DANCING ON THE PROMISE MINISTRIES INT'L
OCTOBER 2019
Victory lies within these pages....
From Whence We Came APOSTLE MICHELE
RUCKER
September of 1999, I was only in leadership for two years when God in His awesomeness spoke to me one Sunday morning. We had just finished ministering for a Women's Day program and in glory realm. The speaker of the hour's theme was Dancing on the Promises. She went on to speak about the promises of God and the specific promises God has for each woman present. It was then the Holy Spirit spoke clearly to me to tell me to open a school for the ministry of dance. All through the service, the Holy Spirit and I had a conversation about who would come. Then, God said, I will send them. My spirit finally received this promise. I shouted myself out of my seat and shoes. I basked in that word for months. Doubt crept in and I sat on the vision. The following year at a Women's Conference in Greensboro, GA, the word of the Lord was confirmed this school will be established and will be blessed. After that confirmation, I began to write the vision and make it plan. Finally, two years later, January 2001, Dancing on the Promise School of Liturgical Dance was opened. God did send and continues to send more. I thank God for DOP. It is my desire from the attendance at this school that your spiritual walk with the Father is deepened and your purpose is birthed. The mission of this school is to take you beyond the dance, into destiny. Twenty years later, we have evolved from Dancing on the Promise School of Liturgical Dance to DOP School of Prophetic Arts to DOP Empowerment Center. We have graduated 20 plus ministers of dance. The Empowerment Center has curriculums in the School of Dance/Drama, School of the Prophetic, School of Ministry and School of Miracles. We have the mandate to Educate, Empower, Activate and Release into destiny. Dancing on the Promise mentor ministries that reach from Georgia to Arizona. We are raising up Worshipping Warriors for the Kingdom of God. I admonish you to keep your hand in the Master's hand, He will never let you go. Begin to walk this "Pathway to His Presence"©. .
Do not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but be strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He promised He is able also to perform (Romans 4:20-21).
DOP Timeline
Dancing Into Destiny
2003-2004
1999
2000
2009
2012
2009-2011
2019
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20 years at His feet.
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20 years at His feet.
The Dance on Trial: Why Dance Should NOT be allowed in the Church BY LARISSA D. JEAN
There is a strange fire going up before the Lord Almighty within the courts of His Tabernacle. That strange fire comes in the form of dancing. Now, although there are many believers who would argue that the Scriptures admonish us to “praise Him in the dance,” and that there are heroes of the faith like Miriam and David who danced before the Lord, the spirit of this age has infiltrated the House of God so much, that dance simply has no place in the House of Prayer. Why is the Dance on Trial? Simply stated, dance itself is carnal and sensual in nature. For the people of God who may be weak in their faith, dance is a stumbling block for the saints of God in His house who struggle with lustful thinking. Furthermore, although a powerful art form, the emphasis on talent, technique, and revealing attire bring glory to the dancer rather than pointing the glory back to the Lord. Now, one may ask, “Why such harsh allegations?” Mark 6:17-29 is arguably the most incriminating evidence that proves why the dance has no place, no purpose, and no position in the House of Worship. On the day of King Herod’s birthday, Salome, the daughter of Herodias, “danced before them and [it] pleased Herod.” The Amplified Bible uses the verb beguile which means to charm or enchants (someone), sometimes in a deceptive way. The word is also synonymous with the verbs “seduce” “mesmerize” or “entice.” At the peak of this party, where Herodias, his nobles, the high officials, and the chief men of Galilee were gathered, this young girl is sent out to seduce Herod with her dance. The result of this seductive and sensual display of carnality resulted in the beheading of John the Baptist. Without a shadow of a doubt, there is power in the dance! What difference is there between Herodias’ daughter’s infamous dance and the kind of erotic dancing that occurs within the four walls of a club? What can the Church expect when young and attractive girls begin to dance before the the congregation, with brothers who may be struggling with sexual sin and lustful thoughts? What Shepherd, entrusted to lead God’s people, wants to be responsible for opening the door of distraction and seduction in the House of the Lord? Surely, the dance cannot edify the brethren, but can only cause terrible outcomes that could result even in the death of someone’s desire to live in holiness before the Lord! Does not the Scripture reveal to the Church that we must decide “never to put a stumbling block or hindrance in the way of a brother” (Romans 14:13)? Therefore, if the Church desires not to willfully place a stumbling block in the way of a weak brother, then the Church would highly consider not putting dancers on display within the House of God. To prove this point, “Sexy Praise Dancing” a viral YouTube video that earned 2.3 thousand views and provoked 1,744 comments of outcry, disgust, and outrage is further evidence of why dancing has no place in the sanctuary. Viewers are appalled at the erotic dance that these young and attractive women performed in the worship service. Not only was their attire no different from the attire a dancer would wear in a strip club, but the movements came not from a heart of pure worship, but from the flesh. The fact that this type of blasphemous dance was even allowed by the leadership of this house into God’s holy sanctuary is spiritually irresponsible. It opens the door for lust, disorder, and the flesh to run rampant among God’s people.
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Moreover, although dance is a powerful art form, it emphasizes the dancer and is purely performance-based. Legendary names in the world of dance have proven that the pride, fame, and recognition gained through trophies, medals, and titles bring glory to self, and not to God. The Lord Himself has declared In His Word in 1 Corinthians 1:29-31 that “no flesh should glory in His presence” and that “he [or she] whom glories let him [or she] glory in the Lord.” Therefore, dance is really designed for the dancer to receive the glory through the applause, approval, and admiration of the man. What other reason would famous ballerinas like Misty Copeland or world-renowned gymnasts like Simon Biles discipline their bodies, train innumerable hours, make incredible sacrifices, only to shy away from the limelight? The purpose of dance is to get the praise of man, not to bring praise and glory to God. The New York Times confirms this sentiment in the article, Inside the High-Drama World of Youth Competition Dance, an article highlighting the high pressure placed on youth competitive dancers in America. Lizzie Feidelson states, “There’s a mystery to winning a dance competition, which makes winning all the more intense. Unlike in sports, when a competition dancer wins, she comes away with the intoxicating knowledge that she is not just good, but also liked.” Likewise, movies like Black Swan starring Natalie Portman portray the world of intense perfectionism that characterizes the world of ballet, in particular, that drives dancers to do whatever it takes to win the applause of man, while inflicting great emotional, mental, and at times physical harm to themselves. According to 1 John 2:15-16, the Lord God says not to “love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life are not of the Father, but of the world.” Jesus himself did not speak highly of those who were more concerned about the acceptance of man rather than God. Jesus said, concerning the Pharisees, “For they loved praise from men more than they loved praise from God.” (John 12:43). Additionally, King Solomon alludes to the downfall of people-pleasing, which motivates dancers to do whatever it takes to win the prize of glory, fame, and adoration of spectators who view their dance routine. “The fear of man brings a snare, but whoever trusts in the LORD shall be safe.”(Proverbs 29:25). The spirit of pride and self-promotion that is attached to dance has no place in God’s sanctuary. God opposes the prideful in heart!
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Finally, the alluring power of dance would be incomplete without the attire. God, Himself has declared in His Word in 1 Corinthians 1:29-31 that “no flesh should glory in His presence” and that “he [or she] whom glories let him glory in the Lord.” The “Sexy Praise Dance” video alone proves why the dance has no place in God’s house. The revealing attire designed to accentuate the bodies of young girls (sometimes as young as five years old!) coupled with an emphasis on makeup to stimulate the senses of the viewers, increases the temptation for both believing and nonbelieving men stumble. In her article entitled, “The High Drama World of Youth Competition Dance” the author shares the sentiment of a young dancer she interviewed. She states, Angelina loved that competition dance was not only athletic but also beautiful. She liked dressing up. “There’s definitely a pageant component to it,” Grimes says. Fake eyelashes, hair spray, and crystals are de rigueur; Angelina’s first few dances required fishnets. Some parents find the pageantry bewildering — “It sucks you right in,”
1 Peter 1: 16 declares, “Be holy, for I am holy.” What is holy about revealing dance apparel that the sole purpose is to expose as much flesh as possible? How else is an exotic dancer or an entertainer like Beyonce going to get the highest ratings and sales possible without exposing as much skin as possible when performing through song and dance? In the world of dance, the more skin, the better! This certainly has no place within the House of the Lord, where believers are admonished to not only keep their bodies sacred before the Lord but to present their bodies as living sacrifices before the Lord. Without a doubt, dance can find no place in the Holy Sanctuary. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury, the evidence is glaringly clear. If the Body of Christ desires to preserve the sanctity, the purity, and the reverence of God’s House, then it would behoove the Church of the Living God to not permit the spirit of the world to enter the House of Prayer through dancing. Not only does it open the door to the spirit of pride, performance, and self-promotion of the dancer, but the over-sexualized attire and the sensuality associated with dance goes directly against what the Lord desires our bodies to be---the living temple of His Spirit.
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20 years at His feet.
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20 years at His feet.
The Power, Purpose, and Place in God’s Kingdom for the Dance BY LARISSA D. JEAN
Now, many of you are thinking, “Wait?! I thought DOP was for the dance?!” I am here to announce with a resounding YES WE ARE! When this opportunity came for me to play the devil's advocate for why dance should not be in God’s church, it stretched me! Dance has been an integral part of my whole life-- I LOVE to dance! I have loved the dance since I was four years old. The ministry of dance has been intertwined in every fiber of my being for the last 19years, with my first experience with the ministry of dance in college, to being connected with Apostle Michele and DOP, and to now pasturing a dance ministry at my local church. My heartbeats for the privilege to worship my King through the dance. However, the previous argument that was presented through this Dance on Trial is only convincing to those who have not yet received the revelation, the education, and the understanding that the DANCE is a gift from God for man to worship Him in spirit and in truth. The power of the dance was intended to bring glory to God and to preach the message of the Gospel through movement. We were thrown into a spiritual battle since the day Adam and Eve fell in the Garden of Eden. And since the Fall of Man, our Adversary, Satan, has been relentless in stealing, destroying and killing everything that produces the life Jesus died for us to have. Satan is the Master Distorter of everything beautiful that comes from God. Everything that God created is beautiful. Everything that Satan puts his hands on becomes contaminated and perverted. He can only produce a counterfeit. Our enemy cannot and will never be able to create anything that brings glory back to our Great King. Therefore, because God created dance with the power to bring worship and glory back to Him, we must understand why the enemy fights to keep the dance under the fire of scrutiny. He too understands the power of the dance. Why then does God desire to restore the dance back in His Kingdom and within the Body of Christ? Because we are His Dancing Bride! We serve the God of movement. In Genesis 1: 1-2, the Amplified version reveals to us that “In the beginning, God (Elohim) created [by forming from nothing] the heavens and the earth. The earth was formless and void or a waste and emptiness, and darkness was upon the face of the deep [primeval ocean that covered the unformed earth]. The Spirit of God was moving (hovering, brooding) over the face of the waters.” Movement is God’s idea! We were made to move, much like the trees that sway in the wind, or the birds that fly, or the sea creatures that swim in the ocean. God created movement as a way to bring glory back to Himself! Furthermore, the reason the dance needs to be included in the worship experience and the reason that the enemy is fighting to keep dance out of the Church is that we are commanded by the Almighty to “praise Him in the Dance!” (Psalm 150:4). We are commanded to lift up holy hands before our Lord and King and to worship Him in Spirit and in truth. The reason the enemy works relentlessly to pervert the dance and to conceal the power of the dance from the Body of Christ is that he desires to steal the praise that only belongs to the Lord! God’s intention and heart for the restoration of the dance within the Kingdom is because Jesus Christ himself DANCED! God Almighty came down in bodily form to redeem mankind. Jesus is the Word made flesh. In the Book of Luke 10:18-21, the Scriptures reveal that our Lord and King REJOICED! The Hebrew word for rejoicing is the Gil which means to spin, to swirl, to leap, and to jump. That sounds like dancing to me! When we dance before the Lord, we have the phenomenal advantage to release supernatural power, healing, joy, deliverance, and even prophecy when we move in the spirit. Dance has the power to shift the atmosphere! And because our Adversary, the prince of the air, knows this powerful truth, he perverts the dance so that its power and original intent is weakened.
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A powerful revelation is found in the Scriptures that gives profound insight into the power of the ministry of dance, and its place within the worship experience. Liturgical dance, the expression of faith in Jesus through movement ministry in a public worship setting, is a vehicle that God uses to “confound the wise.” (1 Corinthians 1:27). Would you believe that the lifting up of a flag, spinning around in a circle, the clapping of hands and the stomping of feet are actions that are actually tearing down strongholds in the spirit? To the skeptics and the doubters, the answer is a resounding YES. Dance is intercession. Dance is warfare. What happens in the spirit realm manifests in the natural! When we dance before the Lord, things are happening in the spirit! We are actually binding up every opposing force, every demonic activity, and the kings of Satan in the spirit realm. Psalm 149: 8 proves this point: “These warring weapons will bring vengeance on every opposing force and every resistant power—to bind kings with chains and rulers with iron shackles.” (Passion Translation). Ministers of dance become a weapon in the hands our Warrior God and King! As Dancing Warriors, it is our Commander and Chief, “...Who trains [our] hands for war, and [our] fingers for battle” (Psalm 144:1). Through the dance, we can fight the forces of the kingdom of darkness with the clapping of our hands, the lifting of our hands, the stomping of our feet, and praises from our lips! The Dance pushes back the enemy’s camp and takes greater ground for the Kingdom of God! However, most importantly, I believe that the reason that the enemy fears God’s people getting the revelation of the power of dance is that God attached a promise to the feet of His daughters! After the serpent’s deceptive attack to destroy the perfect fellowship between God and the ones created in His image, God revealed the power that comes through the FEET. The Lord told the enemy, “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise His heel.” (Genesis 3:15). When ministers of dance minister before the King, we are stomping on the devil’s head and taking back everything he has stolen from the children of God! “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace, who bring glad tidings of good things.” (Isaiah 52:7). Not only can we sing, preach, teach, and declare the Gospel, but we can also DANCE the Gospel! Ministers of Dance are Dancing Preachers! When I dance before the Lord, I have experienced firsthand the deliverance that has come through my life and in the lives of His people. I have experienced how God is able to shift the atmosphere when I minister before Him with my flags. I have received reports of healing within the worship experience after the ministry of dance has gone forth. I have witnessed children as young as seven years old travail through the dance. I have witnessed prophecy come forth child ministers of dance. I have felt the tangible presence of the warring angels of the Lord when we war through the dance. When we dance for God, He is able to touch His people in a powerful, tangible, and miraculous way. In fact, dance is the only ministry that can minister to the deaf! Through dance, a picture can be painted of what is happening in Heaven. We can touch the heart of God through dance. To close, as the Dancing Bride of Christ, we cannot allow darkness and ignorance to stop what God is able to do when we dance before Him. There is power in our feet! There is a victory when we lift up our hands! There is power, purpose, and a place for the Dance in God’s Kingdom! Let us take back the Dance for the Lord!
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20 years at His feet.
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A CASE FOR THE PROPHETIC The Defense: Often times, the world is in the offense to things that they have limited knowledge of. This is because the misconception of The Prophetic Ministry and the role the enemy plays by twisting the truth of the ministry gives people the unfortunate option of developing their own concepts and meanings of the ministry. The Prophetic Ministry is about allowing God to use vessels (in human form.... on Earth as it is in Heaven) to ignite purpose, hope, and identity in His people through the gift of prophecy. The heartbeat of prophetic ministry is anchored in 1 Corinthians 14 – “Pursue love and earnestly desire spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy”. This further explains why and how this gift has been twisted by the enemy. We are to pursue the gift! The most common misconception is that only certain people are “entitled” to this gift. According to Austin Sparks, within his reading “What is the Prophetic?” The Prophetic operates in various aspects: a) Detailed Knowledge of God's Purposes This involves several things, which are clearly seen to be features of prophetic ministry in the Word of God. This involves the matter of anointing. The meaning and value of anointing are that, firstly, only the Spirit of God has the full and detailed plan in view and can make everything to be true in principle to God's intention. (b) Knowledge Imparted by Revelation It leads to this second thing in prophetic ministry: By the anointing there comes revelation. That is why the prophets originally were called "seers" - men who saw. They saw what no other men saw. They saw what it was impossible for other people to see, even religious, God-fearing people..
DR. SALETHIA JAMES (c) Exact Conformity to God's Thoughts The anointing brings about that first-hand touch with God and when that happens we come into the place of direct spiritual knowledge of God, direct touch with God, the place of the open heaven - you cannot, under any consideration, for any advantage at all, be a person who compromises, who deviates from what has been shown to your heart. The points he listed, further validated the importance of The Prophetic Ministry and how this ministry plays a vital role and impact on the people of God. Biblically, the prophetic ministry was introduced in the Old Testament, as God raised up prophets to encourage and rebuke the nation of Israel in times of trouble or rebellion. According to the Biblehub, during King David’s reign (2 Samuel), the prophet Nathan, among others, spoke the word of the Lord to David, giving him guidance and direction as well as confronting him concerning his sin with Bathsheba. The calling of a prophet was to speak for God. A prophet would teach, give guidance, counsel, or rebuke as necessary.
A CASE FOR THE PROPHETIC Continued......
DR. SALETHIA JAMES To further explain, in the New Testament, we find others who had a prophetic ministry. Certain people were gifted as prophets to give guidance, direction, counsel, etc., to God’s people. The gift of prophecy is specifically mentioned in 1 Corinthians 12:10 and Ephesians 4:11. This gift was given for the building up of the church (Ephesians 4:12). Thus, prophets were to speak the Word of God to the church, so that believers would know the mind of the Lord and how the church should function. Final argument: Children of God that operate within The Prophetic Ministry listen to God, and tell the people exactly what God wants them to hear. This is vital and could be detrimental to those both in and out of the will of God. The beauty of it all is that even those outside of God’s will can still hear His voice! The Prophetic Ministry is a lifesaver and there is not anything else that can take the place of it.
Pastor David and I want to thank God for another successful school year at the Empowerment Center. We also want to thank God for 20 years of ministry and 10th graduating year of the Empowerment Center. Graduates we honor you and thank you for pressing your way through. Thank you family and friends for your support. A special thank you Nations 360 Church for your love, support and blessings. Look out for the 2020 call for Empowerment!