Susan and I are back from a week in Lansing, Michigan, where we were at Dave William's Church Leadership School. We thank God so much for allowing us to be a part of this event. I have to say, it was life changing for me. Having struggled in ministry for years, I always new there would be times of challenge and heartache, but I never felt myself waining before. I was struggling this time and couldn't pick myself up. My faith was weakened and I wasn't recovering. I needed more than I had in me, and I knew it. God knew it also — and God provided what I needed.
It all started when Susan asked me something about why people always want to be so controlling in church. In trying to answer her question I remembered a book by Dave Williams entitled The Jezebel Spirit. I pulled it from the shelf and showed Susan what Pastor Dave had said about controlling spirits. As I went back to my study to put the book back on the shelf, I decided just to lay it on my desk and read it again. The Lord really showed me some powerful things through that book. We are now currently using it in church to deliver our entire church from the influence of this evil spirit.
Just a few days after reading The Jezebel Spirit, I received a conference brochure from Dave Williams Ministries advertising an upcoming Leadership School at Mount Hope in Lansing. I hadn't even opened it when the voice of the Spirit was saying, "Go to this." The feeling was very compelling and I talked to Sonny about it. In lieu of a vacation Susan and I would instead attend this conference. Which we did and it became obvious the Lord had sent us.
I could never share everything I experienced, nor could I do justice in expressing the anointing that was on these meetings. One word I used was stunned. The Lord really opened my eyes to so much of my calling that I never realized before. I realized that I'm not only in the right place and the right time, I am the right man for the job. God has equipped me for this job. I'm beginning to realize I DO have what it takes, and I will win the victory. God has made me unstoppable.
Another thing I have experienced is, I know where to go when things get me down. Through Dave Williams ministry I have found an endless amount of resources to build me up and strengthen me in my faith. I feel protected, I feel comforted, and I also feel I am no longer alone. Dave Williams has expressed through his books that he knows exactly what I am going through. This makes me understand the things he teaches are authoritative, because not only has he fought the same fights, he has won the victory over them. In other words, he knows what he is talking about.
Each day of the conference healed our wounds and rebuilt our faith. I literally could feel myself getting stronger as the daily speakers ministered into my life. It got to the point that my returning strength began to turn to joy as confidence begin to arise in me. Susan and I spent a lot of time giving each other the stare.
I've been saying to my church that the greatest thing I received from the conference was confirmation. I'm just not as wrong as I thought I was. God has deepened my confidence in hearing his voice. Immediately I knew I had to regain my private time with God. A place of prayer became a necessity in my life. As I watched Dave's prayer life, his humility, and the respect and love that surrounded him, I realized his strength came from the secret place. Not many ministers actually have this, but bishop Dave does. You can see it.
God imparted this understanding to me and also told me, "You, Brian, are a man like him. I will greatly increase you over the next few years as you seek me." He also instructed me to raise up intercessors for myself and for the church. Actually I had this on my heart and was moving towards it already, but I needed confirmation.
I have never considered impartation as an actual event in my life, because I've seen such weirdness surrounding it. However, I must not deny that the Bible teaches the reality of it. For one, the Apostle John felt a letter was never as good as actually being in the presence of those he was ministering to. I found this true about listening to Dave Williams podcasts and reading his books. Sitting under him and feeling the anointing in the air imparted so much more to me than I could believe. I'm not building up the man, it's just that God has proven his ministry over the years and the results speak for themselves. If I were to model someone's ministry, I would have no problem in modeling what his ministry represents — the quality, the size, and the impact.
Coming home was like coming to a new place, the excitement and the expectation had all returned. Also the dimming vision has begun to grow brighter again. It was almost as if the congregation was hoping and praying for my recovery. They seem filled with joy over the things God has shown me. God has been speaking about a new level of ministry for me for some time. I just did not know the pathway into it. I do now. ISOM was not my final step up, it was the gateway to a whole new level of ministry. My ordination is a doorway to more than I can imagine.
Another thing I learned from the conference was what Dave Williams called strategic alliances. Building relationships that lift you up and bring you into greater works. I now know that one of those alliances in my life reaches outside of this state. I thank God Dave's ministry is close. Susan and I will probably continue to take part in events at Mount Hope. We hope in the future to bring others from the church and let them dip in the cleansing flow. I also intend to begin to bring some of this ministry into the sanctuary of Calvary. Union City needs to experience ministry on this level. Our people need a refreshing in the Spirit. It was not only wisdom for me to go, but it would be great wisdom to bring this to our church. It's not only a new level in my life, but a new level of ministry for our church and community. Great things are coming our way.
We have shut the door on the old ways and opened a door to the new way God has shown us. We've been asking, knocking and seeking. Now God is revealing. What new and glorious things he is showing us!
Saint, sometimes the way is hard. Everyone get discouraged. However, God sees us. He knows what we need. No matter where we are or what we are going through, the Lord knows how to lift us up and put our feet back on solid ground.
Prayer began in the tower the Sunday I returned from Conference. I have been there every morning at 6:00 A. M. since. Other things have had to find another place in my schedule. I have polluted my prayer time for too long with planning and study. I thank God that our prayer tower is dedicated only to prayer before God. It has cleansed me from the things of ministry creeping into my private prayer time before the Lord. Two hours a day have seemed short as I bask in this new impartation from the Lord.
I'm not sure what Dave imparted to me when he laid hands on me. It was obvious that he knew. However, I am beginning to believe it is the anointing of prayer that is so evident in his life.
“I long to see you so that I may impart to you
some spiritual gift to make you strong — that is,
that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.”
Romans 1:11, 12
“Do not neglect your gift, which was given you
through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.”
1 Timothy 4:14
Sorry for missing last week's blog and being so late on this one, but I took a break from pouring out and did some drinking in for a change. Monday I'll get all the resources on our site caught up and then we'll dive into Vacation Bible School.