Dave Williams's Blog, page 16

Eight Ways Successful Pastors Think Differently

For many years I taught a young pastor’s class at the Mount Hope Bible Training Institute, graduating several hundred fiery pastors and pastoral candidates. 76 are in full-time ministry today.

For seven years, we conducted our Florida Church Planter’s School right on St. Pete Beach, with a few hundred graduates.

Over the years, I’ve noticed that successful, fruitful pastors think different than average, not-so-fruitful pastors. So, I thought I’d share with you my discovery in how successful pastors think differently.

Accept responsibility

Average and failing pastors’ blame, justify, rationalize, and complain

Fruitful, productive pastors:

Know what they want (Mark 11:24; Hebrews 11:1)
Commit their vision to writing
They ask God how

Mark 11:24

Therefore I say unto you, What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them.

Hebrews 11:1

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

They painstakingly develop a strategy
They stick with it

Work and play to win!

Average and failing pastors work and play not to lose. They forever chase after carnal members and spend 90% of their time on the 2% who are problematic.

Committed to being fruitful

They don’t send mixed messages about their commitment

Average and failing pastors want the same kind of fruit but without the commitment.

But until there is commitment, there is always a wavering, a double-mindedness, and a lack of excitement and enthusiasm.

Commitment seems to bring God’s touch to a situation. When you are unswervingly committed, the right people show up at the right time; God moves heaven and earth to bring you strategic alliances, key teachers and mentors, events and even resources.

Think big and learn how to solve problems

Average and failing pastors think average and talk about problems.

You can help ones and tens or hundreds and thousands—it’s your choice. Major league or Minor League is a choice. Whatever you focus on will expand, whether it’s solutions or problems; achieving dreams or maintaining status quo. It’s a choice.

“Stop Needing and Start Leading.”

Focus on opportunities and rewards—the things they want.

Average and failing pastors focus on the obstacles, the problems, the troubles, the work, the mountains, the giants, the risks, and what they don’t want

Admire other successful pastors and bless them. 

Average and failing pastors are jealous and often speak against them (sometimes in subtle and sarcastic ways)

Associate with great people and develop good strategic alliances.

Failing and average pastors like hanging out with people who do nothing to lift them to new heights.

Not afraid to promote their vision, church, ministries, and products.

Average pastors believe this is just an ego trip. Jesus taught, “Don’t hide a candle under a bushel.” Advertising is God’s idea; not Madison Avenue’s

A Productive pastor gets the Church Known in the Community

Tell them who you are
Tell them what you believe
Tell them what makes you different
Tell them how to find you

And there you have it. Eight differences in the way successful pastors think.

The post Eight Ways Successful Pastors Think Differently appeared first on Dave Williams Ministries.

Signs, Markers, and Conditions

Today, we are witnessing firsthand signs, markers, conditions, and stage-setting events we would expect to see during the final generation—the one that will see the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus promised to come again. In John chapter 14, He said,

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”

Now I know some people see everything as a sign. Others see nothing as a sign. We must avoid both extremes.

We don’t want to be reckless speculators or give into rash hypothesizing, yet at the same time, we don’t want to become scoffers of the prophecies or mockers of the prophets.

When David Wilkerson wrote his book, The Vision, warning America of her future back in 1974, people ridiculed and scorned him, rejecting him as a modern-day prophet. He called people to repent, but repentance was an old-fashioned word America apparently didn’t want to hear.

Churches across the country pulled Wilkerson’s books out of their libraries as a protest against his prophetic warnings, even though he was pointing people to Jesus Christ as their hope and salvation for what was on the horizon.

Today, all but two of his prophecies have come to pass just as he predicted, and the next two could happen soon: (1) The worst earthquake in the history of the United States, (2) taxation of churches, ministries, and Christian schools. Sadly, Wilkerson wrote concerning America, “I believe we’ve passed the point of no return.”

Believe it or not, there is such a thing as a point of no return, when sin has piled too high for God to ignore.  When judgment comes some will be kept safe, others will not.

David Wilkerson sounded a lot like the prophet Jeremiah who prophesied:

For thus says the Lord: ‘Your affliction is incurable, Your wound is severe. There is no one to plead your cause, That you may be bound up; You have no healing medicines. All your lovers have forgotten you; They do not seek you; For I have wounded you with the wound of an enemy, With the chastisement of a cruel one, For the multitude of your iniquities, Because your sins have increased.

Jeremiah 30:12-14

The prophets always have extended signs and warnings.

And signs are important. What if there were no stop signs? No street signs? No speed limit signs? No high voltage warning signs?

Signs serve to maintain order and prevent chaos on a day-to-day level.

Prophetic signs are even more important. And they are appearing dramatically in a breath-taking manner today, pointing to the soon return of Jesus Christ.

And you are either ready…or you’re not. It’s that simple. Jesus said, “They that were ready went in and then the door was shut.”

Today, signs and stage-setting events are in active play.

Jesus promised to come again, and He will…suddenly. If you can see the warning signs and heed them, you’ll be safe. That’s why Jesus said, “Let not your heart be troubled.”

The post Signs, Markers, and Conditions appeared first on Dave Williams Ministries.

Attacks on Truth

When the disciples asked Jesus about His coming and signs of the end of the age, the first thing Jesus warned them about was the attack on truth that would prevail in the last days: “Take heed that no one deceives you” (Matt. 24:4).

Deception is a powerful sign and a birth pang of the end times. Today a cloud of confusion blankets our world. Chaos seems the order of the day. Confusion and deception permeate our economy, the political world, the religious world, and everywhere else.

Even the term evangelical has lost its meaning with the emergence of the “new evangelicals” who sound more like socialists than Christians. Faulty theology is leading to dangerous positions on the wrong side of God’s boundaries.

It is clear to me that the world is rapidly being prepared through deception for the appearance of the supreme deception of this age, the dreaded Antichrist.

What is Deception?

Deception is defined in the Greek language as “roaming” or “wandering.” The word suggests that a deceived person has been seduced or taken off course. Deception is always an undercover strategy of the enemy. The victim does not realize he’s a target. Like a good animal trap, deception is hidden until it’s too late to escape.

Deception always begins in the heart as a result of honoring one’s personal will above the will of almighty God. The will of man by nature does not love the truth. In our unrepentant state people willingly trade God’s truth for satanic lies—and the consequences are devastating.  (2 Thessalonians 2:9–10, 2 Timothy 4:3–4)

Most troubling to me are the false teachers within professing Christianity. Some still call themselves “evangelical” yet have renounced fundamental doctrines such as the virgin birth of Jesus, the doctrine of hell, and the belief that the Bible is the inspired Word of God.

For such are false apostles and deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also disguise themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

—2 Corinthians 11:13–15

Where is this deception leading?

It’s heading toward a world conglomerate religion during the Tribulation. (See Revelation 17.) We see dramatic signs of this forming now.

The only way Satan can pull this off is by convincing churchgoing people that the Bible is only inspired in certain spots, that only the words of Jesus are exclusively inspired, that there is no hell and we shouldn’t preach about it, or that all religions worship the same God.

He is attempting to do this now through articulate spokesmen and winsome representatives of a false gospel.

Jesus is coming for the Church, and in a moment in the twinkling of an eye. That’s a great hope. In these last days, there will arise some who will possess great understanding of the times and will actually perform miracle exploits in the Name of Christ. You can be one of these amazing last days’ giants in the faith.

The post Attacks on Truth appeared first on Dave Williams Ministries.

What to Do in Times of Pruning

Times of sifting and pruning are painful for a pastor. These times, as excruciating as they are, are healthy and necessary for a church to grow larger and to bear greater fruit. What should you do during those painful times of sifting every church experiences?

John 15:2

“Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.”

It’s not unusual for a pastor, during pruning or sifting times to take it personally. After all, you hear all the comments about “not being fed,” “church is now on the wrong track,” “he’s not taking me deeper,” and a host of other hurtful but common phrases. But I assure you, after 30 plus years of ministry, I’ve learned, that it is rarely—if ever—personal.

Of course, the pastor feels the pain of people leaving. It’s because he loves the flock and has “no greater joy than to know they are walking in the truth.”

I John 1:4

I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

When a sifting occurs, it’s often the people you’d least expect. For example, a couple has been praying for their family to come to Christ. When they finally do, the couple leaves the church. A once-faithful board member or support team member walks out the door, filled with accusations, and you wonder how many others they have influenced along the way.

The problem is truth is usually lacking in most sifting times. A Concordia study several years ago revealed something that opened my eyes. When people leave a good church, it’s almost never for the reasons they say. Over 95% of the time it is some sin or family struggle they are embarrassed over or afraid of being exposed.

Pastor, you don’t want everyone in your church. You want the right ones in your church—the ones God Himself has added to your expression of Christ’s body.

What a lesson.

If people leave the flock, it’s an indication that they do not accept you as their shepherd.

By my fourth year as pastor, our church had grown from 226 to around 1200. The people who helped me lead the church when it was smaller became threatened by the growth. I noticed more grumbling, rebellion, contention, and nervousness among them. They started inviting people over to their homes and injecting their fears into new members.

But, I wouldn’t budge on what God had put in my heart, even though the “original” leaders disagreed. There was a mass exodus—a hundred souls left in a matter of a few months. Talk about painful, it hurt. There were rumors and innuendos left behind that we had to deal with.

After they departed, I noticed something special—peace in the church. Young leaders, submitted to order and the passion of our vision, began rising up. The church launched off the 1200 plateau and within two years had more than doubled to over 2800 worshippers. Income increased and enthusiasm flourished.

I will admit, I did become a bit hardened, I think. It hit me hardest about six months after the sifting. I was dealing with the emotions, and feeling guilty that I didn’t try to persuade them to stay. In retrospect, I know it would have been detrimental to the growth of our church if they did remain. When individuals develop an attitude of superiority, a spirit of rebellion, or are harboring some secret sins, it’s better to let them go—it’s probably God performing His wonderful, but painful pruning process.

What does a pastor do during pruning times?

First, on a personal level:

Keep pressing into God and His Word
Keep hearing from God—He speaks
Know that God is about to bring you to a whole new level
Always hang onto this: God knows something about it you don’t know
Never quit without a clear word of instruction from the Lord. People need to see you as solid, durable, and lasting.

On a corporate church level:

Assure the people that sifting is a normal process. Jesus always spoke in agricultural terms: planting, maturing, harvesting…and pruning.
Keep casting vision in faith…even when you don’t feel like it or see evidence of your vision coming to pass. That’s faith (Hebrews 11:1-3).
Always speak the truth kindly. People will remind you, “They were good people.” Maybe they were (but not usually), yet they weren’t the right people. God is helping you to get the wrong people off the ship and the right people on the ship for great advancement of your church.
Always radiate warmth, build bridges, and focus, not on the ones that left, but on the team, God is now raising up for you.
Under no circumstances, accept back into leadership the people who left if they return, without a long period of probation and watching them closely.
Know that God is building His Church and He has entrusted a great leadership role to you.
Keep winning the lost and equipping the believers…and never stop.

We’ve experienced siftings and pruning over the years since that first one. They’ve always been painful, yet productive. I’m glad I never quit. Since that first sifting, we’ve planted 243 new churches in America, Africa, and Asia, and now enjoy over 100,000 members (here and in our satellite churches).

Sifting is a good thing after all!

The post What to Do in Times of Pruning appeared first on Dave Williams Ministries.

3 Big Keys to Success

Want to know the three most important things that will give credibility, growth, and success to your business or ministry? Here they are:

Build trust
Create value
Be Concerned about People

Build Trust

Dr. Gordon Anderson, who served as president of North Central University completed a well-documented study on the subject of trust. In it, he noted that it typically takes five years to establish the first level of trust with others. Violate trust in the first five years, and you start all over again.

The stakes are high when it comes to the trust issue.

Some business people have no idea why others hold no real confidence in their business. But stop and think. If you advertise the sale of a product for $8.00, but when people visit your store and discover that it’s marked $10.00, they lose trust. If a contractor agrees to a project for $1000, then bills the customer for $1100, they’ve violated a trust. Even if there were unforeseen expenses, the perception is that the contractor is undependable.

Trust is lost, and eventually, business dwindles. People want to be certain they can count on your word. They need to believe in you, and to have confidence in your words.

The worst thing for a business is to conjure distrust, apprehension, and suspicions in your community.

One of the biggest keys to building trust is to keep your word and follow through on it with positive actions. People need to believe you when you say you’re going to do something. And this begins with your family.

Let’s say you promise your wife an evening out for dinner together. She’s looking forward to it and planning the night. But you call and say, “I have to cancel our date because a client needs to talk with me.” You’ve just violated a trust. You have communicated to your wife that your client is more important than she is to you.

There are emergency exceptions, I know. But generally speaking, if you can’t keep a commitment with your wife or family, then you cannot be trusted in the business. All you have to say to a client is, “I’m sorry, I have another commitment at that time. Could we possibly look at another time to meet?” I believe if you keep your commitments, even though it may appear that you are losing some business, God will see to it that you’ll get quadruple the business in the ensuing days.

Reliability, dependability, and faithfulness are all high values that God rewards. Jesus said, “Many are called, but few are chosen.”  I believe many are called to be millionaire businessmen, but never make it because of their unreliability. And it always begins with your family. You must value those relationships and not take them for granted.

Create Value

Whether it’s a product, service, or sermon, it must add value to people’s lives. You cannot create wealth, but you can create value, which in turn will bring you wealth.

What are some ways of adding value?

First, you can add value to a person’s life by expanding his or her knowledge base. I think of Dr. Don Colbert, Dr. Joseph Mercola, and Dr. Josh Axe. They all produce blogs and books that contain practical and helpful medical and health knowledge to tens of thousands. Newsletters, blogs, and advantageous reports, when done with excellence, can create great value for customers, clients, and prospects.

Another way to add value is to solve somebody’s problem.  I would encourage you to read the book, UPWARD, by John and Judy O’Leary. John is the president of O’Leary Paint Company and is a master problem-solver. The bigger the problem you can solve, the larger your pay will end up being.

To add value, make sure you always stand by your service or product, back it all the way, and make good and secure guarantees. If a competitor guarantees a product for five years, and you guarantee a similar product for seven years, you have added an attractive value to your business.

Do Whatever You Can to Help Others Whenever You Can

St. Paul said it this way: “Let no one seek [only] his own good, but [also] that of the other person.”  1 Corinthians 10:24 (AMP)

And again in Philippians 2:4, Paul said, “Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.”

Kindness goes a long way. Treat your customers and clients well and thank them often for their business and support.

Why not sit down tonight with your family or your team, and begin making a list of ways you can build trust, create value, and help others?

The post 3 Big Keys to Success appeared first on Dave Williams Ministries.

Convergence of Prophetic Signs

We have witnessed a massive convergence of prophetic signs in this generation. The “ancient forecasters” (prophets) tracked today’s gathering storm. What are the eschatological end time signs?

First, Israel would exist as a nation again, and Jerusalem would become an international bone of contention (Zechariah 12:2-3).

Today Israel is back in the land, and Jerusalem has become a stumbling block for political leaders around the globe.

Next, a New Europe would be formed—a sort of resurrection of the Roman Empire (Daniel 2 and 7, Revelation 12, 13 and 17). This may have not been possible before Brexit and now the talk of France wanting out of the European Union. A man will come with a plan to unite Europe. Bringing a solution to the massive problems the immigration crisis and Brexit have brought.

Next, on the prophetic timeline, we find Counterfeit churches, false apostles, pseudo-messiahs, and false professing Christians (Matthew 24, Mark 13, Luke 21, 2 Peter 2:1-2).

Unfortunately, many professing believers will abandon the clear teachings of Scripture, AND THAT’S CALLED APOSTASY.

Matthew 7:21-23

“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.

Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’

And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!’

Just as many are abandoning God’s principles, a remnant will rise and bring thousands to Jesus Christ.

Next, what would be on people’s minds as we approach the coming of Christ? Jesus told us it would be terrorism. For some reason, the focus on terrorism would escalate (Luke 21:26).

We’ve read the reports of terrorism in Europe as a result of its open door policy with un-vetted immigrants from Muslim nations.

The FBI is now telling US citizens how to protect themselves: It is important for people to protect themselves both online and in-person, and to report any suspicious activity they encounter.

The simplest way to accomplish this is to:

Remain aware of your surroundings
Refrain from oversharing personal information
Say something if you see something

A recent WND Report: Iranian Sleeper Cells Operating in U.S.

“American intelligence agencies have growing evidence that the Iranian-backed Hezbollah terrorist group maintains a network of sleeper cells in the United States…”

Israel is a nation, back in the land, and Jerusalem is the focus of world attention
Talk of a New Europe and the stage being set for it
Apostasy in the church, counterfeit apostles, and prophets
Terrorism on the minds of many in the entire world

Next, the prophet Daniel was told that in the last days knowledge shall be multiplied. In other words, it would be a time known as the Information Age (Daniel 12:4).

An article by David Russell Shilling appeared in Industry Tap, that said, “Knowledge is Doubling Every 12 Months, Soon to be Every 12 Hours.”

Tesla CEO Elon Musk insists that we are all going to have to become cyborgs someday. Musk said that as artificial intelligence advances, people will need to augment their brain power with digital technology to prevent them becoming irrelevant.

This could be done is by using microchips. It may sound bizarre, but it could be just on the horizon.

Jesus said in Matthew 24:10: People would be easily offended and subsequently betray their friends and family and walk in hatred. Do you see evidence of this sign today?

Russia’s Alignment

Ezekiel 38-39 tells us that Russia would align with Islamic nations to lay a strategy to invade Israel eventually. Interestingly, it’s all in the open and happening, and it’s with the precise nations prophesied in Ezekiel.

Today, both Iranian and Russian troops are in Southern Syria one mile from the Israeli border. Russia, Iran, Turkey, Libya, Sudan and few others will plot an invasion of the Holy Land. It won’t succeed because God will intervene.

These are just a few of the converging signs we see in active play in our generation that point to the soon coming of Jesus Christ. Let’s gear up and bring as many to Christ as we can before that trumpet sounds and our work on earth comes to an end.

The post Convergence of Prophetic Signs appeared first on Dave Williams Ministries.

Reaching the Native American Community

While being a part of Salem Family’s “We Who Worship” gathering near Palm Springs this summer, Mary Jo and I met an amazingly impressive young musical artist with a unique presentation of worship music.  His name: Teddy Redsun Orii.

Teddy is an uncommon Cherokee Native American musical artist. He and his team performed at the Los Angeles Music Awards…and Teddy honors Jesus Christ.

Growing up in Inglewood California, Teddy spent his formative years in a home where violence, drugs, and alcohol were part of his everyday life. He often would resort to climbing onto the roof of his own house, just to escape the terrifying things that would take place there. When he was nine years old an elderly man in his neighborhood felt led to share the Gospel with Teddy. Upon praying the prayer of salvation, the wind of the Holy Spirit physically blew through the house, violently moving the window curtains, and marking Teddy for a future work in God.

Teddy blends a unique mix of traditional and hip hop that all ages love. Among his background singers is the amazing Kathy Sledge of “We Are Family” fame. Check out his video, “Praise Him” at and get some copies of his CDs for your children and grandchildren!

My grandson, Brighton, wanted to watch Teddy’s YouTube videos over and over again. Learn more about Teddy Redsun at RedSunMusic.com.

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20 Important Things I’ve Learned

I want to share 20 important things I’ve learned over the years that can help catapult you to a more peaceful and productive life and ministry.

In 2012 I turned over the church, I had pastored for 30+ years to my anointed younger protégé, and I assumed a new fatherly-type role for young pastors, business people, and high achievers.

So, I speak like a Father today and share with you, pastor, 20 important things I’ve learned and wished I’d learned sooner.

1. I learned that I am totally responsible for my own life

It’s not up to somebody else to fix it for me, design it for me, or make it happen for me. I can’t blame my predecessor or my successor. I can’t blame unruly people or a “bad board.” I am responsible for my own thoughts, words, decisions, and actions.

2. I’ve learned to believe that anything is possible! – Mark 9:23

“We never test the resources of God until we attempt the impossible.”

-F.B. Meyer

You can defy the odds, and when God is working with you, anything is possible.

3. I learned that I can’t give up on everybody because somebody hurt me (I Corinthians 11:22-24)

A friend betrayed Jesus, but He didn’t give up on everybody.

Someone will try to tear you down, berate you, misunderstand you, speak against you, lie about you, trash you, hurt you; that’s true. But I learned that I can’t carry that hurt over to everyone or risk losing good people in my life.

4. I’ve learned that things work out better when I use my mouth to speak faith, encouragement and cheer rather than complaining, speaking sickness, lack, and the evening news

Proverbs 15:4

A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

The Book of Proverbs is replete with the contrast between the life of a loser and the life of a winner. And winning or losing is always associated with one’s words.

5. I’ve learned that in life I’ll never succeed alone

In Acts Chapter 6, the church leaders selected men to help. The result: multiplication and increase

Even Jesus needed help; he needed a circle of friends; a team.

We never succeed alone.

6. I’ve learned that you must love your work…or find work you do love. (Colossians 3:23)

You can accomplish 15 times more in 15 hours of work you love than in 80 hours of unfocused activity you hate. If you don’t love your work, change your attitude, or change your work.

7. I’ve learned that I have to work hard at staying simple and uncluttered.

My messages, lifestyle, and even my closet must remain uncluttered and simple.

8. I’m still learning the power of focus

I’ve found that I can accomplish ten times more in half the time with focused attention. A 150-watt light bulb can light a room. A 150-watt laser can cut through 3″ of steel.

Focus on the important things, not just the urgent things. Get the little book, Tyranny of the Urgent. Everything is urgent in someone’s mind.

The urgent thing is rarely the important thing but it’s the screaming thing.

9. I’ve learned that miracles often happen in times of inconvenience

10. I learned that it’s more productive and profitable to speak by the voice of the Holy Spirit rather the echo of man’s opinion. (I Peter 4:11)

I learned that I can be a parrot (speaking only what I’ve heard other men speak). Or I can be a prophet (speaking what the Spirit of the Lord speaks)

11. I learned that fool’s gold shines but has no value (Matthew 7:15)

That which is born of the Spirit is spirit; that which is born of the flesh is flesh and the flesh profits nothing. Learn the difference between an Ishmael and an Isaac. And discern the difference between the synthetic (man-made) and the authentic (God-made)

12. I’ve learned that there are three monster mentalities that will guarantee my failure and lack

Victim mentality: Victims are professional blamers and excuse-makers. Victims are attitudinally unqualified to be staff members, board members, or in any kind of leadership.
Entitlement mentality
Scarcity mentality

Any of these three attitudinal defects is a disgraceful assault on God’s covenant and His promises and a grievous insult to God Himself.

13. I learned that I must make times of privacy and rest: these times are just as important as the high-powered; high-energy activities and events (Genesis 2:2)

Fatigue can be very costly, extremely expensive. Someone heard that the late Dick Mills was going to take a vacation and a lady in the church sarcastically snapped, “The devil never takes a vacation!” Dick replied, “He’s not my role model!”

If Jesus needed to rest, so do you! God Himself set the example for us on day seven

14. I’ve learned that I have to keep getting back up again (Proverbs 24:16)

Life has setbacks, having done all to stand—stand—hang in there. Tenacity. Most of the time, the thing you think is going to take you under is the very thing God is going to use to take you over.

“Nothing is ever as bad as it seems, and nothing is ever as good as it looks!”

Dave Williams

15. I learned that success sometimes looks like failure at first (Romans 14:8)

The Cross looked like a failure. Then came Sunday!

16. I learned that Jesus really does multiply what you have if you’ll give Him what you have (Luke 6:38)

When you let go of what’s in your hand, God will let go of what’s in His hand.When you give you grow. When you withhold, you diminish.

17. I learned the importance of money—that our spiritual temperature can be measured by our attitudes and actions with money

Luke 16:10-12 NLT

If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.

And if you are untrustworthy about worldly wealth, who will trust you with the true riches of heaven?

And if you are not faithful with other people’s things, why should you be trusted with things of your own?

Wealth is a mindset. Wealth is a choice. Wealth is by Covenant. Deuteronomy 8:18

Wealth is something you attract; it’s about what you become.

18. I learned it’s a sin to be good when God has called me to be great (Luke 10:40-42)

19. learned to believe God’s mercy endures forever (Psalm 106:1, Psalm 107:1)

When we go through the fire, we feel awful. We will go through the fire.

“Thank you, Lord, for your mercy in those times when we brought it on ourselves.” God will give you another chance

20. I learned that there are only two wills in all of creation

God’s will or some other will. The will of God is reality; every other will is fantasy. God’s plan and His will to bring us into His family have only one option. The only plan: Jesus Christ. Therefore, pastor, prioritize bringing people to Jesus and equipping them for ministry. Don’t miss any opportunity to invite lost souls into the Kingdom.

These are twenty things I wish I’d learned sooner

The post 20 Important Things I’ve Learned appeared first on Dave Williams Ministries.

The Power of Intercession

The Bible declares that the devil will work triple overtime in the final hours of history. Like any illegitimate ruler, he struggles to hold onto power. He knows his end draws near.

We’re in a war with Satan. His evil influence permeates our society. Sin abounds, and people accept as common situations and events that, even a few years ago, they would have found shocking.Thankfully, where sin abounds, God’s grace abounds all the more! 

Intercessors who know how to pray!

During the four-day Holy Spirit Conference at Harvest Christian Center in Turlock, CA, a man was experiencing sharp pains in his chest and back during the conference. His left arm went numb, and he couldn’t breathe. He could barely get the words out to his wife, “Call 9-1-1. Heart attack!”

His wife ran for a phone as the man grasped his chest. One of our Dave Williams Team intercessors had a word of knowledge during worship about someone having heart trouble, so she began to intercede. Another intercessor was near the man, and she jumped into action and got quickly to him. She started praying and didn’t even know what she was praying for because the man was in so much pain he could hardly speak. After a while, the man got up, smiled, and said he was healed.

I talked to the man when I saw him the next evening, and he told me his story. He told me his name was Arvin and from Iran. He said not long ago he was homeless and hopeless and a man came to him in a dream and asked if he knew who he was. “Yes, you are Jesus, aren’t you?” “ Yes, and I have a plan for you. Why aren’t you in my house?” And that was the end. Arvin picked himself out of the gutter and ran to find a church, and he got his life right with Jesus. Eventually, Arvin met a beautiful woman and married her.

He is one of the happiest, most grateful people I’ve ever met. I thank God for our intercessors.

Arvin and his wife
















A Desire for Prophetic Intercessors

My wife, Mary Jo, and her team of intercessors recently provided an amazing seminar for prophetic intercessors. It was a sold out event with registrants from around Michigan and various churches.

I talked with several attendees after the seminar, and they were overwhelmed with gratitude for the time, love, and ministry of the presenters. Here are a few comments:

Life changing and enlightening. I want to learn more. It was an amazing meeting with so many gifted individuals. I loved it.
I was SO encouraged and feel like I’ve been given some simple tools to keep moving forward.
I learned some useful tools for engaging prayer throughout my day, the power of our words, and denying the lies of the enemy.
The seminar taught me things I did not know about the prophetic and encouraged me to place a higher priority on interceding for my pastor.

Thanks to the entire team who ministered in the power of the Holy Spirit and motivated intercessors to reach higher than ever. Watch a recorded session on our Facebook page or join our mailing list to be updated on future seminars.

Authority in the Name of Jesus

A leading cause of defeat among Christians is not realizing our authority in the Name of Jesus. It’s of vital importance fact to keep in mind.

We’ve got the weapons of the Holy Spirit and the Name of Jesus! We’ve got the weapons of the Word of God and intercessory prayer. The church needs to come to a full revelation of the power we have in the Name of Jesus. We can take back all that he stole and one day declare final victory with Jesus over the devil.

The post The Power of Intercession appeared first on Dave Williams Ministries.

Proper Biblical Attitude Toward Money

Now let’s look at another thing that causes so-called “money problems.”

You may not have a money problem; you may instead have an attitude problem.

Your attitude toward money will be money’s attitude toward you.

St. Paul encouraged believers to “…be constantly renewed in the spirit of your mind – having a fresh mental and spiritual attitude.” – Ephesians 4:23

Jesus taught us that out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. What are you speaking that reveals your attitude about money?

“Money doesn’t grow on trees, you know!”
“Well, that tithing and offering stuff may work for him or her, but not for me.”
This seed and harvest theory is “just for preachers, not the common”
“Money is not important.”
“Money is the root of all evil.”
“All the church wants is my money!”

Do you ever hear anyone say that about the casinos? How about the grocery store? Or even the gas station?

Years ago I sent a young pastoral candidate to our district to obtain credentials for ministry. A stern presbyter asked him if he believed in prosperity, to which the young candidate replied, “Yes, it’s in the Bible.” The presbyter snapped back, spouting off his devilish human wisdom, saying, “Everything in the Bible about wealth is only talking about spiritual wealth, not anything else!” He continued his tirade, bringing tears to the young minister, and denying credentials to him in our denomination.

Eventually, that presbyter lost his position, and later the young man did receive his credentials. Today he serves as pastor of a great church. That presbyter has an ungodly attitude about money. And of course, he was always broke.

Attitude is paramount to having a right relationship with money. Money is a tool to use, not a god to be worshiped.

The proper and biblical attitude toward wealth:

Jesus Christ became poor by heaven’s standards so that I could become rich by earth’s standards. (2 Corinthians 8:9)
​“God has pleasure in my prosperity.”  (Psalm 35:27)

​Prosperity and radical wealth aren’t so much about accumulation as it is about revelation and your attitude toward that revelation.

The real problem believers experience is not really about money—that may be a symptom of a deeper issue. The real problem is either disobedience or an un-renewed attitude.

A Vision for Wealth

A vision problem can prevent a person from getting ahead financially, making it appear that he has financial problems.

You have to be wealthy on the inside before you can be wealthy on the outside.

Proverbs 23:7

As he thinketh in his heart, so is he.

In the past few years, science has discovered that the human heart has brain neurons and can think at the deepest levels. Program your heart to God’s Word, God’s Promises, God’s Instructions, and God’s big dream for your life.

If you see the invisible, you can accomplish the impossible.

2 Corinthians 4:18

“While we look NOT at things which are seen, but the things which not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are unseen are eternal.”

Hebrews 11:1-3

“If you can see the invisible, you can accomplish the impossible.”

Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

For by it the elders obtained a good testimony.

By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible.

Read I Kings 10:1-10 about the Queen of Sheba visiting King Solomon and get a picture of it. Jesus promised that as we put His priorities first all these things shall be added unto us (Matthew 6:33)

The only limit on your wealth is the limit you put on it through your lack of obedience, lack of proper attitude, or lack of vision.

I’m convinced of this: Every one of God’s children could easily be a millionaire if only you obey God’s Word, stay connected to Christ’s Great Commission, develop the right attitude about money and generate a great vision.

The post Proper Biblical Attitude Toward Money appeared first on Dave Williams Ministries.