I find today that most in Western Christianity don’t really understand what it takes to stand and preach the true gospel of Jesus Christ. I have seen over the last twenty years while taking pastors to Africa and watching the enemy eat their lunch as they tried to minister. Sorry if this upsets you but it is the truth. The issue is strongholds and the other issue is the truth of what it means to surrender to the Gospel of Christ. It requires a total surrender of your will to Jesus Christ without reservation. You can’t give God 99% because He wants 100%. When you face hostile demonic resistantance and you are not able to accomplish kingdom building because of distractions keeping you from being led by the Holy Spirit you realize you are not ready. If you have not prepared your self by tearing down strongholds that hinder your ability to follow God’s spirit you can’t stand in order to build the kingdom of God. Preaching and teaching in churches does not encounter this type of resistance and many who do this teaching have strongholds and demonic oppression in their lives. One man recently told me he was tired of churches that had no power nor truth. So many today calling themselves Christians are not totally surrendered to Christ. If you want to see God move in a life have them surrender their wills to Christ. Remember the verse from Galatians, 2:20, ” I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. ” Something I found out to be true in Africa is that when the true gospel is preached where people are called to totally surrender their lives then tremendous miracles, signs and wonders result. There are those who teach conferences telling people you can learn how to operate in these gifts but without God’s purpose of building His kingdom these people are being mislead. Don’t forget there is a day coming, when the Lord returns and says many will say to me Lord, Lord and I will say I never knew you.
I am praying today for the truth of salvation to go out like beam of light across our nation.
Dr. Stephen Gray