August Rejoice Essential 2017 by Kimberly Moses

REJOICE ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE AUGUST 2017

CONTENT Page 04 Contributor Page 08 Gold, Silver, Jewels (Precious stones), Wood, Grass (or Hay), or Straw: How Will Your Works Hold Up? Page 11 Wells Filled With Dust Page 12 Trust walk: Day 1 Page 18 Hair Porosity 101 Page 20 Healthy Living Page 23 Birthed for Promise Page 26 Tron’s Fashion Page 30 Love Letters From the King

Page 46 Four Functions Of The Fire Of God Page 48 Trust walk: Day 5 Page 50 4 Things Every Woman Should Do before She Ties the Knot Page 52 The Lord Is About To Give You A Sign Page 56 Who We Are

Page 58 Your Life As A Christian Should Make Nonbelievers Question Their Disbelief In God Page 64 Facing The Unknown Page 66 Trust walk: Day 13

Page 32 Testimonies Page 34 Elder Derrick Dease Page 44 What’s Wrong With Your Church

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CONTRIBUTORS

Kimberly Hargraves Founder And Editor Colorado Springs, Colorado www.kimberlyhargraves.com

Tron Moses Photographer, Designer, Marketer Bennettsville, South Carolina www.tronmoses.org

Quiana Robinson Writer And Interviewer Brandywine, Maryland quianarobinson09@gmail.com

Reynaldo Rodriguez Writer Chicago, Illinois reyrod1970@gmail.com

REJOICE ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE AUGUST 2017

Mae Blooms Writer Fort Lauderdale, FL info@thebetterwifeproject.com www.thebetterwifeproject.com

Mia Mason Writer And Editor Salisbury, NC freshstartministries2016@gmail.com

Amber Brown Writer Poplar Bluff, Missouri UnityofSoulsMinistry@gmail.com

Keiyia Jackson-George Writer And Chief Editor Cane Garden Bay, Tortola Virgin Islands www.rkgconsultinggroup.com www.justmekjg.com

REJOICE ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE AUGUST 2017

Taylur Holland Writer Dallas, Texas thescribesheart@gmail.com

Bobbie Ford Nutritionist Bennettsville, South Carolina fruitfulsouls@gmail.com

Shirley Ann Cooper Writer Kissimmee, Florida praise write@gmail.com

Wylie and Equalla Foster Writer And Interviewer Murrieta, California bencouraged09@yahoo.com

REJOICE ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE AUGUST 2017

GOLD, SILVER, JEWELS (PRECIOUS STONES), WOOD, GRASS (OR HAY), OR STRAW: HOW WILL YOUR WORKS HOLD UP? By Melinda Roberts the ministry live and die without getting into even the first phase He has for them.” Kenneth further asserted, “That is one reason why many ministers die prematurely – they are living only in His permissive will.”

Whenever I think about the seriousness of us being committed to accomplishing that which God has individually placed us in the earth to accomplish, I am reminded of a testimony given by the late Kenneth E. Hagin that is recorded in his book entitled I Believe in Visions: The Fascinating Personal Story of a Man whose Life and Ministry Have Been Dramatically Influenced by the Visions of Jesus. The gist of the testimony is that after pastoring (an office he preferred and in which he was very comfortable) and deciding to move forward

as God directed, Kenneth was informed by Jesus that he was just entering “the first phase” of his ministry. Imagine that… spending 12 years doing a work in which fruit is evident (souls were saved, people were delivered, the church grew spiritually and numerically), and still not being where God intends for you to be. In his book, Kenneth E. Hagin attested that he had been in God’s permissive will for 15 years total…pastoring for 12 and evangelizing for three. He also stated that Jesus told him that “some ministers He has called to

The aforementioned testimony attests to the fact that we can spend a significant amount of time producing and seeing fruitful works for the kingdom of God and completely be out of God’s perfect will for possibly a season or most of our lives. It is highly possible that we can expend our efforts, our time, our God-given gifts, and treasure (money), spinning our wheels and still not be flowing with the heartbeat of God. I agree that it is most essential that once we become born again, Spirit-filled Christians, it is of paramount importance to attach ourselves to a thriving local assembly, where we can grow through learning the Word of God and fellowshipping with like-minded believers. Likewise, it is necessary to put our hands to the plow

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(serve as an usher, on the choir, as a greeter, become a part of the varied ministries/outreaches offered through the church, etc.). Serving is a great part of our Christian walk, and it serves to fulfill our obligation to serve collectively. However, one must also take into account that God has also designed an individual purpose for each believer - His will for our lives. While we may at times wander into God’s permissive will and blatantly end up in situations where we know we don’t belong occasionally in our lives, it is important to know and apply ourselves to walk in and accomplish God’s perfect will for our lives. In order to determine God’s specific agenda, plan, and purpose for our individual lives, we must be able to identify gifts (spiritually and naturally). What generally transpires is God places most gifts inside of us before birth, and they begin to surface during childhood; the discovery and realization of said gifts serve as a great indication of God’s assignment. The continual pursuit of determining God’s individual will should include submission to a spiritual leader who has embraced the full ministry of Holy Spirit and who operates in the gifts of the Spirit and can steer and direct congregants accordingly, individual prayer, fasting. It should also include spending time in the Word of God and in His presence during personal times of praise and worship. Once God completely unveils His will for

our lives, it is essential that we not waste too much time outside of His flow, but steadily cultivate those gifts as He matures, develops, and processes us to walk in the fullness of the manifestation of each. Why is determining God’s will for one’s life and applying oneself to fulfilling it highly necessary? We will each give an account before God for what we do in this earth with what He has given us (Romans 14:12). Essentially, even though we’ll make it to heaven, we will lose reward for not fulfiling our purpose while on earth. “The foundation that has already been laid is Jesus Christ, and no one can lay down any other foundation. But if people build on that foundation, using gold, silver, jewels (precious stones), wood, grass (or hay), or straw, their work will be clearly seen because the day of judgment will make it visible. That day will appear with fire and the fire will test everyone’s work to show what sort of work it was. If the building that has been put on the foundation still stands, the builder will get a reward. But if the building is burned up, the builder will suffer loss. The builder will be saved, but it will be as one who escaped from a fire.” (1 Corinthians 3:1115 (EXB)). We must consistently remember that God has placed us in this earth for His plan, will, and purpose. Even though we have been afforded many amenities and immeasurable benefits natu-

rally, we are expected to produce righteous fruit accordingly. We must purpose to press through the distractions, challenges and setbacks that life has a tendency to offer and ensure that we are walking in complete alignment with and obedience to what God perfectly desires for our lives. May we not spend an entire lifetime staying in a place where we are most comfortable and where we experience the least resistance. Let us be willing to stretch and be stretched and allow God to increase our capacity to obtain all that He has for us to receive. We must constantly purpose to forge through the past and strain toward what is ahead… and keep trying to reach the goal and get the prize for which God called us to life above, through Jesus Christ (Philippians 3:13-14 (EXB)). Ensure that your works are refined by the fire and not consumed by it; what you do on this earth resounds in heaven, has eternal weight, carries eternal consequences, and matters to God.

REJOICE ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE AUGUST 2017

WELLS FILLED WITH DUST By Taylur Holland

stagnant waters. stale and unmoving. what appears to be a place of refreshing is a habitation for flies. yet, many still come to drink from these wells filled with dust. the Presence once made His home in this place, but when the value of position outranked praise, suffocated the depth of worship, and arrested the heart of prayer, He departed. they didn’t want Him. yet, many still come to this place to offer adoration to hollow idols and drink from these wells filled with dust. this place, once a holy temple, is now a template for many that view it as a steeple of success. its image has been replicated time and time again from its end, so Glory has never been invited in to take a seat alongside any of this place’s bastard offspring. yet, many come to drink from these wells filled with dust.

this place has been built on the faulty foundation of sweet words that strive to never highlight the bitterness of sin that is coiled tight around the torso of every hearer. constricted and confined, but content — the hearers, they know no difference and they look no different than the world they go to minister to with cookie cutter scripts in hand. yes, they want others to come and drink from these wells filled with dust. this dust — the finest there is — created from what flows out of the world’s broken heart — the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. these have crept into this place — once a holy temple — and many run to drink from its wells filled with dust simply because they’re just so used to doing it.

REJOICE ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE AUGUST 2017

TRUST WALK: DAY 1 By Keiyia J. George

Day 1: I trust you, Lord. You will fight for me if I will stand still. Exodus 14 describes the scene when Moses parted the sea and the Egyptians were drowned. Pharaoh decided to change his mind about letting his slaves free. To get glory from it and triumph over Pharaoh, God told Moses He would harden Pharaoh’s heart so that Pharaoh would definitely come after Moses and the Israelites. The people grew worrisome as they watched the Egyptians come towards them. They grew frightened, dreading their death in the dessert, wishing they’d stayed enslaved in Egypt. Moses reminded the people that God will fight for them if they only stood still. God then told Moses to lift

his walking stick and divide the sea that was before them. He assured Moses that the Egyptians would follow them across but not make it out. The great cloud that was in front of the Israelites came between the Egyptians and the Israelites. It provided light for the Israelites but darkness for the Egyptians. As Moses reached out his hand, the sea parted and the people crossed on dry land. Sure enough, Pharaoh and his men pursued them once they could see without the cloud blocking them. In an almost comical manner, the Lord God caused confusion among the Egyptians. Their chariot wheels were all of a sudden jammed or removed. Pharaoh wisely realized that God fought for these people and began to call his people back. Before they could get back to the other side, God had Moses stretch his hand out again

and the waters closed in on the Egyptians. These acts caused the people of God to believe in Him and know that He is who He said He is. Hear the promise again: I will fight for you if you stand still. Standing still means doing nothing and allowing God to handle the situation. Too often we want to assist the great I Am in situations and it causes us to get out of alignment with not only His Word, but His Will. We have to learn to stand still. When things get tough and you want to do something, plant your feet firmly on ground and shove your hands in your pockets. Until you hear from God, don’t do anything! Stand still. Leave the situation alone. God will fight your battle. He’s got your back. It may not feel good right now, but it will all work for your benefit if you stand still. Just like the Israelites. They could’ve ran towards the Egyptians and begged them for mercy, but they stood still. When it was all said and done, they triumphed over the Egyptians and not one of Pharaoh’s men was left alive. Not one Israelite was harmed. One last thing, if you find it difficult to keep your hands in your pocket, do like Moses did and simply lift them up. While they are up, surrender your will to God and reaffirm: I trust you God. Trusting in Him, Keiyia JOYet George Trust Walk: Walking in His Steps coming soon!

REJOICE ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE AUGUST 2017

HAIR POROSITY 101 By Mia Mason not take hair color • Takes a long time for your hair to get fully wet, and you notice water beads sitting on your hair • Hair takes hours to dry • Thick products (butters) make your hair feel greasy • Protein sensitive (doesn’t like it) Tips:

Hair porosity is how well your hair can absorb and hold moisture. It is important to know the porosity of your hair in order to find the best products to use in your hair regimen. Porosity is usually determined by your genetics, but heat and chemical damage can also cause a change in your level. There are three porosity levels: • Low • Normal/Medium • High Normal porosity means that your hair is working out fine. You don’t really have a problem with choosing products because

your hair can absorb moisture and hold it in. The levels that we will focus on are low porosity and high porosity. Low Porosity If you have low porosity hair, all of your hair cuticles are extremely sealed and closed shut. It is hard for moisture to come in. Here are some signs that you have low porosity hair: • Products sit on your hair causing product buildup • Hair does

• When deep conditioning your hair, you can use some heat (ex. Hooded dryer, conditioning cap, etc.). You need to open up your hair cuticles. • Wash your hair with hot water • Heat your deep conditioning • Use lighter products (lotions, milks, thin oils, etc) • Use an ACV rinse for the product buildup • Apply products to damp hair

REJOICE ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE AUGUST 2017

High Porosity If you have high porosity, then your hair cuticles are wide open and the moisture can come in. But as easy as the moisture goes in… the moisture comes right back out. It is also known as highly damaged or processed hair. Here are some signs that you have high porosity hair: • Hair tangles very easily • Hair dries quick • Hair is always frizzy • Thin products (lotions and milks) don’t work • Loves protein Tips: • Keep your hair soaking wet and apply product • Layer the products (leave-in conditioner, cream,

butter) • Air dry • Rinse your hair with cold water • Use heavier products (butters, creams, heavy oils, etc.) Hair Porosity Tests The only way to find out what your porosity level is to do tests. The most common test to find out the porosity level is known as the cup test. You take a glass of room temp water and place a strand of your freshly washed hair in the water. After 2-4 minutes, check to see the position of the hair strand. If your hair is floating, then you have low porosity hair. If it sinks to the bottom, you have high porosity hair. Your hair needs to be freshly washed so there will be no hair products weighing

the hair strand down. It is best to use room temp water because hot water opens your hair cuticles, and cold water will close your hair cuticles. Another way to test your hair is to do the strand test. Hold a strand of your hair and rub it up and down. If the hair strand feels smooth, then you more than likely have low porosity hair. If you feel ridges or bumps, then you more than likely have high porosity. The last way that you can test your porosity is to do the spray hair. If you spray your hair and you see hair beads, then you more than likely have low porosity hair. If your hair soaks in the water, then you more than likely have high porosity hair.

REJOICE ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE AUGUST 2017

Chipotle

REJOICE ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE AUGUST 2017

CHIPOTLE Serves 4 Prep Time 15 minutes Cook time 30 minutes Ingredients 1 pound of choice of meat (chicken, steak, chorizo) 1 cup of any variety of rice (white or brown) 1 12 oz. jar of chipotle sauce 1 15 oz. can of your choice of beans (black beans or pinto beans) 4 tomatoes 1 16 oz. container of sour cream 1 bag of shredded lettuce (optional) 1 tablespoon of guacamole 1 16 oz. jar of corn & Chili salsa 1 pound of shredded cheddar cheese 1 16 oz. jar of salsa picante Directions 1) Chop up your choice of meat in cube sections. Next brown the meat over medium heat until its fully cook. Add the jar of chipotle sauce to the meat and let it absorb the sauce. Cut the pan on low heat and let it simmer for about 10-15 minutes. 2)

Cook rice of your choice.

Warm up the can of beans

Dice tomatoes

5) Layer the following ingredients on a plate or bowl in this order. Start off with the rice as the base, your choice of meat, the beans, the corn & chile salsa, the lettuce, tomatoes, and cheese. Top with a spoonful of salsa picante, guacamole, and sour cream.

Enjoy. Let us know how this recipe came out. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t forget to share on your social media networks.

REJOICE ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE AUGUST 2017

BIRTHED FOR PROMISE By Amber M. Brown

REJOICE ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE AUGUST 2017

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without him was not anything made that was made. In him was life; and the life was the light of men. And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not” (John 1:1-5). We were created by God for a certain purpose. When in our mother’s womb, God gave each of us a responsibility in this world and has asked us to function in our responsibility with order and efficiency. The responsibility given to each of us is a covering, a mantle, and it is a gift from God. A gift that will fulfill every assignment for your life from start to finish as God had intended in your journey with him. God chose to create you and then chose to birth you for promise. God is love, and love is best expressed towards someone or something. We are His expressions of love! Do you know who you are and whose you are? Do you love God completely? Do you know what your purpose is? If you don’t know the answers to these questions, then you must take time in Him to find yourself. God wants you to understand who you are so that you can understand who you are in Him. What are your strengths and your weaknesses? What passion lies within your heart that others know nothing about but that you can feel every day burning inside your spirit? God wants

you to know who you are in Him so that you can walk in your purpose for your promise! Scripture says, You are a child of God (John 1:12). You are a branch of the true vine, and a conduit of Christ’s life (John 15:15). You are a friend of Jesus (John 15:15). You have been justified and redeemed (Romans 3:24). Your old self was crucified with Christ, and you are no longer a slave to sin (Romans 6:6). You will not be condemned by God (Romans 8:1). You have been set free from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2). You have been accepted by Christ (Romans 15:7), In Christ, you have wisdom, righteousness, sanctification, and redemption (1 Corinthians 1:30). You are joined to the Lord and are one spirit with Him (1 Corinthians 6:17). You are a new creature in Christ (2 Corinthians 5:17). You have been blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3). You are chosen, holy, and blameless before God (Ephesians 1:4). You have been sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise (Ephesians 1:13). You are God’s workmanship created to produce good works (Ephesians 2:10). You have been brought near to God by the blood of Christ (Ephesians 2:13). You are a member of Christ’s body and a partaker of His promise (Ephesians 3:6;5:30). You have been made complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10). You will be revealed with Christ in His glory because you have made Christ your life (Co-

lossians 3:4). Creation tells a story about God and ourselves. We understand that God is a creative being and since He is the creator of the world, He is distinct when compared to all of us. He is eternal and in control of all. God considers us very valuable and in His eyes, there is nothing more beautiful than you. You are more important than anything else created in the whole entire world. God knew you before your mother knew you. God is a God that has always been there. He is an infinite being that was created by no one, which is why He enjoys the birthing of His children for the promises of the future. He created you first, then He chose a specific time to birth you into this world. All his plans are strategic and in order. With your birth, He gave you promise. “For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end” (Jeremiah 29:11). “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are) called according to [his] purpose” (Romans 8:28). “Whereby are given unto us exceeding great and precious promises: that by these ye might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:4). “For all the promises of God in him [are] yea, and in him Amen, unto the glory of God by us” (2 Corinthians 1:20).

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“If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you” (John 5:7-8).

be there to make sure that you continue walking the journey to what He has promised you already.

Always remember brothers and sisters, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let you requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things [are] honest, whatsoever things [are] just, whatsoever things [are]pure, whatsoever things [are] lovely, whatsoever things [are] of good report; if [there be] any virtue, and if [there be] any praise, think on these things. Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you” (Phillipians 4:6-9).

You were birthed for promise and created for reason. There is one assignment after another out there for you, but to find them, you must know who you are and whose you are. You must understand that your birth was a fulfilling word spoken by God. And on your journey, “if you ask it shall be given, if you seek; you will find, if you knock; the door shall be opened” (Matthew 7:7) Don’t give up on the calling of God. Choose to RISE up and be all that you were created to be. Find your WHY, and when you find it, don’t let anyone take it away from you! Choose a life with Christ and choose to follow through with the promises that He has for you.

God has faith in us even when we do not have faith in ourselves. He encourages us to move ahead, and He believes that we can complete every mission that He has called us for and promises to see it through with us every step of the way. God knows your future and His plans for you are good. If you allow God to always step before you and plan your steps, you will receive every promise in which has been given. This does not mean that along the way you will not have pain, suffering, or even hardship, but during this process God will

Birthed for Promise -A letter to the fatherFor you formed my inward parts and knitted me together in my mother’s womb to develop in me a son or daughter to raise up and groom. I had no idea that I would give up my life for a new life with you, but you said when the perfect comes, the partial will pass away and I will be made new. You found me in exile but I was birthed for promise because you said in your Word that you would give power to the weak

and strength to the powerless, and with that promise my dreams are endless. You know the plans that you have for my life, for good and not disaster, which will give me a future and a whole lot of laughter. I walk each day with choices to fulfill my purpose so when the test comes will I catch your rope and give you my best or will I give up and be like the rest? In you I have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined for greatness. You created me for a reason, and in this season I will trust you with all my heart, and build a solid foundation so that I will not fall apart. You have birthed me for promise so I shall accept the call, to rise up and catch myself before the fall. I will do your good works until we meet again, one early morning or at the sunset end. “Live in such a way that those who know you but don’t know God, will come to know God because they know you.” -Unknown-

REJOICE ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE AUGUST 2017

LOVE LETTERS FROM THE KING “Sit Back And Relax I Have This Under Control” By Quiana Robinson

REJOICE ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE AUGUST 2017

Many have been the test and trials of the last few months. My daughters have grown weary of the battles that come along with transition. However, in this month of August I am urging you to rest. I promise to my daughters that I will arise as you take a seat. This battle is not yours, it belongs to me, and it has an expiration date. This is a time for you to be still and know that I am God. There have been some radical shifts that have taken place. I know that it’s uncomfortable, but they are necessary. I will never leave you without comfort. Take rest now my daughters and allow me to quiet you with my love. I know the plans that I have for you. You will get through this season! But rest is the weapon that you need to learn how to use. I want you to be healthy and not weighed down by stress or anxiety. You have too much work to do. Commit the rest of this battle and this journey into my hands. With me you can’t lose. No it’s not too late for you. No, I didn’t change my mind about what I promised you. Keep your eyes focused on me and not your circumstances. Stop thinking about the things you can’t change. I will not share your gaze with anything or anyone else. Do not honor your circumstances more than you honor my word. Rest in the fact that I have already done what I said. And the gates of hell shall not prevail. I am the Lord. I am Sovereign. And still on the throne.

Love, The Lord of Hosts

will exult over you with loud singing.

Prayer:

Jeremiah 29:11(kjv) -For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.

Abba, I commit this season of transition and every battle I may be facing in your hands. I chose to rest on your promises. Give me the grace that I need to see this season through.

In Jesus Name.

Amen. Scripture References Psalm 68:1(kjv)-Let God arise, let his enemies be scattered: let them also that hate him flee before him. 2 Chronicles 20:15(kjv)-And he said, “Hearken ye, all Judah and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem, and thou King Jehoshaphat! Thus saith the Lord unto you: ‘Be not afraid nor dismayed by reason of this great multitude; for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Psalm 46:10(kjv)-Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. John 14:16 (kjv) And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever Zephaniah 3:17 (kjv)-The LORD your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he

2 Corinthians 10:4 (kjv)-For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds 3 John 2 (kjv)- Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth. Proverbs 16:3 (kjv)-Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. Jeremiah 1:12(kjv)-Then said the Lord unto me, “Thou hast well seen, for I will hasten My word to perform it.” Matthew 16:18 (kjv)-And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. Matthew 22:37 (kjv)-Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

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TESTIMONIES: LET’S GIVE THE DEVIL A BLACK EYE! When we share our testimonies, our faith increases! We start to believe God for the Impossible! We can see the power and the hand of God in any situation. God can turn any test into a testimony! We know if God did it before, he can do it again. Our Testimonies glorify God!

I wanted to testify to the glory of God. You prophesied to me some months ago and these are the notes I took: Women and children around me (small scale), Single mothers ex: people’s home, nursery, mic/speaking/singer, refining/polishing, glory & favor of God, something like hotline counseling, supporters around me. Prophetess, I have been working for a Christian based women and children’s shelter for a week now. It is through a rescue mission in my city. We get to be the hands and

feet of Jesus. There’s a nursery. There are children and babies I get to hold and play with. I love this job, the people and my co-workers. Looking forward to what the Lord has in Store. Thank you. I thank God for you, I had to walk away from my family to answer God’s calling. It hurt so very badly. Still does at times, but I thank God for you. The Lord led me to one of your vlogs on FB back in December 2016. I will forever be grateful for this. I was homeless at the time and ready to give up.

You prophesied into my life and God’s words began to manifest! Thank you so much for answering God’s calling and being obedient unto Him! It is my prayer that one day we may get to meet face to face. I truly believe that you are a member in my God given family-The Kingdom. I praise God for you! Be encouraged! I watched the video and you said if you have back pain bend over. I touched my toes and I instantly felt the pressure go away in that

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moment. Lord if you did it once I know you can do it again and I suffer from migraines and I have a prolapsed uterus and was told it would be hard for me and my husband to have kids. I will trust the report of the Lord and be healed in Jesus name to conceive. Thank you for taking the time to encourage us while preparing a meal for your mother. You prayed the healing for me a couple of months ago for pain on my left, it’s gone. Thank you, Jesus! Thank you so much! God is truly using you to touch the lives and hearts of others. I was lead to you 2 nights ago and it seems I keep coming back to you and every time I hear God speaking to me. I am truly thankful for him using you in my life and I know it’s not by accident that I have come across your YouTube channel. May God continue to use you to reach many. Thank you again for your prayers woman of God. Guess who’s moving! Just like you confirmed what I heard God say! My address will be changing very soon. Believing the prophet so I receive the reward. Hello! Ms. Kimberly Hargraves I thank God for your ministries, last night I was on your periscope and while on your periscope I received healing in my back. I received joy, clarity, the fire of God, peace, and so much more. I wish I could sow a seed, but the least I could do is come and share what the Lord used

you to do in my life. God bless you. Praise Report! I usually don’t post anything about my work. However, the Lord has been causing me to step out more on faith and pray for the sick. So today while I was at work, this elderly patient came in to see me wanting to get home oxygen. All of the sudden we began to talk about God. This lady could barely walk without getting short of breath and she had multiple health issues. I heard the Lord tell me to pray for her. So, I obeyed and I felt God all over me as I was praying. This lady began to confess loudly, “Lord, I feel your power! Lord, I feel your power!” She began to week and even kiss me. She jumped up, claimed her healing, and ran out the building. I believe that God healed her. I am rejoicing. There was a reason why I was called into work today and not my co-worker. God is the master planner for setting up miracles. Hello, I attended your online conference called, “Help! I am single and need help preparing for Boaz.” Before you ended I prayed to God like Gideon. I said, “If I’m getting married this year, then Prophetess has to mention my favorite scripture. As you were ending, you stated quoting Numbers 23:19. Look at God! Love You! Hello Prophetess Kimberly, I just want to share my good news. The company I worked for as temp employee, has offered me the position permanently today,

just like you prophesied. I was so overjoyed that I could hardly focus. I wish they would have given me the news at the end of the day, nevertheless God has once again favored me. Hallelujah!! Hi Prophetess Kimberly. I was on your Scope yesterday and I asked for prayer for my vomiting since I’ve been sick a little over a week. You said you heard in the spirit, “It’s a boy!” My husband and I have been trying to conceive since I had my tubes untied in 2005! Omgosh I receive that Prophetic word WOG. I believe God and I will update you as soon as I find out. God, bless you and Congratulations on your engagement. Hey beautiful woman of God! I just wanna tell you that I was on a conference prayer call last night and the prophet said by this time next year I will have a SON. Glory to God. I could just hear you saying it’s a boy! I believe God’s promises and I receive that in Jesus name. Thank you for your prayers and if I don’t reach out to you on Sunday. Happy Mother’s Day. Hello Prophetess, my sis! I just wanted to give you an update. After you prayed for me, the next two days the pain dwindled, then after that I was completely pain free, the whole 2 week vacation! Thank you for always being a friend I can come to with my issues and thank you for praying. You are such as great woman of faith. Love you!

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ELDER DERRICK DEASE Interviewed By Kimberly Hargraves Elder Derrick Dease is a man that’s not trying to win a popularity contest. He has a heart for people to knowing the truth. He is one that is very successful in business and willing to teach others how to do the same. He’s a true Man of God who is loved by many, and will soon be our official Pastor here at Solid Rock Holiness Church. It’s an awesome experience for anyone to just sit and listen to this man expound on the word of God. He doesn’t just talk a good game, but whatever it is he’s talking about is how he lives his life. He’s truly extraordinary in these last and evil days. Deacon Tony Green Elder Derrick Dease is a man who’s authentic. He’s unlike anyone else to a point where he tries to emulate, imitate, or fit the norm. He’s a Man of God that is seeking to do the will of God. He works to please God with everything he’s set forth to do in the life that God has given him. I thank God for him. In the years that I’ve known him, I’ve seen that he has a heart for people. He truly has the heart of God, and there’s nothing that he would not do if he’s able to do it. Elder Dease is someone that you would love to meet, know, and to have in your corner. He will definitely keep you encouraged, lifted, and strengthened in your

walk with the Lord. So, who is Elder Derrick Dease? Well, he’s a Man of God and it’s not just by name, nor is it by title. It’s by his admission to walk by faith, and not by sight. It’s by his admission to please God, shun the devil, and proclaim the Word. That is who Elder Dease is when it comes to me. Elder J. Purvis Elder Derrick Dease is a phenomenal Man of God who is wrapped in righteousness. His humility portrays him as a small flower waving in the breeze of the wind in a garden of the unknown, but he carries the tenacity of a roaring lion to the pulpit. He’s the epitome of glory in the human essence. Elder Dease is a leader to many, but a follower of Christ. He is a vessel that is instrumental to God’s people. Patrice Ridges Elder Derrick Dease is an anointed Man of God that takes the word of God to a deeper level. He’s an awesome mentor on all aspects of life from spiritual, health, finance, and entrepreneurship. His leadership skills are phenomenal, and we need more leaders like him to preach the word of God without compromise. Marcus Ford Elder Derrick Dease is an anointed Man of God. The Lord uses him

heavily when it comes to the prophetic. The Lord has blessed him with the gift to teach and preach. The revelations that the Lord gives him of the Word is indescribable. I remember back at the end of 2002, early 2003 when the Lord was dealing with me about Joshua 3 in the bible. I was a babe in the Lord at that time so I said to the Lord, “What are YOU trying to say to me?”. That following Sunday, the Lord gave me an answer. Elder Dease preached on Joshua 3, and his title was ‘Go After It’. Ever since then He has used this MOG to encourage, strengthen and chastise me. I know that he spends time in the Presence of the Lord because he always brings forth a Rhema Word. I remember in June or July 2005 when he asked during service if anyone wanted prayer. The line went all the way to the doors, and I was part of that line. He spoke a couple of words and laid hands on me. It was then that the anointing hit me, and I couldn’t stop praising the Lord. I’ve heard many preachers, but the anointing on Elder Dease has made a very incredible impact on my life. LaTasha Moses Interviewer: I follow Tron Moses on periscope and I see that he shares your scopes. Your Periscope name is Wisdom Talks. How did you get that name? Elder: Tron had been talking to me

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a while about ‘periscoping’. He is in to that. Every time that I would preach or teach, he would always tell me that I would need to share. He said, “This needs to go further than where you are located.” So, he sort of coached me in it. He walked me through using Periscope. I was thinking, “Well, if I do Periscope, what am I going to call this?” We are living in a day and time, we just have to share just as Paul shared with Timothy. I think the church can use a lot of wisdom in a lot of areas so I just call it Wisdom Talks. Interviewer: Amen. That’s a blessing. Amen. Yes. We definitely do need some wisdom. Lord, Jesus. My next question is why don’t we see the power of God moving in the church like in the book of Acts? Elder: Wow. That’s a good question. I think one of the main reasons is because we got so used to learning the methods of the church. We memorize what the protocol is of the local building and denominations. We’ve done a good job auditioning for positions. We’ve done a very good job in making sure we connect in order to move up the food chain of the gospel. But the main thing we missed is relationship with the Holy Spirit. The Apostles never chased titles. They never chased notoriety. They were never trying to be the next big person. Their primary job was ‘… thy kingdom come…’ and ‘…thy will be done in the earth…’. They were trying to invite God into the earth; his manifestation into the earth. We are just trying to invite people to our meetings. Interviewer: Yes. That’s true. Elder: We miss it because we forget the role of the Holy Spirit is the very fiber, the essence, the fullness of who God is. Without His Spirit, the Holy Spirit, there is no manifestation of Him in the earth. I think we are manifesting ourselves, our

agendas, and our personalities. But we aren’t manifesting His Spirit. It says according to His word; the day shall come that the burden shall be removed from his shoulders. The yokes shall be destroyed because of the anointing. It didn’t say any other thing. It was because of the anointing. We kind of, as a group, have rewritten God’s script and we want God’s results. He is the author and finisher of our faith. He is not going to finish anything that He has not authored. If we draw nigh to him, he will draw nigh to us. I think we missed it in that degree. Interviewer: Yes. Elder: It says that my hands are not shortened where I cannot save. Nor my ear deaf where I cannot hear. He says, “That your sins have separated you from me.” When we get to the place where we learn to seek His face. My minds goes back to the day of Pentecost. They were seeking God in one place with one agenda. I know there is a wide spread movement of prosperity. I think we have the wrong concept of what true prosperity is. They weren’t seeking to have a meeting to see how many people they could get to pack the facility or how much money that could take in. As they were seeking God, God showed up. Interviewer: Amen. Elder: He manifested His power in such a degree. When God manifests his power, he also manifests his character. Whenever we think about God showing up, we think about a shaking and quaking, a few people shouting, we had a good time, and the music was right. Interviewer: Right. Elder: But when God really shows up, His character shows up. When the day of the Pentecost had fully come, the Holy Spirit manifested. The scripture says, “People began

to sell their land and lay it at the Apostle’s feet so there will be no lack among them.” In other words, they didn’t depend on the government. They took care their physical and financial needs of their own people. You can say that the first welfare program started with the body taking care of each other. Interviewer: My God. Elder: The welfare of the people. Then after that, the scripture says, “Nobody said what they had was theirs.” When the Spirit shows up, His character shows up. In event their nature changed. Nobody was trying to be the big one. Nobody said what they had was theirs because God’s spirit showed up. When His spirit shows up, his character shows up. They went from house to house, having what they call love feasts Breaking bread with each other. They were like we are going to camp out together and talk about Jesus and eat and share with each other. And that’s when His Spirit shows up. When a real move of God takes place He just don’t move your legs and feet, he moves your heart. Interviewer: That’s Right. Elder: I think that is the difference from what we have from today and what we had then. Interviewer: My next question to you is what are some ways for us to get back on track like they did in the bible days. For example, when wanting to give to the Apostles. It seems as if when a man or woman of God asks the people for a need, nobody wants to give. Also, when we call prayer meetings, nobody wants to come. What can we do as a whole to get back on track? What do you recommend? Elder: I believe first of all that we have to go back. The bible talks about it in 2 Chronicles 15. Start-

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ing at verse 3. For a long season, Israel had been without a true God, teaching priest, and without law for those 12 years. I think we have to reinstate the teaching priest. People whose primary agenda is to hear what God is saying and tell it to the body. Interviewer: Amen. Elder: Also, speaking boldly without compromise. I think the people we have nominated are the people that we have propped up to be a voice for the body. A lot of them have already been brought. So, they are going to be politically correct. They have 50 million dollar facilities they have to pay off. They have to make sure they take care of the staff. I am not against any of that. Interviewer: Right. Elder: But don’t let those things compromise the message. With Israel, without a teaching priest, they began to serve other Gods and idols. They began to prop up other things and make them the most center of importance. We have to get people to go back and preach the truth of the gospel without compromise. We have to hold each other accountable. If one falls, don’t destroy them. You that are spiritual minded; restore such a one in the spirit of meekness considering yourself. I think in order to get back, we have to first start with the leaders. The scriptures says, “Judgment must first start in the house of God then spread abroad.” It has to start with us. I think as ministers, we are too anxious to be the next great. Whatever is popular and what everyone else is saying we want to say it with flare and with method. I think we have to go back and hear what God is saying. It’s not your style and not so much your charisma. It is more so that the power of God will rest upon you. Paul said,

“I endure all things that the power of God rest upon me.” The early disciples turned the city upside down. With what? The message. Interviewer: Amen. Elder: When God’s message is preached, His power will follow. These signs shall follow them that believe. I think when the message of the gospel is preached without compromise, then the Holy Spirit will confirm with the accompaning of signs and wonders. Signs and wonders have left because his word left. There are a lot of places where his signs and wonders are being confirmed because his word has been preached. When we bring back his message we bring back his power. In order for the body to do that, the pastors have to first start. How can they hear the scriptures said without a preacher? How can

they preach unless they be sent of God? If you are sent by God and you understand your calling, you have to proclaim that even in the midst of opposition. Even if you were to say some things that aren’t politically correct. One example I use is Kim Burrell. Anytime, you see a pastor or minister preach in their own church and they begin to get outcast by the Christian community that is a serious problem. Interviewer: Yes. It is. Elder: The body of Christ has always been able to preach the gospel without compromise. All twelve of the disciples were martyred or killed. They died for this thing. Now we have to make sure we say the right thing and don’t offend anyone, even if they conflict with the bible. We have to let the preachers get back into the stand. I think

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but not micromanage. I think some people take the word covering too far. I’ve seen pastors that were so power hungry that the congregation felt like they couldn’t take a vacation or go anywhere without the pastor giving their blessing. God never called us to that. We aren’t Lords over God’s inheritance. There is only one God. He has appointed people to be able to guide the body. Scripture calls them watchmen on the wall. Whenever there was danger or trouble, they would sound the trumpet. If you do see danger or trouble and not sound the trumpet, the bible says, “the blood I will require at your hands.” I believe that God has appointed people in the body of Christ to provide oversight, to provide guidance, to help keep the body in alignment according to the word.

about Elijah. He got discouraged. He got depressed because he was coming against Baal, Ahab, and Jezebel. He got to the point and said, “God, am I the only one? I wish I was dead. ” God began to rebuke him saying, “You aren’t the only one?” I got thousands more. Go on,do the work, put the mantle on someone else, and keep the work going. Interviewer: Right. Elder: I think sometimes pastors feel if they stand, they will be alone. I think they have to go back to their stand and realize that God is more important. When they do that, then we can see the fire get reignited. Interviewer: Amen. I agree. That was an awesome answer. It seems like a lot of people don’t want to be accountable anymore. Do you

believe in having a covering and people being accountable to leaders or submitted to their leaders? How do you feel about that? Elder: I believe that God has ordained order in the body of Christ. I believe in the fivefold ministry. I believe God just order because someone has to…. Just like Paul did…He said, “I am not Lord over God’s inheritance” but Paul was the type of person that held Timothy, other Apostles, and pastors accountable. Now, there is a fine line between being a covering and someone that is an abuser. We have to be careful with that because we have to go back to the bible and what the bible says about what is a covering. Paul said, “We have many teachers but not many fathers.” Paul said, “I begotten you, I birth you into the gospel.” That means I feel a level of responsibility to help nurture you and to help guide you

He goes back to 2 Chronicles, the fifteenth chapter when Israel was without the teaching priest. The one person who provides the guidance and the law and gave them both the logos, the written word, and the rhema, the spoken word. They began to get caught up in the things of the world and didn’t have any guidance. I believe that people have to be accountable. I don’t think we have a lot of that today. I think we have a group of people that have formed a little doc club. “Hey, doc”. They just kind of rally around each other. They talk about how much money they draw in. How to work the crowd. I think we have more of those rather than spiritual fathers that say, “Okay, this is what God is saying and this is what God requires of us. Even if it means sacrificing yourself. I don’t think we have a lot of that but I definitely believe in that. Interviewer: Yes. Amen. I just want to piggy back off your answer. I am up and coming. I’ve only been in ministry for about 3 years. I don’t have a spiritual father. How would

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I know who my spiritual father is? I am looking for a spiritual father in the body of Christ. Do you have any advice for me? Elder: Yeah. I do. I think the first thing you examine is fruit. You will know the tree by the fruit it bears. I think we have a lot of people that are skilled and talented in ministry but everybody doesn’t carry the same conviction of the Holy Spirit. Interviewer: Right. Elder: I think we acquaint the size of the building with the size of popularity. We missed fathering. Anybody can prepare you for performance but everybody can’t prepare you for spiritual life. I think it is more so looking at the people that the person has fathered, looking at their fruit, how do they respond in the midst of a compromising world. Do they try to ride in the middle or are they the kind of person who will be unpopular or unapologetic? They will tell you what you need to hear and not what you want to hear. Interviewer: Amen. That’s good. Elder: At the end of the day, that’s going to decide how far your longevity in ministry goes. Interviewer: That’s good advice. My next question is that I notice a lot of churches aren’t growing. Do you have any advice to advance church growth or ways to effectively grow the church? Elder: I do. When I think about the books of Acts. We still have to go back to that origin. The scriptures say as they went from house to house and had love feasts. For example, they might say, “I wonder what James and Sarah are doing today? Let’s go by their house and sit with them and bring them lunch.” They sat down and talked and broke bread together concerning

the word of God. When they did this, the bible said that thousands were added to the church daily. I think we are missing the art of fellowship. The scriptures said they will know that you are my disciples not by your denomination, not by your titles, but when you have love for one another. I think there are a couple of things. Fellowshipping with people, showing that love without looking for something in return. I think we’ve become, even in the church, so self-centered. Everybody is asking, “What can be done for me. My turn. My time.” The early church, everything was based on when the Holy Spirit moved on them, no body focused on self. The scriptures said, “Nobody said what they had was theirs.” That self-centeredness was obliterated when the Holy Spirit was made manifested. They went from house to house. They had lunch with each other and talked about God. Thousands were added to the church not monthly or yearly but daily. That brought an influx of people to the church. Now, that’s one thing. The second this is that today’s pastor has to be able to address today’s issues unapologetically. They have to be able to give the word and make it relevantly sound. Not just hit a D flat and go up and moan and holler. I think that was good for grandma’s church. I am not against that because I get loose myself but you have to have a message in the midst of all that. When I walked away from that church, what did I hear that challenges me. What did I hear that makes me think and bow to God? What did I hear that really convinces me that he is Lord overall and that I will try another day to submit myself under God? The minister or pastor has to be relevant. Jesus was a perfect example. Jesus

talked about things to His disciples and to the masses that they could relate to you in the time they were living. When Jesus walked the earth, there was a lot of agriculture and farming. When Jesus talked to them, he talked to them in that context. He said, “A sower went to sow.” He talked about things with a spiritual message. He gave examples in a spiritual content. He talked to them about farming. He talked to them about, like in Luke 9:62, that no man who puts his hands to the plow and look back is fit for the kingdom of God. He talked to them in their day but broad in a spiritual message. I think today’s pastor cannot rely on the hoop holla. “Ok, everyone turn loose.” These pastors have to say something. I think the combination of the pastors being relevant, each season or each era, brings a different manifestation of a devil. I think that you have to be anointed and have spiritual insight to hear what God is saying in your day. The scripture said that Jesus would go by himself to listen to hear a word in season and to give a word in season to those who are weary. I think the pastor has to be connected to God to hear what God is saying audibly and to see what God is saying according to what is written. I think when a pastor is able to do those things, then people from all age groups and all walks of life will be able to hear what he is saying because he will have the ability to make a room real small. In other words, he can be speaking to thousands and everybody will say he is talking to me. Interviewer: Amen. That’s powerful. Your answers are like wow. So much revelation. So much wisdom in your answers. I wanted to ask you how did you get called to ministry? What was your journey? How did it all begin and happen for you?

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Elder: Well my dad started preaching in 1970. He preached three years before I was born. He was always that person who was uncompromised and unapologetic. The church that he was at thought he was a trouble maker because he would preach against sin. Sometimes people don’t feel too good about that, especially when they have people in key positions in that church. He pulled out and started his own. I saw him preach to empty pews as though he had a full house. He was consistent with it. He was so consistent with it that I would feel guilty because I kept going to the church we were going to. They had a lot of young people and I was young. They had cute girls there. You know, how it is when you are young. I wanted to keep going there. So, one day, I felt a little convicted. Man, my dad is trying to do the church and I am not even going to support. Well, I said I would support so I would stick my head in the door every now and then. Every time I went, it had about 5 people there but I learned something. Interviewer: Wow. Lol. Amen. Elder: Even at Sunday school, they would have you to read a verse and say explain it. As I tried to explain it, they would elaborate and give me the correct meaning. I was like, “Oh wow! That’s in this bible.” I thought it was some mythical book. ‘Thy shall…’ and all this kind of stuff. But they brought it home to me. Things started changing for me. I started skipping some Sundays from the church I was going to and started going to that church. It was small with five people in it but I was learning. As time went on, God begin to deal with me. It was actually right after the death of my mom. That’s a long story. She had an outer body experience that really changed my life as well. I was working as a correction-

al officer at a maximum-security prison. God was calling me. He had spoken to me. I said, “No God, I don’t think I fit the mold. Because number one, I don’t act like preachers I see. I like to play basketball. I don’t say Amen on every third word. I don’t walk around with polyester pants, Stacey Adams, with the church shirt. During a normal day, every time you try to hold a normal conversation, “Oh praise the Lord.” Man, I don’t do that. Besides God, I like bull dogs and pit bulls. I like to have fun. I like to laugh. I like to socialize. I was never a drinker or smoker. I just like to have fun.” I said, “God I just don’t fit the mold. I don’t act like them.” He began to let me know that’s why I called you. I want you to be who you are with my anointing on it. He began to take me back to Moses. He said Moses was carrying the same staff his whole life but I anointed it. So, as I began to look at this, I said yeah that’s great but I was wrestling with that. The Lord began to do something that gave me no other choice. I was working at the prison and I started to develop strep throat when I was there. While I was there, I had a bad fever and tried to get some people to cover my shift. They didn’t really believe that I was sick. One day, I decided to go to the canteen to get something to eat. I put my money in the sandwich machine and it wouldn’t work. I was like, “Man, I work this 12-hour shift and I can’t get no food.” I waited and waited. All of a sudden God spoke to me. He said, “If you accept the calling to preach, I will let this machine work.” I was like, “Nah, I will pass on that.” Then I started to hear some keys and I was in the visitation area. So, I sat there. Some of the officers asked if I was ok and they were looking for me saying they were worried. I told them that I was fine. I told them that the machine took my money. So, I sat there for a long time and God

spoke to me again. He said, “If you accept the calling to preach, I will allow you to eat.” I sat there for a while and I still didn’t do anything. I said, “You know what. I don’t have no other choice. I got about 8 more hours left on this shift. Yeah, God I will preach.” All of a sudden, the machine made a noise and turned. God said, “Go to it.” I went to it and there was my sandwich and I was able to eat. While I was relieved that I got the food, after I got it was like ‘oh man.’ I know myself. If I commit to something, then I will do it. So, I got to do it now. God gave me no other choice. From there, I’ve been speaking. Different times, I get the word of knowledge, the prophetic. I love to teach and I do preach as well. I started to just take that journey. Interviewer: Have you seen any miracles? Elder: I have. I guess probably one of the first was there was a young lady that was going to our church and she had cancer. In my house at the time, I had a prayer room and I took her doctor’s report. I took it in my prayer room and called on God. That lady got healed of cancer. Interviewer: Hallelujah. Glory to God. That’s powerful. Elder: I’ve been seeing different signs and different wonders. A lot of times, when I am in a service, God will lay on my heart different people. As they come, God will reveal to me different things about their lives. As I begin to tell them, tears will begin to roll down and they will begin to understand that God is real because I don’t know them. They begin to wonder how I would know what’s going on in their lives and that type of nature. God will manifest himself in that way as well. It’s been different miracles throughout the years. People getting saved, delivered, and casting

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out devils as well. Interviewer: That’s important. Do you have a book on the way? Are you writing a book? Elder: That’s one of the things that has been on hold. I’ve three books that God has placed in my spirit. I brought speech recognition software to do it. I haven’t done it. It was amazing. I went to this church and this prophet pointed me out. He said, “Listen, there is a book that God placed in your spirit to write to the leaders. Once you write this book, many people are going to come and be changed from what you are saying in this book.” I have to write this book. What this book is all about is that God placed it in my spirit that the body of Christ will understand his kingdom versus denomination. He was showing me that in a larger context of what we are doing, it has nothing to do with the kingdom of God. It has something to do with different religious methods that was passed down from the Catholic Church that we do every day in our churches. Even the personalities when we deal with people and how we Lord ourselves over people. That’s why his miracles are not manifesting. We are carrying out methods of our denominations rather than obedience of the word of God. God wants me to show the leaders what those things are, so they can change it and see the power of God manifest and start going back to what the bible says compared to what the church bishop says. Interviewer: My God. That’s going to be an awesome book. I pray that God gives you an acceleration so you can go ahead and get that out the way. Amen. Elder: Amen. Definitely. Interviewer: How important is prayer and fasting? Some people

don’t want to fast anymore. How important is that in the body of Christ? Elder: It is very important. Jesus said, “Some things only come out by prayer and fasting.” It used to be a time where people made prayer and fasting a priority. Now it is almost not a priority, it’s like whenever I get time. I think a prayer less church is a powerless church. A prayer less believer is a powerless believer. In order to really hear the voice of God. In order to get caught up in worship. Prayer is that key. When people think about praying, we think about having to memorize a couple of lines and something to say; a few flowery words. We don’t realize that everything comes down to a conversation with God that is heartfelt and you open yourself up spiritually. It is amazing that I think about the woman at the well. She began to talk to Jesus and she said, “You guys worship in the temple but we worship in the hills.” Then Jesus told her that the day was coming where the true worshippers will worship in spirit and in truth. Prayer is al-

lowing us to spiritually commune with a spiritual God. Fasting is a way for you to lay your will down. It is allowing a way for you to practice laying your will to take a back seat to God and His will. A couple of years ago, I was doing some reading and looking into the workers of darkness mobilize themselves in this world. I think it is amazing in every situation whether you are a company competing with another company, a team going against another team, a mobster fighting against another mobster, they always find a way to study their enemy. They know their tactics, they know what they like to do in order to obtain victory. It’s amazing that Satan is our biggest enemy but we don’t study his tactics. Interviewer: My God. That’s powerful right there. Elder: We don’t study his tactics. The bible talks about the wiles of the devil. To me when you fast, it allows you to be more sensitive to your adversary. Now, years ago, when I studied, I read that even

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we are living in a day and time now that we don’t realize how the enemy is operating. The same demons back then are manifesting themselves now, but they have disguise themselves. I said as the body we have to understand the teaching priest. I feel like God has given me this word to give you all so you can understand. I said, “I want you to look at what’s going on especially in the politics right now.” What’s going on is a spiritual fight. When Elijah walked the earth, people talk the double portion. We got to understand what was in that portion and what that portion was used for because Elisha asked for a double portion of what was on Elijah. But let’s look at what Elijah did with that double portion he had. He to fight against the 450 prophets of Baal. Also, the 300 prophets of Asherah, which he faced all together with Ahab and he said, “If you will serve God, then serve God. If God be God, serve Him.” His God answered by fire. Satanist try to operate 80% in the spiritual. 80 percent! That is a scary number. Even Jesus said, “Is Satan kingdom divided? A kingdom divided against itself will not stand.” So, to me, when we are not operating in the spirit, we are operating in the flesh. We are operating in a divided kingdom. The scriptures says that the flesh is enmity. That means a division with the spirit. So when we fast we are causing ourselves to be more God focus in that moment until it becomes a habit. Then when you combine prayer with submitting of your flesh, you become more sensitive to what God is saying and what God is doing until it becomes a lifestyle. Interviewer: That’s powerful. That’s what we need. I want to ask you about the wiles of the devil and what does that mean? Elder: When I think about the wiles of the devil, I am thinking about

strategies, techniques, things he likes to do, his manipulative ways, his persuasions, his enticements, his ploys, his cunning schemes. The scripture talks about the wiles of the devil and it lets us realize that he has some devices, he has some schemes, he has some things he likes to do that he does well. When we are not conscious of that we fall for it. Ephesians 6:11 says put on the whole armor of God that we may be able to stand against the wiles or the schemes and strategies of the devil. He is telling us then to get prepared for Satan’s tricks. When he says put on the full armor of God, it’s saying get yourself together, get yourself in alignment to be able to withstand Satan’s strategies. The scripture goes further and says we are not ignorant of the enemy’s devices. We have to be able to understand…. For example, I was preaching three weeks ago that

Let’s look at what came with Baal, then you will see exactly what Elijah was fighting. When you look at Baal worship, they offer up babies as sacrifice to their God. They take those babies and offer them up. I said this is the same spirit that is alive today. It’s called planned parenthood where they have a quota where they have to have an average of 300,000 babies a year. That’s their goal. Interviewer: Umm. Wow. I didn’t know that. Elder: Then he had to fight against the prophets of Asherah. 300. Asherah was a goddess. She was a goddess that represented free sex and homosexuality. I said, “Look at Asherah. Even God told Moses that when he goes into the land to tear down Asherah poles. Today you would call them stripper poles. So if you look at those two entities, Baal represents killing babies,

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which is abortion. The second you got Asherah, which represents free sex or homosexuality.” I said, “What are we fighting in politics today?” LGBT communities and rights of abortion.

changes and they were going to be ushered out. Scriptures says that no man can enter into a man’s house and plunder his goods unless he first binds up the strongman. That’s what we are fighting.

Interviewer: That is so true.

To take it a step further, about eight months ago, in New York City, they resurrected the ark of Baal. The same ark that they used to walk into the entrance of the temple of Baal. That is a sign and they are trying to usher that movement. Think about what Barrack Obama had did. He came on public TV and spoke against the bible. He said the beatitudes are too radical and we cannot even use it in our defense policies.

Elder: That’s when you see in Washington D. C. when Trump was inaugurated, the very next day you had Madonna standing up there and it looked like two horns were on her head. That was a sign. She said that she was so mad when he became president that she wanted to blow up the white house. Those spirits always get mad when they feel like there is going to be a shift. Every time Jesus walked into a town, the spirits began to act up and convulse because they knew that there were going to be some

Interviewer: That’s so demonic. Elder: So, what’s happening is the

wile of the devil. That is a technique the devil is doing and has brought in. The devil also used his trickery. He knows that music is very powerful. God designed it that way. It’s so powerful that God surrounded himself with music. In the book of Revelation, the 24 elders were singing and they would drop their crowns before him and sing hallelujah, salvation, and glory. Glory and power to our God. I said, “Music is powerful.” There is no coincidence that the largest book in the bible is Psalm. Music carries power. When Saul would be convulsing with that spirit, David would play skillfully and drive that spirit away. The enemy can’t correct but he can pervert. What he does is he takes the music of our day and perverts the message. That’s why he wants to infiltrate our young people. The first thing that he comes up with is he has the rappers that they look up too. They call themselves thugs. The word “Thugs” come from a demonic entity. He was called Thuggin. It came from the goddess Cali. It was of a Hindu god. They worship and put tattoos under their eyes. That god Thuggin represents violence and chaos. It is amazing that when people begin to push that message with the tattoos of Thuggin, they have chaos in their lives and violence. That spirit follows that. So, this is a wile of the devil. He knows that the scriptures say we have to put on the whole armor so we will be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. This is where we have to hear the voice of God audibly and revert back to his written word. Interviewer: Wow. You have truly blessed me today. I have learned so much in a short amount of time. Wow this was an awesome interview. Thank you. Elder: Thank you.

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WHAT’S WRONG WITH YOUR CHURCH By Reynaldo Rodriguez

A pastor asked once to another: “How can I get out of my church?” “Why do you want out”? The other pastor asked. “What’s wrong with your church?” The other pastor replied, “I have a bunch of losers in my church.” “Losers? I wonder if they are really losers or if they just see themselves as losers because that’s how you see them.” He reluctantly agreed that it was probably the latter. He was right because there are no losers in the kingdom of God—none whatsoever. How can children of God be losers when they have already gained eternal life?

As important as it is for you to believe in your true identity as a child of God, it is equally important that you perceive other Christians for who they are in Christ and treat them accordingly. I believe that the greatest determination for how we treat people is how we perceive them. If we view people as losers we will begin to treat them that way. If however, we believe our brothers and sisters in Christ are redeemed saints, we will treat them as saints and they will be greatly helped in behaving like saints. Studies have shown that, in the average home, for every positive

statement, a child receives 10 negative statements. The school environment is only slightly better; students hear seven negative from their teachers for every one positive statement. No wonder so many children are growing up thinking they are losers. Parents and teachers are conveying what they believe every day to their children and students. These studies go on to point out that it takes four positive statements to refute the effect of one negative statement. You probably verify that finding every time you wear a new suit or dress. Some of

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your friends may say, “Oh, what a good looking outfit”. It only takes one comment such as “It’s not really you” to send you hurrying back to the store for refund. We affect others significantly by what we say about them, and what we say is determined by what we believe about them. The New Testament clearly states that we are saints who sin. Children of God who say they don’t sin are called liars, “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us.” (1 Jon 1: 8). We are not to judge one another; instead, we are called to accept other believers as children of God, and to build up each other. If we could memorize just two verses from the New Testament, put them into practice and never violate them, I believe we would resolve half the problems in our homes and churches. The verses are Ephesians 4: 29 - 30, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Isn’t it amazing that you and I have the power to give grace to others through the proper use of our words? If we said nothing to put others down, and only built up others as Ephesians 4: 29 – 30 commands, we would be part of God’s construction crew in the Church instead of members of Satan’s wrecking crew. Many Christians live their lives as if they were walking on glass. They can’t make any mistakes because if they do, the hammer of God will fall on them. Dear Christian brother and sister, the hammer fell. It fell on Christ. He died “once and for all” “The death he

died, he died to sin once for all; but the life he lives, he lives to God.” (Romans 6: 10). We are not sinners in the hands of an angry God. We are saints in the hands of a loving God who has called us to draw near with sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. “let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water.” (Hebrew 10: 22), “For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.” (Ephesians 2: 18); “In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” (Ephesians 3: 12). Some Christians leaders believe we should emphasize the sinful side of our human nature as a motivation to live righteously. I respectfully disagree. How can we motivate by guilt when, “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus,” (Romans 8: 1) How can we motivate by fear when, “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1: 7)? I believe we ought to tell believers the truth about who they are in Christ and motivate them to live accordingly. Attend any Bible – believing church and ask the congregation, Now if I do what I do not want to do, it is no longer I who do it, but it is sin living in me that does it. So I find this law at work: Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. For in my inner being I delight in God’s law; but I see another law at work in me, waging war against the law of my mind and making

me a prisoner of the law of sin at work within me. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death? Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law, but in my sinful nature a slave to the law of sin.” (Romans 7: 19 – 25)

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FOUR FUNCTIONS OF THE FIRE OF GOD By Kimberly Hargraves

What is the fire of God? The fire of God can be described as the glory the manifested presence of God, which is the very presence of God. This is evident in the burning bush from which God spoke to Moses in Exodus 3:2-6. Exodus 3:2-6 (KJV) “And the angel of the Lord appeared unto him in a flame of fire out of the midst of a bush: and he looked, and, behold, the bush burned with fire, and the bush was not consumed. And Moses said, I will now turn aside, and see this great

sight, why the bush is not burnt. And when the Lord saw that he turned aside to see, God called unto him out of the midst of the bush, and said, Moses, Moses. And he said, Here am I. And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground. Moreover he said, I am the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.”

Exodus 19:18 (KJV) “And mount Sinai was altogether on a smoke, because the Lord descended upon it in fire: and the smoke thereof ascended as the smoke of a furnace, and the whole mount quaked greatly.” Another example scripture is Deuteronomy 4:24 (KJV) “For the Lord thy God is a consuming fire, even a jealous God.” The usual word for fire in the New Testament is pur.1 The most prevalent term for fire in the Hebrew Bible is es.

Similar to this is Yahweh’s descent upon Mount Sinai “in fire”.

Luke 12:49 says, “I am come to send fire on the earth; and what

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will I, if it be already kindled?” God wants us to be on fire for him. Jesus came to set the world on fire and to kindle it with his glory. Remember the Lord your God is a jealous God [5:9; 6:15; Ex. 20:5; 34:14; Josh. 24:19; Nah. 1:2], ·like a fire that burns things up [a consuming fire]. Our lives should be constantly set ablaze. We need to stay zealous for the things of God. Leviticus 6:12-13 (KJV) “And the fire upon the altar shall be burning in it; it shall not be put out: and the priest shall burn wood on it every morning, and lay the burnt offering in order upon it; and he shall burn thereon the fat of the peace offerings. Fire shall be kept burning continually on the altar; it is not to go out.” What are the four functions of the fire of God? 1) Protection Deuteronomy 9:3 (KJV) “Understand therefore this day, that the Lord thy God is he which goeth over before thee; as a consuming fire he shall destroy them, and he shall bring them down before thy face: so shalt thou drive them out, and destroy them quickly, as the Lord hath said unto thee.” Moses again refers to God as a consuming (or devouring) fire who would go ahead of the Israelites into the Promised Land, destroying and subduing their enemies before them. Here again we see God’s wrath against those who oppose Him depicted as fire that utterly consumes and destroys anything in His path. 2) Judgement There are several incidents in which God’s wrath, judgment, holiness, or power are displayed by fire from heaven. When prophesying the destruction of the Assyrians, who resisted the

true and living God and warred against His people, Isaiah refers to the tongue of the Lord as a consuming fire and His “arm coming down with raging anger and consuming fire” (Isaiah 30:27-30). Isaiah 30:27 (KJV) “Behold, the name of the LORD comes from a remote place; Burning is His anger and dense is His smoke; His lips are filled with indignation And His tongue is like a consuming fire;” Remember how God destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah because of their wickedness? He destroyed these cities with his fire! The next two scriptures show us the judgment of God by his fire! Isaiah 9:19 (KJV) “By the fury of the LORD of hosts the land is burned up, And the people are like fuel for the fire; No man spares his brother.” Isaiah 10:16 (KJV) “Therefore the Lord, the GOD of hosts, will send a wasting disease among his stout warriors; And under his glory a fire will be kindled like a burning flame.” 3) Guide We can see in the following verse how God can lead you in whatever season you might be in. You can be in a day or night season which means a good or bad season. Exodus 13:21 (KJV) And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them the way; and by night in a pillar of fire, to give them light; to go by day and night. 4) Purifying (Refiner’s Fire) The fire of God can purify your life and get things out of you that are not pleasing to God. This can be pride, lust, perversion, the wrong mindset, etc. Zechariah 13:9 (KJV) “And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is re-

fined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The Lord is my God.” Fire removes whatever elements that would affect the strength/durability/ flexibility, the consistency, and the integrity of a particular metallic substance. The fire of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer is to remove anything that is not consistent with the nature of Christ in us. That is conveyed by His word in our lives. Fire can change the very nature of things. That is why when people see that you are different, it is the fire of the Holy Spirit that changed you, as they saw in the lives of Peter and the apostles (Acts 4:1-13). It was the fire of the Holy Spirit that changed their nature from being cowards to being able to stand against the religious hierarchy of their time. 1 Peter 1:7 says, “That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.” This scripture shows how we are tried with the refiner’s fire, just as metal is tried. God knows what He is doing. You are chosen to go through what you are going through. Isaiah 48:10 (KJV) “Behold, I have refined thee, but not with silver; I have chosen thee in the furnace of affliction.” Reference 1. G4442 - pyr - Strong’s Greek Lexicon (KJV). Retrieved from https://www.blueletterbible.org//lang/lexicon/lexicon. cfm?Strongs=G4442&t=KJV

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TRUST WALK: DAY 5 By Keiyia J. George

that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” (Jeremiah 29:11 KJV) He knows what’s in store for us, so why not depend on Him. But God helps those who help themselves, huh? There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Proverbs 14:12 KJV According to Proverbs 12, only if you want a path of destruction do you help yourself. Instead, But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:33 KJV Seek him! He will tell you exactly where to look for your next assignment. It may come swiftly, it may be awhile. While you wait, he’s building your trust in Him. Through the storm, you are becoming strong. Stand still and wait until he guides you.

Day 5: I trust You, Lord. My path is lit and I don’t have to search for anything. Psalms 119:105 You’ve lost your job or are ready to find another. What do you do? Well conventional thinking tells you to go on job sites, look in the newspapers, ask around, and the like. For many, finding a job can become a full time job. Many think this is what you should do: search. God helps those who helps themselves, they say. But this isn’t biblical. Nowhere in the Bible does it say He helps those who help themselves.

Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Matthew 7:7-8 KJV So it’s Matthew 7 that says you should do a job search? Well, it all depends on how much you know the Word. Seek here is to search for God and his direction. Why? Because He is our author and finisher of our faith (Hebrews 12:2). Why else? Because He knew us before we were ever formed (Jeremiah 1:5). Also, he said, “For I know the thoughts

So seek Him! Trust Him! You can’t go wrong. He has given you a lamp at your feet and a light on your path (Psalm 119:105). His Word is your guide. So search for what? His guidance. His Kingdom. His path for you. Happy searching, Keiyia JOYet George Trust Walk: Walking in His Steps coming soon!

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4 THINGS EVERY WOMAN SHOUL BEFORE SHE TIES THE KNOT By Mae Blooms

LD DO T

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1| Seek God Now, you’d think seeking God would be standard, especially for Christians, but not necessarily. Have you ever heard that saying, Love is blind? Well, many times, even Christian women get very caught up in being in love and getting married that they miss the importance of this step. When I say seek God, I am referring to an earnest, fervent seeking so that you know that this is the person God has predestined you to grow old together and to do God’s work alongside one another. This first step is not to be taken lightly or rushed over. It is the foundation on which you will build your marriage and family upon, so be sure you are building on solid ground and not sinking sand. 2| Deal with Your Issues There is no time like the present, right? This might seem like a no brainer too, but I assure you many women (and men) don’t do this. It is ones hope that they come into the marriage with no extra baggage, but let’s be honest, we are human and we all have at least one suitcase of extra baggage. None of us are perfected yet, so going into a marriage you can anticipate that there will be work to do as you become one and personal growth in both parties that will take place over time. We’ve all got issues, secret sins, past hurts, debt and scares that have formed the way we think and deal, so being very honest with yourself is important. Present your extra baggage in prayer and seek healing form the Father because he is faithful to help, heal and renew you in every way. 3| Pay Off Your Debts Yep, let’s address the elephant in the room - debt! Money is usually a big stressor in marriage and can weigh heavily on even the best of marriages. If the debts you have are too high for you to pay off before you get marriage, then be sure you and your fiancé sit and share credit reports (seriously) because you need to know too. Becoming one flesh is a lot of work by itself. You definitely don’t need surprise debts popping up every other year. I believe if you start off being truthful then you both can plan together and decide what’s best. Not only debts, but if you have co-signed on things for your family or are on certain policies, please be sure to share that info with your fiancé too. 4| Study Biblical Submission Let’s be honest, ladies. Every woman born since the garden incident has struggled a bit in this area. It wasn’t our choice, but it was handed down to us, so we must prepare according for marriage. You want to be your fiancés good thing not a dripping faucet (Proverbs 27:15). Here’s a couple books I suggest you read and pray through. • Preparing to Be a Help Meet by Debi Pearl • Love and Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs • 31 Days of Prayer for My Future Husband by Jennifer Smith I pray these insightful tips will bless you and your fiancé as you journey down the aisle.

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THE LORD IS ABOUT TO GIVE YOU A SIGN By Kimberly Hargraves helps us to fully trust God.

As I was preparing to travel and preach, the enemy wanted to discourage me. I know that God was with me, but I was on an airplane and I needed his reassurance that he was going to use me in the miraculous. I prayed, and I asked God for a sign. I said, “Lord, if you are with me then let me see the face of Jesus in the clouds.” Before dozing off, I looked out the window. When I woke up, I looked out the window again, and I saw Jesus sitting on the throne. The Lord highlighted his face really well for me so no ounce of doubt would exist of what I’d just seen.

Immediately after seeing this, I started to praise God. Tears began to stream down my face and his presence overwhelmed me. What is a sign? It is something that indicates or acts as a token of a fact, condition, etc, that is not immediately or outwardly observable.1 We can think of a sign as proof or evidence of something. It is often needed for confirmation. Asking God for a sign is scriptural. Asking for a sign helps build our faith in the trying times. Asking for a sign helps us to place our total confidence in God. Asking for a sign

Judges 6:17 says, “And he said unto him, If now I have found grace in thy sight, then shew me a sign that thou talkest with me.” Gideon asked the Lord for sign to confirm that it was the Lord really talking to him and sending him. Gideon told the Lord that his family was the weakest in Manesseh and he was the least important (youngest) member of his family. Remember in Judges 6, the people of Israel were oppressed by the Midianites. The Lord raised up Gideon and told him that He would be with him. Gideon needed at least two more signs of confirmation. He asked God for another test. Judges 6:36-40 says, “And Gideon said unto God, If thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said, Behold, I will put a fleece of wool in the floor; and if the dew be on the fleece only, and it be dry upon all the earth beside, then shall I know that thou wilt save Israel by mine hand, as thou hast said. And it was so: for he rose up early on the morrow, and thrust the fleece together, and wringed the dew out of the

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fleece, a bowl full of water. And Gideon said unto God, Let not thine anger be hot against me, and I will speak but this once: let me prove, I pray thee, but this once with the fleece; let it now be dry only upon the fleece, and upon all the ground let there be dew. And God did so that night: for it was dry upon the fleece only, and there was dew on all the ground.” In verses 36-38, Gideon said, “Lord if you are going to help me then I will put some wool on the threshing floor. If the wool is wet and all the ground is dry then I will know that you will use me to save Israel just like you had said. This is exactly what happened. In verses 39-40, Gideon ask for another test. He said, “God don’t be angry with me, please allow me another test. Let only the wool be dry and the surrounding ground be wet.” This is exactly what happened. Prophets can prophesy a sign and it will come to pass. We see this in 1 Kings 13:3-6. 3 which states, “And he gave a sign the same day, saying, This is the sign which the Lord hath spoken; Behold, the altar shall be rent, and the ashes that are upon it shall be poured out. And it came to pass, when king Jeroboam heard the saying of the man of God, which had cried against the altar in Bethel, that he put forth his hand from the altar, saying, Lay hold on him. And his hand, which he put forth against him, dried up, so that he could not pull it in again to him. The altar also was

rent, and the ashes poured out from the altar, according to the sign which the man of God had given by the word of the Lord. And the king answered and said unto the man of God, Intreat now the face of the Lord thy God, and pray for me, that my hand may be restored me again. And the man of God besought the Lord, and the king’s hand was restored him again, and became as it was before.” In these verses, we saw that an old prophet gave a hard word and gave a sign. His words came to pass shortly after. When King Jeroboam was trying to offer up a sacrifice, the prophet spoke out against the altar because the Lord had instructed him to do so. He said, in so many words, that the wicked high priest who sacrifice incense at the high places will no longer be able to when Josiah comes forth. Human bones will be burned on the altar. The old prophet gave a sign that the altar will break apart and fall on the ground. When King Jeroboam heard what the prophet had spoken, he raised his hand and yelled, “Seize him.” However, his arm or hand got paralyzed, and he had to ask the prophet to pray for healing. God healed him. King David asked the Lord for a sign when he was in trouble. He was going through a trial in life. Psalm 86:17 says, “Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, Lord, hast holpen me, and comforted

me.” David needed a token, or sign, of the goodness of God. He need reassurance that the Lord will help and comfort him. He needed to know that God will make his enemies pay. The prophet Isaiah also prophesied a sign to Hezekiah. We can see this in Isaiah 38:7 which states, “And this shall be a sign unto thee from the Lord, that the Lord will do this thing that he hath spoken.” First, King Hezekiah gets a word that he needed to get his house in order because he was about to die. After he prayed, the prophet had to give him another word that God will add 15 years to his life and gave him a sign. The sign was the shadow down the stairway of Ahaz would go back up ten steps (ten degrees) it had gone down. We all go through trying times but it’s okay to ask the Lord for a sign. God is with you and he doesn’t mind providing you comfort in your trying times. A sign from God will give you the strength to hold on. Reference 1. sign. (n.d.) American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. (2011). Retrieved July 14 2017 from http://www. thefreedictionary.com/sign

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WHO WE ARE By Shirley Cooper

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This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. (1 John 3:16) We are supposed to be followers of Christ and therefore be Christ-like, living by example. The following are some things that we lack in our walk with Jesus, slowly leading us to lose track of who we really are: • Mimicking His greatest quality • Being motivated by love! • Giving cheerfully, and without excuses. • Loving unconditionally, sharing Christ’s love with all. • Lifting others up. • Praying for those in need, responding to their needs with action. We are so caught up in the moment that we can barely travel the distance. We become fully clothed in selfishness and greed that leads us to a behavior that is not pleasing to God. At times I must ask myself, “What is it that moves me? Who am I?” It’s a question that many of us refuse to ask, but in the silence, it would take God to open our hearts to the ugly side of who we really are. • Are we eager to help those around us? • Are we wanting to give cheerfully • Do we greet others with one face or two? • Is our place more important than a strangers comfort?

• Are we quick to break others down, rather than build them up? • Are we willing to help others without so many excuses? How ugly is our heart? Why is it that some of us cannot even help another without so many excuses? What is it that we have been so blessed with that “giving” even just a little has become such a burden? When we look around us, we can see all the great things that God has allowed us to be blessed with. We see that our children are fed, our house is paid, we have a few dollars in our pocket, a car that runs, a job, good health and more. Some of us are even living our dreams. But still, we refuse to lift one finger to help a neighbor, a friend, a family member, or a stranger who is in need. If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? (1 John 3:17) The need could be large or small, and no matter what, we empty out every excuse possible. We proceed to get comfortable, forgetting that our righteousness is nothing but a, “dirty filthy rag.” We forget that without the love of Jesus Christ abiding in each heart and life, we are nothing! God’s love is evident in how we treat others. If it is void, then what we do IS without meaning and purpose. Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. (1 John 3:18) When we accepted Jesus Christ into our hearts, we confirmed that we will live Christlike at all cost. There is no greater commandment than love and therefore, no greater duty than to love. Loving and treating others as we would want to be treated,

giving cheerfully, and throwing our excuses aside. Pray with those in need, and give what you know you can. Our ten percent isn’t just in dollar bills, and it doesn’t just flow through the church walls. WE ARE CHRISTIANS! CHRIST-ians! We are united as one with, “The One.” But whoever is united with the Lord is one with him in spirit. (1 Corinthians 6:17) That’s who we are! Today, touch someone’s life with action. While praying fervently for them, give what you KNOW that you can. God handles every outcome, but our persistence in giving, sharing, and loving someone shouts Jesus’ name loudly. It teaches others that the God we serve does more than sit on His throne. His words go far beyond just teachings, but rather traveling deep into action, bringing freedom, peace, and His love to places we could never reach alone. Pick up your cross!

REJOICE ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE AUGUST 2017

YOUR LIFE AS A CHRISTIAN SHOULD MAKE NONBELIEVERS QUESTION THEIR DISBELIEF IN GOD. By Reynaldo Rodriguez

REJOICE ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE AUGUST 2017

“His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, according to his eternal purpose that he accomplished in Christ Jesus our Lord. In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.” (Ephesians 3: 10 – 12) The list of Christ identity in us who believe goes on and on of a nonstop cycle of love, forgiveness, mercy peace and grace. If you are a new borne spiritual Christian, your life as a Christian should make non believers question their disbelief in God. “But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.” (1 Peter 1: 15 – 16) “For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves,” (Colossians 1: 13) “…In whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.” (Colossians 1: 14). I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins. The debt against me has been canceled. Christ himself is in me, “To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.” (Colossians 1: 27) “rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.” (Colossians 2: 7). I am firmly rooted in Christ and now being built in Him. I have been made complete in Christ. “and in Christ you have been brought to fullness. He is

the head over every power and authority.” (Colossians 2: 10) I have been spiritually circumcised, “In him you were also circumcised with a circumcision not performed by human hands. Your whole self ruled by the flesh was put off when you were circumcised by Christ,” (Colossians 2: 11) “having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through your faith in the working of God, who raised him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins,” (Colossians 2: 12 – 13) “Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.” (Colossians 3: 1 – 4) “He has saved us and called us to a holy life—not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,” (2 Timothy 1: 9). “he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit,” (Titus 3:5) “Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters.” (Hebrews 2: 11)

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” (Hebrews 4: 16) “Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature, having escaped the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” (2 Peter 1: 4) Understanding our spiritual inheritance “IN CHRIST” is the key to resolving our spiritual conflicts. The truth about who you are in Christ makes such a big difference in your spiritual success at handling the challenges and conflicts of life. It is imperative to your growth and maturity that you believe God’s truth about who you are. Considering all this emphasis on God’s complete acceptance of us in Christ, you may be wondering, What happens to this ideal relationship with God when we sin? Does our failure interfere with God’s acceptance of us? Let me respond by using a very simple illustration: When I was borne physically, I had a father. His name is Israel Rodriguez. As his son, I not only have Israel Rodriguez last name, but I also have Israel Rodriguez blood coursing through my veins. Israel Rodriguez and Reynaldo Rodriguez are blood related. Could I possibly do anything that would change my blood relationship to my father? What if I ran away from home and changed my name? I would still be Israel Rodriguez son, wouldn’t I? What if he kicked me out of the house? What if he disowned me? Would I still be his son? Of course! We are related by blood and nothing can change that.

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Could I do anything that would affect the harmony of our relationship as father and son? Yes, indeed—and by the time I was five years old I had discovered almost every way! My relationship with my father was never in jeopardy, but the harmony of our relationship was interrupted countless times by my behavior. What determined whether I lived in harmony with my father? Trust and obedience. The relationship area was settled for life when I was born into Dad’s family as his son. The harmony problem was addressed repeatedly as a result of my behavior and misbehavior. I discovered very early in life that if I obeyed dad I lived in harmony. Whether we were in harmony or not, however he was always my father. In the spiritual realm, when I was borne again I became a member of God’s family. God is my father and I enjoy an eternal relationship with Him through the precious blood of Christ: “For you know that it was not with perishable things such as silver or gold that you were redeemed from the empty way of life handed down to you from your ancestors, but with the precious blood of Christ, a lamb without blemish or defect. He was chosen before the creation of the world, but was revealed in these last times for your sake.” (1Peter 1: 18 – 20) As a child of God, can I do anything that will change my relationship with Him? Now I realize that I may step on some theological toes here. The question of eternal security is still a topic of debate among Christians. For the sake of this discussion, I am less concerned about the debate than I am about making a distinction between two separate areas. Ourrelationship with God is based on the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. We are saved by how we

believe, not by how we behave. A lot of Scripture supports the assurance of salvation. Paul asks in Romans 8: 35: “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?” He then answers: “neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 8: 39). Jesus declared, “My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand.” (John 10: 27 – 28). I am a borne again child of God, in spiritual union with Him by His grace, which I received through faith. Can I do anything that will interfere with the harmony of my relationship with God? Absolutely! Harmony with God is based on the same concerns as harmony with my earthly father: trust and obedience. When I trust and obey God I live in harmony with Him. When I don’t perfectly respond to God, the harmony of our relationship is disturbed and my life will reflect it. I love my heavenly Father and I want to live in harmony with Him, so I strive to live by faith according to what He says is true. Understanding our spiritual inheritance “IN CHRIST” is the key to resolving our spiritual conflicts. The truth about who you are in Christ makes such a big difference in your spiritual success at handling the challenges and conflicts of life. It is imperative to your growth and maturity that you believe God’s truth about who you are.

REJOICE ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE AUGUST 2017

FACING THE UNKNOWN By Kimberly Hargraves

REJOICE ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE AUGUST 2017

For a long time, the Lord has been speaking to me about moving, traveling, and doing some pretty amazing exploits for him. However, it seems at certain moments the opposite is true. The fact of the matter nothing was happening. This is where faith has to kick in. I just had to wait on the promises of the Lord to come to pass. Eventually when I least expected it, the prophetic promises started to manifest before my eyes. I could travel now because I was no longer on probation. I could move back home because the Lord favor me and my kids. I could teach the revelation the Lord placed in my spirit because I spent countless hours in his word and he placed a teaching grace upon me to help others understand the subject matter. This is what happened for my upcoming online women’s conference. The Lord gave me amazing teaching for “I Need Help Becoming That Proverbs 31 Woman.” Recently, I had to leave everything familiar and enter the zone of the unknown. The zone of the unknown is a zone where you can’t see past tomorrow. This is a zone where you have to cling on to God as never before and allow him to order your steps. This is the zone where you find yourself conquering unfamiliar territory. This is the zone where you have to die fully to yourself and embrace the new things God wants to do through you.

You will be amazed at how the Lord is enlarging your territory in the unknown zone. I had to give away expensive dishes, bedding, furniture, clothing, and shoes. I knew that wherever God is taking me that I had to part ways with these things and that I couldn’t take them with me. I had to have faith in God and face the unknown. Initially giving these things away sort of hurt me because of the memories attached to it. Suddenly, I began to have peace so I knew the Lord was with me and everything would work out. Peace is a good indication that God is working on your behalf. I told myself that I am entering a new season and God will replace everything I gave away and more. This is what God did when the prophet Abraham left everything to follow after God. God made sure that Abraham prospered. I don’t know where I will get a house but I know the Lord promised me one. So, I just have to believe it, face the unknown, and allow the Lord to guide me. I have witnessed God bless people with homes and I was in awe of how my prophecy over their lives manifested. I know God can do it for me also. I realized that a lot of people are afraid of the unknown. They constantly worry about things that are out of their control. Maybe God is allowing his children to be in impossible situations so he can get the Glory. As I stepped out in faith and obeyed what I felt the Lord telling me, He supernatu-

rally provided resources. As I stepped in the unknown, doors began to open for me to travel and to minister in different places. I minster in July in Mississippi, September in North Carolina, and October in North Carolina again. As I stepped into the unknown, the Lord began to give me favor with senior leaders. Whenever a person decides to step in the unknown, God can step in and guide their steps. This is a time where the Lord will refine some areas in your life and make things better. The School Of The Prophets was pretty awesome when I did it last year but now it’s even better because we now have our own textbooks and more books to come for it. In addition, the teaching is more in depth because I allowed the Lord to take me to the unknown zone and was open to what he was showing me in the word. Facing the unknown zone can be scary, however, you can’t allow fear to block what God wants to do. To conquer the fear of the unknown it takes walking by blind faith. May the Lord increase your faith this season so all your heart’s desires will be manifested.

REJOICE ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE AUGUST 2017

TRUST WALK: DAY 13 By Keiyia J. George

Day 13: I trust You, Lord. I shall lack nothing. Psalms 34:9-10 In ministry, you may think that you should be rich or have an unlimited flow of resources. You trust God, so surely He will give you every whim of your heart, won’t he? Of course He will! You ARE feeding His sheep aren’t you? You ARE doing His will for you aren’t you? Surely He shall. You are destined to be rich, so what’s the problem. Why aren’t you? If you look around at pastors, preachers, teachers, or whatever name they want to be called in mega and large scale churches (and even the small ones), you’d definitely think this mindset is true. They teach ‘name it and

claim it, ‘money come to me now’, and ‘the prosperity gospel’. It’s how they may have gotten rich. What happened to you?

is following the Word of God, or are you sowing into a person who has watered it down for ‘feel good ministry’?

Today’s society has been lead to a greedy lifestyle where some ‘people of God’ use every wile of satan to entrap hungry believers into the snare of giving. This snare keeps the believer broke and broken, wondering how is it that they gave and gave as the ‘person of God’ directed them, yet they have reaped no return. Isn’t this a principle: you reap what you sow (Galatians 6:7). But was the ground sown in fertile ground? Is the ground able to produce a good harvest? In plain terms, are you sowing into a real ‘person of God’ who

If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is

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certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness. 1 Timothy 6:3-10 (KJV) This reading didn’t start out with a long scripture reading, rather it was meant to be short and sweet. First Timothy 6 spoke volumes though. If you are following someone who teaches contrary to the Word of God, remove yourself. Be holy with contentment. You came in this word with nothing, and you will leave with nothing (did you know this was actually biblical). You have food, shelter, and clothing. Your basic needs are met. Can you not be content? What more do you want? Far too often, money leads mere mortals into many snares which will lead to destruction. The love of money is the root of all evil (not money, but the love of it). Many want it, and it has lead them to turn from the true gospel. Ignore your bank account and follow righteousness and the Fruit of the Spirt. Stay with God, He will never ‘leave you out to

dry’. Testimony: Lead Moderator, Addreine Young, of The Meeting Place Fellowship shared here story. For several months, she’d pray and give God the specifics of her needs. The bill is $168. She needs $100. She is required to pay $78. The rent is due. Time and time again, she left her petition with God. Time and time again, He provided what she needed and more, often times immediately. How did this happen! Well, not only was Ms. Young in tune with God, but those who showed her favor or was used to provide was in tune as well. Rent was due but forgiven or extended. $100 was needed and a check was in the mailbox for days. $168 was needed and a tithe of $170 came immediately. $78 was needed, and tithes of $100 came in. O fear the LORD, you his saints: for there is no lack to them that fear him. The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not lack any good thing. Psalm 34:910 (KJV) You see, Mrs. Young took her eyes off her need and place them on her Provider. She’s learned to trust Him, even when things look dim. Even when it seems that everywhere she turns, something is due. She lacks no good thing! He provides for her every need. She doesn’t concern herself with a due date. Man does not control things. As long as she remains content with godli-

ness, she will have great gain. The word says it. This reading is not to say that people of God cannot have wealth. Rather it’s to say He is enough. He is all you need. No you can’t eat the paper in the bible, but He will provide what you need. You may wonder why you are hungry or why you are homeless. God has decided your path. His will for you is perfect. Hungry and homeless does not sound like perfect, so maybe you should blame it on another reason (smile). It’s not your Daddy. If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? Matthew 7-11 (KJV) He’s a good, good Daddy. Can you trust Him? Won’t you trust Him? Please! Trust Him now. He will never fail you. Fulfilled, Keiyia JOYet George Trust Walk: Walking in His Steps coming soon!

REJOICE ESSENTIAL MAGAZINE AUGUST 2017