Raven Gulf Coast

GOD’S HOUSE TURNED INTO A DEN OF THIEVES

2010-06-11T09:59:00.000-05:00

Jesus went up to Jerusalem at Passover and entered the temple (John 2:13-17). What he saw appalled him. Merchants had taken over the house of God! He came seeking a house of prayer and what he found was a preoccupation with the promotion, display, and sale of religious merchandise. The religious leaders were counting their profits. What busyness! Men of God had become hucksters of religious merchandise, running about promoting their goods.

Tables had been set up everywhere in God's house to promote and sell sheep, oxen, doves, candies, incense, and other merchandise for religious purposes. Money changing hands made the loudest noise in the house—money that was being made on God and religion.

What terrible pain caused our Lord’s compassionate heart to boil with holy anger? His great suffering caused his meek spirit to rage with righteous indignation.

Can you picture that moment? With whip in hand, our Lord stormed into the temple and began flailing in all directions, overturning the tables piled high with merchandise. He scattered the promoters, the pitchmen, the hucksters.

"Out!" he thundered, "Out of my Father's house! You have desecrated this holy place, turning the house of prayer into a commercial market!"

It was one of the most painful experiences in all his ministry but he could not stand by and permit his Father's house to become a den for religious thieves.

Are we willing to fellowship with Christ in this aspect of his sufferings today? Do we share his hurt at seeing God's house once again being turned over to merchandisers? Will we be outraged by the horrible commercialism of the gospel? Will we feel his rage against spiritual hucksterism enough to withdraw from all such activities? Do we feel his hurt enough to renounce ministries that grind out merchandise just for the sake of making money?

Can we share his suffering at this point enough to stand against those who would turn God's house into a theater or entertainment center for promoters? Can we grieve over all the profiteering on the name of Jesus? Can we get our eyes off the cash and back on the cross?

by David Wilkerson

RAVEN GULF COAST MARDI GRAS 2010 J.wmv

2010-03-03T21:13:00.001-06:00

JESUS IS LORD OF THIS CITY NEW ORLEANS,LA

Mardi Gras Outreach 2010

2010-02-23T09:50:00.001-06:00

2010 Mardi Gras Misson from Nate Pfeil on Vimeo.

2009 Mardi Gras Mission

2010-01-23T10:04:00.001-06:00

Mardi Gras

2010-01-23T00:29:00.001-06:00

2009 Mardi Gras Mission

2010-01-06T07:46:00.001-06:00

GO!

The Current Economic Situation by David Wilkerson

2009-12-20T14:36:00.001-06:00

Louis Armstrong - Go Down Moses

2009-12-07T22:33:00.001-06:00

LET MY PEOPLE GO!

WAKE UP CHURCH!!!!

2009-10-19T08:15:00.001-05:00

What Are We Doing Here

2009-10-05T21:08:00.001-05:00

No Cross No Crown Miistries Wisdom Of The Day. Those Who Faithfully Bear The Cross In This Life,Will Were The Crown In The Life To Come!

What if YOU could help put 400 Warriors for Christ on the Mission Field?

2009-09-24T16:28:00.001-05:00

Dear Friends,

When we trust in Jesus and work together, we can do more than we could ever imagine! That is what we have found in nearly 20 years of taking the love of Christ and the message of the Cross to hurting people across this nation and beyond.

It was 2003 when our ministry changed, and our lives along with it! Having served a local church for nearly 14 years the Lord challenged us to move into a whole new dimension of faith. He began to show us that what had been im-possible through our best and most sincere efforts could now become Him-possible if we would only obey. So, we decided to obey, and we have seen God do some amazing things, and change thousands of lives ever since! The Jeans for Jesus Project is one of those “acts of obedience” that we believe is another means to impact many people for His Kingdom.

Our teams have taken emergency relief into areas decimated by natural disasters. We have impacted housing projects and have had Police officers say to us, “Thank you for coming to this area. You cannot know how big of an impact you have made.” Children, the elderly, and those living on the streets have also been greatly touched by the work of the ministry as the Body of Christ has banded together to help those in need. The Jeans for Jesus Project is another way to do even more!

HOW THE JEANS FOR JESUS PROJECT WORKS – from OUR end
We collect donated jeans from churches, civic groups, Sunday school classes, sports teams, schools, and even individuals, with a love offering in the pocket of each pair collected.

These jeans and offering then become a resource to minister to thousands of people through food, clothes, and the ministering of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Our Conviction is that there are many people who are in desperate need—both physically and spiritually.

Our Passion is to touch those lives by whatever means necessary to show them that there is still hope.

Our Commitment is to “Do as much as we can with as much as we have” and as God brings the increase we will go further in reaching out to those who are the most desperate.

Our Vision is to use this as a resource to spread the message of Jesus.

HOW THE JEANS FOR JESUS PROJECT WORKS – from YOUR end

Coordinate and Promote a Jeans for Jesus Campaign within your Church, Youth or Senior Ministry or other organization - you can contact us for ideas on how to have the most success!

Recommend Jeans for Jesus to others you may know - together is how we make the biggest difference!

Become a Monthly Financial Supporter of the Ministry - when you “give” it allows us to keep “going” to the most needy!

Volunteer for one of our outreach teams - You will see for yourself what your investment is doing and you’ll see your life changed too!

Pray for us - that is what strengthens us, and carries us through the difficult times!

THIS TERM’S PROJECT WILL HAVE FOUR PRIMARY TARGET AREAS:
Jeans for the Homeless -- These are literally life-savers for many people living on the streets. We will be distributing jeans as well as other winter clothing in these primary areas:

“The Tenderloin” - San Francisco, CA
“Skid Row” - Los Angeles, CA
Housing Projects - Raleigh/Durham, NC
Housing Projects - New Orleans, LA
“Kennsington” - Philadelphia, PA
Kingston, Jamaica

Revolution Youth Training -- We are seeing a REVIVAL amongst the youth and college-aged across the country. We are now hosting special Youth Leadership Training Events designed to equip a new generation to take the Gospel into their campuses.

Mardi Gras Outreach 2010 -- Our annual outreach to the City of New Orleans has been blessed to see thousands of people come to the Lord Jesus over the years. We are expecting to put over 400 Urban Missionaries on the streets this coming February. This alone comes with a cost of nearly $25,000 - which is a small price to pay to see many come to Christ.

Raven Jamaica -- We are taking a street ministry team into Kingston in the Spring of 2010.

Remember, your help could have an EVERLASTING impact!

Many Blessings –
Pastor Troy D. Bohn
Founder and International Director
P.O. Box 1897
Daytona Beach, Florida 32115

Contact - PastorTroy@BigGrace.com

website(s) www.BigGrace.com (or)
www.ravenOutreach.Blogspot.com

NEW RAVEN GEAR!

2009-09-24T14:03:00.001-05:00

Orders are now being taken for the latest in RAVEN Gear!
The first to "fly" out...

The RAVEN Pendant

7/8" x 1-7/8" glass pendant / silver plated bail / 24" black ball chain

Pendants are made on demand and can be made TEAM SPECIFIC

$20.00 each // Part of the cost is going to help pay for Mardi Gras 2010

Please place your orders via PayPal here:include:
TEAM NAME / # of Pendants / Mailing Address

Pendants will be mailed as they are completed.
But, please be patient ... the process for completing the pendants is time consuming.

Tent On 2503 Columbus St. New Orleans,La

2009-09-07T15:10:00.001-05:00

JMP SABRINA NO CROSS NO CROWN

2009-07-09T23:51:00.001-05:00

WE WALK BY FAITH!

Interview with Don Eskine www.BigGrace.com

2009-05-15T13:31:00.001-05:00

Pastor Don Mardi Gras 2009

2009-03-04T17:57:00.001-06:00

Jesus Is Lord!

My Jesus by Todd Agnew

2009-02-08T01:23:00.001-06:00

DO You Love Him?

Rushing Wind - Keith Green

2009-02-08T01:11:00.001-06:00

Born Again!

Christmas Eve Eve Outreach in Durham NC

2009-01-03T10:09:00.001-06:00

you Go For GOD!

New Orleans City Hall 11-18-07

2008-11-09T16:46:00.001-06:00

Pastor Donald S. Eskine

Warning Message To Babylon-America

2008-11-06T15:25:00.001-06:00

400 Homeless at City Hall in New Orleans

2008-10-28T19:19:00.001-05:00

Pastor Donald S. Eskine

Jesus Is Lord Over Voodoo Fest

2008-10-28T19:00:00.001-05:00

God Is SOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Good!

Be Inspired......Nick Vujicic (life without limbs)

2008-10-26T22:03:00.001-05:00

Hurricane Gustav

2008-09-13T16:21:00.001-05:00

Raven Gulf Coast

Amazing Grace History/

2008-09-09T22:26:00.001-05:00

Isn't it Enough? (Paul Washer's Secret)

2008-06-30T23:13:00.001-05:00

sunset acres apt.

2008-06-11T20:50:00.001-05:00

ROCKET TOWN-NY

2008-06-11T20:47:00.001-05:00

Tell The World

2008-04-29T14:35:00.001-05:00

JESUS IS IN SOON COMING!

Revised Church of Oprah

2008-04-05T14:57:00.001-05:00

AWAKE!

Dont Drink The Kool-Aid: Oprah, Obama and The Occult

2008-04-05T14:55:00.001-05:00

Wake Up Church!

2008-02-28T15:09:00.000-06:00

THIS IS THE WAY TO VICTORY!
Last night I visited a church where the pastor made a comment that kind of disturbed me. He said that it looks like the Christian Church is on the way out with the seeker friendly, religiously tolerant, non-offensive gospel (no preaching about Hell, Repentance and the coming Judgment upon all mankind) that is being preached today. When He said that, it was with a smile, and he said, “but that really doesn’t matter to me…Because it means that the fulfillment of prophecy and the consummation of all things is at our doorstep.” He jumped up with a leap of joy and shouted, “folks, you should be excited! That means that Jesus could come at any minute and gather His Church to Himself!” It made me realize that our eschatological view point determines to a large extent as to what our Christian walk will be like.

Those with the pie in the sky “I said the prayer and I’m going to be raptured out of here before it gets ugly” mentality seem to have little or no concern for the Course the Church of Jesus Christ is taking. “Repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand” has really no significance for people like this. I know that if I knew my wife was committing adultery on me, it would tear me up. How must our Lord feel to see His Church embracing another Gospel other than the one He came to bring to us. The person who has bought into this mentality says “No matter how hard you try, you will never get to the place in your life where you will have victory over the sin in your life.” Yet the Word of God tells me that I have victory in this life:

1Jo 5:4 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.

I have FAITH that I can walk in victory over the temptations that come my way in this world, because I am no longer of this world. I am a child of the Most High God, and I am a citizen of His Kingdom. Because I am a child of the Most High God, I have a compassion for the way the world is going. My Father hasn’t changed, and my Savior hasn’t changed either.

He loves the world so much that he sent His Only Begotten Son to pave the Way for me to have eternal life. But of course, it isn’t only about me. It’s about “Whosoever”. He loves me so much that even while I was lost and wallowing in my sin, He died for me…But it isn’t only about me. It’s about all of the “whosever’s” in this world. His Word says that He isn’t willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance. Because I am His child, I don’t want to see any one perish as well.

His Word tells me that Sin has no more dominion over me.

Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
15 What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.
16 Know ye not, that to whom ye yield yourselves servants to obey, his servants ye are to whom ye obey; whether of sin unto death, or of obedience unto righteousness?
17 But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.
18 Being then made free from sin, ye became the servants of righteousness.

Although I am tempted on a daily basis, I have been equipped and enabled to resist that temptation by the Holy Spirit Who dwells in me. Of course, my flesh fights against the Spirit, and sometimes the fleshly desires win momentarily, but the Lord has given me a spirit of repentance and a desire to become increasingly more like Him. I haven’t yet learned to walk in sinless perfection, but I really WANT TO! I am going to keep on pressing forward. I am going to fight against sin. I am going to continue to strive to lay aside that sin that so easily besets me (Heb 12:1), and look to those men and women of Faith who lived a persevering life in obedience to God (Heb 11) as my examples. According to Paul, and the Spirit of God Who dwells within me, I am no longer a servant of sin, but rather a servant of obedience. In verse 17 of Romans 6, I am reminded that I WAS the servant of sin, but I have obeyed from the heart the teachings that were delivered to me through the Word of God and His Spirit. With this in mind, let us consider what Jesus, our Lord and Savior had to say about His servants.

Mat 24:42 Watch therefore: for ye know not what hour your Lord doth come.
43 But know this, that if the goodman of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.
44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not the Son of man cometh.
45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them meat in due season?
46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing.
47 Verily I say unto you, That he shall make him ruler over all his goods.
48 But and if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming;
49 And shall begin to smite his fellowservants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;
50 The lord of that servant shall come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,
51 And shall cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Notice what it says in verse 50 concerning the evil servant. The Lord of that servant will come when He is not looking for him….That’s a serious verse…How many people have I met on the streets who have bought into the gospel that says “once you say the prayer, it’s all over. All you have to do is wait for the rapture.” They are eating and drinking with the drunken and smiting those who stand for Righteousness and Holiness.

….With the heart man believes unto righteousness. Romans 10:10.
To have the mentality that the pastor had is to make the Word of God of none effect that promises us “If my people which are called by my Name shall humble themselves and pray, and seek my Face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear their voice from Heaven, forgive them their sins, and heal their land”. There is a harvest out there. Everyday,I find souls that desires to know the Truth that is in Jesus Christ. God is NOT on our timetable and the United States of America isn’t the Biblical gauge of when He will come. He really wants His people to be His lights to a lost and dying world, and to live a life that reflects His Concern and Compassion for the Lost and for the Church.
I realize this e-mail probably raises many theological questions…but my intent is to just let you know that if we call ourselves Christians, we simply need to be about Jesus. I don’t know when He is coming. But I do know that His Church in America has gone a long way from where she needs to be. I don’t rejoice over that. I’m not excited about it. We need to pray. Pray that the Lord will give the Church ears to hear what HIS SPIRIT is saying to the Church! Repent.
I love you all…
Pastors Don & Sabrina Eskine
No Cross No Crown Ministries,
New Orleans,La
“The Church Without…….Under Open Skies”

Paul Washer - Shocking Message (full length)

2008-02-19T07:53:00.001-06:00

You Go For JESUS!

2008-02-16T18:37:00.001-06:00

2008-02-14T19:11:00.001-06:00

2008-02-14T19:08:00.000-06:00

2008-02-14T19:06:00.001-06:00

http://godtube.com/flvplayer.swf" FlashVars="viewkey=5327ef2a0425b14160db" wmode="transparent" quality="high" width="330" height="270" name="godtube" align="middle" allowScriptAccess="sameDomain" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" />

When You See It Like HE Saw It!

2007-11-23T17:30:00.001-06:00

Go Raven!

New Orleans City Hall 11-18-07

2007-11-23T11:17:00.001-06:00

A continuing Word From Pastor Don At New Orleans City Hall

400 Homeless at City Hall in New Orleans

2007-11-19T00:18:00.001-06:00

2007-11-03T12:15:00.000-05:00

SET FREE: DARNELL

2007-06-04T13:44:00.000-05:00

RAVEN NEW YORK OUTREACH

2007-05-15T17:02:00.000-05:00

ARE YOU READY FOR REVIVAL TO BREAK LOOSE IN NEW ORLEANS & THE GULF COAST?

How many of you pray for this city and this nation on a regular basis? Do you ever weep when you consider the countless individuals headed to hell? Do you ache in your heart at the news of another senseless murder? When you see the hopeless and homeless to you mourn for them?
.
Matt 9:36 “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.”
.
When was the last time you found yourself “moved” by something enough that you got up and did something about it?
.
Many people in my city, New Orleans, found themselves on the move when it was evident that we would suffer a hit by Hurricane Katrina
.
Hundreds of thousands of people in this city suddenly “mobilized” at the threat of a coming storm. They stopped with excuse making. They left things of value behind. They just got up and went! They moved!
.
I got news for you today—there is a storm rising upon this nation much greater than Hurricane Katrina! There is a storm of revival brewing—not in the Gulf—but in the heavenlies!
.
There is a rain about to fall—the latter rain!
There is a wind about to blow—a mighty rushing wind!
.
But this coming storm will require the church to get on the move!
.
Matt 9:36 "But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd."
.
THREE THINGS THAT HE SAW THAT MOVED HIM:
.
They Fainted= “skoo-low” means to be mangled ex. Woman on Bourbon, D.J.
.
Scattered Abroad= (one word) “rip-tow” slammed into the ground ex Allen
.
Had no shepherd= “poy-mane” no one to watch over, defend from attack, to heal their wounds, find them when they are lost or strapped, to love them
.
When Jesus swathe multitude who had been mangled, slammed into the ground, with no one to watch over them, protect, heal, seek them out, love of be close to them--- it says
.
“He was moved with compassion”
.
THAT IS: “ When He saw this; something just hit Him right in the gut!”
.
Then over the course of the next 3 ½ years he criss-crossed the land of Judea:
.
“Preaching the gospel to the poor, healing the brokenhearted, delivering the captives, healing the blind, liberating the bruised, and preaching the acceptable year of the Lord.”
.
And when HE had finished, he turned loosed His band of disciples “ to do greater works than He had done” and they went forth “Preaching the gospel to the poor, healing the brokenhearted, delivering the captives, healing the blind, liberating the bruised, and preaching the acceptable year of the Lord.”
.
AND THEN THEY raised up another generation of men and women who would dare do the same thing!

You are the offspring of an Apostolic foundation that began 2000 years ago with the Lord Jesus Christ and has continued as men and women of faith, character and integrity have dared to be “moved for the cause of the Kingdom of heaven.”
.
When you see it like HE SAW IT—you’ll do it like He did it!
.
When you see the multitudes: mangled, slammed to the ground and without the shepherds car--- something sticks you right in your gut and “business as usual or the status quo ceases to be acceptable to you any longer!”
.
This is where expectancy intersects opportunity and revival is realized in our cities! Expectancy is your birthplace for the miraculous! When you SEE IT and get it in your gut—you now are a source to bring forth something miraculous for His Kingdom.
.
I feel that I have a word for you in regards to the COMING REVIVAL upon this city!
.
Amos 3:4-8 “Will a lion roar in the forest, when he has no prey? Will a young lion cry out of his den, if he has caught nothing? Will a bird fall into a snare on the earth, where there is no trap for it? Will a snare spring up from the earth, if it has caught nothing at all? If a trumpet is blown in a city, will not the people be afraid? If there is calamity in a city, will not the LORD have done it? Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. A lion has roared! Who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken! Who can but prophesy?”
.
I’m telling you this as a prophetic voice of REVIVAL.—or by definition “To herald something under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.”
.
I believe that we have entered an hour in which the LION HAS ROARED and the LORD GOD HAS SPOKEN—and I have got to ask myself the question, even as I ask it to you today “Who can but prophesy!”
.

I believe…
.
That something is going to come over some of you listening to this and things are going to be different.
.
A new hunger for the presence of God is going to come upon you and people are going to say, “What’s with you?” and you’ll respond, “The lion has roared and the Lord God has spoken.”
.
You’ll see a crowd and began to weep uncontrollably… The lion has roared…
You’ll have a new boldness to share the Gospel with friends and family… the lion has roared...
You’ll worship with a new enthusiasm and a greater joy….the lion has roared…
You’ll pray with a new fervency and compassion…the lion has roared…
There will be a new joy in the Lord Jesus…the lion has roared…
The gifts of the Holy Spirit will take on a new dimension in your life…the lion…
Long forgotten and buried gifts will be unearthed…the lion has roared…
Pastor will say, “We have got to move into another facility. We have no more room for those coming in.” The lion has roared and the Lord God has spoken…
.
“Who can but prophesy!”
.
Something is about to happen that will require “you to get moving with compassion.”
.
You have got to get it way deep down on the inside of you! There is a belief that doesn’t merely “drip from the lips of His servants” but instead “pours forth from the belly of one bursting with His presence.”
.
John 7:38 says, “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water.”
.
(or) it could be said, “When you get it in your gut…there is going to be an outflow of the anointing in your life that will be like a flood of quickening for REVIVAL.
.
This BELIEF is more than a mere intellectual or learned response to something religious—it literally means to be “impelled” by something!
.
To be IMPELLED is to be overtaken by a DRIVING FORCE!
.
OHHHH! I can’t live the same
OHHHH! I can’t pray the same
OHHHH! I can’t witness the same
OHHHH! I can’t praise the same
.
It is when EXPECTANCY intersects OPPORTUNITY!
.
I am going to use as the basis for this message today a very familiar text of scripture:
.
1 Sam 17:20-40 “And David rose up early in the morning, and left the sheep with a keeper, and took, and went, as Jesse had commanded him; and he came to the trench, as the host was going forth to the fight, and shouted for the battle. For Israel and the Philistines had put the battle in array, army against army.”
.
Here we see two things being established:
.
1. David meets the criteria as a type of REVIVALIST in regard to the Nation of Israel. He was a shepherd (or had the shepherd’s heart). Jesus had said in Matt 9:36 that He was “moved with compassion” because they were like sheep having no shepherd. He had become the “shepherd of their salvation.”
.
From time to time throughout the ages, God raises up and sends forth individuals to serve as specific role in something that He is doing within the confines of the Body of Christ. The specific role that I am talking about is sometimes difficult to define and often difficult for the bearer of that role to come to grips with because of the nature of it and the implications of it.
.
Eph 4:11-12 “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,”
.
Here we have what is commonly referred to as the “five fold ministry” of the Church: Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Pastors and Teachers
.
The Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines and Coast Guard of spirituality: all with an indispensable, cooperative yet somewhat unique role within the framework of the Body of Christ.
.
And out of this frame work, from time to time God will call out REVIVALISTS to help stir up the gifts within the Body of Christ to accomplish what needs to get done in the battlefield.
.
They are the one’s willing to run out yelling “Bonsai”: exciting the armies and motivating them to get into the fray!
.
They are willing to:
.
Go against the grain
Take it up another level
Abandon conventional wisdom
Draw the fire of the enemy if necessary
They are the ones that jerk the steering wheel to get the tires out of the rut
.
David was such an individual and there have been many throughout Church history as well:
.
People like,
.
George Whitfield and Jonathan Edwards of the Great Awakening
Charles Finney of the Second Great Awakening
Evan Roberts of the Great Welsh Revival
William Seymour of the Azusa Street Revival and others…
.
Then the second criteria that we see being established is found in verse (21) of our text:
.
2. The armies stood in array (dressed for battle) facing one another.

Expectancy and Opportunity had come to the same place! David (the expectant) had arrived at the valley of opportunity!
.
Have any of you found yourself expectant AND at the place of opportunity?
If you have: be careful because REVIVAL might just break out around you!
.
“And David left his carriage in the hand of the keeper of the carriage, and ran into the army, and came and saluted his brethren. And as he talked with them, behold, there came up the champion, the Philistine of Gath, Goliath by name, out of the armies of the Philistines, and spake according to the same words: and David heard them.
.
“Champion” the space between two armies- THE GAP
.
Ezek 22:30 says, “And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it…”
.
He is looking for someone to be willing to stand in the GAP between the armies!
.
Satan has many willing to go “stand in the gap.” He sends them out by the thousands, if you don’t believe me just come out to Bourbon Street with me one Friday or Saturday nigh---they are all there!
.
“And all the men of Israel, when they saw the man,(when they saw the situation. When they faced the opposition. When it looked too hard. When they seemed out of their league. When it was way over their heads) fled from him, and were sore afraid.”
.
People have said when they have come into the City of New Orleans:

"I was very intimidated by what I was confronted with. I would steer clear of Bourbon Street. Just let me hang out around Jackson Square and witness.” I would have nothing to do with the projects. “It is crazy to walk through those places by yourself.” Don’t drive around too much, you might get lost and end up in the wrong place at the wrong time! "
.
That was then…this is now! The INTIMIDATED have become the INTIMIDATORS!
.
The projects, Bourbon Street, the dead church, once claimed this cities souls through drugs, alcohol, sensuality and dead religion—but we are striking back, kicking behind and taking names in the process by preaching Christ and Him crucified the power of God!
.
People named -Willie, Ollie, Nick, Corey, Ike, Zack, Derrick, Lisa, Tyson, Anthony, Spencer, Arthur, Danielle, Rolland, Jay, Carlos, Raymond, Miguel, Mazio, Brandon, and countless others have found JESUS CHRIST in front of strip clubs and daiquiri bars. They have bowed their knees to the risen Christ from Bourbon and Saint Peter to S. Claiborne and Orleans Ave.
.
“And the men of Israel said, Have ye seen this man that is come up? surely to defy Israel is he come up: and it shall be, that the man who killeth him, the king will enrich him with great riches, and will give him his daughter, and make his father's house free in Israel.”
.
“And David spake to the men that stood by him, saying, What shall be done to the man that killeth this Philistine, and taketh away the reproach from Israel? for who is this uncircumcised Philistine, that he should defy the armies of the living God? And the people answered him after this manner, saying, So shall it be done to the man that killeth him.”
.
***There is a great reward for anyone willing to confront this Giant***
.
They had forgotten—that in Deuteronomy God had give the promise of Victory to anyone that was willing to face the giants!
.
We too have been promised the VICTORY! For this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith!
.
“And Eliab his eldest brother heard when he spake unto the men; and Eliab's anger was kindled against David, and he said, Why camest thou down hither? and with whom hast thou left those few sheep in the wilderness? I know thy pride, and the naughtiness of thine heart; for thou art come down that thou mightest see the battle.”
.
Eliab—David’s eldest brother. The cynic. The one not willing to go mix it up, but will criticize you for doing it!
.
I met Eliab—he was wearing a suit and standing behind a pulpit! He had a big old leather bound Bible and a library full of the latest Christian self-help book and his tv was permanently tuned in to TBN.
.
He said, “You are just full of pride if you think you can come to the valley of Elah and defeat this Giant!” Can’t you see the armies around you! You have just come here to see the fight!”
.
“And David said, What have I now done? Is there not a cause?”
.
David found a cause that day and the rest is history! HE stood where others trembled! There is a GIANT of a storm rising, but God is calling out and raising up those who would dare stand valiantly in its path!

2007-05-12T11:42:00.000-05:00

JOHN IS IN PRISON!

Mark 1:14-15 "Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."
.
I have come bring you news that has eternal implications. News that should have been expected and has long been looming on the spiritual horizon of this nation and beyond.
.
JOHN IS IN PRISON
THE TIME IS FULFILLED
THE KINGDOM OF GOD IS AT HAND
.
You may be wondering what I mean by the statement "John is in prison"
.
The same spirit that sought to silence John the Baptist as he went about preaching in Jerusalem, Judea and all about the region of Jordan- has too been loosed on this nation (and world for that matter).
.
And just like in the days of John the Baptist- this spirit has been loosed everywhere from the church to the seats of government. It is a spirit that seeks to:
.
1. Silence the truth
2. Impede the Power
3. Harden the heart
4. Blind the Eyes
5. Satisfy the Flesh
.
>>Silence the truth by offering a pastel pink substitute for a blood-red gospel- we have so sought to reach the masses and fill the seats of man-made ministries, that we have diluted the life changing truth into a heart hardening, seeker-friendly, mealy mouthed rhetoric- void of any
conviction, commitment or compassion
.
>>Impede the power by creating a prayerless church- the Body of Christ had substituted the intimacy of the prayer closet for the pageantry of the prayer service. We have rented airplanes to fly over cities with anointing oil and left the tear soaked fox holes of the quiet place. We have claimed to pull down strongholds, while all the while we have fortified the enemy’s encampment
with our faithless prayers and lack of brokenness before God. What was once THE source of revelation- has merely become a token, obligatory censor of man-made clichés and self indulgent petitioning.
.
>>Harden the heart by preaching a self-centered, self-gratifying gospel- the church has inoculated themselves against the word that changes lives, by changing the Word to fit their own lives. We preach financial prosperity to the spiritual destitute. We preach authority to the spiritually rebellious and we preach victory to the spiritually dead.

.
>>Blind the eyes by disguising the stench of death with an aerosol of "all is well, all is good and all is of God"- the church has filled the air with a wanna-be aroma and have said to themselves "We are doing the work of God" all the while thousands upon thousands are plunging headlong into hell- The church has ceased to invest in souls and has instead invested in flashy campaigning and slick salesmanship. The rotting fragrance of what was once a vibrant, violent, victorious church has been buried under the gravestone of church programs and scheduled revivals- When Revival truly comesˆ it won't be because the church has penciled in three days in early June!
.
>>Satisfy the flesh by preaching grace without growth, manifestations without maturity and salvation without self-denial. The Roman Road to salvation has been bulldozed in favor of a superhighway full of twists and turns and plenty of exits, just in case you don't like the particular road that you’re traveling.
.
JOHN IS IN PRISON!
.
Matt 3:1-12 "In those days came John the Baptist, preaching in the wilderness of Judaea,[2] And saying, Repent ye: for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (have you ever heard that preached?) [3] For this is he that was spoken of by the prophet Esaias, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness,(Saints we are not too unlike the Children of Israel when they found themselves looking across the wilderness and into the promised land-the church though hasn't been crying in the wilderness- the church today has had a dry-eyed view of their promised land) Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. [4] And the same John had his raiment of camel's hair, and a leathern girdle about his loins; and his meat was locusts and wild honey.(this speaks of humility and consecration) [5] Then went out to him Jerusalem, and all Judaea, and all the region round about Jordan, [6] And were baptized of him in Jordan, confessing their sins. [7] But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees come to his baptism, he said unto them, O generation of vipers, who hath warned you to flee from the wrath to come? [8] Bring forth therefore fruits meet for repentance: [9] And think not to say within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham. [10] And now also the axe is laid unto the root of the trees: therefore every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire. ("John is in Prison") [11] I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance:but he that cometh after me is mightier than I, whose shoes I am not worthy to bear: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire: [12] Whose fan is in his hand, and he will throughly purge his floor, and gather his wheat into the garner; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
.
The church today has called for the head of John the Baptist on a platter!
.
1 Tim 4:1-2 Paul the Apostle said "Now the Spirit speaketh expressly, that in the latter times some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils; Speaking lies in hypocrisy; having their conscience seared with a hot iron;"
.
2 Tim 4:3-4 he says, "For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables."
.
JOHN IS IN PRISON
.
All the elements that were alive and well during the ministry of John the Baptist have resurfaced as we face the end of this millennium.
.
1. The same Pharasitical order of cold hearted religion is still there.
2. The same refusal to repent.
3. The same fruitless relationship with God.
.
But when a remnant rises up in the midst of such hypocrisy it is bound to stir something up! When you put on your camel hair coat of prayer and you gird up your loins with truth and your meat is to do the will of your Father who is in heaven- and your declaration is make straight the paths of the Lord!
.
That is when you will begin to see the crowds of your association effected by the Jesus that has come to fill your life! They will either repent or cry out for your head!
.
Back to our text of Mark 1:14-15 "Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."
.
Once John is in prison- once you began to hear the world and the false church call for the head of the prophetic voice of the Bride of Christ- then you can rest assured that "the time is fulfilled and the Kingdom of God is at hand"
.
What does it mean that the Kingdom of God is at hand? It means that the fulfillment of all time is imminent- that it- we are standing on the threshold of eternity.
.
There is something that John said that rings in my ears and demonstrates to me a prophetic warning or signal as to the coming of the Lord.
.
John 3:30 "He must increase, but I must decrease."
.
John's decrease marked Christ's increase. I believe that the same can be said for that of the church- for years- and especially in this nation, we have had a history of religious freedom. We have had the opportunity to live in a country founded upon Godly principals and a value system taken from the Word of God.
.
But, it is getting increasingly clear that, that freedom is slowly being taken away. That the influence and appeal that was once afforded the church is definitely decreasing in terms of societal impact.
.
II Th 2:2-3 "... be not soon shaken in mind, or be troubled, neither by spirit, nor by word, nor by letter as from us, as that the day of Christ is at hand. Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;"
.
We now have a court system that cries out the "separation of church and state" but in reality- the last days "Laodacean" church doesn't look much different than the state that they are trying to separate it from!
.
DECREASE TO FACILITATE INCREASE!
.
THEN OUR TEXT CONTINUES Mark 1:14-15 "Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."
.
Jesus then utters one of the most powerful words ever spoken on the New Testament.
.
A word that has caused brother to turn against brother
A word that has caused nations to rise against one another
A word that cost John his head, cost Peter and Paul their lives and ultimately sent Christ to the cross of Calvary.
A word that holds so much power and offers so much hope- but is so
despised misunderstood and under applied.
.
REPENT- the moral compunction to think differently.
.
Recognize, Renounce, Reconcile, Reveal
.
Acts 3:19 “Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord.”
.
Mark 6:12 “ And they went out, and preached that men should repent.”
.
Luke 13:3 “I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish.”
.
Then Jesus made the final point....
.
Mark 1:14-15 "Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel."
.
”Believe the Gospel”
.
believe comes from the same root for "faith" it means to be utterly convinced and committed to.
.
Rom 1:16 " For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek."
.
True belief produces true righteousness in your life.
.
In your:
.
Prayer life
Burden for Souls
Heart for the hurting
Study of God's Word
Commitment to the Body of Christ
Faithful giving
.
John is in prison

Iberville Easter Outreach

2007-04-15T14:25:00.001-05:00