of Georgia Word of Life Churches originally in 2012.  She was asking if Pastor Steve and I would be willing to separate from each other and go to different locations that day in the Gori area as there were many people who needed prayer.  Now I got to admit up to this point on our trip I was having a relaxing time simply supporting Pastor Steve and praying for folks at the end of the services as we travelled.  I had already had several intense prayer encounters where the Holy Spirit had delivered incredible freedom to people I had the privilege to pray with.  But when I heard this message, I knew immediately why less than 2 minutes prior God’s presence had descended on me in the back of the car.  When Pastor Mamuka asked if we would be willing to separate, I answered “absolutely.”

We pulled into the Gori area in a town called Qareli and met the coordinating Pastor in the area Pastor Mirza.  I already knew something of this man’s testimony and I had been specifically praying for him and how I could particularly do what God intended me do weeks before we arrived so it felt like meeting a family member.  After we rested, we discussed the day’s outreach plan.  Mirza said “there is a town far away and a couple of locations here in Qareli.”   What we didn’t know, was that Pastor Mirza had been working for some time preparing house churches in new locations and had planned on our team having the privilege of bringing the message of the Gospel at the initial meetings of these churches!  That’s how our God works, planning all things ahead bringing together the members of the family of His church on earth, His Son’s Bride to do the work of the Kingdom.  When I heard this, I knew in my spirit I would be going to the remote location.  While the group consulted who would go where there was no feeling of conviction so I said “I’ll go to the far village.”  Besides if anything delayed us that way Pastor Steve wouldn’t be late for his planned message that night in the Qareli church?

I was introduced to my translator Teona and her uncle Madab who would be driving us to a village south of Gori, Stalin’s birthplace.  As we drove, I got to know the two of them and that the house we were going to had one believer the wife, and she Madab and the crew had been doing outreach to their neighbors to try and get them to come to the church. After some time of driving Madab pointed out we were overlooking Gori.  As we got off the highway and started making our way down the winding road to get there I prayed, “The legacy of this town does not belong to Stalin’s memory, Jesus Is King, and today people in this area will be brought into the Kingdom.” I remained in prayer as we drove through the city. About 10 minutes later we arrived in Qvakhvreli a small town with low houses and trees.  As we turned down an alley to access the home we would hold the first church service in, we needed to go to the end of the street and turn around.  At the very end of the street was a man in his mid-30’s sitting out front with his son under a tree, we passed by him very slowly and he was looking at us. Our intent was to use the end of the street to turn around, which meant we would pass him again.  At this point the Spirit said “invite him to church!”  As we drove by the second time, I said in English “come to church!” My translator translated and he smiled and nodded his head “no way!”  I smiled too and as we got out of the car and parked, I walked over to him and introduced myself. His name was Vanuli and his son’s name was Lucas. I complimented him on his strawberry patch and we smiled and parted ways Teona, Madab and I walking down the street to the new house church.

As we entered the home, we were greeted warmly by the wife of the home who had made preparations for us.  She was a new believer and it was obviously very exciting to have a guest in her home on the first day of their house church and this one being an American.  The word was put out and, in a few minutes, more people came to the first service which included her husband, a couple of older women, two children elementary school age and a man in his early 50’s whom I could see was heavily oppressed from the intensity coming off him.  We made a circle of all the available chairs and at the moment we were sitting down to begin, Vanuli and Lucas walked in!  “Well I thought, “Thank you Holy Spirit You are in control!”  I had decided to use the story of Nicodemus and empty religion as the jumping off point that day for the Gospel.  As we started, I thanked these them all for the privilege of being able to share my time with them and said I wanted to be somewhat transparent about myself and how I found Jesus.  I shared about my experience in the Catholic faith and only being introduced to who Jesus was but never really knowing him.  While I sharing people were listening and the older gentleman in his 50’s looked very uncomfortable. I could see he was having a spiritual struggle.  Teona read the story of Nicodemus meeting Jesus, which allowed me to share the difference between knowing about religious things and being born again.  Vanuli was watching and his eyes were taking in every word. We finished with John chapter 7 sharing about the Holy Spirit’s desire to live within us and through us and I gave simple invitation to accept Christ I waited for about three seconds…

Everyone’s hand went up.  Make a note if we get out of the way and preach the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand accurately, God is quite capable of doing the work in the heart.

For the next 20 minutes we took prayers and even prayed over a shirt one the husband of our host brought for a friend of his he wanted healing for based on Acts chapter 19.  The husband now a new believer immediately understood the power of the Gospel enough to do this shortly after getting saved!  I love how our awesome God works!  We prayed over health in Jesus name, addictions in Jesus name, and for courage in Jesus name.  The man in his 50’s wo now had accepted Jesus who was formally hostile was now relaxed.  He came up for prayer and asked if he could be freed from alcohol.  I treat such addictions when someone has lost the ability to control whatever masters them as demonically empowered.  So, we treated this as a deliverance.  As soon as the spirit was told to leave the man, his eyes fluttered, he began to waver and for a moment I was afraid he might fall over.  Thank you, Jesus, he didn’t!  He did remark he felt something “had changed” which is very common in deliverance encounters.  Tis was unremarkable I have had deliverances turn into a bit of circus with demons manifesting and the situation being quite awkward.  God was very graceful to this little new church and the Holy Spirit brought freedom and joy!

After a time of after service fellowship offered by our host, we prepared to leave and said our good byes to these new believers.  On the way back in the car, I was filled with immense joy and peace over my new family members in the Kingdom and I had not noticed how profoundly moved my translator Teona was.  As I sat in the car mesmerized at how good God was, Teona was in His Presence, she had tears on her face which surprised me at first.  She shared that that was her first time translating and for most of the message she was nervous about getting something wrong and the atmosphere being reduced due to a translation mistake. I smiled and assured her she did great and she agreed she had and then she shared how amazed she was that God has used her so easily to bring this group of believers into a relationship with Christ.  I agreed and we laughed considering the amount of work that had occurred with Pastor Mirza and Madab who directly were reaching out to the community in preparation for this day.  It takes the family of God to bring about the expansion of the Kingdom of God.  It always does.  Solo soldiers in Christ rarely foster Spirit empowered impact. However, they are often beset with “spirits of division” working through them.  The reason God uses the many members of the body to accomplish the work of the body, (Romans 12:4-6) is to remind us we are a family.  Families care for one another; they sacrificially give for one another and are reminded to “consider each other more important than themselves.” Romans 12:10.

Times are frustrating again in Georgia, I want to encourage them, Jesus is King over Georgia, not the oppressors, not political systems. Georgia remember this, your history is rich with this truth!  Far richer than most countries.

The day would get even more amazing as God’s Spirit took control and we followed.  We left this service praising the Lord for His work in the new house church in Qvakhvreli.  I could not help but share in the happiness of the wife who hosted us and who had been praying for her husband’s salvation. Now he was in the Kingdom with her!  I love especially couples in Christ.  They are meant more than anything to reflect Christ love and His Church on earth!  We had some rest time at our host home Manana, before service that night.  We also picked up some history of the church and how through the love and devotion Pastor Mamuka, how the Gospel had originally reached out to this area.  We heard how the ministry around Gori had been passed on to Pastor Mirza, and how he faithfully ministered to Manana and her family for months, often walking to her home in the snow to bring the message of the Gospel to her.  God revealed again how He had been working through the hands of His people to establish His church in this area and how the many members had over time, and through obedience, had seen the fruit.  Fruit’s often missing in Christian churches these days.  If we don’t see something immediate, or spectacular we don’t believe. We can find ourselves challenging Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit like the religious rulers for signs of credibility.   Learning to hear the Spirit of God is not accomplished by formula, or by reading books about it.  There’s no shortcut for us individually “asking, seeking, and knocking” (Luke 11:9-13).

Around 6:30 that evening, the service started in Qareli.  There was a powerful presence of the Holy Spirit in the service this night from the beginning of worship straight into the message.  Pastor Steve kept on with the message of “being ready.”  It wasn’t long into the service when over my shoulder to the left I knew something was occurring in the spirit so I shifted in my seat to look around and saw a man (Darian) staring at me with a look of horror on his face.  I have seen this before.  The look is the demonic that knows they are close to being confronted.  You also need to appreciate this occurred as joyful powerful worship was going on all around us and how out of place this man looked in the spiritual realm. What was occurring in the man due to the demonic presence of his life was an overwhelming sense of fear.  Several times I looked back over the course of the service.  He was also sitting next to a man who had a demon as well.  On this man however, his eyes were darting back and forth from side to side rapidly.  No matter how long I looked at the second man he (the demon) would not raise its eyes to meet mine, no wonder these two men were sitting together as demons like to gather or “congregate” Keep in mind Matthew tells us there were “two” demoniacs from Gadarene.

After Pastor Steve had delivered the message there was a continued time of worship. Pastor Steve and I and some of the believers from the church stood up front at this time and offered to pray with anyone who wanted prayer.  People came forward for many issues and in need of healing.  God had already let me know I would be praying over Darian and it would happen one way or another so I was not surprised when God came through and Darian came before me for personal prayer.  I said “hello” and that I was glad he came up for prayer, I shared what I believed the Lord told me was oppressing him, and he confirmed it. This happens repeatedly in deliverance and was reoccurring in our time in Georgia.  Every time I shared with permission from the individual, what the Holy Spirit had revealed about their life, the person looked immensely relieved someone knew the torment they were experiencing.  Let this be a gentle warning for my charismatic prophetic enthusiasts.  If you rattle off 20 things the Holy Spirit is supposedly telling you about someone’s destiny, you’re bound to get something right.  Holy Spirit is right 100% of the time.  If its not of the Spirit, Let’s not represent it like it is.  I asked Darian if he had been baptized in the Holy Spirit, and if he had previously spoken in his tongue language.  He said “yes,” but not for some time.  I explained this was common when oppressed by what was demonic, to which he shook his head in agreement.  I instructed him what we were going to do, asking Teona not to translate the words spoken against the demon.  The prayer was short and the three of us, myself, Teona and Darian thanked God for the deliverance.  We had agreed we would pray and thank God until Darian was able to express his thanks in the language of tongues.  The prayer only took about a minute and at the point he started speaking in tongues a big smile broke out on his face and he said loudly “I’m Free! I’m Free!”  What was demonic had been shaken off.  Darian had a return of the joy we are gifted to be able to carry.  Sometimes we lose this, and through isolation and oppression, its robbed of us.  Sometimes we never find this joy as it is associated with a vibrant understanding and relationship to the Holy Spirit.  This explains why so many of us stay stuck in our faith, defeated, an ineffective in reaching others for Christ.  Kingdom work requires we get used to the spontaneous nature of working with God’s Spirit and stepping out of our comfort zone.  The longer I live the more I am confronted at how this confrontation with my own comfort zone never goes away for the believer.

“Jesus help us as we need to hear you Holy Spirit.  We need to be sensitive to your desire to own us and work through us.”  Give us supernatural courage to face circumstances that seem impossible and reach those you don’t know you and bless those who don’t know your joy.”

J.P. Grier

M.S. Counseling M.C.M. Pastoral Counseling

JP Grier is the founder and writer at SentinelforChrist.com – A network of Christians helping each other to press deeper in Christ.

The past couple of months, my prayer has been that the Lord would break my heart for what breaks His. That my heart would be broken for the people that break His heart. That I would be moved with compassion the way Jesus was moved with compassion for people. That He would trust me to share in the fellowship of His sufferings (Phil 3:10). Over the past month I believe He has begun to answer that prayer, surrounding me with broken, sick, hurting people in such heavy situations that make you want to cower into a ball and accept defeat. I asked Him to share His suffering with me and once He did it made me second guess my prayer because standing in these situations with these people was so excruciating. Enough to make my stomach hurt. Every time I closed my eyes, I would see them in their pain. I couldn’t even sleep some nights. There are at least four people He has connected me with within the past two months who are in what look like absolutely hopeless situations. But, I know that He brought them and their hopeless situations to me so that I could introduce them to Him, the Hope of glory. 

Last week, I was sitting in my friend’s car and I just began weeping because it was just one of those days when it felt like everyone, I’d been contending for was just being wiped out by the enemy and I just sat there and allowed the devil to sing his song of defeat in my ear. In that moment, the Lord spoke to me through my friend and said to me, “Whatever I put in your lap is not meant to stay there. Whatever I put there you are to hand over to me. You alone can do nothing. Your lap is a place where people’s burdens pass through. Raise them onto me. Don’t ever make your lap a home. Your only job is to point their chins up to the One whose name is greater. I do the heavy lifting and I get all the glory.”

A few days later my friend’s five-year-old daughter told us about a dream she had, that I believe was a prophetic dream and a word from the Lord for us. She said, “Daddy was outside working and me and Cameron (her friend) were outside playing and wolves were circling around us, growling and looking mean. I don’t know why, but we just weren’t afraid.” We asked her what happened next and she said, “We went in the house and got confetti poppers and went back outside and started popping the confetti everywhere and the wolves all ran away.”

I knew God was teaching me something through that dream. “Do not fear, trust and rejoice in the reality of who I am. I am greater. Submit to the superior reality of the Kingdom –In the midst of cancer I am good. In the midst of addiction, I am good. In the midst of losing a child I am good. Take the inferior reality of this world and the current circumstances and the facts and submit them to the superior reality of the truth of who I am. Facts may change, but the truth never changes.  Do not fear, in EVERY circumstance, rejoice in Me.”

When we get to heaven, we will never have an opportunity to offer up a sacrifice of praise that is flavored with fear, confusion, sadness, pain, suffering. When we get to heaven, that opportunity will be gone. So, in the midst of hopelessness, I choose to offer up a sacrifice of praise flavored with all the fear, confusion, questions and to rejoice in the truth of who He is IN SPITE of the hopelessness of my current reality. He is greater and He is worthy of my praise. In the midst of death, he has still conquered the grave. In the midst of cancer, He is still the great physician. In the midst of addiction, He is still the 1-step program that sets the captives free.

We have a decision to make every day. We can either believe Him with our whole being and stand by the truth of who He says He is, or we can allow the facts of this inferior world to cloud the superior reality of His kingdom. Is He the name above all names or is He not? Am I his beloved, chosen daughter who has been adopted into His royal family or am I not? It can’t be both anymore. We have to be intentional about who it is we are agreeing with. Am I agreeing with the Father of the truth or the Father of lies? 

For so long, holding every thought captive to the obedience of Christ was so overwhelming. It seemed like every thought I thought was a lie. Rarely did I think thoughts that were in line with the truth. He has been teaching me the power of abiding in Him. He has been teaching me how to live in Him. I never knew what it meant to live in Him. 

But we all, with uncovered face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image, from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord (2 Cor 3:18).  

We trust who we worship, we become what we behold. Behold Him, behold His beauty. Gaze upon Him and the truth of who He is in every moment. I’ve found that in that place of abiding in him and gazing upon His beauty, there is no room for lies about who He is or who I am, no room for unbelief. It is all about Him, it is all about His beauty. When we gaze into His eyes of fire, it is impossible for us to walk away the same.

Lena W. City On The Hill Boulder