A Message to His Holy Highness the Worshipful Bishop Rev. Dr. Apostle Grand Poobah by J. Lee Grady

Jesus just wasn’t into titles. We shouldn’t be either.

I am often asked if I have a title, and my answer doesn’t satisfy some people. I travel a lot, so I don’t consider myself a pastor. All kinds of labels have been pinned on me: Reverend, prophet, apostle … even bishop. Once I was introduced to a church as “Dr. Grady” and I almost crawled under my seat. I only have a college degree. There are no letters after my name.

I tell people: “You can call me Lee. Or if you want to sound formal, you can say, ‘Brother Grady.’”

“Jesus is the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Son of David, the Prince of Peace and the Apostle of our Confession. Yet when He came into this world He laid aside His heavenly glory and took on the lowly name of Jesus.”

Today it seems we’ve developed a title fetish. For a while everyone in charismatic circles was becoming a bishop (and some were installed into this office with rings, robes and funny-looking hats). Then the same guys with the pointy hats started calling themselves apostles. Then the prophets got jealous and started calling themselves apostles too! I knew one lady who, not to be outdone, required people to call her “Exalted Prophetess.”

Now the latest fad is requiring church folks to address certain people as apostles. (As in, “When Apostle Holy Moly arrives, please only address him as, ‘Apostle,’ and then make sure he is seated in a private room while his two adjutants, wearing dark glasses, guard his door.”) They’ve even invented an elaborate theology to go along with this ridiculous rule. It suggests that you can’t receive the true anointing from a man of God if you don’t honor him with the right title.

Sounds so very ooo-ooh spiritual to the naive. But it’s garbage.

Jesus didn’t play this religious game, especially when he was around the Grand Poobahs of His day—the long-robed scribes and Pharisees. After accusing them of loving the best seats in the synagogues, He pointed out that they loved to be called “Rabbi” by men (see Matt. 23:7).

Then He warned them: “But do not be called Rabbi; for One is your Teacher, and you are all brothers. … the greatest among you shall be your servant. Whoever exalts himself shall be humbled; and whoever humbles himself shall be exalted” (v. 8-12, NASB).

People have quibbled over these words for centuries, insisting that ecclesiastical titles are not the problem; pride is what Jesus was rebuking. I would agree that Jesus was going to the root sin. But He was also asking these title-crazy guys if they’d be willing to ditch their labels and act like normal people.

When I was in China several years ago, I met some amazing leaders who had planted thousands of congregations. They had also spent a lot of time in jail for their faith, and they’d been beaten with iron rods for preaching the gospel. They were the bravest apostles I’ve ever met. But when I asked them if they used “apostle” as a title, one guy said: “We believe in those roles in the church. But we prefer to call each other ‘brother’ or ‘sister.’”

That settled it for me. A few years later I met Iftakhar, a Pakistani apostle who has oversight of 900 churches. He also has two scars on his arm from gunshots fired by Muslim extremists who have put a price on his head. When I asked him how I should address him, he smiled and said, “Iftakhar.”

If these two giants of the faith—and true apostles—don’t require to be addressed with titles, then Your Worshipful Grand Master Rev. Dr. Bishop Jones (who claims oversight of maybe four churches) shouldn’t wear his ministry role around his neck like a tacky neon name badge.

If people can’t see the anointing on your life through your character, then don’t cheapen the gospel by wearing a title you don’t deserve.

I’m not saying people shouldn’t use reverend, minister or even bishop to identify their roles in the church. But can we please dispense with the insecurity, and the childish “I’m more important than you” appellations, and get back to the simplicity of the gospel? Let’s get over ourselves!

Jesus is the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords, the Son of David, the Prince of Peace and the Apostle of our Confession. Yet when He came into this world He laid aside His heavenly glory and took on the lowly name of Jesus. He wore no fancy robes. He demanded no titles. He did not come to be ministered to, but to minister. If we want to serve Him honorably, we must forsake our need for fame and cast our crowns at His feet.

J. Lee Grady is the former editor of Charisma. You can follow him on Twitter at leegrady. His most recent book is 10 Lies Men Believe (Charisma House).

From Alan Knox

Scripture... As We Live It #47

Here is the 47th installment of "Scripture... As We Live It":

And he gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip the saints for to do the work of ministry, and for building up the body of Christ. (Ephesians 4:11-12 re-mix)

REALLY SAD BUT TRULY TRUE.

Grounded F-16 Churches

Ron McKenzie of Blessed Economist has written an insightful post about the Church and the Economy. He paints a pretty bleak picture of what much of the American Church will look like when the economic disaster hits.

Many Christians assume that the economic crisis will turn people back to God, but this is not inevitable. The escapades of the Christian Right have turned many Americans off the church, so they will be more like to turn to alternative religions in time of need. Many people are now so secularised, that God does not even cross their minds when troubles come. Church is not even on the radar. Troubled times might benefit the religions more.

Modern people look to the state when things go wrong. If Obama can kick start the economy, that faith will be further boosted. A worse crisis will just turn people to the state. People in Africa and South America know that government leaders are crooks, who will look after their mates, so their only hope is in something supernatural. Americans have gone the other way. They see the church as crooks, looking after their mates. They will look to the state when troubles come.

To experience a harvest in times of trouble, the church will have to demonstrate a life that is viable, while all others are failing. In an economic collapse, pastor-centric, building-centric churches will be too busy worrying about their overdrafts and mortgages to be able to reap the harvest. Their members will be to busy struggling with their own hire purchase payments and credit card debt to reap a harvest. Non Christians who are struggling with debt will not take seriously churches and Christians who are stuck in the same sinking boat.

To reap a harvest during economic troubles, you will need a model of church that can bring life and hope to where people live. The point of the Commando Vision is that an economic crisis cannot produce a harvest, unless radical Christians get ready to function through tumult. The reason is that most modern churches will be wiped out by the crisis and will not be in a position to help others. I expect that the American church has too many F16 Christians and not enough commando Christians to bring in a harvest in troubled times. Therefore, I doubt that the Lord will put his church through a real economic crisis, because the risk of disaster is just too great.

I will be speaking to the body at Faith Center on this topic in a few weeks in the evening service. It's a hard word. I met with the Pastors and we discussed if what was about to be shared was too difficult for the people. It is difficult and we certainly don't want to be fear mongers. But, these are mature people ready to hear the truth. I'm not certain I would bring this to every church. We will see. Things are changing and only the churches that are ready will survive this. I don't agree with Ron that the Father will hold back the disaster to protect the church, I believe he will allow it to refine and reveal. There are enough commando Christians on the ground to make a worthy assault. The F-16 Christians and Churches will run out of fuel, be grounded or destroyed. Some of those high fliers will become commandos as they realize that it's their only hope.

I hope. If we can offer enough insight we can help them enter into this without surprise. That's part of my job.

A Lesson About What Might Happen to the Church from Germany

Sometimes past is portent. Sometimes what was will be again.

I won't say much more, but a pastor's daughter in Hitlers day has written of what it was like for her and her family.

You will want to read it and heed it.

If you ever doubted the reality of Christian Persecution, you must be made aware.

A Disturbed Spirit

I am unapologetically pro life. Anti Abortion.

There are some in this battle who are militant. I won't link to them but some are beyond the pale.

Last night I looked at a site with photos of babies taken shortly after being aborted. One who was just a few weeks from full term delivery.

Horror beyond description.

My spirit is disturbed. I don't know what to do about all this. I don't want to start a campaign. I have enough. But, this is murder pure and simple. No less than the Nazi Holocaust.

I don't know how long it will take for my disturbed spirit to settle down.

Two Trillion Dollars of Life Changes

Life Changes and we don't know it. One day we are sure that things will go on pretty much as it always has and then suddenly without any warning something come along and blindsides us.

Jobs, health, investments, retirement, family, relationships, tragedy, catastrophe.

They all change, sometimes without warning, sometimes with results that are radically painful.

In fact, it seems like the man or woman who thinks they have it all figured out and are set for life depending on worldly things are most vulnerable.

Jesus told the story of a man who had a good crop. His barns were too small to hold everything. So, he said to self, SELF, we got it made, we are set for life, let's build bigger barns and we will live well forever.

Jesus said that this man is a fool. He would die that night. His barns and everything in them would be given away, sold at auction or hauled away as thrash. In living in Europe I visited a large number of Castles. There was a theme. The monarch or ruler that built them all felt like they were building something that would last them forever. Most didn't. Some died insane in the very edifice of their dream.

Yet they labored hard for nothing in the end. Like the man in Jesus' story.

I think of that because in thinking about the report that 2 trillion has been lost from retirement accounts in the last 45 days and that people who thought they had it made no longer do put their trust in temporary things.

Jeremiah 17:5 it says that a man is CURSED if he trusts in human things.

I don't want to be cursed. And neither do you. Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. I don't understand all this but I trust HIM. That matters a lot more than pockets that leak.

Identifying with Christ

Most Christians are familiar with the idea that "If you confess me before men, I will confess you before My Father who is in Heaven". We use it. It's part of a formula we make new converts recite. " Go tell someone", we say. All that's OK as far as it goes.

This morning I heard the Lord Saying,

You are mine and I am yours. I am in you and you are hidden in me. My plan for you is that you grow from Glory to Glory until you look just like ME. In the beginning it's admitting that you are a Christian to your unbelieving friends and family. My calling on you is higher. Much higher. The bar in your life is being raised. Come up here. As you grow in me and identify yourself with me abandoning your life for the life I give you, you will become so identied with me that people will see ME when they see you. The Father will see Me when he looks at you. At first I was in you but now you are in ME. Expect the world as you identify with me to treat you as they treat me. Does the world Honor me? Does the world take my name in vain and anger? Does the world lie about me? Does the world ridicule me and those who align themselves with me?

My purposes in you are most revealed when we walk as one. You hear my voice and I direct your paths. Sin blocks my voice in you, you are redeemed from the curse but the sin in your life stifles the word I want to whisper in your ear. Distractions and worry clouds the assurance I want to give you.

You are mine, and I am yours. If you live in me, you are more than Identified, you are my presence in flesh on the earth. And along with all who are so identified you make up the fullness of my manifestation on planet Earth today. There is much to do. Come to me all who are burdened and heavy laden, I AM rest.

New Normal is Old Normal

I heard the Lord say this morning,

"I am restoring things to normal. Restoration of all things. It will seem new, strange, unusual and painful to those who do not know Me. To those who do, you will come to recognize that My ways are not your ways and this New thing is a very Old thing. I am raising up rightousness. I am exposing evil. I am bringing a just balance. There has been an unjust balance. Bringing it back into balance will seem to hurt. I have no desire to wound you, it will seem like a wound, but I will bind you up again. Then the fresh rain will fall on a dry and thirsty place. And you will prosper in me."

Subjective Prophetic

Sometimes God uses the natural and numbers to give us an indication that he is still there or that He has his hand on things. That is called the subjective prophetic.

A week ago after the bailout bill failed the market dropped 777 points. It was like Father was saying, "I'm still here". Just seeing that number was reassuring.

I find most interesting as a "Coincidence" is the Conviction of OJ Simpson. I'm sure other prophets will pick up on this.

He was convicted exactly 13 years to the day after his acquittal for the murder of Nicole Simpson and Ron Goldman.

The Jury was out to deliberate exactly 13 hours. He was convicted on 12 counts, plus the one he wasn't convicted on.
13 has lots of meanings including 13 is the age at which a Jewish boy becomes a man. There were 13 people at the last supper minus the one who was a betrayer.


I won't prophesy anything here, I have received nothing of the Lord. I do believe that all these things happen in order and with meaning.

Perhaps OJ will go to Prison for 13 years and die before he gets out. I don't know but it is a testimony that God is not mocked.