A Christmas Altar Call

 Can you imagine with me what it must have been like on an ordinary night in a field where shepherds were keeping watch? I imagine that they were settling in for a simple night of very little excitement except the sound of bleating sheep and the rustling of the wind. Then suddenly their sensory vision was overwhelmed with an explosion in the sky above! I have learned that our God always knows how to make a grand entrance. He will never be outdone by Hollywood, fictional writers or even the extravagance of earthly kings. No way! God was about to give the first altar call! He was putting forth an invitation to welcome the King of the world onto the stage. A King that would be born in the humble surroundings of animals, sewage, the harsh elements of nature and a world in need of redemption! Is this not the way God always does it? He always brings greatness from the foundation of humility. I believe that it is in the hibernation of holiness that produces real fruit, not on the stage of presentation, but in the cave where God does a lasting work! This little King would let out a cry from His tiny lungs that would cause creation to sit up and say, “HE HAS ARRIVED!” As the shepherds stood watch suddenly the angel of the Lord would declare, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; He is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on Earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.” (Luke 2:10-14)

Finally, mankind would be rescued from the grip and lies of Satan! This awakening in the night would lead them to a Lamb that would be led to the slaughter. This awakening in their hearts would lead to salvation that would later be purchased on a cross. Humanity would now know that God so loved the world that He gave His SON! Old Testament prophecy would finally be fulfilled! The Prophet Micah had told us it would happen in a tiny town called Bethlehem (Micah 5:2)! The Prophet Isaiah had told us that a virgin would give birth and we would call him Emmanuel (Isaiah 7:14)! God had used 23,145 verses that comprise the 39 books in the Old Testament that would lead to the crescendo of angels giving the first altar call! It was the ultimate “O’ Come, all ye Faithful” moment that would lead to me being able to experience my “On bended knee I come!” transformation. Friends, dare we believe that Christmas is only about Santa, the elves, wrapped presents and hot cocoa! No! Christmas is about the beginning of all that we hold dear! It was the beginning of the tearing of the veil that kept us from relationship with God! Favor could now rest on the meek and lowly! Our restoration now lay in a shanty, a lean-too, a feeding trough so that we could now be temples of the Holy Ghost! Hallelujah to the Lamb! As you can see this first altar call was not an interruption of a “well-produced” one hour and ten-minute service that would not scare off the seeker, but rather a place where the seeker could find hope, restoration and freedom. This first altar call would alter all of humanity! There were not naysayers, scoffers, mockers or religious zealots invited so that they could use their “hipster” theology to explain away the divinity! No just humble and dirty men whom were awakened by messengers of light!

This encounter should awaken us all to the fact that no matter how many times we have fallen away, been wounded or left without hope God gave us a way to salvation! As the angels allowed their worship to spill over into Earth’s atmosphere that glorious night….

This opening of the sky would lead to the renting of a veil (Matthew 27:51).

This child wrapped in swaddling clothes (candle wick) would someday lead to a savior naked before mankind (Matthew 27:28-30) whom would set the world ablaze. The cry of a baby lamb would someday lead to roar of a mighty lion (Luke 23:24). This innocent little gift from heaven would become my doorway to God (Hebrews 10:20)! The Saints of Heaven were now robbed of glory so that you and I could now experience Him in our neighborhoods!

We must use this season to boldly approach the throne! Do not allow man or minions to keep you from the place the shepherds once beheld. The altar is open! Hebrews 4:16 says, “Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” The church must rebuild the altar! Have we now come to a place where doughnuts and coffee are more important than what the lowly shepherds were commanded to do? This is why I believe that leaders whom render the altar encounter a loss cause are in direct correlation with today’s churches that desire to have community over communion. We must desire to see God once again! Together we can restore the altar so that all of humanity can hear, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” (Matthew 11:28-30)

My friends, we believe that this Christmas is the year where your family, friends and community can be saved! We stand with you! Now more than ever we must turn our trees into altars and our homes into sanctuaries. Dads, Moms, Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles we implore you - do not let this season go to waste. Give your family the gift of eternal salvation (1 John 5:13)!

The Enemy Is At The Door! Grab The Oil!

“The Enemy is at The Door! Grab the Anointing Oil!”

As I began to write this message suddenly across the screen of my muted television came the words, “Alert! Isis is here!”, and then subsequently the report of another terrorist attack in New York and New Jersey. The sad thing is that in the “land of the free” and the “home of the brave” this has become commonplace. Whether it’s a bomb on a subway or an Islamic Terrorist wielding a butcher knife the reports all run together. In my spirit I know this is just the beginning of what is to come. Yet, I also know that what separates us from most other nations is that we still have passionate believers who stand upon the Rock of Salvation. I do believe though that the days ahead will require a new level of praise…. a new level of devotion… and the awakening of the Remnant! God is looking for those that will stand firm for Him! Looking for those that desire to see Jesus more than people, more than platforms, and more than plaudits…then we become plaintiffs in the court of His presence! God will get your back!

I am reminded of a widow woman in II Kings 4:1-7. The Bible says that her husband, a friend of the prophets, had died. Many do not realize that her husband was (most likely) Obadiah, the prophet who had hidden the prophets in the cave from Jezebel whom had wanted to kill them. He had kept them alive according to 1 Kings 18:3-4. Now the creditors (Nueshaw meaning extortioner) were knocking on his widow’s door. They wanted payment for past debts. He had died broke. Since she couldn’t pay, they were now going to take away her sons. These sons were her future. The widow woman runs to the Prophet Elisha for help to keep her sons from being taken. In II Kings 4:2, “Elisha said to her, “What shall I do for you? Tell me, what do you have in the house?” And she said, “Your maidservant has nothing in the house except a jar of oil (Shemen meaning To be made full;).” Many believe this was her husband’s horn of oil used to anoint the prophets he had protected. He then tells her go and borrow empty vessels from all of her neighbors, go in and SHUT the door, and pour the oil into the vessels. Finally the Bible says that they ran out of jars and the oil stopped in verse 6! She then went and sold the oil and paid her debts.

It would be so easy to dismiss this story as just a miracle story of a widow surviving, but that’s not the entire story. This story is so powerful, because this woman’s husband was a man that protected the anointing! He had used all of their money to feed the prophets. Now that he was gone…. All she had left in their home was his Anointing Oil! So when the enemy knocked! When the enemy tried to steal the next generation! It was the anointing that paid the debts! It was the anointing that turned back the creditors!  We must leave the anointing in our home to protect the next generation.  The widow woman didn’t realize that everything she needed was in her home. I am reminded of a great T.L. Osborn quote, “Physical eyesight will blind spiritual vision.“  In other words regardless of what you are facing God is up to something!

The Creditor (extortioner) wants the next generation! He is at the door of our nation. Shall we hide in the closet of fear?! NO!! Together we can lead a Holy Spirit revolution. We must not sit idly by as the enemy pushes on full steam ahead. Our nation needs an awakening! There have been great moves of God over the last 400 years on the soil of this great nation. We must raise a standard (Isaiah 59:19) once again! Dare we say to our kids our nation was destroyed because we whom had a voice decided the price to speak was more costly than their freedom! It is time to realize that the anointing still breaks the yoke of bondage (Isaiah 10:27). The anointing is in the house! We must go get the empty vessels and fill them with the anointing of God! It is time to tell the enemy he can’t have our homes…. Our Kids…. Our marriages…. Our schools…. Our churches…. Or our Nation!
I challenge you to keep the anointing of God in your home. Someday it will be what rebukes the devourer!  It is time to shut the door and fill the pots with oil! Lay hands upon your family and declare, Psalm 23:5, “You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”

Thank you for helping us spread the Gospel! We must rebuild the altars and awaken the Remnant! Together we will bring in the harvest, and shut the door on the enemy!

We love you!! 
Fight the good fight!

Pat and Karen Schatzline
Remnant Ministries Intl. 

www.raisetheremnant.com

When it seems your dream is on hold!

“The 10 Absolutes of a Dream in the Making”

Yesterday was a day of flying for me from Nebraska to California.  As I was sitting at the airport, waiting, I couldn’t help but think about how hard sometimes it is to wait.  I don’t know anyone who likes to wait!  It is frustrating sometimes to know where you want to go and have a destination in mind but feel like getting there is taking much longer than you expected.  It was on a weekend in May 2012, as I was preparing to minister at a church in Houston, Texas, that I first heard the Lord say He would awaken a Remnant in America. It seems just like yesterday! Yet, I also know that we have yet to see the fulfillment of the vision given to us four years ago.  Have you ever felt like your dream was on hold or delayed? I know that Karen and I have. I truly believe that we are all on the cusp of seeing many dreams fulfilled. Yet, I know first hand that many times the unfulfilled vision can be so discouraging. This scripture has kept me steady through the waiting seasons of life!

”But these things I plan won’t happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!" Habakkuk 2:3 (LB). 

I want to encourage you today. Many times it is in the delay of the vision that you were actually getting prepared to handle the weight of the promise! There are so many that are receiving this message that might feel as if God has forgotten you, or that the dream you possess will never happen. The Lord sent me to tell you that He hasn’t forgotten your promise, but rather the runway had to be lengthened to handle the magnitude of the promise when it lands!  In fact all through God’s Word  His messengers often had to wait to see their promises fulfilled. 

• Noah waited 120 years from the time he started building the ark until it began to rain.

• Abraham was told he would be the father of a great nation and didn’t have a child until he was one hundred years old.

• God told Moses he would be the leader to lead his people out of four hundred years of slavery, but then made him wait in the desert forty years.  

• Joseph spent years in prison before God raised him up and he became the ruler God wanted him to be.  

• God had David anointed as king, but then David waited for years until he actually got to be king.       

Please allow me to share some personal revelation that I have learned over the years concerning awaiting the arrival of your promises.  I call this: 
”The 10 absolutes of a dream in the making!”

1. Never allow your dream to become more important than the place you presently reside! There are so many that chase the dream and miss the important moments! (Ecc. 5:3)
2. Serve where you are at and others won’t whisper when you arrive! It is the heart of servanthood that actually qualifies you for promotion. (Matthew 23:12)
3. God’s timing demands trust (Prov. 3:5-6)! The calling of God…. Without the timing of God…. Will result in the absence of God! Don’t get ahead of God it is much safer if He is leading. God is not slow in keep his promises (2 Peter 3:9), but remember Kairos does not always line up with Chronos! 
4. It is in the waiting that you learn to be content with what you always took for granted. That is a sign that God is about to bless you! (Is. 40:29) Remember: Delay is not denial! 
5. If the dream was easily obtained by you then you would have never learned the power of activating your faith. (Hebrews 11:1)
6. You must protect the dream, by producing fruit of righteousness that you will eat upon when you arrive at your destination! (Phil. 1:11)
7. If ever you must harm others to get to your dream you have now become someone’s nightmare. Keep the attitude of gratitude! (Phil 4:6)
8. Don’t try to kick open doors that God has locked from the other side! Rejection is many times protection. (Revelation 3:8) If the dream was birthed by God then you must rely upon Him and not others to make it happen!
9. When the man dies…. And the dream dies…. Then God is able to resurrect the man and the dream for His purpose. (John 12:24)
10. If your dream doesn’t require you to change your wine skin along the way then you will leak all over your promises. (Matthew 9:17)

Remember, we all have to go through these waiting periods. Even Jesus waited for thirty years in the carpenter’s shop before setting out on His public ministry. I challenge you to stay grounded where you are at and let God work it out! Faithfulness is a sign that you still trust the one who knows your ending from your beginning (Isaiah 46:10)! The greatest tragedy that can befall God’s messengers is when we settle for the consolation prize of good effort, but fail to stay in the race long enough to wear the victors crown!

James 1:12, “Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” 

Are You In It For The Long Haul?

“Are You In It For The Long Haul?”

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding it’s shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” Hebrews 12:1-2 (NLT)

That verse in Hebrews is very special to us. It has always reminded us to keep going! I am reminded of a time of prayer when I heard the Lord speak to me, “Pat, never desire to hear the cheer from the crowd, but listen for the cry from the cloud!” Those that have finished their race are cheering us on! I truly believe that the greatest hindrance to the called is not whether or not they have open doors to their calling, but whether or not they are willing to finish the race that they have been called to. Recently, Karen and I were asked a very loaded question by a very dear friend. The question was: “What would you say is the one thing that is critical to surviving and thriving in ministry for the long haul?” This question caused Karen and I to move into a time of reflection, and as we responded via text to the question, we came up with “7 Keys to Longevity”:

Key 1: Shut some things and open others! What we mean by this is, learn to shut off your mind and trust Jesus; learn to shut away in the secret place; and be sure to shut the door on the enemy’s schemes such as fear, futility and failure spirits. But, always open the door of faith daily, open the Bible for revelation and open up to receive wisdom and direction from those who have earned the right to speak into your life.  

Key 2: Learn to be patient in your in-between season! It is in the waiting that true motives are revealed. Nothing can be trusted till it’s tested! A repetitive lifestyle of obedience leads to consistent seasons of growth!  You must prioritize personal prayer time and secret place encounters. Without a devotional life you will have an emotional life. 

Key 3: We must remember that God doesn’t not answer our tantrums or rants, but He honors obedience. Remain sober in all you do!

Key 4: If you’re not a giver then you will never see lands that were waiting on a map called Faith to get you to your destination!

Key 5:  It’s a marathon and not a sprint!  You will burn out if you expect to accomplish all your goals overnight.  It's a process that has to develop and grow.  Anything birthed too quickly ends up being unhealthy. It’s about consistency and pacing yourself in order to be effective. There are many shooting stars that fizzle out when instead we need bright and shining stars in the night. (Phil. 2:15).

Key 6:  We must always have a healthy balance between our family and ministry. The first church was in a garden! When your family is out of whack and not healthy then ministry will begin to suffer as well because your heart becomes hardened and divided. Guard against the tyranny of urgent. Prioritize your family’s needs over others. We must always ask the question, “Does my family want to be pastored by me?” That question has always helped guide our decisions and actions. Your family deserves to see people that are real all of the time.

Key 7: Choose to live a life of no offense!  When offense comes make sure you have already forgiven in advance and then it can’t own you!

We pray that these “7 Keys to Longevity” bless you! Remnant we are not only called to start great things for God, but too always remember that medals are only awarded for the finishers! Don’t let the enemy trip you or detour God’s plan for your life! THERE IS A SEAT BESIDE THE KING AWAITING YOU!