ATH Ministries - The Christian Ministry led by Dr. Antonio T. Hurt

Keep At It!

// July 2nd, 2010 // No Comments » // Uncategorized, faith and family

I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence, And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth. Isaiah 62:6-7 KJV

Unemployment is stretching on, and people are struggling financially. Marriages and relationships are under pressure because of finances. Children are stressed out because of the tension, and everybody is cranky cause it summertime and you’re broke, cooped up, bored, and hot! But, you can’t give up now, Saints.  You’ve got to pray, people. Pray!

As tired and aggravated and frustrated as you may be in the midst of your various situations, now is not the time to go on vacation from prayer. You must keep at it. Stop and take a breather if you have to, but don’t rest too long; and, don’t let God rest either. You need to remind God everyday of the word that He’s released over you, and expect everyday that it will come to pass!

The enemy would like to convince you that you’re wasting your time and nothing is going to change, but that is a lie. It’s already changing. Walls are coming down in the spirit. God has promised blessing, favor, and restoration to a faithful remnant. Your job is to remain on the walls, crying out to Him until He’s done exactly what He said; making YOU a praise in the earth!

Don’t Stop Now!

// June 30th, 2010 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me. The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands. Psalm 138:7-8 KJV

The phrase “by any means necessary” was made popular by Malcolm X in the 1960’s, spoken in regard to black Americans securing their rights to be respected and treated as human beings. It’s a phrase that many believers have heard and said many times throughout our lives. Anytime we feel threatened, or as if we’re treated unfairly, or believe that anybody or anything dear to us in trouble, we get ready real fast to shut some stuff down…by any means necessary.

It’s funny though that we don’t move as quickly, as radically, or even with the same mentality in regard to our spiritual rights, liberty, and inheritance. We are so unwilling to endure for the promises of God that it’s ridiculous. We are so afraid of and opposed to any kind of discomfort associated with spiritual growth and promotion, we’ll turn and run before it’s even time to fight.

Instead of facing our demons and dealing with the spirits that have plagued our lives, we turn to food, shopping, alcohol, fornication, and all kinds of addictive and destructive behaviors to numb us because it’s too hard, and we just want the pain to stop. The only problem is, the knee-jerk reaction we have to stop our pain also stops the process of healing and deliverance; which in turn, interrupts and places a hold on our promotion in the spirit realm.

Saints, it’s time to stop running from your issues and trying to stop your pain. Pain is inescapable in this life, so within pain God places purpose. That purpose is to bring you to the birthing of your new life; the life to which you were called in Him. He didn’t strengthen you to survive abuse and neglect and low self-esteem and poverty and divorce and depression and death just to have it hover over and oppress you, and you shouldn’t be willing to allow all the hell you’ve been through to go unrewarded. However, you have to choose the life, the position, the power, and the authority that God has for you; then, go get it…by any means necessary!

Father, I know that through my struggles, my suffering, my challenges, and my pain You are doing a great work, and I want it to be done. Finish what You’ve started in me, God. Don’t stop now! In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A New Name

// June 28th, 2010 // 1 Comment » // Uncategorized

And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name. And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken. Isaiah 62:2, 12
 
We’ve gone through many seasons of our lives called liars, thieves, whores, sluts, pimps, tricks, dead, depressed, lazy, broke, no good…You name it, and most of us have answered to it. Many even made a point to try to live up to the names we were called; so much so, that we still carry them today.
 
Well, people of God, that season has come to a close. Our enemies and friends alike are going to soon see, and have to acknowledge, the undeniable righteousness and glory of God resting upon our lives; and we’ll be given brand new names straight from God’s mouth! Not only will we be known as holy, redeemed and the delight of the Lord; but, there will soon arise even from these authors, business owners, CEOs, wealthy, prosperous, lenders, leaders, and ministers of our God!
 
You need to begin to shake your spirit right now and release whatever your auntie, big momma and cousin ‘nem called you in the past, because God is giving YOU a new name!

Don’t make busy-ness your business!

// January 4th, 2010 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

Most people struggle with resting and getting revelation from the Lord without doing anything. People who are task masters and always seek to advance find themselves struggling when there is nothing to do. In this new year, God is requiring many of his children to simple rest in revelation and prepare for the new. The preparation for the new is coming by slowing down and preparing for a year of restoration, rejuvenation, and revival. However, in the midst of this season, rest is imperative. That means you have to get comfortable doing nothing. Then, you must realize that in doing nothing you may actually be doing a lot.

Just think about it. Even when you are doing nothing, you are doing something. The problem is that your lack of busyness will produce energy within you for a time when you will need it to complete the tasks that are ahead of you. Let me encourage you to learn how to do nothing. When you learn how to do nothing, that’s when God will step in on your behalf. When you stop, God will start.

So, start the year by ending your business of busy-ness.

Build It!

// January 3rd, 2010 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

Most people struggle with building after a season of pruning, purging, and pressing. When life and tragedy seems to get you down, the only thing you have left is your faith and your testimony. Well, at the end of the day, that’s all you need. All you need to build in this new year is the testimony that you made it through the last year and faith that will propel you through this year. Let me encourage you to take the time to build it. Build your home. Build your life. Build your destiny. Build your future. Build your dreams. Build your visions. Build your prayer life. Build your praise. Build your worship. Just build it. Forget about the past and clear up the debris. It’s time to build.

ATH

Get Rid of That Stuff!

// December 22nd, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Uncategorized

You are holding on to too much stuff, and you know it. Why are you hoarding all of that stuff? Let it go!

Do you realize that you can’t walk into the new because you won’t release the old? Old clothes, cds, pocketbooks, wallets, jewelry, shoes…all kinds of stuff you need to get rid of. Clutter, baggage, stuff…that’s all it is.

Most people spend more time receiving than releasing, getting rather than giving. I was recently forced to go through a major season of purging and cleansing to find out what really mattered. At the end of the day, I only had a few items remaining. I mean a few items. Suits? Gone. Jewelry? Gone. Cars? Gone. I mean, God told me to get rid of it. People thought I was crazy, and some of them loved it since they were getting my stuff. Others thought, “Oh well, if that’s what God is telling Pastor…I’m glad it’s not me.”

People were looking at me like I was crazy. Now, I’m talking about the people in my house and those that were close to me. However, what God was actually doing was preparing me for the new season. Throughout the bible, those that God used mightily had their names or their garments changed. God often did radical things to and for the people that he chose to use. They often times had to be willing to give up something in order to walk out their purpose that had been ordained by God.

What are you holding on to that God wants you to let go of in this season? Though painful, purging is necessary. My purging was so painful that I had to call in a couple of intercessors to help me shift out of the old. Although purging takes time, it also takes patience. You must be patient with God as he strips you one layer at a time. Why don’t you start by getting rid of some stuff for real? You can’t carry all of that stuff into your new; so, let it go while living out your old season. Get rid of that stuff!

SHUT UP AND PRAY!

// December 18th, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

I was on a tangent at one point about people who talk too much. I was going on and on about people who need to pray through things more than they talk through things. It’s crazy, but right in middle of all of my prophesying, I found myself talking more than praying. My God! That word was for me. Rather than spend time talking with people about what they should do, had done, needed to do; all I needed to do was discuss it one time, and pray it through. I was just beating dead horses; or, more accurately, I was playing with dry bones.

Sometimes we forget the power of prayer. Sometimes we feel that it’s our job to do something. We have this “If I don’t do something, they will die” spirit. All of a sudden we become the savior of the world rather than an intercessor for mankind. I am an intercessor; a prophetic intercessor at that. God shows me things and requires me to pray them through, but I found myself talking more than praying. God was showing me so much that I forget to pray and just started prophesying. I was prophesying and not praying. Yep, I was, and I am not ashamed to say it. You probably do that sometimes too. You may not realize it, but you are powerless if you are not praying. Your power comes through prayer. If you don’t pray, you won’t have the power to deal with the things that you will face in life.

So, my friends, shut up and pray.

There are no benefits to Doubt!

// December 15th, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

All my life I have grown up hearing people say, “I’m going to give them the benefit of the doubt.” So, here I go thinking that doubt has benefits.

Doubt has no benefits. Let me say that again, doubt has no benefits. Stop going around giving people “the benefit of the doubt.” If you know what you know, then you are more than likely to be on point with your gut instinct than not. You are going to have to learn to go with what you know. When you look back on all the doubt that received your benefits, I am sure that you have come up short. At the end of the day, all of the benefits that you have given to doubt outweigh the benefits that doubt has given to you.

What benefits are you giving to doubt in this season? Giving doubt benefits is simply a way to remain indecisive over matters and stay in a land of uncertainty. It’s a wait and see tactic. Trust me; I have given doubt so many benefits that I can’t afford it anymore. Join me and strip doubt of all of its benefits in your life, and simply live the life of faith that does not fail.

Get Over It

// December 11th, 2009 // No Comments » // Uncategorized

Get over it! Some things you just have to let go. I know it may be easier said than done. However, if you are going to move on in life, you have to let some things go.

The things that you hold on to are the very things that will hinder you from walking out the will of God over your life. You can’t spend your life holding on to the old in hopes that it will go away. The things that you hold on to will not go away until you let them go. Once you’ve let them go, you can get over them.

What are the things that you need to let go and get over? You future depends on your willingness to let these things go and forge ahead.

It Doesn’t Take that Long

// December 8th, 2009 // 1 Comment » // Uncategorized

Jonah 1

Sometimes we spend all of our days wasting away in the storms of life. Sleeping. Drifting. Daydreaming. Complaining. It’s such a tragedy.

I am reminded of the “boat people” in the book of Jonah. When the storms of life were raging, they did everything that they knew to do to save their own lives. They sacrificed stuff, worshiped their gods, prayed, casted lots and confronted issues. They even had to confront the Lord’s anointed in order to save their lives and destiny.

As I continue to ponder this short chapter, I came to realize that it doesn’t take that long for God to move on behalf of his people. However, the people of God must be serious about changing and coming into alignment with him.

What are you doing to move God to speak to the winds that are coming up against your life? Are you moving quickly enough to save your own life? Are you even concerned about your destiny? Are you more focused on saving your life or saving you stuff? Have you dropped your little g’s for the big G? Are you willing to throw the people overboard that are causing storms to rage in your life?

It’s all about you. It doesn’t take long to calm your spiritual storms when you are willing to move quickly and do what it takes. Your life depends on it.