November 2021
[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/643083783″ hide_video_title=”1″][us_separator size=”small”][vc_column_text]God is looking for an opportunity to show Himself mighty through someone who will stand for Him. The struggle is that God’s opportunities come with great opposition and a great price. Notice when you look back on history, you’ll see that it doesn’t take many who will stand for Truth that turns the tide of nations. Three men stood against all odds for God. In the natural, it looked like there was no way that things would change, or the governmental leader would change their mind. It looked like the horrific ultimate price was going to be paid because these three men had a “God Line” in their lives and heart that they wouldn’t cross. They respectfully refused to cross a line that the government was trying to get them to cross. They knew if they crossed it, it would be to satisfy men at the cost of dishonoring their God. They knew and held dearly their loving, trusting commitment to God knowing that He was with them. Knowing that He, God, could deliver them. Yet, even if God didn’t, He was still their God. When we stand with such convictions against great odds, that is when we see God’s angels show up BIG TIME! Learn more and decide, will you be one who will stand for God and not cross the line, your God line?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][ult_tab_element tab_style=”Style_6″ tab_animation=”Slide-Horizontal” tab_title_color=”#333333″ tab_background_color=”#42baff” tab_hover_title_color=”#999999″ tab_hover_background_color=”#e8e8e8″ acttab_title=”#1b98e0″ acttab_background=”#ffffff” tabs_border_radius=”0″ font_icons_position=”Left” icon_size=”18″ icon_color=”#1a1a1a” icon_hover_color=”#999999″ act_icon_color=”#1b98e0″ tab_describe_color=”#1a1a1a” enable_bg_color=”#ffffff” title_font_style=”font-weight:bold;” title_font_size=”desktop:18px;”][single_tab icon=”Defaults-pencil” title=”NOTES” tab_id=”1570475809108-3b50a-330c”][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/single_tab][single_tab icon=”Defaults-book” title=”BIBLE” tab_id=”1570475809180-0b50a-330c”][vc_raw_html]JTNDaWZyYW1lJTIwaWQlM0QlMjJpZnJhbWVCaWJsZSUyMiUyMGZyYW1lYm9yZGVyJTNEJTIyMSUyMiUyMGhlaWdodCUzRCUyMjY1MCUyMiUyMHdpZHRoJTNEJTIyNTAwJTIyJTIwc3JjJTNEJTIyaHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ3d3cuYmlibGUuY29tJTJGYmlibGUlMkYxMiUyRmpobi4xLmFzdiUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRmlmcmFtZSUzRSUwQSUwQSUyMA==[/vc_raw_html][/single_tab][single_tab icon=”Defaults-dollar usd” title=”DONATE” tab_id=”1570476095369-2-10b50a-330c”][us_separator][us_image image=”11446″ size=”full” align=”center” onclick=”custom_link” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fpushpay.com%2Fg%2Fgreglancaster%3Fsrc%3Dhpp|target:_blank”][us_separator][/single_tab][/ult_tab_element][/vc_column][/vc_row]
[vc_row][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_video link=”https://vimeo.com/643083783″ hide_video_title=”1″][us_separator size=”small”][vc_column_text]God is looking for an opportunity to show Himself mighty through someone who will stand for Him. The struggle is that God’s opportunities come with great opposition and a great price. Notice when you look back on history, you’ll see that it doesn’t take many who will stand for Truth that turns the tide of nations. Three men stood against all odds for God. In the natural, it looked like there was no way that things would change, or the governmental leader would change their mind. It looked like the horrific ultimate price was going to be paid because these three men had a “God Line” in their lives and heart that they wouldn’t cross. They respectfully refused to cross a line that the government was trying to get them to cross. They knew if they crossed it, it would be to satisfy men at the cost of dishonoring their God. They knew and held dearly their loving, trusting commitment to God knowing that He was with them. Knowing that He, God, could deliver them. Yet, even if God didn’t, He was still their God. When we stand with such convictions against great odds, that is when we see God’s angels show up BIG TIME! Learn more and decide, will you be one who will stand for God and not cross the line, your God line?[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][ult_tab_element tab_style=”Style_6″ tab_animation=”Slide-Horizontal” tab_title_color=”#333333″ tab_background_color=”#42baff” tab_hover_title_color=”#999999″ tab_hover_background_color=”#e8e8e8″ acttab_title=”#1b98e0″ acttab_background=”#ffffff” tabs_border_radius=”0″ font_icons_position=”Left” icon_size=”18″ icon_color=”#1a1a1a” icon_hover_color=”#999999″ act_icon_color=”#1b98e0″ tab_describe_color=”#1a1a1a” enable_bg_color=”#ffffff” title_font_style=”font-weight:bold;” title_font_size=”desktop:18px;”][single_tab icon=”Defaults-pencil” title=”NOTES” tab_id=”1570475809108-3b50a-330c”][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/single_tab][single_tab icon=”Defaults-book” title=”BIBLE” tab_id=”1570475809180-0b50a-330c”][vc_raw_html]JTNDaWZyYW1lJTIwaWQlM0QlMjJpZnJhbWVCaWJsZSUyMiUyMGZyYW1lYm9yZGVyJTNEJTIyMSUyMiUyMGhlaWdodCUzRCUyMjY1MCUyMiUyMHdpZHRoJTNEJTIyNTAwJTIyJTIwc3JjJTNEJTIyaHR0cHMlM0ElMkYlMkZ3d3cuYmlibGUuY29tJTJGYmlibGUlMkYxMiUyRmpobi4xLmFzdiUyMiUzRSUzQyUyRmlmcmFtZSUzRSUwQSUwQSUyMA==[/vc_raw_html][/single_tab][single_tab icon=”Defaults-dollar usd” title=”DONATE” tab_id=”1570476095369-2-10b50a-330c”][us_separator][us_image image=”11446″ size=”full” align=”center” onclick=”custom_link” link=”url:https%3A%2F%2Fpushpay.com%2Fg%2Fgreglancaster%3Fsrc%3Dhpp|target:_blank”][us_separator][/single_tab][/ult_tab_element][/vc_column][/vc_row]
Being Led By The Spirit Is The Key! The Wisdom of Walking with Holy Spirit vs the Knowledge of Men
It so incredibly encouraging to have people who have lived life, and seen the faithfulness of the Lord do great and mighty things in their lives, to walk alongside us and share their lives with us. In this exciting moment, Greg Lancaster continues his conversation with longtime friend and brother in the Lord, Jack Hollis. Vulnerability and transparency have become so rare in our present age. But not with Jack. His life story is a breath of fresh air for those who are hungry for a deeper and closer connection with the Lord. Jack openly shares about his beginning moments coming to the Lord when the Lord showed him something so encouraging and powerful that is in Deuteronomy 4:37-38, “And because he loved your fathers and chose their offspring after them and brought you out of Egypt with his own presence, by his great power, driving out before you nations greater and mightier than you, to bring you in, to give you their land for an inheritance, as it is this day”. Essentially, God brought him out to bring him in. In Jack’s own words, he expresses how profoundly that impacted his life and what the Lord was showing to Jack that He had done. “I didn’t just bring you out of the hell that you were in. I didn’t bring you out of being an alcoholic, I didn’t bring you out of being lost and being undone, I brought you out to bring you into something better, something real!” This moment with the Lord has been something that he has carried with him his whole life. He even recalls those moments before the Lord compared to walking with the Lord as simply incomparable. There was such a powerful change in Jack’s life when Jesus Christ took over!
There were so many things that the Lord did through his life, and the 58 years of marriage with his wife Shellie, that he describes those years as “living two or three lives”. Throughout his time walking with the Lord, Jack experienced the temptation to slow down and be like other people. But he knew he just couldn’t do that. “Maybe everybody’s right. Maybe I need to settle down in a church and do all that stuff. Nah. Didn’t work. Nothing worked.” It’s not about being successful in this life. It’s about being successful in heaven’s eyes; in the eyes of Jesus. As Jack points out, “we have to overcome success in order for God to work through us”. Having to work while he just started high school, Jack decided to drop out of school. Because of that decision, he wasn’t able to get his GED until he was 30. It wasn’t for another twenty years that he got his Bachelor’s degree, and another 10 years to acquire his Master’s degree. The interesting thing is after all of these years of theological education, it didn’t make much of a difference. “I don’t know a bit more than I did before I did all of that.” The Spirit of God had already led him in all of those areas. Ken Sumrall was a spiritual father to both Greg and Jack. He had a similar understanding as he shares this wisdom, “I was dying by degrees”. In our world of more and more knowledge, simply walking in obedience to the Holy Spirit confounds the minds of men. As Greg shares, “people think that you got something over them. ‘No, its just that Holy Spirit told me to be here, told me to say this’”.
There is nothing more exciting that living a life following the voice of the Lord and the leading of Holy Spirit. As Jack points out, Holy Spirit leads him in his daily life to share with others what God has said to him about them, and impacts their hearts so profoundly, they are led to tears. But it doesn’t always turn out that way. When Jack was sitting down one day at a restaurant, he felt the leading of the Lord to go talk to a lady who was sitting at a nearby table. The conversation started off innocently enough; “excuse me, but…” and that was all it took. She stopped him right there in his tracks. “GET AWAY FROM ME!” She quickly put her hand in her purse and pulled out her pepper spray which was immediately aimed directly at Jack. “YOU GET AWAY FROM MY TABLE!” With his hands up in defense, Jack immediately complied and walked back to his table. “Yes ma’am. No problem. No worries.” After making it back to his table where his lovely wife was sitting, she had seen the sudden stark reaction, and asked Jack, “what was that?” Recognizing that God surely has a sense of humor, Jack replied, “I just about got pepper sprayed and I think God is up there laughing His head off”.
Even though not everyone may be open or receptive to hearing from the Lord, following the leading of the Lord is what this life is all about. Greg beautifully captures the importance of this timely wisdom as he shares, “I know that being led by the Spirit is the key because God is just looking for us to obey Him for the opportunity for Him to do what He was planning on doing anyway”. Imagine living a life fully devoted to following the voice of the Lord in our lives. How immensely powerful would that be impacting the lives of those around us and loving on the heart of the Father by simply obeying Him? Everyday we have a choice whether or not we will follow the Holy Spirit. Jack points out the important truth, “all you got to do to be led by the Spirit is don’t be led by the flesh”. Greg highlights how many people have described him as a men that “JUST DOES IT!” But the truth is, its just following God. When people ask Jack how he lives a life like that, he plainly asks them in response, “how do you not do it?” Do we even really have a choice? Greg nails the reality by asking this important and vital question; “if we’re doing it for Him, why would there be a choice not to obey Him?” This is what it’s all about. Today is the first day of the rest of our lives and we can make that choice to live every life focused on the heart of the Father, and loving Him by simply walking in obedience to Him.
HUMOR MOMENT: Nearly Pepper Sprayed for Following God?
There is nothing more exciting that living a life following the voice of the Lord and the leading of Holy Spirit. In this hilarious humor moment, Greg has a conversation with Jack Hollis about following the Holy Spirit and when He gives gentle promptings of words of knowledge to share with people. As Jack points out, Holy Spirit leads him in his daily life to share with others what God has said to him about them, and impacts their hearts so profoundly, they are led to tears. But it doesn’t always turn out that way. When Jack was sitting down one day at a restaurant, he felt the leading of the Lord to go talk to a lady who was sitting at a nearby table. The conversation started off innocently enough; “excuse me, but…” and that was all it took. She stopped him right there in his tracks. “GET AWAY FROM ME!” She quickly put her hand in her purse and pulled out her pepper spray which was immediately aimed directly at Jack. “YOU GET AWAY FROM MY TABLE!” With his hands up in defense, Jack immediately complied and walked back to his table. “Yes ma’am. No problem. No worries.” After making it back to his table where his lovely wife was sitting, she had seen the sudden stark reaction, and asked Jack, “what was that?” Recognizing that God surely has a sense of humor, Jack replied, “I just about got pepper sprayed and I think God is up there laughing His head off”.
The Power of Gratitude in our Hearts expressed by Giving Thanks with our Tongues
In this exciting and encouraging conversation, Greg Lancaster sits down with longtime friend and brother in the Lord, Jack Hollis. Jack is such a transparent and humble man, that listening to him share about his life, his doesn’t waste time turning the attention to the Lord and His faithfulness. Jack talks about the importance of not just being grateful, but also living a life of continually giving thanks. We can’t stop at the mere moment of being grateful and having gratitude for those around us, we have to use our words to give thanks. As Jack expresses this important truth, “but until you give thanks; until it comes out of your mouth, it has no power. It’s nothing. They can’t benefit. You can’t benefit.” How many people are living their lives with a heart of gratitude but never allowing their tongue to express to the world around them the powerful words of thankfulness? Greg highlights the importance of expressing kind words to those around us because the devil will always capitalize on silence. “If you’re not talking, the devil is, and he’s not talking you up. You better say something quickly.” This is what living an abiding lifestyle with the Lord is all about. Imagine how powerful it would be to start your day every day by expressing your thankfulness to the Lord of all that He has done and is doing in your life? Greg continues, “we practice…a gratitude journal where it forces you to pause from your busy life, to dig around and see things that God did yesterday in your life, and give Him thanks for it.” The enemy is pressing down hard upon all of us each and every day. If we don’t take the time to stop and remember these important moments of how the Hand of the Lord is upon us, the devil will steal those important moments and memories from us.
The Wonderful Blessing of Having Faithful Friends in Our Lives
It is such an encouraging breath of fresh air to have a conversation with those who are down to Earth and humble. Jack Hollis is one of these men and his life is a wonderful, joyful testimony of the faithfulness of the Lord. Greg Lancaster was recently privileged to be able to sit down and recall those iconic memories of a deep heartfelt relationship that has spanned multiple decades. One of those memorable moments, as Jack shares, was when Jack invited Greg to speak at a leadership conference. You may think that such an exciting moment would have provided a few weeks to prepare and plan for. Not exactly. This particular event was held at a federal prison and Jack wanted Greg to be there. So he called him up to graciously extend the invitation to come and speak. “We started at 6:00 and I called Greg at 3:30, I think. And I said, ‘You want to speak at our A.M.I. Conference? Our Gathering at this time?’” Greg asked the obvious question, “Oh Yeah! When is it?” “In two hours and a half”, Jack responded. Jack continued to share the continual needed details. “Well you don’t need to bathe or nothin’, just c’mon.” Greg was there. After giving Greg the directions, he said to simply call him so that Jack could send someone to meet him at the gate. Upon arriving at his destination, Greg was shocked to see multiple signs, “DO NOT ENTER!”. It was at the Federal Prison! Greg had to drive down unknown prison roads to eventually end up at a building he assumed was the building they were meeting at. Remember, it was dark, he was at a prison and couldn’t see hardly anything until he opened the door to the building they were meeting in. Greg was so grateful that it was the right building and not prisoner cell or chow hall. LOL Jack even recalls how powerfully the Lord moved through Greg’s message to his leadership in that moment as the Lord delivered a powerful word for all of those who were gathered. Not only does Jack recognize the significance of the moment, but also life and character of Greg; “not too many people are instant in season and out of season”. Greg shares the one thing that joins and brings him and Jack together, “well love is what connects us so we do what we can.” It’s so deeply refreshing to witness such a beautiful relationship between two people who have the Lord in common and see how deeply the Lord can demonstrate Himself through our lives, and in the lives of those around us.
Jack Hollis: The Impactful Life of Pastoring a City
It is such an encouraging breath of fresh air to have a conversation with those who are down to Earth and humble. Jack Hollis is one of these men and his life is a wonderful, joyful testimony of the faithfulness of the Lord. Greg Lancaster was recently honored to be able to sit down with Jack and take the time to talk about some of the wonderful miracles that the Lord has done through Jack’s life. It is such an honor to see and experience someone who has the heart and desire to pastor God’s flock, (a church family), to care for them, and demonstrate the love of the Lord to each of them. Jack has been a pastor in his hometown of Marianna, FL for decades, and has had such an influence upon his community, as Greg shares, he has “one thing that the Lord has used you in and what you’ve been faithful to do is literally, pastor a city”. At his recent birthday celebration, Jack’s son Quinton recognized the profound impact that Jack has had upon his local community; “no matter who they were; no matter whether they went to your church or not, when crisis hit, you’d be the first one they’d call”. Even when Jack and wife Shellie were financially broke themselves, they did all they could in those moments of need for others to help them pay their utility bills or to help them with rent. What a beautiful moment demonstrating the love of Jesus to those around us!
As Greg continues to point out, Jack is a man who continually demonstrates his heart of gratitude to those around him, he doesn’t keep it to himself. When Jack walks past a table of law enforcement officers, he makes sure to take the opportunity to express how grateful he is for them AND to pay for their entire meal when possible. What may seem like a simple act of kindness and generosity has the potential of changing someone’s life. As a former law enforcement officer himself, Greg empathizes with the profound influence of those kinds of actions. “Being former law enforcement…very few people do that…It was so depressing some of the things that we had to do in law enforcement, to have some kind words, or an extra helping of this, or ‘we appreciate you’, it just changed everything.” Not only did Jack continually love on his community around him, but also continually spoke at the local university for the Baptist Campus Ministries, BCM, and Fellowship of Christian Athletes, FCA, events.
Jack recalls one particular moment speaking at an event that he recalls many of those who were present “went to church”, but yet they had never given their lives to the Lord. He knew that being able to connect with them personally would have an impact on them. “If you want to talk to me about anything, here’s my phone number and just let me know..” After following the leading of the Lord and sharing a prophetic word for two young athletes who were present that day, they made sure to express to Jack that they had taken down his phone number and would be calling him. As Jack says, “that’s what it’s all about”. In those moments and years, his devoted wife, Shellie, would be faithfully ministering alongside him to all of those who were in need. There was such a hunger for the love of God, back during the days of The Jesus Movement, that Jack’s son, Quinton, recalls his father being able to minister the Word of God for “9 hours straight and no one got tired of it” including Jack. That is what the anointing of the Lord allows us to do.
Did God Call Us to Organized Religion or Connected Family?
When we give our lives to the Lord, we so desperately want to serve the Lord with all of our hearts and imagine what it looks like to live a life completely devoted to the Lord. What does a life consumed with the love of Jesus Christ look like? Sitting down and having a conversation with Jack Hollis, a man who has been walking with the Lord for more than 50 years, reveals that encouraging life story. Greg Lancaster recently had the immense privilege of spending time with Jack and talking about some of the miraculous testimonies that the Lord did through Jack’s life. One of these moments was when Jack and wife Shellie would take time to spend weekends at a one-bedroom cabin to minister to people. One particular weekend, the cabin was filled with 30 people who were hungry just to learn about and grow in the things of the Lord. They would spend hours singing together and worshiping the Lord, and then Jack would share a message from Scripture. Talking with Jack, Greg recalls that season of the 1970’s as a sovereign move of God as the Lord was drawing so many people to Himself through family. As he shares, ‘it seems like some sort of pattern in the 70’s were, were in this thing as a family, we are connected, the Holy Spirit just connected everybody as a family. There was no time limits. I love being with you. I love being with God. Were eating together. That was just the season.’ What a beautiful moment to recall and remember as the Lord was doing so many wonderful and awesome things amongst His people. Greg recalled, during their his interview with Jack, that this was the same time that Keith Green was planning on building on land that he had purchased to help give housing and to disciple as many people as he could in the things of the Lord. Keith Green felt that those being saved in the Jesus Movement, which were known as Hippies, needed more help in being discipled and building life skills needed for them to succeed in life. Keith’s plans were cut short when he got on to a plane with some of his children and a visiting missionary to show them all the land and share his plans which ended tragically with the plane crashing and Keith’s light going out here on earth, but, surely, began burning bright in heaven.
Isn’t that what is missing today? Some questions that some have asked when it seems the love of God has seemingly left parts of His church. When people say they love the Lord, do they love the Church? Do they love those that are next to them? One minute the person who says they love God, is now the person that is crucifying you. How does that make sense? As Greg expresses, “if I love you, then I love Jesus. Then if you love me then you love Jesus and our love for God is measured by our love for each other.” If this is what God expects of us, and if this is what is written in Scripture, how did we get where we are today? Why is there so much religion that is absent of the presence and love of Jesus? We can’t walk in the love of Jesus without our hearts being broken for the things that breaks the Lord’s heart and seeing others as Jesus sees them. Jesus speaks to the apostle John describing this as “leaving our First Love.” Greg recalls that moment when Ken Sumrall, who was a spiritual father in the Lord to him, was suddenly overcome by the Holy Spirit with an awareness of God’s Father Heart towards His [God’s] ministers where a burden from God imprinted upon Ken Sumrall’s life of a Father’s heart for pastors and ministers in that awesome, heartbreaking encounter. Ken Sumrall wept all night as God broke his heart in this encounter with our Father God, that is why I refer to it as “heartbreaking”. God broke Ken Sumrall’s heart when what was breaking His. God’s heart was broken for so many of His ministers being fatherless. They had no one in their life to speak into their lives, encourage them and be a spiritual father to them as Paul was to Timothy and so many others. This encounter with the Lord happened most of the night and change Ken Sumrall’s life and ministry from that point on. This all happened when he was praying in his hotel room seeking the Lord for what the Lord wanted him to speak about the next day at the Full Gospel Business Men’s Fellowship International in Mobile, Alabama where he was a guest speaker. ‘he was praying and suddenly God just came down and broke his heart and He said you know, basically, ‘My Church is fatherless. All these pastors are fatherless.’ And it just shifted everything.’ Think about this important truth. Of all the words to be used in language, God chose to use Father when describing Himself. We HAVE to tap into and connect with this reality. This is a river of truth that every area and portion of our lives should flow from. When Jesus shared with the disciples how to pray, He said, pray like this “Our Father…”
Jack underscores this important reality by stating this vital truth; “everything is about the Father”. Jack continues to talk about how the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit always glorify one another. When he talks to people about praying, he reminds people to always pray to the Father. If we’re not praying to the Father, we’re wrong. “It’s wrong. Jesus Himself said you’re never going to ask me for anything again. Ask the Father in My authority and He’ll give it to you. He said, don’t ask me for anything. I’ve already given you everything.” This is why Jesus started off the Lord’s prayer with this important words in Matthew 6:9 “Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name.”” This is what Jesus has done for us. Jesus has provided us access to the Father. As John 14:6 reveals, “Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” As Jack describes in his own words, “Jesus has given us the entrance into the presence of the Father”. We’ve made it about everything BUT the Father. As a man who has walked this Earth more than 82 years, it’s incredibly wise to listen to the wisdom that one would share. Jack expresses the vital revelation that came to him only a few short years ago, “This thing is all about glorifying God. It’s not about any of that other stuff.”
If we leave Jesus out of the reality of this moment we call life, we will have seriously missed what everything is all about. Greg describes an encounter that he had with the Lord, given to him in a dream, that has forever marked him and impacted his life. “I was standing at the doorway, outside the [God’s] Throne Room, and the door was [slightly] open, but not fully opened, and the presence of God was so awesome it feeled every possibly space. I was filled with the deep overwhelming fear of the Lord. It was like ‘where’s Jesus’? since the only way we can withstand God’s awesome, holy presences is by and through Jesus.”
Greg continues to share about his seemingly overwhelming profound experience. “It’s not like you can’t bring something up in His presence. It’s like, there’s no room for something else other than Him. As I was standing there, the one thing I thought about was Jesus, because it’s about accessing Him, like you said. I was like, ‘JESUS! Where’s Jesus.’ Because Jesus gives us access to this awesome, holy, perfect, God.” Greg goes to say, “you don’t want to show up at God’s thrown room without Jesus. Jesus is the only way you can have access to God” “With Jesus we can approached God’s thrown with boldness, yet, it is with fear and trembling.” Encounters like this don’t simply leave you unchanged. Greg also briefly points out how, in a previous encounter with the Lord, he was shown the Lord on the Cross, and in another encounter, he was able to embrace and fully embrace the Lord. Now after experiencing the Throne Room of God, he says, “I’M TERRIFIED! That’s the whole thing. Jesus gave us access.” “It’s not being terrified of God, it’s understanding His Holiness as did the apostle John when He saw the Lord and fell as dead before Him. To see God, understanding I was on the outside of His Throne Room with just a slightly opened door, is to be overtaken by the Fear of the God for He is awesome and all powerful and sits in the center of all Creation upon His Throne.” What is immensely powerful to realize and truly connect with, is the fact that this awesome and holy God loves us and wants a relationship with us. More to come!
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‘You Could Almost Say, Mary Had a Little Lamb & People Would Get Saved’ Bill Johnson| The Jesus Movement Part 5
A sovereign move of God! It is so exciting to be in the moment as we are on the precipice of what God is about to do. “It’s going to be the 1970’s again”, is what the Lord told Greg Lancaster. THINK ABOUT THAT! When you think about the 1970’s. One of the things that might come to mind about the 1970’s might be the tall orange shag carpeting that was so long you had to actually use a carpet rake on it, in your home! But more importantly is, GOD DID SOME AMAZING THINGS! A sovereign move of God referred to as The Jesus Revolution swept the nation of America mightily. Amidst the backdrop of tragic things taking place in America at that time, and around the world, God moved mightily upon thousands of souls. The Lord wrecked the Church as it was. I mean wrecked it in a good way! It was as if the Church was stuck where it was. BUT GOD! As Bill Johnson, of Bethel, Redding California, speaking about The Jesus Movement, the presence of God was so known in the nation, “you could say Mary had a little lamb”, (which is taken from a children’s poem) and people were getting saved! That is what it’s like to have a divine move of God! This move of God was so powerful that even Time Magazine dedicated their front cover to acknowledging God is real with an article titled “The Jesus Revolution”. That is so powerful! God is going to bring about a sovereign move of His presence AGAIN!
During those days, it was as if the spirit of death was upon the people, with no hope to live, and Jesus Christ saved them and healed them. Greg was shown, by the Lord in a dream, that people are feeling the same way today, that death is upon them and they need a miracle from God to live. God’s glory is coming. The Hand of God can touch you RIGHT NOW and deliver you from that and encounter you with His Life! Greg was shown in this dream from the Lord, that the harvest of souls (people) is going to come so fast that we have to be prepared. If not, we are going to miss it. Many missed it in the 1970’s. How do we get ready? Get out of your head and focus on the Kingdom of God. God’s plan is totally outside the confines of the limitations of one nation. Greg said, he doesn’t mean not be a good citizen in your nation. We as Christians should be a bright light to our nation, but there is more. This is so incredibly exciting. We can’t just simply do the daily things today then, and not be shocked if we miss God. Prepare yourself for this awesome move of God.
As Time Magazine recalls what was happening in the 1970’s, “There is a revival of religion everywhere—except in the church.” History tells us that old moves of God often reject the new moves of God; behold the Lord is doing a new thing. If religion would actually embrace what the Spirit of God is doing, mighty things would take place. Unfortunately, many rejected this sovereign move of God. Why is it that you are doing what you are doing in your life right now? Do you have room for God? For His Harvest? Can God interrupt your schedule and your life with His plans? The Jesus Movement was messy, and what God is about to do is going to be messy, “it’s going to be in the streets” Paster John Kilpatrick says, as he was shown by the Lord. Think about it, speaking about the 1970’s Jesus movement, people were coming off of drugs. People were facing court hearings for the consequences of how they had been living their lives. They have suffered from the aftermath of what they once celebrated sex, drugs and rock-n-roll. Many rejected these people referred to as the hippies. They were lost. They were coming out of the world. People were literally coming out of insane asylums when the Power of God encountered them. We must set in our minds and hearts that we are going to embrace the presence of God right now. Just because it’s messy doesn’t mean it’s God though. We must know the thoughts, the voice and the heart of God. Greg reminds us of a series he taught on God’s Secret Wisdom. Discerning the Thoughts of God to help you better know which is the God Thing that is taking place. Ask God to break your heart for what breaks His heart. God loves every human being on the face of the Earth and He gave His life for them. How can we not ask God for His heart for them; the lost? This is the moment that we can decide in our hearts to be in the epicenter of what God is doing. As Dr. Michael Brown has said, “if you want to be a part of what God is doing, find out what He is doing and dive in”.
In the 1970’s, a powerful and mighty move of God swept America, and the nations of the world. It is now known as The Jesus Movement. What is so important to remember is that this powerful move of God was mainly made up of youth in their twenties, and teenagers! John Wimber, of the Vineyard Churches , was another one of those that God used to lead many to Christ, including many of those referred to as hippies.
The Barna Group did a study of the State of the Church, involving every generation, those who were born before 1946, and every generation up to the Gen Z generation, born between 1999 and 2015. When you look at this study, there is an undeniable shift in the decline of the Church in the year of 2012. What was taking place in the year 2012? The Obama Presidency.
Looking at this graph is an undeniable visualization of how the Church has been impacted during these years. 2012 was a bad year for the Church in America. It was then, starting in 2012, many in every age demographic in America began to walk away from church; away from God. One of the alarming findings that Barna Group reveals in this study is that “…Many young people’s faith…appears to fade as people move further away from their parents.” WOW! If your parents love God, serve God, and worship God together, moving away from them is not a wise decision. Many people make a decision to move based on a job opportunity. For the idea of making more money, they will move to a new city, to be around people they’ve never met, places they’ve never been, not even know if God has a church family for them there, FOR A JOB! Putting a job ahead of God is never a good decision. If you want to keep your faith, do everything in your ability to keep your faith. If you decide to move somewhere, is there a pastor who hears from the Lord that you can put your family under? The most important thing you can do for yourself and your family is to find a Bible believing God fearing,pastor that can hear from the Lord and to raise your family under them. Those who put their jobs, i.e., money first, above God and their family, end up not having either.
God is about to do something mighty. When God is on the verge of doing something mighty, some people start doing really weird things, that is out of the norm for them, and end up making rash decisions which leads them away from what God is about to do. Moments before the Brownsville Revival started, some people, those who you thought were leaders and serious about God, suddenly left, and missed God. Pastor John Kilpatrick says, “Satan doesn’t attack your past, he always attacks your future.” Pastor Kilpatrick speaks on this in a message he titled Satan’s Crowbar. What these people who left Brownsville, prior to Revival, didn’t understand, satan was attacking their future which was to be in, and a part of the Glory move of God, a Revival that would shake America and the world. You want to hold on in these crucial moments. Especially in times of crisis, what you don’t want to do is to make a decision that will take you away from God. Truth of the matter is, deciding to move from where you are, based only on a job, can take you away from where God wants you to be.
We need to be mindful of every generation, knowing that the youth and teenagers were touched mightily in the Jesus Movement we need to be mindful that God is going to do it again and not miss what He is going to do! During this movement in the 1970’s, John Bisagno recalls the concerns he had about rigid religion missing the young people that were hungry for the Lord. “All I know is that kids are turning on to Jesus. My concern is that the stale, traditional churches will reject these kids and miss the most genuine revival of our lifetime.” This coming move of God is going to come so quickly, we believe, that you may find yourself in a place of leadership because you’ve already spent time with the Lord, and have actually READ the Bible. As John Ruttkay shares, “So many people were getting saved in the Jesus movement, if you read the Old Testament and the New Testament, you were now the leader.” Well, what about the elders? They had those covered too. John Ruttkay explains, ‘So many people were getting saved in the Jesus movement, someone would say they actually read the Book of Revelation? You did? Someone would ask. Then you are an elder.” Let that sink in for a moment. Are you ready? That is powerful! That is what God did and we’re going to see what they saw in the 70’s again! So many people weren’t ready for what God did. Don’t let this coming move of God take you by surprise. Amidst God doing mighty things, even the people who were approaching this move of God with apprehension couldn’t deny the reality of its impact. Ronald Knox was converted, from his reported disdain for the enthusiasm of those in The Jesus Movement, to one who embraced their enthusiasm, on his journey interviewing these people that were consumed with a love and hunger for God. Knox said, “Enthusiasm may not be the only virtue but, God knows, apathy is none at all.”
Lonnie Frisbee was one of those people that got powerfully touched by God. People thought he was unreachable since he was another one of those hippies, amongst many others in the 1970s that were also hippies. What they didn’t know is that, in a matter of moments, God would touch Frisbee so powerfully that he would be sharing the Gospel to people who don’t know the Lord, and leading them to Christ with powerful, anointed messages! In an unforgettable moment, from actual footage in the 1970’s, Frisbee recounts the story of the fall of man, bringing to light how Adam and Eve’s feeble attempts to cover up their nakedness applies to all of us today, in our lives. “God had to give them two animals to cover their nakedness. And if you think that you’re going to cover your own sin, by your works, you’re sadly mistaken. You can sew those leaves together as much as you want, but they still won’t cover enough. And you’ll still be ashamed.” As Frisbee continues to share the Good News of the Gospel, with every heart and ear listening attentively, he describes the reality of why Jesus Christ came to the Earth. “So, the Bible says, without the shedding of blood, is there no remission of sin. Jesus Christ willingly went to the Cross, and He died. He gave His life. He says, ‘no man takes my life from me. I lay it down.’ And at that time, Jesus Christ became a sin sacrifice for you, and you, and all of us here tonight.” This is so incredibly powerful as this is always the now word for each of us, to know that Jesus Christ laid down His life, for your life, and for all of our lives. As Frisbee continues to share the love of God, he reminds everyone present, and everyone listening to his words, not to miss the voice of God in this moment. “Though your sin is the blackest sin in the whole world, though you even killed somebody, or broke up a family, you did anything, all that has been accounted for by His Son Jesus Christ. So, don’t reject Him now as He speaks to your heart.” As Frisbee highlights the reality that the love of Jesus Christ is knocking on every one of our hearts, asking to know if we will invite Him in, He invites people to say yes to Jesus. “I want you to confess Him. I want you to receive Him. It’s hard. But, it’s gonna get harder because darkness is coming, more, and more, and more.” When Frisbee asks those who want to receive Christ into their hearts, to stand and come up to the front, people can be seen instantly getting up out of their seats, responding to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. What an awesome and powerful moment!
In the 1970’s, it was a hippie that was powerfully touched by God. Imagine that someone who was leading an ANTIFA rally today, can be preaching the Gospel tomorrow! Why? Because Jesus loves them and can save them too and use them just like He used Lonnie. Would you see Jesus in that moment, or would your own limitations keep you from jumping into what God was doing right in front of you? There were no mighty coliseums required in order to reach souls for Jesus. There was no internet, social media, or even e-mails, it was just a heart on fire for God talking directly to people. This is what the Gospel is all about. It’s not about our fancy, polished words, it’s about the power of the Gospel. As Hebrews 4:12 reveals, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” We can’t add to the Word of God. Just share what Jesus said, and let the power of His Word impact hearts. Just like Lonnie Frisbee was baptizing people in the California coastal, Pacific Ocean waters in the 1970’s, it is these same waters that Pastor Jack Hibbs, of Calvary Chapel, Chino Hills, California, recently led many to follow Jesus Christ in water baptisms in 2021. This is immensely powerful. What God did in the 1970’s, it is still happening today!
It is these moments and realities that stir our faith for expectation of God to do something in our generation. It’s so important that we don’t get focused on the negative news of the world and its own 24-hour news cycle. Instead, focus on believing God doing something so mighty that it can’t help but get onto and into the lives of others that will glorify Jesus! If you want to be a part of what God is about to do, prepare yourself NOW! Get your mind set on His Kingdom, His voice, and His heart. Be willing to stop whatever is on your schedule in order to love those that God is drawing to Himself! THIS IS THAT! GET, GET, GET, GET READY!
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In the 1970’s, a powerful and mighty move of God swept America, and the nations of the world. It is now known as The Jesus Movement. What is so important to remember is that this powerful move of God was mainly made up of youth in their twenties, and teenagers! John Wimber was another one of those that God used to lead so many to Christ, as it seemed as though it was overnight that his fellowship was suddenly comprised of more than half being teenagers. It’s important that we do not count anyone out but that we consider every generation. The Barna Group did a study of the State of Church, involving every generation, those who were born before 1946, and every generation up to the Gen Z generation, born between 1999 and 2015. When you look at this study, there is an undeniable shift in the decline of the Church at the year of 2012. What was taking place in the year 2012? The Obama Presidency.
Looking at this graph is undeniable visualization of how the Church has been impacted during these years. 2012 was a bad year for the Church in America. One of the alarming findings that Barna Group reveals in this study is that “…Many young people’s faith…appears to fade as people move further away from their parents.” WOW! If your parents love God, serve God, worship God together, moving away from that is not a wise decision. So many people make a decision to move base on a job opportunity. For the idea of making more money, they will move to a new city, to be around people they’ve never met, FOR A JOB! Putting a job ahead of God is never a good decision. If you want to keep your faith, do everything in your ability to keep your faith. If you decide to move somewhere, is there a pastor somewhere, who hears from the Lord, to put your family under?
God is about to do something mightily. When God is on the verge of doing something mighty, people start getting really weird, and making sudden rash decisions. Moments before the Brownsville Revival started, people suddenly left, and missed God. You want to hold on in these crucial moments. Especially in times of crisis, what you don’t want to do is to make a decision that will take you away from God. Truth of the matter is, making a decision based on a job can take you away from where God wants you to be.
Humor Moment! It Was Raining Sideways, Big Top Tent Blowing Away and Hours Before the Huge Camping Event
It was raining sideways! The wind blew the Big Top Tent Up and hundreds of fathers, sons, fatherless sons and mentors were hours away from coming to have the time of their life at the Next Step Outback, which Greg and Pat, along with many leaders from the city were putting on. Yikes! Greg and Pat remember the season of following the voice of the Lord in regards of almost ten years of bringing father and sons together, mentors and fatherless boys, in the Next Step Outback’s Father and Son Camping Trips. There was so much that had to come together setting up all the logistics and volunteers to bring such a huge weekend event. As they are doing all they can, laboring, setting up tents, and communicating, everything is coming together, except the weather. When trying to get the tents up, there is downpouring rain, winds blowing everything around, yet the event went on. Greg often said at that time, “The difference between boys and men, are DUE DATES!” People can talk about doing things all they want, but when they are truly brave, or better said, stepping out in BOLD FAITH to tell the world that you are going to do something like this on these dates, it’s a big deal. Greg recalls a humorous moment as he looked back on that even. The people who were around him helping set the event up on that stormy week were working hard to do all we could to assure there was an event. While Greg, with Frank Holland’s lead and Frank’s long rope, after driving stakes in the ground around the big top tent, were tying a very long rope around the big top tent’s sides to attempt to stop the big top from blowing away. Frank, as he and Greg were soaking wet, pulling the rope as tight as they could as the wind seemingly was going to blow it away, looked at Greg, while standing next to him and said, “Pastor Greg, I love your faith!” That is what Greg stepped out on every year as he prophesied the Malachi Mandate, see Malachi 4:5-4. Over and over, Greg would tell all those involved, this is not a camping trip, it’s a prophesy, just tell everyone you can. That is truly what it was, as today we’re seeing the world shake because currently there is still no response to the Father’s Heart of turning our hearts to Him as He turns His to ours.
Greg and Pat, recall a time, at a Next Step Outback, how Frank Holland was responsible for setting up the campfire where many wonderful memories would be formed as the men and boys gathered around it at night. Frank had a gift for building the biggest, widest, perfect campfires that was an epicenter of many bonding moments. This is the funny part, that was shared. It was scheduled that the men and boys were to be headed to their tents, in the City of Tents, to hit the sack to sleep for the night. And, Frank, had a certain time he was ready to go to sleep. His pickup truck was backed up to the fire as he slept on the open tail gate up till the time for him to go to sleep. It didn’t matter what was happening around that fire when Frank was ready for sleep, he could put that huge fire out in a few minutes with many buckets of water. Greg still remembers the shocked men and boys who sat there in the smoldering wet woods’ smoke as Frank jumped into the back of his pickup truck with the open tail gate and went to sleep. HILARIOUS! Except for all the ones who were enjoying the campfire into the night.
Back to this current event where it was raining sideways. Greg and Pat finally decided to take a break from everything that was going on, to get some lunch. Of all the restaurants they decided to eat at was an Applebee’s, it didn’t have walls, but WINDOWS! EVERYWHERE with three very large views on three sides as no matter where they looked, they saw RAIN, LOTS OF RAIN! SIDEWAYS RAIN! To add insult to injury, they had televisions all over Applebee’s where instead of showing sports as they always have in the past, now they had the weather channel on that was broadcasting a SECOND-BY-SECOND PLAY of this horrific weather. IT WAS RAINING SIDEWAYS! Leaving from their lunch, Greg and Pat head back to the campground in separate cars. Pat leading, and Greg following immediately behind him. The damage caused to the big top, seemed so bad to Pat when he pulled into the event, he just felt like he had to call Greg and let him know, “IT’S TERRIBLE!”, even though Greg was SECONDS BEHIND HIM, Pat wanted him to tell him himself, I guess like how those who told Job about his misfortunes. “Oh my gosh, the big tent is blowing away!!!” Pat shouted over the phone call to Greg. Of course, Greg was five seconds from seeing what Pat was seeing, yet Pat called to give him the bad news. That made it where Greg had to get this bad news, TWICE, once from Pat and second from his own eyes when he drove into the event FIVE SECONDS LATER!!! behind Pat. LOL
When you are doing something for God, the enemy does all that he can to convince you that it’s terrible and that it won’t work. Sad to say, many quit and not push through, because pushing through requires faith. Faith is being sure of what you hope for and CERTAIN of what you DON’T SEE! Hebrews 11:1.
As God was faithful to do, every year of the Next Step Outback’s, the moment the events started, God’s power moved mightily! Many hearts were touched as God moved upon those that were there. Holy Spirit moved in such a mighty powerful way, as His glory filled the place, John Lovrien, with WHBR television station, who was there to record the event with his television cameras, dropped his camera, and rushed to his young son who he had left sleeping in their tent. The conviction of the Lord was so powerfully present touching everyone’s heart, burning them with His importance of relationship, He established between fathers and their sons and the sons and their fathers; it’s a God thing. God was moving everywhere. God is into honoring our fathers and recognizing our sons. This is what God does!
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Law Enforcement, a Night on Patrol that Change My Life Forever!
I can’t believe that I spent almost ten years working in law enforcement in our community. What an honor it was to help patrol the streets at night as you slept safely in your homes. What a blessing it was to be there for you when you suffered loss, were harmed, or just needed someone to check things out. For all those who have had their homes burglarized when you were away, I remember the feeling you had of being violated. It was like your entire home had turned into a place you don’t recognize. Someone came into your home and plundered things that were precious to you and took items that could never be replaced. My heart went out to you as I dusted for fingerprints, took pictures, and inventoried all that you could identify as stolen.
I remember patrolling through your neighborhoods late at night and in the early morning hours to ensure your homes and neighborhoods were safe. I would drive by at night and see your lights on and wonder, “Was that the family watching television together?” I would ponder each of your unique homes and the stories about your lives. You invited me into your homes for meals or a friendly chat. I was welcomed into your businesses and restaurants where you would always put an extra helping of the meal you happened to be serving at the time. Some of you wouldn’t even let me pay for my meal. At times, I ate so much that the bulletproof vest had to be removed to breathe, LOL. You were such an encouragement to me as I had to witness many sad things during a typical week of patrol. These kind moments lifted my spirits many times.
I remember getting so hot while on duty on Pensacola Beach, with the sun up and a bulletproof vest on. It was like torture; the heat was so intense. I had many hours to contemplate inventions to hook up your car’s AC system to your bulletproof vest to cool yourself down. Every time I took my bulletproof vest off and said, “That’s it, I’ve had it. I’m not going to wear that thing anymore,” I would get a call: “Shots fired, be en route. Man is shooting at…” It never failed. I’d have to put the vest back on in a hurry and head towards the shooting. Wow, can you imagine having a job where every day you have to put on a bulletproof vest?
I remember having to arrest those who broke the law, yet my heart also broke for them because I knew it wasn’t going to be good for them. I remember young men who hung out on the streets and were heading towards great trouble. They were kind to me, and I was kind to them. I would tell them, “You can’t do this, it isn’t good. It won’t end well for you if you continue.” Then I remember, a short time later, these young men getting arrested. It broke my heart. I remember one of these young men; he was so kind. His family was also kind and a blessing to many. I warned him not to hang out as he was, but he didn’t listen and got arrested. He was very tall yet very young. He was in the jail booking area and was weeping. He was so tall that his tears covered my right shoulder as he cried on my shoulder. There was nothing I could do at that point. He didn’t listen to wisdom, he didn’t listen to his parents, he didn’t listen to my warnings, and now he had been arrested and charged. His life, as he knew it, was going to be changed forever. I wanted, more than ever, for this tragic moment in his life to be “undone,” but there are things in life that cannot be repaired. We just have to live with the scars they cause. We all have those kinds of scars.
I have so many memories of those 9+ years, but most of all, my greatest memory is when I was on patrol one early morning. It was quiet, and nothing much was happening. I was patrolling as usual when suddenly I felt a hunger in my heart to know God. I know it doesn’t make sense, but I could feel the Lord drawing me to Himself, even though I didn’t understand what was going on. So, I pulled over into a church parking lot and began trying to find a “Christian Radio Station,” but I was unsuccessful since I had never listened to Christian music. At that time in my life, I listened to artists like Luther Vandross and others. So, I called a dispatcher named Patti and asked her, “Do you know where I can find a Christian Radio station?” She told me, but back then, it didn’t come on until 6 AM in the morning. So, I parked there and waited since there were no calls to respond to.
While waiting in the church parking lot, I looked up and saw the church sign that said, “Dinner Thursday Nights, FREE!” As a single man who didn’t know how to approach God or a church, I thought, “A free meal, that’s a perfect way for a single man to get a meal (that I didn’t have to cook) and meet ‘church people’.” It was on that Thursday night that I walked into the church with my future wife Donna (unknown to me at the time) right beside me, and it became the church where I would give my life to the Lord. I discovered amazing news at this church! I couldn’t believe it—God gave His Son, Jesus, to pay the price for all my sins. Jesus loved me and proved His love by dying on the Cross, paying the price for my many sins, and was raised from the dead by God three days later. As I wanted to “undo” the tragic arrest for the young man who was arrested and cried on my shoulder in the jail booking, Jesus did do for me! All my many sins, where I sinned against God, others, and myself, what I couldn’t do for that young man in jail, God did for me through His Son Jesus Christ. Wow! Now, I know that God and His Son, Jesus, are both in heaven, with Jesus at God’s right hand. Jesus saw me, called me to Himself, and saved me. It was at that moment I belonged to Him. Though the ride was bumpy at the start, it got somewhat smoother as I was able to learn more about the Lord, His leadership in my life, and being under my new pastor, who is still my pastor today after all these years, Pastor John Kilpatrick.
If you like, you can read my personal testimony, my story, can you here.
You can learn more about my story at GregLancaster.org/KnowGod
Thank you to all the law enforcement officers who patrol our streets and neighborhoods today. We are grateful for you. If you need a drink, a nice meal, or a kind chat, know that you can stop by my home anytime. If you ever wonder what’s happening when you pass by late at night and see our lights on, know that we are blessed! God has done great things for us, and because of Him, we have this house to begin with. You are welcome anytime!
GregLancaster.org/Live
Related:
How many people are expecting to God move in their lives because of what THEY have done or how good THEY are? Do you expect God to do something good today in your life? When you gather today with your Church family, do you expect God to something good. So many times, we caught up looking at people who have been used mightily by the Lord and think that we could never be used by God? That could never happen in our lives. Remember the words that Paul writes to the Church in Corinth, from 1 Corinthians 1: 26-29
“For consider your calling, brothers: not many of you were wise according to worldly standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God.”
Many people can become defeated thinking that to do something for the Lord requires some large behemoth organization. That’s not what God is looking for. God’s checklist is those that are foolish, weak, and despised. If the world has looked over you, that’s exactly the ones that Jesus chose. That’s who His disciples were. If you find yourself being criticized by religious pharisees, that’s a good thing.
During the Jesus Movement in the 1970’s, God was breaking outside the buildings, on the beachside. People who were hungry for the presence of Jesus Christ were worshipping the Lord, with the sound of the crashing shore in the behind them. Many of them decided to follow Jesus’ command to become water baptized in the ocean surf. We are reminding you of these powerful moments to stir your faith to believe God, with expectancy, to do it again in our generation, in your city.