Dear Pastor or Christian,
 
This is not over! Fauci, Bill Gates, and Joe Biden have said there is another pandemic coming, and the church is unprepared. Like nothing before it, Covid has paralyzed the church because it has divided our people, our boards, and our staff due to its complicated and political nature. Covid was also the greatest financial catastrophy in America’s history. While it is impossible to make a Biblical case that we should never wear a mask or take a vaccine, we should all be concerned because Covid was used to justify evil simultaneously around the world. 
 
How can Christians be okay with forcing people in concentration camps or implanting computer chips?[1],[2]How can we as pastors remain silent when governments are starving people or refusing life-saving medical care?[3],[4] How can we not stand up when people are losing custody of their children or their jobs for their religious freedoms or rights to their own body?[5]

In this sermon, we will show that there is something dramatically worse than Covid? A new enemy has arisen to perpetrate new forms of religious persecution upon us all. Yet, a divided church cannot stand against the “gates of hell.” I sincerely hope that each sermon in this series will help the each of us to talk about the fact that our Bible is happening. (Luke 21:28)

To Watch Sermon: CLICK

For a copy of my sermon notes and powerpoint presentation, please contact me at drkdkruse@hotmail.com or info@supernatualjunkies.com.


[1]https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/20/world/australia/howard-springs-quarantine.html

[2]https://nypost.com/2019/07/14/swedish-people-are-getting-chip-implants-to-replace-cash-credit-cards/

[3]https://summit.news/2021/10/15/anger-as-german-state-allows-food-stores-to-ban-the-unvaccinated/?utm_source=wnd&utm_medium=wnd&utm_campaign=syndicated

[4]https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/if-covid-vaccine-refusers-are-turned-away-hospitals-doctor-offices-ncna1277475

[5]https://www.gopusa.com/discrimination-against-the-unvaccinated-is-shameful/

Dear Pastor or Christian,
 
This is not over! Fauci, Bill Gates, and Joe Biden have said there is another pandemic coming, and the church is unprepared. Like nothing before it, Covid has paralyzed the church because it has divided our people, our boards, and our staff due to its complicated and political nature. Covid was also the greatest financial catastrophy in America’s history. While it is impossible to make a Biblical case that we should never wear a mask or take a vaccine, we should all be concerned because Covid was used to justify evil simultaneously around the world. 
 
How can Christians be okay with forcing people in concentration camps or implanting computer chips?[1],[2]How can we as pastors remain silent when governments are starving people or refusing life-saving medical care?[3],[4] How can we not stand up when people are losing custody of their children or their jobs for their religious freedoms or rights to their own body?[5]

In this sermon, we will show that there is something dramatically worse than Covid? A new enemy has arisen to perpetrate new forms of religious persecution upon us all. Yet, a divided church cannot stand against the “gates of hell.” I sincerely hope that each sermon in this series will help the each of us to talk about the fact that our Bible is happening. (Luke 21:28)

For a copy of my sermon notes and powerpoint presentation, please contact me at drkdkruse@hotmail.com or info@supernatualjunkies.com.


[1]https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/20/world/australia/howard-springs-quarantine.html

[2]https://nypost.com/2019/07/14/swedish-people-are-getting-chip-implants-to-replace-cash-credit-cards/

[3]https://summit.news/2021/10/15/anger-as-german-state-allows-food-stores-to-ban-the-unvaccinated/?utm_source=wnd&utm_medium=wnd&utm_campaign=syndicated

[4]https://www.nbcnews.com/think/opinion/if-covid-vaccine-refusers-are-turned-away-hospitals-doctor-offices-ncna1277475

[5]https://www.gopusa.com/discrimination-against-the-unvaccinated-is-shameful/

About 15 years ago I started All Pro Pastors International(APPI) in obedience to the leading of the Holy Spirit. By God’s grace my wife (Linda) embraced this call on her life to serve Pastors and Ministers too and since then we have tirelessly worked to strengthen pastors and bring the body of Chist together in love.

APPI has three arms of ministry, all toward and for supporting Pastors: The Table of Champions, the Pastors Prayer Center, and now Pastors Defending Families. Each of these have specific purposes and missions.

We sincerely ask that you pray for us as we reach out to all Christian Pastors to pray for them, to help them establish cross relationship Champion Tables and provide information with resources to help them as individuals and as pastors. The platforms that we offer encourage pastors from different denominations, race, doctrine, culture, and success to come together at the Table with Jesus and talk, pray and fellowship. This builds trust and love in spite of their differences.

Please pray for this ministry to stay the course and to always demonstrate the Agape love of our Lord Jesus.
Specifically pray for our highly debated “Pastors Defending Families Conference”. Our conference will be delivering confirmed information with testimony as to many of the issues families are dealing with. We humbly invite you to come in person to our conference on May 17th or watch it by free livestream through our website. www.allpropastors.org

Doing the right thing is not always easy or popular, but sometimes love must also be tough.

Linda and I are also scheduled to go to Honduras June 1-5 with a Marriage Retreat team led by Dr. Tony Ponceti. This marriage retreat will include Pastors, Mayors, and Government officials. We are blessed to have All Pro Pastors International partner with SOIL ministries on this great work.

Thank you so much for your prayers!

Added Notes: During the conference on May 17th, we will be introducing a new ministry resource partner www.Gloo.us . They have a National outreach to find young people who are searching? At our conference you can meet them in person and hear how they connect these hurting young souls to churches who really care and are willing to listen and help. Churches who sign up to partner with them receive an average of 10 per month.

We will also be having a National Zoom Conference May 26th with all who are interested in learning more about this amazing outreach ministry.

Soaring on wings like the Eagles

Although I haven’t had much opportunity to watch eagles soar, it is a beautiful thing.  Soaring is by definition gliding high, and anyone who has ever seen eagles know they do so with spectacular ease.  Perhaps this is why God chose them as our model.

Aerodynamics of Soaring

To soar, an eagle needs a headwind, but this seems to be opposite of what they should need. An airline pilot was asked to explain.  He said that eagles must face into the wind to experience lift.  The air currents flow over and under their uniquely formed wings, creating an air pressure difference.  As the higher pressure below tries to equalize the lower above, the gliding bird is lifted up. Gradually, though, the eagle will lose altitude, forcing it to land, if not for the added boost of rising air currents, such as warm air and updrafts, or increased wind.  When assisted by these air currents or winds, a gliding eagle can then soar.

God Helps Us Soar Like an Eagle

When God says that we can soar on wings like an eagle, He is not suggesting that we attempt unassisted aerials.  He wants us to soar spiritually in our daily walk with Him.

“But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar with wings like eagles. They will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not faint.”  Isaiah 40:31

Waiting on the Lord for renewed strength is often difficult.  In the midst of hardships, the concept of soaring above them can seem impossible.  Without God’s help, it is.  He reminded me, though, that all birds, even eagles, must learn to fly.

With His help, we can learn to soar

 

  • We Must Face the Headwinds

 

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil for You are with me” Psalm 23:4

Storms and difficulties are like headwinds that blow in upon our lives, sometimes with gale-forced strength.  As eagles face headwinds, we must learn to face ours head-on, knowing that God is with us as we do.

 

  • We Must Rest on God’s Strength

 

…Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” – Ephesians 6:10

Although we do not have literal wings, we can rest upon God.  He stretched out His arms on the cross to conquer the gravitational pull of sin’s curse on our behalf.  We can rest secure in the shadow of His wings, knowing His arms are capable of lifting us up above any problem we face.

 

  • We Must Let God Lift Us

 

“Lord, I will exalt you and lift you high, for you have lifted me up on high!” Psalm 30:1

Just as lift results from air pressure changes, God lifts us by changing our perspective in the storm, and reversing the dynamics of our situations for good.  Rather than allowing the pressures of our problems to sink us, we can trust in God, who is greater.  With His power and love under-girding us, we can with renewed hope and courage rise up, even when things look their bleakest.

 

  • We Must Allow God To Sustain Us

 

Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me” – Psalm 54:4

Just as an eagle needs the assistance of air currents and winds to maintain altitude, we need God’s help to continue soaring.  With the wind of His Spirit in us, and the warmth of His love surrounding us, we can rise above any problem.  We can soar. Rather than grovel in the dust of your problems, wouldn’t you rather soar above them with God?

There has been a lot of talk and writings about Businessmen & women in Marketplace Ministry and exactly what it means for the organized church and the body of Christ. During the last 25 -30 years, there have been many good & some great books and articles written about this topic and what it means.  Some have received what I believe is divine revelation, some were filled with just practical information which, of course, could have also been divine revelation. Some great books that come to mind are “Kings & Priests” by David R. High, “The 9 to 5 Window” by Os Hillman, “The Seven Mountain Prophecy” by Johnny Enlow, and the one that most changed me personally – “Secrets of the Kingdom Economy” by Paul Cuny.  And there are many more too numerous to mention.

The teaching from many of these books that impacted me most is “How important Christian Business people are to the body of Christ”.  I had always up to about 10 years ago felt like I wasn’t all that important to the body of Christ.  When you think about it, without businesses making a profit and paying tithes & offerings there would be no or severely limited organized churches or ministries. Some might say, well government workers would be paying tithes & offerings. Without taxes being paid by private businesses, there would be no government workers.  Now I’m obviously talking about a free enterprise economy, which is I pray what we keep in the United States.

    I’m not implying that no other segment (Pastors in particular who we desperately need) of our culture is as important to the body of Christ as businesses, but I am implying that Christian business people are critical to the success of many ministries and as business people we have a great responsibility.  It is clear in Deut. 8:18 that God has given us the power to gain wealth for the purpose of establishing His covenant on the earth. And if He gave us the power then I believe you can conclude that He wants those to whom He has given the power (that would be us!) to be wealthy.  Let’s face it, a poor person is very limited to help anyone financially.  Look at the lives of the Green family who own “Hobby Lobby” & the Cathy family of Chick-fil-A.  These organizations and their founders have inspired Christians everywhere.
God laid it on my heart 9 years ago (in 2008) that it was time to gather together Christians in business to network, encourage each other, do business with each other, pray for each other, recommend each other and to learn what God’s word has to say about business, wealth & their effect on the Kingdom of God.

I wanted every connected Christian business person to commit to “BRING IN THE HARVEST – MONEY AND SOULS.”  Today our organization “Integrity Business Referrals” has about 40 members from 29 different churches.  We meet twice per month in Lakeland and Plant City, Florida.  All of our members have space available on our website, a listing in our printed directory and can, if possible, attend our networking meetings. Because of our website IBR77.COM and our Facebook page, we receive phone calls and emails from all over the country mostly from Christian consumers looking for believers to do business with.  We do not accept just anyone as a member, who has the money & professes to be a Christian.  We actually spend time with them & talk with their Pastors if needed.  The applicants give us written permission to do just that.

One of the great benefits of a group like ours, to Pastors, is that it relieves him or her from having to recommend a business to someone in their congregation only to find out later that there was a problem. We do the vetting for them.  We require that any member must be a born again believer in Jesus Christ and be a regular supporter of a church, home church, missionary group or other Christian fellowship that he/she is accountable to.  We ask Pastors to allow us to place copies of our directory in their church foyers or reception areas so their members would know whom to call when they needed help. If businesses in the pastor’s church are also listed, then many other churches will also have their contact information.  “This is a KINGDOM DIRECTORY”

There are many reasons why Christians should do business with other Christians. Pastors need to know this & be confident of it.  So much so that they know that their recommendation of our members or any other Christian business person will be a blessing to their congregant members and to the kingdom of God.  We are looking for Kingdom Minded Pastors & ministry leaders to partner with.  It’s time to grow the kingdom NOW!

In a future article, I will present & discuss the reasons from the Word of God and dispel the myths & excuses of Christians doing business or not doing business with each other.  Also in future articles, answer the question “ where does the ministry part come in?” And the Circle of Blessing – VERY POWERFUL!

God wants us to bless each other & to keep it in the Kingdom!

A REAL FAMILY BUSINESS!

Lew Frye, Founder

Integrity Business Referrals, Inc.

7922 Sioux Ln.

Lakeland, Fl 33810

863-521-3360   intbusref@gmail.com   IBR77.COM

 

& Kingdom principles in the marketplace.  You can find out more at www.IBR77.com or email Lew at intbusref@gmail.com

 

 

Contact our West Virginia (Rev. Lou Bush) and Wisconsin (Pastor Christopher Byars) State Directors to learn more about what is happening in your state.

(Florida Directorship still pending)

Email: Pastor@allpropastors.org

 

Matthew 9:36 “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no sheperd”

 Pastors are the under-shepherds, charged in caring for the sheep, but who cares for the pastor?

Our vision is to see those shepherds unified together through a Covenant of Prayer that brings all denominations, cultures, races and pastors together in action, and that pastors have relationship betwee them selves of trust, oves and determination to save their community and make disciples for Jesus Christ and the Kingdon of God!

All ProPastor International Mission Statement

John 21 “Jesus spoke to Simon, son of Jonas, lovest thou me and commissioned him three time to (Feed my sheep)”

 All Pro Pastors International ministry is to empower Pastors to become Champion role models for all

People through personal encouragement, challenge, accountability and achievement, and to bring unity to the “Body of Christ” through love, trust, prayer and personal relationships, that by this our Lord Jesus may say: “well done y good and faithful Servant”.

But who feeds the shepherd?

All Pro Pastors International benefits include:

  • Weekly Encouragement
  • Fresh Ideas for Pastors
  • Tech Trends for Churches
  • Training and Education
  • Science and The Bible
  • Special Christian Movie Premiers
  • 24/7/365 International Prayer Network

All Pro Pastors International resources include:

  • BlessEveryHome.com
  • Saturate USA
  • Game Plan for Life
  • National Center for Life and Liberty
  • Restoring Hope Global
  • Mike Williams Ministry
  • Liberty Pastors/Reclaiming America for Christ
  • SkywatchTV
  • Christian Businessmen’s Connection
  • Champions Table

 

All Pro Pastors International vision:

  • Pastors will work together in their community to save the lost and make disciples
  • For all Christian Churches and pastors in the community will unite regardless of their race or denomination
  • Pastors will establish relationships of love and trust between themselves
  • Local Churches and Pastors will stop criticizing one another and start loving/liking one another
  • Leaders of the denominations will work together with purpose to reach every community for Christ
  • Pastors to have a Kingdom attitude and heart
  • Pastors marriages and families to be strong, healthy and holy. To be examples of Christ
  • Pastors to pray with their spouse every day
  • That strong Pastors will step forward to establish “Champion Tables” as leaders in every community
  • The Body of Christ, the Church, to become passionate about praying and will develop the discipline to pray each day with intensity and intentionally
  • That Pastors “Fast and Pray” with accountability and encouragement to one another with confidentiality
  • That anyone who call themselves a Christian will serve and honor God with their life, words, actions, thoughts, attitudes and above all “LOVE”
  • Our National leader will turn to Jesus and become Jesus followers!
  • All Presidents, Prime Minister and Heads of State will use the Bible as the standard of governing
  • That our Governmental leaders will call for solemn assemblies with fasts and prayer to be held at their governmental headquarters and throughout the land
  • For Pastors to be called to every country’s capital to pray in unity repenting and worshiping Jesus
  • That Christians will vote where and when allowed for candidates who are committed Christians
  • For Israel and their people to accept Jesus as their Messiah and Savior
  • For All Pro Pastors International and the Pastors Center to fulfill its Mission and Vision
  • For provision to come into this ministry so that there is more that enough to reach the entire world with this mission and for the gospel of Jesus Christ to be shared to all people
  • That our hearts will have forgiveness for one another for years of racial and cultural division and criticism
  • For a great move of the Holy Spirit to move through the land with a great demonstration of power
  • For all Christian married couples to pray together every day showing compassion for each other before God

With the help of many, All Pro Pastors International organized and hosted an extremely well-attended Central Florida Leadership Prayer Breakfast in Plant City, Florida on September 15, 2021.

In a faith-filled Grimes Family Agricultural Center, more than 650 folks heard powerful and inspiring testimonies from Lieutenant General (retired) William G. “Jerry” Boykin and Mike Lindell, founder/CEO of the My Pillow organization. And the best news – by the end of the event, 48 people had made decisions for Christ.

General Jerry Boykin is one of the original members of the Delta Force and has spent much of his career in Special Forces. His work in this area of the military placed him in many legendary battles. He was commander of the Delta Force team portrayed in the movie Black Hawk Down. He also led the operations to remove and capture the notorious General/Dictator Manuel Noriega of Panama. Throughout his talk at the breakfast, the highly regarded warrior and author credited God for divine intervention and encouraged everyone attending to make a relationship with Jesus a priority in their life.

Mike Lindell’s journey to faith in Christ was not an easy road, but today he gives all glory to God for the restored success of his companies and for his non-profit outreach ministry, the Lindell Recovery Network. His incredible life gave inspiration and hope to many who attended. As a thank you gift, he provided breakfast attendees with a copy of his new book, What are the Odds? From Crack Addict to CEO.

All Pro Pastors International was thankful for its title sponsor- Lighthouse Ministries, and for the eight platinum sponsors, as well as the delicious breakfast by Fred’s Market Restaurant and program printing by Beit Tehila congregation.

Dan Shock with Florida Marketplace Ministries has assumed responsibility for follow-up with those who made new decisions for Christ at the event.

In addition to serving in-person attendees, the Central Florida Leadership Prayer Breakfast was livestreamed to more than 175 countries, thanks to producer/director Jade Fulford and the All Pro Pastors International’s reach throughout the world.

With such a wonderful turnout for this first-ever event, the APPI ministry and its supporters are encouraged that the 2022 prayer breakfast will have even more in attendance. If you or your organization would like to be involved, please contact Paul Pickern by phone (813-481-8743) or e-mail (paul@allpropastors.org).

Every effort will be appreciated because we can never have too much help in sharing the Gospel.

Please invest in this great ministry with a generous gift today or become one of our ministry partners by clicking here! 

To watch the entire event click : Central Florida Leadership Prayer Breakfast 2021

Article written by: Cheryl Johnston

Preparing the Church for the End Times
Baghdad, Iraq, 2005. Victory Base Chapel. Early morning.
I watch Soldiers who are just now entering chapel for services. They look weary, most have been up all night either on a mission or pulling guard duty. They bring their weapons with them and drop them on the floor, and then they lift their hands in worship. After service is over, they pick up their firearms and continue their mission. There is no respite in combat.
I want you to get this picture: Soldiers never leave their weapons unattended, even in chapel services at Victory Base, Baghdad, Iraq. They have those weapons beside them just in case of an enemy attack. They are ready for combat at all times.
If we did that here in America, it would be a strange sight indeed, but not in a war zone, not in combat. The interesting thing to note is we are at war in America!
            What war, you ask?
            There are dark spiritual forces at war with believers here in America and     around the world. Make no mistake about it; we are in combat every day            with the unseen enemy. Ephesians 6:12 tells us: “For our struggle is           not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the        authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the     spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
            What do we need to do to combat the forces of darkness? Be ready and     prepared! The Lord, in these last days, is preparing His Army for  spiritual hand to hand combat.
Look at Matthew 25:1-5, the parable of the ten virgins: “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
The ten virgins’ job was to provide light, and some of them, according to John Piper, had “lamps without oil, candles without wicks, torches without fire, light bulbs without electricity. They had the outward form of religion and no internal power. They liked their position; otherwise, they would have left. But they did not have a passion for using the necessary means to fulfill the point of their position.”[1]
Five were ready, and five were not. Those five were distracted, too busy with politics or shopping or sports or whatever. They probably relished the excellent church services, loved the sermons, enjoyed fellowship feasts, and were very busy with the details of the day, yet the Bible tells us they were asleep! They were not ready for the coming of their Lord.
I want to share with you the secret of the US Army’s success. The number one priority is READINESS! There is no other number one priority. If the Army was not adequately trained, equipped, manned, and supplied, what do you think will happen in the next conflict? We lose. Period.
The five virgins who were ready had oil, and they had their lamps, they prepared for the return of the groom. Are You ready?
Here are some ways to start getting ready:
1. Take a good hard look at your life right now: are you focused and doing all that Christ has asked of you? How do you spend your time?
2. Start by repenting! Just start. When the Army throws you into boot camp, on day one you are now a Soldier, not a civilian. No looking back.
3. Determine to follow Christ every moment of every day by putting to death the flesh, that part of me that doesn’t relate to Christ. In the Army, you follow the orders of those who are over you. Throw out all idols in your life, those things that are higher priority than God.
4. Fill your lamp with oil, which is the power of the Holy Spirit. We need power packed disciples. Listening to Him every moment of every day.
5. Read and live the Word every day.
How shall we live in 2021 and beyond? Keep your weapons by you at all times.
 David J Giammona

 “The least productive people are usually the ones who are most in favor of holding meetings.”                                                 Thomas Sowell
Great leaders constantly monitor their core values, core strengths and critical resources. All three are vital. They make sure these line up and create forward momentum every day.
Doing many things’ means you are busy. Doing the right things on a timely basis means you are productive and create measurable value. This is what creates long-term employment and personal satisfaction.
Here are five signs you are busy but probably not productive:
First, attending too many non-productive meetings.  Most meetings are poorly planned, over-managed and usually cost more than they are worth.
Second, doing other people’s work instead of your own. Non-producers are always looking for someone else to cover for their own lack of effort.
Third, living for the daily “fire drill,” doing the urgent and ignoring the important. Top producers do the important when its seldom urgent. Nonproductive people are always busy, seem to live in a constant state of urgency and accomplish little.
Fourth, majoring on the trivial in order to avoid doing the uncomfortable.  Great leaders make a living doing what poor leaders find uncomfortable and find every excuse to avoid.
Fifth, you’re constantly stuck in “social media” and information overload. You don’t have to respond to every Email, Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn and Instagram to name a few.
There is an alternative to busyness.  It’s called creating a reality beyond the urgent.  If you desire focused productivity over busyness and urgency, ask yourself the following four questions:
What do I really want in my limited time on earth? What am I doing today that supports my deepest passions?  If I knew the number of my days, what would I stop doing and start doing? Am I spending more time with people who celebrate me or tolerate me? Before you create your daily “To Do” list, answer these four questions.
It’s very difficult to measure busyness—activity without results. Productivity is the result of focused efforts with measurable goals. Is it really valuable and worth doing if it cannot be measured?  Compensation and reward should be given based on measurable results not how hard you work. 
“The man on the top of the mountain didn’t fall there.” Vince Lombardi 
Many are busy and working hard going around the mountain but forget the goal is to make it to the top!

We are pulling out of our driveway to go to our son’s first Championship Baseball game. He is the starting pitcher today, and then it happens. My phone rings and it is the church secretary. Pastor, the bathroom toilet has overflowed and the sanctuary is flooding. Now I get a text from the head deacon, I am on the way to the hospital. My wife is going into labor and she is hemorrhaging.

The phone rings again……My wife looks at me and says. “Can’t you just ignore that phone long enough to watch your son’s game! We have a life too!”

Does any of this sound familiar? As a pastor the multiple directions of life that pull on us are impossible to imagine, unless you are a pastor.

The “Call” of a shepherd is a great responsibility and the gift of a wife and children is a wonderful blessing. They each demand our time and attention. The only way to have the wisdom, strength and sensitivity do all well is by the “Hand of God” on our life.

As Pastors it is critical that we surround ourselves with men(pastors) who completely understand this and are willing to go to the throne of God with us and for us. Having men of God who we can trust standing with us is invaluable and standing up for our fellow brothers is just as important! As a pastor, it is very easy to find ourselves standing all alone when church and family collide. This is why we have developed the Champions Table also called the “Pastor’s Prayer Fortress”. It truly is a fortress of prayer.

The Champions Table becomes your prayer fortress, four men standing together when everyone else scatters. These four men develop a sacred bond that is unbreakable! This “prayer fortress” is the foundation of the Champions Table.

Some may still say, I am a Pastor, why do I need a “prayer fortress”? I am constantly being asked to pray about every kind of issue imaginable. Every single day someone has a new crisis that needs immediate attention and prayer. Prayer is a way of life for me. I get up out of bed praying for people and I go to bed praying for people. I pray for our country and for Israel, I pray for my wife and children, I pray for revival and a mighty move of God, for the hurting, I pray for the widows and orphans, the homeless and hungry too.

Again, some will respond, “Pastor’s Fortress”, I feel like I live in a fortress? Well, that is the point. The walls of “aloneness” can grow thicker and thicker when a man stands alone. That is why Jesus himself gave us the model to follow! Men like us linking arms with us and “praying with us and for us”, mighty men of God who love us and we are safe with! Now this is what every Pastor needs!

The Champions Table “Frees” us and breathes life and vitality into us. We never feel alone again. Start your Champions Table today and feel the relief that comes from your “Pastors Fortress of Prayer”.

Now watch this short video and see for yourself:

“When You’re Burned Out, Wounded and Overwhelmed”
By Dr. Gregory R. Frizzell ©

When Paul Pickern so graciously asked me to write some articles for All Pro Pastors International, I was deeply humbled and honored. Having just written a research book on pastor’s prayer meetings, I have thoroughly studied today’s global ministries to pastors. There is absolutely no group as crucial as pastors and no ministry more powerful than All Pro Pastors International. They even have a ministry to pray for pastors which I strongly encourage pastors to use.
Because pastors are facing unprecedented pressures, I sense this introductory article should be a testimony of encouragement and practical help. It is the story of how God’s grace transformed my life and ministry at a time of devastating difficulty and impossibility. My earnest hope is that our experience of God’s grace and deliverance will be an encouragement to pastors today. Absolutely nothing is more important than encouraging and strengthening the Lord’s shepherds. Pastors are the enemy’s primary target and God’s primary means for spreading Christ’s kingdom. They and their churches are the spiritual soul and fate of our nation and world. Loving and uplifting pastors is a burning passion of my heart.
Having been blessed to work with persecuted underground pastors, I have witnessed how God gives incredible joy and power in even the darkest places. In today’s intense conditions, it is crucial for pastors to have a joy, passion and power that is truly of the Holy Spirit, not circumstances. We are now far past what academics, personality and programs alone can overcome. But while the early Church and Christian reformers faced even worse challenges than most today, they totally transformed their world for Christ. We too can trust in the risen Lord Who is “the same yesterday, today and forever!” (Hebrews 13:8) I pray this testimony brings glory to God and fresh hope to pastors and their churches.

A Story of God’s Grace in the Fire
“Be Careful What You Pray For”

We often hear the half-joking phrase, “be careful about praying for patience because you know how you get it.” While of course we definitely should pray for this important grace, it is among the more challenging of the spiritual fruits. Shortly after graduation from seminary in 1983, I unwittingly discovered another somewhat risky prayer. It was when I prayed “Lord give me some good experience for growth in ministry.” Well, the Lord definitely answered that prayer, though a lot different than I expected.
Just as I was considering a call to pastor a church with strong growth potential, I got a call from another church. It was to be the Associate Pastor/Minister of Evangelism in a church in a very high crime, declining area. Then shortly after they contacted me, the TV news erupted with a catastrophic scandal involving sex abuse allegations about their church run daycare. In that day, such a thing was virtually unheard of. There was devastating publicity on every TV station and newspaper for a six state radius. I thought “phew,” I am so glad I didn’t go there!
But surprisingly, the embattled church still wanted to proceed in trying to fill their staff position. They asked me if I would at least please pray about coming to be their Associate Pastor of Evangelism. Of course in my most spiritual voice, I told them, “Oh yes, I’ll pray about it.” Frankly, I thought to myself, that’s an easy one — I’m not going into a situation like that. No way! I just knew the Lord would surely have me to go to the much easier church where I could quickly reach more people. But when I actually prayed about it, the Lord definitely led me to go to the church in the intense battle. I wish I could say I was perfectly brave and noble, but I had some very deep concerns. I even told the Lord of many perfectly logical reasons why I shouldn’t go. But somehow, He just wasn’t buying my human reasoning. So, I told the church that I would come.
Ominously, even before I arrived on the church field more allegations erupted and soon brought additional arrests. Legal bills were exploding to shocking levels on top of a major church building debt. The surrounding community was hit with a shocking new crime wave and an even greater stream of people began moving away. But unbelievably, circumstances were about to get even much more intense. After just a few months as associate pastor, the responsibility to become their pastor suddenly fell to me. Though conditions seemed hopeless, the Lord was about to teach me that nothing is too hard for Him. But, it would require me to learn some lessons I really thought I already knew. It would also take five years of almost indescribable pain and battle.

Coming to the End of Our Own Strength

As the church entered into a continuous five year nightmare, the circumstances were far worse than I could ever describe in any article. In the first three years, the battles were so intense my life was actually threatened for trying to help “that” church. A seminary professor told me in forty years of teaching, he had never heard of anything so extreme. He said, it was essentially the “Chernobyl” of the church world. (Not exactly a title you desire.) Yet, the core people of the church truly loved their Lord, their church and their inexperienced young pastor. I owe those dear people an eternal debt of gratitude.
So for five years, we aggressively used the best evangelism, discipleship and growth programs in existence. I sought to faithfully preach the whole counsel of Scripture and we even had weekly church prayer meetings. Toward the end of the fifth year, church decline was bad enough that things were getting really desperate. As a last ditch effort we conducted a massive community-wide visitation campaign to over five thousand households. But with a rapidly declining community and constant negative news coverage, the church continued downward. Even after all of the intense efforts, we were seeing few people saved, rising disunity, very few visitors and continuing decline. Five years earlier we were four to five hundred in attendance, but had dropped to well less than two hundred and fifty.
The church was increasingly discouraged and so was their pastor. Though I could still preach and put on a fairly good face, I was seriously burned out, wounded and dry. I also began to deal with some painful ongoing health issues. Yet, I personally knew some persecuted believers who had incredible joy and evangelistic power in some of the darkest regions of earth. I also realized the early Church and Christian reformers had great joy and power even in the face of horrific torture and martyrdom. So I knew greater strength, joy and closeness with Jesus were definitely possible. Then what was wrong with me? I felt great condemnation and failure over my strong feelings of doubt, frustration and weakness. At that point, I seriously considered leaving the ministry. I actually took the air traffic controller test and passed with a high score. It was God’s grace alone that kept me from leaving. Once I committed to stay, the Lord gave me peace He would do something that would one day encourage other pastors in days of intense battles. With pandemics and growing persecutions, such days are now a reality for millions.

Three Life-Changing Revelations

As I sought the Lord for greater closeness, joy and power, He led me to do a very deep study of John 15:4-16, 1 Corinthians 2:1-4, 2 Corinthians 7:1, Acts 1:4-8, 4:29-34, 5:41 and James 5:16-18. In these texts, it became clear that abundant spiritual fruit and Spirit-empowerment flow only from deep closeness with Jesus, fervent prayer and full yieldedness of heart. As I further researched the leaders of great awakenings and persecuted believers, the Lord opened my eyes to three specific points of inadequacy in my walk with Christ. Though by today’s rushed patterns my prayer life might have seemed above average, it was definitely not sufficient by God’s standards in Scripture and historic awakenings. The Lord graciously helped me see three missing elements that ultimately made a vast difference in my life and church. I pray these insights will help fellow pastors as much as they transformed me.

First, I realized I was focusing so much on God’s love, I was neglecting the reverential fear of His holiness. As a result, I had settled for using some popular heart cleansing/surrender guides that were simply not complete enough to bring specific yielding in all key areas of sin and self. (Psalm 139:23-24; 2 Corinthians 7:1) The Lord helped me see that there were actually around seven areas I needed to yield fully and consistently. (Most cleansing/growth guides deal with only four or five general areas.) I also saw that full surrender to Jesus had to involve a continual yielding of “self, weights of hindrance and heart idols,” not just sin. (Matthew 16:24; Hebrews 12:1-2) I was discovering that Jesus wanted to be Lord of even our motives and secret thoughts. And while of course we are all very much a work in progress, we do have to at least be in serious, intentional progress.
I began to realize being “under grace” in no way meant I could marginalize ever-deeper growth and surrender. If the Apostle Paul needed to continually “press toward the mark” and “perfect holiness in the fear of God,” I surely needed it all the more! But I really didn’t have a clear enough handle on how to walk in that. The Lord was revealing that I needed to more fully revere His awesome holiness. After much prayer and study, the Lord led me to develop a seven category pattern of Scripture to pray through. There were twelve to fourteen Scriptures and issues for each major category. Bear in mind, this was to be a process prayed through over several days, not at one prayer time. It was to be a grace relationship of love and surrender, not a legalistic guilt trip.

Second, the Lord helped me recognize that my personal time in His word and prayer was stopping short of the relational abiding in Christ described in Scripture. (John 15:4-16) I realized many quiet time models either left out or marginalized two or three essential biblical elements of full surrender and empowerment in Christ. Many prayer patterns stopped at general confession (with little emphasis on specific repentance.) Most models further omitted any intentional time to meditate on God’s word and truly listen to His voice.
I also noticed many devotional patterns tended to focus more on personal desires and needs than God’s kingdom and righteousness. They were kind of a reverse of Matthew 6:33. More importantly, I sensed God wanted me to view time in His word and prayer more as truly experiencing a relationship than just doing my prayer and Bible reading. Though the changes did require some additional time, it wasn’t exorbitant, undoable or legalistic. Over the next several weeks I began to experience a major difference in closeness with Jesus.

Third, the Lord helped me more fully understand that all true growth and power flow solely from His grace and Holy Spirit-empowerment, not legalism or religious works. (Galatians 3:1-3, 5:16; Ephesians 2:8-9, 5:18) I knew as I embraced the deeper cleansing and yielding, I had to stay focused on my full acceptance by God’s grace in Christ. It was so freeing to realize God doesn’t convict His children to condemn, but to transform us by His grace and Spirit. So rather than dreading deeper cleansing and yielding, I knew I was to desire it out of love for Christ. (1 John 3:3, 5:3) So with these three biblical principles firmly in my mind, I began a twelve week focused journey of deeper surrender and more complete time in God’s word and prayer. It was the beginning of a relationship journey that would utterly transform my life, ministry and church!

A Wounded, Weary Pastor Renewed and Empowered

During the first few weeks, I slowly prayed through all seven key areas of cleansing and surrender. Those specific areas were: thoughts/heart focus, attitudes, words/social media, all relationships, sins of transgression, sins omission, yielding of self /weights and heart idols. Soon, a much greater revelation of God’s holiness gripped my heart. As the Lord brought deeper brokenness and godly sorrow, a reverential fear of the Lord became much more real. Over just those first weeks, the Lord revealed no less than eleven specific areas for confession, repentance and deeper surrender.
Several issues were things I had no idea were hindering God’s Spirit (i.e. confession without repentance, selfish motives, secret thoughts, people I had not fully forgiven, prideful ambition, desiring the praise of men, self-preservation, etc.) I found when I truly allowed the Lord to deeply search all areas, I saw things I would never have seen with the more brief, general patterns. But praise God, it was about grace, growth and empowerment, not condemnation and guilt! Above all, it was about embracing the life-long journey to ever-more fully know, love and revere the Lord. (John 17:3; Matthew 22:37; Ecclesiastes 12:13)
By the end of about nine weeks, I was becoming a very different person. Though many situations at the church were actually worse and my physical condition more painful, God gave me a joy and peace unlike anything I had ever known. He was teaching me that my peace, joy and love had to be in Jesus alone, not my personal, family or ministry circumstances. Though I have certainly had to re-learn and grow in that truth many times since, it was a huge turning point. My preaching was empowered like never before and God’s word came much more alive to me. Before long, the Lord was revealing some powerful new insights to help my beleaguered church.

Two Essential Principles of Spiritual Power

While I still had (and have) plenty of battles, pain and need for growth, God was opening my eyes to two key principles. First — it is impossible to experience full New Testament-type joy, power and intimacy with Christ without New Testament-type prayer and surrender to Christ’s Lordship. Second — we will never be any more full of the Holy Spirit, than we are willing to be daily emptied of both sin and self. While we experience it all by trusting in God’s grace and Spirit, we must nonetheless choose the continuous growth and yielding. There really isn’t a short cut and none of us ever outgrow the need to be perfecting holiness in both the love and reverence of God. (John 15:9-13; Philippians 2:12-13, 3:10-14) The Lord wants none of us to be in a spiritual coast mode.
As busy pastors, it can be easy to overlook this need and casually assume “oh yes, I’m already doing the cleansing and yielding.” Yet, we may unwittingly be doing a watered-down version rather than one of full biblical completeness and depth. That had definitely happened to me but I didn’t realize it. The truth is, the Lord wants to be taking all of us ever-deeper. No matter how long we’ve served God, there is always more to know of Jesus. (Philippians 3:10-14) In the many verses describing believers’ call to ever-deeper holiness and prayer, there is absolutely no hint that we can be casual or unintentional. (2 Corinthians 7:1; Philippians 2:12-13; Hebrews 12:14) But thank God, His grace and love are with us every step! Growing in Holiness is not a walk of condemnation, legalism or works that we have to endure. Rather, it is a relationship of grace we get to experience for God’s glory! (John 15:9; 1 John 5:3)

A Broken Church Revived and Empowered

As the Lord was transforming my own life, He then revealed the following two truths about my role as pastor. (1) It is impossible for believers to know, love and revere God fully if pastors do not clearly teach both His love and holiness. (2) It is impossible for churches to function in New Testament-type joy and power if pastors do not clearly teach and consistently call them to New Testament-type prayer and surrender. I realized that if I said (or implied) that a brief little devotion is all believers need, then that is all they will likely do. (And most won’t even do that.) In that moment, I knew what God wanted me to teach and preach for the next six months. So using the key Scriptures that had so transformed my life, I taught the more complete biblical patterns of abiding in Christ by His word, prayer and surrender.
First, I started by teaching my members to embrace more complete biblical times in daily prayer and Scripture. Though I was not asking that my peoples’ quiet times be unduly long, they would experience a pattern for deeper surrender, closer listening to God’s voice and prayer that was more Spirit-empowered. The goal was for their time in Scripture and prayer to be more a dialogue of talking and listening to God through His word. So for a few weeks, a core minority of my church transformed their patterns of personal prayer and Scripture. They would also seek to meditate, listen and apply God’s word, not just read it.
Second, I taught my people the seven element pattern for ongoing deep yielding of sin and self. While it was not some magic formula, it did provide a clearer biblical mark toward which we are all to be pressing continually. Indeed, how can people fully yield and daily “press toward the mark” if they really don’t have one that is clear and practical?
We also discovered that the seven elements of cleansings and growth were very practical for ongoing daily use (after the initial deeper focused cleansing.) By being seven categories, a believer could easily focus on one different life area each day. In that pattern, believers freshly surrender and grow in all key areas of life each week. Though it’s certainly not a magic formula, I have never found a better way to help believers continually “press toward the mark” and “perfect holiness in the fear of God.” And for sure, none of us will ever outgrow the seven biblical areas of cleansing and growth.

All God Needs is a Dedicated Remnant

(Judges 7:1-7)

As any pastor surely knows, it is usually just a small minority that will embrace deepest commitment to holiness and prayer. For my first few years of pastoring, I was much troubled that a majority of people seemed somewhat lukewarm about deeper prayer, repentance and soul winning. It was freeing when God revealed to me that He begins His deep working through a dedicated remnant, not the lukewarm majority. Leaders if we are not careful, it is easy to spend so much time catering to the majority, we fail to take the remnant to true New Testament depth and power.
While in my church it was only a remnant that responded to the call to deeper quiet times and surrender, I focused on deepening that remnant. And what God did through that small minority was phenomenal! Within about three months, some of my people were definitely praying both alone (and together) on a new level. The Lord was changing both our personal and corporate prayer patterns. And while answers to prayer often come quite slowly and gradually, in our particularly desperate need the Lord moved with merciful swiftness and power.
Though we had tried all the best growth programs and visited over 5,000 households in six weeks, the church was steadily declining. Yet as people began to pray on a deeper level, the Lord led several to pray specifically that He would “send laborers” into our church body. Some of us sensed God had given a promise from Matthew 9:37-38. Miraculously after a few weeks, several people just suddenly started visiting our church. And this was right in the middle of horrific publicity and a rapidly declining area.
The first Sunday when about seven walked the aisle to join our church, it was like a Red Sea miracle. In fact when the first ones came down the aisle to join, I almost felt like saying, “What do you want?” (I was so out of practice!) And as many more people joined in coming weeks, several literally said, “We want to go to work for God.” Just as He promised, the Lord was sending laborers and tithers into our struggling church! In truth, I think some of my people had more faith than their pastor. While answers to prayer definitely don’t always come fast, the effectual, fervent prayers of yielded hearts still avail much!

A New Passion and Power For Soul Winning

One crucial change was the difference that came to some marriages and family relationships. We also saw some remarkable healing in broken and strained relationships between church members. But an especially powerful change was a new passion to intercede and witness to lost people. Those who had gone deeper in prayer were definitely praying with greater effectiveness, fervency, faith and power. One particularly quiet shy woman began to fast and pray for thirty lost people. And though she had never before led anyone to Christ, she actually went to witness to most of the people on her list. Within six months, I baptized twenty-one of her thirty! For those months, the Lord probably used that unassuming little praying lady more than anyone. But the answers were just beginning.
Though our church had been praying for about sixty lost people for five years, only a very few had been saved. And as people began to pray with much greater power and faith, we saw forty-five of the sixty saved and baptized within nine months! One of our men began fasting and praying for a co-worker who was notoriously rough and violent. That rough co-worker was among those who were gloriously saved and became one of our most faithful witnesses for Jesus.
A Sunday School teacher had long been praying for a son who was drifting. For years there was no change except for the worse. But as her closeness and surrender went to another level, she said “my prayers are just different now. I truly believe God has shown me my son will be saved and become a minister.” A few weeks later, that young man gave his life to Christ. And you guessed it, for many years now he has been an ordained minister in Middle Tennessee.

Deeper Unity and Healed Relationships

As God’s moving increased, many church members at last saw wayward children restored, spouses saved and relationships healed. And though our people still didn’t all enjoy the same worship style or agree on all issues, God gave us a stronger love and unity anyway. And finally the legal and financial answers began to happen.
After five years of an intense legal battle, the Lord brought full court vindication and victory for the church and people acquitted. But then we needed another miracle. We faced over-whelming debt from over five years of legal fees. Once again through intense united prayer, God graciously moved and saved the church. The Lord led eight kind-hearted attorneys to forgive the church close to a million dollar debt. And one of those attorneys came to Jesus!
Dear pastors, while answers definitely don’t always come quick, God can yet move in even the darkest places and times. But, it still requires the effectual, fervent prayers of yielded hearts. (James 5:16) Regardless of new theories, programs, academics or strategies, these can never replace true heart-yieldedness and powerful united prayer. Yet if we are not careful, we can easily wind up placing greater focus and time on everything in the world except the one thing that brings full New Testament power. (Mark 11:17; Acts 1:8; James 5:16-18) And while it is certainly not the intent, a subtle form of spiritual inoculation creeps into our lives and churches. In “inoculation” we embrace a weakened version of something that keeps us from getting the real thing. There is little question this is a major unrecognized hindrance for countless busy leaders and churches.

Overcoming Today’s Spiritual Desensitization and Inoculation

Sadly, many well-meaning believers have unwittingly embraced prayer and surrender patterns that stop short of true biblical abiding in Christ’s fullness and power. Given society’s saturation with impurity and materialism, believers can also become “desensitized” to some common daily patterns that are seriously hindering God’s Spirit. And when the Spirit is hindered, believers are much more vulnerable to marriage and parenting failures. Because we live in a day when so few have seen true biblical revival and awakening, it is easy to become so accustomed to sub-normal patterns, we can begin to think that is all there is. We then fall into the unconscious trap of “measuring ourselves by ourselves” rather than God’s word and Spirit. (2 Corinthians 10:12) There is an important truth in a statement by late revivalist Manley Beasley. “We will generally have about as much of God as we’re willing to settle for.” (Jeremiah 29:13; Hebrews 11:6)
Though today is a sound-bite, cliffs-notes type society, fullest New Testament power and closeness just don’t come from sound-bite prayers and surface confession. Because of well-meaning efforts to give people something brief and simple, believers can quite easily get stuck in below average (or shallow) patterns. Thus with many, their spiritual life is a lot like trying to drive a car at Interstate speeds in first gear. No matter how hard someone might try, no one can travel seventy miles per hour in first gear.
Given the prevalence of overly-quick, surface devotions, it is a virtual certainly that many are experiencing an unintended form of “spiritual inoculation.” While believers will surely experience some joy and strength, it is often not the rivers of living water and powerful prayer Jesus intends for His people. (John 7:38; Mark 11:22-24; James 5:16) When people embrace weakened versions of prayer and surrender, they are hindered from experiencing the full reality of Christ’s fullness and power.
It is crucial for believers to realize there really is a major difference between a little devotional moment and God-seeking, heart yielding prayer times. And though believers may be filled with all kinds of intellectual Bible knowledge, doctrines and new methods, one thing is certain. None of us will ever rise spiritually above the height of our personal prayer life and depth of our heart surrender and closeness to Christ. (John 15:4-13; James 5:16) Yet by God’s great grace, deeper surrender and fullness are definitely not out of reach for even the busiest believers and pastors!

A Word of Grace and Hope for Pastors

In writing this testimony of my first church, I pray one thing is clear. All of the transformation was solely by the incredible grace, mercy and power of God. It certainly wasn’t some eloquent, impressive pastor because they didn’t have one. Though we aggressively tried all the programs and strategies of the day, they were not what turned the tide. And while we certainly “said” a lot of prayers, during the first five years, most were not quite the “effectual, fervent prayers of the righteous that avail much.” But in His marvelous grace, the Lord helped us see that James 5:16 has an opposite truth it is all-too easy to ignore.
Just as the “effectual, fervent prayers of the righteous avails much,” the ineffective, casual prayers of the unyielded avail little. This is almost surely a major reason so many have been “praying for revival” and so few churches have actually seen it. The Bible is clear that just “saying” voluminous prayers does not mean they are necessarily powerful. (Isaiah 58:1-6, 59:1-2) In His grace, the Lord was showing our church that prayers and surrender needed to go higher. Yet with some fairly simple and practical biblical adjustments, the Lord helped a broken, discouraged people move more into the flow of His grace and power. And though we were far from perfect, the Lord did a “surprising work of grace.” If He could move in a setting like ours, there is surely hope for those who now read these words.
More each day, my fervent prayer is to encourage and help pastors in the fiery assaults they now face from every angle. And I very much write as a fellow learner, not some exalted lecturer of others. In sharing my testimony of God’s grace in a broken church, I am mindful of the importance of accuracy and balance. So to be clear, I am definitely not suggesting God led us to some magic formula that guarantees quick answers and continuous growth. The precise timing and number of how God moves is always in His hands, not ours. Neither am I implying if we just pray and surrender enough, everything will be rosy and we’ll see miracles by the minute. That is definitely not the case. We still live in earthen vessels of flesh with persecutions and spiritual warfare ever-increasing. Yet as we cast ourselves on God’s grace, there is great hope in His mercy and strength. The Lord Jesus has not lost His power and can still do “surprising works of grace!”

Christ’s Great Desire to Strengthen Pastors

Above all else, I pray this article brings encouragement and hope to fellow soldiers of the cross. The last thing I desire is for any pastor to feel condemned or discouraged about their difficult settings or lack of growth numbers. Thank the Lord, He does not judge us by church size or growth patterns. In some cases, church members just will not respond to serious calls to deeper prayer and surrender. All we can do is faithfully seek to encourage and equip. The response is ultimately up to them. I am further convinced some of the greatest eternal rewards may well go to pastors who were never called to write a book or privileged to see explosive growth. God most rewards the faithfulness, humility and purity with which we serve in our own appointed places. In fact, among God’s greatest heroes of faith are some of our bi-vocational pastors. Though they may be called “part-time,” there is nothing part-time about the hearts and ministries of so many.
It is also true that some of God’s greatest pastors have at one time or another been viciously attacked, fired, falsely scandalized or abandoned. (Some examples are the Lord Jesus, the Apostle Paul, Jonathan Edwards, etc.) Obviously, none of these were failures! And sometimes, it is the next pastor that gets to see the church grow. Our call there was to plow and deal with hindrances. That too is surely no failure. In truth, plowing and sowing are often harder than reaping. But remember, our gracious Lord definitely notices and rewards “degree of difficulty and sacrifice.” (Mark 12:41-44)
And pastors, even when we have totally blown it and it is all our fault, remember the ignominious failures of several leaders in the Bible. Yet, the Lord still loved them and used many again! Even as I write these words, I have a sense some readers need the encouraging message of Psalm 24:16. “Though a righteous man fall seven times, he will get up.” If the Lord still loved and used Peter, there is hope for us. So please don’t stay down dear pastor! Great are the Lord’s compassions and His mercies are new each morning. (Lamentations 3:22-23) And for pastors who may think “I’m just too far along in my ministry for major changes, God can still restore years locusts have eaten. And think of the key “old men” God picked and used in Scripture. I have seen several ministers of advanced years, experience a remarkable new work of grace.
As shepherds, the most crucial thing any of us can do is make sure we are truly abiding in the fervent prayer and surrender the New Testament describes. Sadly, I must confess there have been times since those early ministry years when I drifted back into what I call the “Martha Syndrome.” (Luke 10:38) And it always negatively impacted my life, family and church. This happens to us when (like well-meaning Martha), we get so busy trying to work for Christ and people, we don’t spend enough time with Him in prayer and total heart surrender. And just like Martha, we inevitably end up frustrated, vulnerable and spiritually powerless. The Lord is always as much (or more) concerned with our relationship with Him and what we are than just going through the outward actions of ministry. All of our works will be judged by what “sort” they are. (1 Corinthians 3:13)

Avoiding the “Martha Syndrome”
Modern Pastors’ Most Subtle Risk

Pastors, whether we are contemporary or traditional, reform or non-reform, charismatic or non-charismatic, the foundations of biblical prayer and surrender are equally non-negotiable for us all. If we are not mindful, the ministry itself can become as something of a false idol and mistress we place above closeness and full surrender to Christ Himself. The Lord is a jealous God who is grieved by over-focus or reliance on anything more than closeness and first love passion for Jesus. For Abraham, the key turning point was when God asked Him to sacrifice Isaac, his greatest love and promise. Pastors if we let them, even “blessings, ministry and outward success” can become heart idols that come ahead of God Himself. But thank the Lord, He is willing to renew us afresh if were turn to Him with all our hearts. (Zechariah 1:3)
Another vital key is for pastors to pray together and be partners, not competitors. That is why ministries like AllProPastors are so crucial. Absolutely none of us are designed to function as lone rangers! (And it would be arrogant to think that we are.) Frankly, I don’t believe I would have made it without a few special pastors who truly be-friended me. I would likely not be alive except for the personal friendship and prayers of Henry Blackably and T. W. Hunt. So as important as are activities, education and innovative programs, they can never replace powerful personal and united prayer with others.
There is actually one sense in which today’s unpresented explosion of education, innovative methods, ready-made sermons and strategies can become a subtle risk. It is the risk of emphasizing and relying more on these than on deep surrender, prayer and Holy Spirit-empowerment. Many pastors are even tricked into thinking “it is alright if my prayer life is kind of average because my main strength is preaching, pastoring, administration, or vision casting.” This is surely among Satan’s most damaging deceptions for today’s shepherds.

Distractions Bring Powerlessness and Vulnerability

Beyond question, too little time in prayer and surrender leaves pastors vulnerable to pornography, wrong relationships, and all other pitfalls. Fervent prayer also makes a huge difference in withstanding today’s unprecedented pressures upon marriage and parenting. The problem with the “prayer is not my main strength mindset” is that it is the exact opposite of the example and teaching of Jesus, the Apostles and virtually all leaders of historic awakenings. Since fervent prayer and surrender were definitely their priority practices, so too they must be ours! To do less is to do without God’s fullest anointing and power. Regardless of what some may think, we do not have a plan that is better than God’s.
After nearly four decades of researching historic awakenings and missions movements, it has never been more clear that fullest New Testament power and awakening must start with deeply cleansed, revived pastors. (Joel 2:17; Malachi 3:2-4; Acts 6:4; 2 Corinthians 7:1) As few before, our generation must re-learn the essential principle of the apostle Paul. Though he was a brilliant man of learning, he did not rely on high learning, leadership persona or persuasive words of men. His primary reliance was on the “demonstration of the Spirit and power.” (1 Corinthians 2:1-4) He summed it best when he wrote, “The kingdom of God is not in word (or talk), but in (spiritual) power.” (1 Corinthians 4:20) Regardless of the excellent new tools we are blessed to use, New Testament-type power still requires New Testament-type prayer, surrender and Spirit-empowerment. (Zechariah 4:6)

The Testimony From Then to Now

Though my first church never again saw quite the numbers of that initial strong move, God continued to do extraordinary things through deeper prayer and surrender. While we had little extra money, the Lord birthed a multi-state radio ministry and book distribution that ultimately went into many languages. Indeed, all that God has done in my life since, began from His grace in the faithful people of my first church. I will never forget their commitment. Then five years later in 1994, I contracted a devastating case of Lymes disease which was improperly diagnosed and treated. The illness did significant long-term damage. My doctor said I would likely need to go on disability as intense writing, preaching and missions travel would be difficult if not impossible.
As I prayed over this, I was begging God to heal me. And while in many cases He will heal, the Lord spoke through 2 Corinthians 12:9. It was where the Apostle Paul was begging God to deliver him from an incredibly painful thorn. But, the Lord told him “no.” He promised sufficient grace to give Him power in midst of pain and weakness. While I definitely did not want to hear that answer, I knew God could bring greater strength and fruit out of pain. So rather than healing, the Lord’s answer was to call me to still deeper levels of prayer and surrender. (And the truth is, we can always go deeper.) And though at that time I had never written an actual book, the Lord promised grace to write multiple books and spread them over key mission fields worldwide. In spite of many disappointments, battles, discouragements and struggles, God has been faithful to His word!
While, I have lived with pain and periodic bouts of extreme fatigue since 1994, there are now over forty books and resources on many mission fields. Solely by God’s hand, at least one book is printed in more than forty languages. And though doctors said extensive travel would be near impossible, the Lord has sent me nearly three million miles conducting over a thousand church and pastor renewal conferences.

God’s Strength in Our Impossibilities

Though better circumstances and healing can surely bring God glory, His grace can also be very real in our weakness. (2 Corinthians 12:10) If we walk in trust, His grace and joy are stronger than our circumstances. Though I have seen God’s gracious hand in forty years of ministry, I think the greatest joy is seeing the Lord work in prayer/renewal conferences in churches and pastors groups. The joy is actually seeing Christ’s shepherds and people face to face. For churches, our primary conference has been Going Deeper With God. With pastor groups, it is Principles of New Testament, Great Awakening-Type Ministry. And especially when ministering among persecuted underground pastors and churches, I have undoubtedly learned far more from them than they learned from me.
Because my heart passion is to help pastors and churches, I close this article with a mention of two practical books. The two Scripture-filled books are: How to Develop a Powerful Prayer Life and Returning to Holiness, or its later version, Return to Me Says the Lord. The book, Return to Me has appendices that are practical tools for effective daily prayer, full surrender and evangelistic intercession.
As readers might guess, these are the books God birthed from His gracious movement in my first church. The studies are specifically designed to raise believers’ level of prayer and deepen their surrender to Christ’s Lordship. They are about deeper intimacy, joy and power in Jesus. Above all, the studies are about glorifying God’s name and spreading Christ’s kingdom. The books are encouraging and practical for individual, small groups or church-wide growth and renewal. By God’s grace, people have donated nearly two million of these books in strategic mission fields.
In the US and Canada, we sell books for reasonable prices to make it easy for churches to use. The books can be obtained at www.frizzellministries.org for those in North America and Canada. Just go to our website and click on the “Ordering Resources” tab to find the particular books. For those outside North America, go to http://masterdesign.org/frizzellspecial.html. (Some of our other books are distributed only in the mission countries and are therefore not available on our website.)If I can help with information about a book or conference, it would be my deepest joy. Please feel free to contact me at info@frizzellministries.org.
As today’s darkness and persecution intensify, may God encourage, guide and protect all of His shepherds. It is and shall always be the most important calling on earth! As go pastors, so goes our churches. And as go our churches, so goes our cities, nations and the world. Let us determine to ever-abide in Christ and His word in us. In Him, we can “ask whatever we will, walk in joy and bear much fruit to the glory of God’s name!” (John 15:4-13)

To the Glory of God and Christ,

Are you a Biblical Citizen? What exactly does this mean? Is it important?

My answer is yes, and yes! It means taking your Christian Faith serious enough to stand strong with it and defending it in love.

In America the church has started to experience what many countries have endured for years. Shutting places of worship down and threatening pastors against preaching the word of God is just the beginning.

Pastors please wake up. I have a short video from my heart for you. It is just a short word on how I see things and some of what we have coming for you.

Click Here: It is Time

The War of the Seed
This is the war of the seed, which is the first prophecy of the Bible found in Genesis 3. Genetic manipulation is also what was happening in the “Days of Noah” because all flesh had become corrupt. Flesh cannot become corrupt unless our DNA had become corrupt. The “Days of Noah” also record the first occurrence of a new creature which God did not create, and they were called the Nephilim. They were bigger, better, stronger, and more difficult to kill than regular humans, and that is why they must have had different DNA. The fact that they were better than humans in some ways tells us who their father is. It is the same person that told us he could turn us into gods. This first temptation of the Bible is still the most powerful one today.

More importantly, making us somewhat more like God was not a completely empty promise. Yet, what could cause the whole world to take such a plunge down a hole that would end humanity as we know it? Well, for some, they will be lining up to be changed into something that is Trans-human or a super-soldier. But when it comes to a cause, for as long as I can remember, I have been told that a world-wide pandemic might be the best explanation for how they “cause” everyone to take a mark in their hand or forehead. (for more information go to prophecydays.com and see “Days of Noah”)
Revelation 13: 16-18 – Also it causes all, both small and great, both rich and poor, both free and slave, to be marked on the right hand or the forehead, so that no one can buy or sell unless he has the mark, that is, the name of the beast or the number of its name. This calls for wisdom: let the one who has understanding calculate the number of the beast, for it is the number of a man, and his number is 666.
Vaccines
While vaccines can have great beneficial value, I can say that they can also be used for great evil because they can give a government access to our bodies. If you don’t think vaccines can be used by evil, then watch the movie “The Origin of Aids” on Amazon prime. Aids has killed 85 million people world-wide. The stunning thing that is different about the Covid vaccine is that it has RNA in it, which is what is what writes DNA. RNA is also used in recombinant DNA or gene therapy.

Why on earth would fighting Covid-19 require therapy to change our DNA? Who would want to do that? Again, this is why I recommend referencing the “Days of Noah” study on prophecydays.com. Now research into the Covid vaccine has not been the point of this article, but both political parties are pushing it here in America. The only difference is that some of them are saying mandatory. Here are some articles that bring out some of these ideas.

Role of Recombinant DNA Technology to Improve Life
This article details CRISPR technology, a way of sequencing DNA through RNA, and then incorporating it into human beings.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5178364/

Should Vaccines Will Be Made Mandatory?

Bill Gates Foundation’s COVID-19 Vaccine is a Satanic Plot says Oscar-Winner
Bill Gates wants to vaccinate/chip the world. Vaccines really could have nano-teched particles that allow us to be identified, tracked, and even genetically manipulated. Patent #060606, may not require insertion, but how does it reward us for bodily activity based on crypto-currency?
https://blockchain.news/news/bill-gates-foundations-covid-19-vaccine-is-satanic-plot-says-oscar-winner

God Hasn’t Changed
The simple truth of the Gospel means that all lives are precious to God. During these trying times this must be “Our Motto,” and what distinguishes us in the world. What matters is our lives, our freedoms and our respect for everyone. We cannot stop Covid, but we can do our best to save all the lives we can in other areas. The problem is we aren’t doing that. What I am proposing is that we continue to share the story of how lives are being lost, and what we can do to save them. In this way, we will be the light to the whole world. We could easily get rid of malaria, contaminated water, and world hunger. These are things that all Christians can unite on.

Fighting for all lives will destroy the most grievous accusations against us, which is that we are a hate group because we still believe in something called sin. We can no longer allow sin to be the main narrative of the Bible. God is love, and the Gospel is that God loves us so much that He died for us. Doing what only love can do is what will bring back truth. Truth is what works, and lies are what lead to bad decisions and even worse consequences. Yet, there is nothing more hateful then the idea of political correctness. This is why it is time to return to love, freedom, respect, and mercy regardless of someone’s view. Their value to God hasn’t changed, because there is one thing that love would never do. Love would never take away our ability to choose between love or hate.

This is where the truth of love must be told, and where consequences certainly can become severe. God is not willing that any should perish. So, if people perish, they perish because of their own will. They do not love the God of love. This is why we cannot let the winds of this new movement of hate and fear bring us down to where we join them in hate and condemnation. We must fight division with love and truth, otherwise we risk losing all that our forefathers have handed to us on a silver platter. Now is the time to look to the men who built this country, and find the values that have made us great. Don’t get distracted, God hasn’t changed how He wants us to handle each and every situation with love and dignity for all who are involved.

“I will permit no man to narrow and degrade my soul by making me hate him.”

“You can’t hold a man down without staying down with him.”
Booker T. Washington was born a slave, but became the first great American educator for African Americans by founding Tuskegee Institute. Booker was also an author, orator, and adviser to multiple presidents of the United States. He was also the dominant leader in the African American community between 1890 and 1915.
Loving the Unloved, and Remembering the Prodigals
Social justice is really all about people feeling like they had a raw deal. That is why they are violently protesting what they see as wrong with our society. But the truth is that they really feel unloved, unwanted, unworthy, unprivileged, and inferior. This is the source of their rage, and only Jesus can help them. How they want help has nothing to do with what will heal their soul because America has lost sight of what privilege really is. There is one predictor of success in life that stands high above all the others, and that is the blessing of being born into a family where we are loved, guided, and disciplined.

The Asian slaves also arrived here in America somewhat close to the African slaves. They were the last to get the right to vote, or own property. Many of them were in concentration camps during WWII. But today they make more money than any other race. The reason is because of family. Asians have the most intact families in America, with the fewest divorces and the fewest abortions. The power of the family holds up even in a secular world. For example, children of black nuclear families have only a 12% chance of living below poverty, versus 45% for a black single mom, and 36% for a black single dad. The fatherless youth represent: 90% of homeless and runaways; 85% of behavior problems; 80% of rapists with anger problems; 71% of high school drop outs; 85% of youths in prison, 71% of pregnant teenagers; 90% of repeat arsonists

https://thefatherlessgeneration.wordpress.com

These are the facts that matter, and they should not surprise us Christians because the first thing God did when He made mankind was to form a family. Promoting family is also one of the things that most people are open to talking about. As Christians, we can build on that by letting them know how they can become part of God’s family. (John 1:12) In fact, God is all about family, and one of His goals are to show us the unconditional love that has always eluded us. Re-familing someone is about discipling them in the context of close relationships. This loss of relational context must be a part of what we want to recover in reaching this un-parented generation of prodigal children. The problem is they haven’t even heard about who their real Father is.

No one has told them of just how good their Father in heaven really is. Without this knowledge many will never come back home. Most people are honestly a little confused about how to fix what is happening and family is something we can all relate to. The other problem is that there are way too many false gods being promoted in our society. Just as important is that no one has told them about the many pitfalls of life, and each one of us can be destroyed by them. While I believe Capitalism is a great form of government, it has inextricably led us to the worship of false gods such as money, power, fame, and career.

Materialism is destroying America, because it has produced a generation of unparented people who were simply unwanted. They have been told their whole lives that they do not matter. How may we ask? Because they have been abandoned. Their parents had something better to do than to raise them, love them, or spend time with them. We all know money doesn’t make us happy, and that money can’t buy love, but do we really? Virtually everything in the media says differently. This too is one of the lies we must destroy because the family is the very fabric or foundation upon which our society is built.

For example, nowhere is the “Black Lives Matter” movement trying to build up the families of America. In fact, BLM is against the nuclear family. Yet, the predicament found only in the ghetto’s is why this generation is ripe for the prideful and hateful message of Satan. They want their chance to be on top. Focusing our message on love and family is the best way to reinforce a positive message. The brotherhood of man has been lost because they have failed to accept the Fatherhood of God. We have the opportunity to show them true brotherhood. The good news is that God is still waiting for all His children to come home with open arms.

In closing, the message of this entire article is to help us see that God still has the answers for every problem known to man. If we are to take God’s message that “All Lives are Precious to God,” then Christians need to humble themselves and pray. But as I hope you are starting to see, after this reorientation with our Father happens, we can no longer go along with the media or political narrative because they are full of deception and hate. We must become truly counter cultural just like Jesus was. Of course, we still need to figure out how to engage our society. This is true whether it is about the Covid, politics, vaccinations, or what privilege is. People need to see that Christianity is about how all lives matter. To do this we must learn to represent the least in God’s kingdom.

We also need to be prepared because people are going to walk away from us and the church because we are still going to tell them the truth no matter what. We also need to figure out a way to go to the ghettos’ and reach this lost generation. I have struggled with this because I clearly have zero street cred. I don’t have all the answers. The question is how do we reach someone who is living from fear of Covid or convinced that life is an issue of survival of the fittest or that money is the greatest privilege? Just as a baby has no way to communicate but to cry, so too this generation is erupting in violence. This too is exactly what the New World Order wants because they are sheep without a Shepherd. Yet, there is something sinister that is coming that will change everything with respect to saving our souls. A barrier that cannot be overcome with the Gospel. This deception is so powerful, that if it were possible it would deceive us all.
“For false Christs and false prophets will appear and they will provide great signs and wonders, so as to deceive, if possible, even the elect (God’s chosen ones).

The Greater Deception

The Covid deception has divided us, financially destroyed us, and caused us to go cashless and touchless, but there is an even bigger deception that is a foot.  What do I mean?  The mark of the beast may very well be here, and they will make it mandatory. A mandatory vaccine means that we no longer have rights to our own bodies.   If this is the case, then it doesn’t matter whether this vaccine is the Mark of the beast or not.  We will be allowing them to pass a law that will force us to be marked later.  Consequently, time has run out.  If we are going to be Christians in the future, then we will not be able to believe what is on TV.  Not facing this fact is only going to make matters worse because the Beast is building a bigger deception each and every day.  As the church, we must now realize that we have to fight this narrative.  

 

We cannot capitulate or surrender.  Yet, most churches are constantly assessing their public relations because they function more like businesses than the church. This is why they say that religion and politics don’t mix, yet Jesus was killed for political reasons.  The question is, what can the church actually confront in our society without losing church members.  This kind of thinking is not going to work anymore. Either people are going to believe their Bibles or they are going to allow their government to mark their bodies (genetically, for identity verification, or to buy and sell).  The fact that RNA is part of this new vaccine is astonishing.  Why would a vaccine have anything to do with DNA?  Yet, the sad truth is that vaccines already are mandatory, and most everybody gets them.

 

The shocking revelation that the church has not yet arrived at is that taking the “Mark of the Beast” will destroy our ability to save anyone.  Salvation may literally come down to our ability to convince someone that they should not capitulate with law or what they see on TV. Unfortunately, the “Mark of the Beast” is already here in some forms, and Covid is clearly pushing the narrative.  Without a firm belief in Bible prophecy, the church cannot make this transition about the truth of salvation.  We cannot be saved if we take the mark of the beast. (Revelation 14:9-11)  Think this truth isn’t being censored?  I found it difficult to find this verse on google, so I had to use yahoo.

Prayer Is the Answer

Still, “let not our heart be troubled,” because God is in control. (Luke 14:1-3)  God has told us that all the nations will be shaken. (Haggai 2:7)  While men’s “hearts are failing them for fear of what they see coming on the earth,” we are told to “lift us our heads, because our redemption is drawing near.”  (Luke 21) This must be our voice of hope to the world. People must know that this world is not our home because we were born for heaven. 

 

Yet, the warning is clear, we are in the “End Times,” and we must be about our Fathers’ business.  The greatest prophetic voice specific to America that I have heard in my lifetime is Jonathan Cahn.  His new book is called the Harbinger II, and it clearly makes a case that America is ripe for God’s judgement in the form of a diminished hedge of protection around America.  Covid also comes into play.  

 

As I was praying about a month ago doing the research for this article, I became more and more troubled about the future, and, consequently, my prayers became more and more intense.  Suddenly, a scripture came to mind.  “What is that to you?” (John 21:18-22) I was offended for a moment, but then I realized that I was the guy in that story complaining and not trusting in the sovereignty of God.  The next thing I heard was the scripture I just used, “I will shake all the nations.”  It wasn’t long before I realized that the reason I would shake someone is to wake them up.  

 

Within a minute, I was struck with the message, “Kevan, if I shake the nations, then more of my people are going to wake up, and more of them will get saved.”  This is why God is God and I am not.  God really is in control, but we must recognize what God is telling us.  God is telling us the time is short.  In these circumstances, my motto is to hope for the best and be prepared for the worst. I also believe that “each and every one of us were born for a time like this.” It is time to stop being politically correct, and become more relational and loving with the truth. Still, there is a division that is coming and we must prepare for it. The shaking is going to separate the wheat from the chaff, and we have to realize that persecution of Christians and the truth is now in full swing. 

 

Jesus told us that this would happen, and for us to “not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.  For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”  (2 Corinthians 4:16-18) There appears to be a point that is fast approaching where we must be willing to break with all of the world’s narratives.  

 

We can no longer be conformed to this world because America is no longer Christian in any way.  Yet, if there is one thing that still tugs at the heart of America, it is that “all lives matter,” and we must tirelessly represent them  This is why we must move forward with love, but focus specifically on renewing the mind of as many people as possible. (Romans 12:2)  Without the correct information during these times, many will lose heart and perish for lack of knowledge.  My ultimate hope is that we would all see what time it is on God’s clock. I also pray that we can see the coming deception more clearly, and still love Jesus more dearly.