how can we understand the Kingdom of God when we barely understand a basketball team?

Posted on June 6, 2016 by SoSpression

Basketball is a team sport yet we idolize and create myths around the scorer and last-shot taker.

The body of Christ is most effective as a team, and we are instructed to give more honor to those that appear less glorious ( 1 Corinthians 12)… Yet we choose to idolize and create myths around the person on stage giving sermons.

So the basketball TEAM with the best all around players that play offense AND defense – wins championships – but America idolizes the scorers, we don’t want to hear about team ball or defense. Pistons and Spurs championships have the lowest ratings.

Yet people will give Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant all of the credit for their teams carrying them to a championship and letting them take the last shot. We worship the individual scorer, and the NBA changes the rules so that scorers can score more easily.

In the same way the American church does not want to build a Body of Believers from the ground up like the book of Acts – with powerful Holy Ghost Jesus preaching, fellowship, discipleship, prayer, AND DEFENSE against false doctrine – we would rather idolize a preacher or a singer or a rapper and watch them perform.

Unfortunately, we cannot persuade God to change the rules of the game. The body of Christ in America may get numbers and dollars but it will not have success until we stop lifting up performers and start honoring the teams that lift up Jesus.

—

1 Corinthians 12:

20 But now are they many members, yet but one body.

21 And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you.

22 Nay, much more those members of the body, which seem to be more feeble, are necessary:

23 And those members of the body, which we think to be less honourable, upon these we bestow more abundant honour; and our uncomely parts have more abundant comeliness.

24 For our comely parts have no need: but God hath tempered the body together, having given more abundant honour to that part which lacked.

25 That there should be no schism in the body; but that the members should have the same care one for another.

26 And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honoured, all the members rejoice with it.

27 Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular.

—

Do you know that Jordan didn’t always play like that, either? It’s been so long, perhaps we’ve forgotten. MJ once dropped 55-8-4 in the finals (Game 4, 1993). He also went 6-of-19 in a close-out game against Seattle in 1996, and 5-of-19 in Game 6 of that series (still won by the Bulls). But because Jordan was 6-0 in the finals for his career and LeBron is 2-4, we drop all the relevant context. Because Kobe has five rings and LeBron just two, we ignore that Bryant, in winning that last ring, shot 40 percent for the series with as many turnovers as assists. We ignore that Kobe went 6-of-24 in Game 7 of those 2010 finals.

– Tom Ziller

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Birth of a Nation or Birth of the Kingdom of God?

Posted on June 19, 2015 by SoSpression

“Birth of a Nation”

There was a movie released in the early 19t00s that was one of the most popular movies in America, very early in thr movie industry (it was a silent picture). After it was released Ku Klux Klan membership literally revived and exploded all over the South and even in the North. In the movie – set up as a racist love story – african american men are shown trying to rape (marry) caucasian women as well as appointed to political power.

A few days ago, a 21 year old shooter was asked to stop murdering in a church after he sat in a prayer meeting. As he reloaded his gun for the 3rd or 4th time. This is what he said:
“”He just said, ‘I have to do it. You rape our women and you’re taking over our country,” Johnson said.”

1st question: is there any doubt in your mind that DEMONS can be released into your soul thru movies and entertainment?

2nd point: Every demon must flee at the powerful name of JESUS. Believers must take authority in these times because this “ethnic war” spirit we are dealing with is filthy mcnasty. IF you are not filled with the Holy Spirit your soul could be overtaken on both sides.

Nation Shall Rise Against Nation

Jesus said that in the last days “nation will rise against nation”

nationagainstnationmeme

It’s funny how nationalism and racism covered in “conservative” clothing or in “pro-black” clothing has crept so deeply into the American church. Let’s destroy it today in the name of Jesus!

Will You Choose Pride, Separation & Demonic Spirits?

I believe you can be confident in who God created you to be without crossing the line into pride, racial superiority, and separatism. I also believe that you can have good cultural character habits and conservative financial values without crossing the line into pride, cultural superiority, and nationalism.

Unfortunately too much ethnic pride and political pride has been allowed to fester in the church and it will always create more division.

Will we preach and give out an exceptional gospel instead of preaching that our nation is exceptional and better than others? Will we bring our worship and glory to the Lord in humility and unity or in division and superiority?

Will You Choose Holy Spirit POWER, Character, Wisdom, and Unity?

This is why a Christian interethnic lifelong marriage is one of the most powerful things to prove cultural unity. It shows two people of different ethnicities with the same good character and cultural values. The lynchpin of racism is interethnic marriages. How do you feel when you see interethnic marriages? How would you feel if your son or daughter married a different ethnicity? Your secret emotions will tell you what’s in your heart.

The only thing that has a similar effect on the world is an interethnic church leadership team. Could that be why the first gift that manifested when the Holy Ghost came onto the disciples in Acts was the gift of tongues where people could glorify God in multiple languages no matter what nation they were from?

allnationspentecost

If you look throughout Acts a major theme that resurfaces throughout the book is this: can Christians unite and follow spiritual leadership regardless of the ethnic background of the people leading? Whenever there is an outbreak of the gospel and the glory of God spreading, there is also an interethnic Christian connection. Did this stop in Acts or do you think the Holy Spirit wants to keep it going?

God is going to continue to destroy American nationalism and ethnic elitism in the church until we are humbled enough to submit to the Holy Spirit and hang our hearts upon the name of Jesus.

allnations worship

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Here’s a SHOCKER to 95% of the American church

Posted on October 4, 2013 by SoSpression

Here’s a SHOCKER to 95% of the American church:

The main goal of the church is NOT evangelism.

The main goal of the church is to worship, glorify, lift up, and OBEY Jesus Christ in all things.

Evangelism is what happens easily, gracefully, and powerfully when the main goal of Love and Obedience to Jesus Christ is accomplished consistently.

Acts 2

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. 39 For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. 40 And with many other words did he testify and exhort, saying, Save yourselves from this untoward generation.

41 Then they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls. 42 And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. 43 And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.

44 And all that believed were together, and had all things common; 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. 46 And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, 47 praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.

If you don’t accomplish goal #1, you end up doing this:

Matthew 23
15 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves.

There is a big difference between laboring in sin to attract people, and then mentioning Christ at the end, versus laboring to glorify Christ and then presenting forgiveness of sin.

John 12
32 And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

2 Corinthians 4
5 For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

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The Church in Acts had No Rehearsals, No Performances

Posted on July 26, 2013 by SoSpression

I love music, but when the 3000 were saved in Acts 2… it wasn’t because the church was having rehearsals. It was because of the Holy Spirit moved through prayer. 3000 didn’t get saved because Peter rehearsed his message and performed his preaching with great talent. It was because the Church had a life of prayer that filled them with the Holy Ghost. When the Church can count more prayer meetings than rehearsals and performances, that’s when the lives will be changed, the cities will be changed, the cultures will be changed.

But isn’t there ministry in song?

Trust me I know there’s ministry in song:-) I’ve promoted music for years. But I can also tell you I’ve had more prayer meetings than rehearsals, and that the performance was never the end goal… I’m not saying music is wrong,  I’m just saying we have to know where the true power lies – in God.

When we change our focus, the ministry changes over time to become something man-centered instead of God centered. Satan is the one always trying to turn prayer and worship and true preaching into performance and talent worship. Satan uses this perversion of worship to spread iniquity, just like he did when he became satan and was kicked out of heaven.

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Black Church? White Church?

Posted on June 23, 2013 by SoSpression

I refuse to verbally participate in the divide and conquer church racism. There is no black church, there is no white church. It’s not in the Bible. It wasn’t at Azusa Street. It’s garbage, a deception, a thief and a robber and I won’t tolerate it.

Genesis 11
Acts 2
John 10

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A Notable Miracle | Countdown to The Call Detroit 11:11:11 – Day 3 –

Posted on November 11, 2011 by SoSpression

A Notable Miracle

We want everyone to believe God for BIG things to happen on 11-11-11! Not only at Ford Field, but all over the nations. There are major prayer gatherings happening all over the world. Its the Global Day of Worship. There are stadiums being filled with prayer and worship in Egypt, in Australia, and in many other places… Not to mention that The Call will be streamed live across the planet on www.godtv.com. The last time the Body of Christ was on one accord like this, something MAJOR happened:

1 And when the day of Pentecost was fully come , they were all with one accord in one place. 2 And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting . 3 And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. 4 And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance . Acts 2

When the Holy Ghost comes like rushing mighty wind, He blows fire on His body, and they are filled with the Holy Ghost and manifest gifts of the Spirit. There was another time when the people of God were threatened by their enemies of tradition and religion. The people of God came together and prayed on one accord. Do you know what happened? Boldness came, the place shook, people were healed of sicknesses and diseases, and practical unity manifested.

29 And now, Lord, behold *their threatenings: and grant unto thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak thy word, 30 By stretching forth thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of thy holy child Jesus. 31 And when they had prayed , the place was shaken where they were assembled together ; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness. 32 And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul: neither *said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own; but they had all things common. 33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all. Acts 4

Let’s pray that as the Body of Christ is on one accord again on 11-11-11, God would manifest a notable miracle!

Make your way to Detroit on 11-11-11 for The Call. Pray with us. Join people all over Detroit that are fasting and praying in preparation for God to do something BIG in our city, nation, and world… NOW. Yes, NOW.

The Call

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