This blog belongs to Danny Schulz. I'm a youth pastor, worship pastor and leader at Family Life Church in Nampa, Idaho. Thanks for visiting me online! Please feel free to catch one of our youth services - every Wed night at the Family Life Church building on Karcher Road.
2 Timothy 1:6 - Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands.
I’m convinced that if each disciple of Christ kept their gift stirred up we would see the supernatural power of God flowing in and out of the church all of the time.Imagine your church operating like this.Every time you get together you could regularly expect prophecy, words of knowledge and wisdom, discerning of spirits, tongues and interpretation, miracles, etc.FamilyLifeChurch is growing in this, but we have a ways to go.
I think we would all enjoy our gatherings more if they were filled with Holy Spirit activity.Why doesn’t this happen more?Either God meant for the gifts of the Holy Spirit to be active today or He didn’t.I think we are often waiting on God to move when He is waiting on us to stir up our gift.It’s an interesting thought – that the gifts of God become active when we choose to stir them up.Or conversely, the gifts lie dormant because we choose not to stir them up.
As a worship leader, I think sometimes I can hide behind the “flow of the Spirit” card.You know – “The worship goes with the flow of the Spirit.Sometimes He moves, sometimes not”.Truth be told, our most prophetic and anointed worship times occur when we as a worship leaders and team members choose to stir up our gift.We don’t like to admit it because it brings accountability.But I’d say it’s true.Sometimes God surprises us and moves in spite of us, but I think most often He’s waiting for us to use the gifts that He gave us.
I’m all for waiting on the Lord – but I think that it’s the difference between actively waiting on Him and passively waiting on Him.When we “wait” biblically, we actively listen and expect Him to give instruction for how to function in our gifts.I’ve found that God is leading and speaking all the time in the context of my gift – He’s just waiting for me to stir it up and exercise it.
When is the last time you stirred up the gift of God and functioned during a gathering?When’s the last time you stirred up the gift of prophecy?Faith?Discerning of Spirits? Miracles?Sundays, Wednesdays, small groups, outreach, at work, at school, etc?I think we could make life a lot more interesting if we’d keep the gifts stirred up.I also believe that many more people would come to Christ and get planted in our local churches.
I just finished reading a great book by Larry Stockstill called The Remnant.
It's a wonderful book. Pastor Larry gave the book out to all of the pastors that attended this year's international MFI conference in Portland. I believe that this book is a simple prophetic word from an apostolic father to the American church. I would highly recommend this book to any pastor, leader or anyone aspiring to lead in the kingdom of God.
In the first part of the book, Stockstill brings a great perspective on the necessity of the five fold ministry in the church and its reflection in society. We're indesperate need of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers. A challenging thought that Pastor Larry brings is that we should, as leaders, strive to function in every one of these roles to some extent. We can function apostolically through encouragement, affirmation and fathering. We can prophetically correct those under our sphere of authority. We can reach and disciple people and bear fruit in the kingdom. We can heal and pastor whether we have a title or not. We can know and teach the word of God from scripture. I need to grow in all 5 areas of leadership.
The last 10 chapters of the book are Larry's "10 Commandments of Ministry". If the spiritual leaders of America would take heed to Larry's commandments, we would have a future that God can bless. Here are the subjects Stockstill touches breifly on in each chapter -
Prayer
Bible Study
Integrity
Purity
Example
Relationships
Philosophy
Faith
Spiritual Warfare
Wisdom
Each chapter could be used as a guage for the health of your own personal leadership life. Like a gas gauge on a car or something. If we lived out biblical excellence in each of these areas we would be far ahead in our impact on society. Pastor Larry says that he personally disciples his leaders in each of these areas for a month at a time. I can see how affective that would be. The list is not exhaustive, but it's a wonderful start toward the core values that leaders must embrace in order to affect society and build the kingdom of God.
In a world where ministers are continually finding themselves doing foolish and embarassing things, Larry Stockstill brings a powerful and prophetic challenge. I'm recommending this book to every ministry leader I know.
FamilyLifeChurch had its dedication services for our new church building this weekend.We had an amazing time – incredible worship, powerful messages, prophetic words, great celebration, laughter and fellowship.It was a weekend to remember.We had the honor of having Pastor Jack Louman and Pastor Frank Damazio both speak to our church on Sunday (one in the morning and one at night).I’ve been meditating on this verse of scripture in light of their visit.
Ephesians 2:19-22 - Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit.
Doctrinally, I believe this scripture means that the church is built upon the writings of the apostles and prophets – meaning the Old Testament Prophets and New Testament Apostles (i.e. the scriptures).In addition, Pastor Steve consistently applies this scripture to how we are building FamilyLifeChurch upon the ministries of modern apostles and prophets that God has given to our church body.It’s been so enlightening for me.I’ve been absolutely amazed at how healthy it is for our church to consistently receive from true prophetic and apostolic ministry.
Pastor Frank Damazio functions in the ministry of an apostle over FamilyLifeChurch.He brings a fathers heart, encouragement, correction, vision and impartation through the Word of God into our church.The things he has spoken into the heart of FLC have changed the whole church, because we receive him as an apostle and a father.Our church received an impartation to be a “yes church” that goes strongly after the youth culture including our college campus – BoiseStateUniversity.
Pastor Jack functions in the ministry of the prophet.He’s definitely one of the most prophetic people I’ve ever been around.He can see where God is taking our church and comes with the Word of the Lord to challenge us to rise to the next place that God has for us.Our church is literally in a different place after this weekend.Jack’s prophetic words to the whole church and over the worship department have shifted the attention and focus of our church body.
Literally, my job is going to be different in the next 6 months because of this weekend.Jack brought a word about the sphere of our ministry expanding and growing.He said God was calling for an increase in responsibility and that God was bringing an ability to match the responsibility.Today I met with Pastor Steve about how to practically apply the word.My schedule is going to change, my focus is changing and expanding.Most of all my capacity must increase to take on all that God is calling me to do.I need more grace for the coming season.Also, I need the leaders I am training up to take the upgrade as well and step into pulling more weight in the youth ministry.
The thing that comforts me most about the ministry that took place this weekend is that it’s in the flow of what God has already been speaking.God has been speaking to leaders and they have been stepping up.God has been stirring our heart to really press forward in the worship ministry.God has been stirring up a passion to go after youth on the school campuses in the TreasureValley.The prophetic direction wasn’t completely new – it came to confirm what God has been speaking to our senior pastor and his leadership team.
I feel refreshed and invigorated.I’m seeing the building plan for the next 12-24 months in great clarity.This morning I realized there are some things that God has been asking me to do for 5 years, but I haven’t really responded to Him.I wasn’t in rebellion and resisting the Holy Spirit.I just didn’t fully believe that it was Him.Maybe my circumstances quenched my faith.Maybe my passion to do other things kept me distracted.Whatever the case, something in the prophetic ministry that took place this weekend brought a clarity about the will of God that I hadn’t seen yet.My life is changed.
And I can’t help but have the thought – How many churches are wandering without the ministry of apostles and prophets?How foolish it is to embrace a doctrine that doesn’t believe in these biblical ministries.Pastors don’t understand how bad they are ripping off their churches.How horrible it is to succumb to the fear of false ministries and decide to stick with merely relating to pastors and teachers.The ministry of the apostle and the prophet are so critical to healthy growth and forward movement, I now can’t imagine leading or growing a church without their ministry.Yet most churches in America are struggling by on their own.My understanding of a New Testament church continues to be refined and clarified.The Bible does have a plan for us to build by.
Lord, help us to raise up the next generation of leaders that will function as 5 fold ministers.Help us grow young men and women who will function as apostles and prophets in your last days church.They are needed in these important times.
Let’s open up some discussion on this one -
What is your experience with prophetic and apostolic ministry?
I've been asked a few times who I'm voting for tomorrow on election day. I guess it's important for a youth pastor to weigh in on the politics of his nation. Honestly, I don't believe that politics is the answer for America. I truly believe that the local church is God's plan for building the kingdom of God - not Obama or McCain. I believe that Jesus is the only savior, not a presidential candidate.
I do believe politics is important though. I do believe that we need to line up the values of those running for office with the scripture and cast our vote accordingly. And when it comes down to it, I am a voter that chooses his candidate on the basis of how they value the life of the unborn.
The decision has been pretty simple for me this year...
A vote for Obama means a vote for the most pro-abortion candidate America has ever seen. There's just no room, with a clear conscience before God, to vote in a president who will legislate the murder of countless souls. That's simply all there is to it for me. It doesn't matter how the other issues factor in - I'll never vote for a pro-choice candidate unless I backslide. And then, my friends, you have my permission to punch me in the face, drag me to the altar, and pray for my heart felt repentance. I'm not going to freak out if Obama becomes president. I do not think he's the Antichrist. I think America is going to move forward regardless of who wins tomorrow. But, without a doubt, if Obama is elected president, he will let some things into our nation that we, as the church, will have to go to WAR against. Be ready for the battle.
This post isn't really all that articulate or convincing. Truth be told, I'm not really the most educated on the political campaigns of each candidate. I have read some great posts over the last few months. Please read a couple of these. Please pray for each candidate as our nation is in a very critical spot right now. Please go to the polls tomorrow and vote.
I’m convinced that if each disciple of Christ kept their gift stirred up we would see the supernatural power of God flowing in and out of the church all of the time. Imagine your church operating like this. Every time you get together you could regularly expect prophecy, words of knowledge and wisdom, discerning of spirits, tongues and interpretation, miracles, etc. 
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