This past Sunday, we closed out another great Big Event. Thanks to everyone who attended, and to all of our speakers and guests that made this such a great experience.
If you missed it, there is hope! You can order the complete set from this year’s Big Event on CD, DVD, Blu-ray, and USB by just clicking here. Order today and get great teaching by Dwain Miller, Walter Hallam, Bob Rodgers, Ronnie Phillips, Jr., Tony Alan Bates, and me.
Get this set and allow faith to transform your life!
A man was healed… A testimony was given… God was glorified…
And for their effort, Peter and John were sent to jail.
After healing a lame beggar in Acts 3, Peter and John have the opportunity to share the message of Jesus with the astonished crowd that gathered. Peter reminds the crowd of their deplorable treatment of Jesus, but then declares in verse 16…
And His name, through faith in His name, has made this man strong, whom you see and know. Yes, the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
Because of their declarations of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the religious leadership opted to lock Peter and John up for the night. But not before, as chapter 4, verse 4 goes on to state, many more believed, and the numbers of believers increased.
To make a long story short, the next day, Peter and John were taken before the Sanhedrin, where they proceeded to continue to proclaim the name of Jesus, going as far as to declare that Jesus is…
“‘… The ‘stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the chief cornerstone.’ Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” ~ Acts 4:11-12 (NKJV)
Upon their release, Peter and John reported to their people (believers) about what had transpired. What happened next was an impromptu prayer meeting, in which the people prayed…
“… And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto Thy servants, that with all boldness they may speak Thy word, by stretching forth Thine hand to heal; and that signs and wonders may be done by the name of Thy holy child Jesus.”
~ Acts 4:29-30 (KJV)
These verses are an oft overlooked, yet very good lesson for all of us. In the contentious social climate in which we live, this is a model prayer of boldness in the face of threats and terror, a boldness that refuses to be bullied by the arrogance of men, popular opinion, and political correctness. The Greek word for boldness that we see here is parresia, which means “freedom to speak”. Just as Peter and John testified in the face of ugly threats by religious leaders, we are to stand up in the face of a godless and deceptive culture and respond to their accusations and threats with signs and wonders (v.30).
Another interesting point is the word behold (v.29). This word does not mean to simply “look at”, but “God, You look at them and fix YOUR gaze upon them.” How many times have you seen a child back down from some form of folly simply because of the disapproving gaze of a parent? This is basically saying, “God… stare ’em down!”
Look folks… the message of the Gospel is a tough message. While yes, it is a message of love and hope in Christ, it is also a message of self-sacrifice, self-denial, and isolation (though none go with me, still I will follow). These days, there is no shortage of those who would try to intimidate us into silence and isolation. For Christians to speak the truth, we face the backlash of public scorn and ridicule, threats from governmental entities (such as the IRS), or threats of physical violence from groups, organizations, and religions who would terrorize us. Yet, we are not to cower in the face of opposition. We are not to remain silent during such threatenings. Recently, I wrote a book called The Unraveling of America. I didn’t write it because I was trying to make friends… I wrote it because the truth had to be told, regardless of how hard a truth that was.
So why should any of us take such risks? Why should we declare the truth? Because we are called to be salt and light. We are called to a life of faith, for it is only by faith that we can please God (Heb. 11:6). But we can also rest assured that, when we speak the truth, and live according to God’s direction, He shows up. Look at verse 31 of Acts 4…
And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
God is not going to leave you hanging.
In Him is truth.
In Him is power.
In Him there is no lack.
That is Good News for me and you!
Pastor Ron
After the past few years of fairly mild summers, this July began with extremely high temperatures, heating things up here in Chattanooga. This is true in the national arena as well, with emotional temperatures escalating due to senseless shootings, racial unrest, and general turmoil in America.
With political conventions now underway, we have the promise of more controversy as we move toward the fall elections. Scandal, mistrust, and corruption seem to dominate the political scene. Political expert Dick Morris recently referred to the fall election as Armageddon!
Our current social climate is much like Biblical times. When faced with the turmoil of his day, the prophet Habakkuk was told to “write the vision“. This was another way of saying “pen a new future for the nation”, even as Paul testified centuries later…
“… God, who gives life to the dead and calls those things which do not exist as though they did.” ~ Romans 4:17b
The content of that prophetic word was, “The just shall live by faith” (Habakkuk 2:4). Likewise, in the days of Jesus and the apostles, the nation writhed under the lash of a new world order led by the dominating international power of Rome, and local politicians who were cooperative surrogates to their overlords.
The call of Habakkuk to God’s people was to do kingdom work. Habakkuk didn’t call for street demonstrations, but rather for “demonstrations of the Holy Spirit and power”. In fact, amidst the chaos, oppression, and despair of His day, “Jesus went about doing good” (Acts 10:38).
The Apostle Paul cited Habakkuk’s vision of faith three times in his writings. Like Paul and those of the early church, our journey remains one of faith that does good in the face of evil — as salt preserving the good, and as light in the midst of encroaching darkness.
This is why The Big Event conference this year is built around the theme of Transforming Faith. We all need to have the gift and anointing of faith released in our lives. Faith will carry us through. In these chaotic and disturbing times in which we live, it is faith that will keep us on the solid footing of a firm foundation.
We need to gather together at this season prior to the election and empower ourselves for the journey ahead, building up our most holy faith.
Will you come worship and pray with me August 17-21 at The Big Event? I pray that all of you reading this can come and join me for these 5 days of teaching, encouragement and faith-building. I need all of you to stand with me this year as we, by faith, tell the truth in a time where truth is not tolerated. Unprecedented challenges face each of us. We need courage to launch out by faith and move forward with the life of faith to which we are called.
During The Big Event, Dr. Dwain Miller, Walter Hallam, Dr. Bob Rodgers, Dr. Ronnie Phillips Jr., and I will bring and release the word of faith. There will be passionate worship, dynamic teaching, and wonderful fellowship, as well as a few other sessions you may want to be a part of.
I would love to see you at The Big Event! Please register NOW at…
This week, I’ll be on Sid Roth’s “It’s Supernatural!”
Watch now at:
Or, check listings in your area.
It is hard to put into words all of the amazing things God did at this year’s Fresh Oil New Wine conference. Instead of a normal re-cap, I thought I would take you inside the walls of Abba’s House, and let you experience a little Fresh Oil for yourself.
These and other questions were answered during Fresh Oil New Wine 2016. Below is just a small sample of the hours of teaching and revelation that happened over these past 5 days.
I hope you will take the time to watch and be blessed.
Pastor Ron
One has only to watch the news, drive down the street, or look at social media for 2.7 seconds to realize one singular fact…
That’s right, folks. Election Year! Placards wallpapering the roadside, political television and radio spots with the flip of every channel, unbridled rhetoric filling the walls and news feeds of Facebook and Twitter. We seem to have about every conceivable viewpoint, every imaginable ideology, and every possible position covered. We all have in our minds the perfect candidate; the one that we agree with on 99.9999% of the issues important to our nation. And while the Democratic side of the nation has far fewer candidates to choose from than the Republican side, it would seem that just about every possible ideology is represented.
Everything except, perhaps… reality.
The reality of the situation, particularly on the conservative side of things, is that we are looking for someone who does not exist: The perfect candidate. We want to believe that we agree with a certain candidate about everything when we really don’t because he (or she) is “our guy”. We want to not agree with a certain candidate because they are not “our guy”. The fact of the matter is that there is not really that much that separates most of the candidates on either side. Most Republicans agree on most issues. Most Democrats agree on most issues.
So how do we pick? How do we choose the best person for the job? How do we make peace with ourselves and our ideology when “our guy” is not our nominee of choice?
There is the saying that “those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” And while we view the Bible from a theological standpoint, we sometimes forget the fact that it is also a book of historical events. In reading the Bible, we learn that God oftentimes used unlikely people to accomplish His purposes.
“Cyrus the Great” was king of Persia, and was what most of us would consider “a heathen”. He was brought up in the worship of the idols of the Medes and Persians. Yet, here is what God had to say about Cyrus in Isaiah 45…
“Thus says the Lord to His anointed,
To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held—
To subdue nations before him
And loose the armor of kings,
To open before him the double doors,
So that the gates will not be shut:
‘I will go before you
And make the crooked places straight;
I will break in pieces the gates of bronze
And cut the bars of iron.
I will give you the treasures of darkness
And hidden riches of secret places,
That you may know that I, the Lord,
Who call you by your name,
Am the God of Israel.
For Jacob My servant’s sake,
And Israel My elect,
I have even called you by your name;
I have named you, though you have not known Me.
I am the Lord, and there is no other;
There is no God besides Me.
I will gird you, though you have not known Me,
That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting
That there is none besides Me.
I am the Lord, and there is no other;
I form the light and create darkness,
I make peace and create calamity;
I, the Lord, do all these things.’
God anointed King Cyrus to free his people from the Babylonians. Not only did Cyrus allow God’s people to return to Jerusalem to rebuild, but he charged the people living in the lands where the children of Israel lived to assist them with donations of “silver and gold, with goods and with animals, besides freewill offerings…” (Ezra 1)
God used a person of questionable spiritual standing to change the lives and destiny of His people. God didn’t just USE him… God ANOINTED Cyrus for the task. While Cyrus (followed by Darius and Artaxerxes after him) did not have the “desired” spiritual knowledge and background, what he did have were the practical knowledge, ability, resources, and authority to rebuild the temple of God, and eventually, Jerusalem itself. In Proverbs 21:1, we read…
The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord,
Like the rivers of water;
He turns it wherever He wishes.
This verse doesn’t say “the Christian king” or “the Spirit-filled king”… it simply says “the king” — ANY king. Take a look at Romans 13:1…
Let everyone be subject to the governing authorities,
for there is no authority except that which God has established.
The authorities that exist have been established by God. (NIV)
God puts people into authority for His purposes. Sometimes it is to judge His people. Sometimes to chastise His people. Sometimes to encourage His people. Sometimes to challenge His people. Regardless of His reason or purpose for elevating any individual, You can rest assured He has one.
And while some candidates come across as “Cyrus-like” (which, honestly, is how I view someone like Mr. Trump), still others have unabashedly courted the “evangelical vote”. While each candidate, at least on the Republican side, has expressed their belief in God, some have been more forceful about their commitment to Him. Candidates like Ted Cruz, Ben Carson, Mike Huckabee, and Marco Rubio have professed their Christianity in no uncertain terms. Yet even so, we have seen backbiting, personal attacks, and “dirty politics” emerge from some of these camps. We see, on both sides, candidates who have spoken favorably about one another in the past now tearing each other down on a daily basis. However, Galatians 5:15 warns us…
But if you bite and devour one another,
beware lest you be consumed by one another!
In 1980, George H.W. Bush won the Iowa caucus against former California Governor (and former Democrat) Ronald Reagan. Yet, in the end, Mr. Reagan was chosen as the Republican candidate for president. And while during the primary both candidates had their differences, they never went so far afield in their attacks that they were unable to come together, join as eventual running mates, and serve two terms together, with Mr. Bush going on to serve one more term, this time as president.
But…
Someone once said, “In the primary, vote your conscience. In the general election, vote your party.” While this idea does hold some exceptions, there is some truth in it. Most every one that has a political ideology is a member of their party — Republican or Democrat — for a reason. Generally, you choose a party because of that party’s platform; the core values of the party itself. Even many “Independents” tend to lean one way or the other for the same reason. So while you go about supporting the candidate of your choice, remember these three things:
#1. Listen beyond the bluster and personalities of the candidates. We all have different personalities. Some are extroverted and loud. Some are meek and introverted. We have a tendency to want to vote for people who are like us. If that is you, just remember…
Abraham Lincoln had no denominational affiliation. Considered to be the father of the Republican party, Lincoln’s name, legacy, and words are invoked probably more than any other politician.
Harry Truman was known for his profanity. Bill Clinton was alleged to be a womanizer. Both of these men were allegedly Baptists.
Regardless of the criticism leveled at a candidate, be careful to avoid extremes in your own criticism. I have seen an amazing amount of rhetoric and vitriol leveled at certain candidates in the media, as well as on social media. You may be forced to have to swallow your pride and eat your words if your candidate is not your party’s nominee. What you should consider heavily is the candidate’s track record of success and failure, and their position on the issues that are important to you and the nation.
#2. Remember we are ALL human. We all make mistakes. We all misspeak, and say things that we wish we could take back the moment the words leave our lips. Candidates, just like the rest of us, change their minds and positions. Personally, I would rather have a leader who recognizes and is honest about his or her mistakes than someone who doubles-down on a bad position or bad decision because of pride. While we should always be wise in our choices of leaders, we need to also recognize their humanity and fallibility as well. Personally, I would love to see a born-again, Spirit-filled person elevated to office of President, but that may not be the person God has ANOINTED for the task (remember Cyrus).
#3. Vote. Abraham Lincoln once said, “He has a right to criticize who has a heart to help.” As much as I hate to say this, sometimes voting is not about picking the person who will do the most good. Sometimes, it is about picking the person who will do the least harm. Sometimes, neither candidate is ideal. Sometimes, you may feel like you are just choosing between the lesser of two evils. However, by choosing not to vote, you have voted — you chose not to support the candidate who had the best chance of success.
In Jeremiah 29:7, God told the exiled children of Israel…
But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare. (ESV)
While this world is not our home, and we serve a higher King, we have a responsibility to be good citizens of the place where God has planted us. That means being a good neighbor, caring for our communities, and getting involved in the decision-making process — a big part of which is exercising our right to vote.
I have a friend who is recovering from cancer. In the last three years, he has been diagnosed with three different types of cancer, so it is safe to say he has been through a variety of treatments and procedures. In the last year, he has undergone five surgeries. We were recently discussing the political landscape and the election, and he put it to me this way:
“When you are going through cancer, you choose the treatment that has the best track record, the one that is going to have the best chance of saving your life. None of them are pleasant. Every treatment I have undergone has had its side-effects, pain, and associated misery. However, in the end, I just had to go with the best option, and trust God with the results. Sure, I had the choice to just do nothing, but that decision probably would have cost me my life.”
We as believers have the opportunity to be a part of turning our nation around. The candidate you get may not be the one you want, but may be the one God anointed. The next four years may not fix every ill in our nation, but may simply be a small step in the right direction. If we do our part and vote, there is still the chance we could fail.
However, if we as believers in Jesus do nothing at all, failure is guaranteed.
Why?
Because “… faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.” ~ James 2:17
May America bless God once again,
Pastor Ron
I felt at this time, with recent decisions coming from Washington D.C., that I needed to say something about the enemies rising against the American people.
Several weeks ago, Russian troops moved into Syria to take on ISIS. Now the decision has been made to move American troops into the region. After the announcement was made, several senators expressed their concern that, not only did the administration not know what they were doing, they don’t know who they are fighting. To make matters even more volatile, the Russians have moved their tactical nuclear weapons into the Middle East. Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared to the head of the Russian Orthodox Church his intention to destroy ISIS, promising to first warn every one else to get out of the way.
Unfortunately, since 14 of our top military commanders have been fired in the last 18 months, as Senator Lindsay Graham expressed, it seems that those making the decisions in Washington don’t know what they are doing. But what else should we expect? When you have a bunch of progressive liberals in control who don’t believe in God, they have no understanding or idea of how to deal with a religious situation.
In Ezekiel 38:1-9, it says…
Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying, “Son of man, set your face against Gog, of the land of Magog, the prince of Rosh (Russia), Meshech, and Tubal, and prophesy against him, and say, ‘Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against you, O Gog, the prince of Rosh, Meshech, and Tubal. I will turn you around, put hooks into your jaws, and lead you out, with all your army, horses, and horsemen, all splendidly clothed, a great company with bucklers and shields, all of them handling swords. Persia, Ethiopia, and Libya are with them, all of them with shield and helmet; Gomer and all its troops; the house of Togarmah from the far north and all its troops—many people are with you.
“Prepare yourself and be ready, you and all your companies that are gathered about you; and be a guard for them. After many days you will be visited. In the latter years you will come into the land of those brought back from the sword and gathered from many people on the mountains of Israel, which had long been desolate; they were brought out of the nations, and now all of them dwell safely. You will ascend, coming like a storm, covering the land like a cloud, you and all your troops and many peoples with you.”
What we are currently witnessing is the beginning of a setup of the End Times.
Listen to Isaiah 46:10…
Declaring the end from the beginning,
And from ancient times things that are not yet done,
Saying, ‘My counsel shall stand,
And I will do all My pleasure…”
Please understand that I’m not trying to scare you. What I AM trying to do is to let you know that God’s got this! He has it all under control. Nothing that is going on is catching Him by surprise. When it seems to us that the world is out of control, we can rest assured that He has it under control.
The rebels in Syria that the Russians are fighting are the same as ISIS. Even though Russia will one day turn, right now they are on the right side of this conflict, and the U.S. is on the wrong side. If you look at any video of ISIS fighters, they are not carrying Syrian or Russian weapons… they are carrying U.S. weapons — the ones we gave them.
In my most recent book, The Hiram Code, I discuss not just what is going to happen during these turbulent times, but how you can have favor in spite of what is going on. When every nation was rising up against Israel, King Hiram was smart enough to embrace Israel. As a result, he became the wealthiest ruler in the world, with an empire that lasted 300 years — even longer than Israel.
We can pray.
We can trust God.
We can keep living our lives, and sharing the love of Christ with the world .
What we don’t have to do is live in fear and hopelessness. We don’t have to sit around, wringing our hands and waiting for those in Washington to start making good decisions. We have God’s Word. We know what has been declared from Heaven, and we need to get our lives positioned in accordance with His will. We need to live our lives for the glory of God.
A lot of people are in fear of the end times. However, over the years I have discovered that if a person is in the right alignment in the will of God, somehow He takes care of them through the circumstances of life. There has been so much fear revolving around the “Blood Moons” and some of the harbingers that are out there that people are asking the question: “What are we supposed to do?”
In my new book, The Hiram Code, I have captured some positive promises from God, for everyone, that are always valid. When you look at The Hiram Code, you’ll find that it is in five sections:
We have learned as believers that if the mindset of the world is against something, we should probably be for it. Throughout history, we have seen people and nations align themselves against the nation of Israel and the Jewish people. Yet God said of those who support Israel — through His promise to Abram — in Genesis 12:2-3…
I will make you a great nation;
I will bless you
And make your name great;
And you shall be a blessing.
I will bless those who bless you,
And I will curse him who curses you;
And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.
One thing we need to do today, in spite of world pressure, is to stay in proper alignment with Israel and their right to exist. With Iran, Israel’s avowed enemy, rattling it’s saber and declaring their desire to wipe Israel from the face of the earth, and other leaders voicing their disdain for Israel, we must take a strong stand and stand with God’s chosen people.
The Hiram Code itself is wrapped around the country of Phoenicia and its history. The word Bible comes from the Greek word biblos (βίβλος) which was the name the Greeks gave the papyrus plant from which paper and scrolls were derived. The Phoenicians were some of the first to invent this form of paper, and even had a city named Byblos, because of its extensive production and trading of this product. The Phoenicians (or Syrians, as we know them today) are Semitic people, just like the Jews, as they are also descendants of Noah’s son, Shem.
During the times of King David, there was a king named Hiram who loved David, and built him a house. Later, after David died, King Hiram embraced David’s son and heir to the throne, Solomon. It was King Hiram who helped King Solomon build the Temple in Jerusalem. Upon King Hiram’s death, his dynasty lasted for hundreds of years — 300 years longer than Judah — until they were finally overthrown by Alexander the Great.
The prosperity that fell upon Solomon was partially due to King Hiram. He taught the Israelites how to sail ships, which they sent out annually, and would be gone for three years. When the ships returned, they would be filled with gold, treasures, and other goods to use for trade and commerce. Both Israel and Phoenicia prospered greatly, in spite of difficult times.
Many people believe that the Phoenicians were the people referred to as “The Atlantic Sea People”, and that they came there with the skills learned from life on the sea. Only the Phoenicians embraced the Jews, and because of that, they found blessing and favor.
King Hiram supported the house of David, which is a picture of the church. He supported Israel, which goes back to the promise in Genesis 12. He embraced God’s people and was blessed, because God is true to His Word. I believe that America has been blessed as a nation for many years, in part, because of our love and support for the nation of Israel. Godly blessing and favor are tied to how we treat His people. All of His promises are “yes and amen”, and our continued support of Israel is imperative for continued blessing.
An interesting fact is that the Cherokee Indians share DNA markers with both Phoenicians and Jews, which further intensifies the ties between these ancient people and our “First Nation” friends and neighbors.
So I encourage you to get The Hiram Code, and unlock the ancient key to walking in God’s blessings and favor.
The Hiram Code is a book of blessing and hope for people who do not want to live in fear during these Last Days.
The Heart of Abba - Ron Phillips 