As we enter into this new year, we need to make certain that we have cast off lethargy, so that we are able to be more fruitful and productive in 2010.

There are manifestations of Lethargy

Sluggishness- Prov 6:9

Habitual Idleness

Closed Understanding Is 29:10

Sleepiness-Prov 6:10

Laziness- Prov 10:26

Being Stupefied- Is 29:9

Dizziness, exhaustion, weariness-Prov 26:15

Disinclinstion to Action or Labor-Prov 6:6, 20:4

Apathy

Extreme withdrawal

Lethargy works on both the mental and in the physical:

catanoia- a state of mental unresponsiveness; depression

stupor- points to a more lasting deep-seated state, near or similar to that of hibernation.

This spirit alienates, breaks down communication, causes hostility and delinquency by a breakdown of norms or standards.

Lethargy has hindered a many Christian, causing them to sleep or forfeit their Kingdom blessings. Oftentimes, people that are lethargic in their walk with God, are complacent, and they stop growing spiritually.  Many become angry when someone, begans to encourage them to move to higher ground in the spirit realm.

In the Kingdom of God the scripture says the Kingdom of God suffers violence and the violent taketh by force.  This simply tells us that in the body of Christ, we are soldiers and we are engaged in a spiritual war.  This is why we refer to the term “spiritual warfare.” As we take the Kingdom by force, there will be an exchange of spiritual warfare. Light will be engaged and in combat against every form of darkness. 

There is always a tug of war transpiring in the spiritual realm. That is why God says look, it is important that you put on the whole armor of God.  Why? The armor is how we protect our fortress. We are to be suited up and shield ourselves from the onslaught of the fiery missiles that are being constantly shot towards us.

So body dont allow the weaponry of lethargy, rob you of your great destiny in God. Wake up. Arm yourselves. This is a real war. There are casualties all around.

Your greatest opportunity for survival and an overcoming spirit is to train and learn from those that are skilled in military warfare. God does have generals in His Kingdom that are skilled in war tactics.

Align yourselves with those who have been to battle and are skilled, not the ones that just talk about the war.

Success lies in knowing your weapons, knowing truly who your enemies are, and wearing the whole armor of God. Lastly, our commander in chief is the Chief cornerstone. The battle map has already been laid out and the lines are defined.

In Psalms 18 David declared that God had taught his fingers to war.

The last days are days of incredible times, only those who have become skillful in warfare, and obedient to God will win. Are you ready for battle?

This passage of scripture only applies to the “I have left all Christian.” It is not for those that wear the Christian label, yet call all their own shots in life without surrendering all.  So if you are a “left all” Christian, Jesus has mapped out what you can expect His blessing in your life to be, and how “persecutions” will be a major part of your service to Him.

Mark 10:29-30  Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake  and for the gospel’s sake, but that he shall receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; snd in the age to come, eternal life.”

Persecution should be an expected item in the life of the believer that is totally committed to the Lord.  Jesus said in Matthew 10:22 “and you will be hated by all on account of My name, but it is the one who has endured to the end who will be saved.  He also sid a disciple is not above his teacher, nor a slave above his master. He said “If they have calloed the head of the house Beelzebul, how much more the members of his household.”

Jesus said “I am the Lord, and I did great signs and miracles among them. Jesus operated as prophet, pastor, teacher, apostle, king, and they yet called Him Beelzebul, which means “lord of the flies.”

If Jesus the Christ was called Beelzebul, for fulfilling His Father’s Kingdom mandate, what do you suppose they will say, and call you when you carry out the Kingdoms business? Wicked and evil religious men gathered together in agreement against the Master.

I want to encourage you, when they gather together secretly, against you, dont be surprised by the wicked schemes of men. In fact you must begin to expect opposition.

If you are carrying a Kingdom grace gift  of apostle, prophet, evangelist, or teacher you must really know that you will be hated by men. They stoned and killed the prophets. Jesus said that they were just like their forefathers. When you go back and look at the forefathers of your persecutors, you will locate the same religious spirit that is driving them.

So hey, dont become soon shaken in mind and spirit. If they dont hate you  with passion, then you need to check yourself and see where you are walking.

As a prophetess, I keep devils stirred up! I prophesy to many, many people, speak blessings in their life, they begin to walk in the fruit of the prophetic word, and get thoroughly blessed by it. But when those religious devils get stirred up because I look into their lives and challenge their lifestyle and character, they become so enraged, that if it were possible they would knash their teeth upon me. I have seen it time and time again.

So you who have chosen to lay your life down for Christ, completely, and refuse to compromise, you will be an enemy to those being used by Satan.

Let me take this one step further, Satan will use carnal minded Christians who have not sold out to Christ to persecute you, when you have sold your life out to Christ.

Jesus said in Mat 10:22 “expect to be hated by all on account of His name.  The hatred and dislike that they have for you, is not about you but it is “on account of his name.”

So when you see wicked, chains of demonic power operating in people, recognize it for what it is. It is, what it is.

Demon powers hate the prophetic. Why? It is through the prophetic you uncover the true intent and motives of the heart.   Oftentimes people don’t want you to shine the Holy Ghost radar on them. The Bible says that men love their evil deeds, rather than light. When the prophetic light uncovers the heart, it is suppose to be so that we can change. Instead what people do is run away from the light and the truth of what really exist in their heart.

I was in Seattle and was asked why does God allow wicked-hearted men to sit in the church, and stir up strife and envy and the works of the devil?

My response was because Christians allow fellowship with demons, which give them a legal right to be used by them. God will not stop any human being that likes to be used by the devil.

II Thessalonians 3:1-3

“Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you; and that we may be delivered from perverse(improper) and evil men; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.”

He clearly states here that in the midst of of our ministry of the word of God, with the intent for it to spread rapidly so that the Lord will be glorified, he asked the brethren to pray for them.

He said we need to be delivered from perverse and evil men! He said because many of them do not have faith! We have located the problem. Those within the Church who believe in moving and operating in the dynamics of faith, have to consistently deal with men who do not possess the same God kinda faith that you have. Therefore, these wicked men will attempt to bring harm to you.  But God says I Am Faithful, I will strengthen you in your warfare against these men and I will protect you from the evil one that is operating in them. Hallelujah!

II Tim 3:1

But realize this, that in the last days difficult times will come. For men will be lovers of self…revilers…. and haters of good.. treacherous…

II Tim 3:11  He said you saw the persecutions and suffering that happened to me at Antioch. You know what I endured.

II Thessalonians 1:4

” therefore, we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.

II Tim 3:12

And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

Remember because you have made a decision to live Godly you can expect persecution to surround your life.

God is your true friend, and you always look to Him for His love, compassion and encouragement.

Never live off of the press reports of people. They will draw virtue out of you one moment, and turn on you the next.

My famous quote is this: The same prophetic word that I have spoken to you, and you have prospered in your life on, is the same prophetic mantle that I am living by and functioning in. The proof of my prophetic mantle is in the blessing that has been left in your life. Cynthia R Steele

So my sold out believers, keep on obeying the Truth. Turst God. Love God. Let Christ continue to validate who you are, and what He has called you to do in ministry.

I exalt therefore that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; for kings, and all that are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty.  For  this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior who would have all men to be saved, and to come into the knowledge of truth.  For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Jesus Christ; who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.  Where unto I am ordained a preacher, and an apostle, (I speak the truth in Christ, and lie not); a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and verity. I will therefore that men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting.

In this passage of scripture, Paul puts prayer in God’s perspective.  Paul doesn’t begin with prayers, but supplication.  All prayer consists of supplication, prayer, and intercession.

Paul climaxed by saying… and giving thanks.  This means we should give thanks to God whether in prayer, supplication or intercession and lift hands thanking God without wrath or doubting.

Psalms 6:9 The Lord hath heard my supplication; the Lord will receive my prayer

Zech 12:10 I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem the spirit of grace and of supplication: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced and they shall mourn for him…….

Supplication

What is supplication? Supplication is praying from God’s perspective or praying what God wants. Sometimes if we don’t pray from God’s perspective we can be praying outside the will of God.  If I pray outside God’s will, then He is not obligated to answer my prayers.

Jesus Christ is the will of God, and the Bible says all promises of God in Him are yea and amen (2 Cor 1:20).   So any prayer that is prayed outside of the will of God, God will not answer.

Supplication is what God wants at this time, this place and this people, and if you supplicate you will never miss the mark.

Supplication means “supply”.  The heart of the problem is the problem with our hearts.  God wants to put your heart in the hand of God so that He can turn it whatsoever way that He wills.

Supplication is putting your heart in God’s hand and not coming up with whats in your head.

Jesus said “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”  We have to pray God’s will.  Supplication is “Thy kingdom come, thy kingdom supply.

Supplication is asking for God’s supply and not trying to make it on your own.  So we need to ask for Gods kingdom to come and God’s will to be done.  It is simply asking for the release of  heaven’s supply. As it is in heaven, put it down here on earth.

Prayers

Once you get it from God’s perspective, Paul uses the designation of prayers because there are various kinds of prayers:

Prayer of faith

Prayer of Agreement

Praying in the Spirit

Intercession

Intercessions are interruptions.

Definition of intercession- praying on behalf of another person; however intercession goes much deeper than the concept of praying on behalf of another person.  Intercession is interrupting or guarding by the wooing, working and the witnessing of the Holy Ghost.  There is no real intercession without the intercessor- – the Holy Spirit. 

The Spirit Himself is the intercessor. Romans 8:26, 28

“Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities for we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Holy Spirit itself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.”

Intercession is when the Holy Spirit steps in and gives us an unction to function and call on the Name of the Lord on the behalf of someone else.  It is an interruption so the Holy Spirit can make an interception.  Intercession involves others outside of us.

In praying from God’s perspective we have to pray from the revelation of God’s will.  We need a revelation from God to know if we are involved in supplication, prayer or intercession.

Romans 12:12  I beseech you brethren by the mercies of God that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, and acceptable to God which is your reasonable service.  Be not conformed, but transformed by the renewing of your mind so you can prove what is that good, acceptable and perfect will of God.

Prove the will of God, means to discern, and discover what is the good, acceptable and perfect will of God.

Hosea 4:2 says “Take with you words and turn to the Lord and say…..

So when we come to God, we take the Word of God with us.  Before we can move anything physically there is something spiritual that we need to overcome.   Spiritual is something we cannot see, and it is bigger than what we are looking at externally.

If we are praying the Word of God(logos) Heb 4:12, then we will get the Rhema(Eph 6).  If we pray with(logos) we will get a rhema back.  If I know what God has said then I will hear what the Holy Spirit is saying.

Fear is a God given emotion that every person experiences; it is a feeling aroused in us when we perceive something as a threat or a danger to our lives.

I Cor 15:57  “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ”

Yes, you can have victory over your fear!!! You may have lost many battles until now. You may have gone into retreat and isolated yourself from whatever you fear.  You may have lived in the “fear cycle” for a long time. It doesn’t matter.What matters is now you want the victory. God wants you to have the victory.  He has made it possible through Jesus Christ. If you are willing to face the enemy again and enter the arena God’s way, you will triumph.

I John 4:18 says fear has torment.  So when we are faced with fear, we also face torment.  It is the enemies strategy to bring fear to us, and torment.  But the Bible decrees God has not given us a spirit of fear, but love, power and a sound mind.

Fear does not give up easily, but Light always dispels darkness.  You must remember unrealistic fear is not based on reality.

There are 4 areas of response that work together to give us victory over fear:

1) Truth overcomes fear

John 8:31-32  says If you abide in my word….You shall know the truth and truth shall make you free. It is important to bring truth into our area of fear. How? Find a promise from the scriptures concerning fear.  Use the scriptural reference to counteract the fear.  Instead of dwelling on fear, immediately turn your mind to the truth.  I Sam 17 when David confronted Goliath, he would have been overwhelmed by fear if his attention was solely on what he saw.  Instead he saw the situation through the eyes of God. Next to God, Goliath looked small.  David said in versre 45 I came to you in the name of the Lord of host, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied.  The Goliath of fear has no right to challenge you when you view it from God’s perspective.

2) Love overcomes fear

I John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love cast out fear.

Love is more powerful than fear.  Fear is centered in ourselves. Love is centered in God and others.  We must turn our concern from fear to God.  When our love is perfected in God, and perfected, it automatically takes away fear.  Draw on the love of God.  Perfect that love, and fear will disappear.

3)faith overcomes fear

The bible says this is the faith that overcomes the world.  Our faith in God causes us to be an overcomer.

4) Courage to act overcomes fear

Joshua 1:9  Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.

So God is saying just be strong in Me, and the power of my might. Have courage, and dont be afraid.  Don’t be dismayed by anything that you see with the physical eye.   Dont be afraid.  God is with you.  He is not only with you, but He is with you wherever you go.  This is God’s promise to you.  That He will be with you.  You can rest upon this promise solely, knowing that you are never alone.

Take heart and be of good cheer.  He has overcome the world.  We too have overcome the world, even our faith.

Prophetess Steele

Many of us today are prophetically sick because we have lost the sense of our set time.  The pregnacy has been so long coming that you have almost given up on the dream in the middle of the stream.

Even Abraham had to wait until he was 100 years old for his set time to come. We must all learn to wait for our set time.

Heb 11:11 says through faith Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed when she was past age.  But she judged him faithful who had promised.

Have you judged God who has promised Faithful?

Gal 6:9 says let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right for in the due season or time, the appointed set season, we shall reap if we dont loosen or relax our courage and faint.

So what God has promised we accept it.  What are we accepting?  The divine favor that accompanies your set time.  You can thank God in advance for the breakthrough and favor that you are expecting.  Receive the anointing that will make you disarm satanic powers and take your authority.  You can praise God because eye hath not seen nor ear heard what He has in store for you.

Pray the favor of God will manifest, even in adverse places like when Joseph was in the prison.  You can receive the favor of divine elevation in the sight of the enemy.

Ask God to lead you to those who bless you and not to those that destroy you.  Ask God to order your steps to meet those who will believe in the ability of God that He has placed in you, and remove all those in your path, that publicly smile at you, but privately wish your demise.

I decree you will receive the kind of favor that will bring your abilities to the notice of kings.  I decree that God will place on the inside of you a “breakthrough” idea that will open the door of favor for you.  I also pray that you will be patient for the day of your promotion rather than be in haste.

I decree over you, and you must confess by faith that you have the life and favor of God in the face of  imminent danger.  I decree that the favor of God will be manifest in you everywhere you go, as it was in the case of Daniel.  Kings will seek after you.  This same favor and honor will frustrate the enemys plan.  You will possess favor and good understanding.  With that favor and good understanding, will come strength upon your life.

This same favor of God will not cease in your church or ministry.  The wall of resistence between you and people is being broken, and the favor to deal with what needs to be dealt with is yours.  Praise God because the enemy will not triumph over you.  God will cause the kind of blessing in your life that will bring a flow without sweat.

I also pray and decree that spiritual slumber will no more linger in your presence.  I decree the curse of dissatisfaction will be reversed in all that you do.  I also decree that evil pronouncements of those who are envious will turn towards blessings for you.

The Lord is delivering you from the emotional baggage that you inherited from your family line.  I pray with you also to break the curse of panic and fear that tries to grip your heart.  You also are countering the impact of the curses that you may have brought upon yourself– with the blood of Jesus!

You are breaking free from astonishment of heart in Jesus’ name.  I pray that where you have seen curses manifest in your life in times past, as it is breaking it will now began to turn into a blessing for you.  So every root of barrenness in your life will break forth with fruit bearing.  Begin to thank God for delivering you from spiritual barrenness. Amen.  Thank God that you will began to experience your fruitfulness where there was barrenness in your life.  I praise God that the promotion of the Lord in your life will move you from barrenness to fruitfulness.  You will move from “mere” fruit bearing to bearing “much” fruit.

I pray that every agony and burden of your heart like Rachel is being released.

Lastly, make a covenant with God like the mother of Samuel did and dedicate the miracle you will receive to the Lord even before it happens. God will see you through to birthing.  Your conception will be with the right seed, vision and ideas.  Every tendacy of miscarriage of your seed or pregnacy you are rejecting. AMEN!

Prophetess Steele

When we selected Barack Obama as the president of the United States on November 4th, it was definitely a crucial time in our history.

On the one hand, we broke and overcame a 232 year curse of racism, that had been hanging over our nation.  So as people of color we can count that as a great, great accomplishment.

But from a spiritual perspective we took a beating. 

How can such a great event of phenominal importance break a curse and bring about a change, and on the other hand we take a beating from a spiritual perspective?

I will explain it to you.   Our nation has been reeling with racism since the beginning of our nation, which is about 232 years.  Through the civil rights movement Martin Luther King fought hard to see equality of the races birthed in our nation.  It cost him his life.  So now in 2008, we have come to the place as a nation that we can elect and place into office a black man over our nation.  That is a major accomplishment, and statement that we are making as a nation.  I salute our nation for this and where we have come from.

But spiritually, we took a beating.  What do I mean?  When we elected Barack Obama, we did not take into account that he is very liberal in his views.  In fact one of the first things that he did in his speech that night is saluted the gay and lesbian community.

I must stop and interject something here.  I am neither Republican nor Democrat.

 I did not vote for Barack Obama. W hy?  First, Obama is pro abortion, and pro homosexual. I can not in good faith vote against my conscience.  Because I know that he is for abortion and homosexual, as a Christian I could not vote for him, because his belief system goes against my biblical view.  Obama stands for everything that God is against, which is why I could not vote for him.

From a Christian perspective, we are to vote for someone that believes closest to what the Bible views are. I think the man is intelligent, and has a host of other attributes that make him who he is.

For me it was not about voting for him because he was black.  Many people got hung up on this side of the issue, instead of looking from a spiritual perspective.

My race as an African America, does not supercede my place as a Christian.  So what I am saying is we should not vote race, we should vote convictions.

Because Obama is a liberal in his view, many issues that are on God’s side he stands against.  Now that he has been elected president we have an obligation to pray for him.  The bible says to pray for those that are in authority that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life on the earth.   Also, the scripture says the heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord, and he turns it withersoever He will.  So as we pray for him, it gives God an opportunity to grab a hold of his heart and minister to him.

Because he is liberal many of ‘the agenda’s of the homosexual community has the opportunity to be advanced.

When President Bush was in office, one of his goals was to see to it that conservative judges were appointed to the Supreme Court.  This is one of his major accomplishments.  Though he may of fizzled out during the last term of office, he did accomplish this.

With our new president in office, and being a liberal we stand the chance of having some of the leeway we gained overturned as new openings come on the Supreme Court.  That is why we as the church must pray.  We must pray that God gets a hold of Obama’s heart, and begin to deal with him on these issues.

If not we will see the advancement of homosexuality in unprecedented ways.  And it will affect the church.  We won’t even remember days like what we are living in now, because of being inundated with the increase and rise of liberties for the gay community.  Let me interject here, that I am not against the gay community.  God loves the gay community, and so do I.  He really loves them, however, he is not pleased with the sin.

Another thought is where was the church during elections?  Were we lulled to sleep?  Were we dumbfounded by the race issue?  These are questions for the church.

It was reported that there approximately 20 million evangelicals that showed up at the pollls to vote. But estimated that there are 40-60 million evangelicals that didnt vote.  If anyone should have a voice in crucial times like these it should be the church.  The church just did not show up.

Also, on election night I noticed that the whole world was celebrating the election of  Obama. That is something there. If a Godless society around the world is in agreement, it tells me that there was a party going on in hell that night.  Yes Satan was celebrating a surmising victory, becaue he gets an opportunity to really push his agenda in the earth and wreck havoc.  It was a “kairos” moment for him.

As I watched the elections that night, God spoke a word into my spirit.  Remember in the book of Samuel when Israel wanted a king?  Israel had been led and move by Samuel who was both a prophet and king.  They told Samuel they wanted a king.  Samuel went to God.  God told Samuel to not take it personal, that they were not rejecting Samuel, but it was God that they were rejecting.  God said give them a king, if that is what they want.  He said but know there will be consequences behind the decison to replace Me with an earthly king.  He said there sons would become slaves of chariots.  When they selected an earthly king, over God their sons went into captivity.

Our nation is at a crucial place, with a complexity of problems.  Obama is one man.  He is inheriting many problems. We must be lifting our eyes to the hills from whence cometh our help. Our help is in the name of the Lord.  We as a nation must cast down the idols of mammon, which have gotten us here in the first place. When we take the idols down, and lift God back up to his rightful place in this nation, we will experience His blessings.

No man can deliver us.  Only God can.  So the church must take up intercession on behalf of new leadership, and pray for a “shift” to take place in our nation.  We need God!

Lastly, many african americans believed that it was our moment, our hour, and that by voting for a black man, it would change our current status.  Somehow we believed that Obama was really gonna pull some strings for us as black people and put us over the top.  Think again. 

Jesus is the only one that can put us over the top.  Let’s pray.  This is serious.

The Greek word is diakrisis  which means a judicial estimation; it also means to separate thoroughly, discern or judge.

There are four types of discernment:

1) Natural human discernment. This is discernment that we have learned from living or life, where we use our natural abilities.  It has to do with the conscience.

2) Occult discernment

This is where they claim to discern good spirits from bad spirits.  Also, remember demonic spirits recognize Christians and could persecute or attack them, verbally or physically.

3) Godly discernment

This is where you learn the principles of Gods Word.  It is where your mental facilities of discernment are trained. Heb 5:13-14.  Note that it takes study to properly understand the Bible and to be able to determine God’s will.  II Tim 2:15

4) Lastly the gift of discerning of spirits. I Cor 12:10

The gift of discerning of spirits is the action of the Mind of Christ that is within us, alerting us to the nature of the spirit in action in a person, group or particular situation.

It allows us to know whether the Holy Spirit, a demonic spirit, or the human soul is in action.

It also gives us the ability to discern imposters, goats, wolves and counterfeits that slip into the church.  You can also discern those that are in the occult, New Age or cults.  You will also have the ability with this gift to discern the wrong motives or intentions of an individual.  If there is sin in a person’s life you will be able to see it.

Through the gift of discernment God will prevent infiltration of those with occult or demonic powers from harming the church.  It is a safe guard to prevent deception in doctrine and practices in the life of the believer.  It will also aid the church in identifying the need for deliverance, and ministering deliverance.

Through discerning of spirits we can readily recognize when the Holy Spirit is at work.   We can biblically judge prophecy.  It will tremendously aid us in counseling.  Through the gift of discerning of spirits, we are able to determine when there are angelic visitations.

Part of that committment demands that we maintain our positions at all seasons whether they be good seasons or bad seasons of our lives.

Seasons often come into our world to determine who we are, whose we are, what we believe, what we have and where we are going.

The way you stand and maintain your position during these times will determine to a great extinct how you fulfill your assignments in God.

Paul wrote a letter, which was his 2nd letter to Timothy during a difficult season in Timothys life and ministry.  As ministers we have a life, and then we have a life in ministry.

A few years before the picture had been great.  The church was growing and thriving and Timothy was a beloved Pastor by his congregation.  It was exciting pastoring because everything was going well.  By the time ii Timothy was written, the great picture of success had changed dramatically.

Nero had become the emperor of the Roman Empire and his insanity was already wrecking havoc in the lives of countless believers all over the empire.  Because Ephesus was the major city of Asia Minor and the seat of the proconsul of Rome, it had been designated as a place where Christians were being harassed and purged and made to be an example to all believers in other parts of Asia Minor.  As a result of these hard times many believers died for the faith they believed in.  Others defected from the Church world and returned to the old systems and temples to save their lives.

As if all of these hardships and disappointments weren’t enough to contend with, Timothy also had to deal with serious internal problems of rebellion among some of the members of his church leadership.

There was a call for an apostolic release!  They needed an apostolic committment.  Timothy had written a letter to Paul his father in the ministry explaining all of the difficulties that he was having.  Pauls response to Timothy was the book of 2nd Timothy.  In 2nd Timothy Paul urged Timothy to remember that he must preach the word, be instant in season, and out of season.

Instant in the Greek is “ephistimi” which means to stand upon as  to take a firm stand or hard position. It also was a term that meant to stay at one’s post.  Timothy’s post was the pulpit of his church.  From that pulpit he maintained his leadership, imparted vision to the people, issued rebukes, taught, preached the Word and brought the necessary correction.  It was his post.  No one else could stand in that place that God had assigned him to.  Even  though times were tough and he was tempted to quit, his responsibilities, he was urged by Paul to stay at his post.

Beloved, we must be in season and out of season!  Paul told him that he was to remain faithful to his post in season and out of season.

The word in season comes from the Greek “eukairos” which means good times, happy times, pleasing times,joyful times, or pleasurable times.

The words out of season comes from the Greek “akairos” which means bad times.  So when Paul told him to be instant in season and out of season he was really communicating to him to be faithful unto God, whether he was having a happy time or a bad time at that moment.

This was the word that Timothy needed to stand and to be brave, and to stay dedicated to his assignment.  Later his struggle was eventually over, and he became one of the respected leaders of the Christians in the region of Asia Minor.

What kind of season are you going through at this very moment?  Are you going to be just as faithful and steadfast as you were when things were well?  Beloved, this is not a time for you to run in fear and abdicate your position or to look for someone else to take your place and responsibility.  If God called you to that position, it is time for you to dig in deeper and take a firm stand and decree over yourself that you are going to be faithful no matter what!  You know, the bad times will eventually pass.  That is why it is unwise to make a decision to move when things are rough.  If you develop this mentality, Satan will know for sure, when things get hot, he can always put enough pressure upon you to move.   No, there must be no shrinking back.  The scripture says God will take no pleasure in the one that shrinks back.

Heb11:38-39  Now the just shall live by faith, but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him  But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

This particular verse tells us precisely what happens to people who walk away from their post—the life of faith.  The ramifications of their departure are grim and tedious.

The word draw back means someone who is shrinking back; withdrawing, retreating, regressing, receding, backing away, backsliding or someone whi is recoiling from something.  This is a person who started on a journey but then abruptly reversed his direction.  He is now moving backward or away from his post and belief, instead of forward.  For some reason this person is backing out of a position or belief that he once strongly held.  The Bible says we are not of “them” who draw back unto perdition.

The word perdition is Greek apoleia and it describes something so ruined and rotten that it is decomposing, such as a rotten egg that has sat too long and is now spoiled and ruined.  This word was also used to describe the stench of a decaying animal or a human dead body.  The smell is so horrendous that you feel like running to the bathroom to vomit.  This is the image that Hebrew 10:39 gives us of what happens when a person turns and walks away from the call of God or from a life of faith.  It results in a sickening stinking situation.

No matter how severe the attacks of the enemy may be against you or your assignment, stand fast and refuse to budge or bow until you see a change come. 

We must mix faith and patience  Heb 10:36.  For we have need of patience…..

Faith and patience are partners that propel you into a solidified stance.  We need patience after we have done the will of God, so that we can obtain the promise.

Patience means to stay, to remain, to continue or to permanently abide in one place.  It carries the picture of a person who is under a very heavy load, but who has resolved that he isnt moving; he is going to stay in that one spot.  Regardless how heavy the load or how long it takes, he refuses to move from his position because he knows that it is where He is supposed to be.  He is intent on standing by his committment, regardless the cost he must pay. Nothing can sway or move him to change his mind.  He is not going to relinguish his territory.  Patience is also translated as endurance.  How many times have we heard Apostle Steele teach on endurance? Patience portrays an attitude that never gives up.  It is a faith that does manifest as a tough, resistant, resilient, persistent, obstinate, stubborn, tenacious spirit that refuses to let go of what it wants or believes.  My definition of it is an unstoppable force.  You must have patience if you plan on beating the devil at his game and successfully maintaining your position at all times, if you are gonna do what God has called you, prophesied to you to do.  If patience is having its full work in you, it is just a matter of time until your victory will appear.  So don’t let go of your faith!!!!!  The day your vision dies is the same day your purpose will disappear.  Your life will then become depressed and you will turn bitter.

You will turn into perdition if you let go of the Word of the Lord that He spoke to you, and quit your post. You will start releasing the putrid stench of a life and faith that has turned sour.  You will begin to rationalize your defeat by immersing yourself into a doctrinal system designed to support your depressing existence.  Perhaps you one time tried to do God’s will but then allowed yourself to become discouraged, which resulted in leaving your post and witthdrawing from doing what you were called to be or do. You can still get back to your position.  God isnt finished with you yet.  The table is prepared an the meal is cooked.  God is waiting for you to pull up your chair to the table, pick up your fork and knife and begin  again to dig into the awesome plans He spoke to you about previously for your life.  I would not let the prophetic word drop to the ground and be trampled on by the enemy, and people that are trying to talk you out of it.  Just because they trampled on their destiny/prophetic word does not mean, you have to do the same. It is not to late for you!

Dont let the attack of the enemy keep you from getting back to your post.  Get back quickly to your post   and commit yourself afresh to your assignment.  There were some naysayers that you hooked up with that convinced you  your assignment was over.  The thing about most people when they hit this bitter state, they are so selfish that they never tell you.  They just keep injecting their venomous poison in the veins of your spirit, and you dont even know you have been onocculated. You dont know when your heart turned away from the ministry.  If you go back and rehearse your girl talk or boy talk, you will find that someone sowed some bad, bad, bad seeds into you.  It cut off your spiritual circulation.  Because the blood couldnt flow in the cesspool of the poison they were injecting into you, in a nice sweet way.  All the while they where unwinding you, breaking your focus, and stealing the vital and necessary nutrients that you once had drank.  Now you are weak, depleted, bloated, and feeling empty and disconnected. And for the life of you you can not figure out what is wrong with you.  Your appetite for the truth has changed.  Your attitude that allows you to receive the truth has changed.  The table is waiting for you. 

There are 4 thoughts that keep us connected to our post:

a) Your post is your very place of assignment.  Your assignment is what God personally spoke to you to do. He told you how, he told you where, and he told you when.  You must remember there are not any alternatives to what you have been called to, no matter how your friends may influence you and tell you something different. Decide that you will not be disobedient to the heavenly vision.

b)Your post is your place of protection and no where else. As long as Adam and Eve were in the right place and obeying they were protected from consciousness of their nakedness.  When they violated instruction they moved from the post of intimacy and fellowship with God and then began to see and know their nakedness.

c)Your post represents your place of joy and fulfillment. Jn4:34 My meat is to do the will of Him that sent me and to finish his work. It is not enough to start it, but you must finish it also.  Many believers when times get tight take off without finishing what they began.

d) Your post represent your place of provision.  God always meets us in the place He has called us to . Quitting your post means abandoning your resources.  Some say God can bless me anywhere.  That is true. But if He has specifically told you to be at a particular place and you defy that, it is called disobedience, and God is not obligated to provide where you take off too. Ask Johah about this one.  In fact the prophetic word God gives us is attached to a certain place called “there”.  It wont work anywhere else except where God sent it too.

There are many, many pastors and leaders over para-church organizations that have a dilemna in their ministry.

What do you do when you have faithfully poured into spiritual children that you have nurtured from babyhood, who began to grow under your leadership and then began to level off spiritually?  By this I mean they stop growing under your leadership.

You receive them into your ministry under your tutelage when they are babies, and provide the spiritual milk, and later meat, and yet  they have become stagnant?

Their is nothing wrong with the food that they are being fed, yet somewhere along the line they become barren?   What I mean is, once you receive them and began to feed them and nourish them and they grow, but later you notice that they are stagnated in their spiritual development?

You once saw fruit in their lives, they began to practice the doctrines of Christ, the soil of their heart had been turned over, that it was no longer fallow anymore.  They have now learned how to feed themselves, they are mature to the point where you begin to place them and give them leadership over a particular area, or they began a new ministry because vision is flowing out of their heart.

But then something happens along the way.  They have picked up an offence that they refuse to acknowledge, and it therefore goes underground and develops into a root of bitterness.  Remember, as a spiritual father or mother, you are able to see the condition of their heart, just as you have all along, and you have spoken into those areas previously, and the counsel and wisdom that you spoke was received and they were able to correct situations in the past, learn from it and grow.  But now, they have become stagnated, they have a calloused heart, and no longer have a teachable spirit.

As a leader what do you do with these type people?  You continue to speak into their life, but because the root of bitterness blocking their view they aren’t able to see, nor hear any longer.

Mind you, it is clearly evident to the eye that their fruit is drying up on the vine. Their attitude changes considerable.  They have the oversight over an area of ministry, with many new babies  under them.

As the root of bitterness grows stronger, their fruit is less visible as the days go on.  You have communicated with them, yet they refuse to acknowledge that there is a problem.

Their attendance began to dwindle, their giving comes to a halt, their fruit is no longer evident. They no longer want input into their lives as they did previously.  The truths they once governed themselves by, have now become obsolete.  They even begin to speak negatively now into the lives of those that are following them.  You have concern for them, and you are concerned about the place they are walking.  You also lovingly point out to them, the areas that they have fallen down in, and give them the opportunity for change and growth.  But because there are many that are under their care, there is the potential for spiritual harm to those they have been given oversight to, you must protect the health of the community that are in their care.  So you speak to the leader and attempt reconciliation.  If they are still in denial about their condition, you should be interceding for the person, because their walk and relationship with God is in jeopardy.  It is the love of a spiritual parent that will cause you to pray for the individual, that they will get back in sync with God.

Oftentimes they will make excuses for the place they are in, such as there is a lot going on in my life right now, or my children need my care and attention, or my job is calling for greater comittment, or my husband, or my finances, etc, etc, etc.  Mind you, these are all valid excuses that you really can’t argue with, and the person knows it.  It is not the excuse they give, but the “condition” of their heart.

When really this is not the case at all, it becomes an excuse that covers the offence that they refuse to deal with.  They also may become angry at you the spiritual parent, or the entire ministerial staff, ministry or church.

But until the person is willing to acknowledge what is really going on in their life, there is little that you can do or say to help them.  They may even pull other leaders into their offence and transfer their offence to them.  Then you began to see the offence duplicated, because the same traits and fruits you saw in the one, now begins to manifest in the others that they are affecting.

What are some of the signs?  They go into isolation.  They began to see themselves against the ministry or church. It is “them” against the ministry.  They form strong bonds and ties, and rehearse and feed the offence in their “behind the scenes” communication.  All of a sudden you can identify all those that have been bitten by the “spirit of offense.” They are distant, quiet, non-talkative. Where they use to dialogue with the body, they no longer communicate.  Or they communicate vaguely to keep the appearance up to the body that they are ok, and all is well.  It takes a true gift of discernment to discern their spirit.  The most obvious sign is their countenance.  Where they had joy, they now look as though they have dried up and are dieing. Yet they sport the appearance that all is well, and that God is good and doing great and mighty things in their lives.  They may even try to convince those that do have discernment, that this is true.  It takes a keen sense of discernment to identify this spirit.  When they are around those who are truly mature they will say things like, “I love the ministry. I really love my leaders, when in fact in their heart, there is a deep offense that they are nursing.  They find something wrong with everything that is said and done in the ministry.  Outwardly, they portray a smile, inwardly their hearts have become like dead men bones.  They take on the spirit of Machal,  David’s wife and they began to mock those that have a right spirit and heart and are flowing with God.  They actually become envious of those who are flowing with God because they can no longer drink from the cistern that the Lord that  has provided. Their bitter spirit is much to strong to allow them to drink and be nourished.  So those that are drinking and being nourished and are excited about God and all that He is doing, become their targets.

Right now as many of you pastors are reading this, the light bulb is coming on.  You are saying that sounds like……  You are right it does sound like… because that is exactly where sister/brother so-in-so is.

As the shepherd of the house, you can see that bitter spirit on that group. The funny thing is they will never do anything outwardly that you are able to put your finger on, and confront.  Just pray and wait on God’s timing.   Eventually as they gossip, and form battle lines in the spirit within the ministry,  they will also, look for others that they can inject their poisonous venom into.  Unbeknowst to them they will go after someone who is committed to your ministry, that they believe they can sway over to their side and can get them to find a reason to be offended with the ministry also.  At some point the head of the ring will slip up, or someone within the ring will slip up.  Prayer will provoke the enemy to expose his hand in all his undercover activities within the church or ministry.  So do pray, pastor, and watch and wait for God to open an inroad into the devil’s stronghold. 

For example, something that they begin to say that is unscriptural in some way will arise.  Seize the moment at this time to call that entire group in and address the issue.  Why the entire group? Because you will never get to the bottom of it unless you bring them in together.  Then  the hearts of men will be exposed!   At this point the ring leader that began it, can repent and receive mercy.   If the the ones they have baited decides to  cover that person though, then the gift of discernment will expose the heart. Sometimes those that have been bitten will even lie for the person and cover them.  God will show you who is lieing and where the lie began.  Again, they have the opportunity to repent.  The reason God allows it to be exposed is because He loves His people very much.  It is the goodness of God that leads us to repentance.  At this point, forgiveness and reconciliation should happen.  That is the purpose of the meeting.   But it takes a humble spirit and a contrite heart for repentance to flow.  If they continue in the lie, you have exposed the enemy, and brought his fiery darts out into the open to be judged by leadership.  Once you expose him, one of two things will happen:

1)The parties will repent and turn their hearts over to God

2)They will keep the offence and eventually they will leave the ministry.

It is just that simple.  God does bring separation.  He tries the heart, finds it wanting, and he separates.  It will not be long before one by one, the spirit of offense, and the power of God will drive them out one by one.   You will see this process repeated over and over again in the local church.  That is God’s way.  He said the sinner(one that refuses to repent) will not be able to sit in the congregation of the righteous.  This doesnt mean everyone else is righteous and they only are sinners.  God is only referring to those that refuse to repent and turn from their wicked ways.  An offence is wicked!  Those that are sitting in the congregation (the righteous) are not righteous because they have not sinned, no! They are righteous because they have sinned and repented and turned their hearts toward God. Whereas the sinner, chose to keep walking in that same unrepentant, nonremorseful path.

Then when God begans to remove them, you must pray for  the cleansing of the house.  You must pray for those remaining victims that were participants in that spirit of offence, because remember, they were bitten by the bitter spirit of the other individual. So you pray and ask God to restore them.  With lovingkindness He has drawn us.  Those affected by the offended one, may turn around once God removes the one originally offended.  So prayer is needed on their behalf.  But if they don’t repent and have a change of heart, eventually you will also see them moving towards the back row, and eventually out the door.  It doesnt matter whether they are in the choir, an intercessor, or even on the praise and worship team, or the evangelism team, or maybe they are a key person in a key position.  The position is not important, it is the heart that God is waiting for to change.  Perhaps, once the influence is removed they may be able to see the light and turn.  There is hope for those that remain.  But remember, it is all about walking in the unity of the faith.  

If you have people like this, pray for God to either change their hearts, or remove them from the fold.  The ministry will do much better, if you have people that walk with the fruit of the Spirit.  Your focus should be on those that have the same heart and spirit that you do.  Paul once said, we need to be speaking the same thing.

Paul also experienced something similar to this scenario.  He had John Mark travelling with him.  One day John Mark decided that he loved this present world more than he wanted the purpose of God.  Paul allowed him to leave the field because he was unuseful to his ministry anymore.  John Mark simply wanted to live a normal life without the pressure of the ministry.  Paul released him and let him go.  Sometimes you need to release people and let them go!  If they are continually against what you are attempting to achieve for God it is better to let them go.  Just as God brought them in for a season, He will be faithful to bring others in.  By trying to hold on to them, you do yourself and the ministry an injustice.

Later, John Mark became profitable to Paul again.  I won’t promise you that this will happen in your case, but I will promise you that God has tailor made a people that fit perfectly in your ministry.  What you have to give is awesome and powerful.  There are some Timothy’s that are waiting for you.  Wait on them.  You will be glad you did.  Usually, once God removes those with the spirit of division,  you will find that the “real” begins to show up.  By the way the scripture does say “mark” those that cause divisions among you.  Mark them (means pay close attention to them) simply means they are “hazardous” to your ministry.

Prophetess Cynthia Steele

The problem with this scenerio is that many times these women have children in the home.  This is where I want to send a caution to women in the body of Christ.

As a single woman, and parent, until God unites you to the right mate, you need to be married to Jehovah! I am watching women in the body, not sensitive to the importance of their walk before their children, hooking up with men on the internet.  After only knowing them for a couple of weeks, or a month or so, then inviting them to come and reside in their home.  This is the most foolish mistake that a woman (or man) can make.

Why would you subject your children to this type behavior?  Do you know that the life that you lead before your children is the greatest witness of salvation to your children?  If you will violate their secure environment to bring someone into your dormain that you do not even know, what makes you think that they should trust or believe in the God that you are representing? 

I believe the answer is found in the fact that you are self-absorbed  and selfish that you do not even consider their need for security. 

My sista’s this type of ill responsibility must stop.  You owe your seed more than this!  I beg with you to consider your ways before God, and your children.  What  kind of legacy are you leaving for them to follow? 

If you will lower your standard this low, what hope shall they believe in?  It is now time for us to raise the bar!  You are better than this!  Why are you “settling?”

No, I believe when you know who you are, as well as your value,  you will not be subject to your base nature.  You are too beautiful, too intelligent, and too gifted to function this way. 

Reconsider your decision!  No matter how you have thought it through, and decided it will work, may you hear God’s voice in this matter.  May the fear of God come upon you, and convict and convince you in the wisdom of God. 

Most importantly, make the right decision for your children.  They deserve so much more. 

They that wait upon the Lord, shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as an eagle……..

So for all of you that are “desperate” out there, wait I say on the Lord!  He has so much more for you.