Praying against this storm. When we pray against a storm, we mustn’t speak to it as if we own or deserve it. It’s not just enough for it to turn away from your area. It must leave Florida! Jesus has paid for the freedom of Florida.
I have made a personal vow to refrain from using the name given by the National Hurricane Center to address any storm. Like David, who faced a giant and referred to him as an uncircumcised Philistine, I choose not to give power to negative forces by speaking their names.
I desire to see it completely dissipate or weaken so much, that it’s just a shower of rain. Our Lord’s MERCY will prevail.
Decree This:
We say Psalm 91. Florida dwells in the secret place of the Most High and abides under the shadow of the Almighty. Lord, You are a refuge and fortress, to Florida. In Him do we trust.
Father, Your Son paid the price to free Florida from sin, judgement and death. We embrace Your finished work and decree Florida forgiven.
Florida is favored by my Lord. Yahweh Your hand rests upon this state.
As you proclaimed in 2 Corinthians 9:8, All grace abounds towards Florida, and we have all sufficiency in all things. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
I proclaim a testimony of LIFE over Florida. According to Psalm 118:17, Florida shall live and not die and declare the works of the Lord.
I decree Yahweh’s MERCY over the state of Florida. James 2:13 proclaims Your mercy triumphs over judgement. I proclaim MERCY, MERCY, MERCY, MERCY, MERCY, MERCY, MERCY over Florida!
Florida lives in abundant Life promised to us by Jesus. His abundant life lives in Florida, and we embrace Life and not destruction.
Florida is an Overcomer. We overcome by the blood of the Lamb, the word of our testimony. We do not cling to our life but the life of Yahweh, even when faced with a storm.
Florida will fulfill all the destiny Abba has placed upon it.
Florida is in covenant with Yahweh. We as a state and land are married to our Lord.
Isaiah 62:1-7 NASB, Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation. 2 He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved. How long will you attack a Florida? You shall be slain, all of you, Like a leaning wall and a tottering fence. 4 They only consult to cast him down from his high position; They delight in lies; They bless with their mouth, But they curse inwardly. Selah 5 My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him. 6 He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. 7 In God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength, And my refuge, is in God.
Did you know that there are multiple ways to experience the healing power of the Holy Spirit? Many people focus on only one or two of these ways. Those seeking healing often overlook the significant avenue of “Giving Thanks” as a means to receive healing. Many of us, including myself, typically ask others to pray for us and have someone lay hands on us, as taught in the Bible. However, perhaps the Holy Spirit wants to utilize a different approach.
I Thessalonians 5:18 TPT, tells us, “And in the midst of everything be always giving thanks, for this is God’s perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus.”
In 2018, I had the honor of inviting Gerald Derstine, a general in the faith, to share his wisdom at Kingdom Gate Worship Center. At 90 years old, he appeared to be in excellent health. As we sat together in the green room before the service, Gerald shared a powerful testimony with me. He said, “Ken, I feel better now than 10 years ago.” I was taken aback and asked, “How can you feel better at 90 than you did at 80?” He went on to explain that ten years ago, he had struggled with severe arthritis in his hips and back, which made every step a painful endeavor. His story of overcoming such difficulties was truly inspiring.
Gerald said, “I went to the Lord and asked why I wasn’t being healed. Holy Spirit told me that it was because I wasn’t giving thanks. I told my wife, Buelah, that if she heard me praising and thanking the Lord instead of complaining, I was following the Holy Spirit’s counsel. So, I began to worship, praising, and thanking the Lord even in the midst of my suffering. Two days later, I was healed. My expressions of gratitude to the Lord turned into declarations of faith, which led to my recovery from debilitating arthritis.
If you read 1 Thessalonians 5:18 again, it says, “In everything, give thanks.” This doesn’t mean we thank God for the problems, sickness, or disease. It means that while we are in it, we should give thanks to our Lord as we walk toward our healing.
Expressing gratitude to the Lord for our healing, deliverance, blessings, prosperity, and the salvation of loved ones and friends is a powerful declaration of faith. It’s a way of saying, “Father, we thank you in advance for all that we are grateful for. Lord, I thank you for healing me. Father, I praise you for saving my children.”
1 Thessalonians 5:18 TPT, “And in the midst of everything be always giving thanks, for this is God’s perfect plan for you in Christ Jesus.”
Today is your day to fulfill His perfect plan; give Him thanks. Behold the works of our Lord manifest in you and for you.
1 Corinthians 1:1 Paul, called as an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God…
2 Corinthians 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God
Galatians 1:1 Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead)
It is worth noting that although Paul did possess the gifting of an apostle, he never referred to himself as “Apostle Paul.” Have you noticed how some individuals take on titles that they don’t actually deserve? It’s particularly concerning when people who excel in one area falsely claim expertise in another. For instance, I’ve seen intercessors who have taken on the title of Apostle, despite lacking the necessary gifting. This type of behavior is misleading and can lead to confusion and disillusionment. It’s important that we honor individuals for the unique gifting they possess, rather than trying to inflate their importance with false titles.
In this day and age, we are blessed to have true apostles among us, but unfortunately, there are also those who are false. However, this is not a new issue. In fact, even the Lord himself addressed this within the church of Ephesus. As stated in Revelation 2:2, the Lord said, “I know your deeds, your toil and perseverance, and that you cannot tolerate evil men. You put to the test those who call themselves apostles, and they are not. You found them to be false.”
Let us take this as a reminder to be vigilant and discerning when it comes to those who claim to be apostles. We must put them to the test and ensure their authenticity. Only then can we be certain that we are following the true apostles who are sent by the Lord.
May we all have the wisdom and discernment to recognize the true from the false, and may we always follow the path that leads us closer to the Lord and not a title.
A Church in South Florida
Years ago, I spoke in a church in South Florida. Everyone in the church had a title. There were many who called themselves Pastor, others Apostle, some Prophets, many had Evangelist others Missionary and on and on.
“I was quite annoyed at how nonchalantly people were using their titles. When I went up to the pulpit, I greeted everyone and then made a statement, “I notice that all of you have a title. It’s okay to have a title if you can prove that you have the qualities and achievements that come with that title. So, if you claim to be a prophet, read my thoughts and prophesy to me. And if you call yourself an evangelist, show me the fruits of your evangelism. Where are the souls that you have led to the Lord?” Of course, no one came forward to respond.”
It is evident that some intercessors have assumed the titles of Apostle and Prophet without possessing the requisite authority and fruit that these gifts demand. This is an issue that cannot be overlooked, and we must address it head-on. It is essential to recognize the importance of authenticity and humility in exercising these roles and gifts, and I am confident that as a community, we can strive towards embodying these values and serving one another with excellence.
There are some individuals who use titles to flaunt their importance and feel entitled. Even though they carry the title of Pastor, they do not take care of their congregation. Over the years, I have observed that many of these people are bullies instead of servants.
When asked about the name to use for addressing me, I politely responded with my given name, Ken. However, I humbly requested that if a title must be given, kindly refrain from using the term “pastor”. I then cordially explained my unique abilities and the nature of my service.
We’re Called to Serve
The word of God boldly proclaims in Acts 10:38 that Jesus healed all who were oppressed by the devil and spent his time doing good. It’s easy to imagine him lending a helping hand to a widow, spending time with sinners, and even cooking meals for his disciples. As followers of Christ, we are called to serve and make a positive impact on the lives of those around us. Let’s confidently embrace this calling, serving the Lord and our fellow human beings with the same unwavering commitment and purpose that Jesus demonstrated.
The five-fold gifting is a great power that has been bestowed upon us, and with great power comes great responsibility. It is our duty to let go of any sense of entitlement and instead channel our gifts towards serving the body of Christ and society at large. Our selfless efforts can make a significant difference in the world, and we cannot afford to ignore this calling.
Let us come together and pledge to continue working towards the betterment of our community. Remember, the true measure of our greatness lies not in what we achieve for ourselves, but what we do for others.
Heavenly Father, fill our hearts with Your love and passion. Let our desire be to love and serve You and our fellow man. Take away our stony heart and give us Your heart.
Today I make a declaration of faith to You that I will not casually pick up a title but my heart will be to serve. I pray this is the name of Your son, Yeshua.
On 2/22/24, I dreamt that I came through the rear door into a giant sanctuary filled with people. It was our building but much more prominent, and I’m not sure of its location.
As I entered, I saw the place was full of people. God TV was there (I’m not a fan), and a well-dressed man I did not know was on the platform making announcements. The man was well-groomed and wore a suit and tie. He stood erect, and his appearance looked angelic.
There was so much equipment for videos that it was hard to get to the platform.
I went to the platform, where Dutch baptized people in transforming water. They came into the water via a water slide. From the old to the very young was coming down the slide into the baptism waters. Dutch said, “Ken, lives are being transformed in this water.”
All of a sudden, water burst forth out from under the platform. The crystal clear water was rising like that in Ezekiel 47:1-6.
“Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and there was water, flowing from under the threshold of the temple toward the east, for the front of the temple faced east; the water was flowing from under the right side of the temple, south of the altar. He brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me around on the outside to the outer gateway that faces east; and there was water, running out on the right side. And when the man went out to the east with the line in his hand, he measured one thousand cubits, and he brought me through the waters; the water came up to my ankles. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through the waters; the water came up to my knees. Again he measured one thousand and brought me through; the water came up to my waist. Again he measured one thousand, and it was a river that I could not cross; for the water was too deep, water in which one must swim, a river that could not be crossed. He said to me, “Son of man, have you seen this?” Then he brought me and returned me to the bank of the river.”
Ezekiel 47:1-6 NKJV
In my natural mind, I said, I’ve got to shut down the water. I knew of no one that could shut down this eruption of water.
I went out the back door and saw a paved parking lot filling with water. Water was coming forth from the manhole like a geyser.
Suddenly, I saw the enemy, a male and female, hidden in a small wooden shed, sniping people with a 22-caliber rifle. They were both lying side by side on a wooden bench. The shed was ancient, weathered, and dark wood. It looked as though it would fall at any point.
I managed to get in the shed, and they turned hostile toward me. They were cursing me and gnashing their teeth. After wrestling with them, I was able to bind them. I shouted to someone, call 911. The police came and took them away.
At this point in the dream, I realized this flooding was from Holy Spirit, and it cannot be stopped.
Alignment. It’s a word I had never heard of or used in the Church until the year 2000. Before that time, I had only used the word in relation to mechanics. I had heard of front-end alignment, in which you align the front end of your car, to help your tires wear evenly. Today they even have four-wheel alignment. I had also heard the expression, “when the stars align” and the alignment of two points.
When I was eleven years old, I went to work for my granddad, Esker Malone. My granddad owned a full-service gas station. He trained me in the skills of operating a full-service gas station. He aligned me with his skills. At sixteen, I went to work with my dad at his mechanic shop. He began to train me in his skills of repairing a car. I caught on quickly. At the age of sixteen, I built a dune buggy out of a Volkswagen Beetle. I rebuilt motors, tuned up cars, changed wheel bearings, etc. At this young age, I was always learning new skills when it came to the automobile.
In 1976, I gave my heart and life to our Lord Jesus Christ. I didn’t know it, but Holy Spirit had dropped the plumbline of redemption in my heart. It was then my choice to align with Him or to continue to go my own way. I aligned with Him. While serving our Lord in Alabama, I was not certain where Yahweh was taking me. The fire of the Lord filled my heart with passion for Him. I read the bible and learned that prayer was a necessary lifestyle if you are going to pursue Him. I prayed, led worship, and began to preach the gospel of the Kingdom.
Each move we made, every decision we followed through on, every holy nudge we embraced, and each divine appointment aligned us with His plan.
It wasn’t long before I felt the drawing of Holy Spirit to go full-time in the ministry and in 1984, we stepped out in faith. Moving to Montgomery Alabama, and becoming the pastor at Abundant Life Church. This was a very strong training ground. At 28 years old with a wife and four kids, I had a lot of zeal and revelation, but no wisdom to go along with the zeal, which was challenging. The four years I was there were filled with trials, testing, more trials, and more testing. Almost the entire time I was there, I wondered, “Did I miss God? Why is it so hard?” Through the years, I’ve discovered that each time you go to a new assignment (re-align,) you are tested. Will you go back to where you came from? Will you quit?
Labor Day 1988
On Labor Day 1988, we moved to Florida to continue the work of the Kingdom of God. The testing followed me. I didn’t know this was a part of my Heavenly Father’s process to refine me and to keep me in alignment. When seeking God, I said, “Lord get me out of Florida. It’s too hard.” Holy Spirit would say, “You’re going to be here a LONGGGGG time. My heart sank. “Why is it so difficult?” My mind wandered to a conversation that my grandmother, a preacher’s daughter, had with Cheryl and I. She had told me how hard she and her family had it when she was growing up. My great-grandfather was a Methodist Preacher. Grandmother said, “Don’t do it! You will be poor. You have a good job at the paper mill. Don’t give it up.” This is the place that many come to and reason because it’s so hard, it must not be the will of God. To the contrary. You’re being tested. Will you align with Him, His Plan or go home?
In the Church, we’ve not been taught how to sit with the refiner. We’ve not learned that we are to endure hardness. 2 Timothy 2:3-5 NKJV, You, therefore, must endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. 4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier. 5 And also if anyone competes in athletics, he is not crowned unless he competes according to the rules.
In 2000 I began to run with those who were using the word alignment. The first message I ever heard Dutch Sheets share was in 2000. He preached a word he called, “The Divine Shift.” He was teaching how the Lord is re-aligning His body for Kingdom purposes. When I heard this word, my heart made another important re-alignment, to fulfill all that Yahweh had in store for Cheryl and I. Peter Wagner, Chuck Pierce, Jim Hodges, Cindy Jacobs and a number of others talk about alignment. Whenever someone used the word alignment, my ears perked up and still do today. It’s pretty much a buzzword today in and outside the body of Christ.
Declared With Authority
Those I heard declare the word of alignment, did so with such authority and passion, that you knew it was a word from them the Lord. Every time I heard the word, “ALIGN,” My heart would awaken and movement toward His plans would take place.
It was also in 2000 that I unpacked my emotional bags and decided I would stay in Florida for the rest of my life. When I did, Yahweh supernaturally married Cheryl and I to Florida. I Love every square inch of our state.
From 2000-2008, I was constantly in a cycle of realignment. Things were changing. For the first time, I was content with being in Florida. When Yahweh married us to Florida, everything began to improve. I no longer had to work two jobs. This marriage to Florida was a tremendous blessing. I began to travel across the state, and all was well.
The trials still come, but I now know how to abide in Christ. John 15:5-8 NKJV, Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 “I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is cast out as a branch and is withered; and they gather them and throw them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this My Father is glorified, that you bear much fruit; so you will be My disciples.
Apostolic Alignment—Learning to align with a gift, I thought no longer existed.
In 1999 while on a mission trip on the island of Eleuthera, I hear Holy say, I’m shifting you to the gift of Apostle. I wasn’t sure about this. I heard that Apostles were missionaries were overseas. The only overseas work I wanted to do was a Mediterranean Cruise. Like Jonah, I ran from this call because I did not understand this type of alignment. So I placed this word on the shelf of forgetfulness. (This is where many of our prophetic words go to collect dust or die.)
In 2000, Cheryl and I were in Miami, along with leaders from the church we led. Cindy Jacobs and Dutch Sheets were hosting a Glory Fire Conference. At that time, I did not know Cindy and we had just met Dutch a few months before. Cindy calls Cheryl and I out of 1000 people. She was very cordial and kind. Who are you? Where are you from, what do you do,” she asked? I shared who we are. Cindy then gets this look that most prophets get when they are about to give you and word. She prophesied, “The Lord has place upon you the mantle of an apostle, but you have resisted this. Now resist no more. Suddenly a 3-way conversation is going on. As Cindy is prophesying to us, I say to the Lord, “No I didn’t.” He says, “Yes you did.” “How?” was my reply. He said, “because you did nothing with the word, I gave you.” I REPENTED.
It’s time to engage. I looked at Cheryl and said, “Let’s spend the rest of our lives pursuing our Lord and His plans, regardless of the cost.” She agreed.
I bought every book I could find on the Apostle. If it had apostle in the title, I bought it. Out of 100 books I bought, only 25 were helpful. I read everything on this subject I could.
The greatest thing I did during this major shift was to align myself with other apostles. Iron sharpens iron. I need to be around others who are apostles. I came into strong alignment with Dutch Sheets.
I showed up where he was speaking. Made many trips to Colorado Springs to be with him. Then I began to serve him in whatever manner I could. If it was toting his suitcase, pick him up at the airport, grabbing a meal for him, I did it. The relationship began to grow and now 23 years later, we still run together.
My authority level went off the chain. Our ministry began to grow. Our finances grew. I began to really understand what I was made for. Jesus didn’t die, just to take you and I to heaven. He died so that I could discover life in Him and walk that out. It happened in 2000 and it’s happening today.
For those wanting to grow in ministry, the best advice I can give you is, align yourself with God’s plan, then align yourself with an apostle.
Ken's Domain 