The Sound of Heaven

We who are in ministry are stewards of God’s work. Therefore, we must remember to build God’s work God’s way - by His Spirit. 

In the book of Acts chapter two, when the Holy Spirit suddenly manifested His presence, a loud noise was heard at His entry. Like a mighty wind, His influence blew through the atmosphere. His fire rested upon His people. And the believers began to speak in tongues.  

The sound of this occurrence drew a crowd. 

When they heard the loud noise, everyone came running, and they were bewildered to hear their own languages being spoken by the believers. (Acts 2:6, NLT)

There’s just something about the sound of Heaven that has a magnetic pull on people. Wherever the Holy Spirit is moving, people are drawn. 

When the Spirit moves, believers and unbelievers alike come running to see what He’s doing. 

We who are in ministry can take no credit when the Holy Spirit draws people. We must remember that people come for His presence and power, not our talent or charisma. 

In our meetings, we have people who fly overseas to be in a single service. Many drive for miles, wait in line for hours, and arrange their whole week that they might sit in one of our services for a few hours. Why do they do that?

I promise you they’re not coming to hear me preach or hear our worship team play (as talented as they are.) The people come for the presence. The Spirit’s presence and power draws them. 

Surrender to the Spirit. Let Him do as He pleases. And people will come running to the sound of Heaven.  

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Let God Speak for You

In the book of Numbers chapter 17, we see a story of God endorsing His servant Aaron through a miracle. Because the people were complaining against God-ordained leadership, God instructed that a leader from each of the 12 tribes of Israel should bring a wooden staff to Moses. God instructed…

3 Inscribe Aaron’s name on the staff of the tribe of Levi, for there must be one staff for the leader of each ancestral tribe. 4 Place these staffs in the Tabernacle in front of the Ark containing the tablets of the Covenant, where I meet with you. 5 Buds will sprout on the staff belonging to the man I choose. Then I will finally put an end to the people’s murmuring and complaining against you.” 6 So Moses gave the instructions to the people of Israel, and each of the twelve tribal leaders, including Aaron, brought Moses a staff. 7 Moses placed the staffs in the Lord’s presence in the Tabernacle of the Covenant. 8 When he went into the Tabernacle of the Covenant the next day, he found that Aaron’s staff, representing the tribe of Levi, had sprouted, budded, blossomed, and produced ripe almonds! (Numbers 17:3-8, NLT)

By way of the miraculous, the Lord vindicated His chosen servant. 

If God has called you, people will come against you. That’s a fact. In times of attack, it’s tempting to try to explain yourself or speak up for yourself. Don’t. Just allow the Lord to handle it. He has a way of vindicating His people that is clear and conclusive.

When you speak for God, God will speak for you. Let Him blossom something that will demonstrate His hand upon your life.

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How to Preach with Power: One Simple Key

Do you want to preach with power? Remember this: God does not anoint our opinions; He anoints His Word. He doesn’t back our ideas; His backs truth. If you want there to be power behind what you preach, then you need to preach God’s Word.

And they went forth, and preached every where, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word with signs following. Amen. (Mark 16:20, KJV)

God has bound Himself to His message. Wherever His message goes, His miracle-working power goes. Think about this: the Word of God carries such power that it produces results even when a hypocrite preaches it. Consider those in Matthew 7:

21 “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. 22 On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ 23 But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’ (Matthew 7:21-23, NLT)

If we want to see real results, we need to stay faithful to preaching what the Bible teaches. We mustn’t try to force our ideas upon the Scripture. We must humble ourselves before the Word. When we honor the Word, God will honor our preaching with His power.

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7 Signs of Ungodly Ambition

If you want God to use you as a spiritual leader, you desire a good thing. 

Here is a trustworthy saying: Whoever aspires to be an overseer desires a noble task. (1 Timothy 3:1, NIV)

Yes, the desire to be used of God is good, but you must guard your heart, lest it become contaminated with the mixture of impure motives. 

Here are 7 warning signs of ungodly ambition.

#1 - You lack personal holiness.

To perform in public is easy, but to live righteously in private takes true devotion to and fear of God. Many have gifts but don’t know the glory. Many have charisma but lack character. Living a lifestyle of sinfulness is a sign that your godly motives have been replaced by fleshly ambition.

#2 - You lack a personal devotional life.

If you don’t pray or read the Word consistently, you have no business being behind a pulpit. Spiritual leaders are supposed to help other believers grow spiritually. But how can you truly do that if you yourself haven’t grown? If you lack a prayer life and a devotion to God’s Word, then that’s a sign that your motives are becoming polluted by worldliness. 

#3 - You care more about crowds than you do about people.

If you don’t love God’s people, then why serve them? For financial gain? For status? For popularity? When you look into the faces of those to whom you minister, do you see people with needs, hopes, hurts, and stories? Or do you just see useful tools for your agenda? To have the heart of God is to have compassion for God’s people.

#4 - You have an unhealthy desire to be seen and recognized.

We all appreciate being encouraged and recognized for our work, but if you constantly crave the spotlight, you need to seriously evaluate your motives. People with an unhealthy desire for recognition are operating out of insecurity and rejection that hasn’t yet been healed. They need to be seen, celebrated, and noticed in order to feel fulfilled. These people love to see their faces on flyers, love to be seated in the front row, love to be noticed when they walk into a room, demand VIP treatment, and generally crave attention. 

#5 - You can’t receive correction.

When your motives are impure, everything you do becomes contaminated. Impure motives force you to build the ministry on self, not the Lord. Thus, when correction is brought to you, your first reaction is to be defensive, to protect what you have built upon self. Those who attempt to lovingly correct you are labeled as “haters” or “jealous.” Granted, you can’t give your attention or validation to everyone who brings criticism. Generally speaking, I think you should ignore the internet theologians and keyboard crusaders. But when those who know and love you, those who walk in relationship with you, bring correction, you should take that seriously. Rather than use deflections like, “Well, I’ve been in the ministry for blank amount of years” or “Well, they just don’t understand my anointing,” perhaps you should humbly receive the correction that comes from those who love and know you. If you can’t take legitimate correction, it’s time to check your motives.

#6 You imagine that the purpose of God’s favor is to elevate you.

When God elevates one of His servants, His goal isn’t to elevate a person; His goal is to elevate His Word - His message. God doesn’t raise you for the sake of you. Ministry is not so much a promotion as it is a death to self. Preachers and ministers, please, remember that we are not the main characters in the story. We are simply servants who serve the greater purposes of God. And we can very quickly be replaced. Count it joy that you can be a part of what God is doing, but remember your place. It’s about the lost. It’s about God’s glory. Walk humbly.

#7 You view other ministers and ministries as your competition. 

Ministry is not about competition but cooperation with your fellow brothers and sisters in Christ. If you feel pains of jealousy whenever something good happens for another ministry, your motives need to be purified. If you feel like the success of others is somehow taking away from your success, then your motives need to be purified. If you take joy in the failings of other ministries, then your motives need to be purified. Why see the success of others as a threat if we all have the same goal? 

Again, if you want God to use you as a spiritual leader, you desire a good thing. But watch carefully for these signs of ungodly ambition, lest ungodly ambition destroy your ministry and your soul.

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7 Levels of Ministry Influence

The Holy Spirit loves us all equally, but He trusts us in proportion to our obedience. Every sincere believer wants to be trusted and used by the Lord. So what’s the first step? Being used by God is as simple as obeying God. Simply do what’s before you, and allow promotion to come from the Lord. 

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you will be my witnesses, telling people about me everywhere—in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” (Acts 1:8, NLT)

You will receive power when the Spirit comes upon you. What’s the purpose of that power? The purpose of that power is to turn you into a witness, one who shares the gospel. And as you are faithful in sharing the gospel, God is the One Who brings about the results. You do the possible, and God will do the impossible. You preach the gospel, and God will save the lost.

Now, notice that the Bible says, “in Jerusalem, throughout Judea, in Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.” The early Church spread the gospel first in the city of Jerusalem, then the regions of Judea and Samaria, and finally to the ends of the earth. 

Their influence grew gradually. So I believe it also goes with us.

These are the seven levels of ministry influence:

1. Personal

2. Corporate

3. Regional

4. National

5. Global

6. Generational 

7. Eternal

Personal influence first occurs in you, as the Holy Spirit works on your character and nature. He breaks the bondage of sin over your life and delivers you from demonic influence. That personal influence then begins to touch your loved ones. This is the initial stage of ministry impact.

Then the Spirit will raise you to become effective in a local body of believers, a local church, corporate influence. And, yes, a local church is Biblical. God creates systems - the solar system, your immune system, ecosystems, and so forth. Creation is filled with orderly systems that reflect the orderly nature of God. The church is no different. Yes, it’s organized, and, yes, that’s how God intended it. And it’s not possible to edify the body of Christ using your spiritual gifts outside of the context of the body of Christ, which is clearly described in the New Testament. And if you are faithful to serve in a local body of believers, God may raise you to have regional influence.

Regional influence is impact over a city or even a State or province. Likewise, national and global influence impact nations and the world.

Now, here I must stress that it’s important to think of ourselves soberly. Just because I preach in different States doesn’t mean I have national influence. Just because I have a list of countries on my preaching itinerary doesn’t mean I have national or global influence. National influence means that when I operate in my gift, nations shift. The same concept applies to global influence. Very few reach that level.

However, the level of your influence really is up to God. After all, it’s about His agenda, not our notoriety. So don’t concern yourself with how you’re raised. Just obey what God has spoken and leave promotion in His hands. How far you’ll go is none of your business. So don’t go after influence, go after obedience. 

And as we obey, we all can share in the collective impact of generational and eternal consequence. Just by living a holy life that glorifies God, you become the preservation of your generation - and generations beyond. And by simply sharing the gospel, you’re not just impacting lives; you’re impacting eternities. 

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The Power of Impartation: 7 Quotes That Changed Me

I am very intentional about cultivating and preserving, within myself, both a willingness and an ability to learn from others. Everybody knows something that you don’t. So it is wise to glean the good from within people. I have received from people of varying personalities, cultures, mindsets and expressions. Many great men and women of God have spoken mindset-altering words into my life.

“Let the wise hear and increase in learning, and the one who understands obtain guidance,” - Proverbs 1:5

When I was about 15 years old, I received a prophetic word over my life. The prophet told me that I would be a cross-pollination of several types of anointing. And, throughout my time in ministry, I have observed and/or served many great men and women of God. I listen intently to the fiercely intellectual, receive inspiration from the deeply spiritual, glean impartation from the magnetically charismatic and work to mimic those who walk in holy integrity.

In addition, I have become comfortable with who I am as a unique individual, embracing my own tone, personality, cadence, preaching style and manner of thinking. That is the power of impartation – it assembles the positives of several people into one individual who is willing to grow.

Because of that, I am convinced that every generation should carry upon it a greater power and level of integrity.

I highly recommend this sort of discipleship. I encourage you to embrace who God uniquely created you to be, while receiving from the good upon the lives of others. This is what impartation is all about. Everyone will affect you to varying degrees; some more than others, some from up close and some from a distance. But remain keen, so that you will not miss an opportunity to receive from God.

So here, in this post, I will list 7 quotes from people who are among those who have influenced my life the most.  I hope that their words will influence you too, and I pray that you will become passionate about learning and receiving from others.

Benny Hinn

“Good morning, Holy Spirit.”

Pastor Benny Hinn has had a key influence on my life, and he and I have become friends over the years. I would liken his impact on my life to Kathryn Kuhlman’s impact on his life. I consider him a spiritual mentor. Though I have developed my own unique manner of ministering, I am thankful for what I have received from Pastor Benny’s ministry.

His words, “Good morning, Holy Spirit”, forever changed my perception of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is not a force, a wave or a lesser member of the trinity. The Holy Spirit is a person, Who can be personally known. In fact, the Holy Spirit can be your closest and most cherished friend. Closeness with the Holy Spirit is the key to the fullness of the Christian life. He reveals Christ, inspires true worship, empowers genuine prayer and works alongside the believer. It was this revelation of the Holy Spirit that completely and radically transformed me in the most profound way.

Tommy Miller

“Your computer is your studio.”

When I first began to initiate the ministry’s television outreach, I had a command from God but no plan to fulfill that command. I had the “What”, but I didn’t have the “How”. I was diligent to research media and production, as well as plan scheduling, editing, program format, shoot locations, airtime logistics, network connecting and so on.

There was only one personal contact I made with someone who had any experience at all in television ministry. Overwhelmed by the great task that lay ahead of me, I contacted Tommy Miller. Tommy Miller had been doing television for years. Having started as a traveling evangelist, Tommy Miller was used by God to build an amazing work.

Nervous and very intimidated, I placed a phone call to Tommy Miller. I still remember how anxious I was when the phone was ringing. To be honest, part of me had hoped that he wouldn’t answer. But sure enough, Pastor Tommy picked up the phone. Now I don’t recall the details of that conversation. I just remember that Pastor Tommy was very kind, very generous with his time and very helpful.

However, there was one thing, in particular, that he told me that got the ball rolling for the television ministry. I had asked him a question regarding TV equipment. I had a big vision but a small bank account. Frustrated yet excited, I didn’t know where to start. “Pastor Tommy”, I said, “I only have one camera and a computer. But I need a TV studio. How do I get what I need without the funds?” Pastor Tommy replied, “David, your computer is your tv studio. Just do what you can with what you have. And God will add to it.” His wise words immediately got through to me. To this day, I make the best use of my available resources.

The reality: right now, you have everything that you need to accomplish what God wants you to accomplish in this season. Don’t wait for the ideal situation to come along before you begin to act. Do what you can with what you have right now. Excellence isn’t having the best of everything. It’s doing your best with everything you have. Don’t delay God’s call, because you despise small beginnings. Take what you have right now and start doing what God put on your heart to do.

Paul Pimentel

“The dream is for the dreamer.”

I first met Paul Pimentel about 3.5 years ago. Now the executive producer of Encounter TV, Paul had at one point never even heard about me or this ministry. The pastor of a church, he invited me to speak for a Sunday morning service. He enjoyed the ministry and we began to connect.

On one of my return visits, Pastor Paul spoke words that deeply impacted me. In somewhat of a season of discouragement, I had taken a trip to visit the Pimentels. I often go there when I need to refuel and refresh.

After one of the services at which I had ministered, the Pimentel family took me out for lunch. It was during that lunch that Pastor Paul began to share with me his testimony. He had no idea that I was under discouragement and an unusually high amount of criticism from others. But, during the course of his sharing, he said something that leaped out at me!

Discussing the criticism he endured, he said, “But you know, Diga, the dream is for the dreamer.”

The dream is for the dreamer. Don’t get discouraged. Don’t quit. Don’t let the enemy bring sadness over the things that have yet to manifest in your life. Allow the process that can only take place when you’re having your patience tested. Don’t give up on what God has shown you and don’t expect others to always understand – the dream is for the dreamer, so move beyond the criticism.

Ron Simpkins

“What’s God sayin?”

Very rarely do I describe someone as having a gifted mind, but that is how I’d describe this man. Ron Simpkins is a brilliant man. Throughout the years, he has been very key in helping me to refocus energy and think critically in ministry. His insights have helped me to make shifts that helped the ministry to expand.

But beside his cerebral gifting, he is also a man of the spirit. Of all the principles, strategies, insights and approaches that I have learned from him, the single most influential thing I have ever heard him say to me was, “What’s God sayin?”

You see, even though he possesses great intellect, he is still highly dependent on the voice of God. He doesn’t lean on his own understanding – though if anyone could, it would be him.

What’s God saying? Our efforts and gifts do not matter if we cannot align ourselves with God’s agenda. If you want God to be in what you’re doing, simply go along with His agenda. No matter how talented you are, you need to know what God’s doing. What’s his plan for this season of your life? How does what you’re doing fit into His global strategy? When is the last time that you asked Him what He wanted from you? When is the last time that you asked Him about the direction of your church, ministry or life? What’s God saying?

Eddie Vargas

“Okay”

Eddie Vargas was, at first, my youth leader. He was the one who scheduled me to preach my very first sermon. He bought me the first Bible that I studied, entrusted me with my first ministry and pushed me to pursue the call of God on my life.

His response to everything I wanted to do for God was and is, “Okay. Sounds great.” But that was his attitude: “Okay”. He didn’t obstruct me. He didn’t stifle my gifts. He didn’t look down on me. Neither did he pressure me to do what I wasn’t called to do. Anytime I approached him with what God had put on my heart, he would simply say, “Okay.” And then he would help me do it.

How many people do you empower? Isn’t it amazing how we often raise the bar once we’ve passed it? Are you enabling people or stifling them? Do you disciple people to grow what you’re doing, or do you disciple people so that they can fulfill the call of God on their lives? Are you quick to give opportunity? Or do you fear others doing better than you? We need to allow expression of ministry to flow. When they ask for permission to do God’s work, our response, unless scripture truly warrants otherwise, should be, “Okay.”

Omar Lopez

“There’s a reason behind everything that I do.”

My pastor is a very thoughtful and methodical man. When I first began to serve closely under him, I would find myself frustrated by his pacing. But I soon learned that his pacing, in the long run, saved more time than my own pace. He is more about doing things right than about doing them quickly.

I recall one instance in particular. I was only about 10 years old. I was watching him rearrange the self-serve coffee items in the church fellowship hall. Then he began to serve himself. Having just rearranged everything, I figured that he would realize that one creamer was practically empty. Still, he used that creamer first. I watched as he tapped the creamer against his cup. He was persistent in trying to get the last of the creamer. Why didn’t he just use the new one? It would have been much easier. I found it humorous and laughed quietly to myself. But he overheard me.

He called me over.

He explained to me that it’s a good idea to make full use of whatever you have – don’t be wasteful. I then understood that he was just trying to use the last of the creamer before he opened the new one. That was a good lesson in itself, but then he said this: “Diga, there’s a reason behind everything that I do.”

And that stuck with me. Don’t ask me why. Maybe it was the way he said it. But it just has stuck with me.

Be purposeful. Be thoughtful. Take your time. Be methodical. Don’t be wasteful with your time or energy – let there be a reason behind everything that you do. Take the time to plan. Don’t rush through the details. Nothing will slow you down more than a shortcut. Let there be quality and excellence to everything you touch. Haste really does make waste. But wisdom pleads with us to use the power of intent.

Pastor Omar is the pastor of a thriving church and a fruitful church planter. I have seen, first hand, the fruit of his ability to be patient and purposeful.

David Hernandez, Sr.

“You can be whatever you want, so long as you love Jesus.”

The most influential man in my life is my father. He’s a pastor and a family man. He was the same man in the church as he was at home, and that was crucial in my life.

He never pressured me to do ministry, held me to the “pastor’s kid” standard or made me feel like I had to do what he did. So when it came time for me to respond to the call of God, I never second guessed myself. I never had to ask, “Is this just my dad pressuring me, or is this really God?”

Because he had always told me, “You can be whatever you want, so long as you love Jesus”, I was able to discover the call of God for myself. So when God called me, it was personal. My response to the call of God was wholly my own. And that made it stick when times got tough.

Don’t pressure people to serve God like you do. God created different servants with different service abilities. Their sacrifice won’t look like yours. But you likely couldn’t handle their disciplines or responsibilities. Just because people aren’t doing what you’re doing, how you’re doing it or to the extent that you’re doing it, doesn’t mean that they’re doing any less than you. Let their love for Jesus be manifested in its own way.

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