As we did an update today on the event, Father spoke to my heart to change it from “rising” to an apostolic command “ARISE!!” Rising is definitely a process and the Ekklesia has been in that transition, but now it is time to have a “Resurrection!” It means a “raising up, a “standing up again”, a making WHOLE!

In the days of the restoration of all things, restore means to “repair, to set in order, to complete.” Ps. 102:13- You will arise and have mercy upon Zion; For the time to favor her, Yes, the set time, has come.

As we enter into this new Era of the Ekklesia, the corporate overcomer and representative of the kingdom, we will Arise and stand on our feet, taking our place in the army of the Lord!

Ezekiel 37:10- So I prophesied as He commanded me, and breath (the breath of life) came into them, and they lived, and stood upon their feet, AN EXCEEDINGLY GREAT ARMY…

Yours for the kingdom,

Jim and Pam

Concerning, Continuing, and Considering!

May 23, 2014 ~ FATHERS HEART HOUSTON ~ Leave a comment

Romans 1:1-5- Paul, a bondservant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, separated to the gospel of God which He promised before through His prophets in the Holy Scriptures, CONCERNING HIS SON JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh, and declared to be the Son of God with power according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead. Through Him we have received grace and apostleship for obedience to the faith among all nations for His name,…

Acts 28:30,31- Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching the things CONCERNING THE LORD JESUS CHRIST WITH ALL CONFIDENCE, NO ONE FORBIDDING HIM.

Acts 19:8-10- And he went into the synagogue and spoke boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading CONCERNING THE THINGS OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD. But when some were hardened and did not believe, but spoke evil of the Way before the multitude, he departed from them and withdrew the disciples, reasoning daily in the school of Tyrannus. And this continued for two years, so that all who dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks.

Acts 8:5,12- Then Philip went down to the city of Samaria and preached Christ to them…But when they believed Philip as he preached the things CONCERNING THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND THE NAME OF JESUS CHRIST, both men and women were baptized.

Acts 1:3- …to whom He (Jesus) also presented Himself alive after His suffering by many infallible proofs, being seen by them during forty days and SPEAKING OF THE THINGS PERTAINING TO AND CONCERNING THE KINGDOM OF GOD.

Acts 2:42- AND THEY CONTINUED STEADFASTLY IN THE APOSTLE’S DOCTRINE AND FELLOWSHIP, IN THE BREAKING OF BREAD, AND IN PRAYERS.

I. Co. 1:4-9- I thank my God always CONCERNING YOU FOR THE GRACE OF GOD WHICH WAS GIVEN TO YOU BY CHRIST JESUS, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so that you come short in no gift, waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. GOD IS FAITHFUL, BY WHOM YOU WERE CALLED INTO THE FELLOWSHIP OF HIS SON, JESUS CHRIST OUR LORD.

Heb. 3;1,2- Therefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, CONSIDER THE APOSTLE AND HIGH PRIEST OF OUR CONFESSION, CHRIST JESUS, who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all his house.

Apostolic RELATIONAL Fathers!

May 13, 2014 ~ FATHERS HEART HOUSTON ~ 2 Comments

It seems to me that “apostolic fathers” or spiritual fathers should not be such a ‘heavy reavy” today, something hard for many ministers or sons to understand!! Many will always bring up past hurts and abuses, but it is time to move on from the past, even “forgetting the things which are behind and reaching forward to the things which are ahead…” (Phill.3:13b)

It is a new day and a new ERA (E.merging R.elational A.postles) that there are those called to ‘father’ not from and old mindset but from a renewed mind of spirit and truth. To say we do not need this is to say that we do not need a vital truth that is strongly supported by scripture. Apostle Paul penned this powerful passage in I. Co. 4:14-16 under divine inspiration:

I. Co. 4:14-16 (Nasb)- I do not write these things to shame you, but to admonish you as my beloved children. For if you were to have ‘countless tutors’ ( instructors, boy-teachers, guides, coaches, mentors) in Christ, yet you would not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your father through the gospel. Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me.

I. Co. 4:14-15 (Message)- I’m not writing all this as a neighborhood scold just to make you feel rotten. I’m writing as a father to you, my children. I love you and want you to grow up well, not spoiled. There are a lot of people around who can’t wait to tell you what you’ve done wrong, but there aren’t many fathers willing to take the time and effort to help you grow up. It was as Jesus helped me proclaim God’s message to you that I became your father. I’m not, you know, asking you to do anything I’m not already doing myself.

AWAKENING!

March 5, 2014 ~ FATHERS HEART HOUSTON ~ Leave a comment

Apostolic teaching (not so much instructional as relational) fathers is going through an AWAKENING!” An awakening is more than “revival”, it is a “raising up”, a RESToration of entering into HIS REST, where ALL things become NEW! He’s not making all new things, He’s making all things New! …Old things have passed away, and behold, All THINGS ARE BECOME NEW! (Rev. 21:7b; 2 Co. 5:17)

There is a mandate, even in this forum and on this group, upon apostolic and prophetic fathers to “give birth” or literally, “labor in birth AGAIN, until Christ be formed in you!” (Gal.4:19b) The dawning of this 7th day is the same as the 3rd day in Christ, there is a “death, burial, and resurrection” taking place so that we understand our awakening is an “ascension” in Christ in the heavenlies…

Hosea 6:1-3 speaks of “…after two days will He revive us, and on (in) the third day He will raise us up to live in His sight…Then shall we know, if we follow on to KNOW (intimately, If we pursue) Him, His going forth is as the morning: He will come to us like the rain, Like the latter and former rain to the earth.”

How will He raise us up? I believe the key is the middle dimension of what Paul the apostle wrote in Phil. 3:10- “That I may know Him, 1) and the power of His resurrection and 2) the fellowship of His sufferings, 3) being conformed to HIS DEATH.” I might ask again, “How are you fellow-shipping the mystery of His suffering?” How have you died? The third dimension is “being conformed to His death! Except a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it abides alone.

The true meaning of revival or awakening, is to be raised from the dead! Apostolic leaders today, whether prophets or teachers, have learned how to die, that is, they have been “hidden with Christ in God and when Christ who is our life appears (is revealed) so shall we appear (be revealed) with Him in glory.” (Col. 3:1-4) You are DEAD to your ambitions and agendas, and made alive to Christ with His assignments and alignments in your life and ministry!!!

Apostolic fathers, it is our time to now pave and pioneer the way for the sons of God to come forth, but they can only follow the ones who have gone before them, to SHOW THEM THE WAY! We must recover the generational blessing, from “generation to generation” so that the ancient lankmarks of our fathers be not removed! We must be ready to “father”, to generate, be a source, be-come a father” so that all that’s needed for the “third generation” of sons can come forth.!!!

To be continued…

True and False Apostles (Apostolic Confrontation)

August 2, 2013 ~ FATHERS HEART HOUSTON ~ 5 Comments

True and False Apostles

(Apostolic Confrontation)

Gal. 1:6-10- I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed! As we have said before, so I say again now, if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, he is to be accursed! (Nasb)

Rev. 2:1,2- “To the angel of the church in Ephesus write: The One who holds the seven stars in His right hand, the One who walks among the seven golden lampstands, says this: ‘I know your deeds and your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men, and you put to test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not, and you found them to be false;”

Paul, in writing to the ‘churches in Galatia’ said this: “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for our sins so that he might rescue us from this present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father…” Today this is a fine line between good and evil, not because a line is being drawn in the sand by our Father to distinguish between, but because men are calling “evil, good” and “good, evil.” We are, as the church, being called to come back to a righteous judgment, to discern between good and evil and true and false. John, in writing to the seven churches of Asia, wrote to Ephesus commending them on their works, how they could not tolerate evil men, and to test those who way they are apostles and are not.

What are to do in this day? Are we to sit back and just smile, not just at evil in the world, but evil in the church? Anyone with any sense of discernment and morality, can see what is wrong in the world system. But it takes real discernment and wisdom to tell the things that are different, even though they look similar. This is where it involves true apostles coming together and confronting that which is not biblical and righteous! You may ask, but how can we know the difference between the “true and the false!” Well, that is what I want to look at with this articles. The primary difference between true and false apostles is 1) who will confront when it is obvious that things are wrong, and 2) who is willing to receive correction.

This will probably take more than one article, but I want to use what is the safest way to interpret scripture: That is, to compare scripture with scripture! We will see that false apostles do not do this, they compare “themselves among themselves”, which is not wise. They not only compare themselves, they “measure themselves by themselves! (2 Co. 10:12) To be “false” doesn’t mean that one doesn’t know God, or has not been called with a “true” calling! To be false means to try to “counterfeit” or take a shortcut to that which is true. In fact, how could one be an apostle and not start out right? False apostles have been given over to “iniquity” or lawlessness, that is, that which directly opposes God and is in rebellion to His governmental authority! That brings us to the subject of the “mystery of godliness vs. the mystery of iniquity or lawlessness. I. Tim. 3:15,16 (NKJV)- but if I am delayed, I write so that you may know how you ought to conduct yourself in the house(hold) of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth. And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifested in the flesh, Justified in the Spirit, Seen by angels, Preached among the Gentiles, Believed on in the world, Received up in glory. 2. Thess. 2:7- For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. Who is this man of sin, this son of perdition? It is more than just a man, but it is the “spirit of antichrist”, that denies that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh. (I. John 4:3) I. John 2:22,23- Who is a liar but he who denies that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist who denies the Father and the Son. Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also. The spirit of antichrist, or the lawless one, is the one who opposes and exalts himself all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God. (2 Thess. 2:4) It sounds strangely like Lucifer, who exalted himself above God and kept referring to “I”!

One of the signs of a false apostle is that they will try to draw attention to themselves. True apostles are 1) servants of Christ, and 2) stewards of the mysteries of God. (I. Co. 4:1,2) He went on to say that “it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.” True apostles will be willing to suffer for Christ and endure hardships, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. False apostles will look for an ‘easy’ way out, instead of being faithful to the vision, they will give in and begin to compromise their calling with greed, manipulation, and control. Paul also said in I. Co. 4:9- For I think that God has set us, the apostles, last, as men condemned to death; for we have been made a spectacle to the world, both to angels and to men. Because the order of God is “first things first”, false apostles will try to take advantage of the scripture found in I. Cor. 12:28- And God has set these in the church; first apostles, second prophets, third teachers… First just simply means that which is in the beginning, that which is first in function and in order of importance…This does not imply an “hierarchy” which makes apostles more important than prophets or teachers, but only in the order of laying foundation and functioning in first things! With the Corinthians we see that Paul is dealing with many false apostles, as well as those who are questioning his integrity and authority because of the false apostles. We will now take a look at a list of scriptures concerning these very things in the book of 2 Corinthians.

2 Co. 1:21,24- Now He who establishes us with you in Christ and has anointed us is God, who has sealed us and given us the Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee…Not that we lord it over your faith, but are workers with you for you joy; for in your faith you are standing firm. (Nasb)

2 Co. 2:17- For we are not, as so many, peddling the word of God; but as of sincerity, but as from God, we speak in the sight of God in Christ.

2 Co. 3:5,6- Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but our sufficiency is from God, who also made us sufficient as ministers of the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but the Spirit gives life.

2 Co. 4:1,2,5- Therefore, since we have this ministry (the ministry of the Spirit), as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake.

2 Co. 6;1-4- We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain. For he says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, and in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation. We give no offense in anything, that our ministry be not blamed. But in all things we commend ourselves as ministers of God; in much patience, in tribulations, in needs, in distresses…

Then, in 2 Corinthians 10, Paul begins to target in on the persons of those who oppose his apostleship: 2 Co. 10:1,2,10,11- Now, I, Paul, myself am pleading with you by the meekness and gentleness of Christ–who in presence am lowly among you, but being absent am bold toward you. But I beg you that when I am present I may not be bold with that confidence by which I intend to be bold against some, who think of us as if we walked according to the flesh…”For his letters,” they say, “are weighty and powerful, but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.” Let such a person consider this, that what are in word by letters when we are absent, such we will also be in deed when we are present.”

We will begin to close this article beginning in 2 Co. 11:4 much as what Paul wrote in Gal. 1:8: “For if he (spirit of antichrist, lawlessness, false apostle) who comes preaches another Jesus, who we have not preached, of if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not yet accepted–you may well put up with it!” (The message says, “you put up with him quite nicely. But if you put up with these big-shot “apostles,” why can’t you put up with simple me? I’m as good as they are. It’s true I don’t have their voice, haven’t mastered that smooth eloquence that impresses you so much. But when I do open my mouth, I at least know what I’m talking about. We haven’t kept anything back. We let you in on everything.”)

2 Co. 11:12-15- But what I do, I will also continue to do, that I may cut off the opportunity from those who desire an opportunity to be regarded just as we are in the things of which they boast. For such are ‘false apostles’, deceitful workers, transforming (disguising) themselves into apostles of Christ. An not wonder! For satan himself transforms himself unto an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

Paul finishes up His letter on a positive note in 2 Co. 12:12 and 13:9:

“Truly the signs of an apostle (true apostle) were accomplished among you with all perseverance, in signs and wonders and mighty deeds.”

“For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. And this also we pray, that you may be made complete.”

We pray that same thing for you today! 2 Co. 13:14-The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen!

The (New) Apostolic Campaign 2013/2014! (Pt. 1)

June 28, 2013 ~ FATHERS HEART HOUSTON ~ Leave a comment

We are in the final week of the first half of this year, but for Pam and I, it is the END of an ERA, as we know it, to almost a generation of ministry as we begin our new mandate to launch the (New) apostolic campaign for July/2013 to June/2014!!!
I wrote about it earlier in the month and I believe we all sense the END of a SEASON that has STRETCHED us sometimes seemingly beyond measure, but the …LORD is FAITHFUL!! Faithful is He that calls you, who also will do it. (I. Thess. 5:24)
I am entering into my “40th” year since my divine encounter with the Lord in June of 1974 and 30 days in a Shreveport, La. hospital. Pam and I will be married “30” years on Sept. 3, and we have lived in Houston coming up on “10” years in August! It appears to be very significant since the Lord has given us the “theme” and vision for the apostolic campaign beginning in July: GRACE AND APOSTLESHIP- GIDEON’S 300! (The CALLED AND CHOSEN AND FAITHFUL! ( THE COMMISSIONED ONES!”)
This GRACE and APOSTLESHIP (Romans 1:5) that we have received from the Lord Jesus is to “testify to the gospel of the grace of God” and to the “word of His grace.” (Acts 20:24,32) Many are called, but few are chosen! And then, within the chosen, is a completion of the vision, the FAITHFUL! These are the commissioned ones, the one’s who have withstood the test and remained diligent and faithful to the Father!
GIDEON’S 300 IS A REPRESENTATION OF THE COMMISSIONED ONES OF AN APOSTOLIC COMPANY, TO COME TOGETHER AS “ONE MAN” WITH HIS VISION! To those who are not afraid, and to those who have drank water from the hand (received the alignment of the Father), will have victory over the enemies of the Lord!
This week we will be sharing about the apostolic campaign from Gideon’s 300- 10×30! Pray with us, that over the next “three months” the Father will establish this year as the year of His divine appointment and favor for the new assignment and provision for the apostolic commission of Jesus Christ! There are those the Lord is calling to connect to the “300”! That will signify an agreement of a completion of 10 years in Houston and 30 years of marriage for a Brand “New Beginning and apostolic commission” for this next year! (Thus 10 X 30)
BLESSINGS TO YOU ALL!

A Return to Biblical Foundations of the Apostolic Church

April 30, 2013 ~ FATHERS HEART HOUSTON ~ 2 Comments

It will absolutely take a “citywide” church with “apostolic authority” and “kingdom alignment”, built upon the foundation of apostles and prophets to “turn back” the divisive spirit that is trespassing in our city!

Great sermons and great services will no longer “dispel the darkness” alone, it will take “prophetic proclamation” and “apostolic councils and elders” to be “gap-fillers” and “gate-keepers!”

Acts 13:1-4- Now in the church that was at Antioch there were certain prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Simeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who had been brough up with Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. As the ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, “Separate unto Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, having fasted and prayed, and laid hands on them, they sent them away. So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit…

Watchman on the wall, what of the night? There’s a new day dawning and the son of righteousness is rising with Healing in His Wings…

EYE 2 EYE!

ISA. 52:8- Thy watchmen shall lift up their voice, with their voices together they shall sing: for they shall see EYE TO EYE WHEN THE LORD RESTORES ZION.

ISA. 58:12- And they that shall be of thee shall (re) build the old waste places (cities); thou shalt raise up the foundations of MANY GENERATIONS; and thou shall be called, ‘The Repairer of the Breach’ and ‘The Restorer of paths to Dwell in.’

Is. 52: 8
Is. 58:12
________
Ps. 110:2(0)- THE LORD SHALL SEND THE ROD OF THY STRENGTH OUT OF ZION: RULE THOU IN THE MIDST OF THINE ENEMIES.

I. Peter 5:1-4- The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed. Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock: AND WHEN THE CHIEF SHEPHERD APPEARS, YOU WILL RECEIVE THE CROWN OF GLORY THAT DOES NOT FADE AWAY.

NEW TESTAMENT CHURCH IN THE CITY: THE SAINTS, WITH THE BISHOPS (overseers) and DEACONS…

PHILL. 1:1- PAUL and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the SAINTS IN CHRIST JESUS which are at Phillippi, with the BISHOPS (Overseers) AND DEACONS:

IS THERE ANY S.E.E.D. YET IN THE B.E.D? (Womb of the church?)

S.AINTS
E.XHORTERS
E.VANGELISTS
D.ISCIPLES

B.ISHOPS
E.LDERS
D.EACONS

ACTS 8:5- THEN Philip (One of the Seven) went down to the city of Samaria, and preached Christ to them.
Acts 8:12-But when they believed Philip preaching the things concerning the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus Christ, they were baptized, both men and women.
Acts 21:8- And the next day we that were of Paul’s company departed, and came unto Caesera: and we entered into the house of PHILIP THE EVANGELIST, which was one of the seven; and abode with him.

I Tim. 4:13-14- Till I come, give attendance to reading, to EXHORTATION, to doctrine. Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery. (eldership)
I Tim. 5:17- Let the elders who RULE WELL (bishops) be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who work hard at preaching and teaching.
2 Tim. 1:6,11- Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. Whereunto I am appointed a preacher, and an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.

JIM B.

Eph. 2:20- Having been built upon the foundations of the apostles and prophets, JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF being the chief cornerstone…

Stewardship!

March 24, 2013 ~ FATHERS HEART HOUSTON ~ Leave a comment

STEWARDSHIP concerns us in primarily three areas:

1) TIME

STEWARDSHIP concerns us in primarily three areas:

1) TIME

2) TALENT

3) TREASURE

EVERYTIME, without exception, when the Father is dealing with me in one of these three areas that I do not respond to him in proper stewardship, managing my time, my ministry and my finances, in obedience to biblical principles, I find that I go through “unnecessary” delay, denial, and discontentment!

The breakthrough comes when you realign yourself in what the Father has spoken to you, and then the release comes! Another word that the Father dropped in my heart in meditation that someone may need to hear today!!

Prov. 3:5,6- Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He will make your paths straight.

Tag: Chuck Pierce

Receiving the end of your faith…

Ekklesia ARISE!