Get up!

This morning the Lord sent me to the book of Ezra, one that I can admit to not having studied much at all. He showed me that there came a point when Ezra had cried out for the people for long enough and it was time for him to take action. In chapter 9, he prayed and cried about the guilt and sin of the people for marrying foreigners and forsaking what The Lord had done for them. But in chapter 10, He showed me how he brought it to an end. While Ezra was weeping and praying in front of the Temple, a crowd of people surrounded him, watching his distress and they felt convicted. They began to weep with him when one of the leaders, Shecaniah came forward and acknowledged that Ezra was right for his despair and that the people needed help. He said, “We have been unfaithful to our God, for we have married these pagan women of the land. But in spite of this there is hope for Israel.  Let us now make a covenant with our God to divorce our pagan wives and to send them away with their children. We will follow the advice given by you and by the others who respect the commands of our God. Let it be done according to the Law of God. Get up, for it is your duty to tell us how to proceed in setting things straight. We are behind you, so be strong and take action.” (Ezra 10:2-4 NLT) It is verse 4 that the Lord used to bring me to this chapter in the first place! Read it again!

“Get up, for it is your duty to tell us how to proceed in setting things straight. We are behind you, so be strong and take action.”

Do you see what happened? Shecaniah gave Ezra a wakeup call. He basically told him that while he was not responsible for the sins of the people, he was responsible for bringing them out of it.  Mam! Sir! You are responsible for bringing people out of the situations that God has been speaking to you about and showing you over the last few months and even years. You have a duty to stop crying over the generational cycle that your family has been in and do something about it. You have a duty to stop worrying about the young men that you’ve seen dying left and right and do something about it. You have a duty to stop watching people die under dead preaching and teaching and do something about it!

This is what the Lord said for me to share this morning and I will end with it. It’s time, folks!

Thus says the Lord: Rise up! Rise up, daughter! Rise up, son! It's time to stop weeping and worrying and do what I have said. There are people watching and waiting on you to go forward with what I have I said. You have wavered long enough, wondering if people would like you or agree with you if you did what I said. The time for that is over. It is now time to get up and be about My business. Rise up from your mourning bench! Rise up from your sick bed! Rise up from your hard place! Rise up from your depression! Rise up from your place of struggle! Rise up from your place of transition! I've moved you and now it's time to start acting like it."

Amen.

Take the Limits off!

God has been dealing with me about levels. Levels, levels, levels. Next level, higher level, level up. You name it, I’ve been thinking about it. You see, for too long, the body of Christ has been content to let the world advance while the church watches and reacts later. God is challenging us to go after our purpose and our destiny with roller skates on. I believe He is tired of giving His people fresh revelation and ideas, only to see them lay dormant because of limited thinking and fear. Well today, He showed me a vision of all of these faces and then a series of bubbles floating up to the sky. They just kept going higher and higher without popping. Then I heard the Lord say, “With Me, there are no limits.” I felt a leap in my spirit. You see, I’m ready to see some people break out of tradition, fear, and limitation. I’m ready to celebrate some book releases and some ministry launches. And God is saying today that its time to get moving because the sky isn’t even the limit.

As I was praying about this, I was led to 1 Kings 8. This chapter is special because it’s when the temple that God had told David about was completed, dedicated and filled with His glory. As I was reading the chapter, God showed me that sometimes He gives a vision to a generation or a person that is supposed to just lay the groundwork through prayer and faith but won’t be the ones to complete it. Sometimes the vision is so big that it requires the faith and participation of more than one person. How many of you are sitting on a vision that God had your grandparents praying for? Or worse, how many of you are sitting on a vision that your children are supposed to complete. I digress. So at King Solomon’s instructions, the Levitical priests bring the Ark of the Covenant to the temple and when they leave the Holy of Holies, a cloud of glory fills the temple that was so powerful, the priest couldn’t even stand up to serve. You see when you trust God to complete the assignment that He gave you, He will keep His promises and bless it. The key is that you have to believe that it can and will be accomplished. King Solomon told the people the words that had been spoken to His father before he was even born.  He told them that though David desired to build the temple and was given the vision, Solomon would complete it. King Solomon had to have next level vision to complete what He didn’t start. No limits…

So the Lord highlighted verse 27 for me and told me to share it with you. Solomon asks the Lord, “But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built!” (1 Kings 8:27 NKJV) Solomon was so in awe that God would come and dwell in this temple that He had built. I mean, who was he but a mere man compared to this big God. But God told me to tell you, as Solomon highlighted, that your vision is not the big thing, its Him. Maybe that’s not clear. Your vision is not the star of the show…it’s God. He is the one that has no limits. He is the one that cannot be contained but if you trust Him and walk this thing out, He will dwell there. He will come to your ministry. He will come to your business. He will come to your nonprofit. He will come to your daycare.  He will take the vision and make it great because He will dwell there! What He places inside of you, He has to birth. Isaiah 66:9 says, “Shall I bring to the time of birth, and not cause delivery?”, says the Lord. Shall I who cause delivery shut up the womb?” says your God.” (NKJV) If He gave it to you, He is going to bring it to pass. You just have to be willing to go with Him. No limits…

I challenge you today to step out and step up. God is calling on you to go to the next level…in prayer, in your study, in your relationships, and in your faith. Release Him from the box that you have placed Him in and allow Him to be the limitless God that He is. The main reason a lot of people haven’t seen their lives go where they want them to is because they have only allowed God a small piece of their time, faith, and expectation. Take your hands off and watch God take your bubble far beyond the skyline.

Amen.

Order!

Happy June, Rhema readers! I got down on the floor today for some quiet time with the Lord and I asked Him what He wanted me to say to you. This is what He said and I’m literally going to type exactly what He tells me…no editing. Ready?

This is the 6 month and the 6^th year of the blog. If you add those together, you get 12, the number that represents order (the state of things when law or authority is obeyed). It is now time to get it together. It is time out for excuses (something offered as justification for not acting), fear (an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger) and stagnation (a state in which growth or development stops). Your destiny requires you to line up with My word. Why do you think I called you to preach? Why do you think I called you to evangelize? Why do you think I called you to love on people? Why do you think I called you to be a trailblazer? Was it to sit on the gifts? Was it to sit on the calling? Was it to keep to yourself? No! It was to change nations! It was to change cities! It was to change your family. Today, everything must get in order and it starts with YOU! I need you to stop playing games with what I have told you to do. I want you to push forward into the vision without one ounce of doubt or fear. I did not give you the spirit of fear and I have not given you cause to doubt. So let’s get going!

I know that you have been trying to figure out how your vision lines up with the reality of your family. Not an issue! When you obey, I will fix the issues of your family. I will cause people to come back to you that have caused you harm. I will heal your heart from the affect that it caused and make you more effective within your family. I will handle the harden hearts and bring forth the unchurched and the unsaved. Do you trust Me with your family? It’s time for order.

I know that you have been trying to figure out how your vision lines up with the reality of your finances. Not an issue! When you obey, I will provide for you. I will cause your enemies to ask how they can bless you. I will cause people to call and email you with reports of how they have been following your progress and want to know how they can help. I have cattle on a thousand hills and what I provide doesn’t have conditions except your obedience. Didn’t I say that I would provide all that you need, according to MY riches? Why do you question what I have said? It’s time for order.

There are so many facets to the visions and plans that I have given you. It’s not just the one dimension that I have showed you but you need to move in the first dimension so that you can see the next level. Don’t you want to see that bank you’ve been dreaming about come to pass? Don’t you want to see that daycare manifest? Don’t you want to see how far that ministry can go? I have the capacity, the ability and the heart to give it to you. The question is, do you have the faith to go after it? It’s time for order.

I’ve waited long enough for you to get your mind wrapped around what I’ve told you to do. It’s not really that hard. Do you know why it feels hard to you? Because you have been attempting to make things work with your own strength, wit and abilities. However, my creativity is unmatched and my resources are unending. Stop looking to man for your confirmation and affirmation, and try ME. I can do it. It’s time for order.”

The Lord then led me to Psalm 37: 23-24 as a closing. The VOICE translation says, “The Lord directs the steps of the godly. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.” Order is directly tied to God. If you are in line with Him, He is in the midst of everything you do. Even when you mess up, He won’t let you fall because He is right there with you. It’s time for order.

Amen.

Know your role!

I’ve been watching a lot of people lately stepping out of character. It’s baffled me and caused me to ask the Lord some tough questions about people and who they are. I’ve gone back and forth with Him about it, trying to get some clarity. I’ve seen husbands disrespecting their wives, pastors condemning their parishioners, and friends hurting other friends. I couldn’t understand it until this morning when the Lord said something really simple but jaw dropping to me. He said, they don’t know their role. What, God? He said people often get off track and abuse their positions when they don’t know how they are supposed to function in the role that I have called them to. Well then…

The Lord then sent me to the final chapter of Ecclesiastes and made it really clear for me. Ecclesiastes is one of the wisdom books and is filled with powerful statements about how to live your best life. Chapter 12 starts with the writer, aka King Solomon, encouraging the people of Israel to remember their Creator and ends with wise words on the attainment of knowledge. The Lord highlighted the last 2 verses for me so that I could help you like He helped me. They read in the Message translation like this,

 “The last and final word is this: Fear God. Do what He tells you. And that’s it. Eventually God will bring everything that we do out into the open and judge it according to its hidden intent, whether it’s good or evil.” (Ecc. 12:13-14 MSG)

Hmmmmmm…ok! So what does that mean, Ebony?  It’s simple. You have one 2-part responsibility in this life. Fear God and do what He tells you AND THAT’S IT! Did you get that? If you do what He tells you to do, then you don’t have time to worry about what anyone else is doing. If you do what He tells you to do, then you will automatically be functioning in your calling. God isn’t going to tell you to do what someone else is supposed to be doing. He isn’t going to tell you to hinder anyone else’s progress. He certainly isn’t going to tell you to bring someone down. Do you see what I’m saying? God is very intentional and strategic. He doesn’t breed confusion and He doesn’t work in sin. He gives assignments and roles out according to how He sees you living out the purpose that He has put before you. Fear God and do what He tells you to do and that’s it. Don’t mess yourself up by adding to what God did not say.

Secondly, Solomon lets us in on a little secret. God is watching what you do and will judge it according to what your motivation and intent is. You should be careful to only do what the Lord says and with the right intentions in your heart. Husbands, if you are not covering your wife in public, you might want to check your heart. Church leadership, if you aren’t encouraging your congregants, you might want to check your heart. Friends, if you are using your position in someone’s life for something other than blessing them, you might want to check your heart. When your name is called at judgement, you want it to be with joy and excitement on your obedience not evil intentions. Check your heart! He’s watching.

I had no intention to write any of this! As a matter of fact, I was praying for a happy right now word of encouragement. But today, God is speaking to our hearts. He created us to worship Him and He gave us the assignment to reverence Him and do what He says. Don’t lose yourself because you have created your own job description. The Bible is the best professional development manual that there is. If you need help understanding what you need to be doing, you will find it in the Word. I’m ready for the Body of Christ to start looking like our leader. Know your role and stick with that.

Amen

Catch hold!

Every now and then the Lord will drop a quick word for Rhema. Something quick that gets straight to the point. Today, just happened to be one of those days. I was sitting here and He said to tell you to CATCH HOLD! Right now, He is looking for total obedience. You don’t have time to play around with fear, doubt or PEOPLE! He said that where He is taking you, you must simply obey. If He says, call Ms. So and So. Call her! If He says, give Bro. Jim $20, do it. If He tells you to leave that dead relationship, get to moving! There is purpose to every instruction and a right timing to every assignment. You just need to catch hold of what the Lord is saying and MOVE.

Well, God, that sounds good and just like you but that’s hard. I mean they may not be seeing what you’re seeing so I need a little bit more. He immediately sent me to Isaiah 41:13, and it blessed me. It says, “For I hold you by your right hand- I the Lord your God. And I say to you, “Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you.” Ummmmmm? Did you get that? You aren’t in this thing by yourself. That ministry, that new career, that marriage, that book, that forgiveness, whatever your “IT” is, God is with you! He is holding your right hand…your strong hand…and He is promising His help! Mam, sir! Stop playing with your gifts. Stop holding back your love. Stop running away from your assignments. It’s time to catch hold of what God is saying. He doesn’t waste His words. They all have a purpose that they must accomplish. Do you want to miss out on your purpose because you didn’t listen? Catch hold!

So just as I was getting ready to end this, the Lord sent me back two verses and told me to share with you. Sometimes, you can miss what you’re supposed to be doing because of your past or what other people have said or done to you. Well God wanted you to be clear that you don’t have to worry about those things. You just need to hear, receive and move! The words that He spoke to the children of Israel in their time of need, He told me to share with you.

Look, everyone who hated you and sought to do you wrong
        will be embarrassed and confused.
    Whoever challenged you with hot-headed bluster
        will become as if they never were, and nevermore will be.
     You may go looking for them, but you won’t find them;
        because those who tried to fight with you will become as if they never were.
     After all, it is I, the Eternal One your God,
        who has hold of your right hand,
    Who whispers in your ear, “Don’t be afraid. I will help you.” (Is. 41: 11-13, VOICE)

Now…CATCH HOLD!

Amen...

 

Step out of the way!

Okay, can I be honest with you today? Wait, a better word would be transparent. This morning the Lord told me to write what was on my heart and He would respond. I’ve done that before but today I felt like that meant exposing some things about myself that I didn’t particularly want to share. But God said to do it and so I will. Welcome to the heart of Ebony on this Thursday morning…

I don’t know about any of you, but sometimes I give myself fits! I doubt what I hear, I struggle with my call, and I try to make other people be who I wish they were, even when God has showed me something different. Sometimes, I look at myself and wonder how in the world He chose me to do the things that He keeps putting before me. I’m just not that good! If I had my way, I would be at my house watching Murder, She Wrote marathons and eating warm brownies with caramel sauce. But somehow, He keeps telling me to go out and spread the word. He keeps saying love on that person and encourage those people even when I really need that encouragement for myself. He keeps saying write those blogs and books and have that retreat and I fight Him on every step, trying to figure out why. What in the world was the Lord thinking when He picked me? But then I remember what He said when He called me. He told me that I was always obedient, even when I went kicking and screaming. Even if I didn’t know how it was going to get done or work out, I would say yes.

I got excited this morning thinking about that! Maybe I’m in better shape than I thought when I first started sharing this. But then the Lord said to me, “Now step out of the way!” What? Step out of whose way, Lord? He responded with, ”Yours and mine!” Whew! Y’all, I immediately took offense to that one. I mean, He went for the jugular, didn’t He?  I’m not in His way, right? I’m obedient. I do what He says even though it has been uncomfortable and painful at times. How is that being in the way? But then the Lord reminded me of the times that I talk down my gift, how I sometimes will compare my journey to others, that I get frustrated with promoting the things He has told me to do. And I began to see what He meant. I’m slowing myself down by fighting back against the assignment and the purpose that He has given me. I’m hindering someone else by not going full steam ahead with what He has put before me. I’m in the way!

What about you? Are you standing in your own way…in the Lord’s way? Have you let your desire to be in control or your fear of what’s next keep you from going to the next level? Today, the Lord reminded me that He has amazing things in store for you and for me but we have to take several steps out of His way. We have to be willing to get on the ride called destiny. We have to be willing to take our hands off the rail and move our foot away from the brake. If the Lord is trying to separate you from some places or some people, do it. There’s something new waiting on the other side of your obedience. If the Lord is trying to take you to a new level, go! There’s a new anointing waiting on the other side of your trust. If the Lord is trying to mature you in an area where you have previously lacked, agree! There’s fresh revelation waiting on the other side of your faith. Step out of the way!

As I was getting ready to write my customary “Amen” to end this entry, the Lord told me to end with His words to Peter when he tried to get in the way of God’s plan in Matthew 16. Jesus directly reminded us in this verse that the enemy is at work when we try and get in the way of what God is doing in our lives. So let’s not have to be on the receiving end of the Lord’s rebuke. Instead let’s let Him be in charge and get out of His way. “But Jesus didn’t swerve. “Peter, get out of my way. Satan, get lost. You have no idea how God works.” (vs. 23 MSG)  So in the words of Martin, “Get to steppin!”

Amen

You made the cut!

I’ve been overwhelmed this week with Travis Green’s song “The Hill”. One particular line has been on repeat in my mind and has truly spoken life to me. In the midst of an ad lib, Green sings “The cross don’t discriminate”. Don’t get caught up in the grammatical issue with the statement but rather feel the enormity of what he is reminding you of. What Jesus did on the cross was for you! You with your bad attitude. You with your doubt. You with your bad decision making. You with your struggle. You with your lagging faith. You with your rejection. You with your fatigue. Christ took all of that and put it on His back and wore it straight through crucifixion to victory. He didn’t have a list of “yes” and “no” and cast the sins of some aside. Nope…He took it all! So today, it is my assignment to tell you that whatever you are facing, worrying about, trying to overcome has been handled.  Your “it” made the cut because the cross doesn’t discriminate. Everyone was eligible for true freedom!

Sometimes when there is a lot going on in your life, you can be distracted by the noise. You can’t hear and you can’t discern which voice you should be listening to. It’s in those moments that the enemy tries to take you back to all that you have missed or gotten wrong. He’s tricky and persistent and will look for any small opening to squeeze through. Don’t let him, saints! Don’t get caught up in what you see and miss what God is doing. Where a lot of you go wrong is that you make regular trips back to Calvary! Not to celebrate what Jesus did but rather to pick up what He took away from you. Stop doing it! Change your direction and focus your attention back on the freedom that He has already given you. Your responsibility is to stay in that place and LIVE! Your “it” can’t win against the freedom of Christ because the cross doesn’t discriminate. Sin is defeated because of what He did!

Romans 6 spoke to me this morning and reminded me of WHO I belong to! Sin and doubt and all of those old things can no longer keep you bound. Will you receive it today? Will you tell abandonment to flee? Will you tell sin to flee? Will you recognize that what Christ did was for every situation that you face? Especially this one!

“Could it be any clearer? Our old way of life was nailed to the cross with Christ, a decisive end to that sin-miserable life—no longer at sin’s every beck and call! What we believe is this: If we get included in Christ’s sin-conquering death, we also get included in his life-saving resurrection. We know that when Jesus was raised from the dead it was a signal of the end of death-as-the-end. Never again will death have the last word. When Jesus died, he took sin down with him, but alive he brings God down to us. From now on, think of it this way: Sin speaks a dead language that means nothing to you; God speaks your mother tongue, and you hang on every word. You are dead to sin and alive to God. That’s what Jesus did. That means you must not give sin a vote in the way you conduct your lives. Don’t give it the time of day. Don’t even run little errands that are connected with that old way of life. Throw yourselves wholeheartedly and full-time—remember, you’ve been raised from the dead!—into God’s way of doing things. Sin can’t tell you how to live. After all, you’re not living under that old tyranny any longer. You’re living in the freedom of God.” (Rom. 6:6-14 MSG)

Can you celebrate with me in this moment? Can you lift up a shout that your “it” cannot hold anything over your head? Can you do a dance or run a lap because the cross doesn’t discriminate? Can you receive the finished work of Christ in your life? I declare today that you have the victory! It was finished way back on Calvary and today you will walk it out! Victory is yours, says God! It has been handled and YOU ARE FREE! Receive it…

Amen