Celebrity Christianity

For those of us that minister, or walk in any gifting or calling we have, the danger of thinking we are “A-OK” in God and WITH God, is a lot more self-deceptive, serious and dangerous. Like Samson, we can tap into the anointing to cast out devils, heal the sick, raise the dead, prophesy, preach, have supernatural faith, gift of tongues, etc, and not SEE ourselves- that we are miserable, poor, wretched, blind and naked. We are not on our face- in prayer enough to allow the Lord to deal with the dross and “wickedness” that’s in our hearts, and so when we minister, our “fleshliness” (my made up word😬), or lack of propriety in our “ways” leak into our ministering. When it comes to the three (dead to sin, alive to Christ) things that we are called to: death to self, cross-bearing, and suffering, it is lacking in our Celebrity Christianity culture.

I’m amazed at how many able ministers of the Spirit, are able to come down, and watch carnal movies and play carnal video games (I’m talking about the worse of the worse ones, without conviction) without hearing from the Lord how that affects your spirit AS YOU ARE DOING SO. And these are the same ones that have deliverance ministries, prophecies, seeing angels, amazing preaching and revelations and the like.We can’t cast out devils of witchcraft/water spirits/the occult, then turn around and watch/entertain it in a movie in the theatre OR in our homes. Or have subscriptions (just examples) that have the vilest of demonic things, that encumbers our spirit, and neutralizes our discernment.

Some things should bother you when you watch, read or listen. Your flesh is constantly warring against the Spirit. They cannot co-exist. Death to self, is NOT an option. Death to self is NOT an option. DEATH TO SELF IS NOT AN OPTION. We will miss it, and miss Him, if we don’t repent, and wake up to how much we feed our flesh. 

The hungrier I become of God, the less I want to watch anything, and that includes clean things. Because there’s a place in Him that you begin to experience that you do not want to travel in and out of. THERE IS A PLACE IN HIM YOU WANT TO DWELL. You want to go deeper, but He will eventually call you to more death to yourself and your wants, and to carry your cross. And suffering for Christ’s sake is amplified. And this is where it narrows. Not many get to that place. But my prayer is that I continue to travel the path that’s narrow. Few be that find it. That thought should sober up the most avid drunkard of “gifts and callings”.

Tell me something- does it look like Christian “influencers” of Facebook, Instagram and Twitter are dying to themselves? Pastors? Apostles? Prophets? Singers/Musicians? Marketplace ministers? Are they being hated “For His name’s sake?” We have too many that “blow up” because of a message, or a song, or the new thing- prophecies. Every time that happens, I wonder if Satan has offered them something just like he did to Jesus when He was in the wilderness. I believe with my whole heart that Satan STILL shows many his kingdom and all he has. And he still says the same thing: I will give you all of it, if you bow to me. And they did. They DO. 

We say to ourselves (and I’ve said this), “I need to “come down” from ministering by watching something to relax me.” Ok, I get that we want to relax, but why do we turn to carnal things that feed the flesh? It’s because we really, truly CRAVE what the world we left, craves. We want to be Christians, but still devour what the world does. Our flesh is so high, that we can’t see ourselves. Why? Because we operate in a high anointing of our calling and gifts. But how many times have see seen the greatest of the great FALL because of it? And I’m just speaking of those in the Bible who couldn’t handle the calling and their carnality well. We have so many examples inside of the Bible. And we can’t even BEGIN to count how many we know of just in our lifetime alone. 

This discussion is way overdue. There has to be a demarcation in our lives that does not look like the world. I ran (well, actually, God KEPT ME) from celebrity Christianity when I was just a teenager and ran RIGHT into it in the “Mecca” of Christiandom- Tulsa, OK. And it was UGLY. It was EVIL. And it still is. 

I’ve seen a lot of things in Celebrity Christianity. I know a lot that I wish I never knew sometimes about the lives of these people that you watch on TV, or view on social media. I can’t even listen to most music. It’s a horrible thing. It’s a fearful thing. To serve a God that judges, is a terrifying thought (from a holy perspective of who He is.) To see many preach and sing His name, with no concern for their carnal/sinful ways, is like my mom says, “scary”. 

I pray that we sober up to the truth of God’s Word- that He is a consuming fire, and that it’s a terrible thing to fall into the hands of this living God. We are warned over and over again in the New Testament, to work out our salvation with FEAR AND TRMEBLING. Because we can be lost. I will post scriptures to go with this post, but I pray that we see ourselves and ask the Lord to make our conscience alive to the Holy Spirit’s conviction again. Because we are going to miss Him if we don’t.

• Important note: I’m writing about this because He has convicted me personally of this. So this is not to just point a finger at your or anyone else; it is by and of HIS MERCY that I can speak about this. I’m grateful that my conscience can still hear the Holy Spirit’s conviction. This is not an option, family. We must die to our flesh. Without holiness, we won’t see Him.

Revelation 3:14-19

Hebrews 12- all of it.

Hebrews 10- all of it

Hebrews 6- all of it.

Galatians 5- all of it.

2 Corinthians 6- all of it.

2 Corinthians 7:1

Matthew 4:1-11

Seven Mercy Things: Abandoning Judgements, and Embracing the Powerful Ministry of the Mercy-Shower

Winning the Church to Christ

I know they are out there. There are politicians that champion immoral causes; Hollywood figures who speak blasphemies against God and the church. There are other preachers who preach unbiblical, self-centered messages to multitudes of people, deceiving many , and turning them away from the truth of Christ. Even closer to home, there are church members who live double lives, family members who are physically and emotionally abusive, and coworkers who are literally out to destroy anyone who gets in their way. It doesn’t take long to find any of these men and women. We see them all over social media, the news, in music, movies, and any other forum in the public square. As a Christian and pastor, I am inclined to have very strong opinions about such people. I’ve also in times past, had the willingness to voice my feelings about them very bluntly, in the name of…

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Three voices say we are racing toward judgement

September is the month of repentance in he Jewish calendar. Let’s take this to prayer and repent for our nation.

Mario Murillo Ministries

This is way bigger than the presidential election

By Mario Murillo

Because of America’s decadence and ever-spreading rejection of God, along with the “unrelenting assault” on Christians and their beliefs, this nation “is in deep trouble and on the verge of total moral and spiritual collapse – unless God intervenes,” said Reverend Franklin Graham, son of world-renowned evangelist Billy Graham.

America has been weighed on the scales and found wanting. And the days of the Republic may be at an end.

This from Franklin Graham, who has a biblical warning for the United States, that Americans could share the fate of the Babylonian empire.

In a recent post on his Facebook page, the son of the legendary evangelist Billy Graham told the story of how the Babylonian king Belshazzar was shown the writing on the wall from God’s hand, telling him his reign…

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Keep Your Mind….God’s in control

This is for someone today….especially for those who love giving people “a piece of their mind”, or telling people off, or cutting people off. Take heed.

The urge to defend yourself as a Christian when someone does you ill or wrong is very strong, isn’t it? When you’re misunderstood, judged (and I use this word in its rightful meaning, not the “DON’T Judge me” jargon that’s been spewed around an…

d abused), and mistreated, it is a natural inclination to defend yourself. But the problem is, when we decide to do it, God sits back and allows us to do it, and He no longer becomes your defender. And we do such a bang-up job of it, that it makes us look worse than perceived! 🙂 And for people that have personalities like mine (outgoing, love EVERYBODY, etc), it’s much harder for us.

But remember, Jesus “opened not His mouth”, when he was being reviled and talked about. He chose a disciple from the beginning that He knew would betray Him. He was judged, maligned, had people “defriend” him (I know…I know…they didn’t have facebook then, but it was MUCH worse!) 🙂 So do you think you’re bigger and better than your Master now? Did you honestly think that you were exempt just because you get “likes” on your posts? Don’t be fooled into complacency. Be sober about the DAY you’re living in. Be discerning of the people around you. Don’t just listen to words. “See” past their words. Look at their actions. You will be hated by other “Christians” and the world for standing up for what’s right.

And as the Bible says, “As He is, so are WE in this world”. So just sit back, and let the Lord defend you. And finally, YOU STILL HAVE TO LOVE THEM. Sorry…can’t get past that. You MUST love. Sometimes saying NOTHING is your defense. Just let God handle this one. #speakingfromexperience

There’s not much left to say. Read it, pray about it, and examine where you are. We have to constantly examine ourselves to make sure we are separated from the spirit of the age we are living in. Jesus is coming soon. We must me sober about the times we are living in.

prevailing word ministries

Repentance.

Do we really know what it means?

Do we really have a clue?

I watched a video that was posted on FB that was disturbing.

A group of pastors sitting around discussing the sin of homosexuality, how sin is all in their churches. And they have compromised, capitulated, and conceded defeat to the devil.

THE DEVIL IS A LIAR!!!!!

One said that if weren’t for homosexuals, there would be no music. Another said, that he didn’t have a problem with homosexuals in leadership so long as they were “repentant.” Another said that this sin is from the pulpit to the door. One pastor kept using the word “slip or slipped up.”

We’ve gone from an Eddie Long train wreck, to mistake, to slip up. When will we call it sin? Because sin demands repentance, confession, forsaking or laying aside sin, forever.

Filled with a lying spirit, heretical Carlton Pearson…

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There’s not much left to say. This is the cry of my heart when I minister. I cannot afford NOT to live holy. Too many lives at stake.

prevailing word ministries

You go to a “concert” or a “praise and worship” conference, show, performance, or even a simple church service. The anticipation is incredible. The musicians and singers that are on the list are the hottest performers ever. You raise your hands and shout like you are in the greatest worldly stadiums in the world.

But for some reason, you come away feeling “funky.”

Why?

There is a spiritual and soul connection when it comes to music.

But it is not the music.

Some of the greatest songs are so powerful that you can’t deny that it came from the presence of the Lord but something else came with that music that took the righteous effect of the power of God away.

The right kind of music and holy musician and singer can take you into the presence of the Lord.

The wrong hearted preacher, musician, or singer can take you…

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What I Am Meditating On

So I was going to write about Whitney Houston’s death, but I would rather you focus on this scripture. I will write about that eventually. But I can’t seem to go past Psalm 1. I won’t write much commentary on it, because the Amplified Version is very clear. So…here it is:

Psalm 1:1-6 AMP

“BLESSED (HAPPY, fortunate, prosperous, and enviable) is the man who walks and lives not in the counsel of the ungodly [following their advice, their plans and purposes], nor stands [submissive and inactive] in the path where sinners walk, nor sits down [to relax and rest] where the scornful [and the mockers] gather. But his delight and desire are in the law of the Lord, and on His law (the precepts, the instructions, the teachings of God) he habitually meditates (ponders and studies) by day and by night. And he shall be like a tree firmly planted [and tended] by the streams of water, ready to bring forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not fade or wither; and everything he does shall prosper [and come to maturity]. Not so the wicked [those disobedient and living without God are not so]. But they are like the chaff [worthless, dead, without substance] which the wind drives away. Therefore the wicked [those disobedient and living without God] shall not stand [justified] in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous [those who are upright and in right standing with God]. For the Lord knows and is fully acquainted with the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly [those living outside God’s will] shall perish (end in ruin and come to nought).”

What else is there to say? May the Word of God be true, and every man a liar in Jesus’ name.

http://bible.us/Ps1.1.AMP

The Eddie Long Video, and the Part I Play In It.

A friend of mine tagged me in a video, where Bishop Eddie Long was hoisted up, and presented as a “king” to the congregation, directed by a guest speaker (I’m unsure the name of the preacher). Most of you may have seen the video, and maybe most of you didn’t. But this post is not about the video, so I won’t get into the details. This post is about us.

I was shocked and grieved to see that video and what was being done, because the American church has been lulled to sleep by superstar preaching, “All about me” sermons, erroneous doctrine, and unholy lives paraded through our music, pulpits, Christian schools, etc. It was very uncomfortable to watch. Honestly, Eddie Long seemed uncomfortable himself, as he was being carried around on a “throne”. The outrage was huge on Facebook and everywhere else, as it should be. The main reason why so many are outraged is because we do not follow the Biblical order when it comes to dealing with sin in leadership. And when the people (the church and the world) see “men of the cloth” seemingly bearing no responsibility for their actions, they are outraged.

But in prayer this morning in prayer, Eddie Long’s face came to my mind, and I knew that I needed to pray for him. But God was grieved. You would think He would be grieved with the video too. But not surprisingly to me…He was grieved with me. I immediately knew why He was grieved. He was grieved because, in my outrage and shock, I never once stopped to pray for him. I didn’t stop to weep for him and the church. When Daniel saw the depravity of Israel, he wept for his people. He asked for repentance for HIMSELF and his people. God is pleased when we are grieved for what He is grieved with. I usually ask God to show me His heart concerning a person, a nation, or a leader, when I pray. Every time I do that, it never fails that I break down and pray fervently for that person, and I see my frailties and weaknesses, and the part I play in the situation. It humbles my heart, and it is then that I’m able to pray His heart.

We must be very careful that we have a spirit of humility in the midst of what we are seeing as the inevitable apostasy that is taking place in the church. It’s easy to cross over into pride and arrogance, and be consumed with the same spirit that caused the fall of any leader. Does this mean that we become silent about the unholy actions that we see happening around us, especially among those in the Faith? NO. But we are to deal with it according to our Biblical foundation. Paul the apostle gave us instructions on how to deal with these situations, and how to walk out our own salvation with fear and trembling (Philippians 2:12).

Remember the church at Ephesus? In Revelations 2:1-7 Jesus says to them:

“TO THE angel (messenger) of the assembly (church) in Ephesus write: These are the words of Him Who holds the seven stars [which are the messengers of the seven churches] in His right hand, Who goes about among the seven golden lampstands [which are the seven churches]:

I know your industry and activities, laborious toil and trouble, and your patient endurance, and how you cannot tolerate wicked [men] and have tested and critically appraised those who call [themselves] apostles (special messengers of Christ) and yet are not, and have found them to be impostors and liars. I know you are enduring patiently and are bearing up for My name’s sake, and you have not fainted or become exhausted or grown weary.

But I have this [one charge to make] against you: that you have left (abandoned) the love that you had at first [you have deserted Me, your first love]. Remember then from what heights you have fallen. Repent (change the inner man to meet God’s will) and do the works you did previously [when first you knew the Lord], or else I will visit you and remove your lampstand from its place, unless you change your mind and repent.

Yet you have this [in your favor and to your credit]: you hate the works of the Nicolaitans [what they are doing as corrupters of the people], which I Myself also detest. He who is able to hear, let him listen to and give heed to what the Spirit says to the assemblies (churches). To him who overcomes (is victorious), I will grant to eat [of the fruit] of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God.” (Revelation 2:1-7 AMP)

So we must be careful, that our lamp-stand is bright and burning, and we stay focused on our FIRST LOVE. Stop and pray for Eddie Long and his family, and his church. Pray for our church as a whole. Repent and grieve for your sins and the sins of the Body as a whole, so that judgment will not consume us. Because God is a God of love, He has to be a Judge, or He’s not a God of love. Keep your focus on Him. Man will fail you every time, but He never fails.

Be Confident!

I was praying and asking God for a word from Him today.  I sure did need it! He didn’t disappoint. Here it is:

Here’s the scriptures I believe God gave me this morning:

Matthew 7:7-11

Keep on asking and it will be given you; keep on seeking and you will find; keep on knocking [reverently] and [the door] will be opened to you.  For everyone who keeps on asking receives; and he who keeps on seeking finds; and to him who keeps on knocking, [the door] will be opened.  Or what man is there of you, if his son asks him for a loaf of bread, will hand him a stone?  Or if he asks for a fish, will hand him a serpent?  If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good  and  advantageous gifts to your children, how much more will your Father Who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give good  and advantageous things to those who keep on asking Him! (Matthew 7:7-11 AMP)

We must be persistent in our pursuit of His blessing. He said keep asking, and seeking, and knocking. We have to do it in confidence, for the scripture says,

1 John 5:14-And this is the confidence (the assurance, the privilege of boldness) which we have in Him: [we are sure] that if we ask anything (make any request) according to His will (in agreement with His own plan), He listens to  and  hears us. (1 John 5:14 AMP)

So, WE MUST WALK IN CONFIDENCE.

Do not, therefore, fling away your fearless confidence, for it carries a great  and  glorious compensation of reward. (Hebrews 10:35 AMP)

So we have to be able to speak about where we are in our situation, but keep our confidence.

What does that look or sound like?  It means we don’t get stressed about dealing with where we are. We move forward IN CONFIDENCE. We expect God to give us a strategy. We believe Him until we see fruit.

 

Have you ever stopped to meditate on the phrase used to describe God in our worship called the “beauty of Holiness”? We always sing about it in church. But holiness has earned a bad stigma to it because of man-derived rules. But let’s start from the top down, per se. Look at holiness from God’s view. One of my favorite scriptures about God is Exodus 15:11:

Who is like you, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like you? – majestic in holiness, fearful in praises, working wonders?

Here’s some other scriptures that speaks of His holiness:

¹The LORD reigneth; let the people tremble: he sitteth between the cherubims; let the earth be moved. ²The LORD is great in Zion; and he is high above all the people. ³Let them praise thy great and terrible name; for it is holy. (Psalm 99:1-3 KJV)

“There is no one holy like the LORD, Indeed, there is no one besides Thee, Nor is there any rock like our God (1 Samuel 2:2).

There is no one like Thee among the gods, O Lord; Nor are there any works like Thine. 9 All nations whom Thou hast made shall come and worship before Thee, O Lord; And they shall glorify Thy name. 10 For Thou art great and doest wondrous deeds; Thou alone art God (Psalms 86:8-10).

²⁵To whom then will you liken Me, that I should be equal to him? says the Holy One.    ²⁶Lift up your eyes on high and see! Who has created these? He Who brings out their host by number and calls them all by name; through the greatness of His might and because He is strong in power, not one is missing or lacks anything.    ²⁷Why, O Jacob, do you say, and declare, O Israel, My way and my lot are hidden from the Lord, and my right is passed over without regard from my God? (Isaiah 40:25-27, Amplified Bible (AMP))

“For this is what the high and exalted One says—he who lives forever, whose name is holy:“I live in a high and holy place,but also with the one who is contrite and lowly in spirit,to revive the spirit of the lowlyand to revive the heart of the contrite.” (Isaiah 57:15, New International Version (NIV))

But there is beauty in holiness. There’s freedom in holiness. God is holy! Holy means separate. God is separate from sin. He does not associate with it. So we can’t say we love God and live in sin. Holiness is beyond man-made dos and donts. God requires it. It is a REQUIREMENT. Without holiness, NO man shall see God (Hebrews 12:14).  And when I think about all the sins I’ve committed, I rather choose holiness. TRUST ME, there’s beauty in holiness. I experience it every time I say no to sin. I’m able to see God when I live a holy life. There’s nothing like it.

Sin brings feelings of condemnation, shame, horrible memories. Pleasure for a moment, but for those of us that our conscious has not be seared, it brings a disgusting feeling of guilt, and it tries to pull us from God’s presence. In some ways, I’m grateful for those feelings. Those feelings remind me of how low my flesh can go, and I do not desire to experience those feelings all the time. And I know that if I ever stop feeling sorry for my sins, then sin has fully conceived, and I’m dead spiritually (James 1:14-16).

We cannot see God without living holy. And of course, your mind goes to topics that we have labeled “major sins”, i.e. sexual sins, murder, etc. But we never consider that UNFORGIVENESS is a major sin. Strife, malice, anger (rage), resentment, disobedience, slander (Galatians 5:21-24). All those things will keep us from seeing God.

So I want you to have a different perspective about holiness. If you truly love God, you will strive for holiness in EVERY area of your life.

Love,

Ose