WHAT HAPPENED TO CARLTON PEARSON?

I would like to qualify this post by stating that I am in no way condemning Carlton Pearson or joining the choruses of blogs and news sites that vilify Carlton Pearson. I am writing this post from a deep place in my spirit that is concerned about this man who was such a blessing to me in the past.

I saw Carlton Pearson last night being interviewed by Bishop George Bloomer on the Word Network. Although the context of the interview, if we can really call it that, was interesting my heart was grieving for this man who had, at one point been such a powerful emissary in the Body of Christ but who now has fallen into biblical and theological error.

And so I share with you the question that plagued the heart as I watched this man espousing a teaching that is damnable and tragic. WHAT HAPPENED TO CARLTON PEARSON?

I searched for an answer as I listened to Carlton last night.

First I believe that Carlton has been terribly deceived by the enemy of his soul. Last year I did a series of teachings on the Seven Signs of the End Times that are recorded in the Bible. One of the signs was spoken by Jesus in St Matthew 24: 4-5, "TAKE HEED THAT NO ONE DECEIVES YOU. FOR MANY WILL COME IN MY NAME, SAYING THAT I AM THE CHRIST, AND DECEIVE MANY."

The word deceive means, to be cheated, to be given a false impression, to be caught in a bait, to wander."

The evidence that Carlton is deceived was made stronger, in my opinion when he said to Bishop Bloomer, "I am wandering."

But deception is only the fruit of a more deadly root. The root of deception is boredom. Carlton mentioned that he was in a meeting with men and and possibly women who were leaders in the Church. He said that he was there physically but he was not there mentally and emotionally. He admitted that he had become bored with Church. Then he said that it was during that time that he was looking for another audience. 

Carlton's boredom with church was, I believe, his first step toward deception.

But then something else that he said gave me more of an answer. Bishop Bloomer called Carlton the Nebuchadnezzar of the 21st century and Carlton agreed.  Nebuchadnezzar was a great king, an instrument of God's judgment on God's chosen people but when Nebuchadnezzar became full of pride God judged him and Nebuchadnezzar became insane. I'm not suggesting that Carlton is insane, even though he said so himself, in a joking manner but could it be that pride elevated Carlton until he became so full of fame and fortune and power in the Church that he thought he could introduce a teaching in the Church that would be acceptable because he was Carlton Pearson. Did his own personal pride set him up for his great fall?           

My heart breaks over the decline of this very gifted able man of God. But what should the Church do in response of his heretical stand? We should pray for our brother. We should pray that God opens his eyes to see once again the truth that Carlton lived and preached. It has been in my heart to pray for Carlton for the last two years that he will repent and return to the Church. And I will continue to do so until he returns or until God lifts the burden from my heart.

Would you please join me and pray for the spiritual restoration of Carlton Pearson.

WHEN MEN PRAY

1 Timothy 2:8 "I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting."

All of heaven listens when a man pauses to pray. The creation bears witness to this incredible sight as it remembers the first man Adam and his unquenchable thirst for the presence of Elohim. What a sight it was to behold this first human, created in the image of God walking through the Garden in intimate conversation with His maker. The first man shared with his heavenly Father the awesome opportunities that had been given him as the steward over the earth that God had made for him.

In my imagination I perceive that the prayers of the first man was devoid of religion and pretense. It was man communing with God. It was God walking with man. It was relationship. It was love.

When Adam lost it all I believe that the thing that he missed the most was the place of intimacy with God. Hearing the sound of God walking in the Garden. God walking toward him, God walking with Him. God hearing him and He hearing God.

What the First Adam lost the Last Adam restored. The Last Adam, Yeshua restored this privilege of communing with the Father in prayer. The Father that we were cut off from we now can enter into His presence once again. The Father whose Voice we couldn't recognize is now very familiar to us. Now because of this restoration of relationship we can return to the Garden that we lost and we can resume the relationship that was severed.

Brothers we have our place back. We're back in the Garden and the Father is there with us hearing us when we pray and responding to us as He said that He would.

Paul said in 1 Cor 11:7 that man is the glory of God. I believe that the glory on a man is best seen in his prayer life.

I saw this manifestation of glory last night when I joined Apostle Kevin Ford and the men of the Global Men Prayer Network. It was edifying to me and glorifying to God for these men to take dominion over the phone lines and lift their voices in concerted prayer. Apostle Ford taught on the identity of a man and we prayed that God would restore the understanding in men to know and walk in their identity in Christ.

This network is only a few weeks old but I see God using it to release a new season in the Body of Christ. I call every man who seeks a genuine place of fellowship with brothers to become a member of this Network. http://www.facebook.com/groups/gmpnetwork  Join today.

WRITE WHAT THE HOLY SPIRIT SPEAKS!

I've been quiet on this blog for a couple of months as I needed to take time off to hear the Holy Spirit speak. During this time His voice has been very active in my life. However when God speaks to me it causes a reaction in the unseen realm that bring demonic attacks upon me. This is the case for those who will hear the Spirit speak. The devil and his kingdom hates the entrance of God's voice and God's word into the earth realm. However I give praise to God that I am becoming a veteran in spiritual warfare and know how to engage enemy and defeat his attempts at victory in my life.

A year ago, after I returned to the United States from Nigeria I received a word from the Lord and the result was months of spiritual attacks as the enemy warred against the manifestation of that Word in my life. So here it is a year later and once again I am engaged in spiritual warfare because of an open door that God has set before me. And as I walked victorious last year I am confident in the Lord that I will prevail again.

One of the avenues that the Holy Spirit is speaking so powerfully in my life is through the Voices of Christ. This apostolic and prophetic group was founded ten years ago by Theresa Harvard Johnson. Theresa is a mighty woman of God who walks in apostolic ministry as a voice/vessel of God. She is a spiritual Mother to those who have been anointed to walk in their scribal purpose of releasing the Word of God in the earth though the gifts that has been deposited in them.

Every day  I visit this group and receive impartation from the teaching that is offered. The Holy Spirit is delivering me from a Gentile mindset regarding my ministry/business as a writer and publisher. My heart is being delivered from the mindsets that I allowed in after the release of my first book in 2009.

As an intercessor my heart is heavy for all the authors and writers and even readers who are conforming to the world regarding its definitions for writing and publishing and even reading and supporting the gifted men and women who drives the atmosphere of this industry through their writing.

The Spirit is saying, Come out from among them and have nothing to do with the unfruitful works of darkness. You seek fame and fortune and the things of the flesh but the Spirit says seek me first. Seek my assignment for your writing. Seek my plans for your publishing endeavors. Seek my power when they call you to compromise your story. My kingdom is not of this world but everything that you need to do my will I have deposited in the earth and I am awaiting to release it to you if you put Me first.

If you hear the voice of God visit this site http://www.voicesofchrist.com  

   

RAIN IS COMING!

Deuteronomy 11:13-14 "And it shall be if you earnestly obey My commandments which I command you today, to love the Lord Your God and serve Him with all your heart and all your soul. Then I will give you RAIN for your land in its season, the early rain and the latter rain, that you may gather in your grain, your new wine and your oil."

The Holy Spirit says that rain is coming. Abba Father has promised that He will give us rain in the places where we live, love and lead. The Father says that He will give rain on our land. Our land is our work, our wealth, and our ways. The rain that Abba Father sends comes in two stages or in two seasons. It comes as the early rain, this is the rain of the beginning. The early rain causes our seed to began the growth process. It is the rain that begins life. The latter rain is the rain of the end. It is the rain that brings our seed into maturity. It is the rain that causes what has manifested in the earth to reach completion so that what has been planted can now be harvested.

Be not weary as you wait for rain if you have been faithful to do what the Father has instructed you to do. The Father says if you obey Me the rain will come. In what matter has the Father called you into obedience? He has called you to do what many in the Church will not do. He has instructed you to love Him. Loving God is the seed that you plant that releases the promise of rain.

Tomorrow many will gather in houses of worship all this world but many will not love Him in Sunday worship experience. He calls us to love Him by serving Him with all of our heart and soul. To serve Him is to worship Him, to praise Him, to exalt His name in the congregation of the righteous. But many will gather to serve self. They will exalt themselves, exalt their gifts and their performances and put themselves in a exalted place. They will serve self by feeding their desires, their wills and their emotions. They will give Abba nothing because they worship self.

Many will give offerings and some will present tithes, not for Him but for them. They will give not to obey Him but to play a religious form of lottery as they wait for their big payoff.

Hear the voice of Abba who calls you to love Him by obedience and serve him with your heart and soul. By serving him with your soul you make your soul, which is yourself, come down off the throne of your life and submit to the King who waits to bless you with rain. But if you will not love Him and serve Him He will not cause rain to fall on your land.

The dry place that you are in is the result of your own disobedience. The dry land that you continue to plant seed in can live if you will do what Abba Father is calling you to do.

And for you that is waiting for rain, wait on in faith. Don't get weary in your waiting. Rain is coming! Declare that, Rain is coming! Rain is coming! And when the latter rain has completed its purpose  you will bring into your storehouses Grain (the supply for your daily needs). New Wine (the increase that comes from His riches of His glory). And Oil (the anointing for new assignments in new seasons).        

A PLACE IN GOD

There is a place in the presence of God where we are called to dwell. It  is a place free from the distractions, divisions and disturbances of the world. It is a place of peace, purpose and prosperity.

The Holy Spirit is leading you into this place as you focus your hearts and thoughts on Him.

The spirit of this world is the cause of your worry, weariness and warfare. But the Holy Spirit is bringing you into the house of God, His abiding presence and in His presence we drink from the river of His pleasure.

Today hear the voice of the Holy Spirit who says stop being like the Gentiles who run to and from seeking the things of this world, reacting to the things of this world, and being formed by the things of this world. Become a seeker of God and live in His presence all day and seek the fullness of His presence and when you do that you will discover the fullness of His house. And in His house is everything that You need to be abundantly satisfied. (Psalms 36:8-9).

WHITNEY HOUSTON: THE GREATEST LOVE OF ALL

I was working at my computer on Saturday night when the news flashed across my web page, Publicist reports that Whitney Houston has died. Disbelieving the report,  I walked to my bedroom to confirm what I had just seen. I turned the television to CNN and they were reporting that Whitney was dead.

I felt shock, and hurt and loss. It was as if a member of my family had died. Me and my wife Vantoria starting talking about Whitney's presence in our lives. We talked about her voice, a unique gift that filled the airwaves during the 80's as Whitney burst on the scene and filled our lives with her music..

I became a fan of Whitney Houston in 1985 when I heard her sing the Greatest Love of All. That particular song holds a special place in my heart., the first time I heard it sang was at the ninth grade promotion ceremony in June 1982 at the Martin Luther King Junior High School in Cleveland Ohio. The young lady that sang The Greatest Love of All at the ceremony had experienced a great loss that very week when her Mother died. I don't remember the girl's name but I can still see her singing with such power as she touched the emotion of every one of her classmates including me. When she reached the end of the song she started to cry and we all cried with her.

A couple of years later I heard Whitney sing The Greatest Love of All and I was a fan from that day on. 

Now when I hear the Greatest Love of All  I will see two faces in my mind and cherish the memory. I'll see the ninth grade classmate who had the courage to sing with a broken heart. And I'll see Whitney Houston, an incredible gift to this generation.

Second opportunities

It is unusual for me to write a blog on a Sunday morning but I was impressed by the Holy Spirit to share this message with you.  Today is the twenty second day of a new year. Are you doing anything different? Are you pursuing your purpose? I hope that every day is a day where you live in the Presence of God demonstrating the power of God as you receive the provisions of God.

I want to encourage you today to be ready for second opportunities that are coming your way in 2012. I believe with all my heart that God is going to present many of His children with second opportunities this year.

A second opportunity is God bringing you the same experience that you missed the last time He presented you with it. And please understand that it is not my intention to cast you into the land of regret where you bemoan past opportunities that you now realize has past you by. I have great news for you, many of those opportunities that you let get away are coming back. You may be asking the question how do I know this?

Because God gave me this message to preach today at the New Mine Creek Church and the Holy Spirit got me up early this morning to write this message to you.

In St Mark chapter six Jesus came to Nazareth a second time. The first time He came to Nazareth is recorded in St Luke chapter four. The good people of Nazareth rejected Jesus the first time. They missed an opportunity of a lifetime, receiving God who came to deliver them from darkness into light.

But two years later Jesus came back. He came to give the town where He had grown up and where many of His family lived a second opportunity to receive Him and see God move in their community. But unfortunately they missed this second opportunity to receive Jesus. In a few months He would be dying on a cross and a few day later He would be resurrected and forty days after that He would ascend to heaven.

Like the people of Nazareth many of us have missed God opportunities in our past but I believe strongly that 2012 is a going to be a year of second opportunities. And I'm not talking about new opportunities I'm talking about missed opportunities. And so be ready to receive what you passed over the last time.

I missed an opportunity some years ago. I missed it because I was distracted when it appeared. I passed it over without praying about it. And when I realized that I missed an opportunity to live a dream I thought that a dream had come to an end but then some years later the opportunity returned for the second time. This time I prayed and I waited on the Holy Spirit to give me instructions and when He led me I grabbed hold to it. Excitement and faith rose up in me when I recognized that God had given me another opportunity. The same thing is going to happen to you in 2012. BELIEVE IT!

Experiencing Success and Sorrow

I know that you have probably been wondering where I've been. It has been a couple of weeks since I have posted a blog but I have been busy and spending time on the release of my book DIVINE FAVOR: GOD ACTS FOR YOU WHILE YOUR ENEMIES ACT AGAINST YOU. It will be released as an ebook in a few weeks. 

I hope that the end of 2011 was a time of joy and celebration for you as you look excitedly to the new year 2012. Me and my family closed the year with an invigorating vacation in central Florida. We spent five days in Orlando Florida and loved every minute of it. The weather was perfect. The resort that we stayed at was beautiful. The restaurants that we ate at where good, even though I didn't get to go to the Crab House that I was trying to find and kept getting caught in traffic! and our visit to the Holy Land Experience on Christmas Eve was great!

If you've never been to the Holy Land Experience I encourage you to go. The Crouches and TBN has done a phenomenal job in creating that park. It has created a desire in me now to visit the Holy Land in Israel and experience the place where our Lord lived.

My son Quincy

Me, Myself and I.

With a new year I have a new mind. I have new plans and new goals. I have new dreams and new projects. I am excited about 2012 and what I will accomplish because God has given me the idea and the grace to perform the idea but in the midst of this new year I have already experienced sorrow. That's part and parcel of this life that we live. Success is inside of me manifesting and sorrow is in me because of devastating losses.

On last Thursday my wife Vantoria received news that her best friend had died. Her nickname was Dee, her name Daveida Wallace. She was the mother of Eric, me and Vantoria's godson, Kayla and David. She fought valiantly with cancer but last week she broke the news to my wife that they had reached the end of the road together. She bid my wife goodbye and went into the hospital the next day. She died two days later.

It has been painful watching my wife deal with the pain from the death of her friend. The two of them had been through a lot together. They had shared many experiences, both good and bad. They were loyal to one another and they were friends to the very end.

Although the two of them lived hundreds apart and they didn't see each other often the distance didn't diminish their relationship. They counted themselves blessed to have known each other and Vantoria will have a great void in her life with her best friend gone.

Dee and her daughter Kayla

Dee and her firstborn Eric 

The day after I received the news about Dee dying I discovered on the Internet that one of my mentors and a giant in the field of preaching died a month ago. The Reverend Freddie L. Brown was one of Cleveland's greatest preachers. He pastored the Mount Gillion Baptist Church for over thirty years. In the National Baptist Convention Reverend Brown was a renown revivalist and one of the most popular preachers in that denomination. He was packed with spiritual power and a dynamo in the pulpit.

For many years Reverend Brown was heard all over Cleveland Ohio and surrounding areas through his radio broadcast heard on Sunday nights from WJMO. As a young preacher I attended Mount Gillion every Sunday night where I sat and learned the fundamentals of soul preaching preaching from Reverend Brown. Before Reverend Brown would preach he would lead the choir in singing "Look where he brought me from." Another song that he would sing during prayer time was  "God will take care of you." Over the weekend as I mourned his passing I can still hear Reverend Brown singing those songs lifting the congregation in the church and over the airwaves to a crescendo of excitement.     

Reverend Brown encouraged young preachers like me. I preached on youth day at Mount Gillion  when I was eighteen years old. It was the largest church that I had preached at up to that point and the experience was a foreshadow of where I was going in ministry. After that service Rev Brown told me to take my time and grow into the calling that God had on my life. That would be the first of many lessons that I would receive from Reverend Brown who opened his pulpit and his heart to developing me as a minister of the gospel.

Because of his openness to young preachers a gang of us assembled at at Mount Gillion. We were in school learning from one of the best.

The last time I saw Reverend Brown was in a November 2006. Reverend Brown had a stroke that summer that left him unable to speak. With no voice one of the greatest preachers in America could no longer do what he had been doing since the 1950's and he stepped away from active ministry. The church had a lengthy celebration as he was retired that November. I went that night to let Reverend Brown know how much he meant to me. The preacher that Friday night was Reverend Jasper Williams from Atlanta. The service was explosive, it took me back to old times, the way church use to be. 

I walked over to Reverend Brown to speak to him and shake his hand. I told him that I would be praying for him and how much he had influenced me to pursue excellence in ministry as he done, to love people and care for their souls, and to be innovative and always seeking God for fresh approaches to ministry. He couldn't reply although he tried to.

So my mind is looking to success and what I need to do to experience success. And my mind is reflecting on these two incredible persons who I had the privilege of knowing. My heart is full of hope for the future and my heart is full of sorrow over the passing of these two very important people that blessed my life with their presence.    

Please enjoy this short excerpt of Reverend Brown's message "The Seven Promises of God."

  

NEED AN EDGE FOR 2012? TRY YOUR FAITH!

I am so excited that we have reached the end of 2011! Like me I'm sure that you've had a year of highs and lows, successes and failures, triumphs and defeats. I appreciate you for being a reader of Bernard's Word. It is a great blessing to have you visit my website and read about the things that concerns me and that I am passionate about.

I give God praise for 2011 and some of the incredible experiences that I had this year. Some of my highlights for 2011 are:

1. In March I visited the beautiful country of Nigeria for eight days preaching and teaching in the southern region of that country.

2. In June me and group of members from the New Mine Creek Church began learning about wealth building and successful strategies about money and finance from one of the greatest financial mentors in the country William V. Thompson, president of Dynamic Financial Training.
     
3. In July I celebrating twenty years of marriage with my beautiful wife Vantoria.

4. In August my son Bernard Quincy entered his senior year in high school.

5. In August I preached at the National Primitive Baptist Convention on the eve of the election that secured  the presidency of Elder Bernard Yates.

6. In September I attended the African American Literary Awards in Harlem New York.

7. In December me and my family had an incredible Christmas vacation in Orlando Florida.

8. In October I connected with a group of writers in the John3:16 Marketing Network for a monthly prayer conference call.  

I hope that 2011 has been an incredible year for you as well. Because they type of year that you had in 2011 should be a springboard for living with a edge in 2012.

A couple of weeks I was surfing through my television and I came across the Sports show First Take. First Take is a sports show that highlights two commentator who debate their opinions about what's happening in the world of athletics. One of the debaters is the straightforward Skip Bayless (I love it when he gives it to Lebron! I can't help it!) . On this particular show the other debater was the fast talking, take no prisoners Stephen A. Smith.  Their topic of conversation was the Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow. The comment that struck me was when Skip said that Tim's faith gives him an edge and that was a great part of why he was having a successful year.

I have to admit at this point that I don't watch the NFL. And I knew nothing about Tim Tebow, but Skip's comment caused me to do some reading about this quarterback who was the source of conversation on First Take. And what I learned about Tim had left me amazed once again at how God uses people who are available to Him and makes them a declaration to the world about who He is..

When Tim Tebow walks out on that field to perform as a quarterback he walks believing that God is with him. He believes that as he executes his plays and leads his teammates that the presence of God is surrounding him. And Tim believes that God speaks to him and gives him peace under a tremendous amount of pressure to perform and conform.

Skip said that Tim's faith gives him an edge. In other words Tim has an advantage because of the God that he believes in and what he believes about himself because God is operating in his life. Stephen A. Smith said that Tim's faith was a force, wow! no greater words have ever been spoken about faith. Because that what faith is, it's a force!  

When you live by faith it gives you an edge. I'm not saying that faith makes you better than others but it puts you ahead. Your faith gives you an advantage. If you have faith and operate by faith principles that's put you in the company of champions. Throughout 2011 the Holy Spirit has been saying to me that He's raising up a generation of Davids. David is the spiritual prototype of a people who have a edge because they believe God and they are willing to go into the valley and kill the giants that has created fear among the people of God. When all of Israel cowered before Goliath faith gave David an edge.

2012 is going to be a year of conquering giants because your faith is giving you an edge. Your faith will make you stand out and take hold of the opportunities that others will run from. You are going to do impossible things because you have an edge. You have a confidence that God has spoken to you and that God is with you. The Holy Spirit has set dreams and visions in your heart that you will accomplish because you have an edge.

I see you in 2012 WINNING, GAINING, POSSESSING! Declare to the giants that you have faith, you have an edge!

YOU ARE IN HIDING

How are things going with you? Can you believe that we have only seventeen more days left in this year? I hope that you had a great year. A year full of peace, purpose and prosperity. I can confess that 2011 was a remarkable year for me even with all the challenges that I faced.  As I prepare to enter 2012 I have resolved to discard what is useless and keep what is useful for next year. I hope that you do the same thing.

This week I watched on of the most incredible videos I seen this year and I had to share with you this video and the impact that it had on me as it reminded me of God's dealing with me in another season in my life many years ago. 

The video features Fred Hammond. Just in case you don;t know who Fred Hammond is, he is  an incredible gospel singer and producer. He sings with incredible power and liberty in Jesus Christ. Fred is a native of Detroit and he currently lives in Dallas Texas. In this video Fred shares how his Mother attempted to abort him but the abortion failed. When Fred's Mother went back to the clinic they guaranteed that they would finish where they failed before and as she was lying on the gurney the fear of the Lord came over and she got dressed and left the clinic saving the life of her son Fred. 

I was shaken emotionally when Fred said, "When I was supposed to be discarded. When the tools that were supposed to destroy me, the Lord took His hand and pushed me back." In my mind I could see God rescuing Fred from death because He had a great purpose for his life. I started celebrating the divine deliverance of God in Fred Hammond's life. I celebrated that God saved this gift that we know today as Fred Hammond, because He had a plan for Fred in this generation.

And as I was meditating on Fred Hammond's testimony my mind went back to a pastor's conference that I attended many years ago. It was during a dark season and I wasn't sure if I could keep going and doing what God had called me to do. In that afternoon session I sat in the auditorium of a hotel and the speaker announced his text. It was Isaiah 49:1-2 "THE LORD HAS CALLED ME FROM THE WOMB; FROM THE INWARDS PARTS OF MY MOTHER HE HAS MADE MENTION OF MY NAME. AND HE HAS MADE MY MOUTH  LIKE A SHARP SWORD; IN THE SHADOW OF HIS HAND HE HAS HIDDEN ME, AND MADE ME A POLISHED SHAFT; IN HIS QUIVER HE HAS HIDDEN ME."

The Rhema Word of God spoke to me that day. I was assured that I was in the best place because God who knew me before my conception was hiding me in His hand. In God's hand I was safe as He fashioned me and shaped me in His image. I was reminded by the Man of God who spoke that day that the best place to be in was the hand of God. Because in His hand God was polishing me, shaping me and refining me to be a polished shaft. In the secret place of God's hand God was making me into a formidable instrument that would wreak havoc on the kingdom of darkness. God was getting me ready for the time that He would release me as His secret weapon against the kingdom of darkness .

As I look back over that time I can see how God was hiding me for this time and for times to come. So when I was watching Fred give his testimony and I heard him say, "God hid me." It brought forth that memory of the time when God was hiding me as well. And this may be where you are right now.

God may be hiding you, because He has some work to do in you before He sends you into the kingdom of darkness as his secret weapon. Rest in God's hands. Submit to His work in you in this season. God is getting you ready to bring the kingdom of darkness down. And when you show up bringing down principalities, running demons away because of the glory of God that shines through you the devil is going to say as I'm sure he said when Fred appeared as a mighty weapon tearing down bondage's and setting men free through his music, I thought I killed you.

Don't despair God is hiding you. He's keeping you in his quiver until He's ready to send you out as a mighty weapon. The best place to be is in God's hiding place. What He did for Fred Hammond He will do the same thing for you. Please share this video with others.

TASTE AND SEE: A SAMPLING OF FIRST CHAPTERS BY THE AUTHORS OF JOHN 3:16 MARKETING NETWORK

Psalms 34:8 "O TASTE AND SEE THAT THE LORD IS GOOD..."

Lorilyn Roberts, the founder and president of the John 3:16 Marketing Network has compiled a series of writings from some of the authors that are members of the Network. In this compilation of works of varied genres you will see a impressive array of the artistic offerings. This particular work presents the talents of the enormously gifted and talented writers who make up this unique group of writers who are dedicated to the mission of spreading the love of Christ through our writings to the world. 

The Sampling of first chapters is intended to stimulate your reading interest in the hopes that you will support these authors by purchasing their books. I am sure that among the fifty eight chapters presented in catalog that you will find many authors whose writings will enrich and encourage you during this holiday season.

From now until the end of the year you can download a copy of Taste and See in ebook format from Smashword for free. Go to Smashword now http://www.smashword.com/books/view/104475 and get your free copy. You can also purchase a copy at Amazon for .99. Go to Amazon now at http://www.amazon.com/Sampling-Chapters-Marketing-Network-ebook/dp/B006H9TJAA/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=13237660633&sr=8-2   

I am a proud member of this incredible group and it was my privilege to write the forward to this project. Please support and make it a success by getting a copy today. God bless you and I appreciate you for your support.

Pastor Bernard Boulton

WWW.BERNARDBOULTON.COM      

GOD'S SKELETON KEY

I love it when the Holy Spirit confirms a word that He has placed in my spirit. The confirmation of a word means that God has given us this word to be fixed in our hearts. Once the Word is fixed in our hearts it moves throughout our spirit establishing this truth on the inside of us. This confirmed word is God's instrument that He uses to make something in us and to bring something through us. That something is God's will, God's way and God's wisdom. Let me explain this, the word of God on the inside of us is God working His will in us. God works His will in us so that we can walk in His ways. As we walk in His ways His wisdom is strategies that answers he situations that arise in our lives.  

Last week God gave me this word from St Matthew 6:10, "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done in earth as it in heaven." I preached from this passage  last Saturday but since last Saturday and before I've meditated on this verse and feed my spirit with it as I considered this part of the prayer that Jesus gave to His disciples as a model of prayer. However when God confirms a word to me He will give me the same word from a different source in a short amount of time. It is then that my spirit is alerted that God is bringing a word into my life to establish it for that season. When I know that my heavenly Father is doing this in me it always excites me because I know that He is setting me for a new experience on the journey of faith that I'm on.


On Monday I received a book in the mail. The book was written by Don Nori Sr. the founder of Destiny Image Publishers. It is titled YES! THE PRAYER THAT GOD LOVES TO ANSWER. I won a free copy of this book after I entered a contest. In this book Don talks about the humble beginnings of his publishing house Destiny Image and how God led him to form this unusual house that would fulfill God's will in the publishing world.  Okay so I'm reading my copy, along with three others books and manuscripts as well as writing my second novel and I get to Chapter two and Don talks about how his grandfather sent him into the house to get a skeleton key from his grandmother. Now I've never heard of a skeleton key but anyway it's a key that can open any lock. And then Don calls St Matthew 6:10 the skeleton key secret.

At this point after reading what Don Nori calls the skeleton key I sense the Holy Spirit calling me to a teaching sessions. I know that He wants to connect with this principle and pattern. As I continued to read chapter 2 of Don's book  I see the confirming of this principle and where God is calling me to operate. And I wanted to share this with you. This prayer will open every closed door that has stopped or slowed you down this year. It will open and release heaven into your life every time you pray these words.

"Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth as it is in heaven." God wants to answer this prayer in your life. Can you already imagine the kind of year 2012 is going to be for you because you used this prayer as a skeleton key to open every door and bring down heaven into your earth? Start using this key and let me know what happens for you. I'm already anticipating what God is going to do in my life in 2012 as I use this skeleton key to open doors that the devil closed in my face. Let me know what this key is going to do for you.

PLANNING FOR THE NEW YEAR: SETTING GOALS

I've been reading EntreLeadership by Dave Ramsey. Chapter 2 is titled, "Start with a Dream, End with a Goal." In this chapter Dave talks about the importance of setting goals to reach your dreams. Setting goals appeal to me because I love seeing progress in my life and I can't proceed if I don't have a signpost, which is what a goal is to me.

Dave talks about how important it is to have goals for every area of our lives. The areas of my life are:

1. Spiritual.
2. Health.
3. Relationships.
4. Finances.
5. Ministry.
6. Business.

After reading EntreLeader I felt pretty good about setting my goals for 2012. It is my practice to work on my plan for the next year during the month of December.

On yesterday I listened to Dr Amos Johnson on his video talk about having unfinished goals. Amos confessed that he set some goals this year that he didn't complete. He talked about how he missed those goals and how he wouldn't make the same mistake next year. Amos Videoblogs always has great information that is rich in application.

So I want you to join me in setting your goals for next year. I'm not talking about New Year Resolutions but goals that's going to get you to the dream that's going to change your life. And if you have any uncompleted goals roll them over to next year. That's what I'm doing.

Check out Amos Video blog at http://amosjohnsonjr.com/vblogs.php?=64

Goals are the road map to your future. Your future starts the day you start planning. Make it today.

ANOTHER VISIT TO MY PRAYER JOURNAL

I was meditating today on what I should blog about and I was led by the Holy Spirit to revisit my second prayer journal. It covered the period of the fall of 1994 when me and my family moved to Danville Virginia from Beckley West Virginia after I was called to be the pastor of the New Mine Creek Church.

On November 22, 1994  I wrote in my journal a thanksgiving to Holy Spirit who had revealed to me that the enemy was setting a trap for me by bringing a lot of activities into my life that would cause me to put on the back burner the time that I daily spent with God in prayer. I made a covenant with God not to fall into the trap of busyness but rather to continue to seek Him every morning as I had been doing for more than a year.

I asked the Holy Spirit to continue to give me alerts when the enemy was trying to steal this most precious time from me and thus render me ineffective in the ministry that God had called me to.

I also prayed concerning my dream of becoming a published author. I had not yet buried that dream. I asked God to get the glory from my writing and that He send me another agent to secure a publishing contract for my first novel.

As I read the words in my prayer journal it struck me that I was able to perceive the devil's scheme to fill my time with activities that would steal my time with God but I couldn't see how he was stealing something else from me, my dream to become a published author. I caught the devil coming in the front door but didn't see him coming through the window.

I didn't realize how my enemy eventually caused me to give up dreaming until I read these words seventeen years later while I'm writing this blog. But what was a victory for him became a knockout when my first novel was released in December 2009. What he stole God restored and is continuing to restore as I write my second novel.

I wondered why did the Holy Spirit warn me about his scheme of making me walk away from pursuing God in daily prayer but not warn me about the dream that he was stealing concerning my writing and just as quickly the answer came from the Holy Spirit. The devil could steal my desire to write because I didn't value it enough. In the pastorate I had become satisfied and comfortable being a pastor of a congregation and I told myself that pastoring was all I needed to do. I'd talked myself out of my dreams and made it susceptible to the devil to come right in and steal.

It would take almost a decade for God to resurrect the vision that had died and show me that He had given me many gifts and I would never be fruitful until I used all of them.

 My prayer for you is that you recognize what the enemy is trying to steal from you so that you will guard the precious thing that God has given to you. And if the enemy has stolen your dreams I believe with you that God restore it sevenfold

Elder Bernard Yates Visits the North Carolina/Virginia Primitve Baptist Convention

The delegates of the North Carolina/Virginia Primitive Baptist Convention was thrilled with the news that Elder Bernard Yates, the newly elected President of the National Primitive Baptist Convention was coming to the state convention to preach the final service on Sunday November 6, 2011 at 3:00 p.m.

The sanctuary of the State building was full as the delegation waited with great anticipation to hear the Word of God from Elder Yates. The pulpit was full of Elders, Preachers, and Pastors. The music was provided by the praise team of the Kings Mountain View Primitive Baptist Church,Westfield North Carolina pastored by Elder J.R. Strickland who is in his 55th year  as pastor of that congregation.       

Elder Timothy Lyons, the Vice President of the State Convention and Pastor Elect of the St John's Chapel Primitive Baptist Church of Charlotte North Carolina introduced Elder Yates in his rhmytic and eloquent manner. And then Elder Doctor Thomas W. Samuels, president of the North Carolina/Virginia State Convention for 35 years, took the podium to raise a love offering for Elder Yates. Following the offering Elder Samuels led the congregation in the hymn, "Father I Stretch my Hands to Thee,"  sang in the distinctive style of North Carolina. One of the unique distinction of the Primitive Baptist Church is the richness of the hymns sang in that region's manner. And Elder T.W. Samuels is a master of Primitive Baptist hymnology with his sonorous baritone voice. In a few moments most of the conventioneers were on their feet singing and giving God praise as a couple of hundreds voices blended in song.  

After much rejoicing and praising the Lord Elder Yates took the podium as the members of the convention stood to give him an enthusiastic greeting. Elder Yates expressed his thanks to the North Carolina/Virginia Convention for their support of him and the convention. He stated, "I recognize that the North Carolina/Virginia State Convention is a force to be reckoned with." Elder Yates announced his text from Galatians 1:10-12. His preaching subject was "The Hurdles of Pleasing People."  

Elder Yates is a dynamic preacher with a unique presentation. He expounded the text and explicated it in a serious and insightful way. He strongly exhorted the congregation to please God as he closed in his thunderous style of preaching that is uniquely Bernard Yates.

Elder Yates deserves the support of this entire convention as we move forward into the destiny that God has set for this branch of the body of Christ. I encourage you to pray for Elder Yates as his success is our success.  

Letters to God on a Prodigal Son-Overcoming Addiction through Prayer

Bernard's Word Presents Anita Estes

Today is my pleasure to introduce to you Anita Estes. Anita has written a personal  story about the perils of addiction and how the prayer of faith has the power to destroy the plans of the enemy. I'm asking all the readers of this blog to purchase Anita's book today at http://www.anitaestes.com/landing-page.html  

1. Tell us about your newest book, Letters to God on a Prodigal Son-Overcoming Addiction through Prayer? This power packed journal and guide was birthed from the painful passage I experienced while navigating the minefield of my son's addiction. I kept a diary that contained many insightful prayers, letters and scriptures that I thought would help others navigate the turbulent waters of a prodigal's addiction, so I worked on transforming it into a book.

I added two sections, Lessons Learned and Suggestions that I thought would further help others to avoid the same pitfalls I experienced, while offering a lifeline of hope. At the time that my son was going through this terrible ordeal, I couldn't find any Christian Books on the subject that gave spiritual and practical, not textbook advice

2. What are some of the pitfalls you experienced in dealing with your son's addiction and in writing this timely and powerful book? It is sometimes very difficult for a parent to recognize the warning signs of an addiction in their teenager, especially in this culture today when drinking is so accepted. This was my downfall. I kept thinking my son was going through a stage, especially because he would repent when something bad happened, like losing his license for a year or failing out of college. He would turn back to God and do what was right for a while, but then he would fall again.

One of the pitfalls in writing the book was trying to figure out a way to take my personal experience and help others learn from it. I didn't want to offer just another informational book or book of advice on addiction, so I kept it in a journal format. I wanted others to see that God held me through this very difficult time and that He can do the same for them. I also wanted to be very honest and real because as Christians we sometimes think we need to cover up our pain and even try to keep it form God and fellow believers. I wanted to show people that you can show God your pain, cry out to Him and go through different stages with Him right alongside. The last thing you should do in a crisis is stay mad at God and stop talking with Him.

3. What did you learn from this experience? I learned that God is faithful, even when we're not, even when we get mad at Him and don;t understand what He's doing. God wants us to draw near to Him and cast all our cares, concerns, worries and anxieties to Him. He has very big shoulders to carry our burdens and for us to lean and even weep upon. I also learned that God is true to His word. You can believe His promise as long as you understand them, have faith and continue to trust God for the outcome. I also learned that it's very important to surrender your prodigal to God. That's the best place for them.

You can find Letters to God at www.anitaestes.com and at http://www.anitaestes.com/landing-page.html   Anita is offering a lot of great gifts with your purchase today.         

SUCCEEDING IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PRAYER

One of the most fruitful and successful groups that I have had the privilege to be affiliated with has been the John3:16 Marketing Network. We are a group of writers and authors from all over the world. Our mission is to combine our marketing efforts to promote each others work. The moderator and visionary of this group is Lorilyn Roberts, author of  Children of Dreams. God gave the vision to Lorilyn to create this place and she has been tireless in leading and helping us.   

John3:16 is unlike any group that I've ever been connected with. God led me here in answer in to my prayers. The love of God connects us and the Holy Spirit has released gifts, creativity and favor on the members. I sense God raising up this group to represent Him well in the years to come.

Of course experiencing favor and pursuing the will of God has not come without a price. Many of us have been been under relentless spiritual attacks from the enemy throughout the year but it seemed to have escalated in the month of October. I don't use these terms spiritual attacks and warfare lightly but this has been the case for the members of John3:16. Many of us have had computer issues. Some of us have seen attacks on our families and there has been other challenges with spiritual oppression and on and on.

As I read what everyone was going through, as well as dealing with the enemy in my life the Holy Spirit lead me to call our group to prayer. In obedience to Him I did with the support of our leader Lorilyn.

On this past Monday night seven of us met via telephone to pray over John3:16. What an experience! The Holy Spirit filled the phone lines as each of us petitioned God for self and others. I know that hell was dealt a great blow by the coming together of God's children.

I can't attest how this prayer gathering affected everyone else but after I got off the prayer call I was revived. I had so much energy that I stayed up to one o clock that morning working. And I was back up at six that morning to enjoy an incredible day in the presence of the Lord.

Our partnership went to another level on Monday night. It only remains to see how God will use these burdens from the enemy and the blessings from praying together to affect a great future for John3:16. I sense 2012 being an incredible year for this group. And our prayer gatherings will be an essential key to the future that God has already prepared for our group as we war in prayer to bring God's purpose for this group to pass.   .

I hope that my blog today will encourage you to connect with praying believers. Especially for you who are pursuing your dreams and other business endeavors. Jesus said and it is recorded in St Matthew 18:19. "Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, it will be done for them by My Father in heaven."

Jesus teaches us this vital key to success. AGREE TO ASK THE FATHER.

All partnerships are founded on the principle of agreement. But when you bring the God of the universe, your heavenly Father into your partnership by asking Him to do what your partnership can't do the sky is the limit to what you will achieve. With God on your partnership team there are no boundaries to what you can accomplish. With Him providing you all the resources in heaven success is yours.

A partnership that includes prayer is a winning a partnership.

YOUR ASSIGNMENT EXPELS THE DARKNESS

In the first creative act of God He said, "Let there be light." And then God gave light an assignment. He called the light Day, day was the assignment that God gave the light. And light has been fulfilling its assignment every since. Like the light that fills the universe and gives us energy that causes us to live everyone of us has been given an assignment. We were created to do what God has called us to do. And when we operate in our assignments we are living as God intended us to live.

The creation of light was God's answer to darkness which always existed on this planet. The fulfillment of your assignment is God's answer to the darkness that prevails in our world. The darkness that I refer to is not the physical darkness that governs the night, the darkness that rules most of the day at this time of year but I am speaking of a more pervasive form of darkness.

All around us is spiritual darkness. It exist in our communities, our schools, our governments and sometime even in the houses of worship where many gather weekly. People live in darkness because they live lives of misery. How many people got up today and got dressed and went to a job that will leave them miserable at the end of this day? How many people are trapped in relationships with people that leave them feeling miserable. They are living in the darkness of misery.

How many persons have bought the lies of the enemy. Lies that tell them that God doesn't love them and they are too far beyond His redemption. Lies that condemn them and tell them that God will never forgive them for what they did. Lies that tell them that they will never be successful, never prosper and never live an abundantly happy life. Any time a person accept a lie as truth they are living in the darkness of lies.

Your God assignment is the answer to the darkness in this world. As you embrace the call of God for your life and walk out that call daily you become the force that expels darkness from the world.
How do you know what your assignment is? First you have to have a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is the way to God.  Second you have to submit to the Holy Spirit in your life. The Holy Spirit reveals your assignment. He speaks to your heart and then confirms through others what God has gifted you to do.

Your assignment will always answer the question, What can I do to make things better? What solution do I bring to the problem? What can I do to empower people?

You were born to drive darkness out of the world. What are you waiting for?     

THERE'S TREASURE INSIDE OF YOU

Hello everyone. I hope that you had a phenomenal week. I know that I did. I was on vacation this week. Last weekend I was in my hometown of  Cleveland Ohio to celebrate with my family the 90th birthday of my grandmother Lottie Mitchell. It is an incredible blessing to have my maternal grandmother in my life. Being in her presence is evidence of God's goodness resting on her life. My grandmother has been an great influence in my life and I count her as one of the many gifts that God has given me.

This past week I sat in presence of God and listened to Him speak to me concerning the present and future. On my drive back home from Cleveland I drove through the Blue Ridge Mountain, what a testimony to he creative genius of God, meditating and worshipping God. This entire week has been one of rest in the presence of God as I reflected on the seasons that I have passed through and am currently in.

I wanted to write a blog yesterday but I didn't have anything to write. And so I rejoice that the Holy Spirit deposited this word in my spirit to write here today. I believe that these words will really motivate you to take some time to discover what God has planted in your heart that is now ready to come forth.

Do you know what treasure lives inside of you? Are you aware of the value that has been placed inside of you by God? Have you ever taken inventory of the wealth that lives in you?

If you don;t know what I'm talking about I want to give you the five-fold treasure that lives in you.

1. Purpose: You were created in the image of God to be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, and subdue it, and have dominion in the earth. These descriptions are given to us in Genesis 1:28. Every human being on the planet Earth was given this purpose. And even though our image was broken by sin in Jesus Christ we have a restored image to accomplish our purpose. Your purpose is the treasure in you.

2. Vision: On my Wednesday's blog I talked about living with Vision and so I won't repeat myself here. But I will say that the Vision in you is treasure because it is the gateway to your future. Purpose is who I am to do what I was born to do. Vision is what I see to do what I was born to do. Your vision is the treasure in you.

3. Ability: God placed Adam in the garden to tend it and keep it. God gave Adam a place where he could demonstrate his ability. God put Adam in an environment to succeed.  God has given each one of us a place to demonstrate our ability. It can be your home, your job or business, your church or your community. Ability has to have a place to express itself. Your ability is the treasure inside of you.

4. Intelligence: God gave Adam intelligence. Genesis 2:19 says that God brought every animal to Adam to be named. God gave Adam an opportunity to express his  intelligence by giving him a situation and then watched how he handled it. Intelligence is the ability to find solutions to any matter. God challenges our intelligence not by what we know but by how we are able to answer situations. Your intelligence is the treasure inside of you.

5. Recognition: When God brought the woman to Adam he immediately recognized her. Adam knew who she was. He knew that she was created for him. Adam had what I call INTUITIVE RECOGNITION. Adam knew who the woman was although God never said who she was. There are times when you don't have information but you know when God is bringing someone into your life for a certain purpose. You perceive that God is bringing someone into your life for a divine connection. Recognition not only applies to people but it also applies to situations. Recognition is the treasure inside of you.

With all of this treasure in us why are we not living at our full potential? Why are we not living incredible lives? Because the treasure inside of us has been buried by all the junk inside of us. The treasure has been buried by years of fear, doubt, unbelief, mental limitations and sociological messages. To discover the treasures that God has deposited in you you have to go dig for it. You have to reject everything in you that says to you what you can't do and you have to keep digging until you reach what God has placed inside of you. And then you bring the treasure to the surface by speaking it, meditating on it and doing it.

I pray that you find everything that God has deposited in you. Everything that God has placed in you is the keys to live an incredible life!

WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU EXPEREINCE

The idea of having a vision that would transform my life and create a future was first introduced to me in the mid 90's when I read THE POWER OF VISION by George Barna. George challenged me to believe God for bigger things that would change the church that I was pastoring and affect the community in a profound way.

As I got older I started to embrace this concept of Vision not only for the churches that I have pastored but also for myself and for my family.  I embraced the belief that having Vision meant that I had a future. I had a mental sketch that was formed in my mind that was calling me to a destiny that was unlike my present and my past.

Whenever I meditate on the Vision for my life, my family, the church that I pastor and my business it stirs something in me. It gives room to my inner voice that says all things are possible when you believe.

Everyone needs a vision. Vision is the foundation of the incredible life that God wants to have. Everyone needs to be a part of a organization that has vision. Everyone needs to be a member of a family that has vision. Vision empowers, encourages and elevates.

The second time that God spoke to man God invited man to have a vision. When this revelation came to me I determined then that I would never again live without vision. The first time that God spoke to man is given in Genesis 1:28. God told male and female to take dominion over the earth. And the second time that God spoke is given in Genesis 1:29 He said, "See, I have given you every herb that yields seed which is on the face of all the earth, and every tree whose fruit yields seed; to you it shall be for food."

Let me repeat this. The second time that God spoke to the human race He said to them SEE. After mankind was equipped and called to establish ownership over the earth then mankind was called to embrace vision. Where God has set you to rule, oversee and complete God has also set you to see what He has given you and for what purpose.

Because we don't see where we have been set we don't experience the results of what we see. Your vision calls you to see the provisions that God has placed in your view. Your vision calls you to recognize the potential of what is before you. Your vision makes the place where you are significant and meaningful. Your vision reveals God's purpose for what He is inviting you to see.

Can I make a suggestion to you that I am totally convince will change your life if you follow it? I hope you said yes. Spend the rest of this year, there are seventy three days left in 2011 and accept God's invitation to SEE, to receive the vision that is going to take forward in 2012.

First take a look at what God has set before you. What ideas keep coming to the forefront of your mind? What plans keep rising up in your imagination? Who is in your life that God has set there to help you move forward with your vision?

Second, identify the potential of your vision. What does it have the power to do? What will change because of your vision? What impact will it have on others?

Third, look at the place where you are. Is this where God wants your Vision to manifest? Are you committed to staying there until the vision comes forth? Are there limiting situations that would keep your Vision from growing and expanding? Will you have to move to bring your vision to pass?

Fourth, know the purpose of your vision. Why does your vision exist?

I pray that you will hear God say to you today SEE!