Touch Not Mine Anointed

We are preparing up for the upcoming DANCE MINISTRY DETOX conference hosted by Rain Rein Reign Ministries July 16th-18th, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada.

I will spend the next few weeks highlighting several classes and subjects. This will truly be a life-altering encounter! We pray that you will be able to join us...

Register TODAY!

Or call (877) 420-4777 for more information.

Touch Not Mine Anointed

We are living in a fantasy if we think that Christians in ministry do not struggle with the flesh. When we are anointed, people with various weaknesses will be drawn to us. The more effective we are in the Body, the greater the temptation becomes. We should not use the trust and guidance that others may seek from us as an opportunity to indulge our own lusts and desires. We are to walk in righteousness and sin not.

The enemy wants to lure each of us into immorality. Because ministers of movement use our bodies for the glory of God, the adversary also wants to use our bodies to glorify himself. We have to resist the temptation to indulge in sexual sin if we have to run like our lives depend on it! We have to build ourselves up enough on faith in the Word to be able to flee the entrapments of the flesh.

Frequent travel, fellowship with each other, and affection between co-laborers can result in inappropriate relationships if we allow our boundaries to be compromised. In the church setting, frequent hugs, kisses, fellowship dinners, and casual conversation abound. We must be able to recognize when brotherly love develops into something more serious. Although it is natural to desire companionship and affection, outside of the Lord's guidelines, we can fall into temptation.

This concern does not only apply to dealings with the opposite gender. The world needs a Savior now more than ever before. If we are struggling with any areas of physical sin in our lives today, we can be forgiven. We must refrain from touching what is holy unto the Lord.

This class is open to ages 18 years of age and up and will be no-holds-barred! Come and heed the warning to touch not the Lord's anointed, and receive the tools to walk upright in life and ministry.

Touch Not Mine Anointed
Workshop Instructor: Rekesha Pittman
Founder, Rain Rein Reign Ministries www.rainreinreign.com
Artistic Director, Reign Dance Company www.reigndancecompany.com
Owner, Reignaissance Designs www.reignaissance.com

(New King James Version)

Genesis 39:7-10
And it came to pass after these things that his master’s wife cast longing eyes on Joseph, and she said, “Lie with me.” But he refused and said to his master’s wife, “Look, my master does not know what is with me in the house, and he has committed all that he has to my hand. There is no one greater in this house than I, nor has he kept back anything from me but you, because you are his wife. How then can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?” So it was, as she spoke to Joseph day by day, that he did not heed her, to lie with her or to be with her.

1 Chronicles 16:21-22
He permitted no man to do them wrong; yes, He rebuked kings for their sakes, saying, “Do not touch My anointed ones, and do My prophets no harm.”

Ephesians 5:3
But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints

Colossians 3:5
Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

The Secret is Out!

Even people with the best intentions can find themselves in the middle of controversy. In creative arts ministries, many participants are passionate and expressive. This passion can often move beyond choreography and can lead to very active conversation. One of the most destructive forces in relationships and ministries can be idle words. Our most trusted friends can become our most vehement accusers. This does not mean that we must walk in fear when sharing our concerns with others, but we must exercise wisdom when we speak.

Wisdom teaches us when to speak and when to be quiet. We do not have to offer commentary for every subject that arises. In dance ministry rehearsals, one complaint or remark can be stopped if no one offers an affirming response. As soon as someone starts spouting negative commentary about garments, choreography, schedules, and fellow team members, we can quell the voice of division when we choose to take the high road.

Disagreements with fellow dancers may make us curious to hear about what has befallen them. Instead of praying for others, it may be tempting to think that the Lord is taking revenge on our behalfs. We each have our own share of repenting to do. Instead of spreading the word about the latest news concerning "them," we should be even more diligent to watch and pray for each other. When we govern ourselves and our mouths according to righteousness, we will discover that we are peacemakers and thus blessed.

Psalm 101:5 (NKJV)
Whoever secretly slanders his neighbor, him I will destroy; The one who has a haughty look and a proud heart, him I will not endure.

Proverbs 11:13 (NKJV)
A talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is of a faithful spirit conceals a matter.

Proverbs 25:9 (NKJV)
Debate your case with your neighbor, and do not disclose the secret to another

Luke 12:3 (NKJV)
Therefore whatever you have spoken in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have spoken in the ear in inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.

Name Recognition

In the business networking arena, it is often said, "It's not what you know, it's who you know." In Kingdom business, it is about what we know and Who we know. The unfortunate practice of boasting about personal associations, affiliations, network connections, and social groups is that many dance ministries have become dependent on prominent people to look for validation for themselves. If we are found diligent in our work for the Lord, He will raise us up without man's appointment.

Building accountability and righteous relationships is great. If we find ourselves connected to effective ministers of the gospel, we can be provided with very valuable widsom and instruction. When we use the names of others to promote endorsement of ourselves, we are relying on the world's way of promotion. If we make a habit of telling others about our popular influences, when scandal or setback befalls that person, we will also be attached to the resulting controversy.

The only name that we should boast about is the name of Jesus. Jesus came in the name of the Father, and not man. This does not mean that we do not give honor to those who are worthy of it. We must not aim to gain fame by our affiliations. The Bible records many times in which selected leaders were propelled into prominence because of dedication and faithfulness to the Lord. If we count on our earthly connections to get us to a place of success, we will realize that man's intervention is temporary, while God's is eternal.

Joshua 6:27 (NKJV)
So the LORD was with Joshua, and his fame spread throughout all the country.

2 Samuel 5:12 (NKJV)
So David knew that the LORD had established him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted His kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.

1 Chronicles 29:25 (NKJV)
So the LORD exalted Solomon exceedingly in the sight of all Israel, and bestowed on him such royal majesty as had not been on any king before him in Israel.

Job 36:7 (NKJV)
He does not withdraw His eyes from the righteous; But they are on the throne with kings, For He has seated them forever, and they are exalted.

Matthew 23:12 (NKJV)
And whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.

The Cutoff Point

We cannot flirt with ungodliness and expect to flourish. In the arts ministries, temptation abounds as gifts and perceived anointings become very attractive to people. Because of pride of association, many people will flock to popular dance ministers and worshippers for the wrong reasons. We aim daily to walk closely with the Lord and obey His Word. There may also be times when sin will try to overtake us. We must resist evil and continue to walk in the light.

If there are friends that we fellowship with regularly who practice sinful lifestyles, we are foolish if we think that we will not be influenced by them. This does not mean that we will do the same things that others do, but it can open the pathway for us to relax our standards of holy living. Spending time talking on the phone with people who are constantly gossiping or spreading divisive information can also lead us away from the path of righteousness. We must review all of our close associations frequently and make any cuts that are necessary to continue standing.

We do not have to be unloving or insensitive when we have to sever relationships that are no longer lining up with the call of God on our lives. Maintaining co-dependent relationships that are detrimental to our lives and ministries must not be allowed to continue unchecked. When the Lord reveals to us that it is time to move on, we must ask for the wisdom and timing make the necessary changes without regrets.

Amos 3:3 (NKJV)
Can two walk together, unless they are agreed?

Psalm 37:9 (NKJV)
For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the LORD, They shall inherit the earth.

Psalm 94:23 (NKJV)
He has brought on them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; The LORD our God shall cut them off.

2 Corinthians 6:14 (NKJV)
Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness?

James 4:4 (NKJV)
Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

Home Wreckers

We must not use dance ministry involvement as an excuse to neglect our personal responsibilities. Though believers should be disciples, truthfully speaking, we are not required to dance to share the gospel with mankind. It is a wonderful blessing to be talented enough to dance with creativity, passion, and conviction. It is a travesty if those who dwell in our own households refer to us as hypocrites.

Spending unreasonable amounts of time in dance rehearsals and travelling for months at a time may need to be reconsidered. If there is friction in our homes that is not based on jealousy or unbelief, we must pray to the Lord for direction. We should be good stewards over our relationships and invest in the salvation of our own families. Talking about dance ministry constantly while shortchanging our loved ones in time, attention, and training can damage our credibility as movement ministers.

The influences on a single dancer vs. a married one may greatly differ. Being a parent of a child or teenager may require someone to balance his or her timesheet between home and ministry. It is often said that ministry begins at home. We need not stray from maintaining the house of the Lord for the benefit of the Body. There are many of us that need to take the time to evaluate and then re-evaluate what factors may be contributing to the demise of our own homes. Walking upright before the Lord starts with each of us individually. If the truth of our lives were put on display today in a dance ministry presentation, what would the message say about us?

Proverbs 3:33 (NKJV)
The curse of the LORD is on the house of the wicked, but He blesses the home of the just.

Proverbs 7:11-12 (NKJV)
She was loud and rebellious, her feet would not stay at home. At times she was outside, at times in the open square, lurking at every corner.

1 Timothy 5:8 (NKJV)
But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever.

Hebrews 11:7 (NKJV)
By faith Noah, being divinely warned of things not yet seen, moved with godly fear, prepared an ark for the saving of his household, by which he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

Somebody Bigger Than You and I

The vastness of God cannot be comprehended by mankind. There is no one church, denomination, organization, or culture that can provide the sole definition of Who God is. This should allow us to be more open to different expressions of movement. Though the Lord advocates creative diversity, not all movement done to gospel music is done with pure intentions. Our dance ministries should continue to reflect the diversity of our knowledge of God.

The Bible gives us guidelines concerning the attributes of the Almighty. When we are selecting songs to use in ministry, we must search to verify that the words of the song agree with the Word. Just as every person who proclaims to be a prophet may not indeed be one, every songwriter is not guaranteed to be inspired by God. We also should not rely too heavily on one artist or music style. This may limit our ability to see the bigger picture in the long run.

Many ministries have a sincere desire to dance, but not all dancers can attest to having had a personal experience with Him. Sharing our testimonies through dance will be most effective to someone who can relate. There is also the invitation for those watching us move to experience transformation when we embody the Word. We can never be locked into thinking that we know how the Lord will reveal Himself to someone else. We may have encountered Him in a church setting, but our neighbor may have a different testimony. This should encourage us to know that there will never be too many dance ministries. There is enough of God to go around for everyone.

1 Kings 8:27 (KNJV)
"But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built!

2 Chronicles 2:6 (KNJV)
But who is able to build Him a temple, since heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him? Who am I then, that I should build Him a temple, except to burn sacrifice before Him?

2 Chronicles 6:18 (KNJV)
"But will God indeed dwell with men on the earth? Behold, heaven and the heaven of heavens cannot contain You. How much less this temple which I have built!

John 21:25 (KNJV)
And there are also many other things that Jesus did, which if they were written one by one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written. Amen.

TLC

Rivarly and competition brewing from the inside of a dance ministry can be more detrimental than any attack that the enemy could launch against us. Because people have various reasons for joining the dance ministry, too often the focus is of an individual need, rather than a true concern for the souls of others. Some dance out of pain. Some people want to tell a personal testimony through dance. Others are simply convinced that they are truly talented and want to showcase the gift for the world to see.

If we spend just as much time cultivating the ministry as we do on dance routines, then we may see less bitterness, heartache, and wounded servants in the movement ministry sector. We must never forget that we are dealing with people who have feelings, and many times, emotional scars. This does not mean that we tolerate every kind of behavior from people. It just means that we need to exhibit more spiritual fruit than ever before.

It does not matter if we are ministry leader or a passive supporter of the dance. What counts is when the Lord can say "well done" concerning how we conduct ourselves and care for His people. If we make a practice of exhibiting tender, loving care, then we will fulfill one of the greatest mandates on our lives: To love one another.

Leviticus 19:18 (NKJV)
You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.

Psalm 145:9 (NKJV)
The LORD is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works.

John 15:12 (NKJV)
This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you.

Colossians 3:12-14 (NKJV)
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

1 Corinthians 12:25-27 (NKJV)
That there should be no schism in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now you are the body of Christ, and members individually.

Two-by-Two

We limit ourselves when we stay hidden inside the four walls of our own churches and residences. In the ministry of dance, we can grow beyond our limited experiences when we fellowship with others who desire to serve the Lord. We do not reach out to other ministries for recruitment purposes, but for Kingdom unity and support. Our trust remains in the Lord, and not in others. Though we receive advice and engage in conversation, we learn through our relationships how to discern the voice of the Lord.

There are certain customs and traditions that may be unique to our communities. When we travel and extend our understanding of dance ministry, we will experience many ways to glorify the Lord through dance, praise, and worship. This is not to replicate what we see, but to realize that there are no limits concerning God.

When we have God-ordained relationships in life and ministry, we will remain accountable concerning our own ministries and place in the Body. Healthy relationships birth creativity and community. I praise the Lord for my many friends in ministry all over the world. Knowing them has helped me to stand in awe of the wonderful diversity of God. Being able to travel has inspired me as I obeserve the creation of God from the sky and the highways. How wonderous are His works!

Proverbs 12:26 (NKJV)
The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray.

Ecclesiastes 4:9 (NKJV)
[The Value of a Friend] Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor.

Luke 10:1 (NKJV)
After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.

Ephesians 4:16 (NKJV)
From whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.

Publicity Stunts

The entertainment world does it all the time. Relationships are manufactured to create publicity for one or more people in an effort to gain popularity, address rumors, or to promote an upcoming release. The same thing is happening in the church.

Dance ministries are hooking up with Jesus in name, but deep down they are really looking for a platform to showcase themselves. Some dancers never have a personal conversation with the Lord, yet claim to know him in front of the congregation. Some even claim to be in love with Jesus, but pass telephone numbers and text messages to that attractive person across the aisle. Some even go home right after dancing to commit sin on a regular basis.

Making a name for ouselves and using the dance ministry to benefit our selfish desires is not what we are commissioned to do. If your desire is only for fame, popularity, financial gain, and a seat with the "best of the best," by all means, go for it. Please, just leave Jesus out of it...

He answered and said to them, “Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written:

‘This people honors Me with their lips,
But their heart is far from Me.
And in vain they worship Me,
Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men

(Mark 7:6-7)