The Black Church in the Fourth Industrial Revolution

Digital Watchmen

Written By: Dr. E . Bernard Jordan

The Bible, in Matthew 24:43, urges us to be vigilant: “But know

this, that if the master of the house had known in what watch the thief would come, he would have watched, and would not have suffered his house to be broken up.” This ancient wisdom holds as true today as it did over two millennia ago, especially for the Black Church as it navigates the uncharted waters of the Fourth Industrial Revolution.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution, characterized by the fusion of the physical, digital, and biological worlds, has brought unprecedented advancements in artificial intelligence, robotics, and biotechnology. It can potentially reshape societies, economies, and even how we perceive ourselves as human beings. While such advancements come with immense opportunities, they pose significant challenges, particularly for marginalized communities.

The Black Church, a pillar of strength, resilience, and hope, has long played a crucial role in the African American community. It has been a sanctuary during the darkest times, from slavery to the Civil

Rights Movement, and has birthed some of the most influential leaders in American history. Now, as the world faces the transformative power of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the Black Church must continue to lead its flock with foresight and wisdom.

To fully grasp the magnitude of this challenge, we must first understand the essence of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. Revelation 13:16-17 speaks of a time when no one can buy or sell without the mark of the beast. “He causes all, both small and great, rich and poor, free and slave, to receive a mark on their right hand or on their foreheads, and that no one may buy or sell except one who has the mark or the name of the beast, or the number of his name.” While this passage has been interpreted in various ways, it bears a striking resemblance to the ever-increasing role of technology in our daily lives. As cashless transactions become the norm and digital identification systems proliferate, the line between our physical and digital selves is blurring.

One of the most pressing issues the Black Church must confront is the widening digital divide. While technology has the power to democratize access to information and opportunities, it can also exacerbate existing inequalities. In Proverbs 29:18, we are reminded, “where there is no vision, the people perish.” The Black Church must heed this warning and create a vision for its congregation to thrive in the digital age. This vision should include digital literacy programs, business initiatives, and mentorship opportunities in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).

The Black Church can draw inspiration from existing initiatives, such as partnering with tech companies to provide digital literacy training and affordable broadband access to low-income families in the community. Similarly, congregations nationwide can harness the power of partnerships with educational institutions, tech companies, and government agencies to bridge the digital divide.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution is also redefining the nature of work. As automation displaces traditional jobs, the Black Church must prepare its congregation for the new economy. Proverbs 22:29 emphasizes the importance of skill and diligence: “Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings.” The Black Church must recognize that the skills required for success in the future may differ significantly from those of the past.

As we stand on the precipice of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, the Black Church finds itself at a crossroads, presented with both unprecedented opportunities and formidable challenges. Embracing its role as the digital watchman, the Church has the power to lead its congregation into a future where they not only survive but flourish in this brave new world. Let this be the clarion call for the Black Church: to embrace the mantle of the digital watchman, to navigate uncharted territory fearlessly, and to ignite the spirit of innovation within its community. In doing so, the Church will ensure its congregation’s prosperity.∎

Roasted Vegetable Medley with Mixed Greens

Master Chef Anand Parsard

Ingredients:

2 cups spinach, washed and chopped

2 cups lettuce, washed and torn into bite-sized pieces

2 cups mixed greens, washed and chopped

2 carrots, peeled and sliced into rounds

2 potatoes, scrubbed and diced

1 sweet potato, peeled and diced

1 celery root, peeled and diced

1 cup Jerusalem artichokes (sunchokes), scrubbed and diced

1 cup mixed fall radishes, trimmed and sliced

1 red beet, peeled and diced

3 tablespoons olive oil

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 teaspoon dried thyme

Salt and pepper, to taste

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).

2. In a large mixing bowl, combine all the chopped vegetables: spinach, lettuce, mixed greens, carrots, potatoes, sweet potatoes, celery root, Jerusalem artichokes, mixed fall radishes, and red beet.

3. Drizzle the olive oil over the vegetables and add minced garlic, dried thyme, salt, and pepper. Toss everything together until the vegetables are evenly coated with the seasonings.

4. Spread the seasoned vegetables in a single layer on a large baking sheet.

5. Place the baking sheet in the preheated oven and roast the vegetables for about 25-30 minutes, or until they are tender and golden brown, stirring halfway through the cooking time for even roasting.

6. Once the vegetables are roasted to perfection, remove them from the oven and transfer them to a serving dish.

7. Serve the roasted vegetable medley with mixed greens as a delicious and colorful side dish or as a light vegetarian main course.

In the hustle and bustle of modern life, finding balance can often seem like an elusive goal. Everything calls to us, notifying us, demanding us to act without true consideration for the quality of our lives. Yet, for those of us who believe in GOD and the power of prophetic words, there exists a divine roadmap toward achieving harmony and fulfillment in every aspect of life. From the moment a prophetic word is spoken over your life by the company of prophets, to its manifestation in your everyday reality, lies a journey filled with spiritual growth, intentional actions, and unwavering faith.

Embracing the Prophetic Word

The journey toward word-life balance begins with the decision to sow your seed. If you’re invested in the future then you should commit to sowing into it. A word with a seed on it has a sweet smelling savor like none other. Once you receive a prophetic word, run to the Prophecy Now app. A log of all the prophecies given to you in this ministry are recorded for your listening pleasure. Go to sleep listening to your word and let it sink in. These divine messages, often delivered through individuals with spiritual insight and discernment, serve as a guiding light, illuminating the path toward your purpose and destiny. As believers, we are reminded in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” This is all a part of embracing your prophetic word.

Anchoring in Faith and Prayer

Upon receiving a prophetic word, it is essential to anchor yourself in faith and prayer. Just as Abraham believed God’s promise of descendants despite his old age (Genesis 15:5), our faith actsas the catalyst for the manifestation of the prophetic word in our lives.

Through fervent prayer and communion with the divine, we cultivate a deep sense of trust and alignment with God’s timing and purpose. Remember this isn’t the time to rehearse the negative repetitive thoughts about life’s challenges. This is your moment to decree and declare the fulfillment of His Word in your lifetime. Anchoring yourself in faith and prayer also looks like creating a sacred space. Just as you would ask a guest to remove their shoes before entering your home, ask your family, friends, physicians to mind their words in your period of prayer and manifestation.

Aligning Actions with the Word

Living out a prophetic word requires intentional alignment of our actions with the divine revelation received. James 2:26 reminds us, “Faith without works is dead.” Thus, we are called to actively pursue the fulfillment of the prophetic word through obedience, perseverance, and diligence in every endeavor. Open the Tarumah App. Practice giving the Tarumah and paying your tithes, it spiritually settles old events making way for the seed to manifest what’s next. By taking practical steps toward the realization of our prophetic destiny, we demonstrate our unwavering commitment to God’s plan for our lives.

Oftentimes a word of wisdom will coincide with the word of prophecy. Write it down and place it where you can see it. Having your plan of action visible is key. It challenges you daily asking, “Do you really want what you sown and prayed for?” For me personally, the answer is YES! When I am in action around my prophetic word, I am fearlessly confronting everything in my life that challenges it.

Cultivating Patience and Perseverance

In the journey toward word-life balance, patience and perseverance are indispensable virtues. Despite facing challenges and setbacks along the way, we are encouraged to remain steadfast in our faith, knowing that God’s promises are sure and unwavering. Take time to review your progress, change your posture and be actively patient. You can practice this by getting involved in the community, serving, and making an appointment with your prophetic coach. Talk about your concerns in your coaching session. Don’t deflect, you’re not there to learn about them. You’re there to be honest about you and how sometimes you allow your fearful inner child to drive the seat of your emotions. Take deep breaths, pray and move forward. As Hebrews 10:36 assures us, “You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.”

Celebrating Milestones and Miracles

As we progress on our journey, it is vital to celebrate the milestones and miracles that mark the manifestation of the prophetic word in our lives.

It may seem too early to claim victory, but it’s a prophetic act marking the move of God in your life. This is why we have the My Mastermind Journey App and the Prophetic Testimony journal. Whether it be a breakthrough in career, restoration in relationships, or healing in health, each victory serves as a testament to God’s faithfulness and provision. Commit to celebrating all wins in your life. In Psalm 126:3, we are reminded, “The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.”

Ultimately, the pursuit of word-life balance is a transformative journey that transcends the confines of earthly limitations. By embracing prophetic strategies for life advancement, we unlock the fullness of God’s promises and walk in alignment with His divine purpose for our lives. As we anchor ourselves in faith, align our actions with the word, and cultivate patience and perseverance, we step into a realm of limitless possibilities where the miraculous becomes the norm. May we continue to walk boldly in the manifestation of prophetic words, knowing that our destiny is secured in the hands of the Almighty.

“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act.” – Psalm 37:5

The key to unlocking this infinite supply is the unfolding of consciousness. That means God is revealing. God is disclosing Itself to us as indivisible Consciousness, but revealing, unfolding, and disclosing Itself to us as individual consciousness.

Therefore, aligning with God is an individual matter and must be attained through individual effort.

That means attaining it through your effort, whoever is reading this. Success will only come about in proportion to attaining some measure of spiritual consciousness.

What is Spiritual Consciousness?

According to Goldsmith, spiritual consciousness is that state of consciousness from which world beliefs have disappeared in some measure.[i] Spiritual consciousness, or in other words, Christ consciousness, is the state of consciousness that no longer reacts to things in the outer, physical realm.

We are infinite spiritual consciousness. We are the law unto our own experiences. Nothing external can have power or jurisdiction over you, nothing existing in the finite, material world. We, as spiritual consciousness, are the law unto every effect. This is why when we love, hate, or fear something in the external world, we are fooled into falling back into a state of mortal consciousness.

In our material world, people seek money and sex more often than any other earthly thing. These two things are often interchangeable in the capitalistic, secular world. This mortal consciousness puts its faith in money, while spiritual consciousness puts no faith in it.

Spiritual consciousness knows the true nature of supply. As Goldsmith puts it,

Supply is my individual consciousness. It is God consciousness individualized as me. Regardless of what my need may seem to be, whether it is a dollar bill or a yacht, it must unfold from the infinity of my own consciousness. Therefore, I take no thought either for a dollar bill or for a yacht.[ii]

This is the attitude that we must learn to adopt as we align with our spiritual consciousness, and it is precisely this attitude that we must practice until our infinite supply manifests in our reality.

[i] Joel S. Goldsmith, Consciousness Unfolding (Simon and Schuster, 2013).

[ii] Goldsmith, 6.

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John the Baptist

 Christ’s next big step on his journey is to be baptized by John, and then he will be tempted in the wilderness. In their gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke, Matthew, Mark, and Luke all talk about Jesus’ baptism. John’s gospel doesn’t speak about Jesus’ baptism directly.

Most modern theologians think that Jesus being baptized by John the Baptist is a historical event that can be known highly. Most biblical scholars see it as one of the two historical facts about Jesus that they can be sure of, along with the fact that he was crucified. They often use it as the starting point for studying the real Jesus. Nevertheless, most Christian groups think that Jesus’ baptism was an important event and is why Christians do baptisms.

John the Baptist in the Gospels

All of the Synoptic stories about Jesus’ baptism start with something about John the Baptist. They show John preaching penance and repentance for the forgiveness of sins and encouraging the poor to give alms (Luke 3:11) as he baptizes people in the desert around the Jordan River near Perea. Furthermore, he also predicts (Luke 3:16) the coming of someone “more powerful” than he is.

Later, Jesus says that John was “the Elijah who was to come” (Matthew 11:14, Mark 9:13–14), the prophet who was supposed to come before the “great and terrible day of the Lord” (Malachi 4:5). Luke also says that John had Elijah’s spirit and power (Luke 1:17). In Mark, John baptizes Jesus. When Jesus gets out of the water, he sees the Holy Spirit coming down to him like a dove, and he hears a voice from heaven saying that he is God’s Son (Mark 1:9–11). This is one of the two times in the gospels when a voice from heaven calls Jesus “Son.”

The other time is the Transfiguration.  In this event, the spirit then sends him out into the desert, where Satan tries to get him to do bad things (Mark 1:12–13). Jesus stayed in the Judean Desert and fasted for 40 days and nights. Satan came to Jesus to get him to do something terrible during this time.

Three times, Jesus was tempted by evil. Hedonism (hunger/satisfaction), Egoism (spectacular throws/power), and Materialism (kingdoms/wealth) were the temptations. In his letter, John the Evangelist calls these temptations “in the world,” “lust of eyes,” “lust of the body,” and “pride of life” (egoism). After Jesus said no to each temptation, Satan left, and Jesus went back to Galilee to start his work.

The Beginning of Pilgrimage of Christ’s Ministry

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