Holy Tabernacle Church, located at 70 Washington Street in Dorchester, MA, under the leadership of Bishop Arthur Jack, held its 43rd convocation from Monday August 4th to Sunday August 10, 2015. Guest preachers who came from various states, ministered each night, including Bishop Christopher Douglas of Gate Church International Ministry, located in Trinidad and Tobago as well as our own local Pastor, Pastor Kathleen Verna of CrossTown Church International.
Pastor Kathleen Verna was the Keynote speaker at the women’s seminar on Wednesday August 6, 2015, during which she spoke on how to break from captivity. I was present on Thursday night when she preached on releasing oneself. Her message which was based on Matthew 16:18-20 and Revelation 3: 7-13, and entitled Your Release Depends On What You Release, was powerful and relevant. I have summarized key points of her message below.
Pastor Verna helped us to understand that we are kingdom agents to whom God has “entrusted” the mysteries of the kingdom. As Kingdom agents, we need to “access the keys to the realm of the supernatural; for example, in education and social-justice systems we need to understand our positions as “ambassadors and governors” here on earth. Keys are instruments of release, so agents with access can open and shut doors.
To move in this realm of the supernatural, we must “change our mindsets” and make the decision to go higher in God. No longer can we be caught up in “small-mindedness” such as competing for titles in the church or having “unresolved hurts” which lead to un-forgiveness; but we must release these things so we can be committed to an Omnipotent, Omniscient, and Omnipresent God. Matthew 18:18 tells us that whatsoever is bound on earth is bound in heaven and whatsoever is loose on earth is loosed in heaven. We need to believe this and other scriptures, “speak authoritatively to the issues” that keep us bound, and “expect to see these strongholds broken.”
We are like the church in Philadelphia in Revelation 3 that had little strength. God did not forget them and has not forgotten us. God uses “the least” of us, those who are lost in the wave of greatness, those who have not used their gifts because they feel “insignificant” or feel that their gifts do not count compared to others and those who have been “overlooked” but have not lost the faith, but kept on praying, believing, standing on God’s grace, refusing to give up even in their weariness and in the face of trials. God delights in the small things; He is looking at those with weaknesses, those who have been enlisted in His army as “committed soldiers, who are considered dogs, those who have not been seen, but whom he has chosen to move to the forefront.”
In order to be chosen to move to the forefront, one must follow God’s pattern or “order” while being God’s trusted steward. “Stewardship is ownership that is entrusted to an individual” not for one’s ambition or for “advancing one’s agenda. It is authority or right to access.” Every steward must understand God’s ownership and sovereignty and must not be plagued by ego-looking at all his/her accomplishments, but should understand that without God, he/she would not have accomplished anything. Every steward must know his/her particular standing or position and must be willing to be “mentored, raised or apprenticed” at specific times or seasons until the appropriate time when God chooses to promote him/her.
“Trust God. He will raise those he wants to raise and put down those he wishes to put down.” Rev. Verna explained that, “Stewardship comes with the Lord’s responsibility; releasing is up to us.” We can release the power of God in someone else’s life by cutting through the darkness that exalts itself against the knowledge of God. God is calling you to action. Are you a key holder? See yourself as an Ambassador or Governor.
This message was given by Rev. Kathleen Verna and summarized by Joan M. Blake (Author)
Pastors Ronald and Kathleen Verna are Senior Pastors at CrossTown Church International and are PureSpring Global Commission, Co-Founders
Church office: 33 Lenox Street, Bos MA 02118; Ph. 617-427-5700
PSGC office: 500 Victory Road, Quincy, MA 02171; Ph.617-691-2515
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Your Release Depends on What You Release
Your Release Depends on What You Release