Come Forth…
October 26th, 2009 | Michael Q. Pink
As you may have noticed, I’ve made a solemn decision to take God at His Word. I am done with preaching the Word through the prism of my experience, but rather declaring what is true and letting my experience catch up. This is not the decision of a youthful, new convert but rather a decision made by a seasoned Christian professional who is tired of leaving all the good stuff in the gospel until we get to Heaven.
So much of the influence the church has on the culture is limited or muted at best because it is done with human strength using natural means. To a large extent, we are the Red Cross or the Kiwanis Club doing good works in the name of Christ. While people are touched by these acts of kindness and often come to know Christ in the process, it is not electrifying the culture, nor is it presenting Christ for who He fully is. We are selling Him short. Way short! (Not this guy… Watch this)
We need to reveal Him as He really is. Wasn’t it John who said, “As He is, so are we in this world”? (1 John 4:17) What happened to that? What was He like? When He fed the poor, it was miraculous. When He ministered to the sick, they were not just comforted, they were healed. When the disciples were impressed at this, He told them that whoever believes on Him would do those and greater works.
I don’t know about you, but I am coming out of my tomb of doubt and unbelief. I admit I’m still staggering and somewhat wrapped in the grave clothes of good intentions that cover up my true condition of relative lifelessness, but I have heard His call to COME FORTH and I have risen off that cold slab in the dark and I’m stumbling towards the light.
As I rip off these grave clothes that have long hindered me, I find the light rather blinding, but am nonetheless very excited by the possibilities I see. God has given me a new lease on life and I will never go back into the tomb again while still alive. I am grateful for the opportunity to share with you this journey and for those of you joining me on this journey.
With peace and love.
October 26th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
Great word Michael. Have heard Bill Johnson many times and he is helping to bring the “FULL” reality of the Good News to the world. Thanks for including the link in your encouraging word of today. I pray your teaching will increase our hunger for the fullness of God’s power to flow through our lives just as it did in the book of Acts.
October 26th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
Hi,
My sentiment exactly. But this is only for the REAL Church, (Christ’s Body). The very fact that you are on this subject, shows me that you & I are right where our Lord wants us to be! We are giving birth. The grave clothes are like birthing pangs & reminders of our past bondages. We are nearly there! And even if you can’t ‘feel’ anything, you must know that all we need to do, is listen to the midwife intently; follow his word & leading. Its sink or swim time folks. Are you in the boat, or what?
Harvest time looms- What will you choose to do?
October 26th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
Thank you Michael. Your words of late have sounded a resonant Amen from my soul.
I appreciate your fervent prayers on behalf of this man and his family. I promise the same.
B
October 26th, 2009 at 12:56 pm
Amen Brother….
We must all come forth… and I cant wait to experience the gospel as He lived it or be the kind of person He has truly called me to be…With the cares of the world… I admit it is so hard and can I say seems impossible sometimes to think we will ever arrive…. I do have hope… which you have stirred up in me afresh…. Thank you… Hope to believe for the impossible to be possible again…. heading out for some groceries now…
BTW…. I am now a member of the Website training Wealth Secrets of the Rainforest and I absolutely love it…. my husband will be on one of your conference calls this week… his name is Nick from LA
October 26th, 2009 at 1:03 pm
A couple of things grabbed me; one was the comment on filtering the gospel through the “prisim of my experience”‘: God is so much bigger than my experience and his word and promises have NEVER FAILED ME!
I have been delivered from addictions, poverty, mental health issues, cancer and on and on and on…
It doesn’t matter if I’m in the grocery story when someone walks in and begins to pray or if I’m in my car on the way to a job… the WORD of GOD stands.
God give me the courage to step out of these bonds that hold me back !!
October 26th, 2009 at 1:07 pm
I’m with you all the way. It’s time!
October 26th, 2009 at 1:11 pm
Awesome! I call it the Living The Great Adventure…Living this life with Jesus trusting Him completely knowing that every promise in the Bible belongs to me then then by using the faith that He gave me…seeing every promise come to pass…How can we fail!!!!! The Bible- God’s Holy Word is mine it’s my road map, it’s my promise for today and tomorrow. It’s called the Manifold wisdom of God, because it’s folded up on it’s self and by reading it and praying and asking for Revelation knowledge He shows me truth upon truth and helps me to walk in that truth!
I (The Lord) will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will council you with My eye upon you. Psalm 32:8 (Amp Bible) How amazing and how can we fail when God Himself has promised to teach us how to do what we need to do then to instruct us on how to do it! And I love it….His eye is upon us as He Himself councils us!!! How can we fail!!!!!
October 26th, 2009 at 1:15 pm
Amen ! It’s time for the world to see that God and His miracles are not limited to church buildings. When the going gets tough, the tough get praying. Keep up the God work, Michael.
October 26th, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Oh Hallelujah
Thank you for this message and sharing the U-tube!!
God has been changing me so much this year, after leading me to
volunteer at our local Food Bank.
There is so much need - and I know that we are made to be a blessing.
I am so puzzled as to the needs that exist in the church. Your expression about “shaking off” the grave clothes - oh how we need a new mind set of
prosperity and abundance to share with others, both in Word and deed.
Oh Lord - that is my prayer - to walk as Jesus walked, do as He did, let His words fill my mouth and proclaim His glory so His Kingdom purposes can be done on earth as it is in Heaven
Amen
October 26th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
I realize now why I relate so much with your words of wisdom! We travel in the same circles in other parts of the land…I’m in with a group of people who are part of the Video School of the Supernatural where Bill Johnson is one of our main speakers who challenges us to rethink our thinking!!
October 26th, 2009 at 1:20 pm
AMEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I KNOW THIS IS OF AND DIRECTED BY THE HOLY SPIRIT.
AS GOD SO FAITHFULLY DOES IN MY LIFE AS I KNOW IN MANY OTHERS, HE CONTINUES TO CONFIRM THIS NOW WORD OVER AND OVER AGAIN THROUGH MANY DIFFERENT WAYS. HE WHO HAS AN EAR LET HIM HEAR WHAT THE SPIRIT IS SAYING TO THE CHURCH.
GOD BE WITH YOU!
October 26th, 2009 at 1:39 pm
Great word Michael
I would encourage all to get Bill Johnson’s Book, “When Heaven Invades Earth”. It sure challenges us to change our way of thinking.
October 26th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
God is doing something in my life today..yours is the 2nd testimony today of God showing up in the “real world” ..the streets and showing His amazing, unconditional love for people who don’t even know him by healing them of their sickness and infirmities. He SO loves us…I am truly overwhelmed and SOOOOO hungry for Him to live through me like this. I am on the journey with you Michael-thank you for your courage to do this.
God bless you bro.
Dale
October 26th, 2009 at 1:49 pm
That’s definitely an awesome decision to make - to take God at His Word. Too often we try to interpret the Bible by our experiences instead of allowing the Bible to show us HOW to interpret our experiences. There’s quite a different there. It’s excellent to see where the Lord can take you now!
October 26th, 2009 at 1:56 pm
A great word that I agree with. In the third paragraph a reference is made to us doing greater works than Jesus did when He walked the earth, which is found in John 14:12. It happens to be both a favorite and one of the most challenging words Jesus spoke. I’d be interested if you choose to explore deeper how we participate in the realization of this word.
Blessings,
October 26th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
Michael - thank you for this timely word! I love how God speaks to us then confirms His word and it encourages us!
October 26th, 2009 at 1:59 pm
Thank You Jesus!! I’m so in agreement with you. The God of the bible is still very much alive!!! And He is awaiting the awakening of His sons and daughters.
Blessings
October 26th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
You can have these grave clothes of mine too! AMEN and amen! klh
October 26th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
i affirm your feelings. It is like coming up for air after swimming underwater.
When the Spirit of God moves, He has purpose and gives meaning to everything we do. It is effortless. i am excited for all in this generation who are awakening to the full meaning of serving a Living God, and who want “all who have ears” to be privy to the amazing joy we have in Him. All the other stuff is worth it, when we aren’t waiting for something, but fully experience him daily.
Amen!
October 26th, 2009 at 2:44 pm
These testimonies were so encouraging to me; I have been feeling like I have been in the desert for so long and not fulfilling my perpose in this life. Have had a desire to go out and heal people. This is the second time today Oct.26th. I have heard such testimonies.
Thank you so much for sharing your testimony and the Bill Johnson clip.
He is such a good techer. Blessings, Anne Achee
October 26th, 2009 at 2:58 pm
Through God, Bill Johnson has shown his fellowship of believers how to put action to faith! And it is our faith that the battle is for!
Bill Johnson, (pastor Bethel Church, Redding, CA), wrote a book a fews ago ‘When Heaven Invades Earth’, and we need that more now than at any other time in our lives.
We need to live our lives daily, allowing Heaven to invade.
We need market place ministry. Afterall, we don’t need to stand behind a pulpit to minister to a lost and dying world. Michael, thank you for your posting today. Think I’ll pick up my copy of When Heaven Invades Earth and start back over from the beginning.
Looking forward to testimonies from your readers of how God has invaded their lives.
Blessings
October 26th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Thank you Michael, well said.
We Christians are having a difficult time loving each other and the the world likewise is having a difficult time believing we truly represent the God of whom we speak. Forgiveness doesn’t seem to be a priority of today’s Christian and reconciliation no longer our goal. We have forgotten our mandate in II Corinthians 5.
We say that we believe in the miracles of the Bible, but few of us have ever watched one develop on our knees. When sick, we go to the doctors instead of the elders. Our prayers are like a blanket which cover everything and touch nothing so we would not even recognize an answered prayer if we saw it.
God has been showing me for years that we are in the day of miracles. I believe all of our faith needs a shot in the arm and perhaps we can nurse each other to that greater and needed end. With 20 years in church ministry and now 19 years in business ministry behind me, i am ready for the real harvest to begin.
In addition, it is time for Christians to reclaim positions of leadership at every level. We don’t need to go back to an earlier day when God was held in reverence and respect only. But, we do need to move into a new day of greater world wide kingdom dominance. We need to quit just praying for he kingdom to come, but rather bring it forth in our lives, our cities, our nation and around the world. Christ is ready for this!
I will step up and follow your lead!
October 26th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
In these, the last days, I believe the Holy Spirit is prompting the Bride to seek after deeper truths of the Bible that we may walk in boldness, and by the same power that raised Jesus from the dead that is the same power that lives within us (according to Romans 8:11), and that is available to do what Jesus did, only if we believe and act upon it.
I, too, am not satisfied with my Christian walk and I believe it’s because the Lord is calling me to step out more in boldness and in faith. God bless you, Michael for your transparency.
October 26th, 2009 at 3:45 pm
I’m loving reading all these comments! The body of Christ is awakening! Ok so just thinking about what the Word of God says that as many as are led by the Spirit of God they shall be called sons of God and that All creation waits expectantly for God’s sons to be made known (Rom 8:14-23) and Jesus Himself said He was the firstborn of many brethern and taking into consideration that babies drink spiritual milk but the mature eat the meat of the Word….A baby can’t take care of his Fathers business but a son can. A fully grown and developed son can be trusted with everything the Father has. He will get it done. He will rightly divide and handle the Word of God! Just interested on anyones else’s thought along this line. I must say I love reading everyones post….How exciting to live today and to know who you are and who your Daddy is!
October 26th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Thanks for your candor and for the referal to Bill Johnson’s Grocery Store Healing. Wow. I needed that.
October 26th, 2009 at 6:43 pm
Wow… How Micheal is talking is exactly the movement that is going on now in my church in Miami, FL… The church started to build this atmosphere around January of this year, and the expectation keeps rising. This is a fresh, agressive move of God at this moment to reveal His glory on the earth.
October 26th, 2009 at 7:14 pm
Michael,
What an honor to share this time in history with those who are being raised to newness of life in Christ Jesus by the Holy Ghost. As someone said above, the very same power that raised Christ from the dead, is alive and active in us to turn the world He’s placed us in upside down. The Word of demonstration and power that our forerunner Paul proclaimed is being seen, felt, and heard in a dimension we have been praying for for years. Charge on my brother, for this is just the beginning of a new chapter of the Book of Acts that may well usher in the return of our soon coming King! Hallelu YAH!!!
I love you and pray, hahaha, just like that, for His touch to increase on life and in your heart,
In Jesus name,
Amen.
October 26th, 2009 at 8:20 pm
Thanks for sharing your heart and the video. It does seem that God is stirring up a lot of His people in these last days. It’s encouraging to read the comments to your post. I pray we all find people we can share with face to face just like this.
As to the grave clothes, in my meditation on the raising of Lazurus, I noticed Jesus gave life but commanded those who put the grave clothes on to take them off. I feel that “man” has put the grave clothes of “religious traditions & legalism” on many of God’s people. Or perhaps we have done it to each other. May we set our brothers and sisters free to fulfill and complete the purpose of God on earth.
October 26th, 2009 at 8:38 pm
Michael,
Welcome to the journey of the Spirit. God is calling those who have ears to hear to a deeper place. If our gospel is powerless then we are hopeless. I look forward to hearing more as it resonates deeply with my own journey.
October 26th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
Michael
Your propose only one possible answer. Perhaps there are more answers from which we might choose. Perhaps the problem is not human strength versus “spiritual” strength. Maybe it’s just that there’s too much of the Bible that people no longer is true.
Now is your option the only choice. Not necessarily. Keep thinking!
October 26th, 2009 at 10:51 pm
SO glad to know you “found” Bill Johnson. He has been to Mobile more than once and people are healed and saved each time. The last time he was here I witnessed a woman standing up out of her wheelchair to walk! Many others were heald as well. Praise God!
October 27th, 2009 at 2:29 am
Hi Micheal,
I am grateful to the Lord that I subscribed to your blog. I am not so sure exactly how I came across it, but I believe that it is the Lord who led me to it. I am truly blessed by your passion for our Lord and Savior and for the things of His kingdom. Your commitment to Him and your humility has taught me so much, and exactly what the Holy Spirit has been speaking to has been confirmed in your blog.
Thank you for blessing us with your obedience and emptying yourself to be filled with Christ. It is evident that Christ is expanding in you.
God bless you and much love
Matlhodi Matsei (South Africa)
October 27th, 2009 at 6:15 am
Michael, oh, Michael!
You have voiced (penned) the heart-cry of all of us who hunger and thirst after HIS righteous reality!
In Him is LIFE. In Him is LIGHT. HE IS LOVE!
With our eyes on HIM, and our feet on planet Earth, we are designed to be the embodiment of Jacob’s Ladder - with angels coming and going through our faith in HIS WORD, and prayers filled with HIS WORDS.
He is building us into that holy house, HIS Church, and we shall be like HIM!
All glory, praise and honor be to HIM forever!!!
October 27th, 2009 at 7:40 am
Mike,
This is awesome. Give us more. Ed and I feel the same way. We are on fire, red hot for the Messiah. Halleluyah! ! ! ! !
October 27th, 2009 at 10:36 am
This is so awesome. Michael, God has led you to express His heart’s desire and the response is unity!!!! Praise God
October 27th, 2009 at 10:46 pm
Thanks for another great post. Always encouraging, provoking a greater love and greater faith in Christ. It is so easy to limit the Lord. We all need to be challenged to come out of unbelief.
October 28th, 2009 at 1:48 am
Thank you, I am also joining in, I am coming out! I want all that God has to Offer through Christ! and I declare that I will see the goodness of God in the land of the living!
October 29th, 2009 at 9:45 am
Wow. I watched that video twice with my heart pounding and the distinct thought “I want to live like that!” I’m with you, brother.