Revelation Preparation

By Lori Bakker | | Filed in Last Days, Prophecy

Jim and I have ramped up our efforts to get our family prepared because we watch the news every day and we can see that the events of Revelation are happening right now, all around us! We are determined not to have to regret not having enough to feed and take care of our family when Times of Trouble come home to our little town in Missouri.

Today, you may only be hearing about the world’s violence and economic woes, or seeing the faces of famine in another country on the news, or watching as natural disasters effect other parts of the nation and the world. But rest assured, we will not always be exempt from all these things. The world you see around you today may be very different tomorrow.

Sometimes I’m amazed at the unconcerned mindsets and attitudes the majority of the people who live in this country have. It seems that no matter what is going on all around us, how much economic turmoil we hear about and see in the news, or how much chaos the world is experiencing – it seems as though people carry on with a lackadaisical attitude of que sera sera – whatever will be will be.

How can they do that? I honestly don’t get it. I’m a mother and a wife. My family is my major concern for me. I am concerned enough about the ones I love to do what I can to spare them any unnecessary pain or grief or lack in Times of Trouble.

The prophetic dreams, visions and revelation that the Lord gives his people are for a reason! We are not to ignore them! Do what you can today for your family and then rest in the fact that we are in the hands of a loving God.

As we see the events of Revelation escalating at a phenomenal rate, let’s make sure we are prepared – spiritually and physically. We still have time but we need to act NOW. The economic situation in this country and all over the world is going to make it very difficult, very soon to gather things we need for Times of Trouble. The drought and extreme weather we are having is going to make food prices unaffordable rapidly!

Get your plan going! Do something today to prepare for tomorrow!

I don’t want anyone I love to have to suffer unnecessarily, and I want to have something left over to give to others. This truly could be the Church’s finest hours if we WAKE UP, LISTEN AND PREPARE!

Love,

Lori Signature

Stock Market tumbling, what’s next?

By Jim Bakker | | Filed in "Now" Words, Last Days, Prophecy, Teaching

Wall Street had its worst day today since the 2008 financial crisis that put the United States into a financial calamity that we are still in today! We are in the days that the book of Revelation told us would come before the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.  There is no way the Antichrist can take control without a time of crisis so bad that millions of people will sign up with him just to get food to eat. READ MORE →

The Impact of Tim Tebow’s Life

By Lori Bakker | | Filed in Abortion | Tags: ,

Most of you know who Tim Tebow is – the quarterback for the Denver Broncos who formerly played for the Florida Gators and was the first college sophomore ever to win the Heisman Trophy.  Tim is a great football player, but he is an even greater Christian.  When playing for the Florida Gators, he would etch scripture into the eye paint commonly worn by football players.

In the 2009 BCS Championship Game, he wore John 3:16 on his eye paint, and as a result, 92 million people searched “John 3:16” on Google during or shortly after the game.  Now I don’t know about you, but I can’t think of a single way to reach that many people with the Gospel at one time.  Tim is an evangelist, and a football player after that!

But the main story of Tim Tebow’s life does not begin or end with football.  Today, Tim is involved with ministry, family and football, in that order.

You see, Tim is really a walking miracle.  Tim’s mother, Pam, was encouraged to abort Tim before he was born.

Here is Pam’s story as told in a circulated email:

Pam knows about the pain of considering abortion. More than 21 years ago, she and her husband, Bob, were serving as missionaries to the Philippines and praying for a fifth child. Pam contracted amoebic dysentery, an infection of the intestine caused by a parasite found in a contaminated food or drink. She entered into a coma and was treated with strong antibiotics before they discovered she was pregnant. Doctors urged her to abort the baby for her own safety and told her that the medicines had caused irreversible damage to her baby.

 

She refused the abortion and cited her Christian faith as the reason for her hope that her son would be born without the devastating disabilities physicians predicted. The doctors “didn’t think of it as a life, they thought of it as a mass of fetal tissue,” Pam said. While pregnant, Pam nearly lost their baby four times but refused to consider abortion. She recalled making a pledge to God with her husband, “If you will give us a son, we’ll name him ‘Timothy,’ and we’ll make him a preacher.” Pam ultimately spent the last two months of her pregnancy in bed and, eventually, gave birth to a healthy baby boy August 14, 1987.

Pam’s youngest son is indeed a preacher. He preaches in prisons, makes hospital visits, and serves with his father’s ministry in the Philippines. He also plays football. Pam’s son is Tim Tebow. The University of Florida ‘s star quarterback, became the first sophomore in history to win college football’s highest award, the
Heisman Trophy.

When you really stop to think about what Tim Tebow’s life has accomplished in a very short time, it’s unthinkable that he would have been aborted if his parents had not relied on their faith.  In one day, 92 million people heard the Gospel of Christ through Tim’s evangelism.  God only knows how many lives will be touched through his continued ministry.

Tim Tebow’s life stands in stark contrast to the evils of abortion.  How many Tim’s have we aborted in this country?  How many young lives have been sacrificed from fear or lack of faith?  To try and comprehend the impact of the loss of 55 million Tims is beyond my ability to bear.

But I know one thing.  Abortion is not the answer – faith in God is the answer.

In the days we are living in, it is becoming increasingly important to have the right response to the challenges that are sure to present themselves.  Fear and the other emotions can cause us to sin against God instead of responding as He would direct us.  It’s more important than ever before to know the Word of God and be able to discern His will.

While we do all we can to help save babies at Lori’s House, keep us in your prayers and remember that through one life like Tim Tebow, God can accomplish mighty things.  Each baby we save has the potential to reach millions for Christ!

The Dream of a Young Evangelist

By Jim Bakker | | Filed in Teaching | Tags: , ,

We recently celebrated my 50 year Anniversary in Ministry and what a celebration it was!  There were many people from years gone by that surprised and delighted me on the show!  It seems nearly impossible that it’s been that long, yet I can remember some things as if they were yesterday.  As a young Evangelist, I would hold revivals from Tuesday through Sunday night and then travel on Monday to the next location.

Quite often, after preaching and being in the anointing at church, I would turn on late-night TV to unwind.  There was very little to watch at that hour except Johnny Carson.  I remember listening to everything they would talk about; most of it gossip, politics or entertainment news of some variety.  It didn’t take long for me to be completely annoyed by all of the frivolous things that passed for late-night talk show content.  I remember thinking “why doesn’t someone talk about Jesus?”

It was this small, yet profound inspiration that led me to break new ground in a revolutionary Christian talk show – so that Christians could have an alternative to the world’s ‘babble’ and more people could participate in talking about Jesus!  I began on “The 700 Club” and eventually moved into pioneering “The PTL Television Network.”  PTL inspired the birth of countless other Christian talk shows.

Before long, there was an abundance of Christian programming and those who knew Jesus could now rejoice because they had an alternative  to the world’s ‘babble’.  Now that’s what I had been inspired to do  as a young Evangelist!  To see and hear so many people talking about Jesus on television was the height of my life’s dream – not only for the Christians, but for those who were to become Christians by hearing the Gospel!

Today, the dream lives on.  The times we are living in have brought many people to Christian television seeking answers for this prophetic age just before Jesus returns again.  Even the unbelievers are looking for hope.  While a large part of the world still fiddles away their time in the mindless, meaningless pursuit of trivial things, there is a beacon of light being broadcast through the darkness.  The Gospel is still being preached, the lost are still finding their way to Jesus, and the dreams of a once-young Evangelist are still coming true.

On Being a Bondservant of Christ (Pt. 10)

By Lori Bakker | | Filed in General, Teaching

Part Ten

Jesus Made Himself of No Reputation

Compared to God, mere men have no reputation at all.  They are just men, and no matter how great the achievement or how lofty the accomplishment, they are still just men.  Yet they strive to be considered ‘great’ and they often are driven to accomplish mighty feats of building or business or intellectual supremacy or, quite often, acts of charity.  Why?  Often, it’s to be known and admired by others.

Jesus addresses this pride in men with the following scriptures:

Matthew 6:1 “Take care not to do your good works before men, to be seen by them; or you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 6:5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

Matthew 6:16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show men they are fasting. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full.

Matthew 23:5 “Everything they do is done for men to see…

Acts 3:12 When Peter saw this, he said to them: “Men of Israel, why does this surprise you? Why do you stare at us as if by our own power or godliness we had made this man walk?

Consider how Jesus’ actions and behaviors contrast with the religious crowd:

  • Jesus did many miracles yet he said “don’t tell anyone”
  • He washed the feet of his disciples
  • He ate and drank with tax collectors 
  • He received the woman with a checkered past and an alabaster
  • Welcomed little children
  • He was fully God – yet He humbled Himself to be shamed, beaten, and spit upon (Isaiah 53)
    • Shameful and degrading thing to be crucified
    • Worse than a common criminal

Jesus spoke of the hypocrites that prayed so that they would be seen. “For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward” (Matt 6:5).

You can substitute anything else besides pray, whether it’s their good works, giving, spiritual gifts or preaching.  “They love the best places at feasts, the best seats in the synagogues” (Matthew 23:6). They lived to be noticed and seen as more important than others. Speaking of the Pharisees in John 12:43 “for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”

We always need to be careful of the traps of being sought after and put on a pedestal. Once pride sets in it becomes harder to return to walking in humility and letting God use you as He once may have.

A real servant is busy doing God’s work whether he is noticed or unnoticed. He doesn’t care if anyone watches him. His reward will be later.

This same mind (attitude) that Jesus had we are to have for one another- “Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion” (Rom 12:16). Jesus ate with the sinners, the less fortunate, and the needy. He enjoyed their company compared to the rich and important people. He purposely did not eat with the kings or leaders unless they had an open heart to listen.

Jesus made servanthood an absolute requirement for leadership. To be a servant one must let go of their own significance and be willing to serve others at their own expense. In Matthew 20:26-28: “whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave–just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” This was the example He gave us in the apostles and others in the Church.  It was the example we need to live by.

Being a bondservant of Christ is a station in life that is proven through our service to His Church.  When we love as Christ loved, we will see the unredeemed through His compassionate eyes and we will love them as He did.  Jesus said “if you love me, feed my sheep.”

Serving Christ is much more than the “form” – it’s love in action and a heart attitude of humility that makes us want to be like Him – a bondservant of Christ.

On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 1
On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 2
On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 3
On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 4
On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 5
On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 6
On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 7
On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 8
On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 9

Famine in the Revelation Days

By Jim Bakker | | Filed in Prophecy, Teaching | Tags: , ,

Famine is spoken of in the Bible as an increasing and accelerating sign that Jesus is coming soon.  We can certainly see it in our news headlines, particularly recent headlines, with the food crisis in North African countries that produced a very poignant plea from the President of Somalia for immediate help.  But, there is another famine that is even more deadly coming soon.  It’s the famine of the Word of God, which feeds the soul. 

The third horseman is riding. “When He opened the third seal, I heard the third living creature say, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a black horse, and he who sat on it had a pair of scales in his hand.  And I heard a voice in the midst of the four living creatures saying, “A quart of wheat for a denarius . . . and do not harm the oil and the wine.” (6:5–6 NKJV) The rider of the black horse carries with him famine and economic collapse, signified by the weighing scales and the exorbitant prices for food.”

Imagine, if you can, how famine might affect our own nation. Your worst nightmare could soon be a reality.  Intensifying the effects of famine brought on by the galloping of the black horse will also be economic chaos and inflationary prices, which is what is indicated by the phrase “a quart of wheat for a denarius” (Rev. 6:6 NASB). In biblical times, a denarius was equal to a day’s wages. The implication is that we could spend a day’s wages for a loaf of bread.

But there is another kind of famine spoken of in the Bible that will be prevalent in the Last Days that is even more destructive.  How can it be more destructive than the famine that kills the body, you may ask.  Because the famine I am speaking of can kill not only the body which is temporal but can also kill the soul, which is eternal.  The other famine I’m speaking of  is a famine of the Word of God.

In the Times we are living in, there is an acceleration of events in the world which are quickly taking away our right to our very expressions of our faith as Christians.  These campaigns and events are quickly bringing about an atmosphere of antagonistic persecution of our very right to practice our Christianity.  We are being told not to mention the name of Jesus in any speech or prayer or other public setting.  Our lawmakers are quickly bowing to the powerful antichrist spirits that are busy influencing the masses to call evil good and good, evil. 

“‘Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord God , “That I will send a famine on the land, not a famine of bread, nor a thirst for water, but of hearing the words of the LORD.” (Amos 8:11)

God’s work of proclaiming His Words through His ministers, as well as through the mass media, may one day be prohibited, perhaps through persecution, governmental regulations or a combination of these and other factors.

There’s a reason why the scriptures exhort us to “hide the Word in your heart” and to “eat the Word”.  One day there will be a famine of those Words that we take for granted now, and we may have only what we have hidden deep down inside to sustain us through tough times. 

Let’s be sure we have the Word of God deep down inside us, where we can carry it with us always and where it can feed our souls in times of  famine.

On Being a Bondservant of Christ (Pt. 9)

By Lori Bakker | | Filed in Uncategorized

Part Nine

Jesus Made Himself of No Reputation

Jesus didn’t flaunt who he was, nor did he deny who he was… which is why they killed him.  A mere man claiming to be GOD?  That’s what they thought, and that was blasphemy punishable by death!  But the fact of the matter was that they (the religious crowd) didn’t recognize him for who he was, nor did they accept him because they were not of God, but rather of their father, the devil!

And it was the religious crowd that bristled and was disgusted when Jesus did things they were way too proud and far too hard-hearted to do.  One such time was when Jesus was eating with one from this religious crowd and a woman came to the house where Jesus was and began to weep.  As she wept, she washed his feet with her tears and then she poured expensive perfume on them.  The religious man who invited him thought in his heart, if Jesus were truly who he said he was, he wouldn’t even let this woman touch him because she was so sinful.

But Jesus knew his thoughts, and confronted him with them:   “Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little.” Luke 7:44-47

Let me tell you that today there are many religious people and even whole churches that would behave exactly like this man did.   Have you ever heard anyone in a church say something like “oh, they’re not our caliber of people!”  Believe me, I have.  But even when the religious crowd’s pride is not so glaringly obvious, they will sometimes despise and reject a person whose reputation preceded them, even after they have repented!

As Jesus said to this religious man “he who has been forgiven little loves little.”

Jesus is coming for a Church that loves much!  He is coming for a Church that knows Him as their Savior!  Jesus will not reject, refuse or deny the sinner who is contrite and humble.  But as for that religious crowd….  They’re going to wish they didn’t have a reputation to try to protect!

Philippians 2:7,8 “But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.”

On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 1
On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 2
On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 3
On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 4
On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 5
On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 6
On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 7
On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 8
On Being a Bondservant of Christ – Part 10

Treasures in Heaven

By Jim Bakker | | Filed in Last Days, Teaching | Tags: ,

Most of us want our lives to count for something.  When you are a Child of God, your life on this earth takes on a greater cause than just accomplishing something in the natural.  A Child of God is not satisfied with accomplishments – a Child of God wants to store up treasures in Heaven where moths and rust cannot corrupt them.

 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. “But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.  Matthew 6:19-21

We recently dedicated our Prayer Center here at Morningside to Evelyn Campbell, aka “God’s Girl” who passed from this life into the arms of Jesus in 2010.  Evelyn was and is an inspiration to me and an example that all of us can follow.  Evelyn’s legacy was that she loved Jesus and believed in people – and lavishly poured out encouragement on everyone with whom she came in contact.  She was a pastor’s wife and she was my friend.

Evelyn was one of the first people to buy a condo here at Morningside.  I remember how excited she was to pick out the exact location of her new home so that she could watch all the goings on here on Grace Street from her balcony over the Cinema.  She wanted to be a vibrant part of the community.  When Evelyn died, she left her entire estate to this ministry – at a time when we desperately needed it!  She believed in us and she put the sum of her life’s work into keeping us alive.

As we embark on the vision of Lori’s House here at Morningside, we have a ‘knowing’ that we are on the threshold of something very sacred and near to the heart of God.  There is a sense of purpose and unity in the grace it takes to give and sustain innocent life.  This grace is uniting more and more of us in the business of keeping people alive in these last days.  It’s bigger than buildings or ministries or television broadcasts.  It’s about souls – the only eternally significant treasure we can invest our lives in and know that we are doing the Lord’s work.

In the dark night of my soul, when I was in prison, the enemy came after the last shred of my will to live when he said “it’s all gone – everything you’ve worked for – everything you’ve built – your life has counted for nothing – you’re no good.”

Then I began to get pictures of people, some teen-agers, some children, some adults.  With the pictures came the encouragement that these were lives that were saved through the various ministries at Heritage USA – most importantly, the home for unwed mothers where babies were born and cared for and their mothers supported and trained in a vocation that could support them.  It was a vibrant community that loved and supported each other and protected and loved innocent children.  The devil is a liar!

We can see from the signs of the times that Jesus will come soon.  He is coming for a Church that has his heart and is lead and motivated by love.  They will be about their Father’s business – and no business is more perfect than caring for the orphans (James 1:27).

Cindy Jacobs recently prophesied these words from the Lord:  “Where is my justice league?  Where are my super heroes that will administer my justice?  Morningside is meant to be a model.  This is far greater than just Lori’s House.  This is a prototype and a movement.”

Now do you see why we need more Evelyns in these last days?  We need people who are willing to give all they are and all they have for the work of the Lord.  These are the ones who go beyond their own search for significance and understand that the real treasure is in the life to come – eternal life with Jesus.  These are the ones who resonate with the call of justice for the innocent.  These are the ones who store up treasures that moth and rust cannot corrupt.

Will you be a part of this justice league?  The call is going out – the gauntlet is being thrown down.  It’s time to redeem the time.  It’s time to be a part of something bigger than yourself.  It’s time to get behind something that has eternal significance.  We need you and God needs you.

Greatness Comes From the Valley

By Jim Bakker | | Filed in Ministry Updates, Show Notes, Teaching | Tags: , ,

When you think of the greatest inspirations in music, or in a sermon, or in a book, or in a testimony, you rarely think of those inspirations coming from the mountaintop of life, though the mountaintop provides some encouragement. But greatness comes from the valley of a life lived in triumph through the face of trouble and adversity. Greatness comes from the dark night of the soul experiences in the valleys of life. The only thing that can speak to the sorrows of others is the fellowship of their suffering.

BeBe Winans was with me this week on the occasion of celebrating my 50th year in ministry. BeBe is a friend who loves at all times, and a brother born for adversity. (Proverbs 17:17) He is a man that is priceless in his loyalty and his integrity. Though he has spent a great deal of his life on the mountaintop, BeBe knows what it means to struggle in the valley. Through BeBe’s songs, you find his testimony.

On the show BeBe told of a time when he was with the renowned poet, Maya Angelou and she offered this advice: “BeBe, promise me that you will learn to enjoy the struggle.”

Simplistic? Yes, but be very sure that there is more wisdom in those few words than many long, flowing dissertations and even countless books written by those who have not been in the valley and know not its struggles and its triumphs. It’s in the valley that the Word of God becomes your rhema. It’s in the valley that you are given the understanding that in your weakness, He is strong. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

During the show, BeBe sang a song by Donnie McClurkin, “Stand” which he and CeCe have performed many times. A key line in the chorus of this song says “after you’ve done all you can… Stand!” You can’t sing this song with the fervor and believability BeBe sings it with – without having been to the valley. If you didn’t catch this show on our ‘live-streaming’ internet, be sure you watch next week when it airs on regular television programming.

BeBe told me “You have been an example and a blessing to me and my entire family.” It doesn’t get any better than that, except to hear: “Well done, Good and Faithful Servant.”

The Comeback Center

By Jim Bakker | | Filed in Prophecy, Teaching | Tags: , , ,

My friend and colleague, Dan Betzer, lovingly calls me the “Comeback Kid.” He does this because virtually everyone in the Christian community, save a precious few, had counted me out when I went to prison back in 1989. But God didn’t count me out – He counted me in! And Dan was one of the few friends who didn’t count me out either – he stood closer than a brother.

So, the comeback that I have had in ministry for the Lord is so that others can be encouraged when they have had a setback. I tell people every day “if I can make it, anybody can make it.” And, as another close friend, Bishop Ronnie Webb says, “if you’ve had a setback, get ready for a comeback!” Jesus will use the weak and the downtrodden! (Hebrews 12:1) Bishop Webb also likes to say “don’t quit right before your breakthrough. Right before your breakthrough, there’s a breakdown.” No truer words were ever said!

We need encouragers in the Body of Christ. The power of life and death are in the tongue. (Proverbs 18:21) People have the power to speak life to you, or death… but God is all about life. The prophetic word of encouragement is always about life; life to your vision, life to your spiritual gifts, and life to your ministry and mission.

We are just getting started here at Morningside as a “Comeback Center” for people who have been beaten and bruised. You don’t get disqualified in God’s race! You can come back! That’s why Jesus died for us!

I remember calling out to God in prison and saying “never in my life have I ever had a desire to hurt anybody! How could I be here (in prison) for building something to bless people?” The answer was quick: Jesus said, “they killed me!”

Until we are willing to know Jesus, not just in His resurrection, but in the fellowship of His suffering, we can never minister the resurrection! (Philippians 3:10)

Lori tells of a time when she felt forgotten by God. God sent a prophet to prophesy to her that “God has not forgotten you!” Do you think He cares about us? Do you think He knows what we’re feeling? Many of you know my signoff phrase “God loves you, He really does!” But not many know that this phrase came from a time of ministry to a woman who was told she had sinned so bad that she couldn’t be saved. The prophetic word that God loved her broke the back of that lie and she was delivered!

YOU have not sinned so badly that God can’t forgive you! I didn’t – Lori didn’t – this precious lady didn’t – and YOU didn’t either!

God is close to the brokenhearted. You can come back! Come back today – He is calling you and He will not turn you away. He is waiting with open arms for you to come back to Him – and you will not be disqualified by anything in your past.

And when you come back, remember that there’s a “Comeback Center” in Blue Eye, Missouri called Morningside that will welcome you home!

Love,

Jim