“Falling to the Ground to Die” (Revisited)

“Falling to the Ground To Die”

Written By Apostle Michael L. Woods, Sr. On December 29, 2006

I was laying in bed relaxing after a powerful leadership session today with the leadership at our local church, City of Destiny; as well as, the leaders we cover via More of God International Council of Five-Fold Ministries representing 40 domestic states and 4 continents; and almost 1K leaders from around the world who joined us via internet to receive the impartation of the Holy Spirit from this morning’s session.  We were tremendously blessed.  While relaxing, I was prompted by God to repost a blog which was written in Two-Thousand Six and posted on MySpace.  The Lord shared with me that as we move swiftly towards ‘2010’ there is yet a death that must occur amidst the leaders in the Body of Christ, that we might maximize our potential and perform the works of His Kingdom in this last day.  Please read the following with openness and with an attentiveness that will lead you to action.  If we are to experience the wholeness that 2010 promises to bring, WE MUST FALL TO THE GROUND AND DIE. Observe,

We are living in a time when all our works and ministries are on trial for their survival. We have prayed noble prayers, never really expecting God to hear them. But He has. Now He is at work in us, eliminating all the mixture from our lives. The Lord wants to bring us all to a place where only His will has the preeminence in our lives and ministries. He is shaking the Church to its very core to bring it to base zero. He will bring down all the institutions of man until we are left with nothing but the Lord Himself.

What if we stopped doing everything God never told us to do? What if we could see all the things that we have been busy doing for what they really are? For those of us caught up in a whirlwind of activity and religious duty, it would most certainly be devastating to our careers and our personal agendas. When God has us at base zero, all we want is Him. Our striving to achieve and be noticed fades in the reality of His glory. This is exactly what the Lord is doing. He knows we must return to base zero if we are ever to reach the point where He can build His Church. He never needed our programs or our traditions, but we have blindly shouldered our way ahead of Him in our fleshly zeal to build something that would preserve our place in His Kingdom.

We have often talked about progressing the digression, the process where God systematically brings us down from the heights of our pride and supposed self-sufficiency to a level where we can again respond to Him in total transparency and purity. When we reach the point where all our hope is in Him, we can say with real confidence, I have nothing to lose. God will progress His digression of our self-sufficiency until we come to see the futility of our titles and degrees; until we see that all our giftings, callings and accomplishments cannot hold a candle to His glory; until we come to the end of our strivings, strength and earthbound knowledge to finally admit that we have nothing to lose. When we have nothing to lose, we can do whatever He calls us to do without fear of losing friends or reputation; We have already lost everything.

Jesus said, ….Unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains by itself alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit..(Jn. 12:24). A dead man falls straight to the ground like a piece of lead, there is no resistance or life left in him. He goes straight down. But a man who is not so sure what he wants falls to the ground like a leaf that has broken off from the tree. It is certainly dead, but it falls with uncertainty, because it seems to have a measure of green color in it. It bears the outward indications of life, but it is surely dead apart from the branch, whether it knows it or not. Always at the whim of every puff and billow of the wind, a leaf separated from its branch flutters and floats its way to the ground. Even after it lands on the ground, it is at the mercy of every breeze that comes by. You see, the leaf is not quite sure that it is dead, and it has no clear destination or destiny. It has not made up its mind to die to itself. It might be willing to fall on top of the ground, but it is all too ready to respond to a new opportunity. Whether or not it is the right opportunity is not the point. It was on a mission to die, but its commitment to that death is constantly interrupted by the remaining ambition and memory of its past glory that just won’t die.

Unlike the leaf, the seed is destined for death, burial, and resurrection in a new life of productivity. It carries within itself an inner longing for death and new life, for in that death resides the potential for nearly unlimited reproduction, fruit-bearing, and fulfillment of purpose! Until you see Jesus, you will never see yourself for who you really are, and you will never see the point to dying. Even the lowly leaf, if it is willing to lay low for a season, can rise from its earthbound grave once the storm passes and the Lord sends a Holy Ghost gust to lift it up again. But the seed that has seen the Lord knows it must fall into the earth and die. It must abandon all vestiges of the flesh, all hope of the earthly kingdoms of pride and position. That seed has to go under the ground to sprout new life.

You can spot true brokenness in a man or woman by their telltale desire to be hidden from sight. When God in His sovereignty returns you to base zero, fleshly and prideful things apart from Him are consumed by fire, to be replaced by a transparent humility that makes you afraid to be seen in the flesh. You do not respond to earthly, man-generated religious things as easily as you once did. Invitations to preach do not turn you on anymore; you only want to hide in your transparent nakedness before God. Instead of stepping once again on the old path of earthly passion and production, you now cry, Let the rocks fall on me, but cover my humanity and let me die rather than to again display my carnality, trying to pawn it off as the Spirit of the Lord! Be Blessed.

********************************************************************************************************************************

Apostle at Work!

Michael L. Woods, Sr. is a much sought after apostle who has traveled extensively throughout the World sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Training Leaders in the Body of Christ for almost two decades.  He has been graced to see the hand of God at work in power and demonstration in the lives of literal thousands of people around the world.

With a patriarchal presence and a prophetic and apostolic insight beyond his years, Dr. Woods is on the cutting edge of what God is doing in these last days.  His message of clarity, self-actualization, and apostolic government boldly transcends the lines race, religion, denomination, culture, and creed.  You will be edified, enriched, empowered, and encouraged by his anointed message of hope and deliverance.

He is the Chief Prelate and founder of More of God International Council of Five-Fold Ministries where he is privileged to serve as an Apostle to leaders around the world representing forty states and four continents.  He is also the Senior Pastor and Founder of City of Destiny International Church in Jackson, Mississippi.  Dr. Woods currently resides in Jackson, Mississippi and is the  proud father of three wonderful sons, Michael, Benjamin and Alexander.

For More Information about Apostle Michael Woods or other Products Visit: WWW.CITYOFDESTINY.TV

Leading without Leadership-Teaching Notes

“For Leaders Only”

Session One, December 12, 2009

City of Destiny International Church

Dr. Michael L. Woods, Sr., Instructor

Study Notes

Topic:  “Leading Without Leadership”

I.         Introduction- Your attitude is more powerful than your reputation.

A.        Steps to a Positive Attitude

1.         Understand the Power of Attitude

2.         Take Charge of Your Life

3.         Identify through Self-Awareness the Attitudes that Hold you back or propel you forward

4.         Reframe your bad attitude

5.         Find your purpose and passion

6.         Be Pre-Active

7.         Discover how to motivate yourself

8.         Build Supportive Relationships

9.         See Change as an Opportunity

B.        People will remember your attitude longer than they will your product.

II.        Principles on Leading without Leadership

A.        The two-pronged nature of humanities dilemma is (1) even    though our potential as leaders is still within us, we’ve lost our connection with our Source of purpose and power, and (2) even if the connection was reinstated, unless we could discover how a leader is meant to think and operate, we still wouldn’t be able to fulfill our potential.

B.        The loss of our Source of purpose and power has led to a myriad of  negative outcomes because of the confusion that inevitably resulted.

C.        Know the answers to the questions, “Who am I?” “Where am I from?”  “Why am I here?” and “Where am I going” gives a human being    meaning and purpose.

D.        When we don’t know the truth about ourselves we are just experimenting with our lives.

E.        When human beings try to find the meaning of life, they often seek to  gain their identity through a relationship with the world around          them.  We can never discover our value or purpose by studying the   creation but only by a relationship with the Creator.

F.        One result of our disconnect with the Creator is that we don’t know  how to use the mental physical resources that He has given us.  We use them for destructive things, such as violence, abuse,             manipulation, corruption, and crime.

G.        The greatest impact of the disconnect is that we have become what we erroneously think we are.

H.        The powerful thing that a human has on earth is his thoughts.  It is  ones thinking that determines one’s life.

I.          Confused thinking about ones origin and purpose results in self-    hatred, self-denigration, self-deception, fear, ignorance of personal     identity, ignorance of personal ability, ignorance of personal ability,       ignorance of personal purpose,  ignorance of a sense of destiny, and a      mentality of survival.

J.         We believe what we’ve heard and accepted as truth.  Our beliefs then  become our philosophy, and our philosophy controls and regulates  our lives and leadership.

K.        Generally, a society cannot produce a leader that is better than itself   because that leader usually gets his or her beliefs from that society.

L.         Leaders are limited by the extent of their knowledge of the truth   about themselves and the world.

M.       The home, company, classroom, community, or nation that is under the leadership of a ruler who has a slave mentality is in great danger.

N.        If you want to study leaders and their leadership, do not study their  physical appearance or demeanor.  Find out where they get their   thoughts and ideas.

O.        To restore the spirit of leadership, our hearing needs to be tuned to   our Source so that our beliefs will be based on truth.

******************************************************************

The Teacher....

Michael L. Woods, Sr. is a much sought after apostle who has traveled extensively throughout the World sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ and Training Leaders in the Body of Christ for almost two decades.  He has been graced to see the hand of God at work in power and demonstration in the lives of literal thousands of people around the world.

With a patriarchal presence and a prophetic and apostolic insight beyond his years, Dr. Woods is on the cutting edge of what God is doing in these last days.  His message of clarity, self-actualization, and apostolic government boldly transcends the lines race, religion, denomination, culture, and creed.  You will be edified, enriched, empowered, and encouraged by his anointed message of hope and deliverance.

He is the Chief Prelate and founder of More of God International Council of Five-Fold Ministries where he is privileged to serve as an Apostle to leaders around the world representing forty states and four continents.  He is also the Senior Pastor and Founder of City of Destiny International Church in Jackson, Mississippi.  Dr. Woods currently resides in Jackson, Mississippi and is the  proud father of three wonderful sons, Michael, Benjamin and Alexander.

For More Information about Apostle Michael Woods or other Products Visit:

WWW.CITYOFDESTINY.TV

Just Let it Go (Teaching Notes from 12-6-2009)

Just let it Go, so You Can Let it Go!
Apostle Michael Woods, Instructor
Philippians 3:10-18 and Genesis 19:15-26

Thesis: DON’T LOOK BACK! Ever wonder how you always end up in the same situations with the same type of people? Like Lot’s wife you have become crystallized in your growth and development, because you keep looking back. You’re not living to go backwards; but forward! You have to leave the past behind. Take it’s lesson’s but not its pain.

Introduction
1. Philippians 3:10-16 (You must Fellowship with God, Follow God, and Forget your Past to apprehend your future)

2. Genesis 19:1-26 (Perversion, Pride, and Your Past will hinder the release of your potential)

3. Don’t Look Back! God will never look at your past to determine your future; Your future is already determined.

Five Vital Points Concerning Releasing Your Potential
1. Find the voice that pulls the potential out of you.
2. Partners who don’t recognize and respect your potential emasculate(castrate, deprive) your ability to produce.
3. Many times it requires outsiders to see your potential because they will see your potential before those who are too familiar with you. (Moses in Pharaoh’s House)
4. Test, time, and Trial are the strategy of God to position you in a place where your potential can be recognized, realized, and maximized. (Gen 41:39)
5. Maximized potential will always lead to a fruitful and fulfilling life.

“The Power of Impulse”

“The Power of Impulse”
2 Kings 7:1-8
Apostle Michael Woods, Sr., Instructor

Introduction: The word impulse has been given a negative connotation in recent years. However, at its root this is a word with a positive meaning. Impulse is a sudden, often involuntary inclination prompting one to action. God is looking for impulsive people that will act on His word with immediate response. Far too often we over analyze our feelings, inclinations, and what we sense is the leading of God. In turn, we miss out on the opportunities that are presented to us. In this message, you will be educated on The Power of Impulse and receive the impartation of an eager expectation for the next God inclination with passion to act with Spiritual Spontaneity.

Five Principles of Impulse
1. When you have a God inclination act immediately.
2. When act out of impulse toward a God inclination you eliminate the element of fear.
3. Impulse ignites the momentum in your life that is necessary for progress and growth.
4. Consistently acting on the impulse of God will reduce and dissolve the diseased areas of your life that have been impeding your health, maturity, and growth.
5. Analytical thought processes will always inhibit your impulsive response; thus opportunity will pass you by.

Transitioning and Migration- Study Notes

Transitioning and Migration

Dr. Michael L. Woods, Sr., Instructor

Taught November 5, 2009 at City of Destiny International Church

“Study Notes”

Apostle at Work!

Transitioning is a way of life

{1} – The Church or kingdom community, local and universal is in Transitioning, from glory to glory, from faith to faith, from conception to perfection, from the cross to the throne, from Moses’ Tabernacle to Solomon’s Temple.  II Corinthians 3:18 {Change is perhaps the single most important word in our process: 1 Corinthians 15:51-54}

{2} – Transition is the passing from one condition, form, stage, place, and activity to another. It is the period of passing. Out of Egypt , through the Wilderness, to the Promised Land {30-60-100 fold}

{3} – Transitioning involves a delicate and intense process of change. It may even involve transformation and translation. Colossians 1:13; 2 Samuel 3:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:6-18; Hebrews 11:5; 12:26-28 Romans 12:2

{4} – Transitioning is purpose through process. Process is not punishment. Purpose through Process {Abraham was MADE a father of many nations} leads to promotion, prosperity and posterity. {Includes P.I.T. – Prophets In Training and for others at times P.M.S. Or, Prophetic Mood Swings

{5} – Transitioning requires personal confrontation of oppressive positions and limited mentalities. 2 Corinthians 10:3-5; Deuteronomy 7:1-5; 12:1-2: 1 Tim. 1:18; Acts 10:38

{6} – Transitioning is linked with maturity. It is one aspect to be spiritual, and there is yet another to be mature. Maturity requires a pattern, and Jesus is the pattern son and the blueprint of perfection. He is the path that leads to the Father’s glory.

• Thou son of man, shew the house to the house of Israel, that they may be ashamed of their iniquities: and let them measure the pattern. Ezekiel 43:10;

• Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: That we [henceforth] be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, [and] cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, [even] Christ: -Ephesians 4:13-15;

• And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.-Colossians 2:10, 19;

• For it became him, for whom [are] all things, and by whom [are] all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the captain of their salvation perfect through sufferings. Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; Whither the forerunner is for us entered, [even] Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec. -Hebrews 2:10; 5:8-9; 6:20;

• And let them make me a sanctuary; that I may dwell among them. According to all that I shew thee, [after] the pattern of the tabernacle, and the pattern of all the instruments thereof, even so shall ye make [it].-Exodus 25:8-9:
• Hebrews 6:20

{7} – Transitioning is not exclusive to the spiritual dimension only, but is applicable to the natural as well. Transitioning is evident in physical and mental growth, from childhood to adulthood, having many levels.

• When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.-1 Corinthians 13:11;
• Brethren, be not children in understanding: howbeit in malice be ye children, but in understanding be men. 1 Cor 14:20;

• Howbeit that [was] not first which is spiritual, but that which is natural; and afterward that which is spiritual. 1 Cor 15:46;

• As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: 1 Peter 2:2;

• But grow in grace, and [in] the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him [be] glory both now and for ever. Amen. 2 Peter 3:18

{8} – Transitioning is apostolic & prophetic in principle, nature, character, scope, and dimension. Transition recognizes the important stages and development of the saints. Whether individual or corporate in caliber, transitioning acknowledges the need to migrate into greater spheres and frequencies of the Spirit through the active force of Spiritual momentum. Thus, transitioning here enables you to pioneer new calibrations in the Spirit.

• Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord; -Acts 3:19;

• For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. We [are] fools for Christ’s sake, but ye [are] wise in Christ; we [are] weak, but ye [are] strong; ye [are] honourable, but we [are] despised. Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace;  And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it:  Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, [and are] the offscouring of all things unto this day. I  Cor 4:9-4:13;

• And have tasted the good word of God, and the powers of the world to come, Hebrews 6:5;

• And he said unto them, I [am] an hundred and twenty years old this day; I can no more go out and come in: also the LORD hath said unto me, Thou shalt not go over this Jordan.  The LORD thy God, he will go over before thee, [and] he will destroy these nations from before thee, and thou shalt possess them: [and] Joshua, he shall go over before thee, as the LORD hath said.-Deuteronomy 31:2-3;

• Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:37-39

{9} – Transitioning is seen in the scripture from name change to nature change. Abram became Abraham, Sarai to Sarah, and Jacob becoming Israel . Jacob was created but Israel was formed. Isaiah 43:1: 44:1-2; Galatians 4:19;

{10} – Transitioning is a way of life. From so called losses to gains, transition is inevitable. From kindergarten to College, and from being single to become one in marriage, transition is inevitable. Being married doesn’t make you a man or a woman. You must develop manhood before marriage, manhood before ministry. Genesis 2:24

©All rights reserved Dr. Michael L. Woods Ministries, 2009

For More Information on Products, Books, or the ministry of

Dr. Michael Woods visit us online at www.cityofdestiny.tv

Overcoming Discouragement

If you are currently discouraged and need a boost this powerful teaching from Apostle Michael Woods, Sr. is for you.  You may listen online or download.  Join us for 100 Days of Destiny starting, November 1, 2009.  A life changing journey.  Visit Cityofdestiny.tv for more details.