Freedom: It's Contagious

"...That the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to decay and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God."  

Romans 8:21

Based on this verse, our freedom goes out from us.  It begins within, in Yah's presence, and is released through us.  Freedom is contagious,more contagious than sin or disease.  Our Freedom has the ability to purify our natural environment.

When we are experience fullness of freedom as children of God, when we are celebrating who we really are -- that's when the Kingdom advances.  It's just like the implanted word (James 1:21) and the mustard seed (Matthew 13:31). Your Heavenly Father wants this presence within you to grow and grow and grow until others find shelter with you!  He wants to expand your tents and increase your authority (Isaiah 54:2).

The truth is that we are so free that our freedom liberates our surrounding -- even nature.  The creation itself will be set free from the natural order of things by coming into contact with His offspring.  By coming into contact with YOU!  This is the "Kingdom Leaven" that Yahshua spoke about (Matthew 13:33).  He wants to bless others through you.  He wants purity, holiness, and conviction to flow out through you.  He wants you to cause atmosphere shifts. Like a peacemaker (Matthew 5:9)

How many of us have really experienced this?  Vanessa and I have experienced weather miracles many times now.  We've seen how our Father is is control of the climate and the wind and even all the creatures He's made.  We've seen how animals respond to the good news of Messiah (Mark 16:15)-- it's fun talking to birds and cats and bunnies!  But have we made this confidence in God a way of life?

"Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Yahshua Messiah took hold of me."

~Philippians 3:12

Communion: It's Different

Communion is awesome--yet it's also not for everyone.  We need to walk on the right path so that we can take the Elements faithfully.  We need to be woven into Jesus by the Spirit.  If we know the truth, then we'll have been set free.  If we've already been set free, then we are free to take communion!

Communion is for Believers:  It's through our belief that we are justified (Romans 10:10).  If we have the faith of God, then we will be blessed in our doing.  In other words--If you know Jesus, remember Him thru communion.  Receive what He's done with thanksgiving and reverence--Yahweh does not give as the world does (John 14:27).



Communion is a Proclamation:  When we partake of the Elements, we are proclaiming the Lord's death until He comes (1 Corinthians 11:26).  And when we proclaim God's will in faith, it is established for us (Job 22:28).

So as we take communion, we are having Jesus' death established--fulfilled-- in our new life.  We realize that One died for all and that therefore all died (2 Cor. 5:14).  We proclaim Communion as the most sure Word of prophecy (2 Peter 1:19)--the most reliable prophetic word.  It is the most powerful positive confession.  We proclaim that God really did send His Son for us.



Communion Requires Discerning the Body:  We need to treasure what Jesus has purchased--our brothers and sisters, for whom He died (1 Cor 8:11)!  We need to be perfected in forgiveness and love (Matthew 5:48).  And because God's already done the perfecting, we just need to choose to yield to it.  This means having the faith to discern that Jesus is enough.

We need to acknowledge that Jesus came in the flesh (1 John 4:2).  With that, He destroyed the sinful nature once and for all (Romans 6:6).  Let's receive the grace of freedom from sin (Romans 6:18). We are a sacrifice of Holiness!  We have received the sinless body of the Lord.



Communion Requires Discerning Yourself:  The Holy Spirit convicts us of sin and of righteousness (John 16:8).  He shows us a wonderful paradox--we were sinful in the flesh, but now we are flawless in His Spirit.

If we are convicted of our own righteousness, if we know that Christ is in us, then we can turn from sin and understand how we need to yield to God's growth.  We can discern how we've went wrong and see communion as a marking point of change.  It's so important to remain in His purifying fire.


Communion is Seperate: Do you know what the word 'Holy' means?  It's original meaning is different, set apart, other.  We are a holy priesthood, a chosen nation (1 Peter 2:9)!  We have been selected and set apart by God, and communion can activate our living like it.

The Holy Spirit is saying come away, He's saying come out of oppression.  He's saying be in the world, just not of it (John 17:16)!  Communion is a spiritual force that draws us away from the world and into the wonderful, sacrificial Love of our Saviour.  It's a blessing for those who are worthy, and a curse for those who are not.  It's a torrent of God's love for those who believe, and the cup of His wrath for those who do not (Matthew 26:42).  When we receive the needed belief, we receive the abundant blessings!

Revival: It's Costly

Revival Requires Purity

"Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation."

Psalm 24:3-5

Revival is a place where we have received the blessing.  We meet the qualifications God has set before us, receive the blessing, and then walk it out.  And to do this, we need clean hands and a pure heart.

Revival Requires Work

"Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if he has enough to complete it? Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to ridicule him,…"

Luke 14:27-29

We need to realize that revival requires building a tower.  It requires work and effort, but more than that, it requires yielding to the Holy Spirit and His measure of faith.  It's empowerment by the Holy Spirit that gets the work done.  To be empowered by the Spirit and enjoy life in the Spirit, we need to experience death to ourselves.  That's the cost.  Every time we 'die', we are filled with His word, which is Spirit and Life (John 6:63).  Every time we die to ourselves, we receive a fresh anointing and a fresh empowerment.  And that's what gets the tower built.

Instructions for Revival:

"Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies...."

1 Thessalonians 5:16-20



Revival Requires Prayer

Here we can receive insight into what gets revival started.  If we are always joyful, if we never stop praying, then we can expect the move of the Spirit to come.  We need to pray it through.  Then, we can expect the beginning of revival. And that's when it's important that we do not stifle Him.  We have to let Him do the work!



Revival Requires Humility

If the Holy Spirit is beginning something, we need to let Him carry it out.  We need to let Him speak and move through any vessel He chooses.  We can't despise the wisdom of another.  We can't despise a prophecy.  Pride and presumption will put an end to revival!  We need to be humble and let the Holy Spirit flow.  We need to speak up when God prompts us, and remain quiet when He doesn't. We need to acknowledge that others are seeing in part (1 Corinthians 13:9), just as we are.  We need to remember that others, too, have paid the price.  We need to remember that all of us are hungry for a move of God, hungry for revival!

There are conditions to revival.  Some may disagree with this, but I believe that there are conditions to meet before God's promises are fulfilled.  God's love is unconditional, but His blessings are not. We need to go up higher and receive the blessing from the Lord.  We need to contend for revival.  It will come if we really, really want it.

Snapshot: A Dwelling on the Mountaintop

Recently, the Lord gave me a vision where I saw a house being built atop a mountain.

"Who may climb the mountain of the Lord?
    Who may stand in his holy place?
Only those whose hands and hearts are pure,
    who do not worship idols
    and never tell lies.
They will receive the Lord’s blessing
    and have a right relationship with God their savior.
Such people may seek you
    and worship in your presence, O God of Jacob."

Psalm 24:4-6

We all need to get into this holy place, this mountaintop visitation with God.  We each need to be touched by Him, be transformed by Him, be changed by Him--and this happens on the mountaintop. We climb the mountain to meet the Lord--to get away from people and distractions, and to seek His face.  That's why we make the climb.  That why we put in our part and allow Him to uplift us.

Now, Peter and John wanted to build a house on the mountaintop--that's human--and they were told no. (Matthew 17:4) That's not what I'm talking about.  The Lord knows that trials will come, and we need to respond by knowing that He will still make all things work for the good. (Romans 8:28)  We need to come on down from that higher place and interact with others--we have work to do!

What the Lord was showing me was the possibility of really abiding.  He was relaying the importance of getting creativity, inspiration, and life from that mountaintop time.  And most importantly--He was showing me the importance of receiving from that place His Love.  We need to remain in this love--figuratively speaking, to remain on that mountaintop.  We need to remain in with Him, in Him, and for Him.

The only things worth building are those things that came from that mountaintop time.  We need to have an elevated foundation--Jesus--and only build on that.  We need our thoughts, actions, and efforts to flow from the secret place.  We need to be raised up by Him, and then stay there.  That's what really counts--entering into His bliss and applying it to our lives.

"He who walks righteously and speaks with sincerity, He who rejects unjust gain And shakes his hands so that they hold no bribe; He who stops his ears from hearing about bloodshed And shuts his eyes from looking upon evil; He will dwell on the heights, His refuge will be the impregnable rock; His bread will be given him, His water will be sure."

Isaiah 58:14

Song: Place of Worship

One of my favorite songs right now, maybe my top favorite, is "Place of Worship" by William McDowell.  It's so beautiful, so anointed, so passionate--it points to the savior.

I wanted to know what the Lord thought of this type of music, and so I asked Him.  And He led me to pause the song as the 7:03 mark.  I then entered that into the online lexicon.  Praise the Lord!

Hebrew #703:
A virtuous course of thought, feeling and action;
Any particular moral excellence, as modesty, purity

Praise Him for songs that convey His virtue, His excellence, and His purity.  That's exactly what these William McDowell songs do.  They do what praise music should! They magnify the Lord, and brings His likeness near.   Such music pleased Him--it's acceptable worship in His eyes.  I hope you enjoy this song as much as I do.  It really ushers you into the presence of the Lord.

"Worship the LORD with joy! Enter his presence with joyful singing!"                Psalm 100:2

Snapshot: To Separate The Wheat from The Chaff

Yesterday the Lord gave a vision of a wheat plant.  And I saw the branches--the leaves that produce the fruit--of the plant.  Some of these leaves were doing just fine, and being left alone, while others were being sifted through a little combing machine.  This sifting machine just took the chaff right out of the wheat.  About a third of the entire plant was being sifted and sorted so that only the wheat remained.

I realized that God was showing me the work He is doing in my own life.  Sifting out the unfruitful parts, so that the parts bearing fruit--bearing wheat--have room to grow and become even more productive.

"His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire."                 Matthew 3:12

Let's look at the context here.  For believers, for those already saved, this is what the baptism in the Holy Spirit and His fire does to us!  This is a work of God, not in judgement, but in refining.  God takes away the hindrances and sifts out the impurities.  He cleanses us initially, and that process never stops.

"You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you."             John 15:3

We are clean because He's spoken and told us so.  Praise God!  It's a real revelation to know the righteousness He's given us.  And then what?

"He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful."                                                John 15:2

We have been clean since salvation.  But have we been perfectly clean?  Not yet, not unless God makes us that way.  We may still have personal issues that need sorting out.  We probably do!  If we have issues, then we have need of a sifting.  (Luke 22:31)  So God takes these things and combs them off, cuts them off, burns them up.  He burns them away in His purifying fire.  We don't need to have issues any more!  We can be made perfectly whole.

"He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the Levites and refine them like gold and silver. Then the LORD will have men who will bring offerings in righteousness..."
Malachi 3:3

This is what God does to all who accept His gift of grace.  He purifies us so we can give purity to Him.  It's time to accept holiness.  It's time to accept purity.  It's time to accept that biblically, we are all saints.  It's time to walk worthy of the calling with which we've been called.

"...so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God..."                               Colossians 1:10

Snapshot: Fire

While Vanessa and I were on our way back up to Maine, the Lord began speaking to me about 'Fire'.  There are both good fires (involving purity and power) and bad fires (involving punishment and judgement).  I felt Him speak to my heart about the Godly side of this--the fires of purity and power.

"That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ..."
--1 Peter 1:7

There is the purifying work of the Holy Spirit--His cleansing power within us (1 John 1:7).  That's what the above verse testifies to.  God tries us with fire so that He can burn up things that would otherwise hinder us.  He tries our faith by allowing trials in our lives.  This is purity, as I described in a recent blog post.

"I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me comes one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire."
--Matthew 3:11

And then there is the "power" work of the Holy Spirit--His ministry within us.  This is what's next, after initial purification and trials.  Once we've had impurities taken out, burned out, then we can really have the love of God move through us.  We must be purified first.

"Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood And has not sworn deceitfully."
--Psalm 24:3-4

We can get up onto the mountaintop with God, and we can live there comfortably.  We can commune with the Lord and have His radiance transform us (Galatians 3:27).  Then we can have a flowing out, from Him, that is totally unhindered.  This is where the Kingdom of Heaven is manifested in our lives.  This is when we experience a baptism of fire.  This is where we move in God's power and He establishes and then overshadows us.  This is where we reached the beginnings of the fullness of life that Jesus promised us.

Confirmed:  On the drive back up here, the Lord prompted me to look up to a truck that said, 'Ring of Fire' on it.  Prior to that, I had seen another truck that said, 'Ring's end'.  And I had felt God signifying the end of one long season, and a new beginning in this season of the Baptism in Fire.  for me, rings have represented seasons based on the promises of God.  He puts rings onto us, and He himself wears us as a ring--just look at King Zerubbabel.  (For more on the symbolism behind rings, look at this blog post.

Confirmed:  A little later on the drive, I read the back of yet another ' quickened truck' and it appeared to say, 'Inner City Fire'.  I thought, hey, that would be symbolic for a powerful inner city revival!  Seeing people set on fire for Jesus, as the Holy Spirit brought power, love, and conviction to those who have been lost.  Praise the Lord!  That's what we want to see, and that's what we will see, as God attains to it.  As it turns out, the truck said 'Tire' instead of 'Fire', but I give the Holy Spirit credit for ensuring His message got across.

Confirmed:  That same night, after we had finished segment two of our drive, I stumbled across a Todd White video that described the baptism of fire.  Wow Lord!  Here is the video...

Dream: Repentance with Jesus; Winds of Change

Last night I had an interesting experience.  I was dreaming and the Lord Jesus came in.  I did not quite see Him in this dream, that I can remember. However, He seemed very close by and I did really feel His presence.  Once this presence came into my awareness--wow,  what love!  I was pretty taken aback with admiration and bliss.  I felt His love surround me and was left in adoration.

And I also felt the need to repent.  I realized how far from perfection, how far from Him, I'd been living.  I repented and repented and repented--I had to in order to withstand His nearness.  I became acutely aware of the degrees of pride, impurity, and unbelief I had let into my daily life.  For every 'good' work I had done, I understood that He had the ability to just burn it up.  At the same time, I did not really feel a worldly guilt.  My sense of unworthiness was refreshing, not condemning.

So I did repent.  With each confession, and every time I turned back from something, I felt Jesus come nearer.  I felt Him begin to penetrate my heart.  I felt His Love in a new way.  His presence got so, so thick.  I was crying, and then sobbing.  I had repented, and I finally felt clean!  And I could let Him in.  Praise the Lord!  This experience did not take very long, but resulted in so much heart change.

After this, I woke up.  I think it was about midnight.  And I heard this roaring wind in my ears.  I felt like it was from God--but it still frightened me.  It was a loud, intimidating sound, and I was hearing it almost internally,  not sensing that I had over it any amount of control.  It would pick up and then withdraw a little.  I asked the Lord if He would make it more bearable, and He did.  It became quieter, and then I went back to sleep.

"The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”                                  John 3:8

I've had the above verse in my head for a couple days now.  It's clearer now that it'd been preparation for what happened last night.  This morning I did some research.    This year, according to the Hebrew calendar year 5775, is a year for the Winds of Change to manifest on the earth.  This is a time when God will blow away our impurities and usher in a new thing.   The Holy Spirit will usher in a time of greater purity and longing for Jesus.

Here is an article on the Elijahlist about the winds of change and their multitudes of purpose.  There are many winds, because there are many changes that can take place for the better.  We are cleansed by these changes--our own shortcomings are blown away and a spiritual shift takes place.

"When he thunders, the waters in the heavens roar; he makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth. He sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses."              Jeremiah 10:13

Snapshot: Purity and Power

For a little while now, Vanessa and I have been talking to others about baptism.  Of course there is the initial water baptism, and then there is a baptism in the Holy Spirit.  What does the Word say about this?

And he was preaching, and saying, "After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals. "I baptized you with water; but He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."                                    Mark 1:7-8

So, we have John's water baptism and then Jesus' Holy Spirit baptism.  

JOHN'S WATER BAPTISM
 
John's is of repentance, to allow us to change our ways...to turn from our sins and get ourselves out of the way! Just the basics here, repentance and belief....but awesome basics nonetheless.  In this baptism we show our initial emptying out and belonging to Christ.  God uses the empty vessels.  This is where we die to ourselves and have our 'old man' done away with.  This is where we become a new creation.  We die to the flesh, beginning with water baptism, and pave the way for God to work.   

We have not yet been 'endued with power' yet (Luke 24:49), because humans do a terrible job handling power.  There has to be some purifying, some dying, and some sanctifying  first.  (Of course, with God, all of that can happen in an instant).  The Spirit comes in and makes us more like our master.

Purity (generally) comes before God-given power as a means to keep us safe, humble, and not overly accountable.  Our character by the Holy Spirit has to safely accommodate our gifts by the Spirit.  So the character--and mind of--Christ should come first.  This is a baptism that signifies purity and heart change.  

BAPTISM IN THE HOLY SPIRIT

So, we get ourselves out of the way when baptized in water.  We die with Christ, and then also rise with Him.  What's next?  Well, God has made us pure.  And He wants to intensify the power of Jesus' resurrection within us.  He wants to pour into us more of the Spirit--He wants to give us a greater, secondary infilling. Unlike at the start, now we can be entrusted more power.
 
"But the days will come when the bridegroom will be taken away from them, and then they will fast in those days. No one sews a piece of unshrunk cloth on an old garment; or else the new piece pulls away from the old, and the tear is made worse. And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins.”                            Mark 2:20-22

Jesus said this while comparing His methods to John's.  And this analogy can also apply to the difference between Jesus' baptism and John's.  The second baptism, in the Holy Spirit, brings in a much larger gifting.  It brings in much more 'new wine'.  It enlarges our spiritual capacity, so that we can drink into the fullness of Christ.  This baptism gives us power--not just any power, but the wonder-working power of the Spirit.  This second baptism unleashes the essence of Jesus within us.  It sets us on fire for Him, for the entire world.  

The Lord wants to make us more effective.  He has promised to make His minister a flame of fire. (Hebrews 1:7) He has promised to give us a light, that, if shown, is bright enough for all to see. (Matthew 5:16)  It is time to start operating in the gifts.  It is time to move in His power.  That's what this second baptism is--power of equipping for effective ministry.

"Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power."                              Ephesians 3:7

Creative Ideas

A few days ago now, Vanessa and I were praying and I felt driven to say to God, "Thank you for creative ideas".  I felt inspired to say this but didn't really know why.  Afterwards, Vanessa asked what that was all about, and I said I don't know!

I remember, that late last year the Holy Spirit was teaching me to speak things with His authority. Basically, God has to speak something first!  The best we can do is repeat after Him.  If we speak after Him, that's when our words have power.  That's when they have heavenly significance.

"You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you; And light will shine on your ways."

Job 22:28

This is what Job's friends told him, and it was true--for the most part.  There comes a time when God gives the righteous--that was Job!--freedom.  There is a time when we can enjoy such freedom in the ways that we serve God.  God wants to bring us into freedom where we can serve alongside Him, dream with Him, and create with Him.

There comes a time when "all these things will be given" to us, as well (Matthew 6:33).  There comes a time when we will decree a thing, God will back it, and it will be birthed into reality.  There comes a breakthrough when God takes over our minds, hearts, and imaginations, and makes them pure.

We need to understand that the Holy Spirit makes the word flesh.  He makes the word of God, and the inspirations of God, manifest into something that can dwell among us.  (John 1:14)  In our lives, we should see the Word come alive and make a tangible impact on whatever is around us.  God had a wonderful idea named Jesus, and He has made us in His own image.  Thanks to His idea, we can enjoy the the many ideas that were originally only His.

And His purity can make us pure.  God has purified our desires, and He has created us with the intention that we break free from our sinful nature.  He made us with imaginations; He made us with creativity; He made us with ideas!  He wants to purify us and give us His righteousness, because He wants to see our dreams become reality.

God wants us to declare and decree His promises.  Start with the Word.  Speak the truth into existence--there is the power of life in our speech (Proverbs 18:21)!

The spiritual comes before the physical, so stay grounded in the Word.  But aren't there also personal promises God give us?  Don't you think He wants to bless the work of your hands?  Don't you think that He wants to give you success in whatever you do (Genesis 39:23)?  This is the truth, but not many people seem to make it to that point.

Anyways, if there is a promise God has given you--an acting career, a certain type of ministry, a successful published book, etc.--pray into it.  Pray into it, speak into it, act into it.  Speak His Kingdom come.  There is power when our words agree with God in Heaven.  There is power when God gives us an idea from Him.  Don't you know that God cannot fail?  There is such security in doing the things that He tells you.  These things won't fail!  If He tells you something, decree it?  Decree it, and the Holy Spirit will breath it into existence.

God is the most creative One out there.  And we can be included into Him!  We can have His righteousness, and after we have it, we can have His creative ides.  Let's be bold in our declarations and in the things we say--let's be bold and forcefully advance the Kingdom (Matthew 11:12).  Let's access God's version of reality by speaking supernatural life and not death.

Since praying that prayer a few days ago, so many 'creative ideas' have been coming at Vanessa and I.  It wasn't that my words had much power, but I spoke into what God was saying, and in doing so, aligned with the power that is only His.  Glory to God!  He gives us freedom, even to have what we say come to pass.  Be heavily led, be in tune and in step with the Spirit, and watch as you receive whatever you ask for in prayer (John 14:13)

Snapshot: Threshing

Yesterday I was spending time with Vanessa and the Lord showed me a threshing fork--that He was "threshing out" the impurities in her spirituality.  I pondered on the meaning of this for a little while, and came to understand that He was separating the wheat from the chaff within her life.  He was creating in her a clean heart.

"His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor, gathering his wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire."  Matthew 3:12

Now, I believe that there is more than one application to the above verse.  Believers (wheat) and nonbelievers (chaff) will be separated on that judgement day, yes, but this message can also address the particulars of a single Christian's life.  God sorts through our lives, keeping the good, fruitful parts (the wheat), and removing the sinful parts (the chaff).  The chaff is then burnt away.  

God does this in His mercy!  By His Spirit, He puts to death our sinful parts (Romans 8:13). He burns up our uncleanness with His jealousy(Deuteronomy 4:24).  He cuts off the branches within us that bear no fruit (John 15:2).  The list goes on, but the point remains the same--God desires to do a purifying act within the lives of all His own.  He wants to thresh us out.  This may be painful, but in it we still see His goodness!  In it His grace is extended.  In this we see that our Lord is slow to anger and abounding in love and compassion (Psalm 103:8).  He wants all of us to come to the fullness of repentance (2 Peter 3:9).  When we open ourselves up to this threshing, we become closer to Him.

Confirmed:  Today a word by Bobby Connor was posted on the Quickened Word.  Below is an excerpt, with bolded parts for emphasis.




What significant event is upon us now?

--A Double Portion of Intimacy

The Hebrew word translated “barn” can also be translated “threshing place.” The threshing floor is indeed the place that is being opened to us now for this most significant season ahead. The threshing floor has been leveled and made smooth. It is a place where the wheat is separated from the chaff—the place where true treasures are discovered and stored. The threshing place is the treasured place where Ruth met her Boaz, where the Church meets her God—the place of profound intimacy. The threshing place is the place where the Beloved calls out to His Bride, Grace, grace!

How do we open the lock to this place of intimacy? What is the combination? It is our love for our neighbor and our Beloved, who calls out to us, Grace, Grace, as we read in Song of Solomon 5:5.

Snapshot: Prayers of Healing Rise

I was in prayer around the beginning of this week, when the Lord gave me a vision of two apples rising.  They were green apples, and they arose from my prayers.  As I saw this, I realized that Vanessa was praying in the room next to mine at the very same time.  The apples symbolized the fruit of our prayers going up to God.

...“What is it, Lord?” And He said to him, “Your prayers and your alms have ascended as a memorial before God.        Acts 10:4

This is what God thinks when we talk to Him.  Our pleas rise up to Him.  They are uplifting in and of themselves, but God takes this a step further.  Our prayers bring Him pleasure.


"Let my prayer be counted as incense before you, and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice!"          Psalm 141:2

God valued David's prayers, and He values ours, too, if our hearts our pure.  We are the apple of His eye (Psalms 17:8)--that doesn't change.  But our hearts need to be cleansed and our view of others perfected before our prayers become as meaningful in His sight as our lives themselves.

"Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering."     Matthew 5:23-24

David was given a revelation that prayer was offering, and intense prayer a sacrifice.  This is so true!  Earnest prayer requires us to shut out any worldly distractions, and to put aside all selfish desires.  It requires effort, but that's what it takes to draw near to God.  If prayer is an offering, then we need to be reconciled to others before we expect God to reconcile us to Himself.  We need to accept others before God will accept our desires for forgiveness, mercy, or favor.  We need to love others before we can experience His love fully.

But once we come to this point, He draws near!  He is pleased with our offerings, and He sees no hypocrisy in us.  We are kept as the apple of His eye, and our prayers themselves become fruitful.  Our conversation with Him becomes fruitful and multiplies--we ask for more, we receive more, and we have thankfulness for more.  We become overshadowed by God, and overcome by His blessings.  This is what intense prayer does.  If we believe, we will receive whatever we ask for in prayer, and often abundantly more than this.

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us..."         Ephesians 3:20

But we need to let Him work.  We need to access that "power that is at work within us".  We need to let the Holy Spirit work!  We need to let Him preoccupy us with prayer.  The Holy Spirit is groaning and awaiting Christ to mature in our lives (Romans 8:23 and context).  Are we doing the same?  Are we groaning and longing in prayer?  Are we eagerly desiring a blessing from God?  Are we longing to be away from these mortal bodies (2 Corinthians 5)?

If so, then our desires are coming up to God.  They are catching His attention and pleasing Him.  They are manifested out of the spiritual world as a beautiful aroma!  There is so much power in prayer.  It rises--this earth cannot contain it.  It goes to God just as fast as we say or think it--faster, even.

These are the kinds of prayers that please God.  These are the prayers that are powerful and effective (James 5:16).  These kind of prayers allow for God to heal, for God to convict, and for God to comfort.  These kind of prayers require all of our heart, all of our soul, all of our strength, and all of our mind (Luke 10:27).  They bring into manifestation the fulfillment of the law.  But they are worth it!

Confirmed:  A recent post on the Quickened Word website totally confirmed this.  A thread on the forum called, "Apple Tree in Bloom" was revived just in time to synchronize with the vision I received from the Lord.

Heart Matters or Mind Matters?

A few days ago, I was being going through a time of teaching and I felt like my mind was getting in the way of what God wanted to show me.  It was like my thoughts and emotions were not agreeing with the truths He was revealing in my heart.  Thankfully, after some moments of mental tug-of-war, the Lord delivered me out of this.

And I saw a vision that my heart had already been purified.  It had already been cleansed and washed pure by the blood.  I was in line with His Spirit, and my heart was crying out, "Father!"  (Romans 8:15)

My mind, on the other hand, was still conforming to the world.  It was getting in the way of Kingdom reality.  It was not willing to go deeper into the word.  I had become, to quote Bill Johnson again (his new book is great!), "intellectually offended".  My mind was thrown into doubt because I could not logically conceptualize what the Holy Spirit wanted to show me.

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words.  But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.  But he who is spiritual appraises all things, yet he himself is appraised by no one. For WHO HAS KNOWN THE MIND OF THE LORD, THAT HE WILL INSTRUCT HIM? But we have the mind of Christ.

1 Corinthians 2:12-16

So we know that God knows all things.  That's an awesome concept.  The more God teaches us, the more we need to yield to His Spirit.  The deepest revelations that God can give usually make the least sense along natural lines.  Just look at the Book of Revelation itself, for example!  We need to acquire a heavenly wisdom and heavenly truth.  And praise God we already have this, but in order to access it we need to yield to Him.  We need to yield our preconceived ideas and our own opinions.  We need to give up the worldly wisdom that we thought we had.

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, "He is THE ONE WHO CATCHES THE WISE IN THEIR CRAFTINESS"; and again, "THE LORD KNOWS THE REASONINGS of the wise, THAT THEY ARE USELESS." So then let no one boast in men. For all things belong to you.  

1 Corinthians 3:19-20

So let's give up the hindrances within our minds.  Friendship with the world is contrary to God, and so is adapting the mindsets of the world (James 4:4)  We also need to give up our fear.  God won't despise us for coming to Him with a broken spirit (Psalms 51:17).  We need to give up our worries and live in the moment.  Change can and often does cause fear and worry, but we need to respond to the Lord's teachings in faith.  As Jesus would say, "Why are you so afraid?" (Matthew 8:26).  The one who can accept a new message should accept it.  (Matthew 19:12)  Lord, let me be that one!

Sometimes revelation can be scary.  Sometimes a new thing can be perceived as impure, only because of it's novelty.  Sometimes we doubt that God is faithful, if we ask for a gift of revelation, to give us that rather than a snake (Luke 11:11).  Sometimes we need to receive faith to accompany our gifts.  

"So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God."  Romans 10:17

The more faith we have, the more we can hear Him.  And the more He can teach us.  And the more He can share wisdom.  We need to receive new wineskins to accommodate these gifts (Matthew 9:17)

When He gives revelation, we make sure it testifies to Jesus, then we accept it in our hearts.  Don't let your mind overshadow the Divine Mind of God!!  Don't let your idea of spirituality limit His Spirit.  Don't let where you're at currently detract from where He wants to take you.  

It's time to get ourselves out of God's way.  It's time to discern with a softened heart and guidance from His Spirit.  It's time to stop judging based on the inhibitions of our human minds.  It's time to take God for His Word and be conformed to the world no longer (Romans 12:2).  Let's be taken together into a place where fresh revelation and the spirit of wisdom are plentiful (Ephesians 1:17)

Confirmed:  Later on in the day when God gave me this vision, I was reading a Joyce Meyer book called, "Battlefield of the Mind".  In it she emphasized being led by your HEART, not by your mind or doubts.  If we have received from the Father a softened heart, then our heart's feelings are what we need.  We don't need to go by our minds, which are so vulnerable to the lies of the our accuser.  

Confirmed:  Several messages recently have come to me that stress the importance of our hearts.  From Facebook memes--yes, God can work through Facebook--to the forums over at the Quickened Word, God has been faithful to keep confirming to me His original message.

Confirmed:  A good friend sent me an email that included a prayer for forgiveness, again, on the very same day that I received the vision.  I don't actually get emails like this very much.  Below are a few short excerpts, in italics.  I bolded the most confirming parts.

Meditate on the truth of who God is and who you are in Him:

Take into your heart and spirit scriptures about God's forgiveness, mercy, grace, and love. Psalm 103 is a good place to start.

Take an objective view of your past to learn from your failure. What did you learn about yourself and God through this experience?

Allow God to expose the wound for His healing touch, and refuse the attempts of the accuser and destroyer to harass you anymore, because the King of glory stands as your Defender and Advocate.

...Thank You that You control me, not my emotions or what others say or do. I receive all Your blessings for my life and give You all praise, honor, and glory.  

God makes the best stories, He paints the best pictures, and He teaches the best teachings.  He is teaching us new things.  Will we receive them.  Let's pray ourselves into alignment with the Word:

"I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better."    Ephesians 1:17

Snapshot: In a Bubble

There Lord has been speaking to me about His protection and His presence surrounding us recently.  There have been many thematic events about bubbles.  This all began at Christmas, when we got a gift of "durable bubbles" for our cat, Fearless, to play with.  These bubbles were advertised as being able to touch the ground and not pop.  The idea is that cats chase them as they roll around on the floor, until the cat actually has to touch the bubble to pop it.

"But ask the animals, and they will teach you, or the birds in the sky, and they will tell you"  Job 12:7

Anyways, bubbles have been a recurring theme since then.  For me, they represent God's indwelling presence exceeding our own bodies.  They represent the Holy Spirit in us coming through and creating a manifestation of God all around us.  They represent the "hedge of protection" that the Lord had placed around Job  (Job 1:10).  This bubble is God's territory.  The enemy cannot enter, and we are shielded by God's power and Love.  Disease cannot enter, neither can spiritual darkness or despair.

If we yield to God's Spirit within us, we will find it is soon all around us, too.  We will find that the Holy Spirit will surround us with peace, love, and joy.  Those around us will be positively affected, too (but some will be cut to the heart).  This is what we are called to--Christ in us, with us and through us--until we are manifesting His presence here on the earth.

"Awake, awake, Zion, clothe yourself with strength! Put on your garments of splendor, Jerusalem, the holy city. The uncircumcised and defiled will not enter you again."  Isaiah 52:1

This is God's command to us as believers.  In other words, put on your bubble!  Be separated and sanctified and set apart from the rest.  Be clothed with His strength.  It's already within--just let His Light and His character shine through.  His Light is Love and strength.  And if we yield and come into agreement with Him, His strong hand will come upon us  (Isaiah 8:11).  We will be displaying the nature of our savior to all the world, and we will achieve victory over the enemy, who will not be able to touch us.

"Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city."  Revelation 22:14

When we are within His bubble, we are seen by all as we rightfully are--sons and daughters of the King!  Adverse situations will not steal our joy.  We will have the right to the tree of life and be allowed through the gates of His Kingdom.  The enemy will see the Spirit of God within us, and he will not be able to touch us.  We will walk out our identity as the Lord's anointed, as He cleans us from the inside out (Psalms 105:15).

Glory to God!  Yield to Him, focus on Him, preoccupy yourself with His goodness, and watch as it bubbles up through you.  You will be within His bubble, and His presence around you will make you clean.  Watch as His presence then shines out, and watch as you become totally untouched by outside circumstances.  His Joy will surround you wherever you go!

Snapshot: When We Only Get Crumbs

The amplified version of John 1:16 says this:

For out of His fullness (abundance) we have all received [all had a share and we were all supplied with] one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift [heaped] upon gift.

It's almost too easy.  God lavishes us with gifts!  And He wants to be this generous with us.  The problem begins when we start to take Him for granted.  When we start to despise the "day of small things".  When we stop intently seeking Him because He's blessed us so much.  There is so much lost in spiritual plateau.

"When I fed them, they were satisfied; when they were satisfied, they became proud; then they forgot me."  Hosea 13:6

Let's not get to this point.  Let's stay hungry for God.  Let's keep searching, keep seeking.  Today the Lord is saying, "Seek my Face".  Will you respond in obedience?

There comes a time when some will fall prey to distractions.  I've done it.  There comes a time when the enemy gets a stronghold and we lose our focus on Jesus.  What does God do then?  He alerts us!  He makes known to us our mistake, and withholds Himself just long enough for us to realize our own desperation for Him.  So we start to miss Him, so to speak, and then we begin seeking Him again.

We may start seeking Him, though, and only find crumbs (see Matthew 15:23 and on).  We may only receive spiritual milk.  We may not feel His presence like we did in the past.  And we may not have our hope fully restored--not right away at least.  There is a time for begging and wrestling with God.  The correct response is to be desperate for God

"Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me."  Psalm 142:6

Let's beg for His mercy, if we need to.  Let's plead for more than crumbs.  We have already entered into the fullness of God in Christ, but let's beg Him to allow us to live in this knowledge.  Even though we already have every spiritual blessing, let's eagerly desire the spiritual gifts that He holds out for our taking (1 Corinthians 12:31).  It is by faith in Jesus that we take hold of all of our heavenly inheritance. It is by faith in His unveiled character that we realize we can wrestle with God.

Confirmed:  Yesterday I was listening to Christian radio and I overheard the story of the Canaanite women who insisted that the Lord at least give her the crumbs.  Didn't she have great faith?  It was this faith that pleased God.  When we have faith, we can ask for more.  We don't have to settle for just crumbs!  If we are reckless in our trust towards Him, it will be done as we wish.  Wigglesworth said, "Asking is receiving."  Glory to God!

Confirmed:  I was talking with Vanessa today about wrestling with God, and when it is appropriate to really plead with Him.  She, too, had heard the story of the Canaanite women yesterday, except she read it in the Word.

Let's come to God with a boldness and empowerment by His Spirit.  Let's come with pure hearts and trust that He has allowed us to stand before Him.  He has made us clean!  He wants our future to be prosperous, and He wants us to be fed with the finest of spiritual foods.  Let's believe what Jude 1:24 says.  Let's believe it and act on it!

"Now all glory to God, who is able to keep you from falling away and will bring you with great joy into his glorious presence without a single fault."

Grace to the Humble

God gives help to those who acknowledge Him.  He doesn't want us to turn away and be independent. Instead, He wants to help the humble.  If you ask for help, He will be quick to answer.

Today I was listening to Christian radio and heard James 4:6:  ..."God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble".  Those who have no desperation for God in their hearts, because of their own pride, will not have easy access to God.  Pride causes God to set Himself against us.  Now that can seem harsh, but it's the truth.  And the redemptive factor is that He is quick to relent once we realize our foolishness and commit to change!  

Confirmed:  Here is a recent article from the Elijah List by Phillis Ford.  There is a trend of humility, submissiveness and repentance in this word. Below is an italicized excerpt.  Later on, there is great insight into how God's great Grace allows us to come into His Glory.


As we cry out before the Lord with hearts of repentance, we will make great strides. As we embrace the truth of Jesus Christ, having passion for the things of God, we find the strength to dismantle feelings of complacency and battle weariness. The reality is that we shall be a people that the Lord is establishing now.

Those with the greatest passion will be on the front lines, but know that your position doesn't exempt you from going through more of the perfecting process of grace. Those will be led by the Spirit of God if they submit to the process to grow. These are major decisions that must be determined in the hearts of God's people. Those that say I am not a part of this because I am above this, or who say I don't need the Lord's help will find themselves in painful experiences until they submit willingly to God. We are approaching serious times, and the Lord is purifying His people.

Submit to God.  Agree with Him that He is Lord of all, and willing to be fully devoted to.  Humble yourself before Him, and He will lift you up.  When David cried out to God, it is written that the Lord "reached down from on high" and took hold of him (Psalms 18:16).  Doesn't that sound wonderful?  It sure does to me.

There is an ongoing cycle here.  This pattern is meant to draw us closer and closer to God--two steps forward, one step back, if necessary--until we are living like the true sons and daughters that we are.  The Lord has been speaking to me about this process recently.

1)We fall into sin and confusion  (Lamentations 1:20)
2) We acknowledge our sin  (1 Chronicles 21:8)
3) We call out to God in the spirit of humility  (Psalms 119:145)
4) God rescues us and draws us near  (Psalms 18:16, like above)
5) Nearness to Him burns out our uncleanness (Hebrews 12:29)
6) But He gives us more Grace (James 4:6)

Look at steps 5 and 6 here.  When we become near Him, we get burnt in the flames of purification.  We offer up our sinful habits as a burnt offering.  "Fire" has been such a thematic word recently.  We do this, because it must be done if we are to draw near to Him.  Look at James 4:8.  If we want to approach Him, we must purify ourselves first.  And as He draws closer, He purifies us more and more. He cleanses us and upholds us for His name's sake!

God makes us pure because He is a jealous God.  The Holy Spirit within us is jealous, and He cannot take pleasure in anything we do that doesn't give honor to Jesus.  The Holy Spirit is God's tabernacle fire.  When He "reaches down" for us--and He always does--He will prompt us to say, "whatever it takes".  He shows us how to give every single bit of the Glory to God.  If we are led by the Spirit, we will stay away from the world.

How do we do this?  This is where step 6 comes into play.  How do we be purified to the extent that we have lost all earthly distractions?  That sounds hard!  And it is, or else James 4:6 would not acknowledge it as so.  "But He gives us more Grace".  Glory to God!  He gives us more grace, and He gives us the Spirit.  By His grace he gives us more of His Holy Spirit, and by His grace He gifts us new wineskins to hold His riches in (Matthew 9:17).

Praise Him for amazing Grace.  It's a gift that keeps on giving.  But we need to use it to draw near to Him!  We need to accept it as an opportunity to be made new!  His Grace leads us to become slaves of righteousness.  God cannot be mocked.  Grace given to water down sin is no grace at all.  Repent and now that He has forgotten your sins.  Repent and receive that new wineskin.  And give glory to God and His grace!

Confirmed:  When I was close to finished with this post, Vanessa came in and told me good news from a family member.  They've been returning to God, and it's fantastic to see.  This person has just submitted to God in a new way.  Among other things, they've professed to our Lord:  "I want to lose myself to you.  Consume me in your fire".  Just like that, even the small things in their life have been saved (Romans 10:10).  Hallelujah!

Snapshot: His Finger

In Church last week the Lord showed me a vision of a pointer finger.  I saw that the tip of the finger had been covered but was now being unveiled.  I felt it was the hand of God, representing His arm working salvation.  I new it represented a manifestation of His presence entering the room.

I saw this vision, and it was filled up with light.  It was beaming and full of love.  I didn't think much more of this until we opened up the Word during the Church sermon.  As I glanced over at Vanessa's Bible, the first thing I saw was this:

"He shall sprinkle some of the blood on it with his finger seven times to cleanse it and to consecrate it from the uncleanness of the Israelites."  Leviticus 16:19

That really struck me, and I realized what God was showing me.  By the Law, many high priests made many consecrations on behalf of the Israelite's sins.  These consecrations took blood, more than once.  They took a series of painful sacrifices that were created to atone for sins.  They helped people conceptualize the impact of sin and show that it needed to be paid for, one way or the other.  God Himself commanded these regulations for the priests, as a way to prove His Holiness.  Those who would come into His sanctuary needed to be pure.  They needed to believe they were pure, so that they would be able to worship a pure God.

"Therefore no one will be declared righteous in God's sight by the works of the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of our sin."  Romans 3:20

But thanks to Jesus we have a better way.  We have a savior who makes us conscious of His righteousness, and the fact that He is more than willing to share it.  What the Lord showed me in that vision was that HIS finger was revealed through Jesus to make us pure.  By His sacrifice, that of His Son, He brings the tabernacle to us.  No longer do we need ritual after ritual to enter near to Him.  Now all we need is a spiritual hunger that causes His Love to draw near to us.  Glory to God!!

I remember that Smith Wigglesworth said in His books, "you only need a touch from Jesus to have a good time".  How true.  What I saw in that vision was a divine touch.  It only took one!  One was enough to bring purity and light.  The Father of Lights does not need to make consecration again and again.  Praise Him that Jesus died to take our sins, once and for eternity!

"But now apart from the Law the righteousness of God has been manifested, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets, even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe; for there is no distinction..."  Romans 3:21-22

Apart from the Law.  Apart from the finger of a priest dipped in blood.  God has given us a better way. We have righteousness caused by just a touch of His presence.  We have purity given by just a taste of His power.  And we have faith in Jesus that He is able, and that He is willing, to come into our surroundings and set up a sanctuary wherever we are at.  There is wonderful freedom in knowing the purifying power of God.

Confirmed:  At the ending of the Church service, I was beginning to sit down when I happened to touch just my pointer finger on the back of the chair in front of me.  I touched this finger to the metal on the chair and was zapped!  This was quickened to me because of this "finger" vision, and well as the "electrified cross" vision described in the previous post.

God's given to us a cleansing power that can then be imparted to others (2 Timothy 1:6).  He is faithful to empower those He calls, and to show His hand through their own.

Asking for His Details

I was asking God for a few things in prayer earlier today... and decided to play some worshipful music on my Kindle while getting some things done.  As I was getting the music set up, a YouTube add came up which said:  "Ask More, Get More".  This was quickened to me because it happened synchronistically with my prayer.

"Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son"  John 14:13

If we abide in Him, this will be obvious in our lives.  Because when we abide in Him, our will is replaced by His.  When we abide in Him, we are led to pray His Kingdom down, just as it is in Heaven (Matthew 6:10).  And if we ask in prayer for His Will and His Kingdom, He will surely give it!

But we need to ask.  Even more than that, we need to live in a hungering for His Will that results in our asking.  Smith Wigglesworth said that asking is receiving.  But this is only true if we are walking really close to God.  He is waiting for us to ask, and He is waiting for us to receive.  He is waiting for us to stop and consider the very BEST for our lives...and that requires searching for His perfect Will.  God wants to guide us continually (Isaiah 58:11).  Are we willing to surrender all and long for His desires?

Confirmed:  There was a new Rhema Word on the Quickened Word website today.  Here it is.  As I've gotten close to God, I've realized that He is really into the details.  He wants everything, even the little things..  He desires everything, because all things are His, and He will not turn down an opportunity to glorify Himself.  His name is majestic in all the earth (Psalms 8:1).  This article goes into that very well.

God wants to bless every aspect of our lives.  But He can only do that if we are living for Him.  He will only :guide us continually" if we are seeking His Will and praying into it.  The more we ask Him, the more we get direction.  And the more we can receive Holy direction, the more we can please Him and rise above this world.  But we need to seek Him intently and not for selfish reasons.

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--His good, pleasing and perfect will."  Romans 12:2

If we are set apart from the world, we can receive downloads of God with clear filters.  God's Word has already been planted in our hearts, but it cannot mature unless we have been sanctified.  So we are sanctified, we pray His Will into manifestation, and we receive a mind in tune with the Spirit and the perfect Will of God.

Finding God's Will is an art more than a science.  We have to be equipped to test it.  We have to strive for His PERFECT Will.  God wants the best for us.  We need to do our best to follow Him.  It takes purpose and purity of heart to see what He wants.  We need to become more pure, in order to plunge deeper into spiritual things.  We should be able to discern God's thoughts on all areas of our lives.  Why not?  Our vision will take on His own if we abide in Him, if we are pure.

God delights in every detail of our lives (see Psalm 37:23 on that Quickened Word post).  Yes, every detail.  The problem is that many are still learning the basics of God over and over and over again.  So many need to stay confined to spiritual milk because they choose to live with minds fixated on this world.  Why not pay the price for spiritual meat? (See 1 Corinthians 3)

Our God is willing, our God is able, our God is mighty.  He is mighty to save and sanctify EVERY part of our lives.  He is not willing for any of our works to be burnt up.  But we can only please Him in everything if we deeply abide in Him.  If we abide in Him, we will find that salvation is a full experience.  Let's seek God for every aspect of His Will.

Let's ask Him for every single detail.  Let's choose the very best path, so that He can delight in us.  Do you know when God wants you to wake up tomorrow?  If not, what does He think about the way you dress?  Does He want you to pray for a particular neighbor?  Does He want you to live where you do?  Do not expect to discern these things if you are living in the world.  We can only see a larger part (see 1 Corinthians 13) if we have taken on His purity.  It takes a transformed mind and a walk in His Spirit to please Him in all.  Let's commit to this.

Remember, God want to guide you continually.  He wants you to enjoy favor in all things you do.  There is a price to pay, but it is worth it.  Entering the fullness of salvation is worthy of counting the cost.  Put Him first, and He will direct you.

Confirmed 12/15:  This post is a confirmation of the "asking" theme.  Like the post says, never be afraid to ask for directions!  Vanessa and I like to call them 'navigational commands'.  We need to ask if we want to receive fully.

Snapshot: The Consuming Fire

"For the LORD your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God."  Deuteronomy 4:24

I've had this brought to my attention recently.  God wants to burn up the things that we might be tempted to idolize.  He wants to separate us from our distractions so that we ourselves do more than just escape "as through fire"  (1 Corinthians 3:15).  He wants to begin testing us now, so that we can begin passing now!  Why wait until a day of rebuke?  I don't want to, and God doesn't want me to either.  If we let Him consume us and destroy our idols, we can have assurance that our works will be done for His Glory alone.  The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love (Galatians 5:6).  And if we love Him, we will obey His Will and our works will stand the test of His judgement.

Confirmed:

A few days ago I was reading an article on the Happy Hunters, a husband and wife team who ministered in healings and miracles starting in the 1970's.  They talked about the fire of God, and how a hunger for Him was necessary for an outpouring of the Spirit to take place.  Charles Hunter was mentioned as commanding healing on those in the audience.  When he did this, some watching saw fire come out of his hands.  This fire is the power and character of God.  It is joy unspeakable and full of Glory.   Often during healings we see that the person being healed gets a warm, tingling, or even burning sensation in the part of them that was afflicted.  God is at work when the fire of His presence is there.

Confirmed:

I was on the Quickened Word Forum and there was a topic on the purification that God gives us, and how it is a process of fire.  This post was pretty much matching what God had started speaking to me a few days prior.

Confirmed:

My Father in law just bought a sealant called "Fire Seal".  This happened after the two confirmations above.    Sealants to me always remind me that God has sealed me as His own.  In this case, this means that He allows us to go through fire so that we can be purified and remain in Him!


If we are not desperate for Him, it's only because we've been yoked with the world and do not know just what we are missing.  Friendship with the world is more than a turnoff to God.  Draw near to Him, and He will come in like a fire and consume you.  There is always a redemption when we die to ourselves.  Let's be purified before Him today.

Snapshot: When He gives us Our Desires

Two days ago I was reading Heidi Baker's newest book, "Birthing the Miraculous".  I came to a section where the Lord granted Heidi the desires of her heart.  For her, this was the nation of Mozambique.  Wow...what a glorious calling.  But what a cost to count, too, as I went on reading.  Are you willing to count it?  Anyways...

So, this inspired me to ask a similar thing to God.  Yesterday during my morning time I felt like He began answering.  I asked the Lord for what I wanted.  But more than that, I asked Him for the specific desires that He had put on my heart--I asked Him to manifest what He Himself had taught me (see Psalm 119:102 or the previous post).  I felt like He was saying yes, and in my mind I went into a vision of my desired calling being carried out.  Glory to God!

"Take delight in the LORD, and he will give you your heart's desires."  Psalm 37:4

What came first, the chicken or the egg?  He gives us His Spirit first, then we delight in Him.  When we delight in Him, He gives us His desires, with a tailoring to our specific calling.  If we keep our delight in Him, He will carry out these new desires.  If you delight in the Lord, if you really truly do it, your life will take on a whole new characteristic.  Now God doesn't give us just anything.  We will not receive this Word if we ask selfishly (see James 4:3).  We will receive  our desires, only if our heart is pure before Him.

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."  Isaiah 36:26

We cannot ask out of the desires of our flesh, but only out of a soft heart of flesh.  We cannot ask God with one foot in the world and one in His presence.  We can ask as the Spirit prompts us.  If we ask out of selfish ambition, we risk believing in vain.  Allow God to soften your heart, and then you can ask in faith.  This is what we all need to do.

"...The Lord has prepared a sacrifice; He has consecrated those He has invited."  Zephaniah 1:7

I was lead to this verse yesterday after that experience.  I felt it was a type of exhorting confirmation.  What is the sacrifice?  Firstly, Jesus, but then comes our part--our lives for His desires.  He invites us to sacrifice all, and in return He consecrates us and makes us His own.  He invites us to partake of His Word.  He invites us, but we need to be consecrated as the Word comes to fruition.  Are you willing to be His sacrifice?  If so, Psalm 37:4 is for you.