The Back of the Bus
The Back of the Bus
December 8, 2008
In January of this year, I was privileged to speak and minister at a mini-conference in Birmingham Alabama. As the mini-conference encompassed a Friday through Sunday schedule, I opted to fly home on Monday afternoon, that I might enjoy some extended fellowship with my host on Monday. This day happened to be Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday—January 21, 2008. My host motioned that we visit the Civil Rights Museum in downtown Birmingham on this day, that we might jointly honor the life of the man to whom this museum was dedicated.
I had fasted for 21 days leading up to the mini-conference. Having lost 20 pounds in the process, I was feeling very frail physically as we began our journey through the museum. I was also exhausted, physically, emotionally and mentally—it was a good kind of exhaustion however, following a very fruitful time at the ministry venues. Spiritually however, my senses were very acute, and very sensitive. For my spiritual antennae were in the fully extracted position—one of the many priceless fruits of fasting.
Maybe 25 minutes into our stroll through the museum together, I wandered off as the result of a peculiar tug in one direction. Within a few minutes, I happened upon a structure that drew me like a large magnet. In front of me was a precise replica of a section of the bus in which Rosa Parks, an African-American woman, had defied the dehumanizing segregationist laws at the time, by refusing to give up her seat to a White passenger that had just boarded the bus. The incident occurred on December 1, 1955, in Montgomery Alabama. Rosa’s act (which was not the first of its kind—there were a few forerunners before her) was not that rooted in personal angst, as much as it was rather rooted in a vision that far transcended her personal rights, her personal comfort, and her personal well being. The vision she harbored was that of being free—at last.
Would that we all maintained visions that far transcended our selfish orbits.
As I made my way onto the model of this bus, I felt deep emotion welling-up within me. I made my way to the back of the bus. No one was around at the time. I sat down on the backseat. I sat there in silence. I lingered there in silence for several minutes. I then prayed the following prayer: “Lord, I ask that you would enable me to feel today, just a taste of the sorrow and aguish that accompanied the African-American community during this period.” As I lingered in stillness, a wave of deep sorrow enveloped me. I began to weep.
As I sat there in the back of the bus trying to collect myself, I received a vision. For those unfamiliar, or worse yet, those uncomfortable with the revelatory gifts in action, I might safely call this a “daydream.” In the “daydream,” I saw myself sitting in a First Class seat on an airplane. As I sat in the first class seat, which was a great treat for me, I envisioned what it would be like to give up the seat, for an African-American woman who might be sitting in the very rear of the plane—the figurative “back of the bus.” In this “daydream,” I was able to feel what she felt as I honored her in this way.
The “daydream” was gone in an instant, as I was startled by an African-American family making their way onto the replica of the bus. They paused for a moment when they saw me in the back of the bus, as my face was covered with tears, and it took them a few seconds to process what they were seeing—a White man, sitting in the back of the bus, at the Civil Rights Museum, on Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, weeping.
I have long been aware that our secret acts of love, compassion, mercy and kindness will be richly rewarded in heaven. It moves the heart of God, when we carryout such deeds, in private, while refraining from posturing them before men, whereby we might receive the momentary and fleeing praise from the same. In so doing, we receive the extent of our reward—momentary praise. In this context, and to date, I have kept secret the story of what follows. I only share it now, as I believe it very important to establish relative credibility before I in turn share something of sobering significance later in this letter.
As I continued my tour through the remainder of the Civil Rights Museum, I experienced a series of flash-back’s of all of the precious African-American friends that the Lord has placed in my life over many years. In and through each of them, I have experienced a facet of God’s nature that I could not experience in and through another ethnicity. For He reveals Himself uniquely, through every ethnic root on the planet. And though my upbringing in greater Los Angeles made for a childhood wrought with suffering, I look back in retrospect, to the priceless experience of having lived in an ethnic melting pot. This personal melting pot experience was deepened further as I traveled to 17 countries while in the Navy, and traveled to a collective 45 U.S. states thereafter.
Some hours later, as I made my way into the airport in Birmingham, to fly to Chicago via a connector to my ultimate destination of farm-country Ohio, and after checking-in my luggage and passing security, I met with cause for alarm, as my stand-by flight was full. I had purchased stand-by tickets from my aunt, who is a retired airline stewardess.
Just when it seemed I was going to lose-out on this flight, the ticket agent said, “You’re in luck.”
I hadn’t recognized the implications of the seating assignment until I boarded the plane. I had been assigned a First Class seat. Elated at the prospect, I stood for a few minutes in the plane, while the other passengers made their way into their seats. Just as I nestled-into my seat, I recalled my “daydream,” experienced earlier in the day, while in the back of the bus at the Civil Rights Museum. Within a few seconds of what felt like an other-worldly dimension, I slowly leaned toward the center isle and turned my head toward the back of the plane, to see if there was an African-American women sitting in the very back. She was not there. As I returned my gaze forward, a few stragglers made their way onto the plane. It was then that I prayed, “Lord, if that vision was from You this morning, I am in need of an African-American woman right about now. She needs to be the last one on the plane.” About 5 seconds later, I heard the forward stewardess great someone laughingly as they hurried onto the plane—the cabin door swiftly locking behind her. As the final passenger rounded the isle, it was an African-American woman. She made her way to the back of the plane.
I was numb in the moments that followed, as I realized that what was now unfolding was the very substance of my “daydream” of this morning, at the museum. Just as the stewardesses were making final preparations for take-off, I worked up the courage to carryout the substance of my “daydream.” I made my way back to the woman, leaned over a White male that was sitting next to her, and said, “Would you like a First Class seat?” She responded, “Excuse me?” (with a very puzzled look on her face). I said again, “Would you like a First Class seat?” She said, “Why sure!” I then pulled her belongings from the overhead and followed her to the front of the plane. Once she was nestled-in, I loaded her belongings overhead, and leaned over yet another White male (a large cowboy, who was seated next to her this time as well), cupped both of her hands in mine, and I said, “I am giving this seat to you today, to honor your African-American heritage.” I then said, “Bless you, enjoy the flight.”
As I made my way to the back of the plane, I began to pray that this one simple sacrifice would speak volumes to this woman, and that it would effect or trigger a series of events that would equate to the healing of wounds inflicted upon her through a lifetime of discrimination. I knew that my simple act of kindness was but a drop in a sea of pain for this woman. I yet felt the figurative drop would be significant. It also dawned on me that every detail of this experience had been divinely crafted, as everyone on the plane saw what unfolded, as they were all fastened into their seats and ready for take-off. It was not my wish to parade this act before others. Nonetheless, the Holy Spirit Himself wanted all eyes to see what unfolded.
Shortly into the flight, the stewardess assigned to First Class seating made her way back to my row, and leaning over with a shocked look in her face said, “Sir, may I ask why you did that? (She was White). I said, “I did it to bless her, and to effect what is likely just a drop of healing within a sea of pain, yet a drop within my capacity to give, so I gave it. Did you know that today is Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday?” Ignoring my question, she went on to say, “I’ve never seen anything like this happen. We’ve never had to deal with an arrangement like this before. Do you realize what you’ve done? We’re going to have to charge her for that seat, and also charge you for the seat.” Within moments, the joy that had been running through my heart at the time was crushed with the chilling reality that this stewardess was not only angry with me, but was also intent upon seeing to it that I pay for 2 First Class seats, for my crime. I quickly recognized the spirit that was motivating her—a spirit that I have faced on thousands of occasions while seeking to extend unusual yet simple acts of kindness. It was obvious that this woman was motivated by evil at the moment—evil which originated in a spirit of racism. It was not until a few moments later that I explained that my aunt, who granted me the flight passes, was a retired stewardess within the very airline in which I was flying. It was obvious then, that seeking to thwart my crime of kindness would be a direct affront to an honored veteran stewardess. The issue was dropped, and the senior stewardess assigned to First Class quietly made her way back to her post. Not long following, the other 2 stewardesses who were covering the coach seating stealthily made their way back to me individually and discreetly, and whispered, “That was cool!,” both extending stealthy thumbs-up gestures.
I’m not sure if they thought the gift of the seat was cool, or if my upsetting the queen stewardess was cool. In either case, I felt “cool,” for the moment.
As I bounced along in my noisy seat, in the rear of the plane, and with my knees nearly in my face (I have long legs), I continued to pray for the woman in my First Class seat. I prayed that the Lord would speak something to her of His love and kindness.
As we touched down in Chicago where I faced a lengthy lay-over prior to my final trek to farm-country Ohio, I was the last one off the plane. It hadn’t dawned on me that the African-American woman would wait for me in the terminal. As I approached her she was both laughing and tearing-up. She went on to say, “That White boy said, ‘I ain’t never seen anything like that b’fore in all ma life.’“ We both had a good laugh, and I gave her a big hug and reminded her that there’s a great big God in heaven Who is looking for ways to show His kindness to her, all of the time. We then went our separate ways.
Ninety minutes later, I faced a scenario strangely similar to my departure from Birmingham of earlier in the day. My flight from Chicago to Ohio was packed, and I faced another nail-biter at the final moments. When the plane was about to batten the hatch, I was handed a ticket. It was not until I boarded the plane that I realized I was given yet another First Class ticket.
He who waters will himself be watered (Prov. 11:25, NASB).
On the flight back to farm-country Ohio, I thought back to the many times I had brought to the pulpit, a very thick book entitled, A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches of Martin Luther King, Jr. (edited by James Washington). On the several occasions in which I felt led to take this with me to the pulpit while speaking abroad, I have had a strong “premonition” (a safe word—for those of you unfamiliar with the revelatory gifts in action) that there would be a certain African-American person in my midst, who would receive my quotes from this book—straight into their heart. They would receive them with such intensity that they would experience an inward churning, and an affirmation that they too have a calling to crusade for something far greater than their current vision for their future. On more than one occasion, I have stepped down from the pulpit, and have handed this large volume to the very subject of my “premonition.” On at least two occasions that I recall, it was obvious that the collective dynamics of a White man handing this book to an Africa-American, with nothing said, were overwhelming, as the recipients knew inwardly that something profoundly prophetic had just transpired—much like the handing-off of a Kingdom baton for the purposes of running yet another leg of a vital race.
Martin Luther King, Jr. was a civil rights leader. But he was more than that; he was a prophet, through whom history was re-written in this great nation.
Yes, I’m aware of his personal failures. They didn’t disqualify him from fulfilling his calling any more than your personal failures have disqualified you from filling your calling.
At this point, I’m confident your curiosity is perked, as to why I would divulge all of the aforementioned with respect to my unusual experiences in speaking-into the African-American community. As mentioned at the onset of this letter, I’ve done so to establish some measure of relative credibility before I move into a very sobering series of declarations.
First, the bad news:
On our currency we read these words: “In God We Trust”. Equally so, within our national Pledge of Allegiance, we recite this phrase: “One nation under God.” When these references to God first appeared on our currency as well as within our Pledge of Allegiance, it was universally acknowledged and assumed that the God in which we trust, as well as the God under which our nation submits, is that of the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In recent history however, the word “god” has become quite generic, certainly so within this country (the U.S.). Politicians, movie stars, senior leaders within various church denominations and celebrities of all sorts, are now, with increased frequency, postulating their beliefs in “god.” However, the “god” in whom they refer is quite often a figment of their vain imaginations—a compilation of layers upon layers of secular humanistic influences, resulting in an image of “god” that is comprised of elements of Pee-Wee Herman, Oprah Winfrey, Dr. Phil, Boy George, Elvis Presley, Interplanetary Aliens, Queen Latifa, and “The Artist Formerly Known as ‘Prince.’ “
As of November 4, 2008, over half of the people in this country, whether knowingly or unknowingly, most unknowingly, have placed the “trust” of this nation in a “god” other than the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. For our newly emerging Commander in Chief is spiritually aligned with Allah (the God of Islam). For those of you who were yet unaware; Barack Obama is a Muslim.
Generally speaking, for me personally, a person’s Muslim faith is not cause for my alarm. To the contrary, I am met with excitement at the notion of praying them right into a knowledge of the truth—the Lordship of Jesus Christ. However, the implications of our Commander in Chief aligning himself with the god of Islam, holds grave implications.
Though this may alarm some of you, I knew about Obama’s faith long before his name became household—via a spiritual gift known as the Word of Knowledge. It is a little-known gift within mainstream Christianity, largely due to the sad reality that so many “pastors” spend their pulpit-time on Sunday mornings, posturing themselves like rock stars, spoon-feeding the saints their weekly ration of low-calorie, low-fat (no trans-fat), low-sodium and artificially sweetened portion of second hand revelation for the week (usually 40 minutes worth). As such, there is little room for equipping the saints by helping them to discover their spiritual gifts, to move into their respective ministries, and to be affirmed and launched accordingly. This is simply not the American way.
If within the last 3 months you have not been challenged by a leader within your circle of fellowship, to re-affirm the gifts at work in you, as well as the calling and vision for ministry within you, I challenge you to reconsider your circle of fellowship. For one of the primary goals of an authentic five-fold leadership team is that of raising-up, equipping, mentoring, affirming and releasing the saints to do the work of the ministry.
Self-absorption and vain imaginings have, like a wanton disease, consumed tens of thousands of church leaders in this country with increased momentum over the past 10 years especially. The immediate victims of this self-absorption are those who faithfully attend services from week-to-week, month-to-month, year-to-year, decade-to-decade, forking-over their tithes and offerings, in exchange for a flat butt and a compacted spine as the result of spending tens of thousands of hours in the sitting position, being preached-at. I find this model for ministry within the Church, nowhere in scripture.
Having read Fox’s Book of Martyrs, which graphically portrays the hideous torture of millions of Christians who willingly submitted to heinous torture and death, by refusing to submit to the rule of the Catholic church, that they might in turn pass the torch of their nobility to us; it pains me no end to see what we have done with this torch in this country. Fox’s Book of Martyr’s should be required reading of everyone being trained, groomed, mentored and destined for Church leadership.
As I reiterate that Barack Obama is a Muslim, I wish to share one part of a three-part vision that George Washington once received.
“A vision? George Washington?”
Yes, George Washington received not only a 3-part vision, but a 3-part prophetic vision.
During a brutal Winter (1777-1778) at Valley Forge, and that of a short time prior to one of the greatest military victories of our nation, George Washington, in a mixed state of exhaustion, despair, contrition and faith, retired to a make-shift office to spend time in prayer. As the prayer time ensued he received a 3-part vision; the 1st part (the Revolutionary War) was fulfilled in his lifetime. The second part (the Civil War) was fulfilled not long thereafter. The 3rd part, he knew, was that relative to events to occur deep into the future, centuries beyond his lifetime. The first published account of his vision was published in the National Tribune in December of 1880 (Vol. 4, No. 12). The account is authored by a Wesley Bradshaw.
In short, the 3rd part of George Washington’s vision was that of three enormous dark clouds rising-up from Asia, Africa and Europe respectively, to form one massive dark cloud which moved toward the United States. Once the massive dark cloud reached America’s shores, it dispatched a sea of armed combatants, releasing a military invasion. The military onslaught was devastating. When it appeared the nation would be slaughtered however, our armies received a divine impartation of renewed hope and resolve, following which we emerged victorious, but not without substantial casualties.
Washington did not go on to further define his impressions about this facet of his 3-part vision. I submit to you, that the dark cloud formed by smaller clouds rising up from Asia, Africa and Europe, was that of the spirit of Islam.
As the massive dark cloud of Islam slowly moves to within view of our nation, millions will fall prey to a false sense of peace and safety, all the while unaware that its clutches are slowly tightening around our national throat. During this stealthy attack, we will be well advised to heed the words of 1 Thessalonians 5:3, which read:
While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.
King Solomon, like George Washington, also “moved in the prophetic,” and had “a word in season,” when he stated in Proverbs 22:28: Do not remove the ancient boundary which your fathers have set. I submit to you, that the “boundaries” of “one nation under God” and “In God We Trust,” have been moved.
Exodus 20:3 (the first of the Ten Commandments) reads: You shall have no other gods before Me. Exodus 34:14 reads: Our God is a jealous God.
In light of our recent national majority decision to align the soul of this nation (albeit largely unknowingly) with the god of Islam (Allah), we have opened-wide the gates of major judgment upon our nation.
As much as I should rejoice over the momentous achievement of receiving our nation’s first African-American president into office, I am rather deeply saddened, not by any means because of his ethnicity, but rather by his alignment with Allah—the God of Islam. It is quite likely that Obama himself is wholly unaware of the nature, gravity and implications of his alignment with Allah, with respect to the figurative soul of this nation. And for those of you who doubt that a given President’s spiritual disposition affects the direction of a nation—think again.
The majority of Christians in this country who voted for Obama, and that with very few exceptions, are a sad bi-product of the Americanized Church. I coined this phrase 20 years ago, to define and describe a Church that is saturated by mainstream pop-psychology, and a Church that is grossly personality-driven. Such an environment breeds carnal Christians—Christians who do not know the Word of God; Christians who spend very little time if any in the presence of the Lord (by themselves) on a daily basis; Christians who not only do not have spiritual discernment, but who do not even know what the Gift of Discernment is; and, Christians who live their spiritual lives vicariously through their rock-star-pastors. They hang and hinge upon every spoken word from such pulpit-personalities from week-to-week, and rarely have any personal revelation of their own. They are spoon-fed the latest inspirational buzz, and typically leave a given public (“church”) meeting with one thing on their minds: “Where do we eat lunch?”
In answering my very own question, do grant me the liberty to play a little “hardball” with you for a few moments, as I quote a few rarely-heard excerpts of scripture:
Colossians 2:8 reads: Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ (NKJV).
Philosophy, empty deceit, traditions of men and basic principles of the world are ingredients found within the mainstream, Americanized Church—the “churches” which have produced the shallow spiritual foundations upon which millions of “Christians” voted for Obama.
2 Timothy 3:1,2,3,4,5,13 reads: In the last days perilous times will come: Men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power…evil men and imposters will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived(NASB).
All of the attributes listed above, presently make for a telling and sobering picture of a large cross-section of the Americanized Church—the fruit of which is that of millions deceiving, and being deceived (e.g., being “duped” on Election Day).
And lastly (I’m limiting myself to just 3 fast-balls to you—remember, this is “hardball”), Matthew 24:24 reads: False christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect(NASB).
I wish to publicly declare at this point, that we’ve just entered into such the time zone, wherein and whereby even the elect are being deceived (including the President-elect).
Before I transition from the bad news to the good news, allow me to throw-in a little “prophetic weirdness,” just to keep your interest and rekindle your humor.
In Acts 21:10-11 we read: As we were staying there for some days, a prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘In this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles’ “ (NASB).
Agabus was using a natural, symbolic acting-out, to prophesy what was to happen to Paul as he later went to Jerusalem.
In Isaiah 20:2-4, we read: [God talking to the prophet Isaiah] “Go, and remove the sackcloth from your body, and take your sandals off your feet.” And he did so, walking naked and barefoot. The Lord said, “Just as My servant Isaiah has walked naked and barefoot three years for a sign and a wonder against Egypt and Ethiopia, so shall the king of Assyria lead away the Egyptians as prisoners and the Ethiopians as captives, young and old, naked and barefoot, with the buttocks uncovered, to the shame of Egypt” (NASB).
Isaiah also used a natural, acting-out; to portray what was to become of the Egyptians and Ethiopians, at the hands of the Syrians.
The occurrences of prophetic figures within scripture acting-out prophetic messages through the use of their bodies, is spread throughout the pages of scripture. As well, quite often, events in the natural, with respect to natural disasters, are but a prelude for things to occur in the spiritual. In this light, consider 1 Corinthians 15:46, which reads: The spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual (NKJV).
With this prelude in mind, consider 3 events which happened in my household 1 day prior to the election (November 3rd), the day of the election (November 4th), and 1 day after the election (November 5th).
On November 3rd, one day prior to Election Day, I was victim to a “freak accident.” I was reaching for a large porcelain bowl at about eye-level, when, as I pulled it down from the cabinet shelf, the outer rim of the bowl smacked the edge of a lower shelf, and the bowl exploded into pieces. One such piece, a 5” long, sharp, triangular shaped sliver, plunged deep into my left wrist. In a fraction of a second, what flashed through my mind was that of applying a tourniquet and dialing 9-1-1, as it appeared clear that I had severed a major vein. Applying vice-like pressure with my right hand and running the laceration under cold water, I slowly lessened the pressure to find to my amazement that one end of the laceration, which went all the way down to my muscle, missed a major vein by just 1/16th of an inch. It also missed a tendon by 1/16th of an inch. As I doctored myself, I knew internally that this “freak accident” had something to do with the election.
On the evening of November 4th, Election Day, a tumor-like lump began to form on my left eye. I had never before experienced such a thing. And by the day after the election (November 5th), the tumor had become a mass of blood-shot veins, clouding the vision in my left eye.
Equally on the day after the election (November 5th), my wife awakened to a painfully swollen big toe on her left foot. It was so swollen and red that she had to hobble when she walked. She too had never experienced such a problem with her feet before. The swelling subsided almost as quickly as it had appeared, a day later.
Did you notice a common denominator in these three odd physical occurrences, which evolved around Election Day? They all had to do with the left part of the body. Allow me to explain the prophetic symbolism. Trust me and hang in there, as I’ll not linger in this “prophetic weirdness” for long.
The message in my left wrist being dangerously slashed (one of the most common methods of suicide), is that the political left (the liberal democratic party) has nearly committed national bi-partisan political suicide, by successfully buying and deceiving their way into the White House. They have nearly completely severed the blood-supply of moral, ethical and spiritual substance to the White House.
The message in my wife’s big toe on her left foot becoming so swollen and inflamed that she had to hobble to walk, is that the newly appointed liberal democratic regime (political left) hardly has a moral, ethical and spiritual foot to stand on. They will have a crippling effect on this nation, in ways that I will presently refrain from defining, so as to reduce your temptation to run out and buy a bottle of sleeping pills.
The message in my left eye incurring a tumor which skewed the vision in my left eye; is that the liberal democratic regime (political left) has collectively, terribly distorted vision for the future of this nation. They cannot see the forest, for the trees, as their temporal vision is grossly clouded by vain, secular humanistic pie-in-the-sky philosophy inspired by the LSD-laden professors who imparted such to them during their college years. Obama himself has confessed to maintaining a long-standing affinity for Marxist professors throughout his college years.
I will not belabor politics in general much further, except to say that President Bush is not responsible for our very present, very real and very serious recession (which, by the way, actually began in the Fall of ’07). Those responsible are the greed-laden moguls within the financial sector, who allowed greed to overshadow wisdom. It is that simple.
More often than not, issues which on the surface appear to be very complex, are, at their core, very simple.
Proverbs 28:5 reads: Those who seek the Lord understand all things (NASB). In practical terms, those who spend a portion of each day contending to hear His voice, will, in many ways. As the result, they will, very often, understand the nature of everything that unfolds around them.
To substantiate the prophetic implications of what my wife and I had the joy of acting-out around election time, I issue a sobering decree from God, found in Genesis 12:3, which reads: I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you (NKJV). In this verse, God is speaking to Abram, whose name was later changed to Abraham—which is synonymous at this point with the Nation of Israel.
Barack Obama’s newly appointed Chief of Staff has recently verbalized an alarming goal of dividing Jerusalem—splitting it in half, that the Palestinians may own what they believe to be their rightful share. “East Jerusalem” then, would become the “Palestinian Capital.” This split is not limited to Jerusalem proper. This intention is just the tip-of-the-tip-of-the-iceberg, as Obama himself is presently flirting with Syria, Hamas, Hezbollah (a creation of Iran dedicated to the extermination of the Jews and death to America), and Muqtada al-Sadr (the Shiite terrorist leader in Iraq). All of these factions share one goal—the annihilation of Israel and the symbolic castration of the United States (i.e., silencing the voice of authority).
Therefore, Barack Obama and his administration have already begun to toy with effecting a curse upon this nation that has the potential to bring about economic devastation to parallel the Great Depression.
In a moment, I will share some good news with you—some very good news. But before I do, I want to underscore all of the alarming tenets above, by sharing a sobering truth from the prophet Jeremiah: The heart is deceitful above all things; and desperately wicked; who can know it? (Jeremiah 17:9, NKJV). A heart that is not fully yielded to the Lordship of Christ Jesus is subject to the ebb and flow of influences from every form of darkness from one moment to the next. This, my friends, is why we, as the Body of Christ, must rally in intercession like never before, for the very soul of this nation, by praying for the inner transformation of our newly elected Commander in Chief.
I have not once placed trust or faith in an elected official, including the President. We are not to place our trust in mortal men, but in the God under which this nation has been aligned since its birth.
The prophet Jeremiah, just a few verses prior to the aforementioned verse, says, in verse 5: Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength (NASB). In like manner, the psalmist in Psalm 147:10 says: He [God] does not take pleasure in the legs of a man (NASB). The psalmist is figuratively speaking of man’s natural strength. Though I place no trust in an elected official, I am yet keenly aware of the impact of an official’s spiritual alignment. And I can place no trust in Allah.
As I transition into what I hope you consider good news, I issue summation of the motivation behind everything I’ve stated thus far, in the form of a brief excerpt from a speech by Patrick Henry, delivered on the floor of the Congressional House, in March 23, 1775:
“Should I keep back my opinions at such a time, through fear of giving offense, I should consider myself as guilty of treason towards my country, and of an act of disloyalty toward the Majesty of Heaven, which I revere above all earthly kings.”
Now, for the good news:
For as long as I have been in public ministry (almost 28 years at this point), I have listened to mainstream Christians glibly and flippantly quote (among countless other things) Romans 8:28, which reads: All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose (NKJV).
What those who glibly and flippantly fail to realize as they quote this verse; is that “those who are called according to His purpose” are also “called” to cultivate a lifestyle trademarked by prayer and fasting. When such a lifestyle is embraced, all things do in fact work together for good to those who are called according to His purpose, for His purposes become crystal clear as the result; for in so doing we are often granted priceless glimpses of the very mind of Christ (i.e., a Kingdomperspective). What then, in light of the dark clouds looming over our economy, should those who are “called according to His purpose” do in such a time as this?
Pray and fast, with a very specific prayer focus.
I wish to offer you a prayer focus, which, when prayed collectively by tens of millions of Believers in this country, will have a riveting effect upon Barack and Michelle Obama, to such the degree that I believe they may, within due season—bow the knee to the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob—the God of Redemption—and the God of Restoration. And as they do so, the subsequent impact of their yieldedness to the Lord Jesus will warrant what should have been initially, a cross-cultural, unanimous and resounding celebration of the historical significance of our nation receiving her first African-American president.
The prayer model that I offer, is that rooted in an obscure section of scripture, an excerpt of scripture to which I have alluded for 20 years or so, as I have taught on the nature and purpose of the Spiritual Gifts, the Revelatory Gifts, and what I like to refer to as “the language of heaven.” The excerpt of scripture in question is that of Job 33:14-16, which reads: Indeed God speaks once, or twice, yet no one notices it. In a dream, a vision of the night, when sound sleep falls on men, while they slumber in their beds, then He opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction (NASB).
In the event the relevance of the above excerpt is not clear enough, allow me to paraphrase this for you:
God tries to get the attention of a man repeatedly throughout the course of a given day. But because his mind is so preoccupied, He cannot get-through to him. God therefore waits until the man is vulnerable, in a deep sleep, deep in the night, and He then speaks to him, through dreams.
Countless pivotal personalities in scripture were spoken-to by God through dreams, throughout the Old and New Testaments. Interestingly enough, there is no place in scripture that tells us that He has ceased to speak to us in this way.
My assertion therefore, is that as millions of Believers begin to pray that God will speak to Barack and Michelle Obama through dreams, “deep in the night,” we can collectively pray the Obama’s right into the Kingdom of God, and re-direct the present course of this great nation through a new spiritual alignment therein.
Personally, I think the Obama’s would make awesome Christians. Don’t you? In the words of Captain Jean-Luc Picard (of the Starship Enterprise) therefore, let’s “make it so,” and “engage.”
Lest the reader doubt the gravity of God’s dealings with people “deep in the night,” allow me for a moment to share a few recent, mind-boggling occurrences in this regard.
For several years I have received word from friends visiting the Middle East, that many Arabs who recreate in the desert at night, around large campfires, have wandered off into the darkness to (“take care of business”), only to meet with a bright-white glowing figure walking toward them, introducing Himself as Jesus of Nazareth. Equally frequent, and that with increased frequency, Jesus has been revealing Himself so powerfully in dreams (“deep in the night”) within the Arab community in the Middle East, and in such a riveting fashion, that these Arabs fall on their faces, with faces as white as snow, perspiring profusely, and in tears exclaiming, “My Lord! And my God!”
Some dear friends of mine, who were professors at a large university in the Middle East for a number of years up until a few years ago, confirmed these encounters among the Arabs.
It is my belief that Jesus does not randomly choose the members of the Arab community in which He wishes to “freak-out,” perhaps out of His boredom with Kingdom Cable television, but He rather responds to specific prayers from Believers, praying specifically for an individual, that they would encounter a riveting appearance of the Lord Himself.
Prayer moves the heart of God.
Though I promised to no longer tarry in the realm of “prophetic weirdness,” do allow me just another moment in this regard. I wish to share a vision I had many years ago—a vision that I have discovered has also been shared by others I’ve met in recent years. Again however, for those unfamiliar with the revelatory gifts in action, or, those who would choose to discount that they even exist in this age, let’s safely call this a “daydream.”
The “daydream” was that of a sea of African-American gang members storming a large city. The skyline resembled that of Chicago. They were shoulder-to-shoulder, and had fierce determination in their eyes. It was clear that no one and no thing would stop them from their resolve. As I looked at their hands, expecting to see guns, knives, clubs, chains, etc, I rather saw bibles. This sea of gang members had been redeemed by the Blood of The Lamb, and were on their way to redeeming the entire city. The deep anger that had previously propelled them into illicit sex, drugs and violence, had been transformed into a driving force that no work of darkness could quench—not even death. For their soulish boldness had been transformed into a holy boldness.
A colleague in ministry recently shared of a similar “daydream,” wherein he saw the same sea of African-American brothers marching in cadence, with military might, and stomping their heals into the ground in such a way that the earth shook beneath their feet.
To reveal just how lofty my visionary tendencies can drift at times; I have recently pictured Barack Obama leading the way. That, my friends, is what the prayer-of-faith can accomplish, especially when prayed using scriptural realities as the basis. For Matthew 19:26 reads: With men this is impossible, but with God, all things are possible (NASB).
That is a scriptural reality.
Allow me to expand upon why I quote Matthew 19:26, with deep conviction.
I grew up fatherless, in poverty, and being beaten repeatedly by gangs, in greater Los Angeles. For the first 17 years of my life I faced daily the reality and reinforcement of the early indoctrination that my birth was an accident, that I was “white trash,” that I was lower than shoe-sludge, and that maggots were more valuable than I. I was, literally, a racial minority. Therefore, lest the reader have previously doubted the credibility and authority by which I speak of the plight of African-American gang members; understand that I know, more than most of the White populace in this country, the deep sadness, anger, rage and loneliness that propels young African-American boys into the violent world of gangs. It is therefore nothing less than the miraculous grace of God that I did not wind up in a maximum-security prison or a graveyard by the time I reached the age of 25. For I was so deeply permeated by an all-consuming anger, rooted in deep rejection, that my heart was as hard as the cedars of Lebanon. This anger propelled me into the world of mixed martial arts, long before the term became household as the result of the recent UFC (Ultimate Fighting Championship) phenomenon. During my participation within various branches of the sport, I released pent-up rage that is best described as volcanic. The poor souls on the other end of my rage thought I was possessed. I was—by anger. At this point in my life, I wince at the thought of harming a mouse. That, my friends, is authentic transformation of the inner man, which can only be carried out by the Lord Jesus Christ, as we place our lives in His capable hands.
It is therefore not only Matthew 19:26 to which I allude with deep conviction, as relates to the transformation of hearts and minds, but it is also that of Romans 4:17, which reads: God gives life to the dead, and calls into being that which does not exist (NASB). He visited me “deep in the night” (literally), and spoke life to a dead heart, by calling into being a heart of flesh, in the same way that Ezekiel promised a heart of flesh to the nation of Israel, in Ezekiel 36:26: I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh, and give you a heart of flesh (NASB).
I once had an encounter with the love of the Lord in the artic circle, on a ship, while in the Navy, “deep in the night,” that changed me forever. Since that day, I have believed that the greatest miracle we will ever witness in this lifetime is that of a hardened heart transformed into a vestibule of God’s love.
In 1981 I saw a man’s glass eye miraculously replaced by a new (functional) eye in a matter of seconds. In 1990 I saw a woman’s deformed leg grow 6 inches, while I prayed for her. Yet to date, these creative miracles pale in comparison to what I have seen and experienced of transformed hearts.
At this point, dear reader, I hope that your faith in the potential for changed hearts and minds within the Obama family has been rekindled, and that you will consider praying with the very prayer focus that I have offered.
As I near the closure of this letter (this means about as much as a preacher saying, “and now in closing”), I would be terribly nearsighted were I to fail to address the most exciting and wondrous dynamic emerging in our midst as the result of our current political and economic shaking. I began to address this shaking back in January of this year (’08), as I shared widely about what I felt would occur as we approached 08-08-08. For the number “8” is symbolic of “new beginnings.” Creation was completed in 7 days (inclusive of the day of rest), whereby the next day (the 8th day), is a figurative “new beginning.” To read my expansion on this topic, you may access an article entitled Vision of a Train Yard, found within my web address at the end of this letter. For the moment however, it will suffice to say that I believe a new beginning for the Church, began precisely on 08-08-08 of this year. For shortly following the 8th of August, 2008, the drying-up of a belabored stream within the Body of Christ in this country, made-way for the emergence of another. Although, the emerging “stream” I speak of, is more like an emergence of a cluster of diamonds, following a violent shaking of the earth.
In the context of my previous allusion to 1 Corinthians 15:46, whereby we can expect a pattern of natural events giving way to spiritual events (i.e., “first the natural, then the spiritual”); I offer to you that the political and economic shaking which began in this country, pointedly so in the Fall of ’07, and which shifted into higher gear in the Fall of ’08, is making way for the emergence of a beautiful “remnant” in our midst, known as the Bride of Christ.
It was in January that I also began to share widely that the Fall of ’08 would represent the marked acceleration of a severe shaking within the Body of Christ, especially that within this country (the U.S.). Thus far, the most pointed and notable shaking has been that within the Charismatic church—a facet of the Church which has evolved into being defined and exemplified by mega-ministry-empires which typically evolve around the fanfare of but one central rock-star-like personality (per mega-ministry campus). Loosely, this facet of the Church in this country, and which has been perpetuated or reproduced in other countries over the past 30 years, is that known as the Personality-Driven Church. Most generally, you will recognize many of these personalities as 40-something or 50-something men, who wear designer jeans, un-tucked silk shirts, ultra-contemporary (fashionable hair styles complete with gel), and $5,000.00 cordless headsets (microphones). If they are 60-something or even 70-something, they are typically wearing suits which appear to have been designed and tailored at Walt Disney World, and which sport rhinestones, glitter and studs. These personalities (which often include women, sporting the female version of the aforementioned garb), frequent tanning salons and high-end gyms (complete with personal trainers), and charge an average of $20,000.00 to speak at venues abroad. Following a typical mega-ministry-empire service, one can find a photo and name of such the personality adorning books, CD’s and DVD jackets in the bookstore adjacent to the foyer.
This ministry model, over the past 30 years, has pointedly perpetuated among many other dysfunctions, the notion that the Christian walk is “all about me” and my personal happiness. This terrible deception is often evidenced in the lives of carnal Christians who maintain undue fixations with bleached-white teeth, tanning salons, gaudy jewelry, $60,000.000 SUV’s purchased on credit (“in faith”), and private lives which are daily defiled by secret acts of compromise.
For this branch of the Church, which I have affectionately labeled the AmericanizedChurch; we can expect an escalation of a violent stripping of all that is not authentic. Figuratively speaking, God is grabbing these personalities by the ankles, holding them up in the air, and violently shaking them, so that their “pocket change” spews out and onto the floor, that His subjects might re-examine the hidden contents of their very own pockets. He is dealing severely and intensely, privately, with thousands of these leaders presently, granting them the grace to privately “come clean” with Him—before He rather opts to expose them publicly. I am not exempt from this shaking, for I have allowed facets of the same strongholds in my life over the years. Many of these personalities have knowingly or unknowingly left deeply saddening stains and blemishes on the Church at large, and have made this country laughable in the eyes of authentic Believers around the world—Believers in China or North Korea for example, who risk their lives daily to walk 10 miles (or more) to attend a secret underground meeting, and who cherish the remaining charred pages of a Bible that was previously thrown into a bonfire by a communist soldier pilfering their village. Some pastors have nothing more than a dozen or so pages of the remains of the only Bible they’ve ever owned—a Bible in which they risked their lives to obtain. Compare their paradigm to the paradigm in this country (the U.S.), and tell me that we as a nation have not fallen into gross perversion in representing the Church.
In keeping with my promise however, to end with “good news,” I allude to a verse that you will be hearing widely, and with increased frequency—starting now.
There has also come to be at the present time a remnant according to God’s gracious choice (Romans 11:5, NASB).
Suppose ye that Paul was fostering some decidedly linear vision when he penned that verse? I contend that he in fact had today in mind, and that as he was given a glimpse of the current state of the Church in America, he was wrought with the personal sin of envy as he saw church leaders sitting at Starbucks, sending letters instantaneously to leaders on the other end of the planet, via laptops equipped with cellular Internet cards, while also imbibing in hazelnut lattes. I do not judge him for his personal sin of envy however, as I review his job description at the time (give 1 Corinthians 4:9-13 a read when you have a moment, and compare Paul’s lifestyle with the next person you run into who has “Apostle” written on their business card).
What will this “remnant church” look like, you ask? I’ve had a glimpse of it (at an exclusive showing). The year 2009, which is bearing-down upon us as I type, holds a very significant number which corresponds to the present emergence of the Remnant Church. There are 9 Gifts of the Spirit and 9 Fruits of the Spirit. As the Spring of ’09 begins to unfold, for the first time for millions of Believers in the Body of Christ abroad, they will begin to witnesses the emergence of ministers who represent a divine marrying of the gifts of the Sprit, with the fruit of the Spirit. As such, we will begin to witness the appearance of humble, meek, selfless and seemingly nameless individuals who move with great anointing and authority, and who will seek only to glorify the Lamb of God, while dealing death to any temptation to promote their own ministries. 2009 therefore, will represent one of the most refreshing and anticipated chapters in Church history.
The world as we know it, certainly in this country (the U.S.) as well as the world abroad; will soon be falling apart at the seams politically and economically. Yet while the unsaved and carnal Christians scramble about, consumed in fear and anxiety, popping sleeping pills and anti-depressants like they were M&M’s; the Remnant will be emanating the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding—a peace which will emanate and permeate like a large campfire in the dead of Winter. For if you’ve never camped in snowy mountains in the Winter, it is difficult to describe the dual-dynamic of feeling the icy chill of snow at your back, while also feeling the bone-permeating warmth of a glowing campfire just a few feet from your legs. In the same manner, as the chilling reality of the collapsing of world economic order runs up the spines of those who’ve yet encountered the love of God, they will turn to face a Church that is beginning to shine like a light upon a hill—a light that will permeate their hearts and minds like a desperately needed campfire in a wintry wilderness.
Millions of non-Believers have been waiting for the authentic Church to emerge. They will not have to wait much longer. For they have seen the dog-n-pony shows on Christian television, and have not for one moment been duped by them; they have often walked in more collective discernment than countless “Christians” mayever know.
The Remnant Church will take-on the countenance of that described in Acts 2:42-47, an excerpt of which reads as follows: They were continually devoting themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone kept feeling a sense of awe; and many wonders and signs were taking place through the apostles. And all those who had believed were together and had all things in common; and they began selling their property and possessions and were sharing them with all, as anyone might have need. Day by day continuing with one mind in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they were taking their meals together with gladness and sincerity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord was adding to their number day by day those who were being saved (NASB).
It was in the 18th century that the Moravian renewal movement shook the planet with the fruits of a small Christian community situated in Herrnhut Germany, led for some time by Nikolaus Ludwig von Zinzendorf—a movement which embraced the tenets of Acts 2:42-47, proving that the very fruits experienced by the first apostles could also be experienced in our day.
To wet your appetite for what is emerging, I encourage you to consider obtaining a copy of a book entitled The Lord of the Ring, by Phil Anderson, a book which chronicles the evolution of the Bohemian Brethren, which later became known as the Moravian Brethren, and which today are known not only as various branches of Brethren denominations, but also as countless independent works the world-over.
It is as we collectively pray as the Body of Christ universal, that Barack and Michelle Obama experience riveting power-encounters with God as they sleep “deep in the night,” that we will avert what will otherwise appear as a very dark cloud in the secular history books as time unfolds. As the Remnant Church emerges like a light upon a hill, so the darkness within the hearts and minds of godless leaders will grow even darker by contrast. As this darkness looms in the distance and very slowly moves to within full-view, the Remnant Church must ardently contend in prayer and fasting for the redemption of the hearts and minds of those who comprise the Obama Administration. For failure to do so collectively, will result in a rapid re-emergence of a spiritual stronghold which consumed Eastern Europe like cancer, for the better part of the 20th century.
There are those within the readership of this letter who maintain a deep abiding hunger for the occasional pearls (little known, anointed books) found amidst heaps of rubbish (a substantial number of the books currently lining the shelves at Christian bookstore chains). One such pearl is that of a book entitled In God’s Underground, by Richard Wurmbrand. The book chronicles two very critical elements. The first element is that of the unspeakable evil which masquerades as Socialism. That unspeakable evil is poised and ready to envelope this nation, if we do not answer the call to fast and pray for the souls now leading this nation in the White House, and pointedly so via the prayer focus I have offered. The second element is that of the beautiful nobility by which the victims within “God’s Underground” stopped at nothing to see Him glorified in the darkest of times.
You, my friend, could very well be one of God’s Underground, within the RemnantChurch. If so, I challenge you to take your station as a watchman on the wall, and stop at nothing to inform the masses of what you see approaching, with the same intensity in which the watchmen of old scanned the horizon. For on the same horizon, you will soon witness the emergence of a Remnant Church in preparation for the finest wedding the mind is capable of imagining.
While traversing a goodly portion of our planet in the Navy, I would often steal away to the fantail of our ship (the “aft” portion of the ship—not unlike the back of the bus). My off-hours were few. While on the fantail, leaning against the life-lines, one could hear the sounds of a waterfall—the noise of the churning water as the result of the massive propellers (the ship’s “screws”) plowing forward. While gazing at the horizon, in what was very often a spectacular view, I began to experience the gentle tug of the Holy Spirit—calling me to acknowledge the Lordship of Jesus Christ. Whether or not we choose to acknowledge such, our spirits cry-out for regular periods of silence and stillness. As we learn to answer this cry, and we learn to still ourselves before the Lord, we become acquainted with His “still, small voice.” And as we lend an ear in this posture, during the darkest hour I have seen in my lifetime in this country, we will hear the words of King Solomon echo as follows:
He who listens to Me shall live securely, and shall be at ease from the dread of evil (Proverbs 1:33, NASB).
David Davenport
http://restorethehouse.injesus.com
*Permission is granted to duplicate post or redistribute this article, provided it is done so in its entirety.
The Back of the Bus
Copyright © 2008
David Davenport
*The following video-link was forwarded to me on January 8, 2009: