Through the Gate in 2008 - Tomorrow
November 3rd, 2008 | Michael Q. Pink
30 million Americans have passed through the early voting gate so far with perhaps another 100 million expected to pass through the gate tomorrow. When the day is done and assuming we don’t have a constitutional crisis due to voter fraud or nagging unanswered questions about citizenship, we will have entered a new field.
It feels like we the American people are in the process of being herded from the field of one owner to a field of a new owner. As sheep, we don’t know what this means for us, nor do we understand the back room deals that facilitated the transaction. Regardless of our party affiliation, we are all hoping for greener grass. We have no idea if the new owner we voted for will feed us, sheer us or butcher us.
Regardless of our next leader, we are heading into very rough waters in the next four years. The mindset that got us into this mess cannot possibly lead us out of it. We need a new way of thinking. A new way of acting. A new way of surviving and thriving in the new economy we are facing. It is not debt based, mammon centered, self reliant or wrapped in gifted rhetoric. It requires vision but is laden with opportunity. It requires sacrifice but promises great reward. It succeeds regardless of political corruption or ineptness. I have seen it operating first hand in Eastern Europe where corruption is rampant. This is not a pipe dream.
So while about half of us may not like the new owners of the field we find ourselves in on Wednesday when the counting is (hopefully) done, it doesn’t mean we are doomed. If we do find ourselves in a dark period with much foreboding, that only creates more demand for light. So fill up your lampstand with oil and be prepared to be the light of the world as we have always been called to be. It’s never been more important!
November 3rd, 2008 at 4:40 pm
A very good, encouraging, and timely word!! A Christians, we shine the brightest when things are their worst. This is really our time to shine for Jesus!
November 3rd, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Michael, Could you elaborate on the mention you made about seeing the vision working in eastern Europe where corruption is rampant? Possibly give us some examples of the prospering that is going on there for our comparison. Thank you for your uplifting messages, as they are often very timely. May the Lord bless you.
Ed Zell, Logan, Ohio
November 3rd, 2008 at 5:47 pm
Hi Ed…
I have done training and consulting in Croatia for example, where bribery is an accepted way of doing business, especially if you work with the government. I have a friend who went over there after the war and his goal was to become a millionaire in that war torn country which had a very broken economy. He succeeded before he was thirty.
Corruption is common in not only Eastern European countries, but I suppose to a large extent even right here in the US. However, the Eastern European countries have many hindrances and conflicting interests. I have another friend in another Eastern European country who has become a millionaire despite the corruption and the negative forces over there. In fact, the method he uses has proven so reliable, we are in conversations about teaching folks here in the States what has worked so well over there.
What I have found is that visionary, courageous folks tend to do very well in less developed economies than they do here in the States. There is much opportunity in those countries.
Blessings,
Michael
November 3rd, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Ed… I forgot to mention that my friend in Croatia took a stand against using bribery in any form. Though it made him unpopular, God blessed his business.
November 3rd, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Michael
I would be interested in learning more of what your friends methods are that have proven to be so reliable. In the current, and more so in the coming times, reliabilty will have a lot going for it. I could use some of that understanding right now. Bless you, sir.
Ed
November 3rd, 2008 at 7:21 pm
I could not agree more, in fact the darker it is the brighter the light shines. This economic situation and political season is an opportunity for the church to be what God has called us to be, ‘the light of the world’. I’ve enjoyed your articles and am now beginning your Rainforest book.
November 3rd, 2008 at 7:24 pm
speachless
November 3rd, 2008 at 7:25 pm
speachless.
November 3rd, 2008 at 8:10 pm
Very well said!
November 3rd, 2008 at 9:04 pm
The “new way of thinking” that will be required, in the days to come, is that of the identity of a SON, as opposed to that of a “sheep”. It will require letting go of the traditions surrounding the Shepherd/sheep mentality, and allowing John 1:12 to become what it was meant to be.
Even if you were to only apply this to our (as Believers) posture to just the rest of the unsaved world, it would be appropriate to drop acting like sheep and begin acting in authority, as SONS. The world could care less about a bunch of “sheep”. They will simply ignore us. The world needs to see the real, vibrant, results of Sons speaking in authority (healing, deliverance and provision all “supernaturally” manifesting, regularly where it can’t be denied) and feeling the undeniable substance of it. Sheep do not manifest such things… can’t even think in that direction.
I am not looking to see who will lead me to any other “field” than the one I’m already walking in… the Kingdom territory. And, taking more territory for the Kingdom. That’s spiritual warfare. The Government is NOT my god, nor can it provide for me like my God has ALREADY done. I do not need it’s corruption for my leadership. The Government of the U.S. is supposed to be subject to “we the people”, not the other weay around.
The most significant and directly meaningful sacrifice most Believers will have to make today, for the RIGHT orientation to take place, is sacrificing their time worn allegiance to their traditions, and traditional dogmas. Then, and ONLY then, will we, as a Body, begin to see the results we hope for but have not seen.
Selah. God bless our thinking in this, and open our eyes before it’s TOO late. Jeff B.
November 3rd, 2008 at 11:48 pm
Jeff,
My sentiments exactly! If our eyes are focused on any ‘man’ other than the Godman, Christ Jesus, Yeshua Adonai, Jehovah Jireh, El Shaddai than we are
all in for a lot more disappointment. If not destruction! Romans 8 tells us that we are Sons and that the world is Waiting on US. Christ IN US! I’m not praying for a doomsday scenario or For darkness, but without more darkness (Isa60) we will notshine like crazy radical stars that we were created to be. Sons in the Light radiating the Glory of God IN the darkness. Let it OUT! You can’t keep such a brilliant light inside. We have got to let it out!
Vote the Bible and then pray and shine as if whoever is elected is SUPPOSED to be there. There, I said it ! Psalm 75;6,7 Promotion comes from True North!
November 4th, 2008 at 10:28 am
As always your comments are right on. I want to share some thoughts some christian friends and I have been considering, We have seen and know many christians who have been in trials for quite some time now and we believe GOD has been preparing all of us by reminding us who is in charge and He wants us to be light for those who are facing the struggle without HIM. Seven years ago we lost our security as a country and we turned to the military. Recently we saw our financial stability crash and we turned to the banks and government. We need to lead people to GOD and seek forgiveness and He promises to heal our land. Thank you for your voice.
November 4th, 2008 at 11:18 am
I just voted and you could not have said it better…. Thank you so much for those words of wisdom and encouragement at this time…. No matter what, we need to fill our lampstand and be light in darkness.
I enjoy all your emails and products.
God bless you.
Maria,
Bronx, NY
November 4th, 2008 at 11:43 am
I have been reading the messages you have been giving for over two years. I have watched you grow with the Words you receive from God. God is trusting you more and more with Kingdom revelation. This Word today is a very sound Word. We must have flesh down and Spirit up so that we can be obedient to what the Holy Spirit shows up. We are the light in this world. I just want to tell you I appreciate your faithfulness. Jolene
November 4th, 2008 at 12:20 pm
Happy Voting!
My thoughts are with you all through out this important day!
May God Bless You and May He Bless America!!!
November 4th, 2008 at 1:26 pm
Michael,
You are so right! We do need a new way of thinking. And I think you will argee that this new way of thinking is to think in accordance with God’ s will and persepctive instead of from our own wills and perspectives. And I know you know that God’ s will and perspective is all centered and focused on restoring His righteous kingdom on earth. I see a lot of life and leadership training in the church today that generically teaches the sheep to dream and set goals according to a sheep’ s desires and perspectives. I remember a “Word of Faith” teacher asking,”What do you expect from God? and then going on to explain how we can get God to act on our behalf to fullfill our hopes, dreams and desires. This made me think of the verse in Proberbs that says “Many are the plans of man, but God directs his steps. I think that Word of faith teacher would have done well to modify her statement to ask, “What do you expect from God that is according to his will and purpose not man’ s” The Bible is clear that if we expect God to answer our prayers or to fullfill our desires and dreams then we must pray and dream in accordance with God’s will and purpose, which again, for the time being, is centered and focused on restoring His kingdom on earth. When John the Baptist, Jesus and his disciples began preaching, “Repent, for the kingdom of God is at hand.” they were calling for a new way of thinking. Instead of selfish, greedy ,
dishonest, disrespectful, unloving, enslavement to debt thinking we are to think in God’ s kingdom way of thinking that includes, sharing, honesty, loving, debt forgiveness and no one considering anything their own. Those who have excess wealth gladly and hilariously share with those who have need. And the wealthy do not enslave the needy with mortgage debt. If a person has two coats and only needs one then he should give that extra coat to a person who needs one. The tax collectors were to change their thinking from being dishonest to being honest and not taking more tax than is due. Soldiers were to be respectful instead of disrepectful to people by usng their weapons to extort money from people.
I think we are seeing that God is now orchestrating a paradigm shift in mankind’s thinking from worldy satanic Baylonian thinking to God’s kingdom way of thinking. Oh happy day!
David Thompson
November 4th, 2008 at 1:28 pm
Great thoughts and reminders for us Michael. I voted this morning in Oand today it had different meaning for me. I had patience in line for the first time. The line was longer than it’s ever been and many people were confused about which one to join, which precinct they vote in, etc… but it went smoothly and moved and most people were keeping optimism alive about the wait…
With trouble and turmoil (doors closing, ways of being / doing / seeing lost) comes opportunity for us as Christians to make an impact for God’s Kingdom and help our brothers and sisters grow in faith as well as help us to step outside our comfort zone and perhaps be a desciple to someone that we couldn’t reach before thereby growing our own faith as well. Like Jolene said, “We are the light in this world”. Amen!
So it couldn’t be more clear to me now… spend some time with Gods word. Grow your knowledge base today and be ready for what God calls us to do today and in the future. I think you and I and everyone that seeks God helps bring the Kingdom of God here and shines the light (fruits of the Spirit) on us, around us. We are part of how God Blesses America! … again.
November 13th, 2008 at 4:57 pm
Enjoy your post very much, but your font is too small to read easily. And yes I’m getting old and need an eye exam.
In Christ
RK
November 18th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Congratulations Michael on finding a new place and just like Isaac prospered abundantly even during the famine when He listened to God’s advise not to run to Egypt because of the famine but to go to where he knew was best for him, its our prayer that you will continue to prosper abundantly and every areas of your life, family and ministry as you continue to heed to the voice of the Holy Spirit, allow him lead you and as you continue to be a blessing to our generation.
Love you Michael, keep the fire of love burning and STAY BLESSED!!!
Love Always,
Eskor
November 18th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
THANK YOU ESKOR! Your word of encouragement helped me today!
November 24th, 2008 at 12:31 pm
I like your posts. Praise the Lord. NEED LARGER PRINT!