Shalom on Fire

Character may be the decisions you make; But, INTEGRITY is what you actually say and how you feel when you don’t think anyone is listening.

Be the person that roots for others, when you know that they are conspiring negativity behind your back. What you need to understand is, while they are trying to pull you down, God is desiring for you to level up. It’s all about your character and integrity in the season and who He designed you to be. So don’t allow someone else’s opinions of you and word curses they spoke over you, alter who God ordained you to be. Because for every person that has drug your name through the mud for whatever reason, there is a whole other army of people that need what God has put inside of you. It’s time to rise up, accept your calling and your purpose, your season for being quiet is over in Yeshua’s name and it’s testimony time!!

Calling on all prayer Warriors & Intercessors now for my (God Sent/Adopted/Spiritual) Mom & Dad. Ric and Dana Benfatto. This text below is from him. They are my heart so I really thank you in advance. We need to see God MOVE!!

I am requesting prayers.
My cardiac calcium score came back 609, which is severe calcium in the heart and coronary arteries. Monday 7:30 am, I am having a heart catheter to determine options. The issue is that the iodine dye used in heart cath is dangerous for my single kidney, which can cause renal failure. All my doctors are taking serious precautions for the procedure. I will be hospitalized for 6-8 hours to keep me fully hydrated. There is a chance they will need to insert stents or use a laser to remove excessive calcium buildup. I will have Dana keep you all updated. Love you all.

By the slightly over tenacious (yet loving) nudging of my Mentor Apostle Marshall Sherles, I'm currently writing my first public sermon/message. It is entitled, "Delay is in the D.E.T.A.I.L.S.". I'm still working on Details part of it but so far I've gotten...

D.etermine what's holding you back from your goal.
E.xamine the steps/events/decisions leading up to it.
T.ake accountability for actions you've allowed.
A.sk forgiveness for yourself from others and from God.
I.nitiate and Ignite a fire of accountability within yourself.
L.earn from this, move forward and don't repeat.
S.wallow your pride and become teachable so that progression is reestablished.

Stay tuned as I prepare this and pray for God to open up my mind and heart to allow His words to flow in this message.

Soooo you a "WOKE" church right?! Let's challenge that theory.

(TRIGGER WARNING TO A THE PHARISEE LEAD CHURCHES & HEARTS)

***And Jesus said they missed the boat. His most scathing words were reserved for people who claimed to be speaking for God.

Jesus' most scathing words were reserved for people who claimed to be speaking for God.***

7 SIGNS THE PHARISEES ARE RUNNING YOUR CHURCH

So what are the signs that the Pharisees are running your church?

What are the signs that you might be that leader?

Here are 7.

1. YOUR LEADERS LIKE TO SHOW OFF

Check those stats. Did you see how many downloads that message got? How many likes that photo picked up? Or that visitor who said he thinks you’re as good as that mega-preacher guy?

Or, worship leaders, think about your mad guitar skills or your new V-Neck or fierce beard.

Or admin types…check out the bullet proof system I put together.

Sigh.

We all want to be better, or cooler (even though cool church is dying), don’t we?

But sometimes in our pursuit to improve our skill, we lose our soul.

Here’s a key distinction.

When you’re focused on how you’re doing more than you’re focused on how the people you’re serving are doing, you’ve kind of lost the game.

When you’re more focused on your performance than you are on the mission, there’s trouble ahead.

Stop showing off. Stop trying to get better for the sake of trying to get better.

Focus relentlessly on serving God and serving people, and an amazing thing might happen. You’ll likely get better.

But at that point, you might not even notice.

Which would be awesome.

***Sometimes in our pursuit to improve our skill, we lose our soul.***

2. EVERYONE THINKS THEY’RE A LITTLE BETTER THAN EVERYONE ELSE

One of the big differences between the Pharisees and the ‘sinners’ Jesus hung out with, is how they felt about themselves.

The Pharisees thought they were right.

That’s dangerous territory for leaders because often we think we’re right or that our positions (theological or philosophical) are right.

So, do you think your view is simply better than others? Or that you’re better than others? A little less sinful? A little more together? A little smarter? A little wiser? Spend a lot of time criticizing others and asserting how right you are?

There’s the Pharisee.

3. THERE’S THIS LOVE OF MONEY THING GOING ON

Money. Could there be a more fun topic in the church?

Ministry needs money to run on. I get that.

As a general rule, underfunded ministries are ineffective in the long run. This is true of any ministry or charitable organization. I actually agree with Dan Pallotta that the most important causes in the world should be the most generously funded. (If you haven’t heard his TED talk, stop reading this blog post and watch it.)

And in church world and non-profit world, there’s a constant push to expand the mission, so there’s regular pressure on giving.

And I think talking about money in church can be wonderful. I really do. Giving, after all, is a spiritual discipline. In the same way I need to read my bible, pray, serve and invest in people who don’t know God, I need to give. All of these things are part of what I do as a Christian.

We all need money. And ministries need money.

But when you start to love money…you’re in trouble.

So how do you know you might love money?

Here are some thoughts.

When you’re excited about what the money is doing for you, not what it’s doing for the mission, you’ve crossed a line.

When you refuse to have any financial accountability or wise people (to whom you’re accountable) speak into the details of your financial life, you’ve allowed money to become a master, not a servant.

Or, answer this: if your church cut your wages, would it also cut your joy (assuming you could find enough money to live on elsewhere)?

***Money makes a wonderful servant in ministry, but a terrible master.***

4. THERE’S TOO LITTLE COMPASSION

In some leadership circles, lack of compassion is worn as a badge of honour.

I used to joke about mercy not being one of my spiritual gifts. Okay, sometimes I still joke about my natural lack of compassion.

Ironically, sometimes a lack of compassion helps you lead well. If you are too empathetic and overly sensitive to how people feel, you will get dashed on the rocks of leadership. Jesus had to push past a lot of competing voices to accomplish his mission. So did Moses, Paul and myriad other leaders.

But as committed as Jesus was to truth, he was exceptionally compassionate. He was frequently moved with compassion. And he rebuked the Pharisees for their lack of it.

God’s compassion is why you’re a Christian in the first place.

And if you haven’t noticed, people outside the church aren’t much attracted to compassionless, self-righteous leaders.

If you lack compassion…repent.

I have repented and am repenting. I’ve got a long way to go, but God will make the compassionless more compassionate if you ask him.

***People outside the church aren't very attracted to compassionless, self-righteous leaders.***

5. LEADERS EXPECT OTHERS TO DO WHAT THEY DON’T DO

Practice what you preach is one of the oldest mantras around. And yet, if you’re a preacher, it can be very hard to do.

You can convince yourself you’re exempt, or you’re just being ‘obedient’ and teaching what you’re supposed to teach, when you know you’re only half walking the walk.

Cue the big buzzer.

Pretending to be something we’re not and claiming privileges we don’t extend to others are 2 of 5 things I listed here that give pastors a bad name with unchurched people.

And remember, those of us who teach actually get held to a higher standard than others.

So, teach with fear and trembling. And humility. And accountability.

6. NO ONE’S CLOSER TO GOD

Strangely enough, the Pharisees were anxious to win converts. So am I.

Yet Jesus condemned the Pharisees, pointing out that they travel over land and sea to win a single convert but in the process, they make him twice as much a son of hell as they are.

Gulp.

So…here’s a question.

Are people closer to God after following you?

Sure, not everyone will be. We’ve all read the parable of the sower.

But after 3 to 5 years, do most people look more like Jesus or less like Jesus? Or to use another metaphor Jesus used, is there fruit? If you claim to be growing an orchard, where are the apples?

Sure, we’re not perfect. We’re being sanctified over time by the Holy Spirit. But overall, people should be moving closer to Jesus.

Are they?

***After 3 to 5 years of following your leadership, do people look more like Jesus or less like Jesus?***

7. THE LEADERS ARE JEALOUS

Spend even a few minutes in the Gospels, and you’ll see the Pharisees and other religious groups get jealous of any advance any other group makes.

Each group wanted to be on top. If the Saducees won, the Pharisees lost. If Jesus made more disciples than they did, their blood boiled.

So how’s your heart with that church down the road…the one that’s growing?

How’s your heart when you hear some other church picked up yet another one of ‘your’ families?

Hate it when other people they tell you they love listening to X’s podcast at the gym?

The jealousy thing even infected John the Baptist’s disciples. But John got it right…it’s not about him. He must decrease. Christ must increase.

See what John did there? He said it out loud. He gave public recognition and praise to Jesus.

That’s what breaks the power of jealousy.

If you’re jealous, publicly praise whoever you’re jealous of. Celebrate them.

It will break the darkness inside.

That will also give you a clear heart and mind to get on with your mission. After all, you likely live in a region where there are thousands…okay, tens or hundreds of thousands…of unchurched people. Focus on that.

***Publicly celebrating the people you envy breaks the power of jealousy. So praise them.***

Be mindful of Pharisees and check your attributes as well. What are your TRUE focal points and what are you conveying as you desire to lead GOD'S people.

Please pray for Alex Hall right now, his Mom and our family. He's been shot and in surgery from a compound skull fracture. Pray pray pray!!!

Prayer Warriors, our heart is so heavy tonight.

Please pray for a friends of our family. A little girl that is only 10 years old, being raised by her grandmother and Dad, witnessed her Mother die in a house fire a few years ago. Then last night that same little girl found her Daddy dead when her and the grandmother came home. She's only 10 and wanting to commit su***de now because of witnessing both parents die.

I was also made aware of another family that is having to deal with a tragic death of a newborn baby, in which the Father has been charged with manslaughter.

There is another little baby named Junnu, that has low blood pressure and low oxygen levels.

Continue to lift up Baby Eli, he is such a miracle at this point but still in NICU and has a lot of obstacles to overcome.

Also continue to pray for Lynn Sherles Mother, she is being moved to a regular room several days ahead of schedule, PRAISE GOD! But needs continued prayers as she fights this cancer diagnosis and heals from surgery.

Continue to pray for Evangelist LaKeisha Marie as she recovers from surgery as well.

Please cover all of these in your prayers. God bless you all so very much.

Please pray for My Spiritual Mom's, Lynn Sherles' Mother today. She's having surgery. We cover her and the surgeons in Yeshua's name and speak peace into all involved!

***UPDATE***
She's been sent home on observation throughout the weekend. She has some infection with a little bit of complications. Appointment 1st thing Monday morning.

Calling all prayer warriors once again for Evangelist LaKeisha Marie. She's back in route to the hospital after an unexpected decline after last week's surgery. We will post as we know more.

It's COMING!!!! JULY 2021!!!
The 1st of its kind
STAY TUNED!!!
Go to The Hub Richmond on Facebook, like, follow and share!!

***UPDATE*** The issue was caught in time, IV medication & fluids were administered now she's back on the road to recovery. Thank you for the prayers.

Evangelist LaKeisha Marie is heading back to the hospital with possible complications from surgery last Wednesday. Please keep her in your prayers.

Ladies!!! How many would be interested in going? This would be amazing.

https://www.facebook.com/102407216047/posts/10158343861486048/

I’m so excited and I’m so ready for Pursuit 2021. Registration is now open at www.judyjacobs.com -
I’ll see you in November❤️

Please keep Minister LaKeisha Marie in prayer today as well as Paul Anglin as both go on for surgery this morning. Thank you and May The Lord Bless You and Keep You.

What I've learned during my time with God & His people is that people generally KNOW if they aren't "living right" so beating the obvious in their heads will NEVER make a win for The Kingdom. However, living a life full of love in front of them, allowing them to witness The Fruits of The Spirit manifesting in your life will bring them to repentance.

The 2 ways that the enemy convinces you to abandon your assignment is to convince you that #1. It's not that important #2. You're not qualified or worthy enough to complete it.
WIPE HIM OUT BY SAYING THIS OUT LOUD!!

***UPDATE***
They just put him in a room. He will be here until Sunday. Prayers for a speedy and problem free recovery.

Keep Daddy in your prayers, Praise God he is actually going for surgery this morning after 2 failed attempts over the past several months. Believing for a GREAT outcome and supernatural healing from Jesus. May God get all the glory for great reports!!

Yes this is VERY short notice, but anyone that wants to pray and be in God's presence tonight are welcome to come to 322 A West Water Street, Richmond, KY 40475. The sign on the front of the building still says Heiress Eyelashes, I do believe, but it's our Ministry Hub. We haven't officially opened yet, but seeing all of the attacks against God's people (including us) I just felt compelled to open the doors for togetherness. We fight the enemy better as ONE! There will be coffee and snacks but you're welcome to bring something if you want. I'm opening the doors at 7 and we will be there until we feel God has released us to go home. Tonight we P.U.S.H. (PRAY UNTIL SOMETHING HAPPENS).

Freedom Full Gospel Church of Jesus Christ Event June 12th and 13th

Until you can openly admit that We are ALL still learning and NO ONE is above reproof, then you're not ready to be a Leader.

This is by NO MEANS, a look at me post. This is so humbling for me.
If this isn't your mission, you're missing it!!!
This is the young man I asked everyone to start interceding for.
Won't GOD do it?! Thank you FATHER!!

Sometimes we must go through the ultimate rejection from people, in order to step into our Divine purpose from God.

Freedom is when you're no longer willing to sacrifice your future on the altar of your past.

*more of what's to come tonight at 7pm EST*

The CONFIDENCE in your IDENTITY comes, "when" you "learn" WHOSE you are & begin to ACCEPT & ACT in THE GIFTS & CALLING that He's deposited into YOUR LIFE!

The point of your DEPOSIT, is never the point of your DISCOVERY.

I'll explain on video tonight at 7pm EST.
Tune in Live.

In His Presence - Upcoming Trip to Richmond, KY

June 12th & 13th!!
You don't want to miss this!!

Freedom Full Gospel Church of Jesus Christ Event June 12th and 13th