Deep thoughts and my morning cup of coffee with Jesus:

 

I disagree with the ministries that charge for something Jesus already paid for, leading the masses to believe they’re sowing into their healing or breakthrough by giving more and more.

 

I see people desperate, broken, hungry, and willing to do just about anything to experience a touch from Jesus, giving everything they have in hopes of receiving their miracle.

 

Many have powerful experiences and are convinced they are forever changed, only to go home to their same situation and wind up feeling the heaviness of life smack them in the face again. Then they believe they need another encounter to lift them, so they search for the next meeting place to feel that boost once again.

 

Others end up discouraged because what they felt and believed based on the prophetic words given is nowhere to be found in their lives.

 

From there, a belief sets in that they didn’t have enough faith, or feel unseen by God because the person on the platform didn’t call out their need, believing a lie that maybe God didn’t want them healed that day.

 

The desire to feel seen, touched, healed, and desperate for breakthrough drives a longing to find the anointed person who can help so the search continues for that known name with the false idea that the big-name ministries and conferences with all the flash will help them find freedom.

 

This cycle is going on, and honestly, many ministries are feeding off the innocent hunger, boosting their salaries, using their popular name for selfish gain, claiming what’s coming in is sowing into the Kingdom of God and spreading the gospel message.

 

But it’s really not.

 

It’s a facade that appears to be right but behind the smoke screen is greed and manipulation.

 

Let me back up and clarify what I’m not saying: I’m not talking about giving to ministries that are sowing into your life; “the worker is worth his keep” (Matt. 10:10). And I’m not saying going to conferences and events are bad, or listening to what a leader has to say is wrong. God has positioned leaders to lead, for the equipping of the Saints.

 

Also, I’m not saying we are not called to release God’s healing touch to those around us.

 

We are.

 

We are conduits of His power.

 

WE!

 

The anointing from the Holy Spirit is not just for the select few, or the one with the popular name.

 

Please don’t hear what I’m not saying

— hear what I am saying: there is a platform idol that the church has been blinded by and it’s setting many up to give beyond their means, believing it’s what they need to do to receive their miracle, and the person on the platform is the one that connects them to God’s power, living with a need to get a “word” and healing from them.

 

But are we living fully healed and forever changed?

 

Or are we stuck in a cycle of constant need?

 

Truthfully, what I’ve seen is that many of God’s children are in a constant state of needing more from ministries, not learning what it means to get all they need directly from Him.

 

The truth: Jesus is the One who connects you to God’s power! Your healing, your deliverance, and your freedom have been paid for—and you will live it out in its fullness by the powerful anointing of His Spirit within you, as you remain connected to Him!

 

What would it look like if we understood what Jesus paid for, went directly to Him to receive everything God has for us straight from the throne room, and activated His power in our own lives?

 

What if we went directly to God, allowing His Words of hope, promise, and Truth to sync deeply into our hearts and live from that place of faith, believing Him at His Word?

 

We would not be locked into a constant need for ourselves because we’re already receiving what Jesus paid for directly from Him, and then freely giving what we’ve received to those around us.

 

God desires for each of us to put Jesus on the platform of our hearts so that nothing and no one is in between us and Him.

 

Your freedom—

 

Your victory—

 

And your breakthrough has been established through the blood of Jesus!

 

God wants to expose this facade that’s been created.

 

He wants us to turn from the unending cycle of need and turn to directly Him so we can all live out the fullness of new life, freedom, deliverance, healing, and restoration that Jesus paid for.

 

Pray with me:

 

Father, I’ve been chasing after ministries and known names over chasing after you. I honestly thought what I was doing was pursuing you with my whole heart, and the Christian way, but I’m seeing now this cycle has set me up to live in a constant state of discouragement and hunger for more. I’ve been so blind, but today I see. I see that all I need is found when I go directly to you. Holy Spirit, show me what this looks like daily. Reveal where I’ve put people, ministries, books, teachings, and words from others over going straight to you. I want to experience the fullness of restoration, new life, and freedom Jesus paid for by learning to walk connected to the Vine at all times. In Jesus’ name, I pray, amen.