Prophesying over someone is an interesting thing. In general, the more faith you have, the more clearly you can receive from the Holy Spirit and give prophecy to someone else (Romans 12:6). General prophetic words are good, and so are specific ones! Yet there is a safer, 'easier' way to prophecy that can sometimes be overlooked.
"Then Yahweh said to me, 'You have seen well, for I am watching over my word to perform it.'" Jeremiah 1:12
The written word of Yahweh stands forever. It is the most sure word of prophecy (2 Peter 1:19). It cannot fail, because God Himself is watching over it.
In a sense, the written Word is an example of 'self-fulfilling prophecy'. Our Heavenly Father fulfills it! The promises of God are a self-sowing seed. They are enough, and they will bear fruit without any outside human help. These written promises are the "smallest seeds" that, even without observation or assistance, soon blossom and provide covering for the oppressed (Matthew 13:32).
Once we've released the Word as prophecy, we've done our job. We don't have to think about it. We don't even have to pray about it (although those things are wonderful). This kind of prophetic word is inhabited by the Wind of the Spirit, and the Holy Spirit can take care of things from there.
If we prophecy over someone out of love, just imagine how much more Love the Father has for that person. And how much more eager is He in intending to show it! He takes it from there. There is a trust activated after we release personal prophecy. We need to know that God is faithful--more faithful than we are.
This is all something I've been learning. Sometimes the Holy Spirit will tell me a verse, like "Psalm 33:8". I don't have that verse memorized, but He does (He's got a better memory, too)! And whenever He shows you something, it usually pertains to something you're going to right now.
Prophesying Proverbs 24:4 over someone is a perfect example of this kind of thing. Whether you prophecy a verse you know, or a verse number you don't know, God is going to back it! He's the One who brings the important to your remembrance. He's the One who teaches you how to prophecy, and He's the One who teaches you how to pray.
Who knows, Prov. 24:4 may just be a life verse for that person. It may guide them in 30 years when they're opening up a Bed and Breakfast. The important thing is to hear the passion of the Spirit.
Showing posts with label Prophecy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Prophecy. Show all posts
Sunday, November 29, 2015
Saturday, August 8, 2015
Video Journal: Visions and Fruit
This is what the LORD says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the ancient paths, ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you will find rest for your souls"
Jeremiah 6:16
God has given us as Christians lots of ways to receive direction from Him. He allows us to know the unknowable so that we can confidently walk along that ancient path.
The Holy Spirit's been giving increased guidance through visions recently. There's a measure of foresight He reveals so that we can walk how He wants us to. It's called the spirit of prophecy! (Revelations 19:10) God's foresight--what He shows us--is always given to bring us closer to Jesus.
So, here's some recent stuff the LORD's been doing....enjoy the high quality video! (well, I thought it was uploaded in HD...oh well)
“In the last days” God said, “I will pour out my Holy Spirit upon all mankind, and your sons and daughters shall prophesy, and your young men shall see visions, and your old men dream dreams.”
Joel 2:28
Saturday, July 11, 2015
Video Journal: Angelic Visitation
Regarding the angels, he says, "He sends his angels like the winds, his servants like flames of fire."
Hebrews 1:7
"Believe in the Lord your God and you shall be established; believe and remain steadfast to His prophets and you shall prosper." 2 Chronicles 20:20
Hebrews 1:7
"Believe in the Lord your God and you shall be established; believe and remain steadfast to His prophets and you shall prosper." 2 Chronicles 20:20
Wednesday, May 13, 2015
Video: Building Faith--It takes Positive Reinforcement!
Faith comes from hearing (Romans 10:17). The more faith we have in God, the more equipped we are to have Him speak to us. And the more equipped we are, the more He can give us the specifics (Mark 4:11)!
Each person sees (hears) in part, according to their measure of faith. As we hear, we speak, and the inner witness of the Holy Spirit takes us onwards into specifics. As faith is built, God's knowledge is revealed. That's when words of knowledge, words of wisdom, words of prophecy flow.
I'm not aware of anyone who received more accurate words of knowledge than William Branham. Now, I do think he got off base, especially near the end of his life, when it came to his theology...but I believe he was a child of God who the Spirit used in amazing ways.
What an example of how faith makes a way for the prophetic to flow. What an example of the Spirit of prophecy! If more people in the body of Christ operated in even a fraction of this insight, I think we'd be making a lot more disciples. Praise God!
"We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith..." Romans 12:6
Each person sees (hears) in part, according to their measure of faith. As we hear, we speak, and the inner witness of the Holy Spirit takes us onwards into specifics. As faith is built, God's knowledge is revealed. That's when words of knowledge, words of wisdom, words of prophecy flow.
I'm not aware of anyone who received more accurate words of knowledge than William Branham. Now, I do think he got off base, especially near the end of his life, when it came to his theology...but I believe he was a child of God who the Spirit used in amazing ways.
What an example of how faith makes a way for the prophetic to flow. What an example of the Spirit of prophecy! If more people in the body of Christ operated in even a fraction of this insight, I think we'd be making a lot more disciples. Praise God!
"We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith..." Romans 12:6
Thursday, April 23, 2015
All About Visions: Sharing the Message
**For the previous post in this series on visions, see this link:
All About Visions: Discerning the Meanings
So, say that the Lord gives a vision. It may be come in personal prayer, it may come while praying with others, it may come unexpectedly. It may be an open vision. Either way, it's a gift from God, and that's awesome! And it's likely that the Lord will give us ourselves the interpretation, also. (If not, all the more reason to share!)
We all see in part (1 Corinthians 13:9), so it may just be that God withholds the meaning from us--even if we were the one who had the vision-- so that the faith of everyone can be built up. If we are in a corporate setting with other believers, I think it's safe to assume that any God-given vision can be shared in order to obtain the full revelation on it.
So, we receive a message, a vision or mental picture from God. We will probably get some sort of interpretation. What should we do with it? Often, we should share! Often...but not all the time. Let's look at a few responses we might have after God gives a vision. Keep in mind that there are a lot of variables here. But more than that, know that if God can give a vision, He can also give the receiver a knowledge of what to do with it.
Keep in mind that many times, vision are for our own edification and upliftment. They may not be meant to share. But the following categories can apply to that, too:
1) We share the vision--not knowing ourselves exactly what it means
Like I said, if we are surrounded by loving brothers and sisters in Christ, this could happen often! God may want us to share, so that someone else can be edified in getting the interpretation. Or, He may want us to share because the vision is meant to prophetically apply to someone else present, in a way only they could understand. It can take a level of boldness to just throw the message out there, but we can have faith that it can and will benefit someone else. We probably won't know how--but God does!
It's also possible that a vision is shared and several people receive a personal interpretation that is perfect for them. And that's awesome! Every vision God gives is perfect, in accordance with His Word, so this kind of simultaneous edification can be hoped for and expected.
2) We share the vision and our own interpretation
So, God gives a vision and also gives us that knowing into it's primary meaning. Then we should share both the vision and it's interpretation. It may apply to just one person, or it may apply to a large group of people. It may apply to your home church, or to the Church in general. The Lord may give me a vision that is just meant to build up Vanessa...or He may give Vanessa one that is meant to build up several people.
Don't be surprised if you get the vision while in prayer for one person, and then realize that it also applies to several others later on down the road. Christians are of one mind (hopefully...), and it's pretty common for God to 'recycle' a vision and use it over a variety of people. His timing is intricate and perfect!
Also don't be surprised if, after sharing, others have a different interpretation for what you saw. You yourself probably received the primary meaning...but not necessarily! Even so, there's almost always more than one meaning. The fact that many people are contributing their own interpretations is good--it means that you are all digging further into the revelation!
3) We don't share the vision--it just gives us a foundation for our prophecy or prayer
This is also pretty common. Say you're in prayer, and the Lord is giving visions that help you know what to pray for. He probably doesn't expect you to share all of them. It's more so a case of doing only what you see the Father doing (John 5:19). These visions are being delivered so that we can understand how to pray His will onto the earth. Once they are given, it's our responsibility to 'pray into them', so to speak.
4) We don't share the vision--it's not yet a 'now' word
The revelation that God gave you may just be waiting for that appointed time. (Habakkuk 2:3) We need to deliver a vision when God says so! Often, He wants us to share right away, but sometimes we may need to hold back the message for a season. I find that God likes to come in at just the right time. He creates better stories than we do. So, we need to be in tune with Him...it may be that He tells us or leads us into not sharing right away. In this case, the vision may not be prophetically attuned to the 'now'...but it may be 'waiting' for God's hand to move, so that after He moves, we can deliver to this or that person a confirmation on what just happened. God wants all of His words to be released in their season.
5) We don't share the vision--it's just for us
We don't share the vision, because it's encouragement from God to us that deals with personal issues. There are a lot of things that I don's share. God may want us to lay low for awhile. He may want us to withhold from sharing what He's doing in a certain area of our lives. Maybe He's forming a testimony, or maybe He's going to allow us to overcome a certain major struggle. Maybe at that point He'll prompt us to share. We'll see!
It isn't always a good idea to share if other people won't understand. Jesus said not to throw our pearls to pigs--not to disclose spiritual gifts to the undiscerning (Matthew 7:6). This is especially true if the vision God gave is symbolic. A non-spiritual person just won't get it! Only a spiritual person--someone filled with the Holy Spirit--can lovingly discern all things (1 Corinthians 2:15). We don't want to risk being trampled and having our faith mocked.
In general, some things are better left withheld. At least until God says share! If He does, then trust that He's opened the door to an awesome opportunity. It may be that the vision He gave you will apply to a nonbeliever in ways that you yourself couldn't imagine. That's what personal prophecy is all about. It shows the reality and redemption of Jesus! But I'm hesitant to go around sharing every symbolic vision.
More posts on visions in the near future. I feel that this is a very important topic. God wants us to be able to convey the word! So, more on this later.
All About Visions: Discerning the Meanings
So, say that the Lord gives a vision. It may be come in personal prayer, it may come while praying with others, it may come unexpectedly. It may be an open vision. Either way, it's a gift from God, and that's awesome! And it's likely that the Lord will give us ourselves the interpretation, also. (If not, all the more reason to share!)
We all see in part (1 Corinthians 13:9), so it may just be that God withholds the meaning from us--even if we were the one who had the vision-- so that the faith of everyone can be built up. If we are in a corporate setting with other believers, I think it's safe to assume that any God-given vision can be shared in order to obtain the full revelation on it.
So, we receive a message, a vision or mental picture from God. We will probably get some sort of interpretation. What should we do with it? Often, we should share! Often...but not all the time. Let's look at a few responses we might have after God gives a vision. Keep in mind that there are a lot of variables here. But more than that, know that if God can give a vision, He can also give the receiver a knowledge of what to do with it.
Keep in mind that many times, vision are for our own edification and upliftment. They may not be meant to share. But the following categories can apply to that, too:
1) We share the vision--not knowing ourselves exactly what it means
Like I said, if we are surrounded by loving brothers and sisters in Christ, this could happen often! God may want us to share, so that someone else can be edified in getting the interpretation. Or, He may want us to share because the vision is meant to prophetically apply to someone else present, in a way only they could understand. It can take a level of boldness to just throw the message out there, but we can have faith that it can and will benefit someone else. We probably won't know how--but God does!
It's also possible that a vision is shared and several people receive a personal interpretation that is perfect for them. And that's awesome! Every vision God gives is perfect, in accordance with His Word, so this kind of simultaneous edification can be hoped for and expected.
2) We share the vision and our own interpretation
So, God gives a vision and also gives us that knowing into it's primary meaning. Then we should share both the vision and it's interpretation. It may apply to just one person, or it may apply to a large group of people. It may apply to your home church, or to the Church in general. The Lord may give me a vision that is just meant to build up Vanessa...or He may give Vanessa one that is meant to build up several people.
Don't be surprised if you get the vision while in prayer for one person, and then realize that it also applies to several others later on down the road. Christians are of one mind (hopefully...), and it's pretty common for God to 'recycle' a vision and use it over a variety of people. His timing is intricate and perfect!
Also don't be surprised if, after sharing, others have a different interpretation for what you saw. You yourself probably received the primary meaning...but not necessarily! Even so, there's almost always more than one meaning. The fact that many people are contributing their own interpretations is good--it means that you are all digging further into the revelation!
3) We don't share the vision--it just gives us a foundation for our prophecy or prayer
This is also pretty common. Say you're in prayer, and the Lord is giving visions that help you know what to pray for. He probably doesn't expect you to share all of them. It's more so a case of doing only what you see the Father doing (John 5:19). These visions are being delivered so that we can understand how to pray His will onto the earth. Once they are given, it's our responsibility to 'pray into them', so to speak.
4) We don't share the vision--it's not yet a 'now' word
The revelation that God gave you may just be waiting for that appointed time. (Habakkuk 2:3) We need to deliver a vision when God says so! Often, He wants us to share right away, but sometimes we may need to hold back the message for a season. I find that God likes to come in at just the right time. He creates better stories than we do. So, we need to be in tune with Him...it may be that He tells us or leads us into not sharing right away. In this case, the vision may not be prophetically attuned to the 'now'...but it may be 'waiting' for God's hand to move, so that after He moves, we can deliver to this or that person a confirmation on what just happened. God wants all of His words to be released in their season.
5) We don't share the vision--it's just for us
We don't share the vision, because it's encouragement from God to us that deals with personal issues. There are a lot of things that I don's share. God may want us to lay low for awhile. He may want us to withhold from sharing what He's doing in a certain area of our lives. Maybe He's forming a testimony, or maybe He's going to allow us to overcome a certain major struggle. Maybe at that point He'll prompt us to share. We'll see!
It isn't always a good idea to share if other people won't understand. Jesus said not to throw our pearls to pigs--not to disclose spiritual gifts to the undiscerning (Matthew 7:6). This is especially true if the vision God gave is symbolic. A non-spiritual person just won't get it! Only a spiritual person--someone filled with the Holy Spirit--can lovingly discern all things (1 Corinthians 2:15). We don't want to risk being trampled and having our faith mocked.
In general, some things are better left withheld. At least until God says share! If He does, then trust that He's opened the door to an awesome opportunity. It may be that the vision He gave you will apply to a nonbeliever in ways that you yourself couldn't imagine. That's what personal prophecy is all about. It shows the reality and redemption of Jesus! But I'm hesitant to go around sharing every symbolic vision.
More posts on visions in the near future. I feel that this is a very important topic. God wants us to be able to convey the word! So, more on this later.
Monday, April 13, 2015
Come to God to Learn
We come to God for many reasons. He is worthy of praise, He is worthy of worship; He is worthy of our time. We also come to get filled up and recharged; we allow Him to revive us and restore our hope. In the last week, the Lord began highlighting another reason we come to Him: we come to Him to learn.
"As for me, this is my covenant with them," says the LORD. "My Spirit, who is on you, will not depart from you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will always be on your lips, on the lips of your children and on the lips of their descendants--from this time on and forever," says the LORD.
Isaiah 59:21
Here the Lord makes a covenant, with us! I feel this covenant is for all who believe. And He says that His Spirit will always be on us, and His words will always be on our lips. He says that He will always teach us--us and our children forever!
So, we come to the the Lord and He imparts to us knowledge--He gives us the spirit of wisdom and revelation (Ephesians 1:17). He teaches us about Himself and His character. And He also teaches us how to apply His thoughts to this current world. He gives us divine inspiration.
Many nations will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the temple of the God of Jacob. He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths." The law will go out from Zion, the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. Micah 4:2
Now, this is a future prophecy yet to be fulfilled, but we can attain to it symbolically even now. We come to the Lord, and we ascend with Him. Remember that Jesus ascended, and He was the firstborn of many brethren (Romans 8:29). We, too, can go up to His mountain! And that's where we learn. He will teach us His ways so that we can walk in His paths! Wow!
This mountain top is also where we hear God most clearly. The Law of Liberty dwells here, and so does an atmosphere of clarity. There's an atmosphere of clarity and praise. This is where the word of God, the hearing and knowing of His mind, comes in. God speaks a word so that He can dwell among us (John 1:14). He teaches us and speaks to us so, and then we can come down from that high place and encourage other believers to go up for themselves.
This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: People from nations and cities around the world will travel to Jerusalem. The people of one city will say to the people of another, ‘Come with us to Jerusalem to ask the Lord to bless us. Let’s worship the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. I’m determined to go.’ Many peoples and powerful nations will come to Jerusalem to seek the Lord of Heaven’s Armies and to ask for his blessing.
“This is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: In those days ten men from different nations and languages of the world will clutch at the sleeve of one Jew. And they will say, ‘Please let us walk with you, for we have heard that God is with you.’” Zechariah 8:20-23
Here is another literal prophecy that is also yet to be fulfilled--yet we can take so much from it symbolically. If we've been on the mountaintop, if we've been taught by God, if we've heard Him speak to us--then we will draw other people in! Now, we won't draw everybody in...but those with softened hearts will be drawn in and captivated by what God's done. People will know that God is with us. And then they will be motivated to go up and learn from God for themselves!
This is testimony-based evangelism, and this is what God wants us to do. He wants us to learn and grow based on what we've learned on His mountain! He wants to tell us great and unsearchable things (Jeremiah 33:3) and provoke others to holy jealousy. He wants us to gather around Him.
Wednesday, April 8, 2015
Anticipating God's Spirit
The Lord began speaking to me about how to better anticipate Him--how to foresee His next move. And there can be several steps to this. Now God can't just be formatted, but formats can help us understand how He works.
Step 1) The first step in anticipating God's next move in your life is understanding hope. We need to look forward to restored joy, restored love, restored peace...we need to look forward to restoration of fullness of life. We need to know that He will uphold us and push us higher and higher.
"Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit."
Psalm 51:11-12
Step 2) Once we have hope, then we can call on Him in confidence. (1 John 5:14) Then we can be bold and know that He will reveal to us something according to His will. We call on Him, and we have the awareness of our future 'saved'. (Romans 10:13) Once we have hope for the future, we can attain to the promises found in Jeremiah 33:3. And we can have boldness and confidence in this.
"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."
Step 3) So we call out to God, and God tells us something. He tells us something about His future work that would otherwise be knowable. He tells us something that testifies to Jesus, something that is in line with the spirit of prophecy (Revelations 19:10). He gives us a word, or a vision, or a parable that points to and reveals His movement in the future.
For example, the Lord may reveal that tomorrow is going to be a day when a sibling of yours is really going to feel His love. This kind of prophetic knowledge can also come as a warning to pray against---He may say that tomorrow is going to be a day where the enemy is going to try to attack you financially. Whether God gives an encouraging word or a warning, the response needs to be in praying according to His will. We can 'pray into' that coming sense of love and call it forth, or we can 'pray against' that financial warfare. Remember that all God's promises are "yes" and "amen" in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20).
Step 4) Step 3 is repeated as the Lord trains our ears to hear (Mark 4:9). We become accustomed to His voice, and build trust in the revealing of His plans. Once God has sanctified our ears, then He can sanctify our minds. He can make us attuned to Him. This is when He gives us the mind of Christ.
"But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. 16For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ." 1 Corinthians 2:15-16
If we have the mind of Christ, the Lord speaks to us in a way that transcends a word, a vision, or a parable. The spirit of prophecy manifests in a new way that brings fullness and truth to our awareness of the future. And our own logical or mechanistic thinking on tomorrow, or the next day, or the next, is replaced by a knowing that comes from oneness with the Lord.
For example, I may be thinking about Vanessa's (previous) back problems, and in thinking with the Lord, I feel Him reassure me that everything is going to be alright. And then the next day, Vanessa tells me that her back was healed by the Lord that morning. Or, I'll be thinking of a certain Christian friend who we don't see often, and then go on to hear that they're coming to our house next month. God inspires our thoughts to the extent that they become prophetic. And if our thoughts are prophetic, then we don't necessarily need a clear word. We develop a type of godly premonition. What would Jesus think? As it relates to us, we begin to think along with Him, too.
Step 5) If we have the mind of Christ, praise God! That's when we can act on it. We can pray into it, act into it, and walk in it. God's reality can continuously be coming into union with our own. We can do only what we see, or envision, the father doing. (John 5:19) This is where God wants to take us, if we ourselves will respond by wanting to get there. If we are controlled by the spirit of prophecy to this extent, then we will be made into a testimony to Jesus. And that's what it's all about!
Step 1) The first step in anticipating God's next move in your life is understanding hope. We need to look forward to restored joy, restored love, restored peace...we need to look forward to restoration of fullness of life. We need to know that He will uphold us and push us higher and higher.
Psalm 51:11-12
Step 2) Once we have hope, then we can call on Him in confidence. (1 John 5:14) Then we can be bold and know that He will reveal to us something according to His will. We call on Him, and we have the awareness of our future 'saved'. (Romans 10:13) Once we have hope for the future, we can attain to the promises found in Jeremiah 33:3. And we can have boldness and confidence in this.
"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."
Step 3) So we call out to God, and God tells us something. He tells us something about His future work that would otherwise be knowable. He tells us something that testifies to Jesus, something that is in line with the spirit of prophecy (Revelations 19:10). He gives us a word, or a vision, or a parable that points to and reveals His movement in the future.
For example, the Lord may reveal that tomorrow is going to be a day when a sibling of yours is really going to feel His love. This kind of prophetic knowledge can also come as a warning to pray against---He may say that tomorrow is going to be a day where the enemy is going to try to attack you financially. Whether God gives an encouraging word or a warning, the response needs to be in praying according to His will. We can 'pray into' that coming sense of love and call it forth, or we can 'pray against' that financial warfare. Remember that all God's promises are "yes" and "amen" in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 1:20).
Step 4) Step 3 is repeated as the Lord trains our ears to hear (Mark 4:9). We become accustomed to His voice, and build trust in the revealing of His plans. Once God has sanctified our ears, then He can sanctify our minds. He can make us attuned to Him. This is when He gives us the mind of Christ.
"But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. 16For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ." 1 Corinthians 2:15-16
If we have the mind of Christ, the Lord speaks to us in a way that transcends a word, a vision, or a parable. The spirit of prophecy manifests in a new way that brings fullness and truth to our awareness of the future. And our own logical or mechanistic thinking on tomorrow, or the next day, or the next, is replaced by a knowing that comes from oneness with the Lord.
For example, I may be thinking about Vanessa's (previous) back problems, and in thinking with the Lord, I feel Him reassure me that everything is going to be alright. And then the next day, Vanessa tells me that her back was healed by the Lord that morning. Or, I'll be thinking of a certain Christian friend who we don't see often, and then go on to hear that they're coming to our house next month. God inspires our thoughts to the extent that they become prophetic. And if our thoughts are prophetic, then we don't necessarily need a clear word. We develop a type of godly premonition. What would Jesus think? As it relates to us, we begin to think along with Him, too.
Step 5) If we have the mind of Christ, praise God! That's when we can act on it. We can pray into it, act into it, and walk in it. God's reality can continuously be coming into union with our own. We can do only what we see, or envision, the father doing. (John 5:19) This is where God wants to take us, if we ourselves will respond by wanting to get there. If we are controlled by the spirit of prophecy to this extent, then we will be made into a testimony to Jesus. And that's what it's all about!
Friday, March 20, 2015
Jeremiah Twenty--The Training of a Prophet
Whenever I speak, I cry out proclaiming violence and destruction. So the word of the LORD has brought me insult and reproach all day long.
But if I say, "I will not mention him or speak any more in his name," his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.
I hear many whispering, "Terror on every side! Report him! Let's report him!" All my friends are waiting for me to slip, saying, "Perhaps he will be deceived; then we will prevail over him and take our revenge on him."
But the LORD is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced; their dishonor will never be forgotten.
In this segment of Jeremiah, 20:8-11, we see here what it means to be trained as a vessel for God to speak through. We see the hardships and humblings involved, and we see how God's passion burns within as He makes His will known. We see the development and training of a prophet.
Now in the Old Testament, true prophets were sometimes rare. And everyone knew when someone was blessed by God with the gift of hearing from Him. So God spoke to a few as He willed.
Now Jesus has come for us, and it's time to remember the Lord and remember His benefits (Psalms 103:2). Every saved and filled person can be prophetic. We may not all be prophets--there's a lot of responsibility that comes with that title--but we can all be prophetic. We can all hear from God in a way that overshadows our own knowledge. We can all receive a heavenly revelation that points to Christ. We can all receive this gift and learn from the Giver how to best use it.
"For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged..."
1 Corinthians 14:31
"...Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus."
Revelation 19:10
This is our New Testament identity, and this is our New Testament ability, if we are abiding in Jesus. Every one of us can be used by God to supernaturally know His will.
And this is a training process. It may just require steps! Samuel, Elijah and Elisa had their schools of the Prophets. If there's a school, then it follows that there is a progressive learning involved! Many today call it the school of the Holy Spirit. I think that's a good term. Here are some steps involved in this learning. They may or may not be in order according to your own experience--God is dynamic and speaks to us all in ways we can best understand! The point is that God usually takes the gifting from step to step:
1) Reading the Word. This is where it all starts. We are nourished and transformed by the Truth. (Romans 10:17 relates to steps 1-3)
2) Hearing God through the Word. God typically will speak to you about yourself--your own identity, inheritance, and importance to Him--before He will speak to you about others or your own shortcomings. He brings you to the potter's house, and usually confirms you before the shaping begins. (Jeremiah 18) He may make a certain scripture passage jump out at you, or have a Christian friend share with you a verse that He's laid on their hearts. And the Lord will also develop within you that still, small voice that comes through the Word (1 Kings 19:12).
3) Acquiring Faith. Faith comes by hearing! And the more faith you have, the better you hear, and the more that you can hear. That's why we only prophecy according to our measure of faith (Romans 12:6). In general, God will only tell you what you have faith to accept. But the one who can accept a word from God--a personal, specific message--should accept it! (Matthew 19:12) I've heard people say that before God speaks through a prophet, He speaks to a prophet. Yes! Generally speaking, at least.
4) Internal work develops more and more. We grow in faith, and we grow in hearing. It's a cycle of teaching that the Holy Spirit takes us on. We see God confirm His Word, and that reassures us that we're hearing from Him. We see Him tell us something, and then we see it come to pass (Isaiah 55:11). And when He tells us something, it may just test us (Psalms 105:19). We may think it is impossible, or that we're just hearing our own imagination, but then God comes and confirms it. And that builds faith!
I remember once that the Lord told me He was sending me to kids from Kansas city--kids who would later come to know God and His salvation. And I thought He meant I was actually going there--literally traveling to KC to follow God's voice. But within two weeks, I was ministering at the Hospital and met a guy my age who was from Kansas city. He needed a ride to the hotel he was staying at, and the Lord also healed Him of the pain He originally went to the hospital for. So, we also learn to not be presumptuous with hearing and acting on god's voice.
5) We know God's Will. In one area or another, He shows us His will and His plans. He may tell us. He may show us. (Job 33:14-15) He may allow us to just know by having His mind on an issue (). But He will reveal to us things unknowable--He will give us insight into His plans.
6) We share God's voice with others. By this point in time, we know it's Him--we have the faith that comes by hearing. We are His sheep, and so we are now able to really discern and trust in His voice. (1 Corinthians 2:16) So He instructs us to share it--share the message He's given us. This part can be very difficult sometimes. And more often than not, God wants us to share. And His love compels us to (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). If gentle promptings fail, then His word becomes a fire. So we release it then! We choose to please God. We choose to encourage and exhort others in the faith. We choose to get away from ourselves and share.
And there you have it--some typical steps to prophetic training! The cost may be high, but the cost is worth it. There is so much satisfaction in helping yourself and others attain to God's perfect will. It is so precious to be in tune and one with God. There is so much value in the gift, because there is even greater value in the Giver. There is so much importance in knowing God's heart.
"Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy." 1 Corinthians 12:31
But if I say, "I will not mention him or speak any more in his name," his word is in my heart like a fire, a fire shut up in my bones. I am weary of holding it in; indeed, I cannot.
I hear many whispering, "Terror on every side! Report him! Let's report him!" All my friends are waiting for me to slip, saying, "Perhaps he will be deceived; then we will prevail over him and take our revenge on him."
But the LORD is with me like a mighty warrior; so my persecutors will stumble and not prevail. They will fail and be thoroughly disgraced; their dishonor will never be forgotten.
In this segment of Jeremiah, 20:8-11, we see here what it means to be trained as a vessel for God to speak through. We see the hardships and humblings involved, and we see how God's passion burns within as He makes His will known. We see the development and training of a prophet.
Now in the Old Testament, true prophets were sometimes rare. And everyone knew when someone was blessed by God with the gift of hearing from Him. So God spoke to a few as He willed.
Now Jesus has come for us, and it's time to remember the Lord and remember His benefits (Psalms 103:2). Every saved and filled person can be prophetic. We may not all be prophets--there's a lot of responsibility that comes with that title--but we can all be prophetic. We can all hear from God in a way that overshadows our own knowledge. We can all receive a heavenly revelation that points to Christ. We can all receive this gift and learn from the Giver how to best use it.
"For you can all prophesy one by one, so that all may learn and all be encouraged..."
1 Corinthians 14:31
"...Worship God! For it is the Spirit of prophecy who bears testimony to Jesus."
Revelation 19:10
This is our New Testament identity, and this is our New Testament ability, if we are abiding in Jesus. Every one of us can be used by God to supernaturally know His will.
And this is a training process. It may just require steps! Samuel, Elijah and Elisa had their schools of the Prophets. If there's a school, then it follows that there is a progressive learning involved! Many today call it the school of the Holy Spirit. I think that's a good term. Here are some steps involved in this learning. They may or may not be in order according to your own experience--God is dynamic and speaks to us all in ways we can best understand! The point is that God usually takes the gifting from step to step:
1) Reading the Word. This is where it all starts. We are nourished and transformed by the Truth. (Romans 10:17 relates to steps 1-3)
2) Hearing God through the Word. God typically will speak to you about yourself--your own identity, inheritance, and importance to Him--before He will speak to you about others or your own shortcomings. He brings you to the potter's house, and usually confirms you before the shaping begins. (Jeremiah 18) He may make a certain scripture passage jump out at you, or have a Christian friend share with you a verse that He's laid on their hearts. And the Lord will also develop within you that still, small voice that comes through the Word (1 Kings 19:12).
3) Acquiring Faith. Faith comes by hearing! And the more faith you have, the better you hear, and the more that you can hear. That's why we only prophecy according to our measure of faith (Romans 12:6). In general, God will only tell you what you have faith to accept. But the one who can accept a word from God--a personal, specific message--should accept it! (Matthew 19:12) I've heard people say that before God speaks through a prophet, He speaks to a prophet. Yes! Generally speaking, at least.
4) Internal work develops more and more. We grow in faith, and we grow in hearing. It's a cycle of teaching that the Holy Spirit takes us on. We see God confirm His Word, and that reassures us that we're hearing from Him. We see Him tell us something, and then we see it come to pass (Isaiah 55:11). And when He tells us something, it may just test us (Psalms 105:19). We may think it is impossible, or that we're just hearing our own imagination, but then God comes and confirms it. And that builds faith!
I remember once that the Lord told me He was sending me to kids from Kansas city--kids who would later come to know God and His salvation. And I thought He meant I was actually going there--literally traveling to KC to follow God's voice. But within two weeks, I was ministering at the Hospital and met a guy my age who was from Kansas city. He needed a ride to the hotel he was staying at, and the Lord also healed Him of the pain He originally went to the hospital for. So, we also learn to not be presumptuous with hearing and acting on god's voice.
5) We know God's Will. In one area or another, He shows us His will and His plans. He may tell us. He may show us. (Job 33:14-15) He may allow us to just know by having His mind on an issue (). But He will reveal to us things unknowable--He will give us insight into His plans.
6) We share God's voice with others. By this point in time, we know it's Him--we have the faith that comes by hearing. We are His sheep, and so we are now able to really discern and trust in His voice. (1 Corinthians 2:16) So He instructs us to share it--share the message He's given us. This part can be very difficult sometimes. And more often than not, God wants us to share. And His love compels us to (2 Corinthians 5:14-15). If gentle promptings fail, then His word becomes a fire. So we release it then! We choose to please God. We choose to encourage and exhort others in the faith. We choose to get away from ourselves and share.
And there you have it--some typical steps to prophetic training! The cost may be high, but the cost is worth it. There is so much satisfaction in helping yourself and others attain to God's perfect will. It is so precious to be in tune and one with God. There is so much value in the gift, because there is even greater value in the Giver. There is so much importance in knowing God's heart.
"Follow the way of love and eagerly desire gifts of the Spirit, especially prophecy." 1 Corinthians 12:31
Sunday, February 8, 2015
STREET MINISTRY UPDATE #4: SPRINGFIELD
We've been in Springfield for a few days now, and it's been pretty quiet, for the most part. We've enjoyed some downtime, gotten settled in, and Vanessa's been finishing up the distribution process for her new album, OPUS. In the past couple days we've had more of an opportunity to do street ministry. God's really blessed us with nice weather, nice people, and creative ideas that allow us to be more effective in our ministry for the Lord.
Yesterday, Vanessa, Lane (Vanessa's younger brother) and I headed to the library for a social club's potluck. We were invited the day before by a few friends, and figured, why not? God might have something in store for us. So, we met those friends at noon, right on schedule...and as it turns out, we went to the wrong library. Oh well. We decided to have a picnic in downtown Springfield, in the square, instead! It was the perfect day to eat outside, anyways, so we drove the short distance from the library to downtown and settled in on the square.
PICNIC LUNCH
We had a nice lunch of guacamole and chips, wasabi peas, and brownies--each of us had only brought a few select items, which we'd been planning to be brought to the potluck. But everything was great! While in the square I met a few of Vanessa's friends, and we all had a great time. I 'happened' to meet an older man down there, who was praying for revival in the square. He was so secure in the Lord. He said he was confident that a move of the Holy Spirit would indeed happen. I told him that I was hoping and praying for the same things! I think we both walked away encouraged.
STREET PERFORMING AND FIRST 'SPIRITUAL READING'
After that V did some street performing with two girls she'd met downtown. They sang a mix of their own songs, worship music, and praise. I made a sign, on cardboard from the library, that said, "Instant Healings and Spiritual Readings". I was hoping that this would attract a new subset of people who would otherwise be turned off by words like prayer, prophecy, etc. "To the Jews I became a Jew" (1 Corinthians 9:20)...
So, Vanessa and co. sang and even played around with a tambourine, and I enjoyed listening and holding up the "Healings" sign. After some time, a younger guy, maybe early twenties, came up and asked what the 'Spiritual Readings' were about. I explained that they were the obtaining of knowledge through Jesus, the Spirit of God. Sort of like physic readings except with a pure filter, I said. In Christian terms, I'd call it a personal prophecy. It turns out this guy was himself a strong believer, and we enjoyed some good conversation together afterwards.
To ensure privacy, I won't go into the details of this first personal prophecy (oops, "spiritual reading"). But I want to report that the Lord is blessing the prophetic aspect of our ministry very much. I have almost never gotten insight into family situations, job opportunities, past injuries, etc, but now they have become pretty commonplace. In the past two days, the Holy Spirit has been revealing deep things and accurate words in these personal prophecies. We've been asking for this. Also, I think the Lord wants to provide a pure alternative for the physic readings that are so common, which do not point to Jesus or obtain knowledge by Him. (To us, the Lord was the one who created the ability to be know things about others by His Spirit, but the enemy has once again taken something pure and corrupted it. Satan is not a creator, only a distorter and destroyer.) But now, the Lord is showing us how to really target the specifics in prophecy and directed prayer. Glory to God!
HIP AND BACK PAIN HEALED
Two guys in their sixties walked up. They were pretty entertaining...they both had long hair, unique clothing, and bamboo walking sticks. It turns out they'd been to woodstock. Anyways, one of them had back pain which also affected his hips. Vanessa prayed for this, and he was healed after two prayers. The man was actually a strong Christian, and I think he was surprised. He said, "It feels a lot better! Praise God!" After this we talked with the two of them for a little while longer, before they walked off down the street.
PERSONAL PROPHECY
A younger guy sat down on the sidewalk to listen to the street music. People do this sometimes--and that's good, as it makes for a nice ministry opportunity! So, this guy sat down next to Vanessa, who was taking a break from singing at that point (another girl was playing Vanessa's guitar at that point). After a while, she called me over to prophecy over (sorry, 'spiritually read') this guy. Once again, the Lord really was so gracious. He did so much more than I could have hoped for, and the man was really blessed from what God revealed. This guy received spiritual encouragement, insight into a potential new job, and encouragement regarding His unsaved sister, among other things. God revealed all these things in the spirit of prophecy.
After this, the Lord showed me one more thing. I saw a cool towel being wrapped around the guy's neck and upper shoulders. It was made known that God was healing this area, slowly, and doing so by 'cooling' and reducing the inflammation. I shared this knowledge with the guy, and he expounded on the story. He said that he'd been severely injured in the past, to the extent that doctors told him that he'd never walk again. So God had already worked quite the miracle. And this upper back area was the only afflicted area left. I encouraged the guy, that I felt God would heal the rest, too.
Vanessa and I prayed for the back pain, which was also causing left hand numbness, to leave. It didn't, even with a few prayers. The guy wasn't that surprised, and I didn't push it because of what God had shown through the vision. I felt compelled to leave it in His hands, and accept His timing. I trust that God will be faithful and complete the last segment of the healing.
KNEE PAIN AND DISCOMFORT HEALED
A laid-back guy walked by twice, and asked about the sign. I told him that the healings were done through prayer, and asked him if he needed any. He said his knee was off, and bent it a few times to make sure it was still bothering him. And he wanted prayer! I felt I had a lot of faith at that moment, so I just put my hand on the knee and said, "in the name of Jesus". Nothing happened. So, we tried again. I put my hand on the knee one more time, and as we prayed I felt it pop. I asked him, "Did you just feel that pop". He did not, but it was proof for me. I said, "move it around a little!". He said it felt good, and that it was not hurting him anymore. Glory to God! This just about marked the end of our time downtown on Saturday. We headed home after a long day out!
On to today, Sunday. We visited North Point Church in the morning. The message was very timely--it always is there. Then, we headed downtown again in the early afternoon. The Lord ensured that we had a blast!
NECK AND HEAD PAIN HEALED; PERSONAL PROPHECY
Vanessa's perspective:
While I was street performing, a young man stopped and listened. After I finished a song, he asked if he could play my guitar. While he was playing, I asked him some questions about himself, and God began to give me some insight about his past as he was talking about surface things. Once I shared some things with him that God showed me, he seemed more open to talking about deeper things. I shared some encouragement with him and asked him if he had physical pain. He said he had gotten hit in the head the night before, and also had neck pain. After commanding the pain to leave, he said his head felt much better, and his neck felt only a little better. I felt like these issues weren't the major issues in his life right now, but that it would be better to encourage him in deeper things rather than continue to focus on the surface pains. I called Thomas over and asked him if he saw anything for this young man. Thomas sees (in the Spirit) clearer than I do, so I usually divert to him at this point.
Thomas's perspective:
So, Vanessa called me over and introduced me to this young man, and I asked God to show me something for him. Things came kind of slowly at first. but eventually God revealed that there were many disappointments in the man's past. I explained that God shows these things so we can instead look to His promises and pray into the positive. Step by step things were revealed--job struggles, relationships, etc. I felt compelled to give the man a bible. He confirmed that He didn't have one, so I ran to the car and got one for Him. Then we got back into prayer, and prophesied and prayed into a few more things. The guy was really, really touched by some of the stuff the Lord showed near the end. I am so, so thankful that God has increased our insight into these things for His Glory. Praise Him!
COCKATOO GUY HEALED (written by Vanessa)
While street performing, I saw an older guy walking towards me with a cockatoo on his arm. I was so excited, I let out a girly scream. I asked him some questions about it and made regular conversation, and when I would laugh, it laughed at me! The entire experience made my day; it was so awesome. Before he left, I asked him if he had pain in his body. He said he had arthritis pain in his feet, and was open to prayer for it. After prayer, he said it felt a little better. I asked if I could pray again, and he said yes. After a second prayer, he said it felt significantly better, but not totally gone. Sometimes I am not bold enough to persist, and this was one of those times. He said thank you very much for the prayer and I let him leave without asking again. I am glad God took most of it away.
BACK PAIN HEALED (written by Vanessa)
While I was street performing, I saw two men go into a restaurant across the street. I felt God impress upon me that one of them had back pain and wanted to be healed. About 45 minutes later, they both came out, and I went across to catch them. I asked one of them had back pain, and he said no, but the other one said, "that's me." I asked if I could pray for it to leave, and he answered with an enthusiastic, "Yes!" I told it to leave in the name of Jesus, and then asked the man how it felt. He was overjoyed as he told me that as I was praying he felt it leaving. He said it felt 75% better. I asked if I could pray one more time, and he was very open and wanted it. After that prayer, he said if felt "so much better." I didn't ask him if it felt perfect, but he was overjoyed at what had happened and we thanked God. It was encouraging to see someone really happy about it, because some people are just kind of "eh" when they are healed. I'm not sure if they don't really believe it just happened, or they can't process what just happened, but I always get really encouraged when other people rejoice about being healed!!
SUMMARY
So, that wraps up the last two days of street ministry. Honestly, things have been kind of slow--not many people have wanted prayer. And not many have even wanted a 'spiritual reading'. But we can see now that God used the sign to tell us something--namely, to reveal to us that prophecy can and should be taken to the forefront in our ministry. This is something that there is a lot of potential in.
We are thankful for new friends. We are thankful for every opportunity to speak God's truth, His Light and His Love into the lives of others. We are thankful that everyone we've prayed for has experienced some amount of healing. We are thankful that many have been fully healed. And we are thankful that God is backing us and showering us with so many blessings!
Yesterday, Vanessa, Lane (Vanessa's younger brother) and I headed to the library for a social club's potluck. We were invited the day before by a few friends, and figured, why not? God might have something in store for us. So, we met those friends at noon, right on schedule...and as it turns out, we went to the wrong library. Oh well. We decided to have a picnic in downtown Springfield, in the square, instead! It was the perfect day to eat outside, anyways, so we drove the short distance from the library to downtown and settled in on the square.
PICNIC LUNCH
We had a nice lunch of guacamole and chips, wasabi peas, and brownies--each of us had only brought a few select items, which we'd been planning to be brought to the potluck. But everything was great! While in the square I met a few of Vanessa's friends, and we all had a great time. I 'happened' to meet an older man down there, who was praying for revival in the square. He was so secure in the Lord. He said he was confident that a move of the Holy Spirit would indeed happen. I told him that I was hoping and praying for the same things! I think we both walked away encouraged.
STREET PERFORMING AND FIRST 'SPIRITUAL READING'
After that V did some street performing with two girls she'd met downtown. They sang a mix of their own songs, worship music, and praise. I made a sign, on cardboard from the library, that said, "Instant Healings and Spiritual Readings". I was hoping that this would attract a new subset of people who would otherwise be turned off by words like prayer, prophecy, etc. "To the Jews I became a Jew" (1 Corinthians 9:20)...
So, Vanessa and co. sang and even played around with a tambourine, and I enjoyed listening and holding up the "Healings" sign. After some time, a younger guy, maybe early twenties, came up and asked what the 'Spiritual Readings' were about. I explained that they were the obtaining of knowledge through Jesus, the Spirit of God. Sort of like physic readings except with a pure filter, I said. In Christian terms, I'd call it a personal prophecy. It turns out this guy was himself a strong believer, and we enjoyed some good conversation together afterwards.
To ensure privacy, I won't go into the details of this first personal prophecy (oops, "spiritual reading"). But I want to report that the Lord is blessing the prophetic aspect of our ministry very much. I have almost never gotten insight into family situations, job opportunities, past injuries, etc, but now they have become pretty commonplace. In the past two days, the Holy Spirit has been revealing deep things and accurate words in these personal prophecies. We've been asking for this. Also, I think the Lord wants to provide a pure alternative for the physic readings that are so common, which do not point to Jesus or obtain knowledge by Him. (To us, the Lord was the one who created the ability to be know things about others by His Spirit, but the enemy has once again taken something pure and corrupted it. Satan is not a creator, only a distorter and destroyer.) But now, the Lord is showing us how to really target the specifics in prophecy and directed prayer. Glory to God!
HIP AND BACK PAIN HEALED
Two guys in their sixties walked up. They were pretty entertaining...they both had long hair, unique clothing, and bamboo walking sticks. It turns out they'd been to woodstock. Anyways, one of them had back pain which also affected his hips. Vanessa prayed for this, and he was healed after two prayers. The man was actually a strong Christian, and I think he was surprised. He said, "It feels a lot better! Praise God!" After this we talked with the two of them for a little while longer, before they walked off down the street.
PERSONAL PROPHECY
A younger guy sat down on the sidewalk to listen to the street music. People do this sometimes--and that's good, as it makes for a nice ministry opportunity! So, this guy sat down next to Vanessa, who was taking a break from singing at that point (another girl was playing Vanessa's guitar at that point). After a while, she called me over to prophecy over (sorry, 'spiritually read') this guy. Once again, the Lord really was so gracious. He did so much more than I could have hoped for, and the man was really blessed from what God revealed. This guy received spiritual encouragement, insight into a potential new job, and encouragement regarding His unsaved sister, among other things. God revealed all these things in the spirit of prophecy.
After this, the Lord showed me one more thing. I saw a cool towel being wrapped around the guy's neck and upper shoulders. It was made known that God was healing this area, slowly, and doing so by 'cooling' and reducing the inflammation. I shared this knowledge with the guy, and he expounded on the story. He said that he'd been severely injured in the past, to the extent that doctors told him that he'd never walk again. So God had already worked quite the miracle. And this upper back area was the only afflicted area left. I encouraged the guy, that I felt God would heal the rest, too.
Vanessa and I prayed for the back pain, which was also causing left hand numbness, to leave. It didn't, even with a few prayers. The guy wasn't that surprised, and I didn't push it because of what God had shown through the vision. I felt compelled to leave it in His hands, and accept His timing. I trust that God will be faithful and complete the last segment of the healing.
KNEE PAIN AND DISCOMFORT HEALED
A laid-back guy walked by twice, and asked about the sign. I told him that the healings were done through prayer, and asked him if he needed any. He said his knee was off, and bent it a few times to make sure it was still bothering him. And he wanted prayer! I felt I had a lot of faith at that moment, so I just put my hand on the knee and said, "in the name of Jesus". Nothing happened. So, we tried again. I put my hand on the knee one more time, and as we prayed I felt it pop. I asked him, "Did you just feel that pop". He did not, but it was proof for me. I said, "move it around a little!". He said it felt good, and that it was not hurting him anymore. Glory to God! This just about marked the end of our time downtown on Saturday. We headed home after a long day out!
On to today, Sunday. We visited North Point Church in the morning. The message was very timely--it always is there. Then, we headed downtown again in the early afternoon. The Lord ensured that we had a blast!
NECK AND HEAD PAIN HEALED; PERSONAL PROPHECY
Vanessa's perspective:
While I was street performing, a young man stopped and listened. After I finished a song, he asked if he could play my guitar. While he was playing, I asked him some questions about himself, and God began to give me some insight about his past as he was talking about surface things. Once I shared some things with him that God showed me, he seemed more open to talking about deeper things. I shared some encouragement with him and asked him if he had physical pain. He said he had gotten hit in the head the night before, and also had neck pain. After commanding the pain to leave, he said his head felt much better, and his neck felt only a little better. I felt like these issues weren't the major issues in his life right now, but that it would be better to encourage him in deeper things rather than continue to focus on the surface pains. I called Thomas over and asked him if he saw anything for this young man. Thomas sees (in the Spirit) clearer than I do, so I usually divert to him at this point.
Thomas's perspective:
So, Vanessa called me over and introduced me to this young man, and I asked God to show me something for him. Things came kind of slowly at first. but eventually God revealed that there were many disappointments in the man's past. I explained that God shows these things so we can instead look to His promises and pray into the positive. Step by step things were revealed--job struggles, relationships, etc. I felt compelled to give the man a bible. He confirmed that He didn't have one, so I ran to the car and got one for Him. Then we got back into prayer, and prophesied and prayed into a few more things. The guy was really, really touched by some of the stuff the Lord showed near the end. I am so, so thankful that God has increased our insight into these things for His Glory. Praise Him!
COCKATOO GUY HEALED (written by Vanessa)
While street performing, I saw an older guy walking towards me with a cockatoo on his arm. I was so excited, I let out a girly scream. I asked him some questions about it and made regular conversation, and when I would laugh, it laughed at me! The entire experience made my day; it was so awesome. Before he left, I asked him if he had pain in his body. He said he had arthritis pain in his feet, and was open to prayer for it. After prayer, he said it felt a little better. I asked if I could pray again, and he said yes. After a second prayer, he said it felt significantly better, but not totally gone. Sometimes I am not bold enough to persist, and this was one of those times. He said thank you very much for the prayer and I let him leave without asking again. I am glad God took most of it away.
BACK PAIN HEALED (written by Vanessa)
While I was street performing, I saw two men go into a restaurant across the street. I felt God impress upon me that one of them had back pain and wanted to be healed. About 45 minutes later, they both came out, and I went across to catch them. I asked one of them had back pain, and he said no, but the other one said, "that's me." I asked if I could pray for it to leave, and he answered with an enthusiastic, "Yes!" I told it to leave in the name of Jesus, and then asked the man how it felt. He was overjoyed as he told me that as I was praying he felt it leaving. He said it felt 75% better. I asked if I could pray one more time, and he was very open and wanted it. After that prayer, he said if felt "so much better." I didn't ask him if it felt perfect, but he was overjoyed at what had happened and we thanked God. It was encouraging to see someone really happy about it, because some people are just kind of "eh" when they are healed. I'm not sure if they don't really believe it just happened, or they can't process what just happened, but I always get really encouraged when other people rejoice about being healed!!
SUMMARY
So, that wraps up the last two days of street ministry. Honestly, things have been kind of slow--not many people have wanted prayer. And not many have even wanted a 'spiritual reading'. But we can see now that God used the sign to tell us something--namely, to reveal to us that prophecy can and should be taken to the forefront in our ministry. This is something that there is a lot of potential in.
We are thankful for new friends. We are thankful for every opportunity to speak God's truth, His Light and His Love into the lives of others. We are thankful that everyone we've prayed for has experienced some amount of healing. We are thankful that many have been fully healed. And we are thankful that God is backing us and showering us with so many blessings!
Sunday, February 1, 2015
STREET MINISTRY UPDATE #3: PINEHURST
BACKGROUND STORY:
Fast forward to this year. Last Sunday, we went back to Grace Church and there was Elizabeth. We invited her to do street ministry with us again! Last time we went with her, like I said, was almost nine months ago, and it was our first time doing any sort of prophetic ministry outside of the Church.
Since then, this sort of outreach has become routine for Vanessa and I. We have enjoyed, and even become accustomed to, being used by the Holy Spirit to minister encouragement, prayer, and God's healing to people. Just as our adventure last April with Elizabeth marked the start of our street ministry together, our next get-together with her marked the start of something new: this time, we would be using our new Go-Pro cameras to document testimonies and miracles. I thought that was fitting.
FRIDAY'S DOWNTOWN MINISTRY:
So, this past Friday was the first time we were blessed to incorporate our Go-Pro cameras into street ministry. And God really, really blessed us. Vanessa and I drove to downtown Southern Pines and met Elizabeth there. We discussed how we might approach people with the cameras, and concluded that younger people might like being on video, so we would ask them if they wanted to answer a few questions for a documentary on healing we were making. In hindsight, this worked well. It's easier to be turned down a chance to someone a couple questions, than to be turned down after asking someone if they'd like prayer.
When approaching older people, though, we decided to ask them if they wanted prayer first. If they accepted, we told them about our desire to make a documentary about it, and asked if we could film it. Almost all of them said yes! One lady thought about it for a second, and then said, "Alright! I'll do it for the Glory of my Savior!"
FIRST HEALINGS:
We started off with this plan in mind, and began doing loops around downtown. The area we encircled was probably four blocks long and one block wide. On the backside of our first loop, we saw two younger guys playing basketball in the court. One of them had sat down on a bench, and we asked him if we could ask him a couple questions for our documentary on healing. He said sure--he had asthma and stiffness in his hands. Vanessa asked if she could pray for him. Afterwards, he said the stiffness was gone. The other guy also had pain--pain from a wrist injury, and a painful ACL. I prayed for his wrist and felt such a weightiness in it. Huh--more on this later. I prayed again and it was much better. I prayed for the ACL, and it felt them same. I think Vanessa had more faith than I did, so she prayed for the ACL. It got better slowly. She prayed about 4 times and it felt better every time, but in the end he wasn't fully healed. We weren't given any words of knowledge about why he wasn't fully healed. We are still learning with every day. A lot of the time the Lord shows us that unforgiveness prevents a person from being fully healed. I did feel the Lord impress upon me to tell the young man to go to church with his parents. We shared some encouragement and then left the two, praising God for the healing that He did do!
CUPCAKE SHOP ADVENTURE:
Prior to starting our outreach, we were seeking the Lord for people, places, and things to be on the watch for during our time downtown. Often He shows us in mental images or visions what He wants us to be on the watch for. I saw a cupcake, and I didn't feel it was symbolic. So, we decided to go into the cupcake shop. The cupcake I saw (with a heart on the top) was there...and so were a few nice ladies working there who said they both had back pain. They seemed really shy about being on camera, so we just asked if we could pray for the pain to leave. They joked back and forth about it, but shied away from accepting prayer. That was a little disappointing, but we left in good spirits. Once outside the store, we asked the Lord to reach down and heal them. We prayed for His presence to come into that building and reveal Himself to them. We never did go back in ourselves, but some things, you just have to take by faith. We are hopeful in the Lord that He did something there. It takes faith to be assured of the things you do not see.
HAND PAIN HEALED:
Next we went up to a black man on a bike at the post office. He had pain from surgery on both his hands. Vanessa prayed for his hands, and he said they felt better. She said that if they weren't perfect, she'd like to pray again. He accepted, and after the second prayer, they were fully healed! This man was quiet, but afterwards he began asking, "What did you do? What did you do?" We explained that it was the power of God, and not us. We told him that God was expressing His love, and that God has the power to keep him free from that affliction in the future. The man had a relationship with God himself, which was good to see. I think this experience marked a turnaround in his life.
BACK PAIN GONE:
A man on his way into the liquor store had back pain. He said he was really in a hurry to get to work...he took twenty seconds for prayer before he went right into the store. He didn't really seem to believe. Vanessa, Elizabeth and I prayed outside the store in agreement that God would still heal Him. We turned around and saw him exit the store, going back to his motor bike. He was still in a hurry, but after being asked, he said, "It actually is better!" Praise Jesus! We prayed that God would finish the work, and more importantly, touch that man's heart. He's in God's hands now.
NECK PAIN HEALED:
A nice Christian women had pain in her neck. She was very open to prayer but, like the last man, also in a hurry--on her way to the chiropractor! We prayed for her neck and her pain was totally taken away. She was very surprised and thankful to God! I told her that she had a great testimony once she gets to the Chiro. Praise God.
KNEE PAIN GONE:
A nice lady was on her way into the post office when we asked if she'd like prayer. She said, "of course!" She had knee problems, and one of her knees had already been replaced. We prayed for a complete healing of her knees and legs. The pain went away, and was replaced by a heaviness. God was right there with us--we enjoyed some powerful prayer and time in the Spirit. Next, the heaviness left, and her healing was nearly complete. We believe that 'heavy' sensation is the time just prior to a bad spirit leaving, but it's something we haven't really witnessed before. God is faithfully teaching, step by step! We encouraged the woman that God would finish the work. It was still improving when we left her. Glory to God!
NERVE DAMAGE HEALED
We said bye to Elizabeth at five o'clock. Vanessa and I decided to do one more loop around the town. Coming up to the basketball courts, Vanessa received a sharp pain in her left foot. So, we walked up to the courts and asked if anyone there had any pain in their left foot. One of the guys said, "What? I do." We told him we believed God wanted to heal it, and he came right over. He had nerve damage in his left foot, and said he'd had it for a while. He didn't seem to believe, but God was made real to him! We prayed for new nerves and no more pain. The other guys there seemed pretty amused and I heard them laugh a little during our prayer. The foolishness of men can be pretty exciting sometimes, you know? After prayer, this young man was completely delivered. Glory! We shared with him the source of his healing, and a few short words of encouragement in the Lord. It's up to God to do the convicting. He's in God's hands.
SUMMARY
All in all, what a richly blessed time. Our first experience using the Go-Pro in ministry was so wonderful. All the Glory to our God, who sent His word and healed them. We are so thankful for His pleasure to use us. There isn't a whole lot Vanessa and I like more than Street Ministry. We'll get out the video of our experience as soon as possible. Stay tuned for that, as well as more updates. Be blessed!
Monday, January 12, 2015
Victory and Overcoming
As believers, we are in a battle. We are living in a land that is not our own. We are living in a constant battle, constantly warring and battling against the powers of this world. If we are not growing in our walk with the Lord, then we are at risk of missing out. We are opening the door to the enemy coming in and taking the Word out of our hearts.
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
Ephesians 6:12
We are fighting in this battle against the attempts of the enemy, which are meant to take us away from God. Satan is always at work trying to make us slip back to where we were. He is constantly trying to make us doubt God and believe a lie. He tries to wreck our bodies and our peace of mind--to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10).
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33
We are not immune from the sins of others or the schemes of the enemy. We are, in fact, destined to have trouble in this world. We are going to be fighting the enemy until the day we die. We won't be completely out of his reach until we die and get to heaven. Satan is intent on trying to cause even the strongest believers to fall away.
But Jesus has won the victory. He was tempted by the devil, but he came through it. He achieved the victory by living a sinless life, giving up Himself and conquering the grave. He embodied love and truth in everything He did.
Yesterday I received a vision where I placed a signet ring on my finger. The Father has often given me visions of signet rings as a form of encouragement as seen in Haggai 2:23. In this vision, though, there was a unique twist. I saw that on the top of the ring there was a small human figure with arms raised. I was given the 'knowing' to understand that this vision symbolized the Lord's opportunity to LIVE in victory.
Jesus was the first to be victorious, and He was the first to live life to the fullest. He came not to be served but to serve (Mark 10:45), but He still came out on the upside of everything He did. He lived with joy that couldn't be disrupted by chaos, and He lived through so much, yet never lost His peace (John 14:27).
And He died for our freedom. His sacrifices defeated the enemy once and for all. He set a template of perfection and showed us a way that we could respond to the world. He showed us how to make the most of every opportunity. Jesus Himself gave His authority to us, if we are indeed sons of God. Satan tried to make Him stumble again and again, but Jesus always came out victorious. And we now have a life to aspire to. We can commit our actions to the firstborn of many brethren (Romans 8:29), then observe as He takes us to that place of being His friend.
Thanks to Jesus, we've been made overcomers. The same Holy Spirit that animated Him is waiting inside us to respond perfectly to any and every situation. The sinless being that lived His life is living in us, too. So we can be victorious in every moment of our day! We can be victorious within our areas of influence and our families, and together form a band of overcomers.
There is power in numbers. A cord of three strands is not easily broken (Ecclesiastes 4:12).Within a band of believers is all the power that Jesus ever had. This was His doing--it was His choice to give us authority. King David loved to see believers band together (Psalms 133:1). He had experienced such a revelation of what happened in that type of meeting. He realized that overcoming could be found there. He realized that's when God comes in (Matthew 18:20), and that's when we wage war victoriously. He understood from experience that the body is where the Kingdom is built. This authority in Jesus is what causes us to overcome Hades and this world.
"I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven." Matthew 6:18-19
Confirmed: Later on in the day yesterday, a new word was released from the Elijah list--"Overcoming all in 2015" Below is an excerpt , in italics...with bolded parts for emphasis, of course.
Whether applied to our personal or corporate lives, there is a need for us to receive of the prophetic anointing to live overcoming lives. In this year be encouraged that God has only good plans in store.
God has called His people to ascend into the high places of His Presence. The enemy would have us stay "earth-bound" keeping us from soaring as eagles in prophetic vision and purpose, seeing from Heaven's view. Worship causes us to ascend in the Spirit experiencing the glory and Presence of God, also simultaneously filling out spiritual tanks to walk in victory.
I recently had a dream where a prophet was singing "Eagles fly and walk the earth" over and over again. The truth is we live in two different realms of existence. In the natural we walk the earth, and in the Spirit we soar and fly with a view being seated with Christ in heavenly realms. With this understanding, we must also arm ourselves with the truth that we need to fight through worship-warfare to take ground in the Spirit.
Here is an added dimension. Together as one body we can overcome, and we can use our spiritual gifts to do so. So let's eagerly desire the greater gifts and the spirit of prophecy(1 Corinthians 14:1)! Let's join together, with each living in His Victory. Let's do this until the point that we can testify that He's overcome the world. Let's be victorious in every moment over the enemy and his wishes for us to follow the flesh. Let's allow His Spirit to work through us and be achieve victory and peace in every single moment of our daily lives. In the midst of confusion and trouble, let's make overcoming our lifestyle.
"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."
Ephesians 6:12
We are fighting in this battle against the attempts of the enemy, which are meant to take us away from God. Satan is always at work trying to make us slip back to where we were. He is constantly trying to make us doubt God and believe a lie. He tries to wreck our bodies and our peace of mind--to kill, steal, and destroy (John 10:10).
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." John 16:33
We are not immune from the sins of others or the schemes of the enemy. We are, in fact, destined to have trouble in this world. We are going to be fighting the enemy until the day we die. We won't be completely out of his reach until we die and get to heaven. Satan is intent on trying to cause even the strongest believers to fall away.
But Jesus has won the victory. He was tempted by the devil, but he came through it. He achieved the victory by living a sinless life, giving up Himself and conquering the grave. He embodied love and truth in everything He did.
Yesterday I received a vision where I placed a signet ring on my finger. The Father has often given me visions of signet rings as a form of encouragement as seen in Haggai 2:23. In this vision, though, there was a unique twist. I saw that on the top of the ring there was a small human figure with arms raised. I was given the 'knowing' to understand that this vision symbolized the Lord's opportunity to LIVE in victory.
Jesus was the first to be victorious, and He was the first to live life to the fullest. He came not to be served but to serve (Mark 10:45), but He still came out on the upside of everything He did. He lived with joy that couldn't be disrupted by chaos, and He lived through so much, yet never lost His peace (John 14:27).
And He died for our freedom. His sacrifices defeated the enemy once and for all. He set a template of perfection and showed us a way that we could respond to the world. He showed us how to make the most of every opportunity. Jesus Himself gave His authority to us, if we are indeed sons of God. Satan tried to make Him stumble again and again, but Jesus always came out victorious. And we now have a life to aspire to. We can commit our actions to the firstborn of many brethren (Romans 8:29), then observe as He takes us to that place of being His friend.
Thanks to Jesus, we've been made overcomers. The same Holy Spirit that animated Him is waiting inside us to respond perfectly to any and every situation. The sinless being that lived His life is living in us, too. So we can be victorious in every moment of our day! We can be victorious within our areas of influence and our families, and together form a band of overcomers.
There is power in numbers. A cord of three strands is not easily broken (Ecclesiastes 4:12).Within a band of believers is all the power that Jesus ever had. This was His doing--it was His choice to give us authority. King David loved to see believers band together (Psalms 133:1). He had experienced such a revelation of what happened in that type of meeting. He realized that overcoming could be found there. He realized that's when God comes in (Matthew 18:20), and that's when we wage war victoriously. He understood from experience that the body is where the Kingdom is built. This authority in Jesus is what causes us to overcome Hades and this world.
"I also say to you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build My church; and the gates of Hades will not overpower it. "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth shall have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall have been loosed in heaven." Matthew 6:18-19
Confirmed: Later on in the day yesterday, a new word was released from the Elijah list--"Overcoming all in 2015" Below is an excerpt , in italics...with bolded parts for emphasis, of course.
Whether applied to our personal or corporate lives, there is a need for us to receive of the prophetic anointing to live overcoming lives. In this year be encouraged that God has only good plans in store.
God has called His people to ascend into the high places of His Presence. The enemy would have us stay "earth-bound" keeping us from soaring as eagles in prophetic vision and purpose, seeing from Heaven's view. Worship causes us to ascend in the Spirit experiencing the glory and Presence of God, also simultaneously filling out spiritual tanks to walk in victory.
I recently had a dream where a prophet was singing "Eagles fly and walk the earth" over and over again. The truth is we live in two different realms of existence. In the natural we walk the earth, and in the Spirit we soar and fly with a view being seated with Christ in heavenly realms. With this understanding, we must also arm ourselves with the truth that we need to fight through worship-warfare to take ground in the Spirit.
Here is an added dimension. Together as one body we can overcome, and we can use our spiritual gifts to do so. So let's eagerly desire the greater gifts and the spirit of prophecy(1 Corinthians 14:1)! Let's join together, with each living in His Victory. Let's do this until the point that we can testify that He's overcome the world. Let's be victorious in every moment over the enemy and his wishes for us to follow the flesh. Let's allow His Spirit to work through us and be achieve victory and peace in every single moment of our daily lives. In the midst of confusion and trouble, let's make overcoming our lifestyle.
Monday, December 29, 2014
Snapshot: Prophetic Praise
If we draw near to God, we will be consumed in His Love. We will Praise Him, we will worship Him, and maybe we'll even dance to Him. This is what King David did, and this is what God wants from those who would express themselves this way. Music is a powerful thing, and a force that can align us with either Jesus or evil. God wants us to glorify Him through music. He wants us to know that "for Him are all things" (Romans 11:36).
In the last month I've been reading about King David and his team of musicians in my new Bible commentary books. I've been realizing in a new way that David was a very musically- oriented man. Music was a means of life for David, because David lived for God. He had such a heart for God's people coming together in worship. God wants to give all of us a heart like that.
"How good and pleasant it is when God's people live together in unity!" Psalm 133:1
When the hungry come together, they come to worship and experience true Life. They live in His presence, and they live for their relationship with Him. When the hunger is there, the Holy Spirit is there.
So Worship elevates us to a place where we better understand Jesus. And worship music helps with this. Worship music is a holiness tool. It elevates us to a place where our thoughts and our actions bring us to the King. It gives a testimony to Jesus.
This is where prophecy comes in. This is where we can give a revelation of Jesus through our speech and through song. This is where music brings in a message from God that testifies to forgiveness and love. This message testifies to Jesus. It tells us that God is doing a new thing; that He is making a way where there was only hopelessness before.
"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." Isaiah 43:19
It tells us to change in accordance with His will. And it speaks of a future hope and a future calling that far exceeds past doubts and failures. This message comes as the spirit of prophecy (Revelation 19:10) And music helps us get to that place. When God's people come in unity and seek Him in song, God is pleased. When the music and the worship please Him, the atmosphere becomes prophetically charged.
This is one thing King David loved about the body. This is why David surrounded himself by a team of worshippers and musicians. It allowed Him to come closer to God.
"Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation."
Let's praise Him vocally. Let's sing and praise and shout as we become the hope of God. Let's sing a new song, let's sing in the Spirit, let's sing as we are led. Let's worship with all of our spirit, as His Spirit leads into all truth (John 4:24).
But don't sing out of obligation--God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). Sing because there is no other way to express His character. Sing, because when His Love comes, it's often hard to be quiet. Make a joyful noise, as He fills you to overflowing with His Love. Wigglesworth said that you're in a terrible place if you can't shout. Now, to each their own. But we need to be passionate about our God. We need to be passionate about what He's done, and we need to be passionate about giving Him all the glory we can.
"He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed." Psalm 40:3
God gave this. God is still doing this. By the Spirit, He will give you all the songs you want. Let Him inspire you. Let Him renew your mind and give you music that glorifies Him. Sing to Him, and sing to Him a new song. Sing by His leading to glorify what He's done, to share your testimony. That's what King Hezekiah did after God healed Him (Hezekiah's Song). So sing praises, and allow Him to uplift you and spread His glory.
Confirmed: As I was writing the last paragraph, seen above, Vanessa came in with a testimony. She was singing to God in the other room, singing praise as she felt led and thanking Him for His goodness. All of a sudden, she was prompted to file down her fingernails, so she left the room and found a new nail file in the next room over . As she filed, she turned it over and read the back--sometimes God will lead you towards apparently random things--and it said, "ENCORE!".
Glory to God! He likes our music. God is pleased by our worship. He wants us to continue in it! He wants us to give Him an encore! He wants us to stay in praise, abide in Him, and let Him take our fears away. He wants to surround us with His Love and with a sense of His presence.
So Worship elevates us to a place where we better understand Jesus. And worship music helps with this. Worship music is a holiness tool. It elevates us to a place where our thoughts and our actions bring us to the King. It gives a testimony to Jesus.
This is where prophecy comes in. This is where we can give a revelation of Jesus through our speech and through song. This is where music brings in a message from God that testifies to forgiveness and love. This message testifies to Jesus. It tells us that God is doing a new thing; that He is making a way where there was only hopelessness before.
"See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland." Isaiah 43:19
It tells us to change in accordance with His will. And it speaks of a future hope and a future calling that far exceeds past doubts and failures. This message comes as the spirit of prophecy (Revelation 19:10) And music helps us get to that place. When God's people come in unity and seek Him in song, God is pleased. When the music and the worship please Him, the atmosphere becomes prophetically charged.
This is one thing King David loved about the body. This is why David surrounded himself by a team of worshippers and musicians. It allowed Him to come closer to God.
"Praise the LORD! I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, in the company of the upright, in the congregation."
Let's praise Him vocally. Let's sing and praise and shout as we become the hope of God. Let's sing a new song, let's sing in the Spirit, let's sing as we are led. Let's worship with all of our spirit, as His Spirit leads into all truth (John 4:24).
But don't sing out of obligation--God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7). Sing because there is no other way to express His character. Sing, because when His Love comes, it's often hard to be quiet. Make a joyful noise, as He fills you to overflowing with His Love. Wigglesworth said that you're in a terrible place if you can't shout. Now, to each their own. But we need to be passionate about our God. We need to be passionate about what He's done, and we need to be passionate about giving Him all the glory we can.
"He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed." Psalm 40:3
God gave this. God is still doing this. By the Spirit, He will give you all the songs you want. Let Him inspire you. Let Him renew your mind and give you music that glorifies Him. Sing to Him, and sing to Him a new song. Sing by His leading to glorify what He's done, to share your testimony. That's what King Hezekiah did after God healed Him (Hezekiah's Song). So sing praises, and allow Him to uplift you and spread His glory.
Confirmed: As I was writing the last paragraph, seen above, Vanessa came in with a testimony. She was singing to God in the other room, singing praise as she felt led and thanking Him for His goodness. All of a sudden, she was prompted to file down her fingernails, so she left the room and found a new nail file in the next room over . As she filed, she turned it over and read the back--sometimes God will lead you towards apparently random things--and it said, "ENCORE!".
Glory to God! He likes our music. God is pleased by our worship. He wants us to continue in it! He wants us to give Him an encore! He wants us to stay in praise, abide in Him, and let Him take our fears away. He wants to surround us with His Love and with a sense of His presence.
Monday, December 22, 2014
"Grin and Bear It"
Two days ago, I was struggling through some inner turmoil. Like I've mentioned in a few prior posts, the Lord is allowing me some enemy exposure. He's comforted me by relating my story to that of Job. There comes a time when we need to accept any and all things from the Lord. If He gives us discernment, it will lead us to understand what is in His plans and what is simply an unfair attack of the enemy.
"He replied, 'You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?' In all this, Job did not sin in what he said." Job 2:10
Now, it's still true that Jesus has made us conquerors and overcomers. He has given us authority over the enemy and the opportunity to live in the Kingdom! But don't forget that even the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence (Matthew 11:12). And sometimes God allows us to go through unglamorous trials. Sometimes He allows a sifting. Often, our Lord will allow evil so that we have something that we need His assistance with. It's His perfect will that every trial, every sifting, builds our faith so that we can go from strength to strength. Look at Simon Peter's situation prior to the arrest of Jesus--it was not the Will of God to actively intervene!
"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." Luke 23:32
So a few days ago God spoke to me about what my response to these trials should be. I felt Him actually telling me to "grin and bear it". That surprised me! It's taken a few confirmations for me to put faith in this message. But by His wisdom I've began understanding what He means by it.
The Lord wants us to acknowledge His sovereignty in all situations. He needs us to believe, regardless of the circumstances surrounding us, that He is in control and that nothing can possibly separate us from His Love. He wants us holding onto His promises, regardless of our feelings.
Because if we know the truth, we will be able to "grin and bear" our way past obstacles. We will be able to hold steadfast. With the power of His Love, we will be able to patiently endure all things (1 Corinthians 13:7). God was speaking to me about the manner in which I should be enduring things. In this case, I just need to accept that He's allowing me more enemy exposure! As seen in Luke 23:32, it's His will that I come out of my testing with greater faith. Then He can use me to strengthen the faith in others! His will for my attitude is to "grin and bear it" in the midst of confusing trials. Why wouldn't I believe He is good? Unconditional joy is the response that we need to take when God allows hardship in our lives.
"The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." Psalm 18:2
Even when David was in trouble he could identify the truth. We need to develop an immovable faith. Lord give us the Gift of Faith! If we know the truth, we can call on God and trust that He will give us a complete renewal. He renews us and saves us from trouble, and then we have a platform to build on.
"I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies." Psalm 18:3
This is always what happens next. God has promised to rescue us from all our troubles. He has promised to work all things for our good. So grin and bear it!
Confirmed: A unique prophetic word was just released on the Elijahlist. Here it is. This message really, really ministered to me, as several confirmations stood out. Below in italics are some short excerpts, and I bolded what stuck out to me:
"This new WAVE of glory will be released to excite people once again. During these days of crisis I will show you I am here, and I Am. Plus, I'll show you how wonderful I am..."
"...Do not be afraid. Stand and see the salvation of the LORD! For I am going to release FUN to the Church! And you will feel the wind! It's for ALL. Just learn to laugh, and watch the enemy flee!"
He who sits in the Heavens shall laugh... Psalm 2:4
Just learn to laugh. Grin and bear it...and have confidence in God, even in the midst of warfare. Thanks to His power we don't have to be afraid--all we have to do is rest in Him (2 Chronicles 20:17). When Elijah was surrounded by the wicked prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel, He laughed at them! I'm not sure that he acted perfectly, but it showed the position of faith he had taken. He trusted God! He knew his protection was ensured. More than that, he knew who he'd been called to--the one true God, the only One who is living and loving right now. All he had to do was let God take the reigns. All he had to do was laugh!
At noon Elijah began to taunt them. "Shout louder!" he said. "Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened." 1 Kings 18:27
And sometimes that's what we need to do today. God's deliverance will come. We may be surrounded by enemies and our own confusion. We may feel like God has allowed a delay. And maybe He has...but He will break through!
Look at Elijah...He was perfectly content to stand still and wait for the salvation of the Lord (Exodus 14:13). We need to be the same. We need to love Him enough to seek Him despite any difficulties He may allow. We need to be willing to wait on Him. We need to offer up ourselves for testing, according to God's own will. And when testing comes, we can rest in the victory that Jesus has already obtained for us. Glory to God!
"He replied, 'You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?' In all this, Job did not sin in what he said." Job 2:10
Now, it's still true that Jesus has made us conquerors and overcomers. He has given us authority over the enemy and the opportunity to live in the Kingdom! But don't forget that even the Kingdom of Heaven suffers violence (Matthew 11:12). And sometimes God allows us to go through unglamorous trials. Sometimes He allows a sifting. Often, our Lord will allow evil so that we have something that we need His assistance with. It's His perfect will that every trial, every sifting, builds our faith so that we can go from strength to strength. Look at Simon Peter's situation prior to the arrest of Jesus--it was not the Will of God to actively intervene!
"Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers." Luke 23:32
So a few days ago God spoke to me about what my response to these trials should be. I felt Him actually telling me to "grin and bear it". That surprised me! It's taken a few confirmations for me to put faith in this message. But by His wisdom I've began understanding what He means by it.
The Lord wants us to acknowledge His sovereignty in all situations. He needs us to believe, regardless of the circumstances surrounding us, that He is in control and that nothing can possibly separate us from His Love. He wants us holding onto His promises, regardless of our feelings.
Because if we know the truth, we will be able to "grin and bear" our way past obstacles. We will be able to hold steadfast. With the power of His Love, we will be able to patiently endure all things (1 Corinthians 13:7). God was speaking to me about the manner in which I should be enduring things. In this case, I just need to accept that He's allowing me more enemy exposure! As seen in Luke 23:32, it's His will that I come out of my testing with greater faith. Then He can use me to strengthen the faith in others! His will for my attitude is to "grin and bear it" in the midst of confusing trials. Why wouldn't I believe He is good? Unconditional joy is the response that we need to take when God allows hardship in our lives.
"The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." Psalm 18:2
Even when David was in trouble he could identify the truth. We need to develop an immovable faith. Lord give us the Gift of Faith! If we know the truth, we can call on God and trust that He will give us a complete renewal. He renews us and saves us from trouble, and then we have a platform to build on.
"I called to the LORD, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies." Psalm 18:3
This is always what happens next. God has promised to rescue us from all our troubles. He has promised to work all things for our good. So grin and bear it!
Confirmed: A unique prophetic word was just released on the Elijahlist. Here it is. This message really, really ministered to me, as several confirmations stood out. Below in italics are some short excerpts, and I bolded what stuck out to me:
"This new WAVE of glory will be released to excite people once again. During these days of crisis I will show you I am here, and I Am. Plus, I'll show you how wonderful I am..."
"...Do not be afraid. Stand and see the salvation of the LORD! For I am going to release FUN to the Church! And you will feel the wind! It's for ALL. Just learn to laugh, and watch the enemy flee!"
He who sits in the Heavens shall laugh... Psalm 2:4
Just learn to laugh. Grin and bear it...and have confidence in God, even in the midst of warfare. Thanks to His power we don't have to be afraid--all we have to do is rest in Him (2 Chronicles 20:17). When Elijah was surrounded by the wicked prophets of Baal on Mt. Carmel, He laughed at them! I'm not sure that he acted perfectly, but it showed the position of faith he had taken. He trusted God! He knew his protection was ensured. More than that, he knew who he'd been called to--the one true God, the only One who is living and loving right now. All he had to do was let God take the reigns. All he had to do was laugh!
At noon Elijah began to taunt them. "Shout louder!" he said. "Surely he is a god! Perhaps he is deep in thought, or busy, or traveling. Maybe he is sleeping and must be awakened." 1 Kings 18:27
And sometimes that's what we need to do today. God's deliverance will come. We may be surrounded by enemies and our own confusion. We may feel like God has allowed a delay. And maybe He has...but He will break through!
Look at Elijah...He was perfectly content to stand still and wait for the salvation of the Lord (Exodus 14:13). We need to be the same. We need to love Him enough to seek Him despite any difficulties He may allow. We need to be willing to wait on Him. We need to offer up ourselves for testing, according to God's own will. And when testing comes, we can rest in the victory that Jesus has already obtained for us. Glory to God!
Monday, December 1, 2014
Truth Brings Deliverance
The first part of yesterday was rough. I had fallen into doubt, and the truth was being pushed out by lies. We were in Church, and parts of worship were great, but others were not. I intermittently fell in and out of confusion. God often gives me prophetic visions, but during worship, I kept seeing a bunch of visions that just didn't make any sense. These visions were apparently random and did not bring upliftment nor directly point to God. Worship didn't do what it usually does for me--I didn't feel any better afterwards than I did beforehand. I still felt oppressed, and now I was feeling a lot of confusion because I felt like God was not in my mind.
I should also mention that a few days ago, God began speaking to me about deliverance. I sometimes struggle with doubt, and for me, this doubt dilutes and distorts God's voice. This oppression began when God first started to train me to hear from Him accurately, and since then I've struggled through lesson after lesson on the importance of receiving God. I've learned that fear can make us falsely prophetic. Doubt, too, is also a dangerous thing. If unchecked, it can even make me believe that God has refused to bring me to a safe place, salvation. In referring to my own future deliverance, I heard God put it this way: "No more will you hear the voice of the enemy and believe it". That's a promise. His sheep hear His voice, and they follow it.
Anyways, He told me, promised me, that my own deliverance from oppression and doubt would come soon. This was two days prior to Sunday. After the worship section ended, I began pleading with God that He would deliver me, and do so today!
Praise God that if our minds condemn us, even if our hearts condemn us, He knows whose seed we are of (1 John 3:20). I was wrestling with God--or trying to--after worship ended, and He let me. Suddenly I came our of the spiritual attack and my mind felt clear and renewed. He began speaking to me, which I documented in my notebook as well as I could:
"Amidst a sea of doubt and confusion, set your eyes on Me. Set your affection on Me. Set your hope on Me."
He continued into more personal stuff, and the message was clear. I got into trouble because I was not fixated on God! Worship can be a very spiritual thing, and not every spiritual thing is good or worth thinking about. The more the Lord shows me how to worship in His fullness, the more spiritual worship feels and becomes. The deeper God takes me through worship,"in Spirit and in truth", the more boldly I need to focus on Him. It's not enough to just worship in Spirit. It's not entering into the fullness of God if we just worship in truth. The combination of both brings in God's touch.
What God spoke to me after worship was the truth, His truth, and it set me free. I was delivered from all my fears! God is so good. The Word he spoke to me was then confirmed as a lady went up to the front and shared a testimony. She said several things that so validated what God had spoken to me, and my heart was truly set at rest. Below are a few phrases that were so synchronistic to what I'd just received. Most are rephrased because all this was very in the moment.
-Things that aren't truthful can't be figured out.
The visions I received during worship weren't truth. As a result, I just couldn't figure them out! God is a God of order, and the things He gives are meant to help us be set free. Wow...this was a big learning lesson because it applied directly to all those seemingly spiritual, dark or random visions that were oppressing me.
-Jesus is the only answer, and we need to focus on Him
We need to focus on Him. Look at what happened to Peter when he stepped out onto the sea, in faith, but later lost his focus. Just like God told me right after worship! Any other thing besides Him does not give us an answer. Any other thing does not reply with the truth.
-No truth only "leads to confusion"
The wording this lady used was so synchronistic with how God initially answered me. Praise Jesus! Confused is exactly how I felt when I was spiritually attacked. I had many spiritual things blocking out the truth, and I became pretty confused in trying to make sense of them.
The same Holy Spirit that gave me deliverance after worship prompted this lady to share testimony later in the service, and this same Spirit gave her and I similar human words and phrases to conceptualize spiritual truths. The truth set me free, and by His grace God gave me confirmations so that I could continue in the faith.
How does God deliver us? He gives us the Truth. He gives us the revelation. He gives us free gifts, and He accompanies these good things with faith to expand on them. He allows us to go through oppressions so that we can call on Him. We call on Him, and He answers us! He answers us with deliverance. Glory to God! He gives us the truth and saves us from the enemy. He gives us truth and saves us from all our fears.
"I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears." Psalm 34:4
I should also mention that a few days ago, God began speaking to me about deliverance. I sometimes struggle with doubt, and for me, this doubt dilutes and distorts God's voice. This oppression began when God first started to train me to hear from Him accurately, and since then I've struggled through lesson after lesson on the importance of receiving God. I've learned that fear can make us falsely prophetic. Doubt, too, is also a dangerous thing. If unchecked, it can even make me believe that God has refused to bring me to a safe place, salvation. In referring to my own future deliverance, I heard God put it this way: "No more will you hear the voice of the enemy and believe it". That's a promise. His sheep hear His voice, and they follow it.
Anyways, He told me, promised me, that my own deliverance from oppression and doubt would come soon. This was two days prior to Sunday. After the worship section ended, I began pleading with God that He would deliver me, and do so today!
Praise God that if our minds condemn us, even if our hearts condemn us, He knows whose seed we are of (1 John 3:20). I was wrestling with God--or trying to--after worship ended, and He let me. Suddenly I came our of the spiritual attack and my mind felt clear and renewed. He began speaking to me, which I documented in my notebook as well as I could:
"Amidst a sea of doubt and confusion, set your eyes on Me. Set your affection on Me. Set your hope on Me."
He continued into more personal stuff, and the message was clear. I got into trouble because I was not fixated on God! Worship can be a very spiritual thing, and not every spiritual thing is good or worth thinking about. The more the Lord shows me how to worship in His fullness, the more spiritual worship feels and becomes. The deeper God takes me through worship,"in Spirit and in truth", the more boldly I need to focus on Him. It's not enough to just worship in Spirit. It's not entering into the fullness of God if we just worship in truth. The combination of both brings in God's touch.
What God spoke to me after worship was the truth, His truth, and it set me free. I was delivered from all my fears! God is so good. The Word he spoke to me was then confirmed as a lady went up to the front and shared a testimony. She said several things that so validated what God had spoken to me, and my heart was truly set at rest. Below are a few phrases that were so synchronistic to what I'd just received. Most are rephrased because all this was very in the moment.
-Things that aren't truthful can't be figured out.
The visions I received during worship weren't truth. As a result, I just couldn't figure them out! God is a God of order, and the things He gives are meant to help us be set free. Wow...this was a big learning lesson because it applied directly to all those seemingly spiritual, dark or random visions that were oppressing me.
-Jesus is the only answer, and we need to focus on Him
We need to focus on Him. Look at what happened to Peter when he stepped out onto the sea, in faith, but later lost his focus. Just like God told me right after worship! Any other thing besides Him does not give us an answer. Any other thing does not reply with the truth.
-No truth only "leads to confusion"
The wording this lady used was so synchronistic with how God initially answered me. Praise Jesus! Confused is exactly how I felt when I was spiritually attacked. I had many spiritual things blocking out the truth, and I became pretty confused in trying to make sense of them.
The same Holy Spirit that gave me deliverance after worship prompted this lady to share testimony later in the service, and this same Spirit gave her and I similar human words and phrases to conceptualize spiritual truths. The truth set me free, and by His grace God gave me confirmations so that I could continue in the faith.
How does God deliver us? He gives us the Truth. He gives us the revelation. He gives us free gifts, and He accompanies these good things with faith to expand on them. He allows us to go through oppressions so that we can call on Him. We call on Him, and He answers us! He answers us with deliverance. Glory to God! He gives us the truth and saves us from the enemy. He gives us truth and saves us from all our fears.
"I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears." Psalm 34:4
Sunday, November 23, 2014
Revelation: What Was, What Is, What is To Come
A few days ago Vanessa and I were looking through our journals and realized that the insight God had been showing us each day related to three time periods--what was, what is, and what is to come. That is, all three relations to our present time were revealed each day. I've been making daily encouragement notecards for Vanessa by asking The Lord to give me insight on her behalf, and He often speaks through visions. We realized while looking at these past cards that I received three visions most days. The first typically addressed the past, the second the present, and the third, typically the future.
All time's events and all creation points to God's Son Jesus. The first vision received was usually a look into the past that revealed God's faithfulness and guidance despite our mistakes . The second vision was more of an in time navigational command, giving insight into what had been on Vanessa's heart that morning. In this way God confirms the meditations she's had by Him in the morning, and our faith is built . Praise God for being timely, and powerful enough to call us to live in the moment!
The third vision often related to a future promise of God. It gave hope for the future, and insight into what that future God-shaped pathway might birth. These third visions all revealed "in part", and bring us closer to fulfilling our calling and seeing face to face (1 Corinthians 13:9).
God come to us where we are at, and accommodates our conception of time. He goes back for us, so that we can remember Him, He lives in us, so that we can live for Jesus, and He anticipates ahead in time for us, so that His Son can find faith on the earth when He returns (Luke 18:8).
All three visions testified to Jesus, and they were alao prophetic because they gave God-inspired insight. We need to take on God's view of time, and know that Jesus is the beginning and the end. We should ask God for insight into His promises, hope to accept them and faith to move into them. We should believe Him when He said, "It is finished" (John 19:30). Let's be conscious of the beauty in both God's timeliness and timelessness.
All time's events and all creation points to God's Son Jesus. The first vision received was usually a look into the past that revealed God's faithfulness and guidance despite our mistakes . The second vision was more of an in time navigational command, giving insight into what had been on Vanessa's heart that morning. In this way God confirms the meditations she's had by Him in the morning, and our faith is built . Praise God for being timely, and powerful enough to call us to live in the moment!
The third vision often related to a future promise of God. It gave hope for the future, and insight into what that future God-shaped pathway might birth. These third visions all revealed "in part", and bring us closer to fulfilling our calling and seeing face to face (1 Corinthians 13:9).
God come to us where we are at, and accommodates our conception of time. He goes back for us, so that we can remember Him, He lives in us, so that we can live for Jesus, and He anticipates ahead in time for us, so that His Son can find faith on the earth when He returns (Luke 18:8).
All three visions testified to Jesus, and they were alao prophetic because they gave God-inspired insight. We need to take on God's view of time, and know that Jesus is the beginning and the end. We should ask God for insight into His promises, hope to accept them and faith to move into them. We should believe Him when He said, "It is finished" (John 19:30). Let's be conscious of the beauty in both God's timeliness and timelessness.
Friday, November 7, 2014
Synchronicity: Prophecy Confirmed
As I said in prior posts, God can and does use synchronicity to confirm Himself. By bringing together an array of events, He can develop for us a new message, or confirm an older one. God's timing is perfect, and if we walk in His will, He can manufacture our future and bring to us aligning circumstances that show us the way.
Synchronicity in Group Prophecy
God uses synchronicity both to produce and confirm the prophetic Word. He validates Himself through bringing together the same messages to different people. When prophesying over someone in a group setting, God often brings to mind similar things to those doing the prophesying.
"...Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses." 2 Corinthians 13:1
While prophesying in a group setting, you will find that God always establishes a common theme. He gives a vision of a tree to one person, while giving the phrase, "oaks of righteousness" to another. He brings these things together in a synchronistic way. One person gets one puzzle peace, another gets a glimpse of the final project.
"For we know in part and we prophecy in part". 1 Corinthians 13:9
We also prophesy in accordance with the measure of faith God's given us. By demonstrating a recurring theme through synchronistic downloads into many people, God builds collective faith of the group. The body then can build off of itself and release deeper and more accurate words. This is because it takes faith to prophecy! Then comes a blessing from the Lord as "each matter is established". This blessing is of faith, and this faith permits the flow of convicting prophecies.
For example, many times in our prophetic group back in North Carolina, two people will receive the same vision, at the same time, and for the same person. God is so faithful to create, confirm, and carry out His Word.
"So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:11
Synchronicity to confirm a Personal Prophecy
Even after a prophetic word is given, the person who receives it has to remain faithful to God and the implanted Word. It is the Holy Spirit who brings things to remembrance, and God will bring synchronous confirmations to us so that we can have hope for the future. God waters the Word in us, and feeds into the Holy Spirit, to give us faith and "the assurance of the things we hope for". Glory to God! Confirmational messages can be so fun.
For example, one day the Lord spoke to me about my wife. He said that today she would "always be right, no matter what". As it turns out, that day she introduced to me a controversial topic that I otherwise would've probably rejected. But God softened my heart, and renewed my mind, by bringing several confirmations of her opinion to my awareness. Because I was walking in His will, "the Word because flesh" and dwelt with me. God had His Hand in so many synchronous events that day..wherever I went--even if only to the grocery store--I received another sign that confirmed both His direction that morning and my wife's opinion.
"Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, 'This is the way you should go,' whether to the right or to the left." Isaiah 30:21
God's Spirit will only highlight synchronistic events if they bear witness with the Word. In other words, signs should confirm the bible, personal prophecies, or both! If they do not, we need to realize that we may be acting out of fear. Synchronicity cannot trump the Word of God. That being said, we serve an all-powerful God who enjoys directing all events towards His will. A series of unlikely events may just be God's way to give us hope in a past Word, as means of giving us hope in the future.
Synchronicity in Group Prophecy
God uses synchronicity both to produce and confirm the prophetic Word. He validates Himself through bringing together the same messages to different people. When prophesying over someone in a group setting, God often brings to mind similar things to those doing the prophesying.
"...Every matter must be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses." 2 Corinthians 13:1
While prophesying in a group setting, you will find that God always establishes a common theme. He gives a vision of a tree to one person, while giving the phrase, "oaks of righteousness" to another. He brings these things together in a synchronistic way. One person gets one puzzle peace, another gets a glimpse of the final project.
"For we know in part and we prophecy in part". 1 Corinthians 13:9
We also prophesy in accordance with the measure of faith God's given us. By demonstrating a recurring theme through synchronistic downloads into many people, God builds collective faith of the group. The body then can build off of itself and release deeper and more accurate words. This is because it takes faith to prophecy! Then comes a blessing from the Lord as "each matter is established". This blessing is of faith, and this faith permits the flow of convicting prophecies.
For example, many times in our prophetic group back in North Carolina, two people will receive the same vision, at the same time, and for the same person. God is so faithful to create, confirm, and carry out His Word.
"So shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it." Isaiah 55:11
Synchronicity to confirm a Personal Prophecy
Even after a prophetic word is given, the person who receives it has to remain faithful to God and the implanted Word. It is the Holy Spirit who brings things to remembrance, and God will bring synchronous confirmations to us so that we can have hope for the future. God waters the Word in us, and feeds into the Holy Spirit, to give us faith and "the assurance of the things we hope for". Glory to God! Confirmational messages can be so fun.
For example, one day the Lord spoke to me about my wife. He said that today she would "always be right, no matter what". As it turns out, that day she introduced to me a controversial topic that I otherwise would've probably rejected. But God softened my heart, and renewed my mind, by bringing several confirmations of her opinion to my awareness. Because I was walking in His will, "the Word because flesh" and dwelt with me. God had His Hand in so many synchronous events that day..wherever I went--even if only to the grocery store--I received another sign that confirmed both His direction that morning and my wife's opinion.
"Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, 'This is the way you should go,' whether to the right or to the left." Isaiah 30:21
God's Spirit will only highlight synchronistic events if they bear witness with the Word. In other words, signs should confirm the bible, personal prophecies, or both! If they do not, we need to realize that we may be acting out of fear. Synchronicity cannot trump the Word of God. That being said, we serve an all-powerful God who enjoys directing all events towards His will. A series of unlikely events may just be God's way to give us hope in a past Word, as means of giving us hope in the future.
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Synchronicity: Prayer Confirmed
As I've mentioned in previous posts, God often uses synchronicity, a series of alike yet independent events, to confirm His message. He uses it to speak to an individual, to aid in prophecy, and also to guide and confirm prayer. This post will look at synchronicity in prayer.
Sometimes the Lord gives me mental images or visions when praying. He gives me these to instruct my prayer. Often I don't know how to pray according to God's will, so the Holy Spirit demonstrates it to me in a way I can understand. These promptings are usually confirmed by synchronistic events. Everything is intended for His glory. If God created our conceptualization of time , who do you think He intended its usage for? His sons and daughters! Even events aligned in time should glorify God. Prayer becomes tangible as synchronicity confirms the responses of God on our behalf.
"Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." Romans 8:26-27
The Spirit intercedes for us with wordless groans. I believe this is refers to tongues, as well as other things. I would consider visions a groaning of the Spirit. Why not? The Holy Spirit searches the mind of God, then reveals it to those entrusted, however He may please.
"For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding." 1 Corinthians 14:15-15
Visions give understanding and a "knowing" that aligns with God. What better way to keep mind and spirit fruitful. Visions can edify the person seeing them and other people, too. Our minds can stay fruitful as God in His Grace works with our prayers and shows us hidden things.
For example, before dinner I was praying with my wife and saw us wrapped up in a giant, pure garment. It wrapped itself around us slowly, from our feet up. I had a "knowing" that the garment was the loving-kindness of God, (to us a King James bible term) so my prayer was changed and I said, "God, thank you for wrapping yourself around us..." But I knew I needed to say more, so I continued, "...for wrapping us in your loving-kindness".
That prayer struck Vanessa and she told me that this morning that had prayed, "God, please wrap me in your love today". As a result she'd been joyful all day, even as God spoke through me to confirm her prayers. What a confirmation! God hears the prayers of those who have been made pure. He synchronized my words with what Vanessa had prayed many hours earlier. "And the Lord will give you a sign". He's so creative in manipulating believers who can be used as vessels. He is so faithful to grant prayers, even manipulating time to work "all for the good", so we can know He has heard us. Praise God!
Sometimes the Lord gives me mental images or visions when praying. He gives me these to instruct my prayer. Often I don't know how to pray according to God's will, so the Holy Spirit demonstrates it to me in a way I can understand. These promptings are usually confirmed by synchronistic events. Everything is intended for His glory. If God created our conceptualization of time , who do you think He intended its usage for? His sons and daughters! Even events aligned in time should glorify God. Prayer becomes tangible as synchronicity confirms the responses of God on our behalf.
"Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities; for we know not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
And He that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because He maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God." Romans 8:26-27
The Spirit intercedes for us with wordless groans. I believe this is refers to tongues, as well as other things. I would consider visions a groaning of the Spirit. Why not? The Holy Spirit searches the mind of God, then reveals it to those entrusted, however He may please.
"For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding." 1 Corinthians 14:15-15
Visions give understanding and a "knowing" that aligns with God. What better way to keep mind and spirit fruitful. Visions can edify the person seeing them and other people, too. Our minds can stay fruitful as God in His Grace works with our prayers and shows us hidden things.
For example, before dinner I was praying with my wife and saw us wrapped up in a giant, pure garment. It wrapped itself around us slowly, from our feet up. I had a "knowing" that the garment was the loving-kindness of God, (to us a King James bible term) so my prayer was changed and I said, "God, thank you for wrapping yourself around us..." But I knew I needed to say more, so I continued, "...for wrapping us in your loving-kindness".
That prayer struck Vanessa and she told me that this morning that had prayed, "God, please wrap me in your love today". As a result she'd been joyful all day, even as God spoke through me to confirm her prayers. What a confirmation! God hears the prayers of those who have been made pure. He synchronized my words with what Vanessa had prayed many hours earlier. "And the Lord will give you a sign". He's so creative in manipulating believers who can be used as vessels. He is so faithful to grant prayers, even manipulating time to work "all for the good", so we can know He has heard us. Praise God!
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