My Position Hasn’t Changed I Kings 18:42

So Ahab went off to eat and drink, but Elijah climbed to the
top of Carmel, bent down to the ground and put his face
between his knees. 1 Kings 18:42

In this passage, we find Elijah full of faith and confidence from the showdown with the prophets of Baal.   God had shown Elijah what He was with Him, sending fire from heaven to consume the water on the altar along with the sacrifice.

He climbs to the top of the mountain and calls for His God!  The land was hungry for the rain, and so were the people.  Elijah bends down with humility and faith, placing his face between his knees and cries out to the Lord.

Keep Looking; It Will Appear!

Seven times, Elijah sent his servant to look for rain.  Seven times, the servant looked over towards the sea and returned with a negative report.  Seven times, Elijah’s servant was obedient looking into the sky for a sign, any sign that God was granting Elijah’s request.   Seven times, Elijah sent him back to look for what had yet to manifest.    Elijah continued in prayer, while his servant looked for confirmation that God was getting ready to open up the windows of heaven.

I just imagine, as the servant came in and out of the presence of Elijah, he looked upon the position of his master bowed over in full submission and in all humility staying before the Lord filled with faith, just as he had done at the altar.   There was no doubt in the mind of Elijah that God could pour out rain, just like he rained down fire from heaven at the showdown.  Elijah would not be moved.   He would remain until the situation changed.

Would Your Position Change?

And I thought about myself, and I wondered about you.   How many times would you have spoken to the servant?   Would I have remained bowed and praying for 2 investigations or 3?   Maybe I would make it to 4, and then I would shift my position?  Maybe you would make it to 5, and altar your stance?  Maybe some of you would stand up after 2 investigations, and descend from the mountain?   But not Elijah!  Elijah prayed until change came.  Would you?

Remain, until Things Change!

Elijah continued in prayer until God moved.  He prayed in faith until there was a sign that God had moved.   Though he might have looked foolish in the eyes of Ahab and his servant, Elijah continued in prayer until God answered his prayer.   Some of us have the faith that God will move but are so vain and concerned about the opinions of others, that we would give up far too soon and miss out on the move of God.

Honestly, Elijah’s declaration had caused this calamity to fall upon the earth, and he was determined to bring about a blessing upon the land that his word has caused to suffer.  He prayed like the responsible party, knowing the lives of the people and their prosperity was attached to the rain being restricted.   He prayed not for himself, and not to prove himself, but for the relief of the people.  He had seen the suffering up close and was determined to tarry in prayer until relief had come to the people.

Discomfort often Precedes Change.

I was encouraged as well as instructed by this example set by Elijah!   The scripture says he was at the mountain top, and not only was his face between his knees, but it was facing the ground.   I wondered to myself how many of us would remain in a position that caused us to get dirty?   How many of us would get in and remain in a dirty uncomfortable position for the people we are sent too?   Honestly, it would be easy to tarry in the comforts of our homes and sanctuaries, but Elijah knelt at the top of the mountain with no cover, with the sun beating down on his flesh.

Fervent Prayer is Needed!

As Pastor’s and Prophets, we too must pray with the same fervency.   He saw the needs of the people and continued crying out to God until change came.   I wondered what type of rain is needed in our communities.   What are our people in desperate need of?   Maybe it’s not something you spoke like Elijah, but something you have seen as you have dwelt among the people?  Maybe it’s the rumblings you have heard from those you are connected too?

No matter the need and how the need became so great, the question we must ask ourselves is “How long will remain in position?”   Are you willing to fast and pray until the people receive what they need?  Are you willing to continue in prayer until healing comes?   Only we can answer this question for ourselves.

Elijah’s head remained between his knees while God meet the people’s needs.   His position didn’t change, and neither should ours!

Keep praying.   Keep speaking.   Keep listening.  Keep believing.  Keep laboring.   Keep fasting.  Keep sacrificing.   Keep humble.   Keep seeking Him.   He will come through.

#pastorjdo3 #internetpastor

It’s All About Timing!

Luke 1:24 And after those days his wife Elisabeth conceived, and hid 
herself five months, saying, Luke 1:25 Thus hath the Lord dealt with me 
in the days wherein he looked on me, to take away my reproach among men.

Sunday, I had the honor of sharing a Word at Image Church in Houston Texas. The message, “It’s all about Timing!”

In this message, God was speaking to me about the most important timing of all, God’s timing. His timing cannot be measure or controlled. It can be appreciated but not accelerated. It is the most blessed of occurrences one can experience, and the most painful aspect of the walk we have to endure. God’s timing, while we focus on the time between the prophecy/prayer and fulfillment of His Word, is more about the journey of trust and faith we are on with God. While we focus on the time it takes to bring things into fruition, frustrated as we see a deed undone and a prayer unanswered, we forget that our God is working and preparing things for fulfillment.

Here we find Elizabeth still filled with faith.
It’s not about what God has promised, but
what she believes about the power of her
God who she knew to have all power in His hands.

She knew Him to be a capable, willing and able. Like us, she must have held on to the story of her ancestors, hearing how He was faithful to Sarah, and how he had come through for Hannah. She must have fasted and prayed; and not waivered. She placed her concerns in His hands, then worshiped and served Him as though He had fulfilled her request. While others complained and wrote bad reviews, she gave Him 5-star praise and 5-star worship. Her mouth was filled with adoration and thanksgiving, though her one desire remained unfulfilled.

She resisted the temptation to grumble and complain, rather choose to wait on God to act. She was willing to accept His will for her life, and though not content with her situation, was content to find joy in His will for her life. But conception was not just a concept, it was a commanded and charted as a part of her journey.

Don’t Take it Personal!

Elizabeth wasn’t being punished with being barren, she was being reserved to bring for God’s servant who would change the community. Many times, we take the decision of God personal. We judge His response to our request, or the timing of His response as judgement. Barrenness was deemed a punishment. If not blessed with a child, people assumed that the person was being judged publicly by God for a sin, or that the sins of their forefathers were being carried out with justice in the next generation. “Who sin?” they must have asked, as Elizabeth sad innocently serving her God. Only she and the Lord knew their relationship, and while others had deemed her worthless, God has decided that she was worthy. For God, creation is not just procreation, but has a purpose, and calling attached to each seed.

Elizabeth was One Revelation Away!

Elizabeth didn’t know she was being reserved, and someone reading today don’t realize they are being preserved. God has a special assignment for you, like He had for Elizabeth. She has been reserved for a work that was beyond populating the earth and subduing its grounds. While others worked by the sweat of their brow, Elizabeth seed knees would spend more time in the soil in prayer than his hands working the land. His field would require a different type of labor and would be used to change the course of a nation of people.

Those that once teased and judged her, would now hold her in high esteem and know that God had anointed her for a special work. Likewise, there are some that have judged you based on your journey and your past, but they don’t know your future, nor do they have control over it. Because of that, we must trust God’s timing and believe without a shadow of a doubt that He is working things out and working on our behalf. It is important to know that He is working for us but must be noted that He does not work for us. This is important for us to understand. God is a loving Father who serves us based on His love for us, not because He is indebted to us or slave to us.

Elizabeth and Mary are Tied together!

While Elizabeth received good news, which is a revelation to us all. It’s not only the knowledge that she will conceive, that her child would be special, but that her cousin would bear a child as well. Elizabeth gets the word that her miracle was tied to Mary’s miracle. God reserved her womb not because she was not prepared or ready to be a mother, but that He was to prepare Mary.

I love this! Elizabeth was capable of conceiving the entire time. She had the ability and skills to be a mother the entire time. This just in!!! Just because you are capable. Just because you are gifted. Just because you are passionate doesn’t mean that it the right time. Most of us measure timing by our assessment of ourselves, and don’t consider there are more factors to fulfillment than what God is doing and can do through us.

Sometime God reserves your Testimony!

Good news, your baby bump has been reserved to encourage and confirm something for someone else. God needed Elizabeth testimony in this season as a sign to increase her faith. Stop taking it personal! God is preparing the right season and circumstances for your testimony to be utilized. We must accept that God sometimes reserves your womb not for you to believe, but that others might believe. Stop looking at yourself as the sole indicating factor!

Sometimes I’m waiting on You;
Other Times You are waiting on Me!

Sometimes your womb is ready, but the world isn’t ready for your gift! Not only are Mary and Elizabeth tied together, but John’s mission was tied to Jesus’, and since the world wasn’t ready for Jesus, they had to wait for John, and subsequently, Elizabeth had to endure barren years! Both John and Jesus were a part of the plan from the beginning. God had already launched His plan for Reconciliation, but the people had to wait for each prophecy to be written and must watch each one be fulfilled. Calm down, God is merely dotting “i’s” and crossing “t’s”! There are still some details that are being written as He fulfills my prayers. He is literally writing your blessing out in code. Most of us want a “Wix” type of blessing, but God is personalizing some blessings just for you!

My Gift is Unique!

Interestingly, many people got to birth and hold Kevin, Jacob and Anthony, but only Elizabeth got to hold and deliver John The Baptist! All children are a gift from God to the parent, but John like Jesus was a gift to the World. Elizabeth bore a gift that would lead other to righteousness. She bore a child that would walk against the grain and be willing to take a stand for holiness and righteousness while others compromised. John would keep himself for the service of the Lord, and would uphold closely the standard of righteousness that would allow him to carry out his assignment. What type of gift are you carrying? What is God reserving you for? What will God accomplish through your life and the life of your gift?

I wish I knew!!!! I do know God is going to birth something special and unique through you! Be patient, because “It’s all about the timing!”

#pastorjdo3 #internetpastor

Is the Truth Worth Your Freedom?

Jeremiah 37:4 Now Jeremiah was free to come and go among the people, for he
had not yet been put in prison. … Jeremiah 37:16 Jeremiah was put into a vaulted
cell in a dungeon, where he remained a long time.

Is the Truth Worth your Freedom? For most, the answer is “No!”, but for Jeremiah it was yes.

Verse 4 is written with the knowledge that verse 16 will occur. At this stage in Jeremiahs life, he is valued and seen a necessary and needed part of his community. As a community leader, he is respected and valued by those who are leading the citizens.

Like many of us, His message was valued as long as it aligned with the values and will of those he sat at the table with. They wanted him to inspire and encourage the people with the Word from God to support and undergird their efforts to mobilize and control God’s people! They did not want him to speak any word that disagreed with their plans and aspirations.

Jeremiah was asked to come into agreement with the message, but there was an issue: The message that God had given Jeremiah didn’t align with the message and methods the king and his team wanted to publicize. They spoke to Jeremiah believing that he would align with the team. Previous encounters with Jeremiah had lead them to believe he would be compliant because he was an established member of their circle. The truth was, they had misunderstood previous encounters and misread Jeremiah. He was in the circle, but not a part of it. He was communicating messages from the creator, not creating messages to control the masses. The truth was, Jeremiah was repeating words, and not writing them himself. Because of their character, they believe that he would do as they had done; that being writing, editing and rewriting their own narrative for their selfish gain and benefit, but Jeremiah was not the writer, he was simply the narrator reading and telling the story he had been given. He seemed compliant because he had not always been instructed to speak a word of correction or disagreement, but he was willing to stand and speak on truth when commanded to do so. Would you?

He would not Compromise!

Jeremiah was warned about his noncompliance. He had a choice to make. Would he alter the truth for power and earthly influence? Would he abandon his spiritual post and trade it in for a political position in a party or group? What would you do? His life could depend on his response. His lifestyle could be changed permanently.

He was begged to be agreeable with the desire of the king and his associates, but Jeremiah was a servant to a King, and though he sat at the table with other community leaders, he could not and would not divorce himself from the one who had gifted him and called him. What would you do? He owed allegiance to one and one alone, and despite the threats of those in authority, he feared and was submitted to the one who had complete authority overall. He knew he could be beaten, tried and placed in prison if he refused to change “his” message. But Jeremiah knew the message wasn’t his to change.

Jeremiah knew he could loose all he had gained. He had the ear of the King of Kings, a direct line to the earthly king, and audience of the people before the stage he stood on. What would he do? He was free to walk in and out as he pleased. He had money and resources. He had purchased land for his family. He was established and still building a great name and legacy. He had the stage and the microphone, as well as the respect and admiration of those who knew him. What would you do?

Stand Your Ground!!!!

Unlike many then and now, Jeremiah stood his ground. And just like that, the stage was removed.   

Once freed, Jeremiah spoke publicly and freely. His messages were uncensored and unfiltered. He could call the people together and deliver messages while they were hot off the press. Now he finds himself prohibited from speaking to the people.  He is no longer sleeping in his home, laying in his comfortable bed. The bread which was given to him in his freedom and perceived compliance was now taken from him.

He lost all his freedoms by choosing to deliver the Word of God to God’s people. He wouldn’t change one word. Wouldn’t altar one vowel or consonant. He wouldn’t misinterpret. He wouldn’t altar it. He wouldn’t add pieces to it, nor would he take items from it. He delivered it as it was given to him, knowing that the message made him the messenger and the doors God opened to the King remained open because he spoke truth and not lies. The message had to be true, or God would be made and proven to be a liar. Their enjoyment and acceptance of the word was not the goal, rather the truth of the Word was the objective. The Word being true would continue to cause the people to trust and follow God, whereas lies would cause people to doubt and submit to another.

Compliant with the Word or the World?

 If only we were like Jeremiah today! So many of us have chosen to enjoy the freedoms of the world and have lost the freedom we found in Christ. This is especially difficult in America, where the Word of God has been superimposed with this interpretation that to be free in Christ is to be compliant with the constitution. Too many been inhabited by people who desire to be accepted by those who run world systems, and have chosen not to rightly divide the Word of Truth. Actually, recently, there has been an attack on the truth, and people have seen the truth like those Jeremiah dealt with. The truth has become anything that supports our narrative and aspirations, and the lie has emerged as anything that prohibits us from winning our argument and accomplishing our goals.

Just as Jeremiah found, the world knows the power of God’s Word, and influence and ability of God’s Servant. Those in power understand that having power of God’s Word and Servant will give them access to power far beyond their ability. Like the devil took Jesus to the top and showed Him the kingdoms of this world, offering them to him in an attempt to gain control over the message and the messenger, we must like Him respond with the Word of God and remain unified with the one who sent us. Jeremiah made that choice. Jesus made that choice!

What choice will you make?

Jeremiah was released and given another opportunity. Chapter 38 takes us on the journey with him. Jeremiah on the heals of recovery, haven been beaten, and imprisoned now walks among the people again. He once again begins speaking publicly against the agenda of those in power and is thrown into a cistern and left to die. What would you do?

The truth was worth his freedom! He was willing to stand by it and accept the blessings and the pain that came along with it. Would you?

It is my prayer that all Prophets and Pastors that read this are inspired and encouraged to stand with the truth. The Kingdom of God has been severely damaged by those who have been more committed to the world and not the Word. This platform that we have belongs to someone else. The Word we preach is not our own, neither are the revelations and interpretations. They are Spirit breathed and commanded.

#pastorjdo3 #internetpastor

Father and Son; Serving together!

Time flies! I have had the honor of doing many things, but the Father’s Day message of 2020 was one of the greatest. I have been honored to carry the same name of Pastor Johnny Dwight Ogletree, Sr, a man who set a course for our family by answering a call to carry the light of Christ to the world.

Shortly before the pandemic, I asked my father to Baptize me as an old man in my 40’s. It was an honor to peer up from the water and see his face. Seeing the same confidence in Christ was joyous. It was that same face I saw that glowed as I watched him prepare to teach and preach at Bethel. I remembered helping him search the concordance and lexicon, not fully aware of what I was doing, but I was happy to share in what was taking place in his world.

This was at the beginning of the sermon we preached together. My father wanted us to sing together. Another great honor!

My hero! My example. Seems like yesterday I ran the halls of Antioch, searching for secret passages, as he studied and served in the Kingdom. A short time later, I listened at the door in the home of Sister Westbrook at Bible Study was taught, and then we packed the chairs from the garage into the van to set up for worship at Franks ABC.

Soon we were cleaning up a disco hall, setting up chairs on a dance floor that was once used to celebrate the adversary, and tested out the music tracks for Sunday music.

Next we walked the halls on Dow. I cleaned, he studied. It was my first job, and it was serving in the Kingdom. The $20 a week was just a small reward compared to the time I spent in the House of God listening to the still quiet voice the kept me company as I swept, faced hymn books, and discarded the programs from the previous service.

Off to college I went, our lives apart during your time laboring on Bingle, leading the flock to the Beltway. I remember exchanging letters with him as I started a family and finished my Master’s degree.

Though it was a hard decision, it was the right decision. The Spirit again would orchestrate for us to once again share in the same field. He preached. He taught. I watched. I listened. He led, I followed. He coached and I did my best to soak up all the wisdom I could maintain. Needless to say, it’s hard to fit 20 to 30 years into a 5 to 10 year window, but I tried unsuccessfully.

I watched as God continued to elevate him to a level that few would reach, and many would dream and have hopes for. I watched him serve through the highs and the lows. The heights of success, and the lows of failure. I learned through them all. I benefited from his journey more than he knew, and more than I can explain.

A new chapter was begun, the journey of succession. Once more, God would ask us in different positions and at different levels to find a way to walk in agreement. He would ask us to share in the Kingdom work as father and son, as brothers in Christ, and as co-laborers. He would challenge us to honor each other as we honored Him with our service. He would ask us again to place Him first, honoring the call received by Senior, answered by Bishop Ethan Ogletree , answered by Pastor Joe Ogletree , answered by Jordan Ogletree walking with integrity and upholding the standard of righteousness that we both would chase together, and have yet to achieve.

I stood, nervous as usual, looking at a mighty warrior consecrated and ready to share forth the truth of the God we both serve. Spending time apart in preparation, I was nervous also that the messages would seem like 4 sections, but as God would have it, the Holy Spirit spoke to us both, and a message that was not scripted or rehearsed flowed as though we had spent hours together!

It was an honor to be used in this moment by our Father, Yahweh, but an honor to share in this moment with my earthly father Bishop John Ogletree Jr.

I don’t know what lay ahead, but I am sure that amidst the future happenings, nothing will compare to this moment I was honored to share with my father.

#PastorJDO3#bishopjohnogletree#ogletree#PASTORJOHNNY

When Arms Get Weary….

11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning,
but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning.
12 When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it
under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up—
one on one side, one on the other—so that his hands remained
steady till sunset. Exodus 17:11-12 NIV

Moses will go down as one of the greatest leaders to emerge from the Hebrew people. This Israelite had a show down with Pharoah with nothing but a Rod, his older Brother & of course his God! With his life and the life of his people in jeopardy, he stood in the courts of Pharoah, chest to chest with his magicians and wise counsel and displayed a divine connection to a God that was supreme to all. He went from being a murderer and a herder, to a deliverer.

Moses has been charged with taking the people in the promise, as well as developing his successor, Joshua. Here we find Joshua, whom he directed, to lead the soldiers into battle against their enemies the Amalekites, while he positions himself to watch and fight in prayer while Joshua engaged the enemy. Though Joshua is fighting against the Amalekites, he is not fighting alone. Of course the soldiers are with him, but so too is Moses who is in the hills.

Both Joshua and Moses are experiencing the fight from different positions. They both have great responsibility too is fighting and are shouldering great responsibility. Moses, though not holding the sword and shedding the blood of the Amalekites, is covering the soldiers fighting from his position in prayer and with his faith. As he holds his hands up, they start to overtake the enemy, and when his hands lower, they begin to loose.

I was bothered by the encounter. As much as the mighty work of our Lord was on display, the actions of a servant leader were as well. I wondered to myself “how many individuals, marriages, families, businesses, or congregations have suffered because someone refused to ask for help?”

People in key leadership positions, knowing that they were growing tired and as opposed to asking for help, would rather watch that which they are responsible for suffer with them having all power in their hands as opposed to distributing the power to others. Think it not odd that Moses soon has a meeting with Jethro who gives him the wisdom that would allow him to continue forward.

Honestly, sometimes we can all fall into this pattern as leaders, owners, and managers. Some tasks must be given to someone that you have complete trust in, and sadly the majority of the times that person is YOU!!!!!!!! Having said that, You are not the solution to everything. And though you have been used to deliver the people once, doesn’t mean that you are the only one God can use to deliver and save them going forward. It also doesn’t mean that you are the only person God can use to deliver and or save His people. The calling of God has a way of making us feel like the “Only One” and not the “Chosen One”. The only one mentality is that God could only use Moses to deliver the people, while the chosen one mentality understands that you are the one that was chosen to carry out God’s will. It what Esther was confronted with. Mordaci reminded her that God would use her or someone else to deliver the people. In other words, she was the chosen one, but not the only one. We must remember this while we lead and serve!

Moses had sense enough to take Aaron and Hur into the mountains. Had sense enough to take Aaron into Pharoah’s palace for the showdown. We need to remember that the people God sends to us are not just there for moral support, or to encourage us before the battle, and restore us after the fight, but they are sent to be both companion and competitor. Sometimes we must involve them in the fight, giving responsibility, and sharing both the load of the fight and the cheers and credit for victory.

I know you are reading, but can we take 60 seconds to just thank God for the Aarons and Hurs? The people that often lift up your hands and your head without fanfare or celebration. The ones who see us in those low moments. The ones who see your humanity up close and personal. Know you aren’t invincible. Can highlight chapter and verse that you haven’t mastered but won’t release and or publicize your weaknesses for the sake of building and maintaining the faith of those who are following us as we follow Christ. Those who know the full testimony and not the one that generates the shout of praise! Those people who accompany us into the spiritual battlefield, trusting both us and God with their lives and spiritual journey. The one that restored you, and when you began to fade, wouldn’t let you faulter! That person! The one who does it not for the recognition, but for the honor of serving and seeing the victory.

I am praying that God will use us all to accomplish His will. And that while we walk, we invite others on the journey not just to follow up, but to walk along side us for the purpose of leading and building. We must constantly train and shape those around us, so they can be equipped to continue and complete the pieces of the vision that are not completed under us. We must allow them to gain experience underneath our covering, and allow them to see their true value and potential while we nurture them. We must also learn how to give ourselves the support we need to be our most effective self, and how sharing the load and the credit extend our life and our reign.

We must do this because, when arms get weary, people suffer!

#PastorJDO3 #InternetPastor

God Hates……. Malachi 2:16

“For the LORD God of Israel says That He hates divorce,
For it covers one’s garment with violence,” says the LORD
of hosts. “Therefore take heed to your spirit,
That you do not deal treacherously.”
Malachi 2:16

We spend a lot of time talking about one thing that God hates. It is as though God is partial to certain sins, and forgiving to certain sinners, and this we know is not true. Malachi brings our attention to a truth that we have wandered away from.

As society argues about who should get married (and it’s a valid argument), we have turned our attention from a needed discussion about divorce. As I studied to preach a message entitled “Love and Happiness” from Mark 10:9, I came across this passage in Malachi that reveals the heart of our God.

God simply hates divorce!!! What a strong word that is! Hate is a word that is normally stricken from being used because it carries such power. The implication of using this word insinuate a strong level of disgust, disdain, and detest, and thus is carries a finality to it that is not applicable in most situations and circumstances.

Yet, God’s Word records, “He hates divorce,”

Mind you, He does not hate divorced people!

This is a mistake that the church has made in its treatment/response to divorcees in the past. God does not hate people that have gone through divorce, neither does He hate those who are considering it and will go through it in the future. Our God loves His people! Adores His creation! But “He hates divorce”! He doesn’t want us to break our covenants with each other.

Marriage is about covenant!

Divorce is a broken covenant, and our God believes that a covenant is sacred and forever. Our God is longsuffering; thus, He is willing and able to honor covenant agreements even though it may experience challenges. God is able to focus on the covenant for His name’s sake, upholding His end of the agreement because it serves as an indication of His character and furthermore, judgement. God is committed to those He commits too, even when they lack the capacity to honor the agreement, they have taken with Him.

Today, each person enters into the agreement via their own personal will. Men choose whom they will lead, and women choose who they will follow.

In this message, I pushed harder on the men because of the implications of the passage. In this time, men entered into a covenant of their choosing, and the wife entered based upon the decision of her father.

The men were doing the choosing.

It was the man who was to investigate the wife and family and make a sound decision. Likewise, it was the father who was to investigate the husband and family and make a sound decision for his daughter. She was more than a dowery. He was to ensure that she was properly covered as he had covered her, not to give her away to the first one with interest or wealth.

The reality is once she was divorced, outside of family help, this divorced woman would have lost a significant amount of value. She would be in danger never to be covered again, and to many would be a community outcast. This marriage had to work! A failure in marriage was a lifetime sentence for the woman, whereas the man could move on and marry yet again. Marriages were failing because the men had weakened it by choosing to marry based upon the lack of control of their flesh, which also sadly led to many breaking their covenant.

God watched all this and was saddened! His heart was broken seeing people enter into a bond that was to be forever and choosing to abandon it because of their inability to grow together and sacrifice with one another. People wandered through life looking for excitement and adventure and rejected the stability and familiarity of the love of their youth. A bond that was to make people more like God, struggled to mold selfish, self-centered, and greedy people who responded more to their stomachs than the truth of the Word of God!

Sadly, this was not new! Moses too faced the same community Malachi lived in. Moses, as a spokesman for God, fought to get people to honor their covenants, but gave in to the pressure of those who wanted to form new covenants or be released to explore life outside of the bond. Both God and Moses could see what it would do to the community, but the hearts of the people were far from God, and unwilling to align with His will for their lives.

Little by little, broken covenants began to wear at the foundation of their society.

Families had issues with one another, and individuals lived with the pain and shame of their decision. Children experienced the insecurity that accompanied broken bonds, and families wandered in the confusion of an unsure future. Families were restructured before their very eyes, and the relationship that once pointed them back to the oneness of God, now mirrored the fallen angel and the original man and woman.

I remain concerned about the bond of marriage. Today, we see marriage as the goal of many, but the eternal and forever view of the marriage covenant has faded. There are some that see marriage just as a temporal relationship that reflect the views and needs of today’s self, and not foundation upon which all things will be build and sustained in the future.

This was written not to say divorce should never happen, but to say that it should never happen. Why?

God makes His statement about marriage not only to say that it shouldn’t happen, but to inform people of His expectations before they enter into it. We must not enter into it without fully understanding what they were entering into. God wanted man thinking forever, not right now! God wanted us entering in with our full heart and commitment, and not part of our heart and an exit plan.

Sadly, we see not only a rise in domestic abuse, but a rise in divorce. Even worse, we are seeing people ages 55 to 70 get a divorce. Some of these couples have been in covenant for over 25 to 30 years, and then break covenant towards life’s end.

What is happening to our marriages? Why are so many willing to break their
vows after honoring them for so many years?

I am afraid that people are not only growing apart, but that they are not growing at all. Sadly, some of us are growing in age, but not maturing as people. We are learning how to grow our businesses and develop our personal brands but are not growing Spiritually. The people of old grew apart from God, and this distance allowed them the space to grow distant from each other. The lack of sacrifice and discipline to their God resulted in a lack of sacrifice and discipline to their spouse. Their choosing flesh over Spirit was manifesting itself in both their covenant relationship with God and man, and we are seeing a repeat of this today.

I believe God still hates divorce! He models this in His relationship with us! He entered into covenant with His people and honored it despite them. Furthermore, He expects us to honor it as well.

Disclaimer: If you are in an abusive relationship……GET OUT!!!!! PLEASE!!!!! God hating divorce doesn’t mean you have signed up for a lifetime of punishment at the hands of someone that is not submitted to Him!!!! Love yourself enough to sign the papers!!!!

#PastorJDO3 #InternetPastor

Love is a Choice!

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,
that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.
John 3:16

(To get to the heart of this blog, skip to paragraph 4)

God is our model. He left eternity, entered time, was born as though He was His creation, dwelt among His creation, was rejected, crucified and resurrected; all in an effort to reconcile man to Himself by becoming the perfect sacrifice! John reminds us of His effort, and His purpose. This effort, much like His creation of the World and of Adam and Eve, was a result of His unconditional love, which persevered broken covenants and endured great distance and hardship. His love reached beyond the external, leaning on the internal, and distributed a mercy and grace not based upon merit, but on love alone!

When reading this, I am reminded that His love was a gift to us, and not a reward based upon our actions or accomplishments. Truthfully, we deserved a brutal, ugly public divorce!!! Over and over, we sat in mediation with God through the Prophets, as He poured out His heart for us, honoring His covenant, and forgiving us for breaking ours. He tried separation, allowing Adam and Eve to live outside of the Garden. He continued giving us our space, allowing us to entertain other suitors while He reached out to us. He endured us moving in lovers into His home, and suffered pain and agony watching us use the resources He gathered, and had set aside for His usage be used to declare our love and admiration for another!

All the while, he remained filled with love; demonstrating a steadfast and longsuffering love for us who fell in and out of love with Him from day to day. Yet, He chose to love! He chose to share His love with us, though we had proven ourselves unworthy, and as filthy wretches, we were also marred and unlovable. Yet, God still chose to Love us!

Blog starts here!

OK! The point of this blog! I said all that to stand by the statement that love is truly a choice. God could have chosen not to love us. He could have watched us suffer, and ultimately watched us perish and suffer an eternity outside of His love and mercy, yet He didn’t. Ultimately, God is the supreme example of what we are to be. His love for us is not only extended to us, but is extended through us, as He commands us not only to love Him, but to love one another.

Jesus could have been born and walked directly to the cross (just for argument’s sake), but He (filled with compassion) had many encounters not simply to display His power and confirm His deity, but to verify that He was sent, and to do what The Father would do. His love for His creation caused Him to make stops, again, not for show/entertainment or to gain popularity, but to make sure even the least of these felt the love and compassion that God had for them, despite their present circumstances.

Why is this important?

This is important because we are to mirror the love of Christ! I am saddened as a global church, that the love we have for the world is far from the mark of Christ, and sadly, the love that we have for each other still miles away from the target. Honestly, from the inside, it doesn’t seem like His mark is the one we are aiming for. It seems as though we are constantly driving our ball onto a different hole.

(Funny story: I once Tee’d and aimed for the wrong flag on a golf course.
Don’t ask. It was a long and embarrassing day. I did land on the green 🙂 )

Honestly, the world continues to watch the global church pull out its driver and swing with all its power. We continue to drive the ball all over the course, seemingly unaware that there are fairways and greens assigned to the whole we are playing. On our best days we seem to be playing from the rough, and our ball seems drawn to every pit and water hazard on the course.

Now, I’m about to talk about Racism, so some might not want to read beyond this part.

I believe God is embarrassed!!!!!!!!!!! The church, His bride seems to be severed from its husband. We are a body that has found a way to operate without our head. We have remained in rebellion, and are determined to find a way to remain disjointed and attached to hate, greed, pride, fear, and foolishness.

We have people who are blood bought! People who are supposed to be covered in the Blood of Christ! People who are supposed to be submitted to His Word and His way. People who call themselves disciples, choosing not to love!!!!! There are people that are holding up a blood stained banner of an Innocent Lamb and a Conquering Lion who have chosen not to show mercy on those this Lamb Sacrificed His life for!

No, don’t fool yourself, this is not survival of the fittest. This is a bunch of greedy people fighting not over daily provision but fighting to maintain a lifestyle that even our God would not be encouraging us to pursue. Now, I’m not saying sell it all and grab a glass of punch, but God constantly refocused our perspective on the spiritual and the temporal, and what we are fighting over is not Spiritual at all. It’s the equivalent of John and James asking to sit at the right hand. They are already loved. Already chosen! Already set apart, and they look to their left and right and decide to make a power play for a seat that neither of them was worthy or willing to sacrifice to fill. They had God’s love and Grace. They even had received His power! But it wasn’t enough. The seat they wanted wouldn’t enable them to do more, but it would enable them to be seen and respected more. They wanted to live in the palace, and lost sight of Davids description and their own experience being in His presence; and so, have we!

Sadly, the church is supposed to be the place where God’s love overflows. It’s supposed to be a place where God’s love prevails. It’s supposed to be a place where God’s love is supreme, but it has become a place where God’s love is simply needed! Jesus came and turned over the tables once because prayer had ceased in His house, and I fear upon return His complaint will be about the prevailing message of hate and the unrighteous and unjust treatment of those He loves.

I am asking that you look at your love this year. And yep, look at your past efforts in love. Honestly, we have all made some really bad relationship choices. We have managed our love unlike our God, and are long overdue from a change of heart and a renewing of our minds. God has demanded more of us, than what we have offered to Him. His investment in us has yet to live up to the return it deserves. I am begging each of you to first consider, and then reconsider love. Relook at Christ, not through the lenses of a politician or even a preacher. Look at Jesus yourself. See His treatment of those who were Jews, and Gentiles. Look at His interaction with the Samaritans. Consider all His teachings to those that followed Him. Open your heart to His message, unfiltered by our social status and fears, and truly ask yourself again, what would Jesus do? And when you find it, be obedient to what you see and hear, so you and I can both hear Servant Well Done!

#PastorJDO3

Sometimes He just Listens! 1 Kings 19:4

3 Elijah was afraid and ran for
his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his
servant there, 4 while he himself went a day’s journey
into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down
under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,”
he said, “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”
1 Kings 19:3-4

Aren’t you glad God doesn’t answer every prayer?

I know this is too young for many of you, but somebody reading this should stop just for a moment and give God a shout of praise!!!!!

Now, maybe you have always been “spot on” with God’s will and knew exactly what was best for you in your life but let me take a moment (without telling all my business) to testify! There have been some things I have prayed for! There have been some things I fasted for! Things that I believed would complete me, bring satisfaction, fulfill me, advance me, help me perform and execute better….(the statements go on and on) that I begged and pleaded with God to bless me with!

Back in the day, I was “binding and loosing”, plating seeds and watering seeds! I even sacrificially gave and fell on my face before the Lord and cried out at the top of my lungs!

I once preached at a Teen Conference and refused the honorarium
and sowed it back into the ministry based on a dream and a desire
because I was praying for God to bring something I desired too past!

And God simple said, “NO!!!” I had my hands out! I had my hands up! I had my heart right! I had my posture right! I had my faith up! And God still said, “NO!!!!” This has happened on multiple occasions!!! At one point, I just asked God, if He had a bone to pick with me? I asked if it was something I had done (that was rhetorical, because the answer was YES!!!!!!!!!!) I was taking it personal.

Didn’t God hear me? Why was I being ignored? Didn’t He care about my wishes and desires? Didn’t He want what was best for me? Hey Big Guy, do me at least one solid!!!! Clearly I was on the naughty list and was being punished! He said we could ask anything! He said He would give us the desires of our hearts! He said He would supply all our needs! So, “What gives?”, I felt!

I love this passage because I had to shout when I saw God’s response to Elijah’s prayer! I thought about the many times God said “No” to my prayers, and the other times where I simply heard no response and knew the answer was “No!” The times I stood at the door and commanded it to open, only to see it remain shut, only to move on from that moment and praise God for His response and or lack thereof.

Sometimes No is in your favor! Sometimes No is what advances you! Sometimes No is what keeps you! Sometimes No is what saved you! Sometimes No is Yes! It’s God saying yes to your future. It’s Him directing your hands and feet. It’s Him leading you down the path to your destiny. It’s Him protecting you from the hands of the enemy. It’s Him keeping you from yourself. It’s God doing what is best for you!

It was Beyonce that sand about the “Best Thing She Never Had!” It was the thing God wouldn’t let you get your hands on because He knew you would hold it so tight that you wouldn’t be able to open your hands the thing He has in store for you.

Aren’t you glad sometimes God just listens? He hears your prayer! Allows you to complain! Takes note of your displeasure! Collects all your tears! Captures all your fears! Aren’t you glad that God just listens?

Where would you be if God said Yes to everything you prayed for? While this might seem like a dream come true, consider the many people you have had an opportunity to read or hear about who have a portion of what you have prayed for and think on what has transpired in their lives. Often, the thing we prayed for comes with attachments. Things you can’t see or predict! We are driven by our flesh and controlled by our eyes and stomachs but thank God He can see beyond these things.

Sometimes we want God to take immediate action, only to realize days or months later that action would have led to your destruction. Praise God for delays and praise God for “No!” I praise God that His plans are to prosper us, thus we must be patient with His instructions and His plan. We should be praising God today that in He is omniscient, He knows how to develop us. He is both wise and just and keeps His hand on us as He removes spots, irons out wrinkles and presents us back to Himself!

Here Elijah is saying, “Take my life,” And in this moment, he knows what he is saying, and means what he is asking, but God chose what was best for him and subsequently, what was best for all of us! I know it sounds selfish and mean, but I am praying that God continues to answer “No!” Not to everything, but to the things that will take you and I off the track that will keep us from carrying out our purpose in this world. I pray that He remains compassionate enough to hear you in your darkest hour but continues to be wise enough not to cater to your flesh as He develops our Spirit!

#PastorJDO3 #InternetPastor

Depression…Elijah: Fear vs Faith

1 Now Ahab told Jezebel everything Elijah had done and how he had killed
all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah to say,
“May the gods deal with me, be it ever so severely, if by this time tomorrow
I do not make your life like that of one of them.” 3 Elijah was afraid and ran for
his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while
he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush,
sat down under it and prayed that he might die. “I have had enough, LORD,”
he said, “Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.”

Organizing Observation: There are times in our life when the threats
of Jezebel strike more fear in us than the Faith we have in God’s Word!

As I studied this passage, I saw the people of God in 2022. We are a people that have experienced the power and hand of God in our lives. He has been with us through the storms and the rains. Brought us through trials and tribulations. Allowed us to defeat and overcome challenges that seemed unsurmountable. He has honored His Word and has been more faithful to us than we have been to Him. Yet, we find ourselves still cowering in fear when the words of the adversary come to us.

Honestly, I was a little frustrated with Elijah. But to be honest, I was less frustrated with him and more frustrated with myself. Elijah says something powerful at the end of his prayer for death, ” I am no greater than my ancestors.” I realized that we are the same. We have more documented proof of God’s faithfulness through others, and have experience with God personally, and yet we still have moments where the threatening messages of Jezebel strike fear in our hearts greater than the promises we have with God. And yet, we find ourselves complaining about what we don’t have, comparing ourselves to others, and coveting what others have. Worse, we like Elijah find ourselves running in fear from a defeated foe! We tremble at the words of the adversary as opposed to responding with the Promises of our God!

As impressed as we all about the battle with the false prophets in Chapter 18, we are all left with the lasting impression of this Great Champion of the Kingdom bowed in defeat under the broom brush tree.

I thought to myself,
“The Devil didn’t mind Elijah defeating the 450 false prophets
because he was gearing up for the real battle that would take
place under the Broom Brush Tree.

The 450 false prophets had no power. They used illusion and deception to give the presence of power. They were trained to follow a script, and ruled not by signs and wonders, but by hatred and violence. They were bound to rituals and had no relationship or authority to the real source of power. They were mere Pawns, but Elijah was a Bishop, who had the power and mobility of a Queen. He was connected and was in covenant with the Almighty and had the potential to connect people to God’s will and lead the people of God in a righteous manner.

Destroying Elijah would do far more damage than destroying even the 500 prophets Obadiah had hidden in the cave. Not only did the people of God receive a message from God’s heart from Elijah the Prophet, but the Prophets in the guild he led verified their messages by spending time with Elijah. Being in his presence insured that their messages were one with God and clear in communication with God’s people.

Furthermore, destroying Elijah would thwart the rise of Elisha. Elijah was purposed to train the Prophets in the land and would be given the specific charge of training his replacement. Not only would Elisha replace him, but he would leave him with a double portion of anointing. Elisha would be the one to carry trusted mantle of Elijah, and the people of God would be assured to be connected to the heart of the divine.

Thus, the battle with the 450 false prophets was great, but the greater battle would take place under a broom brush tree. There would be no sacrificial bull, nor would there be any fire from heaven, but a fight from the stage from within. Elijah was feeling the stress and anxiety from knowing Jezebel would stop at nothing to end his life and would buckle to the knowledge that he would have to have more battle like the one he just completed. He had given his all in this great stand and couldn’t fathom being bold enough and strong enough to handle another confrontation.

The truth is many of us feel exactly the same. We have one good battle in us mentally and physically, and while the Spirit can do more, we are challenge with answering the bell. At this point, one might feel like the easiest and simplest way of dealing with the problem at hand is not to face it by ending life, but this is when we must lean upon the Lord and accept the Lord’s provision. The Angel says, eat, drink and rest. Sometimes we have to put ourselves to bed and allow our mind to rest and our bodies to heal.

My prayer is that you will get rest! That you will hydrate! That you will eat a good meal! That you will find the sweat rest that comes from laying your cares before the Lord and trusting Him! He will come through. Jezebel might still be there when you awake, but so will the Lord! He is with you and is more than anyone that dare stand against you. My prayer is that you experience fewer dark nights, and more peaceful slumbers. And for those who are tormented by the words of Jezebel, I pray that you will spend so much time in God’s Word, that the voice of Jezebel will find itself muted in your head.

#PastorJDO3 #InternetPastor

If you are in Houston and struggling with dark nights and thinking about taking your life:

Crisis Intervention of Houston
Community services/non-profits
3701 Kirby Dr, Houston · (832) 416-1177

He will Speak, if you will listen!

“When God is quiet, use His Word like a Stethoscope to hear
His heart and will for You. He will speak if you will listen!“
#pastorjdo3

I posted this in 2017 after speaking to a friend who was going through the silence. We all experience moments where the voice of God seems absent from our ear. I know, who has heard God’s audible voice lately? I have. It’s heard in many ways. Sometimes it’s heard in prayer and meditation. Sometimes it’s in a song, other times it’s through a person. Most often it’s in the scripture! We are constantly hearing God guide us and confirm in us and for us the way we should go.

Too often we try to hear God’s Voice outside of spending time in God’s Word.

If we aren’t hearing His voice, there’s a good chance that we have not been reading His Word. Have you been spending time in God’s Word? We have to be intentional about our time with God. Not reading, does not know mean we don’t know Him or that we are not familiar with His Word, but that we haven’t been studying His Word.

There is a reason God instructs us to meditate on the word day and night. Knowing God, and hearing God require more than just a reading of the scripture. When we meditate on the Word, we enter into a dialogue with God, asking questions and listening to Him speak to us about His will for our lives and others.

If we aren’t reading and studying God’s Word, it indicates that we are also not spending enough time in prayer and meditation on the Word and our spiritual journey. We must engage God on a deeper level, seeking Him in every aspect of our lives. Searching for Him with every breath and following Him with every step. We must seek to be more like Him by discipline ourselves. Walking a mile in His shoes shows us and teaches us more about Him, and more about ourselves.

This intimate time with God’s Word allows us to touch His heart. Touching His heart reveals His will and allows us to represent Him accurately in our daily walk and also in our prayers. It allows us to have dialogue with Him that extends beyond praying for earthly things but opens our hearts and minds to praying for heavenly things on earth.

The last portion of the quote from 2017 is the second half of the challenge we have with hearing God. Often, God is speaking, but we aren’t willing to listen. Much like the child that covers their ears or puts in their EarPods or headphones to block out the world, we read God’s Word, memorizing all the promises, and ignoring all the instructions. Sometimes the silence of God isn’t silence at all, but it’s the unwillingness of us to submit to His will for our lives. Often God has spoken to us about our ways and remains confirmed about His desires.

There are times when we protest God’s Word with our disobedience. His Word cries out about our sin and the injustices we have towards others. Our flesh stands in agreement and leads us to defend our actions, disputing His voice until it is muted in our lives. Are you living in rebellion?

God will speak to anyone who is open to listening.

#PastorJDO3 #InternetPastor