Category Archives: reformation

Click on following links for earlier articles: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13, Part 14 and Part 15.

Thank God for Women, But now is a new season when the Lord will be emphasizing men in His Church. This will not mean a return to legalistic systems whereby women will be forced back under male dominated systems and a return to second class gender status.

But instead, the anointed men of  this move of God will understand the importance of women and their callings, and will not be jealous about the uniqueness of female Christians nor worried that femininity will ever infringe upon their masculinity.

These men will stand guard over the Church so that it is not  divided against itself again because if it is, the American Church will not stand against the evil winds which will soon be blowing against it.

This new season is a time of war.

And men, by their unique God-created designs, are aggressors and warriors, not suited for pew sitting, but rather to be on battlefields, advancing the Kingdom of God against the kingdom of darkness.

Even though men have been seemingly lackluster in their hunger for God over the last twenty years, the Lord is going to send a spirit of breakthrough which will deliver men from their apathy, lethargy and compromise. With the spirit of breakthrough will also come an Elijah anointing to fight the spirit of religion which hovers over America and dominates our traditional church systems.

This new move of God will not be a stylish, politically correct one. It will be messy as religious systems are confronted and fought against by men who are willing to lose their lives to advance the Kingdom of God.

You can expect the media to hate these anointed men of God, but the media will be as straws in the wind to these men who have been especially prepared for this season.

So what can women do?

The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who wishes take the water of life without cost. (Revelation 22: 17)

(Conclusion of this series.)

An Updated Rerun Series

Click on following links for earlier articles: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6 and Part 7.

Have you ever had a prophetic word spoken to you which made you grit your teeth and hope it was wrong? As in…really wrong?

“You’ve been searching for a home, and the one you’ve found, is not it,” said Jim Goll to us at a meeting in Charlotte, North Carolina.

If Honey and I could have chosen any prophetic word not to hear, this would have been the one. At the time, we had moved  eleven times to seven cities in six different states in less than two years of marriage. We were feeling like the lost tribe of Israel, looking for the path to the Promised Land.

Our response to  Goll’s words: “He could be wrong, right?”

But he wasn’t!

Since that prophetic word in 1997, Honey and I have moved at least eighteen more times to nine different cities in three more states.

Now, in each city, we have attended some awesome churches. Metro Christian (Kansas City, MO). All Nations Church (Charlotte, NC). Vineyard Churches. Four-Square. Baptist. Friends. Non-denominational and countless others. We’ve met and fellowshipped with numerous believers. All of whom we would have enjoyed to stay around forever and ever.

Yet, while I drove my pickup truck on West Broad Street in Richmond, Virginia, I had a quick vision. In it, I saw a white iron lung. It resembled the machines which were used in the 1950′s to help polio victims support their breathing, during acute polio infections.

There was not an individual lying in the iron lung, but instead, the American traditional church system was on life support. It was barely breathing. I looked toward the back of the iron lung, and what I saw there shocked me. The unit was not plugged into a normal electrical outlet, but rather, it was plugged into bags and bags of money.

As I looked on, a voice spoke to me: “Pull the plug!”

Then, the vision ended.

Later that day, Honey and I prayed about the vision. We felt that we were supposed to leave the traditional church system, and we did.

Now to be honest, Honey and I thought (like Elijah) that we were the only ones who were asked by the Holy Spirit to leave the American church system. But thanks to the internet, we soon learned about millions of others who had similar experiences.

Hey, what about the separation of clergy and laity? Is it scriptural?

(Continued in Part 9)

Click on following links for earlier articles: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12, Part 13 and Part 14.

So, what can women actually do in church?

If your idea is that a church is a “house of God” or “a house of worship,” an institution or place where believers come together to celebrate programs, rituals or traditions which are set in place by professional leaders, then your beliefs on what women can do in a church will probably be limited to the rules of the church or institution which you attend.

Phew! Lots of words, right?

But if your belief is that a church is a living, breathing organism with Jesus as the Head, then your view on what women can do in the church will be unlimited.

After all, we Christians, without gender limiting differentiations, are the temple of the living God. And since there is no exclusivity in Jesus, how can there be any limits placed on a woman in His body or church? If there are limits, wouldn’t this be an example of a house divided against itself? Then how can the church possibly stand?

Now, I know there are all kinds of believers who will point out various Bible passages which seem to limit a woman’s role in a church, right? But to them, I suggest that they read Frank Viola’s excellent teaching on the woman’s role in the church, and especially his summary:

So dear sister, I implore you: We need your part in the church… We need the texture of your personality as you share Jesus Christ with us. We need your wisdom, your good sense and your unique insight. We need the frangrance of Christ that you so beautifully emit. (Woman’s Role in the Church, Frank Viola, page 19.)

So, can a woman be an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor or teacher? All of the five-fold callings are chosen by the Lord. He determines who He calls (men or women) and who He ordains, not some sanctioning board.

For example, Junia, a woman, is mentioned as an apostle in Romans 16: 7. Philip, the evangelist, had four daughters who were prophetesses (Acts 21: 9)

Now, if you think that Jesus is going to call women just to be apostles and prophets only, but not evangelists, pastors and teachers, then you will have to do some scriptural gymnastics to make your beliefs work.

But as for me, I believe that women can fulfill all the callings and the functions in the church without limits.

So, why did I add the “but” in the title of this series, huh?

(Continued in Part 16)

Click on following links for earlier articles: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5 and Part 6.

The Easter Sunday crowd packed the seats at the school gymnasium where the young church was holding its service. The worship team led off with some awesome music. One song, Hungry, seemed to capture the assembly’s attention, especially its chorus: “So, I wait for you…So, I wait for you.”

As the worship team finished, the young, good-looking pastor walked over to the microphone. He was clapping his hands in appreciation for the great music. Then, he turned toward the assembly, winked an eye and said, “Maybe by now, you’ve realized that we’re a little different than all the other churches in the city…”

The pastor continued on, but I did not hear a single word that he said for the next five minutes or so. I was in a different zone, one where the Holy Spirit had my full attention.

“No, this church is not a bit different than the others,” said the Holy Spirit. “Not one bit different than any of the other churches in this city. If you were, right now, attending a Catholic Church or a Baptist Church or a Pentecostal one or any other church in the city, it would be no different than this one. You would be still sitting like a bump on a log listening to a head frog croak to you. Your only input into this service will be the check you toss into the offering plate when it is passed under your nose. Is this the church Jesus hung on the cross and died for?”

I sat there, stunned by His words. I wanted to weep. I wanted to run. I wanted to vomit. I wanted to quit.

But I did nothing and continued to sit there like a bump on a log.

On the way home, I told my wife about the experience. She sighed and stared at me. “You’re sure different, aren’t you?” she said. “I really like this church and now this happens.” She looked away.

Now, just so you know, the Holy Spirit was not referring to the doctrines of the different churches. If that were the case, each would be different. But instead, he was referring to the wineskin, the particular format that all traditional churches follow in their services. Basically, they are all the same, in that there is a definite separation between the active few (the clergy) and the passive many (the laity).

So, what about the separation of clergy and laity? Is it scriptural?

(Continued in Part 8)

Click on following links for earlier articles: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10, Part 11, Part 12 and Part 13.

“Men need to get in touch with their feminine side,” is an often used statement by modern feminists. But interestingly enough, there is some truth attached to it, albeit a spiritual truth.

In the beginning, God removed a rib from the first Adam to create the first woman, Eve.  So, in effect, out of a man’s side flowed some blood and then man was placed inside a woman, okay?

Later, Eve was deceived by the serpent (Satan) and then God spoke the following to her:

To the woman He said, “I will greatly multiply your pain in childbirth, in pain you shall bring forth children; yet your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.” (Genesis 3: 16)

Though it was Adam’s sin of disobedience which caused the fall of mankind, Eve’s deception caused all women to be relegated to the rank of a gender underling versus man in the natural environment and under the Old Covenant’s mandates.

But along comes the last Adam, Jesus, and then what happened?

But one of the soldiers pierced His side with a spear, and immediately blood and water came out. (John 19: 34)

Much like the first Adam, blood flowed out of the last Adam’s side. Yet this time, not just a part of a man (the rib) was used to create another person, but all of the last Adam is placed within His new creations.

To whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1: 27)

Then the Apostle Paul comes along and dropped his bombshell in the year 61  AD.

For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and shall be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh. This mystery is great; but I am speaking in reference to Christ and the church. (Ephesians 3: 31 – 32)

The church becomes the bride of Christ, a women, which is also the body of Christ, submitted under Jesus’ headship. And like Eve, the bride of Christ’s desire is directed toward her husband, especially when she cries:

The Spirit and the bride say, “Come…” (Revelation 22: 17)

But the apostle Paul also dropped another bombshell in his letter to the Ephesians.

To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given , to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ, and to bring to light what is the administration of the mystery which for ages has been hidden in God who created all things; so that the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known through the church [the bride of Christ] to the rulers and the authorities in the heavenly places. (Ephesians 3: 8 – 10)

Jesus redeemed Eve’s deception and for that matter, all women, forever and ever with this revelation. And as Jesus said on the cross, “It is finished!”

So, what can women actually do in the church?

(Continued in Part 15)

A Rerun Updated Series

Click on following links for earlier articles: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 and Part 4.

Being a car salesman at ten different auto dealerships allows me to have some interesting insights, such as:  most Christians don’t wear their white robes when buying cars. Somehow, they disrobe at the entrance of the dealership and act just like pagans when entering the door; most Christians lie… a lot!

And if that’s not bad enough, wait until you hear the next insight.

Car salesmen – including me – absolutely hate trying to sell a pastor or preacher a car. In fact, if a known pastor or preacher parks his car in front of a dealership, veteran salesmen will run for the restrooms, parts departments, service areas, anywhere to avoid greeting the preacher. Only a newbie will be left standing at the door, awaiting the preacher.

It’s obvious why Christians lie at dealerships, right? They hope to get a better deal and save their precious mammon.

But why do car salesmen hate selling preachers?

Over and over again, I have watched various Christian clergy act like arrogant hypocrites when they’re purchasing vehicles. They expect favors. They whine and complain. They treat auto personnel as underlings. On and on, the list continues. Yuck! Yuck! Yuck!

Now, don’t get me wrong, auto dealerships are high pressure cauldrons where it’s tough to hold onto Christian integrity on the part of the sales person or of the buyer. It’s a tough atmosphere for Christians to survive in.

And yet, let’s be honest, what’s the real reason that pastors and preachers (clergy) have a bad reputation with car salesmen? The separation between clergy and lay people. Period.

But of course, there will be readers who will state, “My pastor is not like that at all!”

No doubt there are countless godly pastors and preachers in America who walk the walk, and talk the talk, even at auto dealerships, but even with almost every one of these godly people, there is an aura of separation about them.

Beware of the scribes, who desire to go around in long robes, love greetings in the marketplaces, the best seats in the synagogues, and the best places at feasts, who devour widows’ houses, and for a pretense make long prayers. These will receive greater condemnation. (Mark 12:40)

Is the separation between clergy and lay people scriptural?

(Continued in Part 6.)

Click on following links for earlier articles: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, Part 5, Part 6, Part 7, Part 8, Part 9, Part 10 and Part 11.

We obviously have a big advantage over the followers of Jesus at the time of  His earthly ministry, in that we have the complete Bible as our reference. His followers only had the Law and the Prophets; and thus they looked through a shadow, trying to figure out what Jesus was doing in His ministry.

But even so, we also need the Holy Spirit to guide us so that we do not continue walking in yesterday’s manna.

Now, looking at the female thread the Father wove in and out during Jesus’ earthly ministry, we should not be surprised at the ending which the Father orchestrated for Jesus. And yet, most of us see it as only a coincidence, just the luck of the draw.

Then they [the disciples] went home. Mary was standing outside the tomb crying, and as she wept, she stooped and looked in. She saw two white-robed angels sitting at the head and the foot of the place where the body of Jesus had been lying.

“Why are you crying?” the angels asked her.

“Because they have taken away my Lord,” she replied, “and I don’t know where they have put Him.

She glanced over her shoulder and saw someone standing behind her. It was Jesus, but she didn’t recognize Him.

“Why are you crying,” Jesus asked her. “Who are you looking for?”

She thought He was the gardener. “Sir,” she said, “if you have taken Him away, tell me where you have put Him, and I will go and get Him.”

“Mary,” Jesus said.

She turned toward Him and exclaimed, “Teacher!”

“Don’t cling to me,” Jesus said, “for I haven’t yet ascended to the Father. But go find My brothers and tell them that I am ascending to My Father and your Father, My God and your God.”

Mary Magdalene found the disciples and told them, “”I have seen the Lord.” Then she gave them His message. (John 20: 10 – 18 NLT)

Mary Magdalene was the only person mentioned who followed Jesus from Galilee, witnessed the crucifixion and discovered the empty tomb. Then, she became the first person to see and talk to the risen Lord.

And all this was orchestrated by the Father to represent something the Father had on His heart since the beginning of time. Now what was that mystery?

(Continued in Part 13)

A Rerun Updated Series

Click on following links for earlier articles: Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.

David Yonggi Cho, pastor of the world’s largest church with 830,000 members, was once asked a question during an interview by a magazine. “Will America ever have a church as large as Yoido Full Gospel Church?”

“No,” he replied, “Americans are not willing to spend the time in prayer that such a large undertaking would require.”

Though this interview took place twenty years ago, Cho’s answer still bugs me today. Not that his words were wrong, but rather, they irritate me because they accurately describe us American Christians.

You see, Pastor Cho’s church has prayer meetings where 300,000 people get together and pray for hours. (The number would even be higher if the various satellite sites had room for more people.)

The median church size in America is 75 members. Now, let’s say a pastor of one of these median-sized churches decides to start prayer meetings, how many people can he expect to show up each week? Three or four; maybe five. And even this small number will most likely tail dwindle away over a period of time.

And of course, there are exceptions. But for every praying church, there are scores of churches who have no prayer meetings at all.

In the 1990′s, I joined a prayer team at a church. After the services, the prayer team members gathered at the front of the church to pray for attendees who needed prayer.

Though  new to the church, it was not long before most knew I had a prophetic voice. And each week, the line in front of me grew longer and longer until finally, most of the other prayer team members stood around, watching me pray for people.

The pastor did his best to encourage people to receive prayer from the other team members, but most people shook their heads and said, “No, we’ll wait for Larry.”

One Sunday, I looked at the long line of people awaiting prayer from me, and a revelation smacked me along the side of my head: “We are doing church wrong!”

So, maybe you’d say, “Wait a moment. Prophecy is for the common good of the Body, right? Shouldn’t you give words to everyone who needs them?”

Yes, I’m called to give prophetic words to people.  But at the same time, I’m called to help equip believers to do the work of service … not do the work for them.

Sadly, our traditional church system has trained people to sit and expect the so-called professionals to do the ministering for them. You know, the clergy versus the lay people system.

And let me tell you, this does not please Jesus because on account of this reasoning, we have a weak, dependent Church. One that is a sitting duck, waiting to be blown out of its pews by possible calamities hitting our nation in the near future.

(Continued in Part 5)