Dave Williams's Blog, page 17

How to Be Enriched by Giving / God’s Key to Prosperity

We found this small pamphlet How to Be Enriched by Giving or God’s Key to Prosperity a few days ago as we were going through our archives. It was first published in the early 1980s!

It was great then, and is still great today. Download the entire message here.

The post How to Be Enriched by Giving / God’s Key to Prosperity appeared first on Dave Williams Ministries.

The Anticipated World Leader

The world is looking for a man who can bring peace and security to this troubled world.

From God’s Word, the Bible, a global leader is coming with satanic solutions to the world’s problems. He will be adorable, magnetic, and will rise on a platform of peace and security. Eventually, however, he will prove to be the “Little horn” of Daniel’s prophecies, the beast or Satan-possessed Antichrist of St. John’s prophecies.

He’ll start out amazingly, as most evil dictators do. He will appear to be a friend to the poor and working class. He will take from the rich and give to the poor. Most of the people will believe he can do no wrong.

Hitler of Germany, Lenin and Stalin of Russia, Castro of Cuba, and Mao Tse Tung of China followed the same patterns the antichrist will follow.

China

The Revolution began in 1949 appealing to the oppressed.

Chairman Mao told the working class they could take their landlord’s properties and put their bosses on trial. A million landlords and many of their family members were executed. The poor took over, thinking they got an incredible deal, thankful to the great Chairman Mao.

But when unqualified people took over things changed, and food became scarce. Supplies were impossible to find. Everything was breaking down, and nobody knew what to do about it. They had killed the ones who had the knowledge.

And by 1963, 30,000,000 in China had starved to death, and most people realized they supported the wrong revolution…but it was too late.

By 1966 Chairman Mao had to do something, so he launched the Cultural Revolution, blaming infiltrators into the government, his rivals must be eliminated. It led to a mass purging of senior officials, raising up many youth brigades, called the Red Guard, and massive executions of those Mao perceived as enemies of his goals.

His tactics included:

Public humiliation
Arbitrary imprisonment
Torture
Hard labor
Sustained harassment
Seizure of property
Executions (49-78 million)

Russia

To gain favor with the peasants, he called for the public hanging of at least 100 rich men. He called them “bloodsuckers.”

Joseph Stalin, who was loved in the beginning, began to rule by terror, and millions of his own citizens died during his brutal reign.

Where will this satanic leader come from?

Jesus said the coming world leader will be worse than all evil dictators of all times, but the undiscerning will adore him.

There’s a buzz today that the coming Antichrist will be a Muslim. That Islam will control the world with Sharia law and that Mecca is the New Babylon that will be destroyed toward the end of the seven-year tribulation on earth.

While I appreciate the Christian faith of those like Walid Shoebat and Joel Richardson who espouse the Muslim Antichrist theory, I disagree with their assessment based upon the prophetic revelation of Scripture.

First, the Antichrist will make a covenant with Israel (Daniel 9:27). Nobody in Israel would trust a Muslim with any agreement, let alone a covenant. They would, however, trust a Western Gentile leader. They look up to Western leaders and try to emulate them.

Second, according to Daniel 9:26, the prophecy tells us the Antichrist will come from the same people that would destroy Israel in 70 AD. Who was that? The Roman army. Those who promote the Islamic Antichrist theory say that General Titus contracted Arabic soldiers to destroy Jerusalem. Now, that’s what I call creative fiction.

Third, in Daniel chapter 2, were told that the final world power would be a mix of clay and iron. Iron, we are told represented the Roman Empire. It’s clear that the antichrist—this adorable world leader— will be European. With the chaos in the European Union as a result of Islamic migration and Brexit, the conditions are perfect for the dramatic rise of a man who can form the “New Europe.” The iron will be the force of the Old Roman Empire, and the clay may be the Muslim refugees and immigrants who don’t assimilate into Western culture.

Fourth, the religion of the antichrist is incompatible with Islam. St. Paul tells us this world leader will exalt himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God (2 Thessalonians 2:4). Muslims believe that Allah is so lofty he could never be a man or ever have a son. This alone would exclude a Muslim as a candidate for the coming world leader—the Antichrist.

I fully believe, based upon the biblical conditions laid out in prophecy that very soon this man will appear on the earthly scene bringing solutions to the world’s most perplexing problems.

But first, St. Paul said, there will come a great apostasy to many churches and professing believers. They will begin to accept what God condemns and condemn what God supports. Things will turn upside down from a moral standpoint because of reprobate minds (Romans 1).

Isaiah 5:20

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; Who put darkness for light, and light for darkness; Who put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!

Have you ever wondered, “How could somebody believe that evil is good and good is evil?”  The answer can be found in Romans 1:28.

Romans 1:28 

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind…

One translation puts it like this: “Since they didn’t bother to acknowledge God, God quit bothering them and let them run loose. And then all hell broke loose…”

Apostasy is an abandonment of God and His principles. Apostasy replaces revelation with reason. After that will be the arrival of the dreaded world leader that will take the nations into greater anguish than ever before seen in history.

If you are doing God’s will as a follower and disciple of Jesus Christ, you won’t even be around for the antichrist rule.

In fact, the Holy Spirit in you is what’s holding him back from making his appearance (2 Thessalonians 2:6-7).

 

The post The Anticipated World Leader appeared first on Dave Williams Ministries.

12 Fundamentals for Growing a Church

I want to share twelve immutable things to your success as a pastor. In my opinion, these are the most important issues a pastor can master.

These are unchangeable fundamentals, and they’ll give you a powerful advantage in your ministry. They will work in any church in any generation.

When I was a young pastor, I first studied 20 of the largest, most fruitful churches in the world and later expanded my research to over 100. These churches included different denominations and disciplines, but they all had one thing in common: They were champions in their calling and were abounding in their churches.

Even though these ministries were very different in many ways, all of them had twelve critical qualities and characteristics in common. Some were spiritual, and some were practical. Here they are:

Prayer

This is first because in prayer we get ideas from God without the stain of human reasoning. In my first week as pastor when we had only 125 members, I established a weekly intercessory prayer meeting. It grew to daily prayer and even special prayer task force meetings. When prayer is a priority, it proves we are putting Christ as the head of the church.

Attitude

You’ve probably heard this: “It’s your attitude and not your aptitude that determines your altitude.” What’s your attitude toward God, your family, and the people you lead? What’s your attitude toward soul-winning and disciple-making? What’s your attitude toward a growing church and how can you encourage this attitude in your members?

Vision

You’ll never go higher than your vision. See things not as they are, but what they could be. If you can see it, you can have it. I have an illustration in use in pastor’s training. I bring an acorn to class and ask the students what they see. Most say it’s just an acorn. But occasionally a student will say, “I see a mighty oak tree in your hand.” And even less frequently, someone will say, “Pastor, in your hand lies a whole city of oak trees.” The key: seeing things that are unseen to others.

Atmosphere

Every service must exude an atmosphere of love, warmth, respect and the manifest presence of the Holy Spirit. I preached in a southern state, years ago and afterward, the pastor asked me what the first thing I would do if I was the pastor there. I told him I’d build walls or put up curtains so people couldn’t see all the empty seats. The church seated about 500, but only about 70 people were in church. Empty seats do not encourage a warm atmosphere.

Teaching

I’m talking about genuine biblical teaching. Expository and commentary teaching are almost a lost art today but people are craving to know what God says, and they need it straight up, not watered down, politically correct, or designed to make them feel good.

Delegation

This is what Moses did. And what Jesus did with his disciples. Educate, equip, and release for ministry. Lay people are the treasurers of the church and must be empowered to do the work of the ministry. It’s easier to hire than to equip. But the pastor’s mandate in Ephesian 4 is to equip believers for the work of ministry.

Visibility

Location was huge with all enormously fruitful churches. My friend, Craig Weiland of Weiland-Davco, offered us a list of why businesses fail and he said one of them is “being a block off Main Street;” In other words, not visible. Radio, television, direct mail, and big events can all be helpful in creating visibility for the church.

Missions

In my research, I discovered that the greatest churches in the world were all—without exception—committed to world missions. I determined that our church would conduct mission’s conventions every year, mission’s banquets, and have regular windows on the world from live missionaries on furlough. I would promote missions trips and never cut the mission’s budget for an in-house project. When I began, we as a church were giving $3,500 a year for missions. After 30 years, we were giving over 3 million a year, we were debt free, and God gave us incredible growth and miracles over those years.

Goals

I call them faith goals. What things soever you desire when you pray, believe that you receive them, and ye shall have them. Faith is the substance of things hoped for. Faith goals are targets at which to shoot, and they must stretch us every time. For example, as a student, it’s better to have a goal of getting a 4.0 and end up getting a 3.8 than to have no goal and get a 2.0. Facility goals, staffing goals, financial goals, growth goals, and personal goals all help propel us to higher levels.

Evangelism

He that winneth souls is wise. Every successful church that stands the tests of life and the test of time will prioritize the Great Commission of bringing people to Christ and making them disciples of Jesus. How? Altar calls, evangelism training and practice, friendship evangelism, big soul-winning events are all amazingly helpful in getting your church to have a heart for evangelism.

Priorities

Distractions are curses of the pastorate. When you possess clear principles and priorities, then someone else cannot determine them for you. When you establish priorities and stick with them, the little foxes trying to spoil your vine will drift away. In fact, these twelve things I’m sharing with you today were my top priorities as a pastor.

Service

Jesus spoke about greatness being directly related to serving—really ministering. Jesus ministered to the sick, the demon-possessed, the hungry, the poor. Serving the people in the community is one of the booster rockets to great growth and harvest.

These are what I call the 12 immutable laws of growing a fruitful church. Why not go over these with your staff and board, and prayerfully find ways to implement them in your church? Take these foundational principles seriously, practice them, and watch your church take on a miracle apostolic role in this generation.

The post 12 Fundamentals for Growing a Church appeared first on Dave Williams Ministries.

A Sling Shot on Campuses

My team and I enjoyed two days in Santa Cruz, California with West Coast Chi Alpha and thanks to our partners; we were able to put the Art of Pacesetting Leadership Course on 30 more university and college campuses!

Sometimes I Feel Like Little David Against the Giant of Distorted Thinking

Stop and think: Where are the hotbeds of socialism and radical left activism? The answer is our campuses in America. In the faculty lounges, I can imagine professors discussing ways of inserting their socialist fantasies into the minds of young American students. “No God.” “Islam is Peaceful.” “Gay is good.” “Guns are the problem.” “Socialism is better than democracy.”

“Useful idiot” is a term that was used by Lenin to describe one of many manipulated people in the country that helped promote Communism. Today the term is used by left-wing radicals for those who help promote socialism and globalism. Remember the Union of Soviet Socialists Republic? “Useful idiots” who believed the promises of the socialist deceivers, pushed for socialism, and when socialism was in, the useful idiots were out! Millions died or were sent to work camps.

A “useful idiot” is a person who is gullible, undiscerning, and will push for a cause and goals of which they are not fully aware. The leaders of the so-called cause (whatever it may be), behind the scenes, refer to them as “useful idiots.” Castro stirred them up. Mao Tse Tung did too. Millions died when they were no longer useful to the evil leaders.

Some professors recruit “useful idiots.” Some globalist promoters and haters of America even pay them to protest, stir up trouble, and even riot. We don’t want our young people to become useful idiots for a spurious, deceitful cause like so many have fallen for in this day of great deception. The religious left has moved into clear apostasy, approving and certifying the very things God hates.

I’m so grateful – so very grateful – for our Dave Williams/Strategic Global Mission partners.  

The Art of Pacesetting Leadership now on over 180 campuses.     

Deception is Escalating

The number one sign of the last days is deception. Jesus said it over and over again in Matthew 24, Mark 13, and Luke 21. Paul warned about it. Peter warned us too. Deception is a giant today, even in certain religious circles.

The prophet Isaiah said, Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (Isaiah 5:20)

But we have a slingshot and a little stone…and the Name of the Lord, our God! 

That slingshot is the Pacesetting Leadership Course, now on almost 200 campuses!

We are speaking into young lives, preparing them to be godly, confident, faith-filled leaders who will take on challenges boldly and bring an awareness of God and His principles back to our land!

And…It’s always free to them but it costs us tens of thousands of dollars to do this. That’s why I am so incredibly grateful to our monthly partners and donors. Thank you.

Amazing West Coast College Leaders

I was so encouraged by the campus leadership of the West Coast Chi Alpha team. Jeremy and Debora Anderson are visionaries who know how to engage in the prophetic realm, listen to the Holy Spirit and to take action, regardless of the cost to them personally.

They are equipping young men and women to hear the call of God and follow it with all their hearts. They love Jesus and His Word. They soak in the presence of the Holy Spirit to get specific direction, and they have dedicated themselves to changing the fabric of our university and college campuses and bringing a true realization of who the Savior is and what He can do.

The Giant is Coming Down!

We were privileged to be with this exciting, Spirit-filled group, and have an opportunity to speak into their lives. Revival is coming to America’s campuses and we have a part.

The giant is falling! And God is using you and me as we continue to train leaders across the country.

Mary Jo and Dave with Jeremy and Debora Anderson  

Listening to testimonies from campus leaders.  

The post A Sling Shot on Campuses appeared first on Dave Williams Ministries.

A Phone Call—And a Visit to Heaven

My phone rang as Mary Jo, and I waited to board our flight to Oakland, California. I looked at the caller ID, and it read, “REXELLA VAN IMPE.” Well, at that point my heart dropped because Jack just went through two years of devilish health attacks, and he had already told me he wanted me to officiate at his funeral. So, understandably, I thought the worst.

“Dave, is Mary Jo with you?”

“Dave Williams,” I answered. “Dave, is Mary Jo with you?” a young man’s voice asked? “Yes, she is,” I said with caution. “Okay, good. I have something wonderful to tell you both.”

At this point, I was trying to figure out who was calling me on Rexella’s phone when suddenly I realized it was Dr. Jack himself. I could barely believe my ears. You see, for the previous two years, he didn’t want to talk much, and when he did his voice was low and muffled. The enemy had attacked him with a heart issue, and he almost died. It looked hopeless, but thanks to Rexella’s faith and the prayers of his partners, he pulled through. For several days, he didn’t know who he was and couldn’t remember any of the 14,000 Scriptures he had memorized.

Then a miracle! Everything came back, and Jack was able to return to his global television program. But it was short-lived. We had just enjoyed breakfast together in Troy along with some of his board members, when Jack went home and fell, breaking his hip in four places. Painful surgery ensued and months of rehabilitation. Whenever we were able to talk, his voice was very low and he seemed distant.

So, you can imagine my surprise to hear this young-sounding Jack Van Impe on the phone as I sat at the airport. “I have something important to tell you and Mary Jo.” What followed was astounding.

An Angel in the Van Impe Home

“For the past few weeks, an angel has been appearing at my home. When I ask, ‘Why are you here,’ he vanishes. Then last night after watching the service when I preached in your church and 3000 came to Christ, I laid down and was caught up to the third heaven! Brother Dave, I had the same experience the Apostle Paul had in 2 Corinthians 12!”

2 Corinthians 12:2

I knew a man in Christ above fourteen years ago, (whether in the body, I cannot tell; or whether out of the body, I cannot tell: God knoweth;) such an one caught up to the third heaven.

Dr. Van Impe continued, “I talked with Jesus for an hour and a half (earth time), and then He sent me back. Oh, Dave, He told me what’s coming and gave me instructions about my role in these last days. Oh, Brother, it’s revival! When I came back, I rededicated my whole life to Jesus and called my office to tell them to stop working—we’re going to have a prayer meeting.”

As Jack spoke to me, I could feel rivers of living water in my belly. Jack Van Impe is a new man again! “Brother Jack,” I said, “I’m on my way to Santa Cruz, Oakland, and Turlock for meetings and a big conference. May I share this?”

“Yes, yes, yes! Tell everyone. Jesus is coming very soon, and we have to get the word out. We must warn the world and comfort the Church! There’s coming a great revival, and Jesus told me what my part will be.”

Jack went on and told me of his new global plan as it was laid out to him by Jesus, Himself.

Now my head was spinning; he was talking like an excited teenager. Jack is off television, but still bringing the latest headlines as they relate to Christ’s coming through his YouTube Channel. Because pastors and church leaders have never been taught how to understand prophecy and teach it, nearly 300 Bible schools will now require students to take courses on Revelation using Jack’s book, Revelation Revealed. I was so happy, I felt like dancing. Jack is back!

To get news updates and watch prophecy updates go to JVIM.com. If you are a partner with Jack Van Impe Ministries, please continue your loving support. God will bless you for being a part of this great revival, even in parts of the world where we cannot send missionaries.

The post A Phone Call—And a Visit to Heaven appeared first on Dave Williams Ministries.

No Believer Has a Money Problem

When I served as pastor for over 30 years, I discovered that upwards of 75% of prayer requests that came in were related to financial problems. I’ve found that many Christians believe their problems relate to finances.  But that’s a myth, a “belief trap.”

The truth is: No believer who is in covenant with God through Jesus Christ has a money problem. They may believe it’s a money problem, but actually, it’s a problem in another area.

They may have an obedience problem

Every one of God’s children could easily be a millionaire if only they would obey God’s Word and practice responsiveness to the Holy Spirit’s voice, and stay connected to Christ’s Great Commission.

Isaiah 1:18-19 AMP

“Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord.

“Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow;

Though they are red like crimson, They shall be like wool.

“If you are willing and obedient, You shall eat the best of the land.

One translation puts it this way: “If you will only let me help you if you will only obey, then I will make you rich!”

In Malachi, we read about tithing and making offerings to the Lord.

Malachi 3:8-12, Brackets, italics added

“Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say, ‘In what way have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings.  [10% + offerings]

[RESULT:] You are cursed with a curse, For you have robbed Me, [A person who does not practice tithing will find his or her finances under a curse] Even this whole nation.  [If you read the first two chapters of Haggai, you’ll find the same situation. The people experienced low harvests and all kinds of financial problems because they were putting their own interests first instead of God’s interests]

[SOLUTION:] Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, That there may be food in My house, And try [test/prove] Me now in this,” Says the Lord of hosts, [You must take action on this directive] if will not [Promise 1] open for you the windows of heaven [Promise 2] And pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. [Promise 3] “And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,” says the Lord of hosts; [Promise 4] “And all nations will call you blessed, for you will be a delightful land,” says the Lord of hosts.

Before every outrageous financial blessing, God requires outrageous obedience in finances.

I remember a man who told me he couldn’t tithe to the church for a few years because he was tithing to his daughter in college. That’s disobedience. The Scriptures say, “The tithe is the Lord’s.” (Leviticus 27:30)  And Jesus said, “You should tithe without neglecting other important things (Matthew 23:23).

Another person told me that God didn’t heal her teeth, so she was using her tithe money to pay for tooth repairs. That’s disobedience. There is always a test to prove whether or not you’ll follow God’s plan.

These verses cause many people a big problem.

Matthew 25:29 (NLT)

To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.

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?

So, it’s clear. The real problem is never a money problem, but maybe an obedience problem. Now, if you are a tither and give generously in offerings, yet are still not experiencing the promises, there could be two other reasons, and I’ll discuss them in another post.

Remember, as a believer; you don’t have a money problem.

The post No Believer Has a Money Problem appeared first on Dave Williams Ministries.

Prophetic Signs

People ask me, “Do you believe the prophetic time clock has paused with the election of Donald Trump and the Brexit?”

My answer: Absolutely not.

We are not on pause. If anything, we are now going on prophetic fast forward. Eschatological end time stage-setting is moving forward now at almost break-neck speed.

All the conditions, markers, warnings, indicators and clues we would expect in the final hours before Christ’s coming are now all in active motion. Just five years ago, I couldn’t have said that. Today I can because according to the writings of the ancient biblical prophets, the stage now is almost completely set.

The actors are lined up just waiting for the action call so they can follow their script. God’s people and Satan’s pawns both know the day is approaching and a shaking is coming.

I don’t want to be a reckless or rash speculator, but I do long to be a discerner of the times.

Luke 12:56

Ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky and of the earth; but how is it that ye do not discern this time?

The signs are right under our noses, and Jesus himself said only hypocrites can’t see them.

Today’s geophysical signs

Mark 13:8

For nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. And there will be earthquakes in various places, and there will be famines and troubles. These are the beginnings of sorrows.

There have always been earthquakes, but Jesus was talking about sorrows—translated birth pangs. When they become more frequent, intense, and unprecedented, you’ll know that the day is close.

The prophet Joel warned the elders of his time that when things begin to happen in an unprecedented manner, judgment is about to arrive unless there is repentance and turning back to God. He said, “Has anything like this happened in your days, or even in the days of your fathers?” He told them to wake up and realize something is about to happen. He encouraged them to gather in fasting and prayer—no more business as usual.

Let’s look at the statistics:

From 1863 to 1900, there were 12 earthquakes of 6.99 magnitude or more.
From 1901 to 1938, there were 53 earthquakes of 6.99 magnitude or more.
From 1939 to 1976, there were 71 earthquakes of 6.99 magnitude or more.
From 1977 to 2014, there were 164 earthquakes of 6.99 magnitude or more.

That’s a 230% increase in earthquakes over the previous 38 year period.

Consider Volcanoes

Business Insider ran an article: “16 potentially deadly volcanoes that could erupt any minute”
WebEcoist: “12 Volatile Volcanoes That Are Ready to Blow” (Three of which are in the United States)
Great Britain’s Telegraph featured an article by Hugh Morris: “Iceland’s ‘Gateway to Hell volcano ready to blow at any moment’”

The History Channel has done a better job of warning the world than many preachers have done. Although they don’t approach eschatology primarily from a biblical perspective, they do a great job of evaluating the possibilities of global calamities scientifically.

The write-up for one edition of “How the World Will End,” said, “For the first time in human history, a volcanic hyper eruption could blow through the surface of the Earth. Explosive shock waves would tear apart buildings, molten rock would slam into cities, and a deafening sound would circle the globe.”

Sounds like the time of the Great Tribulation Jesus spoke of.

Matthew 24:21

For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.

Jesus went on to say in the same chapter “…the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; the stars will fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens will be shaken.”  This sounds like a by-product of many volcanoes blowing in unison.

Geo-political Signs

Another end time marker that’s coming into focus is the so-called “two-state solution.”  It’s the news almost daily.

Israel and Palestine side by side. Since 1947, the Palestinians have turned down every attempt at a two-state solution. I’m not talking about the Christian Palestinians, but the Muslim population. Why do they reject everything offered to them? It’s simple, and they’ve stated it clearly: they want Israel to no longer exist, and they don’t just want a portion—they want everything.

Interestingly enough, the ancient biblical prophets tell us the very thing that will precipitate the beginning of World War 3: the parting or dividing of the land of Israel.

Parting the Land of Israel is the trigger that launches the first phase of Armageddon (Joel 3:1-2 and Daniel 11:39).

It’s so clear. The day of the Lord is quickly approaching!

In fact when Jesus said, Behold I come quickly, the word “quickly” in the Greek is tachos, where we get our English word tachometer. Jesus was saying that things are going to rev up just before he returns.

If you’re a committed believer and follower of Jesus Christ, look up, lift up your head, for your deliverance draws near. If you’ve never made your peace with Jesus, call on Him now. Ask him to forgive your sins, believing he died on the cross for you and rose from the dead. He’ll make you ready for heaven and a meeting in the air.

The post Prophetic Signs appeared first on Dave Williams Ministries.

Church Marketing and Advertising

What should churches do about marketing and advertising? Some believe the church should not use “Madison Avenue” techniques. But what does God think about marketing and advertising?

In Mark 1:1-8 we find John the Baptist “advertising” the coming of Messiah.

The ancient prophets all “advertised” coming events, including the arrival of the awaited Messiah. Jesus Himself said, “Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house (Matthew 5:15).

Psalm 19:1

The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament sheweth his handywork.

You might say, “the heavens advertise for God.”

No matter how good your product is, you have to let others know about it, whether it’s a church service, a missions’ event, special event, a banquet, or whatever!

Suppose we decided to have a church conference and then not let anybody know about it because we didn’t want to use “Madison Avenue” techniques? I used to hear that from older ministers when I was just a young pastor. “Oh, I’d never use those Madison Avenue techniques!”

Well, I happen to believe that God created the concept of advertising. Madison Avenue stole the techniques from God. God creates / Satan perverts. The words “publish,” “proclaim,” “preach,” and “prophesy” all have their roots in the same word as “advertising.”

Marketing and advertising are not the same.

A good marketing plan is all-inclusive, involving everyone on the team. It is designed to create a desirable image or concept of your church in the minds of the community. Marketing includes branding—being consistent in your look: church signage, brochures, web design and upkeep, print media, radio, and television.

Advertising is narrower and spotlights specific events.

For example, one summer we offered a free small book to everyone on our mailing list. The little book included advertising for our church. Our investment: $1800. Our return: An increase in weekly offerings by $2332 per week; $10,000 per month.

One particular year we declared October and November as “Harvest Time.” We strategically made 30-second radio spots and advertised in local shopping guides using personal testimonies.

Our investment: $3000. Our return: Attendance went up by an average of 103 per week, and the offerings went up by an additional $4000 per week. That was about $32,000 increase over the two-month Harvest period.

Remember this

The best advertising shows the reader a benefit. If you only advertise an event, you are not getting the best advantage from your advertising dollars, and probably will be ignored by the public.

Everybody is thinking, “What’s in it for me?” So when you design your advertising, always ask, “Does this tell the reader or listener how they will benefit from the product, service, or event?” Good advertising is not just information, but motivation.

In our early years, we advertised a weeklong healing school. We did not advertise on the religious pages of the newspaper, only the local, inexpensive shopping guides.

150 people attended (half were not from our church, and about forty or so were un-churched or not yet born again).

A local television news program heard about it and featured us on their “Health Beat” program at no cost to us.

The results: A famous, well-known businessman in town attended the healing school and was miraculously healed of multiple sclerosis. Several were saved, and others were healed too. Seven new families joined the church as a result of that weeklong school.

Our advertising investment was $400, and our offerings went up by over $100 a week.

I found that the best advertising is to provide your members with brochures and literature to hand out to their friends. 80% will come to an event because a friend or family member invited them. So make sure the lion share of your advertising budget goes to providing your members with handouts, videos, and other advertising tools.

The next methods are direct mail marketing and web marketing. We still need to do both. We have the web generation and the print generation to reach. Some of today’s social media can take your event viral.

The more you advertise a good product, the more it works in your favor. The more you advertise a bad product, the more damages you incur. In other words, if you advertise a friendly church you better be super friendly, or the advertising will damage you more than help you. That’s why everyone should be on board for the church marketing/advertising campaign.

Three books I often recommend to pastors
















Differentiate or Die by Jack Trout













Church Marketing 101 by Richard L. Reising













Purple Cow by Seth Godin

If Jesus had a forerunner, you need one too. That forerunner is called advertising.

Now, get ready for the shock. I believe a church marketing budget (which includes advertising and communication) should be between 10 – 12% of the entire budget.

When I served as pastor in Lansing, I produced a daily “Pastor’s Minute” radio broadcast airing on a few of the secular radio stations. I gave a one-minute, upbeat message every day.

I enjoyed an audience of over 150,000 listeners. I kept the “Pastor’s Minute” as soft advertising, designed to make our church a household name. When un-churched people think of a church, when they face a crisis, they think of only one church—Mount Hope Church. Day after day, they felt they had a relationship with me because I came to them every day with another bite-sized, upbeat, encouraging word from the Lord.

The people in our city called us, “The church with all the flags,” because of the fifty international flags flying in our driveway, representing world missions. So…I always used that as a tagline on the radio. I would close with something like this: “Thanks for listening. I’m Pastor Dave Williams, and I’d love to meet you at Mount Hope Church—the come as you are church, west of the Lansing Mall on Creyts Road at Michigan Avenue – the church with all the flags!”

You can have a great thing going, but, if you don’t tell anyone about it, your success will only be minimal. Don’t light a light and then hide it under a basket. Let the light shine for Jesus!

The post Church Marketing and Advertising appeared first on Dave Williams Ministries.

What Blocks Heavens Miracles?

Have you ever noticed how some of the same things continue surfacing in somebody’s life—maybe yours—year after year? Have you wondered why it’s hard to get the promises of God to work on your behalf?

There is a reason.

I was asking the Lord for answers during a time at Crystal Mountain a couple of years ago, and the Holy Spirit revealed to me five reasons (causes) we fail to receive. These five causes block heaven’s answers and blessings from reaching us on earth.

Comfort
Arrogance
Unbelief (disbelief)
Shame-base
Excuse making

It was a penetrating, powerful revelation about strongholds. I had it wrong for decades, thinking strongholds were built by demons and through intercession, they could be torn down. I was partially right but mostly wrong.

Hebrews 12:15 NLT

Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.

Through this fresh revelation from the Holy Spirit, I recognized that strongholds hold a higher level than demons, because where we allow strongholds, demonic forces can use them to hide behind and operate from them in our lives, marriages, families, businesses, churches, and cities. And this prevents us from walking in the freedom and victory that is rightfully ours through Christ.

Strongholds set us up for self-sabotage if we don’t activate a dismantling process. They are mental and emotional bricks cemented together by:

Lies
Imaginations
Deceptions
Accusations
Words spoken into our lives
Feelings
Counterfeit beliefs, and partial truths

Deuteronomy 28:18

So that there may not be among you man or woman or family or tribe, whose heart turns away today from the Lord our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations, and that there may not be among you a root bearing bitterness or wormwood;

How are strongholds erected?

When we came to Jesus Christ and were born again, false beliefs and ideas were not automatically eliminated.

Strongholds are cemented with:

Thoughts contrary to truth
Arguments
Theories
Reasoning
Imaginations (lies and falsehoods)
Proud and lofty things
Purposes contrary to truth (deception)

Truth: You are an amazing, remarkable and gifted person, beloved of God, unique to Him and important to the Body of Christ. Nothing would be the same without you.

Everything begins with a seed. Seeds produce roots. Roots make up the footings (the under structure) for a stronghold’s foundation. Roots produce fruit…after time.

Roots become the pilings; the footings, for the stronghold’s foundation. Brick by brick the stronghold is erected, and cemented together and reinforced with lies, falsehoods, and erroneous beliefs.

John 10:10

The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.

There are four big areas of toxic seed opportunities:

Generational and/or environmental
Counterfeit (ungodly or twisted beliefs)
Wounded emotions: we use strongholds to prevent further pain, thus making them even stronger and more complex, like a growing city
Demonic oppression and involvement

But the good news is that God has great goals for us! He wants healed and free people, marriages, families, churches, communities, territories, and cultures. Total freedom is authority from the kingdom to change twisted culture.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (NKJV)

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. [Greek: a past event with progressive effects; not completed effects].

Strongholds must not be managed. They must be dismantled and demolished. We carry a piece of eternity here on earth, called the Bible. We enjoy a presence of eternity on the earth: the Holy Spirit.

Dismantling Strongholds Seminar
Saturday, August 12, 2017

9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

The Center for Pacesetting Leadership

Lansing, MI



Learn More





Saturday, September 30, 2017

9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. (Lunch Provided)

Mount Hope Community Church

Jackson, MI



Learn More


























Dismantling Strongholds
Shattering Five Actions & Attitudes that Block Heaven’s Miracles

5 Session Audio

Audio CD

The post What Blocks Heavens Miracles? appeared first on Dave Williams Ministries.

The Poverty Spirit

The poverty spirit is the biggest scammer of all time.

I read an interesting article about financial scams concerning infomercials, websites, web ads, radio ads, late night TV ads, etc. a shocking 81.6% were found to be scams!

You can read more at the Better Business Bureau or check out the FBI reports on Common Fraud Schemes.

Why do intelligent people fall for these types of schemes and scams that promise them great wealth? Simple: people want more money, more assets, more prestige, and more affluence, so they’re willing to take a risk, much like gambling.

Solomon said this in Proverbs 13:11: Wealth from get-rich-quick schemes quickly disappears; wealth from hard work grows over time.

And again the Wise Solomon wrote in Proverbs 28:20: The trustworthy person will get a rich reward, but a person who wants quick riches will get into trouble.

I believe God Himself planted into the human heart a desire for wealth. After all in Deuteronomy 8:18 we were told to “remember the Lord thy God for it is He that giveth thee power to get wealth.”  And, in context, it was referring to physical, material wealth.

Do you think God would rather see the false cult leaders, the whiskey producers, and drug dealers enjoy wealth rather than His people who love Him? Do you believe God chooses some to be wealthy and others to be poor?

Jesus said in Matthew 7:11, “If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”

Wealth is a good thing; not a bad thing—unless we put it first, loving money more than we love God.

It seems like a paradox, but the truth is the people who bite on get rich quick scams usually suffer from a poverty spirit that comes from not knowing or applying God’s Word.

Matthew 25 tells us about three men, each given the responsibility of handling the master’s money, each according to their ability. One got 5, another got 2, and another received one. Two of the men doubled the money in business and investments. The other guy did nothing. The fellow who did not even try to increase the money given him eventually had everything taken away. He lost it all.

This is exactly the result of harboring a poverty mentality. It steals, it kills, and it destroys. It darkens dreams, kills plans, and destroys the future of its victims.

Profit is not a sin, neither is it carnal. Profit, achievement, and productivity are virtuous attributes in God’s eyes

God’s Kingdom embraces prosperity, not poverty.

The poverty spirit is a formidable obstacle that prevents the release of wealth to God’s people. Those who have attracted a poverty spirit to their lives can never live up to their potential, like the failure of the one talent man in Matthew 25.

The spirit of poverty:

Puts blinders over believer’s eyes
Puts fear in the hearts of believers
Steals ambition
Makes dreams seem impossible
Tears you down by reminding you of past failures
Makes you feel less qualified than others
Drives you into the back rows of life
Convinces you that the biggest win would be not to lose
Twist Scriptures about money, wealth, greed, and covetousness

Those who say, “I don’t care about money” or “I’m not getting into the greed game,” are not being anti-greedy, but, instead incredibly selfish.

You should always want more so you can help more, and you should want extra to help other people. This is what the Bible teaches.

The poverty spirit has stages:

Poverty mentality or poverty thoughts
Poverty beliefs
Poverty addiction
Poverty spirit—and like a magnet that clip on demon begins to attract lack, decrease, poverty, debt, loss, hardship, scarcity, and shortages. The poverty spirit’s gifts to you.

Recognize the symptoms of a poverty spirit:

​Symptom 1: They are repelled by what they classify as “materialism.”

Symptom 2: A person with a poverty spirit is in denial, comforting themselves with words like: “Everyone has debts.” “Others are experiencing the same thing.” “Well, it’s just the way it is –others are in the same boat.”

Symptom 3: The poverty spirit convinces people that money matters are shameful to talk about, especially in church thus, lack is presented as a virtue or some kind of righteousness

Symptom 4: Judging successful, productive people as “money grubbers” or “thieves.”

Symptom 5: Making excuses about why others are doing better: their good breaks, etc.  They always seem to come up with a reason why they are superior for having less.

Symptom 6: This dark spirit encourages people to judge others as “shallow” if they think of, learn about or act on financial matters.

Symptom 7: This spirit will give a believer a sense of being more spiritual or mature than those who want to succeed financially, giving the believer a sense of moral superiority by having less.

A missionary, who admittedly had a poverty spirit attachment, told me that he read my book, Radical Riches. Afterward, he applied the principles and was able to raise full support for his four-year mission in only eight months while most others were taking 18-24 months. He broke the “missionary poverty spirit” and has enjoyed an amazingly productive ministry ever since.

Thoughts and words are important. The Scriptures are clear about that.

Telltale poverty thinking and speaking that are attracting a poverty spirit are not often simple to identify but here’s a sampling:

Thinking, “Where do we cut?” instead of “How can we increase?”
“This is my hard earned money.”
“Money isn’t important.”
“Rich people are greedy.”

Poverty thinking and speaking leads to a poverty belief and addiction, and finally, attracts a poverty spirit that destroys a person’s chances and getting ahead financially.

I believe the strong spirit named Belial is behind the poverty thinking today. From the etymology and historical records of the name Belial, we conclude: He is a spiritually twisted, proud, arrogant, independent spirit that refuses to come under any authority.  And he tempts people with positions, titles, promises of fame, riches, popularity, or practices which ultimately bring the individual to a place of uselessness, emptiness, futility, and a meaningless, pointless existence.

And there’s why some are attracted to those late night infomercials and web scams. But you’re on a different plane because you chose God’s covenant and God’s principles.

Proverbs 10:22

The blessing of the Lord, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.  [AMP adds: neither does toiling increase it]

Remember, toiling will not increase your wealth, but the blessings of the Lord will.

The post The Poverty Spirit appeared first on Dave Williams Ministries.