Returning to Intimacy

Tag: unity

  • Power Over Politics

    A Call To Wake Up!

    In these perilous times, many in the body of Christ are trading spiritual discernment for positions of power and political gain. The Church is called to be the pillar and ground of truth (1 Timothy 3:15), not a place where worldly agendas are masked in religious garments.

    But the Word warns us:

    “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires… they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”
    — 2 Timothy 4:3–4 (NKJV)

    Instead of contending for the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3), some have grown comfortable in lukewarmness, idolizing leaders, titles, and traditions more than Christ Himself. Political alliances and power plays have replaced repentance, holiness, and the urgency of the hour.

    But let this be a call to the remnant, those whose hearts still burn for the truth.

    “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”
    — 1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV)

    You cannot afford to be spiritually asleep. Jesus is coming, and He’s not returning for a politically correct church, but a pure and watchful Bride.

    “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.”
    — Matthew 24:42 (NKJV)

    🚨 What Should We Do?

    1. Return to Sound Doctrine
      Stand firm on the Word. Measure everything, not by popularity or politics, but by Scripture.
    2. Stay Spiritually Awake
      Refuse to be lulled by smooth talk and church politics. Let the Holy Spirit lead you into all truth (John 16:13).
    3. Guard Your Heart
      Power can corrupt. Keep your motives pure and your eyes on Jesus.
    4. Stand in Boldness
      Don’t bow to man-made systems. Be like the prophets of old who declared the truth no matter the cost.

    “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord…”
    — 1 Corinthians 15:58 (NKJV)

    🙏🏾 Prayer of Clarity and Courage

    Father,
    We repent for the times we’ve allowed pride, politics, or power to cloud our spiritual vision. Open our eyes again to Your truth. Cleanse Your house, Lord, and awaken Your people. Let every false agenda be exposed, and may Your remnant rise with holy boldness. Help us to be vigilant, standing on the wall, declaring Your soon return. We look not to man, but to You, our coming King.
    In Jesus’ name, amen.

  • The Fragrance of Love

    Love Well

    Loving Well Until the Day of Jesus Christ

    In a world that often feels cold and divided, it’s easy to become disheartened or offended by what we see around us. But as children of the Most High God, we are not called to react like the world, we are called to respond like Christ.

    “And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be sincere and without offense till the day of Christ.”
    — Philippians 1:9-10 (NKJV)

    God’s Word calls us to abound in love, not just to love, but to overflow in it. Why? Because love has a way of cutting through the chaos. Love clears our vision. Love helps us rise above offense and see people the way God sees them.

    “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”
    — 1 Peter 4:8 (NIV)

    When the enemy tries to use offense to distract or divide, we must remember: we are ambassadors of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:18-20). Our love may be the bridge someone needs to experience Jesus.

    So today, and every day until Christ returns:

    Choose forgiveness over frustration.

    Choose compassion over criticism.

    Choose purpose over pettiness.

    Choose love over offense.

    “Let all that you do be done in love.”
    — 1 Corinthians 16:14 (ESV)

    Let’s commit to loving well, not because it’s always easy, but because it’s who we are as His own. And when He returns, may He find our hearts still burning bright with love.

    Lord, help us to love as You love, fiercely, faithfully, and without condition, until the day You return. Amen.

  • OnlyJesus

    Jesus said, “Follow Me.”
    That wasn’t a suggestion, it was a call to reorient everything. And it changed my life.

    I wasn’t always bold. I didn’t always feel qualified. In fact, there was a time I was hiding, behind fear, behind pain, behind shame. But Jesus… Jesus came right into that place and called me by name. He didn’t ask me to be perfect. He didn’t ask me to fix myself. He just said, “Follow Me.”

    And I did. That simple yes led to the most beautiful undoing and becoming. My Pastor reminded me of these three key nuggets:

    1. Jesus Helps Ordinary People

    I’m proof of this. I’m not here because I figured life out. I’m here because Jesus met me as I was, ordinary, overwhelmed, unsure, and loved me anyway. His grace didn’t demand performance; it invited me to rest.

    “When they saw the courage of Peter and John… they were astonished and took note that these men had been with Jesus.”
    Acts 4:13

    Peter and John were fishermen. Rough around the edges. But being with Jesus made them bold. It still does.

    There’s something sacred about helping others find what we’ve found, grace that rewrites your story. Eulogy virtue isn’t about what we achieve. It’s about who we become. Jesus is still using ordinary people to do eternal work.

    1. Jesus Helps Us Become

    I used to strive to “get it right” before I believed I could belong. But Jesus flipped that.

    With Him, you belong before you believe, and you believe before you behave. That truth shattered my shame. The way Jesus loves is deeper than any sin that tried to stain me. I didn’t have to earn it. I just had to receive it.

    “In Him all things hold together.” Colossians 1:17

    Even me. Especially me.
    Being with Jesus changes you. His grace is greater than your guilt. His love digs deeper than your brokenness. He doesn’t shame you into holiness, He loves you into wholeness.

    1. Jesus Makes Us Passionate Followers

    Somewhere along the way, I stopped trying to just survive and started burning with purpose. The same Jesus who called me out of hiding, now sends me out to help others find Him. I’m not here to impress people, I’m here to point them to Jesus, the Preeminent One.

    “That in everything He might be preeminent.”
    Colossians 1:18

    He’s not just first in my day, He’s first in my desires, in my calling, in my voice. Jesus is not just someone I talk about, He is my life.

    So Today, I Reorient

    I reorient my thoughts, my steps, my heart, around Jesus. Not religion. Not rules. Just Jesus. He found me. He changed me. He sent me. And now I burn to help others come and follow Him too.

    Let me leave you with this:

    Only Jesus can take ordinary people and make them bold. Only Jesus can turn shame into strength. Only Jesus is worthy of your whole life.

  • Exposing The Deceiver

    Key Scripture:
    “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.” — 1 Peter 5:8

    Satan doesn’t always show up with fury and flames. Sometimes, he comes quietly, through distraction, compromise, or indifference. His goal? To steal your focus, kill your passion, and destroy your purpose.

    The Bible reveals four strategic ways the enemy tries to deceive God’s people:

    1. Indifference – The devil numbs our hunger for God, making spiritual things feel unnecessary or irrelevant. This is spiritual apathy, and it’s dangerous (1 John 5:19).
    2. Ignorance – Where God’s truth is lacking, deception runs wild. Satan loves to operate in darkness. That’s why staying rooted in the Word is vital (Hosea 4:6).
    3. Infiltration – The enemy slips in through small compromises: secret sins, anger left unchecked, or unguarded thoughts (Eph. 4:27; Prov. 6:27). He doesn’t need a big door, just a crack.
    4. Intervention through BUSYness – Satan keeps us Bound Under Satan’s Yoke by crowding our lives with debt, distractions, and an endless pursuit of “more.” It’s not always evil, sometimes it’s just everything else but God.

    But here’s the truth:
    Satan is not God’s equal. He is a defeated enemy, a created being on a divine leash. He is not omnipresent, omnipotent, or omniscient. He is not the opposite of God, at best, he’s the opposite of Michael the archangel.

    And YOU, dear child of God, are on Team Jesus. “Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world.” (1 John 4:4)

    Ask yourself this question: How can I stay vigilant and walk daily in the victory Jesus already won?

    Father,
    Thank You for giving me discernment and authority through Christ. Help me to remain sober and vigilant, not falling into the traps of indifference, ignorance, or distraction. Expose every lie and help me to walk in truth. Thank You that Satan is defeated and that the One in me is greater than the one in the world.
    I choose today to stand firm, as a warrior on Team Jesus. In Jesus’ name,
    Amen.

  • A Vessel or Vault?

    Living a Life of Generosity

    “What do you have?”
    This was the question posed by the prophet Elisha to a desperate widow in 2 Kings 4:2–7. Her answer, a small jar of oil, did not seem like much. But what followed was a miracle rooted not in how much she had, but in her willingness to pour out what she did have.

    This same question echoes to us today: What do you have? And are you willing to give it to the Lord?

    As Pastor Matt shared these truths, he reminded us that generosity isn’t just about money or things, it’s about identity. It’s not simply something we do; it’s who we are. Generosity is the outward expression of a heart surrendered to God.

    Scripture is clear:
    “Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the victory and the majesty… for all that is in the heavens and in the earth is yours.” – 1 Chronicles 29:11

    “You may say to yourself, ‘My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me,’ but remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth.” – Deuteronomy 8:17-18

    “The silver is mine and the gold is mine, declares the Lord Almighty.” – Haggai 2:8

    God owns it all, yet He chooses to work through us. The question is, how are we stewarding what He’s placed in our hands?

    We can live life as a vault, locked up, storing for ourselves, hoarding our time, talent, and treasure. Or we can live as a vessel, open, yielded, and ready to pour.

    Elisha didn’t ask the widow to store the oil. He told her to pour it. And as long as she poured, the oil kept flowing. That’s the kingdom principle: the key to ongoing provision is pouring, not preserving.

    Are you a storer or a pourer?

    Jesus said, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:21) If our heart is truly set on the kingdom, generosity becomes our natural response. We’re not called to keep the oil, but to spread it, across generations, across communities, across nations.

    We are agents of hope and transformation. When we live with open hands and surrendered hearts, God uses us to fill empty jars all around us, broken people, hurting families, weary souls.

    So ask yourself today:
    Am I living as a vessel or a vault? Am I storing or pouring?

    May our answer be: “Lord, all I have is Yours. Use me as a vessel, let the oil flow.”

  • Breaking The Barriers

    A Journey from Prejudice to Love”

    The message from Pastor Mike on Sunday out of the Book of Acts, inspired me to be transparent about another moment on this journey, one the Holy Spirit walked me through with grace, conviction, and love. It came from Acts 10:28.

    There was a time when I believed I was doing just fine spiritually. I was in the church, faithfully serving, loving God, and trying my best to walk upright. But sometimes, it takes one unexpected moment for the Holy Spirit to reveal what’s still hidden deep in the heart.

    That moment came when my eldest son, still a senior in high school at the time, brought home the young lady he was dating. I wasn’t ready. She was white, and my heart instantly recoiled. I masked it with politeness, but inside, I was filled with fear, discomfort, and silent judgment. I didn’t want him dating someone from another race, not because I hated her, but because I feared for him. I feared what her family might think, what society might do, how the world might treat a young Black man in love with someone outside his race.

    But I can’t call it anything less than what it was: prejudice. And though I loved God, I wasn’t loving like God. She felt my distance, and I felt the weight of conviction. That encounter unsettled me for days. The Lord began peeling back the layers of my heart and showing me that what I thought was protection was actually a wall I had built, a wall He never asked me to put up.

    The Lord was confronting me gently, just as He confronted Peter in Acts 10. Peter, a devout man of God, was still holding onto cultural divisions until God gave him a vision that broke down his pride. When Peter said, “God has shown me that I should not call anyone impure or unclean,” he was admitting that even a godly man can have blind spots. So could I.

    A few days later, I agreed to go with my son to dinner at her family’s home. I walked in, guarded, still unsure of what to expect. But what I experienced brought tears to my soul. Her parents welcomed me, not with shallow tolerance but with genuine kindness. They loved my son, truly loved him, and I saw it in their eyes and actions. It stunned me. And it humbled me.

    In that moment, I realized they had shown more love and acceptance toward my son than I had shown their daughter. The Holy Spirit gripped my heart. That was the turning point. It was the start of God dismantling old fears and outdated beliefs and replacing them with His divine perspective.

    I want to pause here and say this from my heart: I grew up in a traditional Black church surrounded by devoted pastors, powerful worship, and rich teaching that grounded me in the Word of God. That environment shaped me, trained me, and helped develop the foundation I stand on today. I carry deep respect for the people and the place that first taught me to love Jesus. So when the Lord later planted me in a multicultural church, it wasn’t because something was wrong with where I had been, it was because He was expanding my heart and my reach. He wasn’t erasing my roots; He was building on them.

    Later, as I worshiped among believers from different backgrounds, I saw the body of Christ the way it was meant to be, diverse, unified, worshiping in one Spirit. And my heart began to heal. Not just from prejudice, but from fear. From pride. From the lie that God’s love is bound by human preference.

    Pastor Mike reminded us that we are called to long for Jesus more than we long for comfort. That’s what it took for me to grow. It took humility. The kind that admits, “I was wrong.” The kind that says, “Lord, search me and know me,” even when it hurts. The kind that breaks barriers and builds bridges.

    When I look at Acts 2 and see believers from every nation gathered, I realize how intentional God is. He speaks every language. He sees every heart. He knows how to reach each one of us, right where we are, because His love doesn’t have a color, just a name: Jesus.

    The church in Acts wasn’t built in a bubble. It was forged in the fire of persecution and spread across cultures through people who were willing to grow. That’s how the church in Antioch was born, a church so united that people couldn’t label it by race or class. They just called them “Christians.”

    And isn’t that what we want to be known as?

    Heaven is going to sound like a choir, every tribe, every tongue, every people and nation. And if we’re going to live in that harmony for eternity, we need to start practicing it now.

    God is still breaking down walls. Not just in systems and institutions, but in hearts. He broke one in mine. And because of that, I can say today: I’m free to love. I’m free to embrace. I’m free to be a reflection of the Kingdom.

    Prayer:

    Father, thank You for loving me even when I couldn’t see clearly. Thank You for showing me that Your heart beats for all people, not just the ones I’m comfortable with. Forgive me for the times I let fear speak louder than love. I don’t want to live with hidden walls in my spirit. Teach me humility. Show me how to listen, how to grow, and how to walk in the unity You died to give us. Let my life reflect Your heavenly choir, right here on earth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

  • What Church Are You?

    Revelation 3:14 – The Church of Laodicea

    Last night at Evening Prayer, we looked into the sobering words of Jesus to the church of Laodicea in Revelation 3:14-22. This is a message to a church in the last days, our time. And it’s a message we can’t afford to ignore.

    Jesus says, “I know your works…” (v15). That was the first point Pastor Byron made. God sees everything we do, not just what’s on the outside, but the true condition of our hearts. He said this church was neither hot nor cold, but lukewarm, and because of that, He was ready to spit them out of His mouth. That’s strong language, but it shows us how serious this is. Lukewarm means complacent, self-satisfied, religious but not surrendered.

    Pastor Byron compared this to the story of The Emperor’s New Clothes. You remember the story, the emperor thought he was wearing beautiful garments, but he was actually naked. He was blind to his true condition, and everyone around him just played along. That’s what the Laodicean church was like. They said, “I am rich, I have prospered, I need nothing,” but Jesus said, “You are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked.” They were unaware of their spiritual poverty, and that’s the second key point. We must know the true condition of our souls.

    Then Jesus tells them, and us, what to do: “Buy from Me gold refined by fire.” (v.18) At first, I wasn’t sure what this meant, but then we were directed to Isaiah 55:1, where it says:
    “Come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.”

    That scripture helps us understand, Jesus is not talking about literal gold. He’s inviting us to come to Him with empty hands, to receive pure faith, tested character, and true riches of the Spirit that cannot be bought with money. This gold, refined by fire, represents a faith that has gone through the fire and comes out pure. It’s the kind of life that pleases God.

    And then Jesus ends with a promise: “To the one who overcomes…” (v21). That’s our goal, to overcome lukewarmness, compromise, and spiritual blindness. And we do that by being filled with the Holy Spirit. Not just once, but continually seeking Him, checking the condition of our hearts, and living a life surrendered to Jesus.

    So I ask myself, and I ask you: What can I do so I’m not lukewarm?

    I must ask for the infilling of the Holy Spirit daily. I must let God refine me by fire, burning away everything that’s not like Him. I must stay honest about my spiritual condition, and not pretend I’m “okay” when I’m not.

    This is not about perfection, it’s about hunger, honesty, and obedience.

    Let us not be like the emperor, walking around naked but thinking we’re clothed. Let’s ask the Lord to clothe us in white garments, open our eyes with His eye salve, and fill us with fire from above. Let us be hot for God, and never lukewarm.

  • Bold Request Kingdom Purpose

    The times we live in are marked by uncertainty, confusion, and spiritual distraction. Yet in the midst of it all, God calls His people to rise with clarity, confidence, and boldness, not in our strength, but in the assurance that when we align with His will, heaven responds.

    We’re not left to guess God’s will. It’s clear in His Word: souls saved, truth proclaimed, the Church purified, the Bride made ready. Our prayers are not meant to be timid wishes but bold declarations of what God already desires.

    When we pray, “Your kingdom come, Your will be done,” we are inviting Heaven’s agenda to invade the earth through our faith and obedience. We are also surrendering our own ideas and timelines to the perfect strategy of our King.

    Now is the time to ask boldly, for revival, for workers in the harvest, for clarity of purpose, and for hearts to be turned back to the Father.

    Prayer
    Heavenly Father,
    Thank You that we, as Your children, can approach You with boldness and confidence. Today, we come together in agreement, aligning our hearts with Your will. Let Your kingdom come and Your will be done in us, among us, and through us.

    Strengthen us as one Body to stand firm in faith and united in purpose. Give us clarity of vision and courage to walk in obedience. Stir Your Church to awaken, pray, and speak truth in love. Fill us with compassion for those still wandering, and grant us opportunities to share Your Gospel with power and humility.

    Use our voices, our gifts, and our testimonies to shine the light of Christ in this dark world. Let hearts be drawn to You before Your return. And may we, together, be faithful in carrying the message of salvation to every soul You place in our path.

    We pray this in the name of Jesus, our Savior and King.
    Amen.

  • Jesus Lives!

    Risen King Jesus, we exalt You! You are the Lamb who was slain, yet You live forevermore, crowned with glory and honor. You willingly bore the cross, despised its shame, and conquered death with unmatched power.
    You are the Holy One, the spotless sacrifice, our Great High Priest, and our Eternal Intercessor.

    Worthy are You, Lord, to receive all worship, for in You mercy and truth have met, righteousness and peace have kissed.
    We adore You for tearing the veil and opening the way for us to dwell with the Father, not as strangers, but as beloved children.

    O Lord, renew a right spirit within us. Let us never forget the weight of the cross and the depth of Your love.

    Thank You that the veil was torn from top to bottom, not by man, but by God Himself, declaring that we are welcome in Your presence forever. Thank You for direct access to the Father, for the gift of intimacy, for the power of resurrection life that now dwells in us.
    We praise You for Your finished work, and we rest in it with grateful hearts.

    Let the reality of the torn veil awaken fresh fire within us to seek Your face, know Your voice, and carry Your glory to a hurting world.
    We ask that the power of the resurrection rise in every dry and weary place within us. Use our lives as living testimonies of the victory You won our Risen King, our Coming Bridegroom, our Savior forever.

    In Your glorious name, Jesus — Amen.

  • When Sunday Comes!

    The Silence and the Victory in the Shadows

    Scripture:
    1 Peter 3:18-19 (NIV)
    “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, to bring you to God. He was put to death in the body but made alive in the Spirit. After being made alive, He went and made proclamation to the imprisoned spirits…”

    Revelation 1:18 (NKJV)
    “I am He who lives, and was dead, and behold, I am alive forevermore. Amen. And I have the keys of Hades and of Death.”

    Holy Saturday, the space between the crucifixion and the resurrection, is marked by silence. The tomb is sealed. The sky is still. To the natural eye, hope seems lost. But in the Spirit, Jesus was not inactive, He was victorious!

    The Bible gives us glimpses of a divine mystery: Jesus descended into the lower parts of the earth (Ephesians 4:9), proclaimed His victory to the imprisoned spirits (1 Peter 3:19), and triumphed over every force of darkness. He took back the keys of Death and Hades, not as a victim, but as a victorious King.

    Though the world was silent, the realm of the Spirit shook with holy power. Hell was plundered. Captivity was led captive. Jesus was claiming authority over sin, death, and the grave. Hallelujah!🙌🏿🙌🏿🙌🏿

    Holy Saturday reminds us: even when Heaven seems quiet, God is still working. Silence doesn’t mean absence, it can be the sound of victory being secured in secret.

    Prayer:
    Jesus, when we face silent seasons, help us remember that You are never idle. Thank You for descending into the depths to rescue, redeem, and restore. Thank You for holding the keys of death and the grave. We wait in faith, knowing Sunday is coming. In Jesus name! Amen.

    Today, reflect on the “in-between” moments in your own life, times when it felt like nothing was happening. Ask God to show you how He was working in the silence. Write down one area where you need to trust Him even when you can’t see movement.