Dear Visionary Leader: I have no doubt that the Hebrew writer was thinking of Elijah, when he wrote, “Women received back their dead by resurrection.” One of the most colorful characters of the Old Testament is Elijah. God used him in a mighty way in a time when spirituality was at an all-time low in the land of Israel. James tells us this about Elijah. James 5:17-18 “Elijah was a man subject to like passions as we are, and he prayed earnestly that it might not rain: and it rained not on the earth by the space of three years and six months. And he prayed again, and the heaven gave rain,…

Dear Visionary Leader: Last week we began looking at the divineness of faith, and went through the first three divine faith lessons. Throughout Hebrews Chapter 11, all of the champions of faith have in common that they heard some particular promise of God; and believing—though acting at times imperfectly—they nevertheless trusted in that promise faithfully and saw God prove Himself to be faithful to them. In doing this, they all proved what the writer of Hebrews said in verse 1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” In Hebrews 11:32e-f, we consider David and Samuel. I have chosen to study David and…

Dear Visionary Leader: Throughout Hebrews Chapter 11, all of the champions of faith have in common that they heard some particular promise of God; and believing—though acting at times imperfectly—they nevertheless trusted in that promise faithfully and saw God prove Himself to be faithful to them. In doing this, they all proved what the writer of Hebrews said in verse 1, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” In Hebrews 11:32e-f, we consider David and Samuel. I have chosen to study David and Samuel together because both of them are linked together in the work of God. Both David and Samuel’s life…

Dear Visionary Leader: Last week we began looking at the durability of faith. There is a huge need today for men—real men: men of character, men of integrity, men that will stand, men of strength. Our world is in trouble because our homes are in trouble, and our homes are in trouble because men have failed to be the men of God that they ought to be. In this chapter we are going to study about a man who was a man of faith. His name was Jephthah. Most of us have not heard of Jephthah, but God has heard of him. God wrote about him in Hebrews chapter 11:32, of…

Prayer walking is not about being outside. It is about “drawing near” to places and people in pain; about shining the light and love of God into dark places. It is praying in places where prayer is not common. It is praying for clarity in a place where there is confusion and turmoil. It is a gift to unreached! HOW TO PRAYER WALK Pray With A Partner Prayers take on another dimension when they are joined with friends. Pray aloud – for clarity and agreement. Write down impressions. Find points of agreement in prayer. When there are moments of particular convergence on a specific point, camp-out there. Allow the Holy…

Dear Visionary Leader: There is a huge need today for men—real men: men of character, men of integrity, men that will stand, men of strength. Our world is in trouble because our homes are in trouble, and our homes are in trouble because men have failed to be the men of God that they ought to be. In this chapter we are going to study about a man who was a man of faith. His name was Jephthah. Most of us have not heard of Jephthah, but God has heard of him. God wrote about him in Hebrews chapter 11:32, of the great heroes of the faith. He didn’t tell anything…

Dear Visionary Leader: Will Christ be the center of your celebration this Christmas season?  Are you living for the things that Christ died for?  The Christian needs to remember that our joy is because of Jesus, our songs because of our Savior, our love because of our Lord, our inheritance is because of His incarnation, and our blessings a result of His birth. The central figure throughout the Scriptures is the conquering Christ.  In the Old Testament era, through the Passover, the people looked forward to redemption.  In the New Testament era, during the Christmas season, we look backward to the Incarnation.  In the Book of Isaiah, the centrality of the conquering Christ is vividly…

Dear Visionary Leader: Merry Christmas! As we entered into 2020, many Christian leaders were casting 2020 vision for their local churches, ministries, and organizations. None of us knew that 2020 would be engulfed with a global pandemic. It seems as though we moved from far-sightedness to near-sightedness this entire year. Instead of us taking the long look, we have been taking the short look. Big News! We have big news! In May 2020, Dr. Kenneth C. Ulmer, Dr. Leonard Sweet, and I synergized our efforts together to form and fashion the GlobalChurch Divinity School. The Global ChurchDivinity School is like no other training environment in the Body of Christ today. We can…

Dear Visionary Leader: Last week we began looking at the number one issue in the world. What is the number one issue in the world today? Is it abortion, safe sex, homosexuality, or AIDS?  Is it terrorism, ISIS or war? I submit the number one issue in the world is what we are going to do with the Lord Jesus Christ. On July 20, 1969, astronaut Neil Armstrong stepped off an aluminum ladder and planted his feet on the lunar surface of the moon. The President of the United States then addressed the nation and said, “The greatest event in human history occurred when man first put his foot on the moon.” I contend, however, that…