THE IMPORTANCE OF SIMPLE OBEDIENCE

Some answers and some blessings aren't always as hard to come by as it seems.  Yes, timing and preparation and warfare often have to be considered when there  seems to be a delay in a promise or a prophecy in our lives, but let's always rule out disobedience.  The way to do this is to always be very intentional about hearing and recording your prophecy or word of knowledge or word of wisdom in detail and as precisely as possible.

When God speaks by His Spirit through a sanctioned vessel, He says what He means, and He means what He says.  Often He reminds me of this understanding when I am questioning Him about the delay of a time-sensitive word that He has had me to release to someone.

There is a particular incident that God has used to answer me numerous times over the years.  An Evangelist of a very prestigious Church of a powerful Pentecostal denomination sought me out in my hometown to ask me to petition Heaven with her for a much desired promotion/transfer in her company from her state to another state.  I agreed and prayed for her while we were on that call.  She admitted that in all of her years of serving God that she could not say for sure that she had ever heard Him speak to her.  

Well, our good and loving Father told me to tell her to take herself out to dinner, and to take a notepad and pen and that He would speak to her.  He also said for her to take a yellow flower ( either a rose or a carnation) and that He would secure the promotion that she desired.  I didn't hear from her again until a year later, and she was in the same dilemma.  Holy Spirit told me to ask her if she had followed through with the instructions from a year earlier.  She said that she did, but Holy Spirit told me to ask her about the yellow flower.  She said that she couldn't find a yellow one, but Holy Spirit told me that she didn't look for one, and that she decided that it was an insignificant detail.  

Well, guess what?  Holy Spirit told me to give her the same instructions again.  When she followed through she called me back in two months, and she had received the promotion.  Everything was expedited for her.  Even her house sold right away.  Holy Spirit revealed to me His people's lack of obedience and follow-through with words from the Lord, but that we expect Him to deliver anyway.  He told her one other very unusual sign that would occur after she received her promotion, but that it would have nothing to do with her.  It all came to pass.  

If we aren't going to obey God, why pray because the answer could involve our participation?  And why approach a true Prophet to get in God's Face for you and then decide what you will and will not do with the answer?

It is important to understand that there is victory in hearing and obeying the Logos AND Rhema word of God.  We can confirm this through many stories in the Bible.  Somehow,  Jacob's story just came to mind when God revealed to him what to do to increase his wealth after being entrapped by His uncle, Laban, for fourteen years.  Joseph worked the plan and prospered.  "And the Lord said unto Jacob, Return unto the land of thy fathers, and thy kindred; and I will be with thee" Genesis 31:3.  Then Jacob was able to tell Leah and Rachel, "Thus God hath taken away the cattle of your father, and given them to me" Genesis 31:9.  (Read Jacob's story in Genesis 27-33).

Lord, if we have missed something please bring it to us again that we may obey and prosper.  Thank You, Lord!

ENDURING THE TEST OF TIME

Yesterday, I received an email from one of my biological sisters which included this statement, "Thank you for your fearless/timeless faith!!!"  I was indeed honored and yet amazed at the statement because I (like so many) have simply been following the path that was set before me...even as this beautiful sister has done herself.

I have never bothered too much about who knows the work that I do because it has been a rather unorthodox commissioning after the Lord called me out of the pulpit to go forth and execute His will in numerous and various assignments.  I was taken out of man's spotlight in order to serve the Kingdom through unheralded works.  I have never sought the accolades of man because God offered me a greater PR system when He told me that Holy Spirit was my record keeper.  These unheralded works became my altar of "fire baptisms" thereby catapulting me into a realm of authority that was not ordained by man, but by God Himself.

Yes, I was raised in the Church and thought I knew God, Jesus, the Angels and all of the Disciples/Apostles personally.  Well, as time went on, life happened which included backsliding.  But when Holy Spirit reclaimed me for the Kingdom 35 years ago at the age of 33, I was brought into an all new journey of " following on to know Him."  Somewhere on the journey the Lord told me that He was going yo kill all of my "holy cows."  Yes, the fires and the floods that He designed for me took care of legalism, self-righteousness, self-reliance, impatience, stubbornness, hautiness and judgementalism.

Am I perfect?  NO!!!  But I am a vessel fit for the Master's use.  God empowered and enriched me with Himself.  He would always remind me that HE was my reward and my rereward.  He also challenged me to live so that Heaven and hell would know me.  A great cost had to be paid though so that when I show up God shows out without any shenanigans being performed.  So often, witnesses have informed me that as I leave their presence they realize that they were healed and delivered, that situations changed for them or that the miraculous manifested.  Of course, I have been allowed to see and experience many manifestations, but I never had to see them to believe that they had or would happen.  Father trained me that way...to simply believe what the Christ in me could and would do.  That was the reason for allowing Him to increase as I decreased.

My first assignment was to close down a cult led by one of satan's generals who seasoned saints had retreated in haste from her presence.  Love rescued the captives!  So, after that four year boot camp I was trained and molded year after year in the weapon  that I was to wield in the Kingdom...LOVE.  Pure love is cryptomite to the enemy!  He can't thrive in Its presence because God is LOVE.


Holy Spirit always told me that I had no business fearing anything because of how the Lord initiated my work.  So yesterday, my sister painted a clear and precise picture of my walk with the words "fearless/timeless faith."  I am still here, ready to finish strong.


Thank You, Father, for anointing me to stay the course.

THE UNDERGROUND CHURCH IN AMERICA !?!

I just listened to a radio broadcast today...May 4, 2015...by the pastor of one of the largest Churches in our city...Apostle A.R. Williams/World Overcomers Outreach Ministries/Memphis, TN.  He gave a very clear picture of the direction of the Church in a very few years, if not sooner, because of the laws that are being passed and because of the increasing hatred for the Church.

I was just remembering how over the years his church membership increased exponentially, and how he had to continue to purchase larger and larger edifices to house his ministry. Of course, this process appeared to be the trend of our times, especially in the 21st century.  Large screens, orchestras, gyms,  daycare centers, parking lot attendants, numerous outreach ministries, huge fellowship halls, book stores and coffee shops became the norm of the day. So, why was Apostle Williams painting a picture of house churches and cell groups today?  

He is simply sharing a soon approaching reality of the decline of the Church's place of prominence in our nation.  While still fellowshipping with our sister Churches, many of us have been modeling this style of Faith Community for years now...in our homes, in coffee shops around town, in restaurant meeting rooms, in parks, in neighborhood community centers and in numerous other unassuming locations. The Church has to be redefined in this day in order to maximize it's effectiveness to society at-large.  We have to be more readily accessible and presently available at all times for the single seeker or for the masses. 

This pastor spoke of the possibility of the loss of the 501(c)(3) non-profit status for the Church as well as being forced to comply with laws contrary to biblical teachings in order to remain open. He said that the government could decide to confiscate your Church buildings for its own use.  Yes, religious liberty as we have been accustomed to is changing daily as news stories are becoming constant reminders of this threat.  He said that he is ready to lose everything if it comes to that.

WHAT ABOUT YOU?  ARE YOU READY FOR THESE IMPENDING CHANGES?

Many of this current generation might have left the Church building, but they have been representing the Church/Kingdom in very viable and tangible ways. Holy Spirit has been training and preparing them for the day that they will have to contend with.

Now, many of you who have been believers for years...have you ever had a Bible study or a prayer meeting at your home?  In fact, have you ever observed the Lord's Table or led anyone to the Lord at your home?  Have you ever shared your faith at the supermarket, in the park, with a neighbor?  

Well, if a REAL revival of repentance and renewal doesn't come to America soon, we won't be able to "have church" the way that you know it to be much longer. Apostle Williams said that many leaders won't even recognize this threat until it's too late because that has been the Church's MO.  Yes, as long as things "look" okay, most people are undiscerning until it comes to their front door.  It is time for the people of God to look beyond status symbols and to discern the times.

Would your Faith Community know how to survive underground if it comes to that?

A WORTHY GOAL

Yes, the battle has been mighty...but God!

The road has been long...but God!

The tests and trials have seemed unending...but God!

Kingdom training was unusual...but God!

Seeking was day and night...but God!

Forgiving became daily routine...but Gôd!

Repenting became exercise for the soul...but God!

Peace had to be maintained...but God!

Prayer was the key...but God!

Holiness was the standard...but God!

Trust was the glue...but God!

Joy was the reward...but God!

Power became Evident...but God!

Authority manifested...but God!

Through it all the the goal was attained...friendship with God!

Marion Clark Ingram

           3/2015

This AND That?

So many Pastors and Christian leaders are endeavoring to show their parishioners that the show "Scandal" is not compatible with the Gospel of Christ, but not with much success.


Faith comes by hearing the Word of God, and the Word of God speaks emphatically against adultery and fornication. We understand that whatever you feed yourself on a consistent basis is what you will become or meditate on. Therefore, how can so many Christ followers be so obsessed with a show that is centered around infidelity and mischief.

In growing, there is always room to examine ourselves and see if we are truly in the faith. Apostle Paul was always appealing to the mature saint to model the faith for the weaker ones.


A simple question to be considered is whether "Scandal" feeds your spirit or your flesh. Then you can make the decision if it is compatible with the Gospel and discern why so many are addicted to it.
We can all ask ourselves if we are as addicted to reading and studying our Bibles as we are to our favorite TV shows.


Just wondering...


Does it matter anymore what Jesus said,
Or have His teachings all been considered as dead?
Either His words are a light unto our feet or not,
Or have you designated them to your blind spot?
He said that He is the way, the truth and the life.
So, have you decided that He is not right?
It can't be this and that...you must make a choice,
And then you must support it with your actions and your voice.


MCI

A Prophetic Release to Prisoners (Sept. 2014)

Why the Way Up Is Down

The Lord has been dealing with me for a while again about the insight that I am about to share here.  It's no new revelation, nor is it a mystery.  It is simply divine order established in Jeremiah 1:10 "See I have this day set thee over the nations and over the kingdoms, to root out, and to pull down, and to destroy, and to throw down, to build, and to plant."

Whenever I am commissioned to share this insight, whether individually or corporately, the process of bringing down in order to raise back up properly begins in numerous ministries, Churches, businesses, and in the lives of God's people.  Twenty-five to thirty years ago, when I began to try to forge my "ministry" forth in the media and in various parts of the country God kept saying to me "The way up is down, daughter."  It seemed as if He was contradicting His gifts and anointings in my life, but little did I know that He was after securing my safety and my purity in Him.

I had to realize as many of you have and others will, that God cares more about relationship and intimacy with us than about our ministries or our work because the gifts will work even when you aren't in sync with your Christian walk because our gifts and anointings were given for the Body to be blessed through.

So often, the manifestation and operation of your gifts can deceive you concerning your walk.  You might preach, sing or prophesy very well, but your heart is impure, not humble, bitter towards your enemies and others and simply needs healing in many areas.  If you don't continue to draw nigh to God and allow Him to do a deeper work in you, eventually, your ministry will become defiled which will then become obvious to all that something is amiss.

Here, I'll share a portion of a word that one of my Facebook friends shared from Prophet Delisa Lindsey.  "Many like to use the term, Ichabod, to denote the glory of God leaving a church but there is more to Ichabod than that.  Ichabod can also mean the glory of God leaving your life.  -  Ichabod can take place in your marriage, your health, and your relationships.  Just like you won't stay in a relationship when you are being abused and mistreated, neither will the presence of God stay where He is unwanted either."

So many negative and unproductive situations in your life might not be the attack of the enemy, but they could very well be the result of your rebellion and lack of humbleness and lack of yielding to the will and ways of God.

Don't be afraid to find out about yourself.  Just crawl up on the altar and allow Holy Spirit to help you examine your motives and your attitudes concerning life and ministry.

Sometimes, you hide or just don't acknowledge people that God used to get you to a place in your spiritual growth that you would not have reached alone.  Sometimes, you refuse to ask for the counsel that you need from an elder in the Lord.

You prefer to sacrifice and run all over the country to conferences of "celebrities" who you will never be able to have a personal encounter with instead of submitting yourself to vessels whom the Lord has commended and made available to you.

Sadly enough, I have watched people lose blessings or deliverances that they accredited to someone or to someplace other than who the Lord actually used in their behalf.

It is absolutely shocking and amazing that our name brand and celebrity worship crossed over into the "Church."  So many of you prefer to say that God blessed or delivered you through a well known person instead of the prayer warrior at your Church or by an anointed vessel over the phone who you have never even seen.  Now, I have had that last experience many times without a hello, thank you or even a public mention, but then this is how God can even test our motives and intentions.

To get a greater insight into this discussion, study the Kenosis of Jesus in order to understand the necessity of "taking it all off" in order to be raised up in the Kingdom to your full statue. 

"Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time. 10. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you" I Peter 5:6,10.