The Psalm 133 Anointing

Psalm 133 is a scripture on brotherly unity. That's a key issue for a Christian MC! If you see the level of unity we have in Disciple Christian MC, don't think for a moment that this is just the way it is everywhere! Few organizations have the love and unity we have carefully crafted here. We routinely have folks from other organizations come to us, who describe having nothing like the unity or brotherly affection we do, rather jealousy and infighting. 

As you meet with your crew and enjoy the tightness, realize that there is a specific unity, a anointing on this club from God. We bathe our decisions in prayer. We pray for the men, and for the bond of unity. We follow Heb 10:24 and consider how to spur each other on to good deeds. We live lives dedicated to the purposes of God, and we exercise strong leadership to ensure that these purposes are carried out on a national level throughout the club.

Biblical unity comes from the anointing of God. In Psalm 133:2 it describes the anointing as running first down the head, commonly interpreted as the leadership. Aaron was the High Priest, the head of the spiritual organization. If the head, the leadership, doesn't live it, then the anointing of unity goes no farther into the organization. If the leadership carries out a Godly lifestyle, lives and teaches unity, then it flows down from the top of the MC to the bottom.

Bathe your leadership in prayer. What God has built, the enemy is constantly trying to tear down. We must be on the offensive, working in the power of the Holy Spirit to guard what God has given us.

The Excellency of Brotherly Unity.
A Song of Ascents, of David.
1Behold, how good and how pleasant it is For brothers to dwell together in unity!
2It is like the precious oil upon the head, Coming down upon the beard, Even Aaron’s beard, Coming down upon the edge of his robes.
3It is like the dew of Hermon Coming down upon the mountains of Zion; For there the Lord commanded the blessing—life forever.
New American Standard Bible Copyright © 1960–1995 by The Lockman Foundation – All rights reserved.

The Proverbs Challenge and Psalms Challenge

Proverbs Challenge and Psalms Challenge are my daily default reading. I heard once that this was what Billy Graham read daily. Its pretty simple. There are 31 chapters in Proverbs and days in the month, so read the chapter that corresponds to the date. As I write this its the 22nd day of the month and I just got done with the 22nd chapter of Proverbs. If you miss a couple days no problem, just pick back up on the chapter for that date, if its the 25th, read the 25th chapter.

You don't have to start on the first, start today. You don't have to go back and read what you missed, you will read it next month. And the month after, and the month after, for the rest of your life. That's the thing with the Proverbs challenge, its a lifelong thing. Why? Because every time you read it you get something new. I had a mentor suggest I read all six chapters of Ephesians daily for 30 days, and sure enough I got something new out of it every time. The Word of God is active and alive and the Holy Spirit is working in you when you read.

The Psalms challenge is just the same thing, but with 150 chapters you read five chapters a day, 30 days in the month. To figure out where you need to read today, multiply the date times 5. Today is the 22nd so I started at Psalm 110 and read through 114, five chapters. Now don't freak out, most of the chapters are very short, just a few verses. But this way, throughout the day, you can pull out your phone and have something to read and meditate. And that's the point here. You always want to have a Word in your head to meditate, chew on, focus on.

There are lots of good reading plans, ones that get you through the Bible in a year, or focus on peace or prosperity, and that's great. This plan supplements those. You can select other reading when you are done, and you can literally chew through the Psalms and Proverb for the day in 15 minutes. I generally move to the new testament after. Sometimes I switch it up and read it backwards from the last verse to the first. Sometimes I read it in another translation.

But Proverbs was mostly written by the wisest man who ever lived, King Solomon, to his sons, to pass on wisdom. Reading it daily for the rest of your life gives you daily access to the Wisdom of God. And we all need wisdom. Psalms was mostly written by King David, a man after Gods own heart. So you get a daily dose of how God thinks, how He operates, how He protects and provides for his people. Need peace? Read Psalm 91, or any of a score more that are full of the peace of God.

By internalizing the concepts found day after day, you wash your mind in the way God thinks instead of how the world thinks. You find answers to problems you're struggling with, ethical dilemmas, interpersonal relationships. When you oit in the world dealing with situations, the Holy Spirit will remind you of some proverb that covers it, and you will make it through based on following the Biblical advice. You will learn to see the difference between foolish people and wise people, and catch when you are acting one way or the other.

And that's the goal, wisdom daily. The wisdom of God.

How Men of God Speak

You need to listen to the men around you with spiritual ears. Real men of God are constantly seeking Him, talking about Him, praising Him. Powerful men of God are not concerned with negative miserable things and the works of the devil, other than casting them down and taking authority over them. Faithful men of God are praising God, seeing His mighty hand at work, involved in changing lives and situations through the power of prayer and the authority given to them in the Word. Deep men of God are in tune with listening, sensing what God is doing, listening to Him, and to you when you speak, valuing what they hear, ever learning.

Let us step it up men! Let us be praising God in all things, verbally to others, out loud with our mouths. Let us steer the course of conversations from the banal, negative, fleshly, and human centered, and bring the Light!

And beware the men around you. Listen carefully when they speak, and weigh their advice based on whether it is the voice of a fleshly man, or the voice of a man dedicated to the praise of the Living God. Listening to fleshly men will bring you down, listening to deep, strong, faithful men of God will lift you up.

Look at Psalm 111 man, look at God! Isn't He good?

Psalm 111:1 Praise the Lord! I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart, In the company of the upright and in the assembly. 2 Great are the works of the Lord; They are studied by all who delight in them. 3 Splendid and majestic is His work, And His righteousness endures forever. 4 He has made His wonders to be remembered; The Lord is gracious and compassionate. 9 He has sent redemption to His people; He has ordained His covenant forever; Holy and awesome is His name. 10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments; His praise endures forever.

Why We Read the Word Daily

We don't read the Bible to notch off another monotonous daily Christian task. The goal is to change our way of thinking daily, from the flawed way the world sees things, to the renewed mind of Christ. We are literally trying to do away with worldly wisdom, and dependence on the kind of stinkin thinkin that the world beats into us daily. Fleshly thoughts. We are trying to leave behind the way WE think things through and understand them.

Instead we are allowing the Word to wash through us and cleanse away natural wisdom, worldly insight, and renew the mind of Christ in us. We are coming to see things through the lens of Jesus, asking Him to help us see things the way He does. God has access to information and wisdom that you just don't have. He can show you ways of handling things that you never would have imagined. He wants the best outcome for you, trust in Him!

When Prov 3 says 'lean not on your own understanding', it literally means to stop over thinking things and trying to figure them out. Being led by the Spirit means doing things that are uncomfortable to your flesh, that don't make sense to you, and are in fact the exact opposite of what YOU want to do in your flesh. Based not on what you THINK, but on what you HEAR, or what impression you get from the Spirit of God. And that's often going to be contrary to what you want.

Read these scriptures in quick succession today and let the Holy Spirit speak to you about them.
Eph 4:22-24
Eph 5:25-27
Rom 12:2
Prov 3:5-6
Psalm 119:9

Boast in God, not Yourself

Anytime you hear me or anyone else talking about what "I've" done for this club, and how much "I" contributed, and how "I" are responsible for this or that, you should stop thy conversation and rebuke pride. None of us have anything to boast about, God built this club. If we have anything to boast about let us boast in Christ (1st Corinthians 1:28-31)

Anyone who is comfortable with themselves and their achievements has no need to advertise them. I think of Jim Big Beard Cramer who when he talks about the remarkable achievements in California, talks about how God has done this, God has done that. Give credit where credit is due, don't steal it for yourself. God is building this club, if we build it we are building it in vain. Psalm 127:1 Unless the Lord builds the house, They labor in vain who build it; Unless the Lord guards the city, The watchman keeps awake in vain.

Don't allow anyone in this club to make their religion worthless by losing control of their tongue and bragging about something they've done, James 1:26. If anyone starts praising themselves for what they've done for this club, tell them to read Proverbs 27:2.

The world isn't supposed to see you when they see what Christ has done for you or through you. It's not the man, it's the mission. We don't glorify the man, we glorify God. We are trying to eclipse God when we try to get people more interested in what we have done than what God is doing. Galations 6:14 As for me, may I never boast about anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. Because of that cross, my interest in this world has been crucified, and the world's interest in me has also died.

We are to operate in Love as Christians. 1 Corinthians 13 says Love is patient and kind, love does not brag and is not arrogant,
does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered.

Without love, all our accomplishments are nothing. And boasting makes them nothing. Boast in God!

REVENGE!!

Psalm 60:12 is a key Scripture for a man of God to internalize. Through God we shall do valiantly, And it is He who will tread down our adversaries.

Men of God don't react out of flesh and temper. They realize that God has their back, and they focus on living right, and doing the right thing, righteousness.

Men of God don't take revenge. They learn to say nothing, and do nothing, when confronted with situations where they are being persecuted and you have done nothing wrong. Rom 12:19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

When you get in the flesh and react to something that set you off, you have short circuited the Will of God. Instead of Him taking revenge, you receive the natural consequences of being angry. If you control yourself, and don't react out of anger, God has obligated Himself by His Word to take revenge.

I recently described a situation where God had dealt with some people who insulted our Christian Motorcycle Club the club. I received a phone call from a man who asked me in a very belligerent tone "what makes you think God would do that for you?" The simple answer is the Bible! And He just doesn't do it for me, He will do it for anyone who sets their steps according to the Word of God.

Now none of this is to say that you don't have the right to self-defense, or that you should let people walk all over you. Protecting yourself from harm is always reasonable, and can be justified from the scripture. Going back later and exacting revenge is different. If you turn it over to God, with patience you will always see Him act. Unfortunately, we typically let our flesh get the best of us, and we do something stupid and pay the consequences for it.

And if we're not doing something stupid, we are THINKING something stupid! Writhing around in anger in our minds, not turning it over to God, not allowing Him to act, not operating in forgiveness, not releasing the situation. Hating, hurting, mentally killing them in our minds.

Release it to God! They will get theirs! Call it karma, call it reaping what you sow, God is not ignoring your hurt if you are walking in righteousness! When things start going wrong in their lives, God is able to remind them of what they did to you. He is able to remind them to come back and apologize to you. It's happened many times to me that something I released, brought that person back humbly asking for forgiveness.

As Paul writes, leave room for the wrath of God! He is always better at getting revenge than we are.

The Anointing

Lessons for Preachers 3: Operate in the Anointing

Psalm 24:3 Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord? And who may stand in His holy place? 4 He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood And has not sworn deceitfully.

Not all preachers produce equally. The Bible is clear that there are different levels of fruit from each Christian. Matt 13:8 spells it out, some seed fell upon the good ground, and yielded fruit, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. So how do we get from a 30-fold Christian to a hundredfold Christian?

Answer: Anointing. If you are full of the Holy Ghost, those who you're preaching to will receive the stirring of the Spirit as well.

To understand the anointing I encourage you to read the following three scriptures. Acts 7:55 describes a state of being called being full of the Holy Spirit, some refer to this as the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Isaiah 61 describes the purpose of the anointing.  Acts 10:38 describes how Jesus, who is our example, operated under the same anointing.

The key to flowing in the power of the Holy Spirit is to live in a manner that pleases God. Strive to please God in all of your actions, as commanded in 1st Thessalonians 4 . Works don't get you saved, but they do make a difference in the lives of others. It is impossible to live like hell, and expect the power of heaven to fall on those you are serving. Clean hands and a pure heart are a requirement. As you become more conformed to the image of Christ in your deeds and thoughts, you impact the world and people around you more.

There is no substitute for the anointing. No amount of studying or throwing big words like hermeneutics or exegesis will do. No amount of interesting facts like how many horns are on the altar, or what a Serephim may look like, none of that will work. These thing may make people thing 'well golly look how much he knows' and have all sorts of admiration for you, but it won't make them better people.

If you are not full of the Holy Ghost and power, your preaching will fall on deaf ears, and change no one's life. There is a value to teaching, and exposition of the gospel. Even in that, the moving of the Holy Ghost is necessary to stir people's hearts. Words have power, but their power is at a different order of magnitude when the Holy Spirit is stirring the hearts of the hearers. You can speak well and share interesting facts all you want, but if it falls on hard hearts, it's just pride.

So stir up the Spirit, ask for the anointing, ask to be full of the Holy Spirit! If this were just something that happens to everybody all the time, the Bible would not have pointed out that it happened to Stephen. Stay away from that dangerous behavior that causes the Quenching the Spirit described in Acts 7:51 or 1 Thessalonians 5:19. Clean hands and a pure heart. Truth and kindness, Proverbs 3:3. It takes some striving, it takes some work, Phil 3:14. Its not for everyone.

The anointing does not come from living a casual life. Men who carry the anointing on a regular basis are far from average. There are lives bear the distinctive imprint of the power of God, anyone who spends any amount of time with them will quickly discern that there is something far from average about them.

The hallmark of the anointing in my experience is a discernible and tangible presence of God. Some people call it chicken skin, because they get the cold chills and their hair stands on end. I think that's a terrible description, that sounds creepy, but it illustrates that believers across the globe feel like tangible sense of the presence of God in the same way. Others describe it as the feeling of fire running through their veins. Perhaps this is the effect Moses may have felt when he felt the voice of God speaking to and from a burning bush. Or the feeling the men surrounding Daniel had in Daniel 10. Or the men surrounding Paul on the road to Damascus in Acts 9, or how how they reacted in John 18:6. These people all felt something powerful when the presence of God fell around them.

Now I have heard scoffers and mockers make fun of the anointing, and call it just a lot of emotional nonsense. But if you think about it, God wants to interact with us on a very personal and emotional level. All the fruits of the spirit are emotions, love joy peace patience kindness. God wants to have an intimate relationship with you. It's more than just head knowledge, it's more than just something you read in a book, its something you experience, it's deeply intimate.

The anointing is a touch from God. Its confirmation from Him that He knows you and cares about you. It's His Spirit bearing witness with your spirit. Its tangible, real and powerful. It also doesn't come easy. I remember when I was being mentored in ministry, I would cry out to God asking to receive the anointing. Nothing happened day after day, week after week. I would occasionally receive the anointing during praise and worship at church. I was hearing my companions talking about the powerful anointing, and wonder why I wasn't receiving it.

1st Corinthians 14 1 says that we should earnestly desire spiritual gifts. That means there's going to be a period of time between when we learn about something, pray for it, and receive it. And during that time we're supposed to be earnest, steadfast, patient, standing in faith, not giving up.

The anointing will come when we magnify Christ, that is the chief office of the Holy Spirit, John 16:14. That's why we often feel it during praise and worship time, music is often about Christ. The anointing will come when we hear truth, after all he's called the Spirit of Truth, John 16:13. There are times when I receive the anointing and I have to back up to remember what  was just said in my presence, what I missed, what the Spirit is bearing witness to in my spirit, Rom 8:16. Often it happens when I am in a conversation with someone and they're telling me something that is true about what God is doing in their life. Sometimes a powerful anointing comes when I'm about to consciously choose to sin, and the Holy Spirit is pricking my conscience.

The Holy Spirit is constantly trying to get our attention, and we are constantly quenching him through our actions. Learning to live in a place where we are sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading is critical to powerful preaching. Learn to accept His guiding hand in your day-to-day life, in the preparation, learning and then the delivery itself.

Jesus makes a fascinating statement in John 14:10. "The words that I say to you I do not speak on My own initiative, but the Father abiding in Me does His works." Notice he switches from words, to works. When you stop speaking on your own initiative, to make yourself look learned, then God can do some works.

Mocking and Scoffing

How long, foolish ones, will you love ignorance? How long will you mockers enjoy mocking and you fools hate knowledge? Prov 1:22

Matthew 7 says you will know them by their fruits. Know them how? What fruit?

One reason the Proverbs challenge is so important, reading proverbs everyday by the date, is that it repeatedly explains how to recognise different types of people and their fruit. One type of person is the wise men, another is the fool. Because anybody can talk a good game, it's important to study the fruit, and differentiate between wise people and fools in your life. Fools need to change their game, or get kicked to the curb. Or they will bring you down. Wise people need to be cultivated in your life, spend time with them, learn their ways.

According to the verse above, one way to recognize person acting in foolishness, is to hear them engaging in scoffing, or mocking. To mock is to deride, make fun of, insult by copying a pattern of speech or action. It can also refer to something fake. When we mock or deride people or knowledge, we are mocking their Creator who set knowledge in motion.

Wise men of God never have a problem portraying their thoughts or opinions, and do not resort to mocking God's creation, other people.

The verse above shows that mocking comes from ignorance. When you're short on facts, you can always insult your adversary. If you don't understand something it's easier to make fun of it then to search it out. Asking someone who is wise in that area might reveal your ignorance, and so rather than ask and look foolish, mockers act foolish. They try to hide their ignorance and make themselves feel better by derision.

This is found all throughout the Proverbs. Psalm 1:1 says that we should not sit in the seat of scoffers. That's hard because our culture is made up on satire, derision, mocking, and scoffing. It takes true and careful conscious thought to change this habit.

You can't fix stupid! The good thing about ignorance is it can be fixed. We can stop ignoring the Word of God! As we read the Word of God it can wash over us and change us. As we read the definition of a foolish man, we can recognize behaviors that God does not approve of and change them. We can put scoffing and mocking far from us.

Combat mocking with information. Confront mockers and share the Word with them. We all fall into it occasionally, catch yourself and stop yourself. But most importantly, recognize that when you are led to mock something, it means that you do not have knowledge on the situation, and it's time to study it very closely, there may be a revelation awaiting you!

God is Love

Lesson 1 for preachers, God is Love. Be loving. Pastors who seek the image of Christ need to be understanding, compassionate, gentle, kind, meek. Not proud, brusque, angry and judgemental. Jesus talked about not casting the first stone. He is loving, kind, patient, merciful, longsuffering, gracious and forgiving toward us. That's how we are supposed to be.

Season your speech with salt. Edify, build up, encourage. Proverbs 3:3 says to seek truth and kindness. Both together. The one is useless without the other. Truth without kindness is harsh and hurtful, people will turn and leave. Kindness without truth is useless. But people will receive the message of truth when we focus on the tone of the delivery in kindness.

Southern hellfire brimstone preaching is amusing, but not always effective. Denouncing, criticising, and bashing aren't Jesus kinds of things, they are Satan kinds of things. Satan is called the accuser of the brethren in Rev 12:10.

The Holy Spirit will convict men of sin and righteousness, you don't have to. You have to just love people. Don't get me wrong, sometimes you have to clarify sin, and gently move peoples perception of it. But mostly as the Spirit is moving when you preach, they will be convicted of it all on their own.

Look at what Isaiah says the Spirit has anointed us for: I don't see standing in judgement of every little thing, thundering against sin, railing against doctrine you don't agree with...

Isa 61:1 The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners;
2To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn,
3To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.
4Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins, They will raise up the former devastations; And they will repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations.
5Strangers will stand and pasture your flocks, And foreigners will be your farmers and your vinedressers.
6But you will be called the priests of the Lord; You will be spoken of as ministers of our God. You will eat the wealth of nations, And in their riches you will boast.
7Instead of your shame you will have a double portion, And instead of humiliation they will shout for joy over their portion. Therefore they will possess a double portion in their land, Everlasting joy will be theirs.

The Bible says in John 16:8 that the Holy Spirit will convict men of sin and righteousness. (And He, when He comes, will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment). I don't need to do the Holy Spirits job for Him, He is quite capable! People living in sin know it (whether they are ready to admit it or not). Most often they are hurt, broken, traumatized by life. Many gay people who I have counseled were the victims of abuse or rape. Me beating them up rather than binding them up is not the answer. Many hurting people are afraid to even go to church and don't feel worthy of the love of God. Judgemental hateful 'Christians' have turned them off ever wanting to hear about Christians. Let us be sensitive, share the love of God, and let the Holy Ghost do his job.

Jesus followed this pattern as well. When the religious leaders brought the adultress to Jesus in John 8:7 he asked who was without sin to cast the first stone. Jesus saved his most scathing comments for the judgemental religious leaders, not hurting sinners. Somehow we have gotten away from the teachings of Jesus, and we are all to ready to cast that first stone, point the finger of shame, and kill with our words out of ignorance. Ignorance of what its like to sit across the desk as they sob out their story in Christian counseling, and receive healing from their wounds where the devil has cut them. We are too ready to condemn the sinner, drive them out and away, and not ready enough to heal them.

Did God come down with brimstone and fire when Adam ate the fruit I Genesis 3:9? No, it was with simple questions, where are you, who told you that you were naked? Conviction is the work of the Holy Spirit, condemnation is the work of Satan, called the 'accuser of the brethren' in Rev 12:10. Don't do either job for them. Do your job, binding up the broken hearted, healing the sick, proclaiming freedom to captives, sharing the love of Jesus.

None of this is to say that you can never point out sin or speak conviction. Far from it! However be sure that you are sensitive of your own shortcomings and the grace you have been given, and minister that same grace to the hearer. Grace means unmerited favor, treating other better than they deserve. Look at what Paul says in Gal 6:1, Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a fault, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in the spirit of meekness; considering yourself, lest you also be tempted.

Think of the roughly 30% of women who have been victims of sexual abuse or violence in your congregation. Think of the untold pain. Think of the struggles with pornography the men endure. Think of the shame. Think of the secret hurts, the stresses, the loss of jobs and homes, the sickness disease and cancer people struggle with. Your congregation is hurting, no matter how bright a face they may try to put on things. Man of God, be sensitive, be caring, be loving.

1 John 4:19 says we love God because He first loved us. You will bring more people to the cross with love than with condemnation. God is love, you be love too.

A great question can be raised, how do you handle when you know people are out of line.

The first answer is always to pray for that person out of love. God may reveal to that person how they need to change. I remember a young lady who is working on my youth ministry team who had an issue with how she dressed, showing an awful lot of cleavage every Sunday. I prayed about it, the very next Monday she showed up wearing a pantsuit that was completely modest.

The second answer is always to pray and ask God to change you first. If you go into confrontation as your freshly self, your flesh might get involved. Before we correct someone, we need to make sure that its not just our issues getting in the way. Cultural differences, gender differences, all these things can cause an offense. An example might be in black church showing up on time does not necessarily value as much as it is and white church. Collecting someone on a cultural issue like this may just be in sensitivity on your part.

The third answer is to pray, how does God want you to handle the situation? Do you need to do some research on how to deal with this issue? Is there a word of knowledge God has for you on what's going on with this person? Are they struggling with an issue, and the bad behavior you're seeing is just a symptom? Can you be there to heal them and help them, and behavior will correct itself because the root cause was dealt with?

The fourth answer is to pray about if this is spiritual warfare? Is this a person carrying out an assignment of the enemy to get under your skin or distract you from your purpose? Is there a spiritual force it was that you need to discern and take authority over? Is this something that is assaulting you in your faith or temper? Praying that God will help you to discern the spiritual root of the issue will always make you more effective at binding it, kickin it out, or dealing with it.

The fifth answer is to be very sensitive to the leading of the Holy Spirit in dealing with the issue. It may be while preaching that He releases you too comment broadly on the issue and teach the resolution without specifically calling that person out, rather than going directly to the person. Recently while preaching as a guest speaker in another church the Holy Spirit had me to stop and treat the issue of spousal abuse very thoroughly, even though it wasn't in my notes. The spirit was telling me there was someone in the audience who needed to hear it. The pastor took me aside later and was laughing because he had not been released to deal with a man in the church who he knew was abusing his wife, but I as a stranger not knowing the situation I was able to preach on it without condemnation. I'm sure that man was particularly uncomfortable well I was dealing with the subject for about 5 minutes!

The last step is to follow the biblical order for confrontation in Matt 18. Be gentle, be loving, be understanding, but be firm. Don't allow the issue to wander into other issues, stay on focus. Don't do it out of your flash, if you're losing your temper, the issue is with you not with them. Remember your own faults and shortcomings, and the grace that God has given you. Give them that same grace.

Prov 27:5 better is an open rebuke the love that is concealed. Prov 17:10 a rebuke impresses a discerning person more than 100 lashes for a fool. Prov 9:8 do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you, rebuke a wise man and he will love you.

Some people are fools, and you will not get through to them. They will laugh, or rage, and there will be no peace. Just realize you're dealing with a fool, I didn't say that, the Bible did! But if things go badly, you have to check yourself, learn what you could have done better, and realize that you may not have been the right. Let God work in your heart so the next time you do better.

Just like 1st Corinthians 13 says, everything has to be done out of love. Check yourself closely, that there's not some contentious spirit in you, a desire to just be right, or show how much you know. Truth and kindness. God is love.

Disciples Will Kill, Shoot, Stab and Lay Hands on You

I'm warning you now! We Disciples will kill anyone who crosses us.

With kindness.

We are very likely to shoot you.

A prayer.

We are also likely to stab you.

With the sword of the Spirit.

And if all of that doesn't work, we will lay hands on you.

And say a blessing over you.

Never cross a true man of God, because he'll never take revenge. But God will on his behalf.

Never lose your temper, you're men of God!

To Disciple Men

I just read a very condemnational post by a leader in a large nationwide Christian motorcyclists organization. In it he sits in judgment and condemnation of all Christian motorcycle clubs that don't patch up women, as being inferior to his organization that does. He thinks we do it to be like other clubs, and wrote at length how we are to be separate from the world not of the world. Let me bring to light some facts he has ignored, because I've heard from many like him.

Here at Disciple Christian Motorcycle Club, like many other Christian motorcycle clubs, we are a men's ministry. And that's okay. There's something out there called Promise Keepers convention for men, I'm sure your church has a men's ministry. That's ok too. I'm not aware of any reasonable call for them to admit women as well. We Disciples are focused on getting one percenters saved and those are by and large Men. We are focused on growing Christian men in their faith in God and love of brotherhood. Both of those things are oriented toward men. It just is what it is. There are lots of organizations out there for women or for both men and women, I won't name them here. But we are an organization for men. I certainly don't criticize their mission of patching up women and men. But they aren't motorcycle clubs. And whether anyone likes it or not, that's just the way it is. I don't go around decrying the fact that my church has a quilt knitting for ladies, and I'm not allowed to join! And neither should you.

God has a place for every Christian ministry. Don't be jealous, don't criticize or condemn other Christian ministries whose goals and directions from the Holy Spirit is different than your aim. Celebrate the diversity of Christian organizations, we have the same goal, and are reaching the lost. Don't sit in judgment of your brother. Work to find common ground, that is the work of mature men and women. The rest is the work of the enemy.

James Disciple Johnson
National President and Founder
Disciple Christian Motorcycle Club
GOD IS GREAT 888

Sissy Jesus Does Not Exist

In today's church there has been a rush to explain Jesus as a caring, sympathetic, good man, which is all true. But somehow in our minds eye perhaps it's come about that Jesus is a long haired, kind of pot smoker looking hippie in sandals, who pretty much chills out and doesn't judge anybody, likes children, is okay with being smacked across the face and turning the other cheek, and is, for lack of a better term, a sissy. And perhaps a lot of bikers assume if they accept Jesus they have to become a sissy too.

While I understand the urge to make Jesus watered down for the masses, I couldn't disagree more.

Jesus is a man's man. Jesus suffered torture without a word. That's gangsta. He is described as a carpenter, and the Greek might even include the word stone mason, it's not like there were a lot of big trees around Jerusalem. I imagine Jesus as a fairly strong guy with rough hands accustomed to taking splinters. He hung around with fishermen, also barrel chested strong guys dragging up giant nets with heavily calloused hands. And of course who cusses a lot, if not a sailor? Jesus hung out with guys like Peter, who whipped out his sword and cut off the ear of the guy who came to arrest Jesus. Somehow I doubt Peter was aiming for the ear.

And the whole bit about turning the other cheek, you have to look at that scripture in context (Luke 6:29). The context is loving those who hate you, not seeking revenge. Its talking about Roman law where you have to carry a Roman soldiers gear for a mile if he asks you too, and Jesus says you should go the extra mile. Jesus was suggesting that we obey the law of the country we live in , not just the letter of the law but the spirit. A Roman soldier by Roman law had the right to smack you across the face.

But Jesus didn't put up with being smacked across the face! When the officer slapped Jesus across the face prior to his crucifixion (John 18:23), Jesus is NOT recorded as having turned the other cheek and asking for another one, instead he stands up for himself, and says why smitest thou me? In our vernacular that's "What's up?! Why did you do that!?"

I don't believe for a minute that Jesus is suggesting we allow people to walk all over us, transgress our boundaries, disrespect us and continue to do so.

There's a popular meme that goes around the internet that says: When someone asks you what would Jesus do, remember that getting a whip and driving people out of the church is within the realm of possibilities!

That's the Jesus I think of!

Jesus is into protecting the poor, the needy , the children. This is exactly the kind of thing bikers are into. Think about how Jesus would treat people who mess with children. He says it would be better for them to have a millstone be tied around their neck and the be thrown into the sea! So basically drowning. Now notice that we don't see examples in the Bible of Jesus going round and drowning child molesters, and this paragraph is certainly not an invitation for you to do so. But I do want you to understand that grieves the heart of Jesus that these things happen, and it grieves Him if they have happened to you. I want you to see that Jesus feels the same way about these things that you and I do.

The Bible is full of examples of people defending themselves from unjust situations, and not putting up with violence and abuse.

In Luke 22:36 Jesus and his disciples have a conversation about buying swords, which is commonly understood as need for self defense. Exodus 22:2 describes the use of lethal force defending yourself in your home from a thief. Ezekiel 33:6 talks about defending the lives of others, as does Genesis 9:5-6. Life, liberty and the freedom to defend yourself from attack are important to God.

Now none of this is saying that you should go around being a violent person, popping people in the mouth, using your right to self-defense improperly, losing your temper to intimidate people, or breaking the law. In fact the Bible specifically speaks against that. Proverbs 3:31-32  Do not envy a man of violence, And do not choose any of his ways.  32 For the crooked man is an abomination to the LORD; But He is intimate with the upright.

We also have to be clear that murder, the pre meditated taking of someone's life out of anger or revenge is wrong. When we are wronged by others, we can turn to God for vengeance. Rom 12:19 Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. And really, God can get 'em better than you can!

My goal in writing this chapter is that you understand there is a biblical balance between being caring and forgiving, and realizing that it's okay to be a rough and tumble man. Jesus was a tough guy, and He hung around with tough guys. The men of the Bible were tough men, and knew how to take care of themselves. Just because you get saved doesn't mean you become a sissy! Remember that sissy Jesus does not exist! When you get saved you still are who you are, you're just making a commitment to be forgiving, loving and caring wherever possible. And when the time comes to take care of business, you still have that right, too.

Perhaps like me you carry a concealed firearm legally, everywhere that you're legally allowed to. At some point when you made the decision to do so, you had to weigh in your mind what it means to carry a gun. It's no small matter. I'm sure that like me you hope to never use that gun for anything other than target practice. But somewhere inside of you you've made a decision. When the time comes, if the time comes, you're prepared to defend your family, your life, your liberty. This is in no way contrary with the teaching of the Bible.

Certainly no one wishes to use lethal force, not soldiers, not police, not civilians, not any reasonable rational person. There is nothing pleasant in the experience of taking someone's life. Rather it will haunt your dreams, it can cause misery for years to come, both personally in your mind, and legally in your life.

Be serious, be sober mind. Be aware of the law, and the right thing to do. And be prepared. Turning your life over to Jesus does not mean that you become a sissy. The Jesus you serve is the same one found the Revelations 19. And he's pretty hardcore.

Revelations 19:11And I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse, and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.
12His eyes are a flame of fire, and on His head are many diadems; and He has a name written on Him which no one knows except Himself.
13He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood, and His name is called The Word of God.
14And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.
15From His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may strike down the nations, and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty.
16And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, “KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Sissy Jesus Does Not Exist http://disciplecmcblog.blogspot.com/2014/02/sissy-jesus-does-not-exist.html

Violent Men of God

An excerpt from: Violent Men of God - The Story of my Life as a Motorcycle Club Enforcer, and What it Taught me About Jesus -by James Disciple Johnson

Some of the most prominent men of the Bible, who accomplished the most for God, were violent men. I think of Moses murdering a government employee, hiding the body, and going on the run from the law in Exodus 2:11-14. Or King David, who was told by God he could not build the temple because there was blood on his hands (1 Chron 22:8), he was a soldier who fought war after war to solidify the Jews in their land.  Reading from 2nd Samuel 23:8, you get a picture of the incredible violence of the mighty men who accompany David. And yet God calls David a man after his own heart in Acts 13:22. Think of Peter, with his ready temper, slicing off the ear of the man who comes to arrest Jesus in John 18:10. And yet he was the rock that Jesus built His holy church on. How about the Apostle Paul? He is described as violently persecuting the church, and executing its members in Acts 26:10-11 among other places. And yet these men are responsible for writing vast portions of the Scriptures.

These men were zealous in their faith. The Rev. C. H. Spurgeon in his famous sermon 'Holy Violence' given May 15th, 1859 (find it on the internet, its a great read) put it this way: "Those who have received the Spirit in verity and truth are violent men. They have a violent anxiety to be saved, and they violently strive that they may enter in at the strait gate. Well they know that seeking to enter in is not enough, for many shall seek to enter in but shall not be able, and therefore do they strive with might and main."

I see this in converted Christian bikers. In the world, we were sold out to sex, drugs and violence, a miserable life, that we only escaped by the grace of God. And now that we have received forgiveness, and the blessing of redemption, we are every bit as much sold out to reach and save The Lost, who walk in the world we were once in. We are under the attack of the enemy, as we reach into the lives of those he controls, as we walk back into the familiar sleazy world which we once walked in, and encounter the very vices which once brought us down. We are at war violently with our own selves, with our flesh that craves and desires the things we were once sold out to. We are at war with the enemy who seeks to distract us from our mission, and tell us that we are not worthy of the saving grace of God. We must fully press in, we must desperately seek the Spirit of God, we are at war for lost souls. We are violently at war lest we slip back into our old ways. We must fight to retain our grasp on spiritual things. We must seize the Kingdom of God violently for ourselves, lest the claws of our wiley enemy drag us back into what we escaped from.

Matt 11:11 And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. (KJV)

Luke 16:16 The Law and the Prophets remained until John. Since then, the good news about the kingdom of God has been proclaimed, and everyone entering it is under attack. (ISV)

MC LEADERSHIP

As leaders, there are a lot of people looking at us. This might make you think you have to put on a happy face and pretend to be 'that guy'. But running around saying 'oh bless you brother' when you don't feel it makes you fake, and if there's one thing a biker can spot, its a fake. 

By the same token, we are not called to wander around with a sour face on, and be thoughtless toward others. The enemy does an awesome job trying to convince us that our problems are so big, that we can't see others and what they are going through.

If you accept the prestige of authority , you also must accept the responsibility to have a daily word and prayer time, and to center yourself before you walk into the spotlight. Set your struggles  aside, and discern the needs of others so that you can speak into them.

Everyone wants the title , but not everyone wants the responsibility. Everyone wants to look cool, but frankly many who are in leadership shouldn't be. With so many self proclaimed presidents who are 'starting a club', but have never been a prospect, never been taught the right way to do things, there may not be enough role models out there. So here are some basic thoughts:

1. You don't own them. So stop calling them 'your guys'. They are God's guys. And you will be called into account before God for how you treat them, and what happens to their souls. I never allow presidents under me to call the men in their charters 'my guys'.

2. Just because you call yourself president doesn't mean you get to treat God's guys however you want. In fact that means there is a stricter judgment from God on you. You better not be wounding a lot of people, hurting their feelings, treating them however you want. God will deal with you. You are subject to your men as their leader. You were voted in, and like a politician you can be voted out, and should be if you don't treat people right. Earn your keep every day.

3. Never give advice. People don't need your human advice. Pray before you speak. If you don't have a word from God for them, keep your mouth shut. Pray with men, listen to them, ask questions. They probably already know the right thing to do, its just probably something they don't want to do.

4. Learn reflective listening. Research it. Employ it. For pete's sake stop talking. Stop interrupting people. All the wise men I've known in my life didn't chatter on endlessly. They were quiet, they were listening. This will make you a better leader, a better husband and father.

5. Stop talking about yourself. Self conscious people with low self esteem talk about themselves to build themselves up. Let another praise you and not your own lips, that's how Proverbs puts it. And while you're at it, stop criticizing people. Build them up instead.

6. Pray for wisdom. Pray for patience and humility. These are the traits of a great leader. Notice I did not say to pray to become a loud mouth. That's the trait of a poor leader.

7. Publicly praise the men around you. Work very hard to find their positive characteristics. That way when you do, it won't be flattery, it'll be real.

8. Don't back down from confrontation, but don't get angry when it comes. Work with people as best you can. But when its time, crush and expel dissension and the critical spirit. If somebody is critical and negative, take them to the side and tell them in no uncertain terms that it's incorrect and will not be tolerated. The second time, get up in their face and find out why they didn't follow through on your first message. The third time kick them to the curb for a couple weeks, and make them earn their way back in with positive encouraging and loving speech. Do it while they are still a prospect, because it's only going to get worse when they get their patch. One critical person can bring down the whole charter.

9. Leaders lead. Never ask anyone to do something you wouldn't do yourself. Lead by example. Be enthusiastic. Everyone is going to be slightly less enthusiastic than you are. Never be critical of the leaders above you, always back them up and support them. Or else you're teaching people to be critical of you, people do what they see. You reap what you sow, if you want dedicated followers, be a dedicated follower.

10. Realize the limit of your authority. For the men under my leadership, I have the right to criticize mentor and build up. But that doesn't apply to every biker I meet. My general rule is that I need to build someone up and be positive to them 3 times, before I have earned the right to criticize them or correct them. Few things are more annoying than a person who thinks their God given job is to go around correcting strangers.

As a final thought, study leadership. Read books or websites on it. If you taking the authority, wear it well.

Joy Seller, Hope Dealer!

As a former Enforcer in the 1% motorcycle club world, I'm unimpressed by men who stick their chest out and try to look like Billy Bad Guy because they have a patch on. Especially when the patch is a Christian patch. We have actually seen other Christian organizations like CMC or MM try to intimidate us as we start Disciple Christian MC charters across the country. Like they are going to pull our patches or something. Having (allegedly) put guns in peoples faces and pulled their patches and shut down their clubs long ago in my past, I laugh at such notions. I've been around the 1% clubs most of my life, and having been offered patches by three of them, I've seen enough to know that a real tough guy doesn't stick his chest out and act tough. He just is.

As Christians, our job isnt pulling patches if we don't agree with the doctrine of some other MM. What a laugh. Our job isn't to stick our chest out, jut our chin up high, and try to crush the other guys handshake. Its to "Love one another, even as I have loved you." (Jesus).

There must be no disunity between believers. No grudges. No unforgiveness. If that's you, then you need take it to the cross and leave it there. Release and forgive all men in Jesus name. If you can't forgive your brother, the Father can't forgive you.

Hey, you might have a bad day, be in pain, whatever. Everyday as a Christian isn't a bed of roses. But if your not doing drugs, living a violent life, you shouldn't have a sour face all the time. The joy of Jesus brings a smile! We are supposed to be a shining light!

If you don't have any joy to sell, if you don't have any hope to deal, its time to hang your patch up and go back to God until you do.

GOD IS GREAT 888
James Disciple Johnson
Natl President & Founder
Disciple Christian MC

43 NAZARITE

Disciple Christian Motorcycle Club realizes that many of its members come from a lifestyle that included the use of harmful substances like tobacco, drugs and alcohol in the past. As Christians we strongly believe that drugs are out of line completely with a holy lifestyle, and as a disciple we agree not to ever use illicit drugs. Further, we recognize that alcohol and tobacco are not helpful to our witness, may cause a brother to stumble, are unhealthy, and we do not allow the use of alcohol or tobacco while representing the club in your cut, or soft colors. We do recognize the freedom of believers to make a personal choice in the privacy of their own homes when they are out of the cut or soft colors, on alcohol and tobacco.

In order to help the brothers who wish to live a drug free life style, we have established a drug free leadership on a national and state level.

DRUG FREE

To recognize any full patch member who has been a previous drug and/or tobacco user, and is now drug free for a minimum of 90 days, a 1x4 inch DRUG FREE patch is earned. Should a member fail in this area of their life by using drugs or tobacco, this patch must be cut off for 90 days, and notify their Charter and State Nazarite for free counseling and prayer. According to the American Heart Association, the "nicotine addiction has historically been one of the hardest addictions to break." The pharmacological and behavioral characteristics that determine tobacco addiction are similar to those that determine addiction to drugs such as heroin and cocaine.

43 NAZARITE 

Any DRUG FREE member with six months clean and sober can take the 43 Nazarite fast, shown below, to earn the 43 Nazarite 1x4 patch. Fasting is the time of prayer between a man and God. While it may be that the requirements of the Nazarite fast have no implications on your status as a Christian, we believe that dedicating this fast to God is a way of showing that you take the drug free life style seriously. Additionally, to wear this patch, one must take a solemn vow before God to abstain from the use of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs, for life, in the presence of an existing Nazarite patch holder. While Disciple recognizes that many members may not use drugs alcohol or tobacco, these patches are designated for those who have struggled with and overcome these addictions. Should a member fail in this area of their life, this patch must be cut off for 90 days, and notify their Charter and State Nazarite for free counseling and prayer. 

43 NAZARITE Officers

Any 43 Nazarite patch holder may be considered for a Nazarite leadership position, on a charter, state or national level. These leadership positions function as a local Disciple sponsor for men who are struggling with alcohol, tobacco, drug, or other types of addiction. Charter level 43 Nazarites answer to state 43 Nazarite leadership, who answer to national leadership. Individualized training is provided for these positions. The position names for these are: CHARTER NAZARITE, STATE NAZARITE, NATL NAZARITE.

43 NAZIRITE FAST: minimum of 30 days, duration is ‘as the Lord leads you’. Special exemptions may be made by the National Nazarite.

1. Make a formal swearing of an oath of service to God [Numbers 6:2] to abstain for life from Alcohol, Nicotine/Tobacco, and Illicit Drugs

2. Abstain from drinking wine and fermented liquor, including vinegar derived from either wine or any fermented liquor, and will abstain from eating grapes fresh or dried or eat anything that comes from the vine [Numbers 6:3-4].

3. Let his hair grown uncut for the length of the vow [Numbers 6:5] (this does not necessarily include the beard but may by choice)

4. For the entire period of the vow he must not come in contact with a (human) corpse.  He is to remain ritually clean and cannot defile his ritual cleanliness even in the event a parent or sibling dies [Numbers 6:7].

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NO TEXT CONFLICT

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IN DISCIPLE THERE IS A COMPLETE BAN FOR ALL DISAGREEMENTS THROUGH TEXT MESSAGE, FACEBOOK MESSAGE, FACEBOOK POST OR ANY SOCIAL MEDIA. ALL DISAGREEMENTS, ARGUMENTS ABOUT DOCTRINE, CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM, ARGUMENTS, CLARIFICATION OF ORDERS OR ANY OTHER DISSENTION IS ONLY IN PERSON OR ON THE PHONE.

If it is serious enough to bring up, then it gets brought up TO THAT BROTHER, IN PERSON, OR ON THE PHONE. Differing viewpoints is wonderful. We are diverse. However text messaging is not an appropriate medium for conflict resolution.

Resolution of Conflict: The defining attribute of Disciple is Unity. Other clubs may come and go, but Disciples stick together. Disciples DO NOT speak against each other, they SPEAK TO each other. Disciples do not speak against the leadership to other Disciples, they SPEAK TO the leadership. Disciples do not complain about the club to each other, they WORK TO make the club better BY TAKING THEIR COMPLAINT TO THE LEADERSHIP.

Taking offense at something another brother does or says to you is a sign of spiritual immaturity. If you are offended at another brother, or do not understand what they said or did, YOU GO TO THAT BROTHER. You DO NOT go to another brother and talk about what a brother did. YOU GO TO THAT BROTHER. Any Disciple who comes to you and talks bad about another brother is OUT OF LINE and IN REBELLION against the club and the Word of God. You must tell him that he is in the wrong, that he needs to GO TO THAT BROTHER and work it out.

WE FOLLOW WHAT THE BIBLE SAYS ABOUT CONFLICT RESOLUTION If your brother wrongs you, go and show him his fault between you and him privately. If he listens to you, you have won back your brother. But if he does not listen, take along with you one or two others, so that every word may be confirmed and upheld by the testimony of two or three witnesses. If he pays no attention to them [refusing to listen and obey], tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a pagan and a tax collector. Truly I tell you, whatever you forbid and declare to be improper and unlawful on earth must be what is already forbidden in heaven, and whatever you permit and declare proper and lawful on earth must be what is already permitted in heaven. Again I tell you, if two of you on earth agree (harmonize together, make a symphony together) about whatever [anything and everything] they may ask, it will come to pass and be done for them by My Father in heaven. For wherever two or three are gathered (drawn together as My followers) in (into) My name, there I AM in the midst of them. Then Peter came up to Him and said, Lord, how many times may my brother sin against me and I forgive him and let it go? [As many as] up to seven times? Jesus answered him, I tell you, not up to seven times, but seventy

times seven! (Matthew 18:15-22 AMP)

HOW DISCIPLES RESOLVE CONFLICT: Go to the brother. If you cannot resolve it, go to the brother again with the charter President or Vice President. If you cannot resolve it, the charter president takes it to the International President or Vice President. 

FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE RULES may result in being kicked out, or being made

a prospect. 

THIS IS A PLACE WHERE WE LIVE THE BIBLE, not just a place where we talk about it. The Bible takes strife, people who cause strife, spreading dissension among brothers, backbiting and argumentative people very seriously. God says it is an abomination to Him (Prov 6:19) to spread strife among brothers. 

I understand if you have never been in a place where you are expected to follow what the Bible says about conflict resolution, and where those rules are rigorously enforced. But we are going to keep this club from going the route of churches that split, MCs that fall apart etc etc. WE WILL BE UNIFIED and YOU WILL FOLLOW THE RULES or you will be educated the first time, kicked the second time to earn your place back by being mentored, and you will be removed completely from the club the third time. No exceptions. Get it, or get out. We are DOERS of the Word, not just HEARERS!

DISCIPLES ARE UNIFIED IN BROTHERHOOD!

FOLLOW JESUS, NOT YOUR HEART!

The world tells us all the time to FOLLOW YOUR HEART! And it if FEELS GOOD IT MUST BE RIGHT! But the truth is far from that. If it feels good, it must be your flesh! 

Lets look at what the Bible says: 

Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? Romans 7:18 For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. Prov 28:26 He who trusts in his own heart is a fool, But he who walks wisely will be delivered.

Dont follow your heart! Listen for the voice of God! Shut off the TV, the secular music, the voice of your 'friends'! Get in the Word, on your face in prayer, fasting weekly if only for one meal a day, get around MEN OF GOD and you will OPEN THE PIPELINE to hear the Voice of God!

BUILDING BROTHERHOOD - EVICTING THE CRITICAL SPIRIT

BUILDING BROTHERHOOD - EVICTING THE CRITICAL SPIRIT

I have a vision of a club with a conspicuous lack of cynicism and criticism, characteristics so common in the biker community and the world at large, that it's hard to imagine life without them. But we must. Ideas are so very fragile aren't they. Ideas have to be nurtured and encouraged, protected and given an environment where they can grow. The easiest task of our enemy is to cut ideas off before they become action. It's him you see at work in the world, criticizing, fault finding, picking away from the shadows, and generally being disagreeable. When you hear these things from people, you aren't at war with flesh and blood but powers and principalities. Tearing down dreams is the work of a critical spirit, a spirit of correction. 'Oh I was just trying to help'. But it's not help. Help is easy to see, help comforts and builds up, it doesn't irritate and cut down. Help comes from humility, not from the pride of being right. 

Rev 12:10 calls the devil the 'accuser of the brethren'. It's easy to spot him at work dividing the church. Anyone running down the brethren, operating out of a critical spirit, sneering at other Christians, giving a bad report about those who work in the ministry, trying to show how wrong a brother is about some obscure point, these are the ones operating with the enemy. Don't be surprised if they seem to otherwise be strong Christians themselves. A religious spirit often hides a condemning critical spirit. The Bible says a perverse man sows strife (Prov. 16:28); that death and life are in the power of the tongue (Prov. 18:21). Slander is not pretty. It means "to defame someone; to harm their reputation; to disgrace; or to accuse." Consider this: the word slanderer in 1 Timothy 3:11 is the same word for “devil.” When we slander someone, we are acting like devils. We are mirroring the character of Satan. We can’t walk in the anointing God has for us and mirror the character of Satan at the same time. We just can’t.

So how do we keep the club uplifting? Challenge the critical spirit. It will always reveal itself during the process of joining, it can't stand not to correct people and find fault for very long. This is why we search people out closely during prospecting. Poke them and see how they react. When you see fault finding, consider it. Someone trying to help does so quietly, directly with the person they are trying to help, never in a self seeking manner. A critical spirit does so publicly to see how many than get on their side, to look important or knowlegeable, to show how others are wrong and they are right. If you or others cannot discern some serious issue (ie the bro punched me!) that is clear, then go back to the source and challenge it. You are likely to hear a whole pile of complaints, with little substance. Correct them clearly the first time. Identify the correct way to deal with legitimate concerns. 

If it happens again, come against it spiritually. I'm not the slightest bit afraid of making a point of it. Pray for people, try to teach them. Some people get it after the first time, but if not you may need to be harsh. A critical spirit is harsh itself, and cannot stand to be confronted. This is after all an MC. The rules are the rules, and after being told twice, it it happens again, this is not a person who is cut out for true brotherhood, which includes submission to each other. It's better to cut them out early, than to let them take root and start destroying what we have. And that's what happens, I've seen it time and time again.

The fault finder will either quit because they don't appreciate being called on their familiar spirit, or will learn and allow God to work on the issue, change their heart. Either way, it's your job to protect your brotherhood from that person. This is not for everyone. If you let them get a foothold, satan will make it into a stronghold.

Some people say that prospecting under in the club was easy, and some people say it was hard, and call it rude, condescending and harsh. Both get the same treatment, the difference was in their heart. When you hold a mirror up to someone and they don't like what they see, their choices are to change or break the mirror. When they break the mirror they will blame you for making them bleed, and bleed they will. You aren't responsible, you're just doing your job.

WHAT IF?

What if its all true? What if you can do all the works that Jesus did, and greater? 

What if you can raise the dead, heal the sick, talk in tongues, call fire down from heaven (when appropriate), and live an abundant blessed life of wealth and riches for you to spend on the Kingdom of God? What if you can tear down strongholds, cast out demons, be slain in the spirit, and Hear the Voice of God? 

What if you could just turn yourself over to God and be free to follow Him? What if you could get visions and dreams from God, and see angels and converse with them? What if ALL the stuff in the Bible that happened both in the Old and New Testament still really happened today, and not believing it when your told was really a sin? 

What if every time you prayed you got an answer, and the answer was able to make it through to you because you were fasting and praying like in Daniel 10, and the answer was brought by mighty angels? 

And what if the only reason it doesnt happen to you now is because you dont believe any of it, dont act on any of it, and you are missing out on the power of God everyday? What if?

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THOSE WHO ARE DOING IT!

THOSE WHO SAY IT CANNOT BE DONE SHOULD NOT INTERRUPT THE PEOPLE DOING IT. 

I saw this and I had to laugh. It's very much how I feel about Disciple Christian Motorcycle Club. I've been told many times that Christians should not wear a three-piece patch with an MC, because it's 'being like the world' and maybe it looks hard-core. I guess Christians shouldn't be hard-core? One prominent internet biker pastor in SC told me that he is seen lots of Christian clubs come and go, and prophesied that we be gone in three or four years. Thanks for the vote of confidence, we are still here and are going global.

But even more importantly this reminds me of how people view the Bible. Man-made traditions are accepted more than the Word of God in some quarters. We associate some kind of loose spirituality in saying that we don't feel 'led' to do what the Bible says. We escape any faith in our supernatural God by looking at things in the Bible and saying we don't 'believe' them, because we were 'taught' differently. But the Bible says what it says, in plain English, and there's no explaining it away. You don't abdicate your responsibility to read the word of God and do what it says by using the excuse that someone taught you the word of God isn't true. This isn't a pick and choose proposition, Where you can say I believe this page, but I don't believe that page. When people start telling you that things in the Bible aren't true, grab tighter hold your Bible! When they start trying to explain how the Bible wasn't written for you, but for some other people, shut them up. 

And why would people want to keep you from the things the Bible says? Because there is power in what the Bible says! If you look at the things people are trying to pick out of the Bible, you will find they are the things that give you the greatest empowerment and blessing! 

Living a life of sanctification? Oh no, just say a prayer once and you're going to heaven no matter how you live.

Giving money to the church? Oh no, my money is my money and I can't stand when pastors preach about it.

Laying hands on the sick and seeing them healed? Oh no, that takes faith, and I don't believe in that.

Speaking in tongues and the other gifts of the Holy Spirit? Oh no, I was taught that doesn't happen anymore.

Biblical prosperity? Oh no, I was taught that Jesus wants you to be poor, sick, and miserable.

Sanctification, the process of living holy, makes God more able to use you in more places, more powerfully! Giving to the church and the man of God in your life brings a blessing on you that is repeatedly spelled out in many places in both the old and New Testament. When you lay hands on the sick, prayed the prayer of faith and see them healed, it's God reaching down and showing then that he loves them in a powerful and personal way! The Bible says when you speak in tongues, you build yourself up in your most holy faith, and that you're speaking to God, giving thanks and praising him! The nine gifts of the Holy Spirit are used by God to bring glory to himself, to empower us to spread his word, and to show people that he is real! Biblical prosperity is Jesus fulfilling his word that he came to give us life, and life more abundantly.

Just because you saw the TV Minister preach prosperity out of order, does not mean you throw out the baby out with the bathwater!  Just because you were in the church where they were speaking in tongues incorrectly, does it mean it doesn't happen anymore? Just because you saw somebody pray for healing and not be healed doesn't mean the Bible is a lie.  Our faith does not come from circumstances we have seen, but from an unshakable belief in the word of God! When people preach you can be saved by works, do you throw salvation out the window?

So when you see some of us practicing the full Gospel, don't interrupt us, don't try to argue that we should regress, go backwards, and cut pages out of our Bible. Many of us were sitting where you are sitting, and making the same arguments you are making, when we were given the revelation that God still works in the supernatural! It would be impossible for us to go backwards! It's the height of human arrogance to use 'logical' arguments to explain away and nullify passage after passage out of the Bible. When you see us practicing the full Gospel, stay silent, or better yet ask questions, so that you too can see the supernatural happening. Because God hasn't changed!  It is time to start studying these issues diligently from both sides, rather than accepting what you were told without hearing all of the facts. Like it says in Proverbs 18:17 in a lawsuit the first to speak seems right, until someone comes forward and cross-examines.