Category: Teaching

Racism Mindsets

We are the products of our environments; what’ been handed down in history, society and family, reflects in our world.

Racism Mindsets Part 1

We are the products of our environments; what has been handed down through our generations in history, society and family reflects in our world.

Many families have no idea where their ideology comes from. And in particular, this nation is deeply divided by racism.

However, before we can speak to a nation, we must speak to ourselves and rightly judge our own heart and repent of sin.

However, it doesn’t end there; we must realize that God wants to address the racism that is in the Church.

We must learn from our history and lineage the lessons so that bloodline curses won’t repeat themselves in us, our families, or in the generations that follow.

The generational curses of racism are evident in our nation and fighting these issues that divide us is an ongoing battle and it may seem hopeless!

We live in a fallen world where Satan’s seat is. The enemy has dominion, because of the fall of Adam but God, through the shed blood of his only begotten Son Jesus Christ has given His Church Dominion and all Authority to rule and reign in this life!

If we have repented of sin and received Jesus Christ in our hearts his desire remains the same! He wants us to take dominion in our families, our towns, our regions, states, and beyond!

However, it begins in us!

Do you want lasting change? Begin to search within your own heart. In this world, you shall have trouble and lasting change only goes so far.

“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world,” John 16:33 KJV.

I understand that racism brings frustration, rage, anger, hopelessness, fear, and other negative effects.

However, nationally The LORD has made it plain that this issue can only go so far in resolving change. What is our answer? What is the solution?

The Church is supposed to be the living representation of Christ in our “world” and nation. But it begins with us.

What comes out of our mouth? What do we represent in our family? What is the foundation of our witness? We testify our beliefs by how we speak and how we live!

“Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men,” 2 Corinthians 3:1-2 KJV.

The LORD has said that lasting national change must begin within the church. Beloved of God, we are like the salt that seasons; however, when you use a lot of salt it also preserves! God wants to season our lives and our messages to join in with the body of Christ to do a preserving work of grace in a sin-sick world.

When the salt has lost its savor, it is worthless. In contrast, the ‘Dead Sea’ may seem worthless. However, it has the most nutrient-dense level of minerals and the saltiest body of water in the world.

Though it is called ‘dead’, it brings life, health, and healing to those who have various ailments like skin and joints issues, and it improves circulation, reduces inflammation, helps arthritis and joint pain.

It also aids in recovery from surgery. Even those with certain heart conditions find relief and reprieve.

So, in this illustration dead things heal. As we die daily putting to death the deeds of our flesh we truly live! When we die to our way of thinking, die to our desires, and put on Christ’s desires, we do a preserving and healing work uniting the body of Christ by having the mind of Christ.

This happens first in us, our family, and then influence’s our world!

As this must begin in us and we are parts of the body of Christ; we come to the realization that The LORD’s body is made up of all races, creed, tribes, and tongues.

And The LORD is empowering his people to preach the everlasting gospel to those who dwell on the earth. We are to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, we go into all the world, person by person.

Before a nation or culture can change it must happen within the blood-bought Church of the Living God. The Church is to be that salt, to bring a preserving work in our lives

Peace can only be achieved through our relationship with The LORD Jesus! Jesus is our Prince of peace and the government is upon his shoulders.

“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government Shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of The LORD of hosts will perform this,” Isaiah 9:6-7 KJV.

I felt compelled to share portions of my life or testimony so that you can understand my message better.

I was born on August 29, 1960, at Tachikawa Air Force Base in Tokyo Japan. Both my parents are veterans and served their country honorably.

I am the oldest of three siblings and we moved a lot and I learned how to adapt very quickly. Actually, my parents and all my siblings all served their country including me.

We moved a lot and experienced many things. You may think moving as much as I did would have hindered me in many ways but I found that there are a lot of advantages being raised globally.

I got to meet and mix with various races, cultures and it was a life that had many advantages, and besides, I really enjoyed it. My years in my parent’s care, taught me discipline, integrity, honesty, loyalty, and love for my country.

Some people never leave their home town, but not me, I had to see what was going on in the world and I couldn’t possibly imagine myself stuck in one place forever.

My dad was raised as a Baptist and my mother was raised Lutheran. Through the years in the military mom always kept me in church no matter where we went and I got to cross over into many Christian denominations to see what they were about and their traditions, I even got to experience a few Jewish services.

As we moved and I witnessed varied cultures, I was able to see the diversity in the kingdom of God as a child.

Mom had a relationship with God that made an impact on my life and was pivotal to my salvation experience. My dad and mom retired not too far from where the Cane Ridge Revival took place in Kentucky in 1801.

I received The LORD when I was in the Baptist church. I was seven years old and baptized soon after. While we were in the military we moved so often that I was in thirteen schools in eleven years.

There were things I learned as a child that forever changed me. For instance, when we moved I met wonderful people, however as a child when I was the new kid on the block I wasn’t readily accepted by the clubs and cliques children have.

But the children who always accepted me were the black kids, and all my friends were black and that continued into my adult years. The black kids were kind to me and always accepted me.

To this day I have a deep love for the black community and even my ordination and licensing was through a wonderful half black half Jewish Woman of God whom I love dearly.

Throughout all the years of experiencing diverse cultures, I had gained the ability to cross-denominational and cultural lines.

Truly, as God has led me all these years, I can truly worship God in any Christian ministry that loves The LORD. That advantage has awarded me over and over again having relationships with black women as we traveled and ministered in the 1980s, into the 1990s, and beyond.

The LORD currently has me in one location for a number of years and has had me writing since 1998.

Racism is NOT something I did or had; it was never in my DNA.

I loved all of God’s people and especially the black community and I always felt like I was home. God has raised me up this way and often I find it frustrating as I identify so often with the black or African American Culture and what they went through and what they go through; I take it personally.

More to come………….

 

In HIS Grace and Mercy,
~ Sherry Edwards Mackey

Back to Top

 

Our Choices Affect Others

The LORD spoke: “A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle!”

There was a man I knew and he had a powerful call of God on him, over 22 years ago.

The man loved me as a sister in Christ and treated me well as we always talked about The LORD.

One day The LORD made things clearly known to me about this brother and I prophesied over him and told him exactly what God said and what would happen if he rebelled and walked away.

Suddenly things got weird and all the calls and times of prayer stopped. I was so sad as I knew he made a decision that would affect many people. “Our choices affect others. We are not alone.”

In the brother’s face and body were the signs of his rebellion. As I beheld him his body was distorted from grudges, hatred, malice, unforgiveness, bitterness “that defiles many” and the stronghold of pride.

Sadly, I knew he had rebelled and walked away from The LORD, and from that moment on he hated me with a passion.

He blamed me for everything wrong in his life. Those things that were prophesied happened and he wanted me to be gone out of his life, because I was a reminder of his rejection of God’s call in his life.

The brother was extremely controlling and manipulative and instead of facing himself, he had to blame me. That man wanted me gone and tried to do everything in his power to snub me and not even speak to me or acknowledge me as a person.

The man had heard from God himself about the call,and I had only confirmed it. Since a lot of that prophetic Word came to pass right away, the man went about having to prove to himself — that I was wrong and he was right.

He has carried that rebellion in him since that prophecy and doesn’t want anything to do with serving God.

He has carried that rebellion a long time and it has affected everyone around him. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft and stubbornness is as idolatry. (1 Samuel 15:23)

His rationale was because, if I was right, he would be responsible for what he clearly heard from God many years ago.

He was told exactly what would happen to the minute detail, and soon the calls stopped and I knew he rejected the call. From then on, he has lived the consequences of his decision and choices, but blames me for it all and won’t even speak to me after we had been so close.

I agonized over the division through the years and I watched him become so isolated and bitter. I have asked God so many times over the years to lead me to him to repent if I did something wrong.

I was willing to humble myself and I still am. I asked God to show me what to do and had every intent on going to him as a sister in Christ and to humble myself.

What happened next floored me!

As I made up my mind to go to him and seek his forgiveness, I was preparing to go, and The LORD suddenly stopped me and spoke to me clearly and arrested me on the spot to hear The Counsel of The LORD.

Suddenly my Spirit, mind, and body were clear and all doubt and unbelief were not even in the vicinity. I knew I had an epiphany from God — then suddenly The LORD spoke to me….

“A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle,” (Proverbs 18:19 KJV).

The LORD had shown me the stronghold of pride, arrogance and haughtiness within him — and The LORD spoke this to me;

“Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom,” (Proverbs 13:10 KJV).

I know that strife and contention breed every evil work along with bitterness that not only defiles him but also defiles many. That means it spreads like cancer and does such damage in the lives of those people he resides with and those he is associated to.

“Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled,” Hebrews 12:15 KJV.

Then The LORD said that the brother wouldn’t receive and accept me or my apology and that it would make things worse as he would twist it and would use it against me if I tried to fix it.

He further stated that I needed to pray, release him and give him over to God and let it go, and move on — because I had done all I could do.

I have learned there are those, no matter how hard we try, we cannot reach and seek peace from them.

Had I gone to the brother outside of The LORD’s Will, I would have gotten in the way of God’s judgment (chastisement) and I would have made it worse and he would have more ammo, information to spew out of his mouth.

God knows the rest of the story and knows what it will take for that brother — but as for me?

My time being blamed and bothered by his offense is over and my mind clear.

I forgive, lose that man and let him go! God tells us to cast our cares on The LORD, release the burden to him for he cares for us!

Do you have a relationship like this?

I challenge you to come aside and wait upon The LORD for just because there is a need that doesn’t mean you fill it.

Loose those ones you cannot help and let them go beloved. God knows exactly what and who you are and knows your future. He is a good, good, God, and trust Him to connect those together with like heart mind and Spirit!
 

In HIS Grace and Mercy,
~ Sherry Edwards Mackey

Back to Top

 

Introduction to the Life of the Biblical Prophet

These days when prophets are so prevalent in the nation we must also understand their role in our lives, church, nationally, and internationally.

These days when prophets are so prevalent in the nation we must also understand their role in our lives, church, nationally, and internationally.

Prophets communicate by God, these go through such breakings and hardness that they cannot compromise the messages they carry.

There are false prophets, whom you can see clearly over cultic churches. I am not speaking of these today.

There are others who are so very dangerous to the Church. These false prophets are not as clear, because they are very deceptive and religious.

The spirit of religion is a deadly spirit — as they claim to represent God themselves and deceive with false words, signs, and lying wonders.

There are immature prophets who prophesy in the flesh, who need more breaking of self and God is able to break them.

Then there are those who prophesy out of their own heart or soul. Both false prophets and immature prophets seek to please their flesh as they think being a prophet brings them fame, glory, and honor.

Hollywood type thinking is NOT the life of a true prophet! God is the only one who deserves all the fame, glory, and honor!

God himself calls and equips the true prophet to that office.

Then there are those who can cause extreme damage — as Balaam — who prophesied for hire.

There are those who speak in Churches, who only say ‘soft words’ and are controlled by the leader(s).

But when a true prophet comes on the scene to bring godly correction and change, when the people cannot control the prophet, these will seek to destroy the prophet’s reputation, character, nature, or even try to kill their body.

Prophets are extremely sensitive to God’s heart. These represent God’s mind and voice.

God must train these prophets to never fear man or man’s opinions. The Fear of The LORD burns within them along with Godly Wisdom.

Many may think prophets seem harsh and unforgiving. But on the contrary, to know a true prophet you learn that they are very human, yet they have a hard outer shell and they love to come aside and prefer spending time with The LORD in prayer, than to be in social gatherings.

True prophets are very human, but these become so strong outwardly in the face of man, and inwardly, they are strong concerning who they are in Christ and what God wants them to do.

However, it isn’t easy for any prophet. The cost isn’t something you would want if you could see into their lives. True prophets cannot fear or impress man.

True prophets seem hard and unmovable, because of the messages they face and carry.

In many cases, they had to learn to say NO to many things that others may have the liberty to say yes to!

Prophets don’t wake up strong, they go through pressure to tenderize them in humility and obedience, so they can be choice vessels God can use. These are deeply rooted, planted by The River of God.

When prophets stand against sin in the Church, or with kings and nations, these may look proud, but it isn’t pride or arrogance that you see; it is actually a high level of confidence and assurance in whom they serve and speak for.

Prophets cannot be moved by man’s opinion or persecution — even if they stand alone. They have God and all of heaven’s resources backing them up, even if they are put into prison for their message.

In this small article, my objective in teaching is not an exhaustive manual on prophets. I am only acknowledging that true prophets are on the scene.

God has raised them up for such a time as this and it is important that you thank God for them.

If you know, meet, or hear of a prophet pray for them and bless them for they stand in the gap for you, your Church, nation, and the nations of the world.

More to come beloved…….

“Surely The LORD GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets,” Amos 3:7 KJV.

“And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ,” Ephesians 4:11-12 KJV.

“But he that prophesies speaketh unto men to edification, and exhortation, and comfort,” 1 Corinthians 14:3 KJV.

“And he said, Hear now my words: If there be a prophet among you, I The LORD will make myself known unto him in a vision, and will speak unto him in a dream,” Numbers 12:6 KJV.

“Woe unto them! for they have gone in the way of Cain, and ran greedily after the error of Balaam for reward, and perished in the gainsaying of Core,” Jude 1:11 KJV.

 

In HIS Grace and Mercy,
~ Sherry Edwards Mackey

Back to Top

 

A Little Further!

In this life there are serious times of trial and decision we all will face. We too must go a little further, alone, to seek God’s Face.

There comes a time when you go as far as you can go with man, as Jesus did when he faced hard trial and in desperation, he was driven ‘a little further,’ leaving behind His loyal friends as He had to face God Himself in His critical life decision.

In this life there are serious times of trial and decision we all will face. We too must go ‘a little further’, alone, to seek God’s Face.

We ask others to pray and we gratefully listen to their counsel. The majority of the time we get the answers we need and receive and are greatly blessed by their ministry.

But there comes a time when we cannot get closure; no matter what we do or how many friends we ask for help. We are greatly unsettled and are vexed, driven to seek God’s Face.

There are serious and critical times that are coming upon us when we must make a decision that affects not only us but others.

Understand this: It isn’t that we don’t benefit from our friends’ prayers and their loving care for us, contrarywise, but we each have limitations as part of the body of Christ and we can only go so far in helping or aiding people.

For example, as a medic on the battlefield finds us wounded and administers first aid in what areas afflicted, these first responders are crucial in helping wounded individuals find good medical attention, pointing them in the right direction.

Medics are limited and work within their expertise. It is these first responders who help prepare transport to other medical facilities which can work on the total restoration of the wounded souls.

A man helps, prays, counsels, encourages as pieces of a puzzle. Each one helps in their particular way giving the measure of light they carry to help along the way. However, there comes a time when WE must find the divine ourselves who has authored our life.

We cannot understand a book well unless we know the author. God has authored our lives and we are to be living epistles seen and read of all men.

A man may read us like pages, but God sees and knows the heart. God created the script and, in our nakedness, we trust for He sees the total picture of us; within and out.

In our wandering desperation to find answers, there are those who carry sustenance within. These are like refreshing pools, pouring cool water over our dry weary soul-refreshing our brow giving us the strength to move on in our quest again.

In our quest for crucial answers, frustrations do come from well-meaning believers and also not so well-meaning folks.

I do believe God uses Christians and sinners alike, to test our hearts and resolve. We must learn the lessons, in keeping a selective small circle of trusted friends/ counselors for intimate, private, personal matters which keep family and personal matters safe.

I believe this is wisdom and part of being in covenant with other believers. We must understand that not everyone has our best interests at heart…..

If we don’t learn about selective prayer partners, we will learn the hard way, as well-meaning and not so well-meaning people leave us exasperated and being pulled in all directions. When we are hearing confusing reports, it’s the time to pull away from everyone and seek The LORD.

Jesus had to do it, and there will be a time when we too must go ‘a little further’ to find that isolated spot to bear our wounded soul alone and seek that major life decision. We must hear from God alone, as no other voice suffices.

When we cannot find closure and our heart and soul are vexed, we must leave behind the well-meaning, even close friends and go ‘a little further’ totally naked before God for God knows everything and He holds our fragmented heart and soul. These serious and critical times will affect us and others based on our decisions.

Some of you feel defeated, drained, discouraged and if known, wish for death! Your reserves are running so low but you keep on going because you cannot separate your facts from fiction. It’s time to go ‘a little further’ and wait and seek God’s Face.

As we mature in The LORD, we learn compassion and we treat others with kindness and compassion. I have learned that sometimes it’s best to just pray and not say. Just nod, or let them know you are praying for them.

God works within us and uses our experiences to aid ministry to others, when our expertise runs out it is best to pray and not say.

In closing, remember, anything that doesn’t lift you up, give you peace, joy, heal you and set you free, reject it, it is from the father of lies.

“And they came to a place which was named Gethsemane: and he saith to his disciples, sit ye here, while I shall pray. And he taketh with him Peter, James, and John, and began to be sore amazed, and to be very heavy; and saith unto them my soul is exceeding sorrowful unto death: tarry ye here, and watch. And he went forward a little, and fell on the ground, and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. And he said Abba, Father, all things are possible unto thee; take away this cup from me: nevertheless not what I will, but what thou wilt. And he cometh, and findeth them sleeping, and saith unto Peter, Simon, sleepest thou? Couldest not thou watch one hour: Watch ye and pray, lest ye enter into temptation. The Spirit truly is ready, but the flesh is weak,” Mark 14:32-38 KJV.

 

In HIS Grace and Mercy,
~ Sherry Edwards Mackey

Back to Top