Don't Look Back

Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

Phil 3:12-14 (NIV)

This past week I found myself looking back. The best way for me to describe this is as if I was among those that had crossed the Jordan river, and entered the promised land, only to find that fter a short season, I returned to the banks of the river to gaze back upon where I had come from.

It seems as though these last couple of months - with all the good God was doing in me - that I lost focus and found myself growing fearful once again. Fearful of not having money.

We must not look back - we must press forward. We must turn our backs to the old ways of thinking - to the sowing and reaping, and giving to get. We must not allow the church - or the governement - to disuade us from our calling.

You and I - as children of God - are called to "reign in life" (Romans 5:17). We are not called to be under the control of any economy, or goverenment bailout fears.

Yes - we have to live here. And yes, we are living in the economy and world situation. But we are not being controled and held back by them! No - we are using them to our - and God's - benefit!

The bible does not teach us that we are reigning (ie - ruling over) in life only when things around us are good! That would be easy to do. No, God says "reign in life" - this life - now, regrdless of your surrounings.

Are things slow at work? Have you lost your job? Growing fearful of what might happen? Take control now! Do not let those fears seize you. Seek the Lord as you prepare for bed - ask him to speak to you outside your emotions. Ask Him to show you what is to come (John 16:13). He will.

Is Jericho in your way? God will give you the key to taking it down!

I will leave you with this:

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; 

in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight."

Prov 3:5-6 (NIV)

Stand firm on the promise of Promised Land Living. Do not fall back on the old ways of thinking - they didn't work then - they won't work now!

Prophet Bill

God's Prophetic Economy

This past week the Lord has spoken to me - and to Apostle Mike, regarding the coming months. unfortunatly - for many - it does not look good.

The Lord has shown us much. To much to list here. However, I do sincerly believe He is saying this to all who visit:

During the next 6 months or so (I sensed around april), we will see the downfall of much of the auto industry. We clearly saw that the proped up companies would fall, and many would be financially hurt.

We saw that during this time, many gimicks will be used to try to get you to spend your money. Additionally, many people will try to take advantage of you (within the law). They will be financially hurting, and will see your finances as a way out.

HOWEVER: To those that are living in The Promised Land - this is your time to move financially ahead and to be in a position where others want to take advantage of you - because they see you have money.

A word to the wise - if you live in the promised land, your gonna do well. If you don't your going to find yourself struggling. Please be prepared for this season.

Prophet Bill

The Worries of this World

"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
Matt 6:25-27 (NIV)

I want to share with you a situation I have experienced recently.

One of our ministers needed to make a change to the cell phone plan we use. He needed to add a service that we we were told should be no problem.

So, we journied to the office, and proceeded to request the add-on.

Unfortunatly they were unable to do so. The cell phone company told us that since we did not have the line for more than 90 days, we were unable to add this extra service. 'We are sorry", they said "but there is nothing we can do."

Now - the natural man would say "Oh man. That stinks. We are stuck with this lousy service for two years (a contract) and there is nothing we can do." The natural man would then turn and walk away, having aapparently no choice in the matter.

But - the man that lives in the Promised Land did this......

"Cancel the contract. We are done with your service."

"Huh?" the lady behind the counter responded. "You'll be charged $210 and you can't return the phone!".

"Cancel it" we said.

---

Now - why would we do that? Isn't is just silly and a waste of God's money to do that?

Well, as we were standing there the Holy Spirit spoke to my spirit and said "You do not need to worry about the money. You do not need to care."

That was a few weeks ago. And since then I have been praying and seeking the Lord about this. And this morning He showed me the scripture basis - Matthew 6:25- 34.

I used to worry myself worrying about this scripture. I used to bang on heaven's door, asking God "How could I not worry? How can I pay the bills?"

And today God says 'You have misunderstood! It is not about having or not having. It is about being able to say you do not care. Its about being able to say "you can't keep me bound by your rules and regulations - because I am free of worry."

Now - by this, He does not mean to not care about others, or their feelings. NO! But He does mean - in The Promised Land we do not live under the authority of the Pharaoah spirit. The spirit that keeps us bound and tied to another. A spirit that says "You can have this... but you must do things my way." The spirit that says "You can have your home, enough to pay your bills, and even a small garden. But you must strive and work and sweat each day for me."

To you that live in Egypt - this is where you are. But to you that live in The Promised Land - you have the freedom to say - "No. I will not be under your control. I will pay the cancelation fee - I do not care. I am not going to be under your control. I DO have options - and they are with another carrier!"

Be encouraged today. Plant your seeds where you will reap a harvest. Plant them in your own soil, and let God water them. Grow your finances and get to the point where you have "more than enough". Then you can say 'NO!"

God wants you to have more than enough. Isn't it time you tried something different?
Pastor Bill

Judged According To Man, Living According To God

This morning the Lord woke me with this scripture "1 Peter 4:6".

For this is the reason the gospel was preached even to those who are now dead, so that they might be judged according to men in regard to the body, but live according to God in regard to the spirit.
NIV

As I pondered why the Lord was giving me this, I began to think back over the last week, and the things I have been praying about. I recalled that my recent prayer focus has been our pending new "Statement of Faith", and what it should contain.

I had been pondering things like sex, marriage, church attendance and more. I had been pondering what were the important things, and what was not.

And this morning, the Lord showed me...

You see, this scripture is taken from a section that deals with things that mankind does. The section speaks of pagans and debauchery and lust. It says the pagans think it strange that we do not do many of the things they do. It appears to confirm what we have long been taught - "The things of the world - sex, lust, etc - are sinful".

I say "appears" because as I looked more intently into this "law that gives freedom", I found the Holy Spirit showing me that this scripture does not say that God will judge anyone based on what they do in the flesh, but rather how they live according to the spirit.

It has occured to me that this scripture specifically states that Man judges the flesh.
ie - nudism, sex, marriage, homosexuality, bi-sexuality, transgender, debauchery, lust, money and finances, etc, etc.

But God judges according to the spirit.

Man says "This is wrong." or "This is right.", but God says - "Who is your saviour?"

If you are a believer and do not practice "drunkeness", the pagans will attack you for being a goody two shoes. but, if you are a believer and have a problem with alcohol, the believer will attack you for your sin.

This is the natural man, and natural man judges according to the flesh. Natural man judges you by what you do or do not do. The pagan judges you because you do not do what he does, while the believer judges you because you do not do what he does. You will always be wrong - and right - in someone's eyes.

But every man will face God and give an account. And God says He looks at whether you lived according to the spirit.

Now what do we mean - "living according to the spirit?"

I hear the Lord tell me this - "I do not judge any man according to what they have done. I judge only based on who they know. A good man may still go to hell, whilst an evil one may be bound for my kingdom."

The bottom line is this - it is not our sexuality, our moral failures, our fleshly desires that determines our Christianity. Neither is it the amount of money we have, or the perfect marriage, or our church attendance . Rather, it is simply this - "Who is your saviour?"

If you as an individual have accepted Jesus the Christ as your savior - if you have confessed with your mouth that He is Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, then you shall be saved - period.

You may be a homosexual, a nudist, a rich man, a nun. None of that matters. What you practice is a personal decision between you and your maker, and one in which you must work out your salvation "with fear and trembing" (Phil 2:12).

If you can reconcile your relationship with God - and that relationship has its foundation in Jesus - than we as a church, and me as its pastor - will not judge you.

Welcome to Promised Land Living!

Pastor Bill
God wants you to have more than enough. Isn't it time you tried something different?"

A Good Man?

A good man leaves an inheritance for his children's children, but a sinner's wealth is stored up for the righteous.
Prov 13:22 (NIV)

First, allow me to apologize for the long time between posts. I have not forgotten my calling, nor abandoned this vision. That said - let me encourage you - do not stop building your future, as God says the wealthof the sinner is FOR YOU, and that part of the use of that wealth is for your children's children.

So, don't hold back - YOU LIVE OUTSIDE THE PRESENT ECONOMIC BOX!

So "give and it will be given unto you" Period. Not based on anything but your giving! Be a giver - to everyone around you - waitress, attendants, employees, everyone. Especially with so many hurting and crying out for help - NOW is your time to step in and GIVE!

Sow - sow to yourself - build that business - you will reap a greater harvest than anyone else! Do not doubt God's word. It is His promise to you! God wants you to have more than enough - do something different today!

Visit the Prophets Journey Blog for a prophecy regarding President Elect Obama.

Bill