Why You Feel Attacked Right Now

What if the attack you’re facing is actually a sign that God is about to use you?

Jesus wasn’t attacked at the temple. He was attacked in the wilderness—tired, hungry, alone.

“Then Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted there by the devil.” - Matthew 4:1 (NLT)

That’s where the enemy strikes: in the silence, in the waiting, right before the breakthrough.

If you’re facing unusual pressure, heaviness, or temptation, don’t panic. It could mean you’re standing at the edge of God’s next move in your life. Every battle Jesus faced in the wilderness came before His public ministry began.

The enemy attacks most fiercely right before God releases you. The intensity of your battle could mean you’re closer to your calling than you think.

Don’t quit now. Keep standing. Your breakthrough is near.

For more about this topic, watch “Right Before God Uses You, The Devil Will Try These Attacks,” on YouTube by clicking here.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

You’re Still Called

Have you ever felt like you’ve made too many mistakes to still walk in God’s plan? Whether you’re someone trying hard to follow God but stumbling often or someone in outright rebellion, you need to hear this: God hasn’t given up on you.

“For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable.” -  Romans 11:29 (ESV)

Take Jonah. God called him, and Jonah ran. Yet even in his disobedience, God pursued him with a storm—not to punish, but to redirect.

“Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, ‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me.’ But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.” - Jonah 1:1–3 (ESV)

Yet Jonah didn’t lose his calling. God called him a second time, and through Jonah’s obedience after the rebellion, a city was saved.

“Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, ‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message that I tell you.’” - Jonah 3:1–2 (ESV)

The same is true for you. God’s correction is not rejection. It’s restoration. When things fall apart, it may be that God is lovingly removing what is enabling your disobedience. You are marked by His hand. That’s why compromise feels miserable and why you just don’t fit into the world the way others do.

“For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” - Hebrews 12:6 (ESV)

Look at Peter. He denied Jesus three times, but he was later restored and preached to thousands. Your past mistakes don’t disqualify you from future purposes. The Holy Spirit is more patient than you are stubborn and more faithful than you are flawed.

God factored in your failures when He called you. He does not abandon His children. His call is not fragile. He will keep pursuing you and calling you again and again, not because you are perfect, but because He is faithful.

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” - Philippians 1:6 (ESV)

“If we are faithless, he remains faithful— for he cannot deny himself.” -  2 Timothy 2:13 (ESV)

So stop running. Or stop worrying. Whether you have wandered far or are just feeling lost despite your efforts, God is not done with you. Get back up. Get back on track. The call still stands.

“The steps of a man are established by the Lord, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the Lord upholds his hand.” -  Psalm 37:23–24 (ESV)

Let this be your turning point. Yield to the Holy Spirit and watch how God restores, redirects, and still uses you—for your good and for His glory.

For more on this topic, you can watch my teaching, “If you feel like you've wrecked God's plan for your life, watch this,” on YouTube by clicking here.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

God is Waiting on You

Are you waiting on God, or is God waiting on you? While it’s important to pray for direction from God, we mustn’t be so afraid of failure that we do nothing at all.

Here’s a Biblical example:

“Next, Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time. Then, coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again, the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there. So, instead, they went on through Mysia to the seaport of Troas.” - Acts 16:6-8 (NLT).

Notice here that Paul and Silas took steps of faith, only to be redirected by the Holy Spirit. A few important things to note:

1.) The fact that they were redirected demonstrates they didn’t necessarily pray about every step.

Again, we ought to pray for direction from the Lord, but sometimes, you just have to take a step of faith and trust God. As much as we pray, we’re not always going to have the full picture. That’s where faith comes in.

2.) The Holy Spirit didn’t get angry with them for getting it wrong.

Notice that the Holy Spirit didn’t rebuke Paul and Silas; He simply redirected them. There’s this fear that many believers have that God is going to be furious with them for getting something wrong. He knows we’re fallible. He planned for our mistakes. God isn’t going to strike you down simply because you did something you believe He wanted you to do. Ground yourself in prayer and the Word. Listen for the Holy Spirit’s instructions - but then act.

3.) They saw a need and tried to fill it.

Paul and Silas saw a need, a region that needed the gospel, and they sought to fill that need. It’s as simple as that. We are to use our specific gifts to fulfill God’s general commands. Yes, God will often give us specific instructions. But while we wait for specific instructions, we should be busy fulfilling God’s broader commands. '

For more on this topic, you can watch my teaching, “If you need help discerning God's voice, watch this (2025),” on YouTube by clicking here.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

When People Overlook You

The prophet was sent by God to anoint the next King. The prophet Samuel was told by God to go to the home of a man named Jesse. Jesse had several sons, one of whom would become king. But Jesse didn’t present all of his sons, only the ones he deemed as possibly capable of being God’s choice for king.

10 Jesse had seven of his sons pass before Samuel, but Samuel said to him, “The Lord has not chosen these.” 11 So he asked Jesse, “Are these all the sons you have?” “There is still the youngest,” Jesse answered. “He is tending the sheep.” Samuel said, “Send for him; we will not sit down until he arrives.” - 1 Samuel 16:10-11 (NIV)

The son that was left out was David, the very one God chose to become king. Man overlooked him. In fact, one could speculate that his own father intentionally tried to push him out of an opportunity. Still, the Lord had called him. The prophet spoke adamantly, “we will not sit down until he arrives.”

Once God has chosen you, it’s not possible for others to prevent your promotion. Once God has selected you for a purpose, even the most jealous, competitive, or ambitious people can’t stop the mantle from falling onto your shoulders.

So when others overlook you or attempt to block your way, relax. Trust God. Be at peace. God knows where to find you.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

The Power in Your Hand

Questioning the Lord, Moses protested several times. His fears and excuses so overwhelmed his mind that he dared to question the mighty voice coming from the burning bush. But for every excuse Moses made, God gave a promise.

God was calling Moses to deliver the people of Israel from out of slavery. God had made it clear that Moses was to be the chosen deliverer of a nation, but Moses was filled with doubt and uncertainty.

It came then to the point where Moses worried about whether or not the people would believe that he was sent by God. The scripture records his questioning:

But Moses protested again, “What if they won’t believe me or listen to me? What if they say, ‘The Lord never appeared to you’?” Then the Lord asked him, “What is that in your hand?” “A shepherd’s staff,” Moses replied. “Throw it down on the ground,” the Lord told him. So Moses threw down the staff, and it turned into a snake! Moses jumped back. – Exodus 4:1-3 (NLT)

Now, there is much more to this dialogue between God and Moses than we are about to examine. However, I want to just focus in on how the Lord responded to this line of questioning in particular: “What if they won’t believe me or listen to me?”

Moses wanted to know how he would proceed with leading the people of Israel.

God responded to Moses’s question with a question of His own.

“What’s in your hand?”

When backed by God’s power, what was in Moses’s hand was enough to complete the divine mandate. When backed by God’s power, what you have, right now, is enough to move forward.

So I ask you, dear reader, “What’s in your hand?”

Don’t wait for the ideal situation to present itself before you step out in obedience toward God. Whatever it is He has called you to do can be accomplished. The next step can be taken. The next task can be completed. You don’t need to wait. Just step out and do what you’re supposed to do right now with what you have in your hand.

It is enough.

Plant that church. Start that ministry. Preach the gospel. Teach the Word. Pray that prayer. Write that song. Begin.

Obey God.

Don’t worry about being promoted, recognized, or celebrated. Don’t fear failure, rejection, or heartache. Just let God empower you right where you are, right now. Obey, and leave the results up to God.

Use what He’s placed in your hand.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

10 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Quit

We’ve all felt like quitting at one point or another. The desire to quit is as much a part of growth as success. For those who do not quit, a reward waits. Nothing worth having is easy to obtain. And everything that has value also has a cost. This is why so few actually reach their God-given goals: though most acknowledge that hard work is needed, most fail to realize just how hard that work will be. We know good things take years, decades even, but when the years begin to pass by, many are still caught off guard.

Make no mistake: the bigger the vision, the longer it will take and the tougher times will be. God will give no weighty thing to the one who cannot stand under its pressure. It is the process that makes you a person who can handle what God wants to give you. I assure you: there are no shortcuts.

“Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run to win!” - 1 Corinthians 9:24

Trials, testing and tragedy – these cause us to grow weary. Setbacks, disappointments and long-term delay – these add to the demise of our resolve. But in our weak and frail moments, we can find the strength to continue.

We see the vision. We hold onto the dream. We pray that we become someone who pleases God. But sometimes life doesn’t align with our ambitions and hopes. People, discouragement and demonic powers speak to your heart, “Just quit and try something else.” I’ve even heard preachers say, “If it’s God, it’ll flow easily” and that’s absolutely false. When you do something for God, when you pursue the dream that He placed in your heart, opposition will come. And it will come ferociously. But in difficult times, I am reminded of this scripture:

“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” - Galatians 6:9

Hold this thought captive in your mind: “I will not quit.”

In your life, work, relationships and, even ministry, you may have had moments where you wanted to quit. It may feel as though you’re stuck, trapped and just “making it”. It’s tempting to look forward to an ideal situation. It’s easy to put your happiness on hold until things “settle down” or “fall into place.” But the key to not quitting and walking in joy is two-fold. Enjoy the journey and keep the vision. Enjoy where you are now but don’t lose sight of the future. Be happy in the moment and grateful for what you have.

And if you can just hold on a little longer, I believe breakthrough is just around the corner. Who knows what can change in the next 24 hours? You just may be standing on the brink of your breakthrough. Here are at least 10 reasons that you shouldn’t quit.

#1 Don’t quit, because what you are doing now may be positively affecting a life, and you may not even be aware of it.

#2 Don’t quit, because you may be just days away from a tremendous breakthrough.

#3 Don’t quit, because everything you do in love will count for all of eternity.

#4 Don’t quit, because faithfulness pleases God.

#5 Don’t quit, because quitting would undo all that you have worked for up to this point.

#6 Don’t quit, because quitters are more filled with regret than those who persevere.

#7 Don’t quit, because the world is still in need of the gospel, and you are a vital part of the church.

#8 Don’t quit, because future generations of your family will reap from your obedience.

#9 Don’t quit, because truth is worth the fight.

#10 Don’t quit, because life is too short to re-take divine tests.

This gospel will be preached and we will continue to walk in victory.

If God is with you, who or what can be against you?

You are a child of God. The favor on your life is uncommon, and the vision God has placed before your eyes is unstoppable. God has never failed you and continues to expand you further than you ever thought you would go.

Don’t quit… ever.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

The Unstoppable Favor of God

When God gives you a vision, He also gives you the favor to see that vision come to pass. Consider Nehemiah. After recognizing that Jerusalem’s walls needed to be repaired, Nehemiah set out to complete His God-given mandate. The favor of God was on Nehemiah, and that was proven when King Artaxerxes’ heart was inclined to grant Nehemiah’s request.

3but I replied, “Long live the king! How can I not be sad? For the city where my ancestors are buried is in ruins, and the gates have been destroyed by fire.” 4The king asked, “Well, how can I help you?” With a prayer to the God of heaven, 5I replied, “If it please the king, and if you are pleased with me, your servant, send me to Judah to rebuild the city where my ancestors are buried.” 6The king, with the queen sitting beside him, asked, “How long will you be gone? When will you return?” After I told him how long I would be gone, the king agreed to my request. (Nehemiah 2:3-6, NLT)

But the favor didn’t stop there. Not only did the king grant Nehemiah the permission needed to fulfill his task - he also provided resources. 

8And please give me a letter addressed to Asaph, the manager of the king’s forest, instructing him to give me timber. I will need it to make beams for the gates of the Temple fortress, for the city walls, and for a house for myself.” And the king granted these requests, because the gracious hand of God was on me. (Nehemiah 2:8, NLT)

Of course, there was opposition to what Nehemiah was trying to accomplish for God, but the favor of God overruled the complaints of people.

That’s what happens when God’s favor is on you. 

You might be low on resources. People may speak against you. You may, at times, become discouraged and doubtful. But the gracious hand of God will cause you to see it through. If God gave you an assignment, He will give you to favor needed to complete it.

If God is for you, nobody can successfully come against you.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

Ministry Motives: Avoiding Jealousy and a Competitive Spirit

In Acts chapter 8, we see the story of Simon the Sorcerer. Simon was watching as Peter and John laid their hands on new believers. Simon saw that the Holy Spirit was given as the apostles laid hands - and he desired that power. 

18When Simon saw that the Spirit was given when the apostles laid their hands on people, he offered them money to buy this power. 19“Let me have this power, too,” he exclaimed, “so that when I lay my hands on people, they will receive the Holy Spirit!” (Acts 8:18-19, NLT)

What Simon desired wasn’t an evil thing. Like many believers today, Simon desired to have the Holy Spirit. But even though Simon desired a good thing, his motives for wanting it were polluted. 

20But Peter replied, “May your money be destroyed with you for thinking God’s gift can be bought! 21You can have no part in this, for your heart is not right with God. 22Repent of your wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive your evil thoughts, 23for I can see that you are full of bitter jealousy and are held captive by sin.” (Acts 8:20-23, NLT)

Peter recognized that Simon the Sorcerer wanted the power of the Holy Spirit for selfish reasons. Peter could also discern that Simon was filled with jealousy. He was jealous of the power that Peter and John carried. He was jealous of how the people were affected by that power. He was jealous of how others looked to the apostles with such awe and honor. 

And so Simon offered to buy the power of God. He didn’t want to be used by God; He wanted to use God to make himself important. 

There’s danger in polluted motives. 

We who are in ministry must never allow ourselves to be overcome by jealous ambition. If you see the success of others as a threat, you need to purify your motives. If you secretly hope your fellow believer fails, you need to purify your motives. If you want to grow your ministry simply to up your status, you need to purify your motives. 

Remember, God has created you uniquely. God doesn’t have to take from you in order to give to others. The success of others in no way takes away from God’s favor upon your life. But do you know what does? Impure motives. So rest in who you are in Christ. Don’t compete with others, celebrate them. Keep your heart pure, and focus on the simple joy of pleasing the Lord.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

What is God's Perfect Will for You?

What has God called you to do? What is His perfect will concerning your life? Right off the top, we can find some general direction for every believer. There are certain assignments and commands that apply to all of us. We know that every believer is called to:

• Live Holy (1 Peter 1:16)

• Evangelize (Mark 16:15)

• Worship (John 4:24)

• Pray (1 Thessalonians 5:17)

• Know God’s Word (Colossians 3:16)

• Demonstrate Love (Luke 10:27)

• Serve in the Church (1 Peter 4:10)

But beyond that, specifically, what has God called you to do?

When looking to answer this question, there are two traps about which you need to be aware. While seeking God’s will for your life, you must avoid both presumption and paralysis. Both presumption and paralysis will keep you from fulfilling God’s perfect will for your life. 

The trap of presumption works by luring its victims into using a pace of life that is too fast to allow for a pause in which one can hear the instructions of God. The presumptuous rarely pray about their decisions. They forge ahead without checking the map. They may move quickly and they may even build something that appears to be fruitful. But if you rush ahead of God’s instruction, you also rush ahead of His protection, provision, and peace. Never really taking the time to establish a foundation for any one phase of life, the presumptuous have to keep stumbling forward in order to catch their footing. The high-pressure cycle destroys their joy and gratitude.

On the other hand, the trap of paralysis works by holding its prey captive to fear. So afraid of doing something that God did not call them to do, the spiritually paralyzed settle for doing next-to-nothing at all. They embrace fear and call it wisdom. Like the servant who buried his talent, the fearful assume that God will reward their play-it-safe strategy - but that’s not the case.

Of course, there’s a Biblical balance to all of this. 

I believe in taking action, moving forward, and even in taking risks. Otherwise, where would be the need for faith? But we must avoid presumption. 

And I believe in the process before the platform. I believe that God uses seasons of hiddenness to prepare His servants for ministry. I believe in being attentive to hear God’s instructions. But we must break free from spiritual paralysis. 

So how are we to move forward? The answer, of course, is seen in scripture. 

Next Paul and Silas traveled through the area of Phrygia and Galatia, because the Holy Spirit had prevented them from preaching the word in the province of Asia at that time. Then coming to the borders of Mysia, they headed north for the province of Bithynia, but again the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them to go there. So instead, they went on through Mysia to the seaport of Troas. (Acts 16:6-8, NLT)

The Lord had to correct Paul’s course. The fact that Paul had to change directions in the middle of his journey proves to us that he didn’t really pray about every detail of his missionary journey. Rather, he saw where there was a need and then sought to fill that need using what God had entrusted to Him.

Like Paul, we are instructed as we go. While we move to fill needs, we must be attentive to hear the Holy Spirit’s corrective voice.

So those who lean toward being presumptuous are rescued by the voice of the Holy Spirit. So long as they remain attentive to God’s voice through a lifestyle of prayer and the Word, they have a safety net. God can correct them as they move. 

And the paralyzed don’t need to be immobile. They don’t have to believe those superstitious, unbiblical myths about God being easily angered by our missteps. They can just look for the need and seek to fill it with what God has given to them. 

Now, how do you fulfill the specific will of God for your life? You take all that God has given to you - time, resources, influence, talents, gifts, energy - and you use it to further the gospel. Your specific abilities being used to fulfill God’s general mandate - that’s the perfect will of God. It’s that simple. So long as you remain attentive to His voice, He can correct your course. But you need to be going to be guided. 

Thankfully, we need not to trust in our own ability to know God’s will, but rather in His ability to reveal it as we move.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

Disqualified from God's Call?

If you’ve made mistakes, you need to know that God’s not finished with you. He’s not giving up on you, and you still have a divine destiny.

And I am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns. (Philippians 1:6, NLT)

Of course, if believers want to be used by God, they ought to live holy lives. But perhaps you’ve made mistakes that you think have permanently disqualified you from ever being used by God again. Maybe you feel overwhelming shame and guilt - and it’s difficult for you to move forward. Let’s gain some perspective from the Scripture.

Yet preaching the Good News is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News! (1 Corinthians 6:19, NLT)

Consider why God raises someone. God doesn’t raise a person to elevate that person; God will raise a person to elevate His Word, His gospel. 

I think that sometimes the reason people imagine that God would never use them again is because they’re under the impression that it’s about them. But it’s about God’s glory; it’s about souls. God will use you again because lost souls are still slipping into eternity, and the world needs the gospel.

Get it right. Repent. Let God restore you. And then let Him use your life again. 

For God’s glory. For the lost.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

Encounters Lead to Callings

Those who have been touched by the glory of God are most powerfully used for the glory of God. The call of God is found in the presence of God. The power of the Holy Spirit is found in the presence of the Holy Spirit. Your purpose is discovered in His presence. 

Remember this: all true ministry is an overflow of your relationship with God. If there is no relationship, then ministry is not a calling, but rather a career. 

When Adam had life breathed into him, he became the steward of the earth. When Abraham heard God, he was called as a father of many nations. When Moses saw the burning bush, he was called as a deliverer. Isaiah saw God in the temple. Jeremiah felt fire in his bones. Ezekiel saw Heaven opened. The apostles sat with Jesus. The early church heard the wind and saw the fire of the Holy Spirit. Truly, encounters lead to callings.

God wants to use you too. You may feel like your don’t measure up, like you lack the skills and gifts needed to do something for God. Here’s what the Bible says.

The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men with no special training in the Scriptures. They also recognized them as men who had been with Jesus. (Acts 4:13, NLT)

Your connection with God is your position to do something for God. The Holy Spirit in you is your qualification for ministry. The time you spend in God’s presence is what prepares you to carry His power. 

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

Planted by the Hand of God

Salvation is free, but the call of God will cost you everything.

I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat is planted in the soil and dies, it remains alone. But its death will produce many new kernels—a plentiful harvest of new lives. (John 12:24, NLT)

When you lay down your life for the call of God, you become like a seed planted in the ground. When you are planted by God, you may, at times, find yourself in dark and lonely places; but your life will be used of God to bring forth a harvest. 

Seeds are those who say to the Lord, “Spend me for your glory.” So here’s a question for you: Will you let God bury you? Will you let God take you to places that you may not want to go? Will you give up your own plans and ambitions and exchange them for God’s perfect will? 

Will you become a seed in the ground that others might hear the gospel? 

Paul the Apostle wrote of a daily death to self, and that’s exactly what it will take to be used of God. May you become a life planted, that Jesus might reap the reward of His suffering - a plentiful harvest of new lives, of souls.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

No More Excuses

Rightfully, we think of Moses as a powerful servant of the Lord, a hero in the faith. But, like many of us, when Moses was called, he responded to God’s commands with excuses.

9Look! The cry of the people of Israel has reached me, and I have seen how harshly the Egyptians abuse them. 10Now go, for I am sending you to Pharaoh. You must lead my people Israel out of Egypt.” 11But Moses protested to God, “Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?” 12God answered, “I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain.” 13But Moses protested, “If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, ‘The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,’ they will ask me, ‘What is his name?’ Then what should I tell them?” (Exodus 3:9-13, NLT)

We have the tendency to disqualify ourselves. When God gives us a mission, we recount our mistakes. When God gives us an assignment, we hide behind our imperfections. And while it might seem humble to count yourself out, think of the arrogance of saying, “I know better than God.” Think of the audacity of saying, “God’s power within me isn’t enough to make up for the flaws within me.”

I love the Lord’s response to Moses.

God replied to Moses, “I Am Who I Am. Say this to the people of Israel: I Am has sent me to you.” (Exodus 3:14, NLT)

In other Words, all that He is, the all-encompassing, eternal Being - God Himself - has sent you. Whatever you lack, He doesn’t give; whatever you lack, He is. Whatever your shortcomings, you can go because “I AM” goes with you. No more excuses. Go. Respond to the call of God.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

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. 

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

Do Something for God

Jesus told a parable about a man who went on a long journey, leaving his 3 servants in charge of his resources. He gave resources to his servants in proportion to their abilities. While the man was away on his journey, two of his servants multiplied their resources, but one servant, crippled by fear, failed to do anything with the resources.

“Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your money back.’ “But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’ “Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. - Matthew 25:24-29, NLT

How often do we allow ourselves to develop the same mindset as the servant in the parable?

Many are so worried about details that they miss destiny. Afraid to do something wrong, many fail to do anything at all. Some imagine that the will of God is so precise, so easy to miss, that one wrong turn can derail the call of God. That’s simply not the truth.

As we make use of every resource, talent, and gift that God has bestowed upon us, we can trust that the Holy Spirit will direct us if ever we venture too far from the path that the Lord has laid before us. Just step out and do something for God. He will be faithful to guide you as you go. Don’t be inactive because you lack specifics; rather, do something that you know will please God - you know it because you know His nature (If you knew I harvested crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank?).

Don’t be afraid. Do something for God.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

Becoming a Vessel of Healing

Heroes of the faith are reflections of the glory of God, but they are only reflections. While we can receive impartation, wisdom, and inspiration from those who have gone before us, we must aim to imitate them only in this one regard: ourselves becoming reflections of the brightest light.

We must look to reflect Jesus.

Jesus was the greatest healing minister of all time. All others are only flawed imitations, myself included. So, when it comes to ministering God’s healing power, we must look to Jesus as our bright and pure example.

Jesus had a prayer life.

Jesus prayed in seclusion.

After sending them home, he went up into the hills by himself to pray. Night fell while he was there alone. - Matthew 14:23, NLT

Jesus prayed in the morning.

Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray. - Mark 1:35, NLT

Jesus prayed at night.

46After bidding them farewell, He left for the mountain to pray. 47When it was evening, the boat was in the middle of the sea, and He was alone on the land. - Mark 6:46-47, NLT

Jesus prayed often.

But Jesus often withdrew to the wilderness for prayer. - Luke 5:16, NLT

There is no substitute for prayer. There is no substitute for God’s healing power. Either you pray or you don’t. Either you carry God’s healing power or you don’t.

If you want to have Christ-like power, you must have a Christ-like prayer life. If you want to heal like Jesus healed, you must pray like Jesus prayed. To move like Christ moved, you must live like Christ lived. A prayer life is key to the healing ministry.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

Cleansed and Called

Before God will use you, He will cleanse you. Of course, one mustn’t be perfect before becoming useful in God’s hand. However, there is a standard God has set before us at the threshold of each promotion. The promotion upon your life is directly proportional to the purity within your life. As you allow God to cleanse you, you become more able to cooperate with His agenda for your life.

Isaiah the prophet experienced this cleansing before answering the call, “Who will go for us?”

While serving in the temple, Isaiah captured a glimpse of the Glory of the living God. Imagine that! He literally saw the train of God’s robe fill the temple. The Lord was accompanied by angelic hosts, and the voices of the angelic hosts shook the temple to its foundation. They cried, “Holy, holy, holy is Lord of Heaven’s Armies! The whole earth is filled with His glory!” Their vibrant worship literally shook the place. What powerful voices these angels must have had!

It was while witnessing this dramatic display of divine beauty that Isaiah was moved to anguish over his own humanity. In Isaiah chapter six, verse five, Isaiah exclaims of his filth: “…Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”

When you draw closer to the Lord, His holy light shines more intensely upon you, and when that revealing light falls upon your humanity, you too will be moved to anguish. Anguish over sin indicates that you are moving closer to the Lord. For when we truly glimpse His glory, we know, simply by comparison, the wretchedness of self.

But we must move beyond sin-consciousness. Sin must be confronted, and repentance must be worked whenever we find ourselves in the wrong. Just know this: your hatred of sin is not an indication that you’re drifting from God; it’s a sign that you’re moving toward God. In fact, the closer you get to the Lord, the more sensitive you become to sin in your life.

And God will cleanse you. That is the power of the presence of God – He cleanses you. He does not shine His glory upon you to shame you; He shines His glory upon you to cleanse you.

But until you allow the Lord to cleanse you, you cannot move deeper into the call He has placed upon your life. For every cleansing we undergo, we enable ourselves to become promoted.

6 Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: 7 And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged. 8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. – Isaiah 6:6-8

Oh, to be free of the shame and heaviness of sin! Allow the Lord to cleanse you today. Then, fix your focus on Him. Ask Him to cleanse you, repent, and then move forward into what the Lord has called you to do.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

Great Faithfulness

“If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is.” - 2 Timothy 2:13

I just want to give you a simple reminder this week: God is faithful.

You may be troubled by the thought that your mistakes may have cost you the call of God upon your life. And while our disobedience toward God can certainly slow His work in our lives, our disobedience does not mean God’s inactivity.

Even when you are stubborn, He is faithful. Even when you are fearful, He is faithful. Even when you are not keeping up with all of the things that you know you should be doing, He is faithful. God’s grace supplements our disobedience.

Should we abuse that grace? By no means!

This just means that when you think you’ve gone too far, when you think you’ve messed everything up, He remains faithful. No matter how far you’ve gone or how long it took you to get that far, a single moment of repentance can bring you all the way to righteousness.

Look to the future, and be empowered by God’s grace, which is brought about by His faithful nature. Be encouraged today!

You’ve not been counted out. You’ve not been overlooked. God still wants to use your life.

He is merciful – not because we deserve it, but because He is faithful, and He cannot deny Who He is.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

Partnering with God

Years before my first national television broadcast hit the airwaves, I was working hard on accomplishing the vision God had given to me. Though I had been given clear instructions from the Lord, the completion of my divinely-given tasks required natural, daily action. I didn’t just sit around and say, “Lord, you’ll bring it to pass!”

In an effort to try to raise the necessary support, I posted a public facebook appeal. The responses I received were mostly positive. But there was one negative response that, because of human nature, stood out to me. A pastor sent me a scathing message, rebuking me using words to the effect of, “David, you are doing this all wrong. If God wanted you to have the support for the ministry, you wouldn’t have to ask for it; it would just come. You’ve been taught wrong, and you’re a gimmick.”

Immediately after sending me that message, the pastor blocked me, so I was unable to respond.

Now, over the years, I’ve had my share of strange posts and messages – they range from questions, to rebukes, etc. For the most part, I have developed the ability of non-reaction to negative posts. After receiving at least one a day for the past 16 years of online ministry, I don’t even flinch.

But when I received that FB message from that pastor, I was angered, confused….

… and discouraged.

I approached the Lord and asked, “Lord, is this true? Am I wrong for trying to cooperate with your will? Is it wrong for me to ask for help?”

Over the next few years, the Lord would show me in scripture that many of God’s servants asked for help. So today I take no issue with rallying support for the gospel. And I’ve learned this:

There is a big difference between being called to do something and being motivated to do something. Motivation can accomplish much, but unless God breathes upon a work, it’s all in vain. You must be called to do something in order to have God in it. But, contrary to the common misconceptions, the call of God does not present an obstruction-free path. Being presumptuous is unwise, but doing nothing is also foolish. God desires to bless you and prosper you. But it’s not entirely on God.

“Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.” - 3 John 1:2

Whether you desire to prosper in business, ministry or other areas of your life, I believe that God wants to prosper you. But having God on your side does not mean that you do not have to work hard.

“The LORD shall open unto thee his good treasure, the heaven to give the rain unto thy land in his season, and to bless all the work of thine hand: and thou shalt lend unto many nations, and thou shalt not borrow.” - Deuteronomy 28:12

There was something I noticed in this scripture that I know I was not the first to notice. God will prosper the WORK of your hands, not your hands. From Genesis to Revelation, we see a beautiful working between God and man. God chooses to use men to accomplish His will in the earth.

“Poor is he who works with a negligent hand, but the hand of the diligent makes rich.” - Proverbs 10:4

God will not give automatic prosperity to those who just sit there and say, “Lord, here I am – prosper me.” God responds to faith, not inaction. We are to balance hard work with faith – and God will surely prosper that.

For example, I am in the healing ministry. But I don’t just sit around all day and expect people to give to my ministry. I am in constant prayer, searching for direction from the Lord. His hand guides me to do effective work (not just busy work) for the kingdom.

I have to know the right lessons to put out, the correct systems to run, the proper accounting to apply and so on. I work regular hours, Monday through Friday, on ministry endeavors. Event planning, video production, meetings, TV tapings, accounting, marketing, writing and even hours of Biblical studies (besides my personal devotion). There is so much to be done that I  had to bring several ministry employees on staff, and we still have to work hard to keep up with all there is to do.

To this hard work, I apply prayer. Without a clear direction, there is no sense in moving forward. Everything we do is rooted in prayer. And it is this blending of hard work and faith that have led to the dynamic we have in ministry today. And I believe that our faithfulness to the Lord is what causes our ministry to continue in growth.

“He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much.” - Luke 16:10

You must show faithfulness. And you have to give Him something to bless. You can’t expect God to bless your ministry if the only hard work you do is to keep yourself from hard work. There are no shortcuts in God’s kingdom. Quick works will quickly fail. God gives visions AND plans. The vision is the heart; the plan is the action.

Only God can send the wind, but you must raise the sail. Only God can send the fire, but you must build the altar. Only God can send the rain, but you need to put seed in the ground.

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.

Carry Your Cross

Yesterday, my aunt and uncle, who are missionaries to Romania, gathered with several of us family members at my grandmother’s house. We gathered to celebrate my Aunt’s birthday. It was a rare but very much enjoyed moment. Gatherings like that are, for us, few and far between. Our family is scattered seed, purposefully planted by the hand of God in various regions of the world.

Though my immediate family gathers quite consistently, we have, for the most part, settled with the reality that it may not always be that way. We are committed to going anywhere the Lord might lead for the sake of the gospel.

In fact, I remember saying good-bye to my grandparents when I was only 7 years old. After a wonderful season of them having lived with us, my grandparents, in an unexpected season of life, saw an opportunity to get the gospel into Russia. The night before they flew out of the country, my parents and my siblings spent time talking with them. I remember the entire family crying together. It was heartbreaking.

Yet, even then, we knew why it had to be done.

Now back in the States, my grandparents still pastor here in Southern California, as do my parents.

So we gathered on Sunday evening. I stood at my grandmother’s house until about 11pm, talking about politics, old family stories and the Lord’s agenda for the nations.

But that got me thinking about the price of ministry. We often hear of God’s blessings, and I believe in God’s blessings – the ones that make us smile.

But we’ve also been blessed with a cross. We have the honor of sacrificial response. (And I use “sacrificial” hesitantly, for the reality is that we end up being blessed anyway, so there really is no such thing as sacrifice for us – we always come up with more than we put in.)

We all have a cross to bear for the sake of the Kingdom.

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must turn from your selfish ways, take up your cross, and follow me.” - Matthew 16:24

Notice that Jesus says this to his disciples. He doesn’t say this to admirers, listeners or fans. He says it to those who are committed to doing what He does.

To be saved, you just need faith. However, to be a disciple, it takes the rest of what you have.

The cross is a place of death. When following Christ, when doing His work, there will be things in your life that have to die. But that’s where the real power is found – in the surrendered life.

We must graduate from elementary faith, and we must pick up the cross. Not everything will be easy. Christ never promised easy. If you want to be used of God, then you must die daily, surrender all and commit totally to His purposes. My encouragement to you today: pick up your cross!

ENJOY DAVID'S WEEKLY BLOG? CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP TO RECEIVE IT VIA EMAIL.