¹⁷ A friend loves at all times,
And a brother is born for adversity.

If you have not read a post of mine yet where I proudly state I have five sons, here is your notification. I love my five son’s. They have moments of incredible brilliance, kindness and strength. However, they are kids, so they can be a very frustrating crew at times as well. In case you have not had opportunity to spend time with a group of boys let me make you aware of something. They like to fight. Whether they know what they are doing or not they jockey for position, brag, and compete with one another every chance they get. Though on certain days this feels to me like a high level attack of the Devil, ultimately it is just boys being boys.

Yes they will grow. They will learn to put others before themselves. Sometimes there is such evidence of this it makes a fathers heart proud.

Many of you know, however, that this is not always the case in the church today. Sometimes men of God act just like my sons on their worst day. Unfortunately the church is still full of brothers who are competitive,  wrestle for position, and step on others to find their own promotion in the things of God.

A friend loves at all times, but a brothers relationship should reflect something even closer, a brother will be their to battle along side you, to fiercely defend you, and to cry real tears when you are crying. A brother is meant to be with you in times of adversity, holding you up if need be. I have brothers like this. I would love to name them all but this blog post would go on forever if I did. You know a brother is legit when he will take a blow meant for you, when he refuses to let others speak negatively about you, and when your fight is always his fight. That’s a brother.

Lets build a new culture in the church. Lets see to it that a new culture is created in our apostolic/prophetic communities. Let’s drop competition, back biting and in-fighting. I have seen times where a new prophetic minister came into a church and all the current prophetic ministries became nervous, as though they would lose “their place.” The danger is when feelings like this turn into actions, and people begin to stir up suspicion about another so they can protect their territory. How ungodly can we be.

It’s time to build again. We are brothers and sisters, meant to be there one for another in times of adversity. Meant to weep with those that weep and rejoice with those who rejoice. Let this change happen in your own heart today.

Father, thank you for my brothers. Thank you for people who have stood with me through thick and thin. Thank you for a love that is stronger than anything the world will know. In Jesus name ~ Amen.

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