Walking By Faith

Sometimes encouragement comes in the form of rebuke. Nearly always, promises come with instructions. Some of the best Words I have ever received from the Lord have come through chastisement. The Lord’s ways are higher than our ways; His thoughts are far above our thoughts, and He chastens whom He loves. I open a page of my journal to you, dear reader, simply because He tells me to. I do not date it, because the message it brings is timeless. May it help someone along the Way:

And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses. But if ye do not forgive, neither will your Father which is in heaven forgive your trespasses. (Mark 11:25-26)

Jesse Duplantis is one of my favorite preachers. He says that my mountain isn’t going anywhere no matter how much I speak to it if I am not clean from unforgiveness when I pray. He says that someone may have made me stumble for years, but that I shouldn’t let them string me along for the rest of my life. I shouldn’t let them keep me from getting what I need from God. I have to remember that unless I release them, my faith will not work. He said that if the same old problem keeps coming up, it’s time to check on my love walk; I should look for unforgiveness so that I can have whatsoever I say, exercising love with my faith – knowing that love and faith work together for good results. (Galatians 5:6)

As I pondered these words from Brother Jesse, and as I began to pray, Lord you caused me to see that just as my getting aggravated or angry and reacting in the flesh rather than the Spirit with my children actually empowers them to manipulate me, having just the opposite of the desired effect in their behavior as I would like and could obtain through the Spirit – and just like I actually empower temptation to become full-blown sin in my life when I allow carnal attributes such as laziness, fear of man, fear of failure, unbelief or selfishness to keep me from waging war against negative thoughts with the Word decreed aloud in a given situation – so too do I actually empower people in my life to continue to hurt me through my own unforgiveness. These people are usually simply sinners who are doing what is natural to them – sinning. If they are born again, then they are often carnal themselves, and I know enough that I should not be waging carnal battles. Through my internalizing the pain and making it a personal and fleshly battle rather than remembering that my war is not against flesh and blood, (Eph. 6:12) I then empower the enemy (whom at that point, because of high emotions, I have often failed to even recognize or acknowledge) to trounce all over me.

You showed me further that unforgiveness finds its roots in selfishness, and in fear. You asked me Lord, “Why is it that you were able to continually forgive 10 months of separation from your children and walk in love when your girls were wrenched from you before, but you do not find it so easy to forgive and walk in love now, when it is only a matter of separation over one holiday weekend? Is it not a much smaller matter? What is the difference?”

Of course, the Lord knew, but He has a way of making me come up with my own answers and bringing them before Him so that He may show me my own faulty reasoning. “Well Lord,” I began, “Back then I knew it was You. I knew You had allowed it, that somehow it was for my good, and that You would rectify it in Your time.”

“So it was me who allowed it then, but someone somewhere is operating outside of my sovereignty presently? Or is it that you trusted Me then, and I have done something to cause you to lose faith and fail to trust me now?”

“Oh NO, Lord! I mean, well… I don’t know exactly what’s different… um… I guess it’s because of all of the things she just keeps right on doing! She knows it hurts me and she keeps on doing whatever she can just to spite me! Intentionally I’d guess – to hurt me and not for the sake of the children’s welfare! I’m tired of it Lord. It’s been too long and it’s one thing after another… my endurance is dried up I think!”

“What would you have me to do?”

“Well, You could save her so she’d be easier to deal with God… that would be a good start.”
“Just as I was in control before, so I am in control now. Is my timing not perfect? Shall I save her for your selfish gain or for her soul’s sake? Tell me, in dealing with my people, and in saving this one child, how shall I do it?”

“Oh God, that’s not what I meant to say! Eeeew! Am I really that bad?”

“Daughter, tell me how to save this woman.”

“Well, just do whatever it takes Lord!” (There! That sounded spiritual… and it worked in other instances…)

“And just what exactly will it take, Daughter?”

“Um… well, I don’t guess I know that part Father.”

“No, I don’t guess you do. You must trust Me. I will save her, but not for your comfort. I will open her eyes in My perfect time and I will answer the prayers of your children and the prayers that you had once prayed for her in faith believing. You were able to go through then, to endure, because you were focused on Me. You saw Me. You spoke My Word. You believed. No matter the length or ferocity of battle, no matter the number of battles in a war, I Am Captain of the Host, Your Victory. I know what I am doing. You can be part of the problem or part of the solution. It is your choice. Let go all last vestige of bitterness daughter. It does not become you, neither is it in keeping with what you know or who you are. Empower yourself rather than empowering your enemy and choose love.”


Courtesy of: Evangelist K. S. Simpson
FaithWalk International Ministries, Inc.

Celebrating Evangelist Tim Todd

Being busy in the ministry, you never know who is watching you and what blessing will come from living upright! Our secret pick of the month for August is none other than Evangelist Tim Todd of Revival Fires Ministries. He and his beautiful and supportive wife, Angie, are busy in ministry and with raising their 4 children.

We chose Tim, first because God led us to him, but secondly because he exemplifies what God had in mind when ordaining men as the leaders. He is full of the fire of the Holy Ghost. His fruit speaks for itself. He is humble and approachable. He is both zealous for the ministry and knowledgeable. He’s a great husband and father.

Evangelist Todd, we encourage you to stay the path and keep watching as God enlarges you even more. You and your family deserve big kudos for so faithfully serving the Lord; and for continuing to serve Him so diligently, no matter the costs. Our hats are off to you this month!

We encourage you, Readers, to sow into Revival Fires ministries. We have examined the soil, and we testify that it is good. For more information, please visit www.timtodd.org and take a moment to leave an encouraging word on his site. God bless you!

Take Time to Understand Prayer

Prayer is not an optional part of salvation. It is one of the most integral parts. Many people don’t take time to pray because they don’t truly understand what prayer is. We want to enlighten our readership about prayer and the power that comes along with it.

Prayer is a two-way conversation with God in which the heart of each party is shared. Even intercession stems from praying according to the things God desires for us to pray. Many times because of our ignorance and sometimes because of our callousness, we forget that God wants to share His heart with us as much as we want to share our hearts with Him.

Prayer is not asking God to move, do, save and fix all the time. Prayer is true communion with God. It is a time to let down all the guards and take off all the masks that benefit nothing. Prayer is a time to open our hearts for God to move in them according to His divine will. Yes, asking God for help is part of prayer, but by no means is it the sum total.

If, during prayer, you say what you have to say and just stop there, then you are cheating yourself and God out of the true purpose of the communication. Our mindsets have to be shifted. For too long now people have thought of God as a genie in the bottle; and of prayer as rubbing that bottle. Nothing could be further from the truth. God made us in His image and likeness. We have more in common with Him than we think. Just as we wouldn’t want our children to wake up in the morning and demand, “Give me this,” or “Do that,” so too, does God feel the same way. Just like we want to hear our children tell us that they love and appreciate us, God wants those things from us. He is the Father and Creator. He deserves more than the selfish “Gimme! Gimme!” attitude that we often give Him. He deserves our love, affection, appreciation and attention. This is prayer: the incorporation of praise, worship, intimate talk and the ability to listen with a willing heart. It’s all about relationship!

I decided long ago that I wanted to get the most out of prayer. I figured it was no use shorting myself. If I was going to be on my knees or pacing the floor anyway, I may as well hush and stick around long enough to hear what God had to say. Since then, I have been continually amazed at how wonderful my time is with God. It is truly a sweet communion. There is nothing better than hearing the voice of God.

Be sure to make prayer an important part of your day. You won’t regret it. In fact, you will likely have the testimony that prayer is the best thing that ever happened to you! And more than that, you will please God in making time for Him. He deserves it, you know.

Pastor Lensey Hayes
Compassionate Healing Ministries International

Sexual Dysfunction that Ruins Marriages

Though the Church is advancing all the time when it comes to the abundance of revelation, there are yet things that are taboo to speak of over the pulpit. As ministers, we preach salvation, holiness, prosperity and healing, but we do not preach sex and the sexual healing that needs to come from God to repair damaged marriages and singles.

There are countless people who come to church Sunday after Sunday, Wednesday after Wednesday, yet leave with the same shame they originally came with. It’s a disturbing fact that salvation does not divorce-proof a marriage and that just as many marriages end in churches over infidelity as in the world. Equally disturbing is the amount of men, women and children who sit in churches suffering silently over sexual abuse or dysfunction.

Sexual dysfunction affects many more marriages than are reported. Women with previous abuse suffer from extremes: no sexual interests or uncontrolled sexual urges. Men who have been abused as little boys struggle with their sexuality, unable to distinguish what is proper sexual attraction and what is improper when compared against the Bible. Children who are being abused run to church on Sundays with the hopes of someone having an answer for them. There are homosexuals who are not happy in that lifestyle but because of previous hurt, they refuse to trust the opposite sex again. There is an answer, though, and it’s found in the Bible.

I want to take this moment to minister to those who are struggling to find balance in their sexuality and salvation, or to find healing from past hurts. It isn’t easy to face sexual issues. Even with all the advancement inside and outside of churches, there still seems to be a stigma attached to sexual dysfunction. Many pastors and ministers are ill-equipped to counsel with someone who professes dysfunction. More often than not, you end up speaking to someone who tells you to pray and let God fix your problem. Unfortunately, this is the norm in the churches of today. And in fact, many people refuse to discuss these issues with their pastors because of the amount of sexual misconduct found in churches all around the world.

The first step to any kind of healing, forgiveness and deliverance comes from confession. According to James 5, if we confess our faults one to another and pray one for another, we will be healed. To some, because of past experiences, confession sounds like a death threat. However, confession makes the issue not so distant anymore. It causes us to take ownership over where we are and what we struggle with. Once we take ownership, then the problem becomes something we must deal with, and in fact, becomes easier to deal with. It’s impossible to be delivered while in denial! Therefore, the best thing you can do for yourself is admit where you are, what hurts and that you need help. This admission needs to be not only to God, but to a trusted and saved confidante, pastor, minister or spouse.

The Bible tells us that God is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness if we confess. Forgiveness is a big part of deliverance. Without regard to the sin committed, we need forgiveness from God and self to move into our futures. Forgiveness opens the door to a new beginning. Sometimes, sexual sin may seem harder to live down, but in truth it’s no different from any other sin. Women fight to restore reputation, self-esteem, and relationship when sexual sin has been an issue. Men fight to retain honor and integrity. Children are sometimes left without a real identity because of the mistakes of their parents. So yes, sex is a big deal that leaves behind big wounds. However, like anything else, you can be healed and restored.

The cause of this article is an issue that was brought before me by a couple I ministered to a few months ago. She became sexually active at a very young age, partly against her will, while he was the total opposite. He maintained his virginity until he became an adult. Now as a wife, she is lost. Her sex drive is minimal. She complained that his touches made her feel weird at times, partly because of previous painful experiences, and partly because of a lack of interest. She loves her husband, but as an adult, now she seeks a love that’s more emotional that physical. The marriage was on the rocks, not for a lack of love, but for a lack of understanding. She didn’t understand what her problem was, so how could he? She didn’t realize that her past was haunting her, ruining her future. He didn’t realize that the pain of her previous sexual relationships could destroy their home. So, what was my suggestion?

Marriage is precious and beautiful when done right, but it can be emotionally taxing to have a relationship with a broken or otherwise damaged vessel. Through much prayer and study of scripture, God showed me that the first step for them and for some of you is to begin healing. Go on and grieve, and cry, and vent about what hurts. Admit your mistakes. Then, give it all to God as a conscious decision daily. Refuse to live in the past.

Bishop C.H. Murray: A Man of Vision to Lead the People

As I began looking for a man or woman of God for this month’s feature, I made a list of qualifications that I believed you wanted to see as the readers of Christian Vitality. So many times, the hardworking, loving and faithful men and women of God are overlooked for the more flamboyant personalities that are already popular. They are indeed, diamonds in the rough. I found such a jewel in Monroe, Louisiana. His name is Bishop Calvin H. Murray.

Bishop Murray is the founder of the P.S.A.L.M. (Praise, Salt and Light Ministry) Fellowship, pastor of Lake Providence Baptist Church, and the primary voice of 1680 Rejoice radio station. He is a sought after speaker, bringing humor along with the deep revelations of God’s Word. Hear for yourself the reason Bishop Murray is our May feature.

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Me: First of all, Bishop, could you tell me your motivation for what you do in ministry?

Answer: I genuinely care about people. My heart is to see people walk in the divine will of God. Too many people are lost today, and too many ministers focus on money and prosperity when our true call is to go into the world and preach the Gospel, letting people know that Jesus loves them and has paid the price for their sins.

Me: Could you elaborate more about the issue of money and prosperity taking precedent over salvation?

Answer: Well, if the Bible tells us that the love of money is the root of all evil, then what happens when preachers only preach about money? They cause the listeners to have a love for money. I’m not saying that God won’t bless us and doesn’t want us living well. Indeed, He does want us to live well, but He didn’t call us to put prosperity before the salvation of souls. After all, what does it profit a man to gain the whole world but lose his soul?

I believe the motivation for ministry should never be money! Our motivation should be souls.

Me: Tell me about your experiences with the Holy Spirit, since you are a tongue-talking, Spirit-filled Baptist.

Answer: I was actually filled with the Spirit of God one night in October 1975 at St. John’s Baptist Church in West Virginia. After service, I stepped into the pulpit to greet the pastor and the Spirit of God drove me to my knees. Then, I began to speak in tongues.

I tell people all the time not to pay attention to titles because today, tongue-talkers are in every denomination. You have Catholics, Baptists, Methodists and Lutherans who speak in tongues and flow in the Spirit. Titles mean nothing today. God told me to stay in the Baptist church. He showed me how most people would get filled with the Spirit and then live the denomination, but that change needed to come from the inside. I believe in the gifts of the Spirit, healing and miracles and I don’t hide it from anyone.

Me: Bishop, do you cover other ministers?

Answer: Yes. We actually have two bishops from California and other sons and daughters all over. I’m now preparing to plant churches in a few places.

Me: But you do that differently, too, don’t you?

Answer: Yes. I don’t require ministers to be a member of my churches or fellowships to cover them. I love people enough to build them without them committing to me. I prefer for them to commit to God. I try to always see people through the eyes of Jesus Christ and treat them as Christ would.

Me: Bishop, what are your thoughts on homosexuality in the churches or period?

Answer: First, I believe the Body of Christ lacks order. God does not bless disorder or disunity. Order frees God to operate. Homosexuality is chaos. Yet, my thoughts are though we are to hate the sin, we should love the sinner. Homosexuality is no different in the sight of God as any other sin. He hates it all. As for homosexuality, I believe we must confront, otherwise we cannot conquer it. I don’t believe we should attack any group of people for any reason. We must love them regardless of their issues.

Now, I don’t believe we should allow anyone who acknowledges or is involved openly in any sin, whether fornication, adultery, homosexuality, theft, etc. Those people first need ministering to before they’re able to minister to someone else.

Me: One last question, Bishop. What are your thoughts about the theory of evolution being taught in schools today?

Answer: I believe Christians should train their own children at home. I, too, was taught evolution, but my mother taught me differently at home. Parents must accept responsibility for their own children, giving them the discipline necessary. Schools are not there to raise our kids. Christians should build their own schools and teach the truth.

Me: What is your vision?

Answer: Eventually, I would like to build Christian communities with schools, banks, homeless shelters, AIDS Respite and the like. I believe we should be self-sufficient. It does us no good to preach the Gospel, yet be unable to meet the basic needs of the people we minister to. I believe in evangelizing souls and ministering to the total person. I’m ready to start now, as God puts people of vision into my path. And in it all, I want God to get all the glory!

Abundant Advice Often Falls on Deaf Ears

One of the saddest facts in the Body of Christ today is poverty. We have whole denominations that teach their people not to be concerned at all with money. We have people who believe that money is evil and they pass that thinking from generation to generation. They feel as if their money is the thing that holds them away from God. The Bible is most correct when it says the love of money is the root of all evil. Yet, Jesus told us to make friends with money, to use it wisely. Howbeit, the Body of Christ is very foolish indeed with their financial decisions.

Day by day, the wealth of financial information and advice is growing exponentially. Yet, debt is growing just as rampant. People are dying without leaving a legacy and inheritance for their children. Many have grown accustomed to living paycheck to paycheck. Unfortunately, poverty is not a good witness to the true desires of God to prosper His people.

The other side of that coin is greed. We have other denominations that teach greed, giving it a new name. There are mega-ministries built from the idea of prosperity and that alone. If you have money, then that must “surely” mean you are going to heaven because you are pleasing God. That teaching is also a lie. Greed causes sorrow of heart and brokenness in spirit. It is an insatiable appetite of more, more, more! Abundant advice usually goes unheard. It seems in the nature of some to rebel even more when it comes to their money. Yet, we must all learn to utilize money as the gift it is, given to further the kingdom of God.

Money is not to be a controlling factor in our lives. To either fear or to covet money is to let it control you. Just as a gift of cookware does not control us, but we control it by using it for its intended purpose, money is no different. The purposes are different, but our response should be the same. It's a poor servant that would bury (be stingy and reluctant to give or invest) his/her money. A wise servant heeds sound wisdom (advice) and allows God to make the little much by being obedient to tithe, give offerings, sow seed, invest in things that appreciate in value, and believe God when the money doesn't seem to increase as fast as the debt.

(Lacresha Hayes)

Repair The Relationship That Matters Most

Do you ever wonder why your circumstances haven’t changed? Have you wondered why your relationship with God seems distant? Have you considered why you rarely talk with God, or that when you do talk with Him, it’s because you want something. These are signs of a broken relationship.

These are symptoms of an unfaithful and adulterous relationship built upon the premises of God being the servant and us the master.

Unfortunately, most people spend more time on worldly concerns. Most people will work for eight hours a day, take care of family another five hours, yet they will pray only ten minutes, if at all. Some will make the sacrifice to entertain friends and guests, waking up early to make preparations, while getting to bed late after serving all day long. This comes from a carnal way of thinking.

Lacresha Hayes

All of these things are unfaithfulness to God! Wondering if these things truly describe you? Here’s how to know:

~Lust of the Flesh- your desire to gratify self, or those you love, causes you to displease God (denying God your time, your attention, your money, your testimony)

~Lust of the Eyes- your desire for the things you see causes you to ignore the tug of God on your heart

~Pride of life- you put your trust in and take great pride in being who you are and/or having what you have, thereby seeking things and status above the will of God

Ask yourself if the pleasures of this life are worth losing your relationship with God.
If they aren’t, then now is the time to stand up and become who God has called you to be. God wants you to have the abundant life, but not at the expense of your soul. Even if your relationship in past times has been minimal at best, there’s no reason it has to stay that way. Hold your head up and refuse condemnation. We’ve all been guilty at some point in time!

Our God has made a covenant with us. He will never leave you nor forsake you! Regardless of your mistakes, God is always willing to forgive and begin again. All you have to do is turn away from a life that pulls you away from Him. Instead, choose each day to run toward Him. Begin today! You won’t regret it!