Kriston's Blog

Kriston Couchey

Making Righteous Judgments
Scripture says “The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually discerned. The spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself is not subject to any man's judgment: "For who has known the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him?" But we have the mind of Christ.

Having correct Judgment/Discernment is simply seeing things as the Lord sees them, with HIS MIND. The greatest failure of the current day church is that things are "judged" not by God's view, but by the way men see it, "But, the spiritual man judges (discerns) all things, but is subject to no mans judgment....

Paul did not even judge himself, he let the Lord Judge him. He was a spiritual man and put on the mind of Christ and was able to judge things as the Lord judges them. That is why he could write scripture that we hold as being the inspired wisdom of God. He was not writing from his own perspective, but out of the perspective that gave him the ability to judge all things rightly, the mind of Christ. This ability to properly discern or make right judgments is not out of ANYONES reach. One day no one will say "Know the Lord", as ALL will know Him and He will be ALL in ALL. That means we ALL will have become mature and discerning as we were created to be.

A great lack in the body is discernment, which for a child of God is the ability to discern or distinguish what is of God and what isn't. God is about changing this and there is coming a great change to those who would Repent (change your mind) and believe. It's all about whose viewpoint you have.

CARNAL MINDED CHRISTIANITY
Many spirit filled Christians practice a discernment/judgment on par with the "pre-Pentecost" Peter. Peter walked on water, had breakthrough revelation, saw Elijah and Moses, healed the sick, and cast out devils, all before Pentecost.

Yet Peter also opposed Jesus' going to the cross and was harshly rebuked by Him. Jesus told him, "You have not the things of God in mind, but the things of men. Peter went on to deny Christ.

Romans 8:5
Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.

This epidemic lack of discernment is a result of walking after the carnal or fleshly mindset. Peter exhibited this lack of discernment as to the nature of the kingdom Jesus was coming to establish, one that was IN the hearts of men based upon believing the gospel of the kingdom. He tried to establish the kingdom with the sword, even in the garden of Gethsemene, still trusting his flesh to follow the Lord. This is exactly where the church in the USA is today, and that is why it has little power to change people to become spiritual children. It is has not learned to walk fully as spiritual children itself, but has left the path to accomplish some other fleshly goal.

Many are speculating on the coming of the anti-Christ, but, the biggest anti-Christ we should be worried about is the one within ourselves; Our uncrucified flesh that wars against the Spirit. The man of sin (your and my flesh) sets up an abomination (works of the flesh) in the temple (you and me the dwelling place of God), and we accept our fleshly mindset as being like God’s (like Peter who thought he was right in his own mind).

CHANGE YOUR MIND
Repentance is about changing your mind, NOT your actions; Actions follow the changing of your mind. If you don't think about committing adultery, you are not going to commit it. "As a man thinks in his heart SO HE IS!" Paul saw himself with the faith and eyes of Christ. He believed he was more then a conqueror, Joint heir with Christ, The righteousness of God, an ambassador. Etc. He BECAME what He chose to believe.

Jesus came saying, "Repent and believe" not "stop sinning and DO", but the meaning of these words is:"change your mind and see with My eyes of faith." True discernment/judgment comes from seeing things from God's perspective.

LEADERSHIP BOUNDARIES
The issue of self appointed leaders is a problem in the church: The ASSUMPTION gifts I call them. But equally prevalent in existing church structures is the existence of truly gifted and divinely authorized vessels, whose boundaries of authority have been stretched beyond their limits, becoming inappropriate and stifling to the work of the Spirit.

It is important to recognize "boundaries" of leadership. The apostles were definitely leaders, but within certain boundaries. Within congregations and regions you have leaders, BUT with boundaries that at this time in history are hard to define or discern.
There are definitely individuals with anointings to lead (spearhead / go before). Caleb is a great example of a leader. But, HOW is that authority expressed? Even the expression of true divine authority can be done in assumption, presumption, and tradition, and not based upon the Spirit's desire.

What does real Christian leadership look like? It establishes, restores, and builds, and then gets OUT OF THE WAY so that those following behind can pass. Many spiritual leaders get to the end of their anointing and mandate for a group of people and their "followers" can go no further because they are in the way.

Paul himself had specific things He did, plant, move on, restrengthen, plant, move on, restrengthen.

There were others gifts needed to come in and impart their portion within the boundaries of their authority. Scripture says Apostles are first, prophets next, then teachers, etc. This is not necessarily a hierarchal order, this is the plurality of gifts order needed to establish foundations and equip a church.

A healthy church has apostles that plant and water. Then prophets come in, then teachers, etc. This is an order of building, not a leadership hierarchy.

I Cor. 12: 27 Now ye are the body of Christ and members in particular. And God did set certain ones in the church: first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that faculties, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.


One teacher or leader the sole source of teaching for years is a sign that a church has missed it, and lost its biblical order of building. There is no precedence in the NT for a leadership structure as practiced by nearly every Spirit filled church today.

If a school put your child in the same 2nd grade math class with the same teacher year after year, your child by age 18 would not be ready to graduate and go into the real world.
Yet, "Leaders" teach people the same class year after year and wonder why people do not mature into effective ministers they were created to be. It’s because they have received all a “leader” has, and its time to let them move on to the next class. It does not mean they cannot relate or impart wisdom and encouragement as Paul did. they must let go and watch the people grow.

YOU SHOULD ALL BE TEACHING BY NOW = GODS DESIRE AND INTENT
The reason the congregations did not ALL become teachers as Paul rebuked them for not becoming was because somewhere along the line there was a breakdown in the building process. Someone built with wood, hay or stubble, and Paul had to go back and tear down the false doctrines and restrengthen true foundations he had laid.

There is a non-hierarchal pattern of leadership. In its simplist form, someone goes before in a realm of spiritual life and teaches others to enter that realm as well. But that does not make them a perpetual leader of that person.

I can tell you there was a time my wife and I received much insight and teaching from a man that taught about dreams, visions, and hearing God. That foundational teaching of hearing God has been a basis for our spiritual lives. He is truly a leader, has led us into these truths, and still has the anointing to lead. But his heart is to see others walk in this revelation and not depend upon him. I am not subject to him, and he is not subject to me either. But, we relate with friendship and mutually submitting and receiving one another. He could have started a "church" with him teaching every Sunday for the next 20 years, and everyone looking to him, but what a travesty to have that happen. He is not my leader. no man is my leader, nor should they be yours.

"Leaders" or elders can act as if they have ALL the fullness individually that people need, when in reality "leaders" (ascension gifted individuals) have specific roles with a specific task to accomplish. Elders are simply the mature; they oversee, counsel, protect, and teach. Some are ascension gifts as well, but they are not the leader, Jesus is.... Too many take on the role that the traditional church has made for men, leader and head of the church. This is not their place, though most take it without a second thought.
Paul said: "For you should now be teaching others..."

We ought to see 20 or 30 people mature elders able to freely teach, train and preach in a congregation of 100 people at a high level of discernment and revelation. This I believe is the intention of the Lord, that mature sons and daughters be raised. But, we have lowered the bar and made men dependant upon a leader like Moses, hearing God FOR the people.

Maturity is an individual embracing and manifesting consistently both the divine nature and authority of God. It is awesome to see the Spirit and Life released by mature and immature vessels that are given place to exercise the gifts and fruit of the spirit within the body. What a loss to not have this NORMAL happening. All of this done with the protection and encouragement of elders (mature).

It's time for some leaders who know better to say like Paul, “You should be teaching by now!” There should be a team of mature, Spirit led people, not dependant on the wisdom of one man. In many cases we don't have mature, discerning spirit led people raised up because many "leaders" (like Diotrephes in III John) love being the center of attention. The Spirit inspired pattern of building is ignored because of men's pride and grip on their OWN ministries (mini-try’s).

MOSES IS DEAD
As we walk further into this age of the kingdom and receive the land of promise, one thing Joshua (Yeshua=Jesus) announces is MOSES IS DEAD! No more does a man hear God for you.
The leader is now the Lord Jesus Christ (Joshua). Like the ascension gifts, the Judges were for the sake of restoring relationship to God so that the people might learn to DIRECTLY hear relate to Him. Once that relationship is restored the need for judges/Ascension gifts is ended. This is scriptural according to testimony of Ephesians.

Like Gideon, the wise prophet or judge will respond to those crying out for an man as king: "I will not be king over you; the Lord is your king!" This King mentality IS the issue of leadership in the church today, and this IS what people constantly cry out for. There is no other type of leadership structure endorsed in scripture other then, "God is King" So why do we cling to the mold set 1700 years ago by the Hierarchal church? The wilderness wanderings of the church age are over. MOSES IS DEAD!!!!

CHURCH IS FAMILY
If we see the church properly as the family that it is, we start to recognize that in a family, the FATHER is the head, and the children are not subject to each other perpetually, they are only given authority to care for their immature and needy brothers and sisters until they gain strength and maturity to care for themselves. In turn, those who become mature then care for others in need until they are complete as well.

If the leaders you know are not first and foremost friends you have mutual submission with, then it's time to find friends who know how to truly lead in the boundaries of their authority.

Kriston Couchey

Slave mentalities that keep you from entering the Promised Land
By Kriston Couchey
March 24, 2008

Slave mentality #1: Abandoning your own personal authority and responsibility over to men’s leadership instead of walking in ones own authority and responsibility before God.

Ex 19:6a and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and a holy nation.

God wanted all of the people to serve as a nation of priests, but the people ran in fear after God spoke to them and they were too afraid to listen. The Israelites told Moses to act as a mediator between themselves and God because they feared to hear Him speak and feared to lose their lives.

Ex 20:19 And they said unto Moses, Speak thou with us, and we will hear; but let not God speak with us, lest we die.

They gave up their authority and responsibility to walk before God in the place he had called all the Israelites to, and they quickly fell into disobedience and unbelief that scattered their bones across the desert.

Today’s church is no different. Men have given their place over to leaders to “hear God” for them. Example: A young man this week told me he kept asking God to give him a mentor. God then asked him essentially, “Who do you want to mentor you? Me? or someone else?” In the same way, many have looked to men for wisdom, and have placed themselves under men’s authority and teachings and failed to hear the voice of God for themselves. These will die in the desert, hobbling on the crutches of men’s teachings and revelations, but never learning to walk with confidence, free from dependency upon men.

Slave mentality #2: Being suspicious of God’s motives, and not truly believing He has good intentions toward me.

Num 14:3 And wherefore doth Jehovah bring us unto this land, to fall by the sword? Our wives and our little ones will be a prey: were it not better for us to return into Egypt?
Ex. 17:3 And the people thirsted there for water; and the people murmured against Moses, and said, Why is this that you have brought us up out of Egypt, to kill us and our children and our cattle with thirst?

Knowing the way in which God delivered them from Egypt, the Israelites become discouraged, anxious, and murmured in doubt, thinking that God was not with them, nor did they believe He really had their best interest in mind.

Ex 17: 7 And he called the name of the place Massah,(temptation) and Meribah,(contention) because of the chiding of the children of Israel, and because they tempted the LORD, saying, Is the LORD among us, or not?

This manifests as doubt, complaining, depression, discouragement, and anxious thoughts that should be put to rest by the reality of God’s love (as shown in our deliverance by the sacrifice of His own Son). In the wilderness, this slave mentality must be discarded and a deep conviction of God’s goodness and good intentions toward us must drive out the complaining, discouragement, and mistrust.

God comforted Joshua who entered into the Promised Land with these words:
Joshua 1: 9 Have not I commanded you? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be you dismayed: for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.


Slave mentality #3: Seeing the works and hearing the words of God, but not knowing His ways.

Ps 103:7 He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the children of Israel.

The Israelites saw the mighty works of God, and the elders of the people even received a portion of the Spirit that was on Moses and prophesied. However, they did not know the mind and ways of the Lord, or understand Him as Moses did.

John 15:15 Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you
Mt 7:22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? and in your name have cast out devils? and in your name done many wonderful works?

Many there are that serve God, do His works, and speak His words, but they do not stand in the council of the Lord and know Him intimately. They have not united in heart and mind with the heart and purposes of God. They hear wisdom and mimic her words, but wisdom has not united herself with them. It is with their mouths they honor God while their hearts are far from Him.

Jer 23:22 But if they had stood in my council, then had they caused my people to hear my words, and had turned them from their evil way, and from the evil of their doings.

Slave mentality #4: Walking in unbelief that says we cannot obtain complete victory over the enemy, be it personal sin or the wickedness of a generation.

Num 13:33 And there we saw the Nephilim, the sons of Anak, who come of the Nephilim: and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers, and so we were in their sight.

This was the final chapter for the Israelites who died in the wilderness. It was at this point of unbelief that their fate was sealed and they never entered the Promised Land. The people cried and even tried to stone Joshua and Caleb who told them not to fear. God told the people they would not go into the Land if they were over 20 years old, except Joshua and Caleb.

Heb 3: 17 And with whom was he displeased forty years? was it not with them that sinned, whose bodies fell in the wilderness? 18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that were disobedient? 19 And we see that they were not able to enter in because of unbelief.

There is unbelief in the church taught as wisdom. A wisdom of men that says, “You will never be perfect, and will always sin.” “God understands and doesn't expect more of us.” It is an unbelief that says “God cannot bring us to the perfection He expects and calls for in scripture.” It also says, "stay small and obscure, lest your pride get the best of you and you fall." It also says, "Don't call yourself a prophet, an apostle, a teacher, or a leader. You are prideful to consider yourself anything more then everyone else around you. Stay in the wilderness where it is safe and comfortable and no one can get hurt in battle." What a spirit of unbelief!

This unbelief is suspicious of those who would overcome and take a place of victory, and attacks those who try to rise up in faith like Joshua and Caleb.

Many cry and whine about how big and bad the evil giants are, They feel we are just too weak in our flesh. They prefer to fight manageable battles. They do not realize they are whining and murmuring against God. He expects them to rise up with spiritual weapons, and in faith take the land. This generation will die with the meat still in their mouths. Feeding on things of the flesh.

Heb 4:1 Let us fear therefore, lest haply, a promise being left of entering into his rest, any one of you should seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed we have had good tidings preached unto us, even as also they: but the word of hearing did not profit them, because it was not united by faith with them that heard

Conclusion
God is raising up a generation of warriors who will go in strong and unwavering faith to a place of promise that has yet to be seen among the elect. They will obtain a level of holiness and perfection that will be a result of their choosing to believe the impossible. They will tear down strongholds of the enemy and laugh at giants that oppose and threaten them. They will fight the good fight in spite of the odds and whole world against them. This they will do by faith. They will hear and obey, and thus put the enemy to flight as they establish the kingdom of God upon the earth. Through much trial and persecution, they will see Him for whom they have longed coming in the clouds to establish his saints from the ages in their place. And they will possess the kingdom.

1Jo 5:4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world: and this is the victory that overcomes the world, even our faith.

In Him
Kriston Couchey

The Coming Civil War
Kriston Couchey
May 23, 2006
The Coming Civil War
There is a Civil war at the door of the church that is about much more then whether men should interact freely with angels, or visit the third heaven at will. What currently is being fought about can be compared to brothers fist fighting in a playground. While what is coming can be compared to brothers in the American Civil War shedding each others Blood.
Same Causes as the American Civil War
Truly the seriousness of the nature of this battle has it's roots in the same issues of the American Civil War. The preserving of the UNION / unity of the Spirit through mutual submission, and Freedom from Slavery / Spiritual Freedom
I have two personal examples of what the Lord has shown me about the future of the church and the Unity and Freedom that are being fought for.

Union / Unity of the Spirit through Mutual Submission
I was given an invitation to minister internationally and was ready to go, except for one thing. My wife had misgivings about it. As a matter of fact my wife and I had our differences of opinions on many subjects including ministry and money. I felt in this she was just too reluctant and cautious, this was MY ministry trip and my opportunity to exercise a new anointing and the Lord had given me.

The Lord then spoke to me: "Listen to your wife and submit to her in this". WHAT? I am the spiritual authority of the household and this is my ministry! "Be in unity with her." Wow! , I repented and did as I was told. I had a talk with my wife that changed everything: how I see ministry and my role in my family.

I determined to be in unity with her in everything we do. That does not mean she runs things. It means I will not do anything that she has a lack of peace about; money, ministry, etc. We are now moving forward in unity, with small times of readjustment. It is a check for me as my wife has much more discernment then I on many things. She herself is submitted to me and seeks my approval on things, though I trust her enough I usually say, "Dear, If you feel you should do it I trust you, go ahead." So we have mutually submitted to one another.

A Picture of the Body
The Lord showed me this as a picture of divine authority in the body that submits to and honors one another's place and gifts. In the same way we will see unity in the body as leadership loses its need to rule and dominate the people they have been entrusted with.

Freedom from Slavery / Spiritual Freedom
The Lord prompted me to start a home prayer group a few months ago. I did not have a clue as to what the Lord was doing at first, but now I understand much better His purpose in this.
There have been some life changing revelations in this prayer group through others whose revelational gifts surpass mine. As of late, the prophetic revelation and words of knowledge through this small group have been amazing. I just sit back and watch as God moves. I "watch" the proceedings with anticipation, and by the Spirit at times step forward to "establish" or confirm something.

I could say we've become both a worship and ministry team. Each one having a part. But let me tell you about these free flowing and gifted ministers.
Let me begin with one of the prophetic seers in the group. She has profound visions of spiritual signifigance. She is 11, and is my daughter Faith, her visions are accurate and timely.

Then there is the young man who has lately gotten such specific words of knowledge it's scary. That would be my 8 year old son Jonathon. He has ministered healing, direction, and confirmation to people.

Lets not forget Grace my 9 year old. She interprets visions and has a heart of mercy and grace to pray for the sick.

My 5 year old Frank has also lately been making prophetic statements, such as, 'God says "No more watching bad movies".'

We meet with a couple whose gift is encouragement, the husband has a prophetic seer gift, and the heart of the father to release His love.

All of these are FREE to exercise their gifts and anointing as the Spirit leads. Am I jealous or threatened by these people? NO, my greatest joy is to see them develope in the freedom and grace of God in the calls and gifts on their life, and not just the "supernatural ones"

It was for Freedom Christ has set God's Children Free
How precious are the children of God who have been relegated to tithers (supporters), ushers, and pew warmers by "God's anointed leaders". How precious are those who have truth and direction from God that have no voice becuase the "leader" does not need them or thier input.

Churches are missing God because they have cut off the voice of the Spirit in the children of God and made them thier slaves to fullfill thier own purposes and vision.

The Battle
The battle is truly because the jealous and threatened Saul, (the user and abuser of his own anointing and of others anointings) tosses spears and drives out David (who carries the anointing after the heart of God).

The Freedom in Christ to be what you were called to be cannot be tolerated by Saul, as it will undermine, expose, and make void the foundations he has built to keep him and his kingdom from falling. People will need him no more if they are free, so he must war with David to stop people from finding freedom and fullfilling thier purpose in life.

Civil War, coming to your region soon...