by Garris Elkins | Jan 5, 2020 | Change, Courage, Deliverance, Discernment, Favor, Future, Mercy, Redemption, Supernatural, Wisdom
Before you change the course of your life, be careful to rightly discern the direction the relational and spiritual winds are blowing. Some of the first indicators of a positive way forward might not be telling you the whole truth. Paul was being transported as a...
by Garris Elkins | Jan 4, 2020 | Deliverance, Discernment, Fear, Justice, Kingdom, Kingdom of God, Leadership, Reformation, Spiritual Warfare, Teaching, Truth, Vision., Wisdom
The most dangerous enemy is never the most obvious. He plays the long game. Over time, this kind of enemy will use our naivety, personal compromise, and spiritual blindness to construct his dark plan. The products of this deception are things we would never have...
by Garris Elkins | Jan 3, 2020 | Discernment, Discipleship, Discipline, Wisdom
Our faith can be radicalized negatively in isolation. We need the iron of another person’s honoring critique to sharpen our thinking to make sure we do not become a religious lone wolf armed with misinformation and a distorted understanding of God’s heart. Yesterday,...
by Garris Elkins | Jan 2, 2020 | Change, Church, Creativity, Discernment, Dreams, Favor, Fear, Freedom, Future
Last night in a dream, I was asked to speak at a conference. The church where the conference was being held had been a cutting-edge ministry. The sanctuary reflected what at the time was a very innovative form of architecture but now looked outdated and tired. The...
by Garris Elkins | Dec 21, 2019 | Change, Church planting, Culture, Discernment, Faithfulness, Favor, Five-Fold Ministry, God, Grace, Honor, Humility, Leadership
Look across the landscape of your life and ask, “Who is the least likely person I know who might become a devoted follower of Jesus Christ?” This is a question the first believers in Jerusalem would have no problem answering. They would have said, “Saul!” Saul, who...
by Garris Elkins | Dec 20, 2019 | Church, Courage, Culture, Discernment
Patriotism, in its purest form, can be honorable if it lives in submission under the hand of God. When patriotism becomes a tool to craft a product and create an industry within the Church, it will end up polluting our soul and diminish the effectiveness of our...