Vinedressers

12/19/2022

04/18/2016

Lately, we are hearing much about the “revival” of the Church. Yes, many are praying and believing for this to happen and as others I believe it has already begun. It is needed and I believe that without it we are doomed as a society. We should all be doing our part to work towards this. I just finished being involved quite extensively with a prayer rally and as many know I have been involved in these gatherings for 40 years now.

With that said, I want to ask a question and I don’t desire to sound pessimistic at all, because it’s worth my time to ask it!! What are we being revived to? If it is the same thing we have experienced in the past, as now, we are going to need revived again. Stated another way, do we know where we are going and is it where God wants us to end up? I see revivals as a means to an end, not an end in itself.

I believe there has been something terribly amiss in the Church for centuries. The Church as a whole has this cycle where it needs the Holy Spirit to come with an infusion of spiritual energy about every 30 to 40 years. It comes in the form of these revivals to rebuild what has fallen down only to see it fall down again over time. It happens corporately and in many cases personally. Could it be we are not getting something right?

Perhaps these times of revival are mere placebos and do not cure the problem. Like drugs that alleviate symptoms but do not cure the disease, sometimes our spiritual placebos leave us with nasty side effects. Often these side effects are worse or complicate the original condition. There seems to be too little spent on the cures. After all it pays the people in charge well to continue to treat symptoms. It gives them purpose, identity and cash. After all they are in the business of producing products to make people feel better. Just look at our drug companies!

If we as God’s people (especially the leaders) don’t get it right this time around, we are going to gain ground for the Church only to lose it again over the next 30 years or so. We will spend untold amounts of energy, activity and money that we cannot afford to waste, only to find we are in the same position.

My question in recent years has been, why does the Church need revivals about every 40 years? And why has the church as a whole never seem to be able to break this cycle and bring Christians to maturity or completion? “Completion” or “Perfection” is simply becoming like Jesus with the result of walking as He did. I John 2:6. This applies to all Christians not just an elite group of people called “ministry”. The writer mentions this problem in Hebrews 5:11-6:1. Check it out. How powerful would it be if we all walked the earth like Jesus-with the same peace, love and power? He expected it to happen.

Yes, we need the fivefold ministry; however, it is for the “perfecting of the saints”, (Ephesians 5:11) not the “sustaining of the saints”. The leaders of the church are commissioned to bring people to this maturity, but why does this phenomenon seem so sparse?

Could it be that we have, as the medical field, merely been treating symptoms of the problem and not administering the cure? Could it be we as leaders have so little to no knowledge of how to administer the cure? Are we as physicians administering placebos and treating symptoms? Are the saints as some medical patients worse off in the end because they are not cured and have lost hope? Have we been following rabbit trails?

Deeper than that, the question has to be asked, would leaders want the cure to come to God’s people if it affected their livelihood? Are we willing to work our way out of a job instead of into a job? Great institutions have been built around treating symptoms and not curing people. The real question is will we build another religious system around the revival that is granted by God this time?

As John the Baptist said, we need to “lay the ax to the root of the tree” and not just the “fruit of the tree”. Jesus said it another way to the leaders of His day, “sore physicians are you”. (Mathew 23:1) If you are asking the same questions and don’t care for the idea of putting in another 30 years only to end up having to be “revived”, be encouraged. There is something amiss here and I would not address it if I didn’t think answers are coming. In our newly published book called “The Two Tabernacles” in our “Life worth Living series”, Justine and I address the root cause of this “loosing cycle” we have experienced for centuries.

God is interested in a perfected, completed church and it’s time we begin to “present every man in Christ”. God is interested in “rebuilding the tabernacle of David “which has fallen down”. (Amos 9). When it is rebuilt the harvest will be such that revivals will be a thing of the past. The life will be here on planet earth in God’s people, not just church services.

As the apostle Paul stated in Colossians 1: 28 “Him we preach and proclaim, warning and admonishing everyone and instructing everyone in all wisdom (comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God), that we may present every person mature (full-grown, fully initiated, complete, and perfect) in Christ (the Anointed One)”.

03/22/2016

There is a tremendous amount of spiritual activity in the church today. Many do not understand the time of alignment (atonement) we are in or the results (tabernacles) that the Lord is looking for. It is imperative to know what He wants in order to move toward producing the actions necessary to give Him just that.

Although they have their God given purpose, it is no longer acceptable to Him that we merely follow leaders for the sole purpose of supporting religious systems. God wants every believer transformed into a disciple of Christ.

He wants every disciple operating in the gifts of the spirit and more importantly producing the fruit of the spirit. It’s time that we lay the ax to the root of the tree and stop treating problems with what the medical field terms “placebos”. God demands that the cure to be applied for the true results the gospel intended from the beginning.

We are in the process of releasing a series of books describing “the laws of the house” that describe the laws of the spirit of Christ Jesus that allows us to “walk as He walked”. John 2:26. It is called “the life worth living”. It truly is the only life worth living.

In our newly released book (the two tabernacles), we describe this transformation of the believer to what the bible calls “completion” or “perfection” by using the history and of the transition from the tabernacle of Moses to the tabernacle of David. These principles, if practiced, will allow God’s people to finally move on from being merely a good “Christian” who believes in Him to the very “walk of Christ”. It takes time, but it is sure to produce a great harvest. There are no second options for us and it is urgent we begin this journey.

Come with us on that journey by visiting our page “the life worth living”.

01/01/2016

WHAT’S UP THIS YEAR?

I know one thing, there is MORE THAN ONE ELECTION happening. Peter encourages us when He said: “RATHER, BRETHREN, GIVE DILIGENCE to make your calling and ELECTION SURE: for if ye do these things, YE SHALL NEVER FALL”. 2 Pete 1:10. NEVER FALL is not a bad New Year prediction. I’LL TAKE IT!!

HERE IS A PICTURE OF HOW IT WORKS.

In the book of ISAIAH the Lord tells us “Behold, I have created the smith that BLOWS THE COALS IN THE FIRE, that brings forth an INSTRUMENT FOR HIS WORK, and I have CREATED THE WASTER TO DESTROY” Isaiah 54:16

NOTICE THE SAME BREATH DOES TWO VERY DIFFERENT THINGS, IT BLOWS AWAY THE ASHES and AT THE SAME TIME UNCOVERS THE COALS. I’m glad He is in charge here!

THE LESSON, people who have learned to MAINTAIN THEMSELVES in a hot environment will get hotter. AS FOR THE ASHES who knows where they will end up, I don’t want to guess.

This process is happening now but is not so OBVIOUS at the present time. This PROCESS is happening PRIVATELY in OUR EVERYDAY LIVES. We are pretty much left to ourselves on this one.

The key here is to TOLERATE GOD’S BREATH (yes, God’s breath) and not find ourselves blown away by it. It’s going to get WINDIER and HOTTER at the same time! I hope none of us get blown away this year, but it’s UP TO EACH OF US to make sure that doesn’t happen.

THIS FIRE starts ON THE INSIDE and it’s going TO SHOW UP ON THE OUTSIDE. When the Lord finally puts these coals TOGETHER, watch out!! Then we will see what a Real Fire Looks Like!

It will become obvious soon!!

12/17/2015

I have found that it is so easy for church leaders to become distracted by solving the problems with the institution of the church rather than keeping our sights on the bigger picture, “THE HUMAN PROBLEM”.

Jesus Christ solves first “THE HUMAN PROBLEM” inside out and that process solves the church problems. We must follow His focus and leading.

We should constantly remind ourselves of the fact that the great call we all have is to win “THE WORLD” to Jesus Christ as the Holy Spirit draws them. This GREAT CALL must filter into our TO DO and our TO BE LIST EVERY DAY.

Whats in your focus??

12/14/2015

Jesus said: “The kingdom of God does not come with observation”… “nor will they say, ‘see here” or ‘see there’, for indeed, “the kingdom of God is ‘within you’. Luke 17:20 -23

A QUESTION: Will we see what God is doing RIGHT NOW or WILL WE MISS IT because WE ARE SO TUNED TO MEASURE WHAT HE IS DOING FROM OUTSIDE OBSERVATION? Is what HE doing now AN INSIDE WORK we cannot see? I believe the answer is yes, it’s an inside work. If it be so, we could miss it.

In speaking of the day of His coming, Jesus has already compared HIS COMING as the DAYS OF NOAH and THE DAYS OF LOT. Luke 17:37.

One sobering fact was that most people of that time entirely MISSED THE TIMING of it because we THERE WAS NO OUTSIDE WAY TO MEASURE IT OR OBSERVE IT.

THE POSSIBLE ANSWER TO OUR QUESTION: We should be wary of OUTSIDE MEASUREMENTS and OBSERVATONS of what THE DAYS OF HIS COMING look like or WE may be CAUGHT OFF GUARD at best or LEFT BEHIND at worst.

Of course when He does an inside work there are outside results, but those results are not designed to notify us. They MAY not be that long lived before IT COULD BE TOO LATE to benefit from that work.

LET US ALLOW HIM TO DO ANY WORK INSIDE OF US TODAY for WE MAY NOT BE GRANTED TOMORROW.

Romans 13:11 “and that, KNOWING THE TIME, that now it is HIGH TIME TO AWAKE OUT OF SLEEP: for now is our salvation is NEARER THAN WHEN WE BELIEVED”.

10/09/2015

We can see in the history of Israel in (I Samuel 8;1) what is happening presently in America.

Israel asked for a king with direr consequences. They did not know what manner of king they needed for the times they were in. Their request was rooted in their desire for relief from their problems. They wanted a NATURAL champion to do what only the Lord could do for them. Their problems were beyond the ability of mere politics to solve although politics are always involved in the leadership of a country.

Samuel the prophet protested their desire (I Samuel 8:6) for this kind of natural king. Their request would push this king beyond his abilities into his natural strength and failure. He told them that this natural king would take, take and take. Naturally because the only resources a king has is in the hand of the people. They got their king in Saul and they received the horrible results. He did end up taking and taking and taking.

Our country has asked for a king to give them their entitlements and it has received of the same consequences, failure on every level.

God had something else in mind. While like Samuel was correct in saying that God wanted to be there king (God always wants to be), he was not saying that they didn’t need a leader. God was preparing the kind of leader for just what they needed. He was answering their prayer, just not the way they imagined. God was running parallel as He does so often while we are cying out for answers. He is always one step ahead of His people.

There was a humble shepherd boy named David who was different in every sense of the word. The most important difference was that David’s root of strength in his spirit (or heart).was God. He was of such spirit that the Lord could influence him on how God wanted to rule His own people.

His motives and strength would be rooted in a hunger to see God Glorified. His motive was simply to bring the Ark of the Covenant (representing the presence of the Lord) back to God’s people.

The rest of the work would be done by the Lord himself. David was cautious and respectful to always look to the Lord for what He was doing.

The final result of this was that God’s people finally brought the Ark back to Jerusalem with rejoicing and God brought tremendous victory over every enemy they had.

With that said, I’m saying that if God’s people at this time would ask for more than relief and ask for a leader that would want to bring God’s presence back to America, God would anoint Him, bring in a powerful new way to us all and bring victory over our enemies.

I’m looking for a David, not a Saul, but a leader just the same.
“Is there not a cause”. I Samuel 17:29

10/08/2015

To Leaders: If your going to sit in Mosse's seat than do what Moses did, lead!! Please!!

09/14/2015

In the time of Gideon, there were there were what would be thousands of fervent, on fire people of God waiting in the corners to hear the clarion call of God for His cause. After all it was God’s call, not Gideon’s.

God worked with Gideon as he, by faith rose from the threshing floor, where he was hiding the little he had and with the Lord’s help, God’s people routed the enemy.

As then, the church of our Lord is not in a new place but the same one Gideon was. There are reasons why we have ended up in this place we are at, surrounded by our adversaries. I won’t address those reasons here. It would paint a picture of almost impossible odds to us.

As it was in those days, so today there are millions of fervent, on fire Christians waiting to hear what the Holy Spirit is already telling them. Given this same clarion call, they have millions of hours of volunteer energy to give to see the cause of Christ advanced in this world. They would make the sacrifices necessary to see it accomplished.

If you are a Christian leader today, as we begin to hear the sound that Gideon heard, we should be ready to get up off the threshing floor, believe in our God and take the bold steps to defeat these uncircumcised enemies haunting us.

Leaders give the people God’s voice and the people are already there waiting to serve Him. The Lord of hosts is ready, the people are ready, and the question is are we ready to lead the way?

Remember, God always strengthens what is of Him.

Find that and follow that.

07/28/2015

When God gave us BIBLICAL LAW, HE KNEW we would not be able to keep it in its entirety to be acceptable in His sight. Although his law helps keep society together it was not to be the sum total of His will for us. There is more.

Biblical law that was given shows us what he is like. In other words GOD IS REPRESENTED BY HIS LAW, just like WE ARE REPRESENTED by our own rules we live by.

Biblical law shows us what it is in our nature that IS CONTRARY TO THE NATURE OF GOD and IS ALREADY KILLING US. We will SENSE INSIDE OF US THE AREAS THAT WE ARE COMING SHORT OF HIS NATURE when we see it.

FOR EXAMPLE: If we are speeding AND SEE THE SPEED LIMIT SIGNS we should get a SINKING SENSE there may be a cop behind the bushes just waiting to greet us. THIS SENSE SHOWS US WE ARE COMPULSIVE AND COULD HARM SOMEONE. The police are there to keep us calmed down and are paid to help us do just that. UGH!! When was the last time you got a ticket?

It would be so nice if we were ALREADY CALM and HAD SOME PEACE IN OUR LIVES. The speed limit signs would not be necessary much less the police. That is what God is like in nature. He is not nervous or in a hurry about anything. I WANT THAT!!

Biblical law simply put shows us WE ALL NEED TRANSFORMATION in one area or other of our nature. This of course is what Jesus Christ came to do for us. He came TO RELIEVE US FROM ALL THAT TENSION AND FRICTION BETWEEN WHAT IS GOD LIKE AND WHAT WE ARE LIKE. THAT MY FRIEND IS HIS GRACE IN OUR LIVES. THAT’S HARMONY!!

When we BELIEVE INTO HIS DEATH (the cross), and BURIAL our old nature that is unlike Him THAT IS CONTRARY TO HIS LAW receives a fatal blow, so that when we BELIEVE INTO HIS RESURRECTION we gain a new nature that CAN BE IN HARMONY WITH HIS. That shows us His grace.

WE SEE THAT THE LAW IS NEVER DONE AWAY WITH; it is ABSORBED in the fact that we are LIKE HIM IN NATURE and NATURALLY DO THE THINGS HE WOULD INSTRUCT us to do. It’s like when we are like our parents genetically, and naturally do what they would want us to do. (Example: Clean your room).

THERE IS NO MORE FRICTION between biblical law and our own nature. We have truly been changed. We now have His nature and think like Him. We see then that it is ALWAYS HIS WORK IN US THAT IS HIS GOAL; therefore we give him the praise for the CHANGE HE HAS BROUGHT to us through His coming.

“For it is God who works in you, both the will and do of His good pleasure”. Colossian’s 2:13. Taken from the “life worth living” series

Jim has served as a businessman, administrator, pastor, and church planter for 41 years and in several countries. Currently, Jim is a writer and teacher. Jim is married to Justine who writes with him as a citryaric nurse practitioner. One of their latest works is their new book series, “The Life worth Living”