The Desperate Cry

Psalm 18:6 - 6 In my distress I called upon the Lord, And cried out to my God; He heard my voice from His temple, and my cry came before Him, even to His ears.

Our text says that in the midst of our sins and bondages – we can cry out for His help and He will come through for us! Let me ask you – just how desperate are you? Now I realize that there are people who only cry out to God when they’re in trouble – God is the judge of their hearts…but, there is something to be said about a desperate man/woman who is willing to come clean and beg for forgiveness…

What so touches me about this verse is David. He paints this interesting picture for you and I as he glances into eternity. Imagine with me, God is in heaven, being praised day after day, night after night...the angels, saints that have gone on to heaven before us, all of the wonderful creatures we've yet to imagine or describe are all in constant worship of the King of kings! In the midst of this - He hears our prayers!
It's as if He were to stop, just to listen to the prayers of His saints come into His throne room, all the way up to His ears!!  That's the power of persistent and meaningful prayer! Have you ever prayed like that? Have you ever been so desperate before God that you didn't stop until you were confident that He has heard you? Or do you give up because you haven't seen what you wanted to see just yet...I mean, come on God - it's been 2 weeks!!

Luke 18:1-8, 18 Then He spoke a parable to them that men always ought to pray and not lose heart, 2 saying: “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man. 3 Now there was a widow in that city; and she came to him, saying, ‘Get justice for me from my adversary.’ 4 And he would not for a while; but afterward he said within himself, ‘Though I do not fear God nor regard man, 5 yet because this widow troubles me I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.’” 6 Then the Lord said, “Hear what the unjust judge said. 7 And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them? 8 I tell you that He will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on the earth?”

I've known verse 8 to be used in the context of Jesus returning to rapture His church, but that's not what it's saying at all. He's asking this question after a parable about persistent prayer!
In other words, you've asked, you've thirsted and hungered after an answer from God - He decides to move on your behalf, only to show up and realize, you've given up before the blessing arrived!

When God returns with your blessing/answer/breakthrough - will He find faith?

Hands Up Don't Shoot

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

After weeks of anticipation, grand jury announces decision on whether to indict Officer Darren Wilson, whose fatal shooting of Michael Brown caused national uproar.
FERGUSON, Mo. — A grand jury on Monday declined to indict police officer Darren Wilson in the fatal shooting of an unarmed black teenager, resolving a secretive, months-long legal saga and reigniting powerful frustrations about America’s policing of African Americans.

The decision means that Wilson, 28, will face no state charges for the Aug. 9 shooting of 18-year-old Michael Brown. It also set off a show of fury on streets near where Brown was shot, a reflection of emotions that register in this riven city as either out of control or justifiable.

At least two police cars and a half-dozen buildings were set aflame. Not far from Christmas lights in downtown Ferguson that read “Seasons Greetings,” police fired tear-gas canisters to contain the crowds. People looted liquor and convenience stores, a response that ran counter to the peace that Missouri authorities, President Obama and Brown’s family had requested.

Now I’m sure that everyone has their own opinions and their own take on what happened, what is right and what is wrong – however, I believe we spoke out as a Nation…that voice cried, when we are unfairly treated (Especially by Authorities), we will counterattack! This is nothing new people – this is in our DNA. We are Americans and for centuries, we have fought for our right to express ourselves, reveal our character (Even at other’s expense), and demand our voice and opinions be heard. That lies in the fabric of this country. This is something that transcends all races in this country. We can borrow from our history; which I believe we have…

The American Revolution began in 1775 as open conflict between the united thirteen colonies and Great Britain. By the Treaty of Paris that ended the war in 1783, the colonies had won their independence. While no one event can be pointed to as the actual cause of the revolution, the war began as a disagreement over the way in which Great Britain treated the colonies versus the way the colonies felt they should be treated. Americans felt they deserved all the rights of Englishmen. The British, on the other hand, felt that the colonies were created to be used in the way that best suited the crown and parliament. This conflict is embodied in one of the rallying cries of the American Revolution: No Taxation Without Representation.

Having understood this, I have a unique question…where is all this fight, fervor, and passion, when it comes to the Kingdom of God? We hold picket signs, yell and scream, burn down businesses, and fight for our rights – but do very little to stand up for Who we believe in!

Listen, if we have passion and an opinion about the things going on in the world – how much more passion should we have about the One who created the world?!

Jesus died on the cross so that we can be set free, isn’t that worth a voice to cry out? Will you be the mouth piece God needs in these last days?

People are rioting in the streets, setting buildings on fire in the name of someone who is dead…can’t we preach in the streets and get set ON fire for someone who is risen from the dead?!?!

Rom. 1: 16 – ‘I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ…’

All of You Lord

John 6:53-58

53 Then Jesus said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. 54 Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. 55 For My flesh is food indeed,[a] and My blood is drink indeed. 56 He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. 57 As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. 58 This is the bread which came down from heaven—not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever.”

John 6:66-69
66 From that time many of His disciples went back and walked with Him no more. 67 Then Jesus said to the twelve, “Do you also want to go away?” 68 But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. 69 Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.

The Power in Consuming Sacrifices

Let’s go back through Jewish history quickly:

(Leviticus 6:9-10)  
"And that which is left thereof [from the meal-offering] shall Aaron and his sons eat; it shall be eaten without leaven in a holy place; in the tent of meeting they shall eat it…it is most holy as the sin-offering and the guilt-offering 

When the Jewish people were in the wilderness before they entered the land of Israel, the consumption of meat was associated with holiness. Every piece of meat consumed came from an animal sacrificed in the Mishkan (Sanctuary), an act meant to bring the worshiper closer to God. The word korban (sacrifice) is related to le-karev, to come close. Through the sacrifice, worshipers felt they were giving themselves vicariously to God.

In the times of the Mishkan the consumption of meat was not something taken for granted, as it generally is today. Each sacrifice had a definite purpose: to offer thanksgiving, to atone for a sin, to commemorate a holy day (such as the Korban Pesach, or Paschal Lamb), or to make one feel closer to God.

Those offering a sacrifice felt that they were giving up something from their prized possessions. People owned animals as sources of labor or food, as well as a form of capital; hence slaughtering them in connection with the Temple rites was a sacrifice of a precious source of income and food.

The animal was not considered just a distant commodity as is generally the case in today's world of corporate agriculture; rather, it was a creature that the owner raised and saw on a daily basis, and whose needs were a matter of personal responsibility and even concern.

Jesus called Himself the ultimate sacrifice, and He called His body, ‘The Temple’ – this is where the sacrifices were to be consumed, until after the people entered the Promised Land…then sacrifices could be consumed elsewhere.  To consume His blood, was to partake in His holy communion understanding that the shedding (Or sprinkling of blood) was to be remembered forever.

Jesus and the people understood what He was saying – His sacrifice wasn’t random, unnecessary, or common…there was relationship involved and concern. Sacrifice was more than the quality of the animal being sacrificed, there was personal involvement with the development and nurture of the beast before the slaughter – there was personal cost involved! This is what Jesus was bringing to light!

The same truth still applies today – people go to church at random, they play Russian Roulette on the web or phone book…however, long lasting faith is borne out of  relationship – care – concern, not FANATICS

Finally, did you hear the desperate cry of Peter?

Peter answered Jesus saying, ‘What else is there?’

- What am I gonna do? Go back to the world?
- Where am I going to go? Back to my old ways?
- Do you really believe I’m going to revisit my pig slop?
- I’ve made a mess of my life, now that I have a religious experience, that’s going to be enough to go on?

Peter said, ‘LORD, I NEED YOU FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE’ – is this your testimony?

Is Jesus like unemployment? He’s just enough to get you through to the next Opportunity?

 His blood was poured out for you, so that you can walk in the newness of life.

Life In the Blood

CNN reported that Nina Pham was the nurse who was infected with the Ebola virus on American soil. Under her supervision, Mr. Duncan, who flew here from Liberia, suffered and eventually died of this terrible disease; not before the disease was transmitted. The miracle however, took place when Dr. Brantley stepped in and performed a blood - transfusion.

Dr. Brantley suffered from the same Ebola virus (Ebola means - 'Black River'), but he fought it off and healed up. With this working in his favor - he was able to donate some of his blood to her, to help her fight off this disease!

I'm here to tell you that this isn't news...there is a greater disease that has been running rampant since the fall of Adam and Eve...that disease is called SIN. We have underestimated its power, we've all been infected by it, and like Ebola, its purpose is to destroy us from the inside out...however, there is a cure for Sin - HIS NAME IS JESUS CHRIST!!

Even in the Old Testament...Leviticus 17: 11 tells us...'Life of the flesh, is in the blood...'
We also know that when Sin was introduced to mankind, Adam fell victim...however, when the same sin was presented to Jesus - He conquered Satan and all his lies!!  What was flowing through Jesus' veins is available to you and I today!

Listen, we need a Holy Ghost, Spirit - filled, Blood Transfusion!!  Let Jesus touch your life, and fill you with His love...through the blood of Jesus, we can all be set free from the powerful disease called SIN!!

Heb. 9: 22 - And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission.

Give your life to Jesus Christ - the blood that flows from Calvary's cross is available to all of us...even to this day!!

Too Close for Comfort

John 19: 25-27

Now there stood by the cross of Jesus His mother, His mother's sister Mary, (Wife of Cleopas), John, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus therefore saw His mother, and the disciple whom He loved standing by, He said to His mother, 'Woman, behold your son!' Then He said to the disciple, 'Behold your mother!' And from that hour, that disciple took her to his own home.

Luke 24:13-18

Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 And they talked together of all these things which had happened. So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them. But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him. And He said to them, “What kind of conversation is this that you have with one another as you walk and are sad?” Then the one whose name was Cleopas answered and said to Him, “Are You the only stranger in Jerusalem, and have You not known the things which happened there in these days?”

Over the years, I never made the connection until recently. We see here 2 different events but an unusual connection between the 2. Mary's sister Mary is the wife of Cleopas...Cleopas was Joseph's brother! This indicates that Mary is an in-law, which would explain why the 2 sisters have the same name. It is also possible that the forms of Mary are not expounded on. In other words, Miriam, Maria, are also forms of Mary, but are not differentiated in the text.  This alone, is not unusual...what seems to be unusual to me is this...

If Mary and Cleopas are family...WOULDN'T THEY RECOGNIZE WHAT JESUS LOOKED LIKE? If anyone could recognize Jesus, it would be Mary's folks right? Well, consider the setting, and the events...

Jesus, their Nephew has been executed as a criminal...they are followers of His cause and believe He was the true Messiah...now that is all gone...no doubt Mary related these events to Cleopas - SHE WAS AT THE FOOT OF THE CROSS WITH JOHN! Cleopas and a friend of his was probably on their way to tell the other disciples...

By this time, Jesus shows up, but Cleopas was so downcast and discouraged, he couldn't even recognize his own flesh and blood.

I believe the lack of recognition from him is similar to our lack of recognition...many times, we can't recognize Jesus because - we are not looking for Him or, we are so filled with discouragement and / or despair, we can't see Him, even if He was right in front of us!

So close, yet so far away...as Believers, we should be able to recognize Jesus, at all times. Whatever you do brothers and sisters, don't allow your circumstances distort your vision of who and where Christ is...believe me, no matter what you're going through - HE IS ALWAYS RIGHT THERE

Along for the Ride

1 Corinthians 16:8-9

8 But I will tarry in Ephesus until Pentecost. 9 For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries.

After much prayer, listening to the voice of God, and the unanimous voting of my Counsel...as of September 16th, I will serve the Potter's House Christian Church of Pasadena TX as a Full - time Pastor! One of the things I've prayed to God is, 'Lord please let me accomplish something as a minister; I want to bring a church to full - time status, and I want to launch men into the Harvest Field...well, one down, and one to go! I am a very blessed and privileged man to be able to see this through...God has truly blessed me and has watched over my family through it all! 

I'm sincerely grateful for my wife (of 21 years), who is more than willing to go along for the ride!!  She has been faithful to me and has been more than willing to follow me wherever Jesus has decided to take us...from Virginia Beach, to Evangelizing, to Dallas, and now here in Pasadena TX...it's an amazing journey that keeps on getting better!! We've seen God do some powerful things, and it's only gonna get better - we are in the process of moving into a new building nearly 3 times the size we're in now...the location is awesome, and moreover, the people are so excited!!

I'm not delusional; I understand that by going full time, we as a church declared war on hell! I must confess though, we've been through so much hell, anything else would simply be run of the mill, but I'm no fool...I believe that as we strap up as believers, that God will make miracles happen along the way - I'm praying constantly for 'Handfuls on Purpose.'

It's no secret that we're excited, and I can't wait until we get into the building and watch God cause us to outgrow that space as well!!  We're gonna launch churches, and do what Jesus has commanded us to do...TAKE THE LAND FOR JESUS CHRIST!!

Suppress

2nd Cor. 7: 5 - 'For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our bodies had no rest, but were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears.

I hurt my neck about 3 years ago. I believe it was work related but usually, I can function just fine throughout my daily routines. My neck doesn't hurt unless I turn it a certain way; this causes the pain to resurface. In order for the pain to be dealt with is to turn into that position, then have someone massage it out. You know, the same is true when it comes to you and me concerning our own aches and pains in our hearts.

For the most part, you're okay - you can function in life pretty well, however, whenever you 'turn' in that position (situation / circumstance)...the pain resurfaces.

Many people hold pain, anger, frustrations, sins, in suppression. To suppress something means to hold it in check, or to restrain. This is exactly what we do with issues deep down in our hearts.

You're fine, but there are trigger moments, or words spoken,
maybe the mentioning of a family member that brings the pain back. Somewhere, you're going to have to face these issues and allow Jesus to 'work them all out'

Your suppression affects your relationships, your mental health, and eventually your relationship and relating to God Himself! He must be allowed inside these areas you've sealed off, in order for true healing to take place.

Matt. 8: 1 - 3,'When Jesus had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him. And behold a leper came and worshiped Him saying, 'Lord, if You're willing, You can make me clean. Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him saying, I'm willing; be cleansed. Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.'

If you notice, he prosed the question in such a way that if Jesus said no, he would maintain some of his dignity - in other words, he was preparing for rejection...for the most part, he held things in check, but in order for him to truly be free - he had to hum
ble himself and ask God, even though he tried to protect himself with the question!

What's it gonna take for you to open the door for God to administer true healing? Let go, and let God.

Still Going

Phil. 1: 6 - being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;'

24 years ago, it was a Friday, in the Summer time...just like any other Summer day. I pretty much had my day planned - I was gonna get with my man Tyrone and we were gonna go hit up the mall,La smoke the half ounce from the night before, and then take it to the court. There were some brothers talking major trash the last weekend, and I was determined to dunk on one of them and shut them all up!!

For some reason, things just didn't go the way I thought they would...it was really wild...I mean, I hooked up with my boy Tyrone and what not, but for some reason, we never made it to the mall...man, we always went to the mall, money or no money na' mean?  Whatever, so we just chilled at his house watching television. I was cracking up so hard because he and his mom would go back and forth! She would yell at him to do something, and he would yell back, sometimes even cuss!!  That tripped me out, because if you ever cuss your mom out, (Especially a Black one), you are digging your own grave!!  Nothing would ever happen, so I would just laugh until my stomach hurts!

Later that afternoon, we walked over to my house to pick up the Basketball, and I had some fresh goggles my mom got for me to play basketball! I was so jacked for my Junior year to start at Killeen HS - I knew that I would make the Varsity Team and wreck!!  I wanted to try them out on the courts before school started, so we scooped em' up and headed over to these apartments behind the High School. This court had everything we needed...it had goals with chain nets...sweet!  It was a full court basketball court, but it wasn't really long; it was short enough to run full court games fast enough to keep games going at a quick rate.

We got there around 545, and yo, everybody and dey Mama was there!!  Me and Tyrone ran next, and didn't get off the court until almost 8 o'clock!  We owned them boys that day!!  My wrist hurt so much from rim - rocking!!  I was dunking on any and everyone who stood in my way - Tyrone set me up with oops and dimes all day!! Anyways, we left the courts and headed to Mickey's, (It was THE convenient store that everyone went to in Killeen); we both got Slur-pees and we headed to his house. I remember this fine girl I was trying to get with and Tyrone told me that not only was she down, but she smoked too...man, we was on a mission for real!

For some strange reason, something told me to cut through Long Branch Park...I don't know why? We always walked down Rancier and cut over by Westcliffe, but we went through the park anyway...why not right?  As we rolled up on the park, we were walking in the direction of the swimming pool, and we heard this music playing - we thought someone was bumping music from their car, but as we got closer, we noticed a small group of people playing live music! I was like what??!!  However, we noticed that no crowd was rocking with them, so me and Tyrone started cracking jokes, like, 'Man they must be terrible!' Where's the crowd!!??

We walked right up to the parking lot where they were and I recognized this guy from my school - I was like, 'O snap!' I've seen this dude before!  He substituted my Algebra class before, (James Dunham was his name), and before I knew it, he was headed straight for me...this white guy was with him, and they recognized Tyrone!  It's like they didn't even notice I was there and begin to talk with Ty...they asked him these weird questions like, 'Tyrone, where have you been man?' 'Have you thought anymore about what we told you about....JESUS?'

At that moment, I was like, 'Aw he-- naw!' This is a religious thing going on here, why didn't Ty tell me what this was all about? Man, I can't just burn off and leave him there...maybe if I stand here until they're done, we can roll...but the longer they spoke to him, I realized that God was speaking to me! Man, I began to remember all of the things that I've ever done to hurt Him...I felt like crap! I was convicted to the bone...

By the time they were finished, we were walking away when the guy I recognized asked me, 'Son, don't you know that if you were to die in your sins, that heaven would NOT be your home?' I thought to myself, 'Yeah, but what can I do about it?'  He pulled a little Gideon bible out of his back pocket and literally took me through the Roman Road!!  By this time, I was really feeling it...and he and the white guy (Wayne Nickerson), asked if they could pray for me and Tyrone...I said yeah...so they did.

Before we left, he asked me probably one of the greatest questions I ever had the privilege of answering, he said, 'Son, would you like to give your life to JESUS?' I said YES!!  We prayed right there in the parking lot:  "Lord Jesus, I come before you right now, Lord I know that I'm a sinner, but I believe You died on the cross for me; I am willing, to accept You inside my heart - Lord, 
forgive me of my sin, and be the Lord of my life, in Jesus' name, amen!"

I felt like a million bucks after that! It's like a huge weight was lifted from me! I begin to witness to Tyrone and I didn't even know it! I was like, 'Man, you should've prayed with me bro!' They were kind enough to give us a ride home, when I got home, I ran into the house, saw my moms in the kitchen and shouted, 'Ma, you won't believe it, but I just got saved! I gave my life to Jesus tonight!!  The rest....is History...

- July 27, 1990 to Present

Pool of Destiny

John 5: 1-4

After this there was a feast of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 2 Now there is in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate a pool, which is called in Hebrew, Bethesda,[a] having five porches. 3 In these lay a great multitude of sick people, blind, lame, paralyzed, waiting for the moving of the water. 4 For an angel went down at a certain time into the pool and stirred up the water; then whoever stepped in first, after the stirring of the water, was made well of whatever disease he had

Acts 6:1-3

6 Now in those days, when the number of the disciples was multiplying, there arose a complaint against the Hebrews by the Hellenists, because their widows were neglected in the daily distribution. 2 Then the twelve summoned the multitude of the disciples and said, “It is not desirable that we should leave the word of God and serve tables. 3 Therefore, brethren, seek out from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Holy Spirit and wisdom, whom we may appoint over this business;

In Acts, the bible records the movement of the first church...we pick up here where the disciples were multiplying and going at such a fast rate, people began to be neglected...I thought about this. It's possible to be so caught up in spirituality, you have no time to meet ordinary needs for people.

Acts 10: 38 - '...how God anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil...'

This text states that Jesus did good to people who were oppressed by the devil, not possessed, oppressed!  Listen, financial upheaval is oppressive. Marital conflict, mental illness, depression, and sickness can go in the category of Oppression...Jesus went about ministering small and menial acts of service.

The type of man God was looking for in Acts was one of good reputation (Testimony); Being filled with the Holy Ghost, and having wisdom...this speaks of having some business sense...there are qualities that must be found in the Man of God if he is to fulfill what God has for his life.

You can have desire, some small skills, ability, and even talent; but without these simple qualities at work in your life - you'll go NO FURTHER!

So why did I choose the text of John 5? What is that all about?  Well, look at the text...it says that there was a pool that contained a healing element by the stirring of the water from angels. The first person to step into the pool would be healed of whatever sickness they had.

Listen to me, YOU AND I ARE THAT POOL! We are the swirling disciples that are constantly contending for ministry! I should be able to walk into any church, and spot disciples right away! If that pool stops flowing, we're all dead.

The church of Sardis knew this the hard way; Jesus had to deal with. Jesus said in Revelation - 'I know your works, that you have a name; you're alive but you're DEAD. This is the direct result of not knowing who you're dealing with.

There must be a stirring in the midst of the local church where the sick (spiritually). I have a question: Are you one of those who are in the pool? Can you be stirred by the Holy Spirit.