Rejected from Both Sides
“During those days, Saul, full of angry threats and rage, wanted to murder the disciples of the Lord Jesus…When Saul arrived in Jerusalem, he attempted to introduce himself to the fellowship of the believers, but everyone was afraid of him because they doubted he was a true disciple.” Acts 9:1,26 TPT Here we find what commonly happens whenever a high profile “notorious” sinner gets converted to Jesus. Many of the believers doubted the validity and sincerity of Paul’s conversion; so I am sure he was rejected by his old Pharisee community and not really accepted by his new Christian community either! Thank God for Barnabas who took the young believer, Paul, under his wing and discipled him.
I began to preach last May that some of the least likely people, high profile “notorious” sinners were going to be getting saved soon. Be ready to take these people into your midst and disciple them! Love them unconditionally, be patient with them, and give them grace so that they can make it in Jesus and not fall away.
People are going to get saved like my friend back in USSR days who was a feared Mafia hit man–now he has been a Pastor/Evangelist for over 20 years; like my friend who had one of the first full sex change surgeries in the 1970’s, then got saved and went back to his God-given identity as a man and Evangelized Hollywood until he went to Heaven; or Pastor/Evangelist Joshua Blahyi who was called “the most evil man in the world.’ He was an African Warlord and General who believed the more human sacrifices he offered, the more power his demon god would give him. He was responsible for killing over 20,000 people. In 1996 he had a Saul of Tarsus conversion and has faithfully served and preached Jesus ever since-Glory to God! Our friend, David Hogan, knows him and has preached with him in Africa.
Let’s do our best to pray for these high profile “notorious” sinners. Back in 1978 songwriter/singer Bob Dylan professed his faith in Christ. Here’s what he said–“I sensed a presence in the room that couldn’t have been anyone but Jesus. Jesus put His hand on me. It was a physical thing. I felt it. I felt it all over me. I felt my whole body tremble. The Glory of the Lord knocked me down.”
From 1978-1981 he wrote and recorded songs only about Jesus. But, he was rejected by most in his old rock community, and accepted by very few in his new Christian community. The end result was that he walked away from Christ.
Recently, rapper Kanye West has reported that he’s an all out follower of Jesus. He says Jesus restored his mental health and established his life on solid ground. He says from now on all of his music will be about Jesus. His new album is called, “Jesus Is King.” Will Christians pray for him? Will they remember he is only a baby Christian? Will they give him grace and room to grow? Will they doubt whether his is a “True disciple?” Acts 9:26
To all you seasoned believers-I exhort you to believe for God to reach the most unlikely people…even the most evil of men…and pray for them to be kept by the grace of God and rooted and discipled deep in Christ! Can I get an Amen?
It’s Time to Accelerate
It’s Time to Accelerate
Over the last seven years, there’s been about three times in services when I’ve prophesied that God is beginning to accelerate things. At the end of 2018, I began to strongly sense that there is “Extreme Acceleration” coming—NOW!
I would simply define Divine Acceleration as the supernatural ability of God “graced” into your life, relationships, time, and circumstances in order to bring things to pass much quicker than humanly possible.
Last month (January 2019), I had two separate meetings over coffee with ministers that haven’t heard me speak about the “Extreme Acceleration” emphasis. One of them said, “I see you taking off in your ministry at a much faster pace. Do you have your seat belt fastened? Are you ready for this?” The other minister prayed over me and prophesied that God is going to accelerate the fruit of my ministry this year. He actually used the word “accelerate.”
How About You?
Has your life and ministry been at the same level for a long time? Has it seemed dormant? Has it seemed almost like God’s forgotten you?
Remember Moses, at age 80 he still had not entered into the fullness of his ministry. Then suddenly things opened up, and he was launched into a season of Extreme Acceleration that brought God’s people out of Egyptian bondage with a steady stream of signs, wonders, and miracles! God was not through with Moses, and God is not through with you either! When Moses gave God his unconditional “yes,” God launched him into a series of openings that rushed His people forward. Don’t miss the momentum that Extreme Acceleration will carry you into!
Grace for the Race and Grace for the Pace
Divine Acceleration is exciting and challenging, so enjoy the challenge and enjoy the ride. Don’t resist the change it will bring. Don’t hesitate—move! God will be your wisdom, your strength, and He will supply your energy.
Then the hand of the Lord came upon Elijah—the Lord gave him special strength, and he outran Ahab’s chariot (1 Kings 18:46).
Great doors are going to be opening to you by God’s Extreme Favor, and when these openings appear to you, it’s time to accelerate!
Expect it!
The right place, the right time, the right people, the right things—things opening up quickly! Get ready for the openings and be ready to run with Extreme Acceleration when the time comes.
—Pastor Steve Shank
