"From the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and forceful people lay hold of it."
~Matthew 11:12
We have the Kingdom within us. You have the Lion of Judah, the source of all revelation and understanding, living and breathing in you. It's a heavy, glorious thing to lay hold of that! It's an enormous thing to get a grasp on.
A camel may not pass through the eye of a needle, but Jesus has entered through the passageway of your heart. He's unlocked the Kingdom in you, from the inside out. He's given you life, love, energy; He's given you faith and works. He's given you understanding. He's given you an endless, effortless supply of resources needed for the life He's called you to.
This Kingdom has met some opposition along the way -- but it's here now. There was a lot of clashes in the spiritual realm just prior to Yahshua! The enemy knew what was coming.
In the same way, there's warfare around us now. The kingdom within is bombarded with lies, deception, doubts, and attacks from the enemy. There's outside darkness. Yet the Holy Spirit within is greater. The Holy Spirit within carries us onward -- whatever it takes. The Kingdom of Heaven has been gotten hold of, and it continues to be received by those who long for it.
And it continues to be received by you! There will be turbulence, but God's momentum within is forcefully advancing. You are the Tent of Meeting, and He's enlarging your borders, enlarging your tents. He's taking back ground, He's renewing you. He's the only reason that you've already arrived.
Showing posts with label Revelation. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Revelation. Show all posts
Wednesday, January 13, 2016
Monday, January 11, 2016
The Revelator: The Lion of Judah
And one of the elders says to me, "Do not weep. Behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the root of David, has overcome to open the scroll and its seven seals."
~Revelation 5:5
There's a reason that it was the Apostle John who was given the book of Revelation. John already understood the revelation of Love. He was able to be entrusted with bigger things, like this vision of Revelation, because the Law of Love had already been fulfilled in him.
"There was reclining on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Yahshua loved."
~John 13:23
John got it. There's a reason why he always referred to himself as "the one Jesus loved". Ever think about that? I always thought it was kind of self-serving for John to title himself that.
Surely, all the disciples loved Yahshua. Yet John was the one from among them that highlighted the Master's love, rather than his own. He understood one of the greatest revelations -- that God's love is bigger, that His love is purer, that His love came first (1 John 4:19). John was the one who Jesus loved because he recognized the truth in this. Now, Yahshua didn't love him more than any of the other disciples. Yet John was acquainted with His Master's heavy, lovely presence more than the rest. His namesake was only an accurate byproduct of that.
Anyways...John had the book of Revelation unlocked to him. He had it unlocked, for him. All he had to do was participate in the life of the Spirit (Rev. 1:10). Yahshua took over from there.
There's a big concept to grasp here. In your own life, understand that being loved by God is greater than loving God. He's the all consuming fire; you're the one who has to be consumed (Heb. 12:29). You're job is more passive than you might think.
Let the Lion of Judah do the heavy lifting. He's the One worthy to open the scroll. He did it for John, He'll do it for you! Don't try to go randomly digging for understanding on your own. Just trust for it, and rely on your Father to bring it forth. The only thing for you to understand is that it's not your efforts that ultimately count. It's what He's done -- it's His Life, it's His battle (2 Chronicles 20:15).
Our only work required is to trust. There's a humility and reverence here (Proverbs 9:10); that's the whole point! He's your representative; He's the One who opens the whole mystery of Heaven up.
~Revelation 5:5
There's a reason that it was the Apostle John who was given the book of Revelation. John already understood the revelation of Love. He was able to be entrusted with bigger things, like this vision of Revelation, because the Law of Love had already been fulfilled in him.
"There was reclining on Jesus' bosom one of His disciples, whom Yahshua loved."
~John 13:23
John got it. There's a reason why he always referred to himself as "the one Jesus loved". Ever think about that? I always thought it was kind of self-serving for John to title himself that.
Surely, all the disciples loved Yahshua. Yet John was the one from among them that highlighted the Master's love, rather than his own. He understood one of the greatest revelations -- that God's love is bigger, that His love is purer, that His love came first (1 John 4:19). John was the one who Jesus loved because he recognized the truth in this. Now, Yahshua didn't love him more than any of the other disciples. Yet John was acquainted with His Master's heavy, lovely presence more than the rest. His namesake was only an accurate byproduct of that.
Anyways...John had the book of Revelation unlocked to him. He had it unlocked, for him. All he had to do was participate in the life of the Spirit (Rev. 1:10). Yahshua took over from there.
There's a big concept to grasp here. In your own life, understand that being loved by God is greater than loving God. He's the all consuming fire; you're the one who has to be consumed (Heb. 12:29). You're job is more passive than you might think.
Let the Lion of Judah do the heavy lifting. He's the One worthy to open the scroll. He did it for John, He'll do it for you! Don't try to go randomly digging for understanding on your own. Just trust for it, and rely on your Father to bring it forth. The only thing for you to understand is that it's not your efforts that ultimately count. It's what He's done -- it's His Life, it's His battle (2 Chronicles 20:15).
Our only work required is to trust. There's a humility and reverence here (Proverbs 9:10); that's the whole point! He's your representative; He's the One who opens the whole mystery of Heaven up.
Saturday, September 5, 2015
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!
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!
Wednesday, June 3, 2015
Dream: The Importance of Feast Days
"And ye shall observe the feast of unleavened bread; for in this selfsame day have I brought your armies out of the land of Egypt: therefore shall ye observe this day in your generations by an ordinance for ever." Genesis 12:17
"And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever." Exodus 12:14
I've been thinking about Old Testament regulations a lot recently. Vanessa and I feel that it's been the Lord who's brought such things to our attention.
See, when God is speaking to Moses about feast days, celebration days, etc...He tends to use the words, 'for ever'.... quite frequently. And I think there's significance to that. God didn't say to keep such rules until His Son came. He could have specified that, but He didn't. There are many such Old Testament commemorations that God instructed His children to keep, for ever.
"For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished."
Matthew 5:18
Even a few things Jesus said have made us think. Heaven and earth have not yet passed away! Though I don't have even close to a full revelation on all this, yet, I feel that some of aspects of the Word here just can't be discounted. To summarize, I'd say that the Law is good (1 Timothy 1:8).
And I had a dream last week that really convicted me. You know when you have a dream that you just know is from God? This was one of those. So, in the dream, I was being shown a pamphlet full of Heavenly revelation. And I was reading a page that was titled something along the lines of, "The Importance of Feast Days".
On this page, there were several bullet points, and under each bullet there was an awesome description of why God ordained dates and calendars to be the way they were. As I read more and more, the amount of wisdom and revelation coming through was astonishing. I realized what God intended when He made things the way He did. And I read all about the specific reasons for the feast days He established. Reading through that page was pretty amazing, and I had God's heart for the ancient Israelites conveyed to me in a way that's hard to describe. I realized in a new way just how meticulous, thoughtful, and wise God is in the things that He does--the things that He does for our own good.
I woke up the next morning remembering the dream, but having completely forgotten the specifics of what I'd read. And I think that's what God intended. Some of the stuff I read probably wasn't meant to be made known! But this dream convicted me of the tremendous physical and spiritual benefits that will come by following God's calendar of religious feasts and fasts.
Like I said, I don't have all this figured out yet. But I feel like there is something to it. For now, I'll liken keeping the Old Testament Law--whether by observing feast days, religious fasts, the Sabbath, or dietary rules--to icing on the cake, so to speak. The Law cannot save you! Nonetheless, I think it pleases God if His children show a conviction for the Law. I think it pleases Him if we show our interest and appreciate His workings of the past. I think that the ancient Hebrew calendar, which God first made for His chosen people and continues to work by, is worth researching.
"And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the LORD throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever." Exodus 12:14
I've been thinking about Old Testament regulations a lot recently. Vanessa and I feel that it's been the Lord who's brought such things to our attention.
See, when God is speaking to Moses about feast days, celebration days, etc...He tends to use the words, 'for ever'.... quite frequently. And I think there's significance to that. God didn't say to keep such rules until His Son came. He could have specified that, but He didn't. There are many such Old Testament commemorations that God instructed His children to keep, for ever.
"For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished."
Matthew 5:18
Even a few things Jesus said have made us think. Heaven and earth have not yet passed away! Though I don't have even close to a full revelation on all this, yet, I feel that some of aspects of the Word here just can't be discounted. To summarize, I'd say that the Law is good (1 Timothy 1:8).
And I had a dream last week that really convicted me. You know when you have a dream that you just know is from God? This was one of those. So, in the dream, I was being shown a pamphlet full of Heavenly revelation. And I was reading a page that was titled something along the lines of, "The Importance of Feast Days".
On this page, there were several bullet points, and under each bullet there was an awesome description of why God ordained dates and calendars to be the way they were. As I read more and more, the amount of wisdom and revelation coming through was astonishing. I realized what God intended when He made things the way He did. And I read all about the specific reasons for the feast days He established. Reading through that page was pretty amazing, and I had God's heart for the ancient Israelites conveyed to me in a way that's hard to describe. I realized in a new way just how meticulous, thoughtful, and wise God is in the things that He does--the things that He does for our own good.
I woke up the next morning remembering the dream, but having completely forgotten the specifics of what I'd read. And I think that's what God intended. Some of the stuff I read probably wasn't meant to be made known! But this dream convicted me of the tremendous physical and spiritual benefits that will come by following God's calendar of religious feasts and fasts.
Like I said, I don't have all this figured out yet. But I feel like there is something to it. For now, I'll liken keeping the Old Testament Law--whether by observing feast days, religious fasts, the Sabbath, or dietary rules--to icing on the cake, so to speak. The Law cannot save you! Nonetheless, I think it pleases God if His children show a conviction for the Law. I think it pleases Him if we show our interest and appreciate His workings of the past. I think that the ancient Hebrew calendar, which God first made for His chosen people and continues to work by, is worth researching.
Sunday, May 31, 2015
Fasting: Lifting the Veil and Removing the Blockages
Recently God's revealed to Vanessa and I something that we feel have been overlooked within the Church today. It's not a 'fun' topic, and it's not something that gets talked about often, but it should be talked about nonetheless. This topic is fasting.
Remember that Jesus said "when" you fast. Jesus said "when" you pray. When, and not if! Christians today have come to realize the importance of prayer, and that's awesome...but what about the importance of fasting?
“And now about fasting. When you fast, declining your food for a spiritual purpose, don’t do it publicly, as the hypocrites do, who try to look wan and disheveled so people will feel sorry for them. Truly, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, put on festive clothing, so that no one will suspect you are hungry, except your Father who knows every secret. And he will reward you." Matthew 6:16-18 TLB
Fasting eliminates the distractions caused by over-indulging in food. Fasting causes hunger, and that leads to desperation. Fasting causes desperation, and desperation leads us to seek God. And a hunger for God leads us to rewards from the Father!
Fasting is something we do for our own good! Fasting feeds the spirit, not the flesh. It feeds the Spirit of God within us, not our own flesh. Fasting gives the Holy Spirit free reign.
When we fast and pray, revelation starts to flow. We can see and hear God more clearly. We can feel His heart without normal distractions! It becomes our food to do the will of the Father. And when we do the will of the Father, He gives us our daily bread and we become satisfied by Him.
FASTING BRINGS BREAKTHROUGH
Right now, there are barriers between us and God's will. There are blockages, delays, and obstacles opposing what God wants to do. There are things hindering us from being blessed, and there are things hindering us from overcoming. There are problems in our life that don't seem likely to ever go away.
Remember, there are some problems that only go away with prayer and fasting. When desperation is mixed with faith--when fasting is mixed with prayer--breakthrough happens! When we draw near to God, we can ask for anything in His name. And when we ask, He allows us to receive for our problems the right solution. Fasting removes the blockages.
FASTING BRINGS UNDERSTANDING
Right now, there are things we don't understand. There are situations that we just can't figure out. But we need to remember that Jesus lifted off the veil. Jesus paid for our spiritual discernment, and He paid in full for our wisdom and understanding.
Now, God does not promise us all knowledge. But if something impacts us, it's within our area of influence, and it's within our inheritance to understand. It's within His power to cause us to know.
Fasting allows us to live in a place where we experience wisdom. We can validate by the Holy Spirit that Jesus really did tear the veil! We can validate by our walk in the Spirit that Jesus really does give the spirit of prophecy. We can receive God's perspective on things if we are spiritually hungry enough to attain to it.
There's a time for everything, and for you, it may not be time to fast. But I believe this is a word in season, and I believe that fasting, combined with prayer, is something that the Church is missing right now. Imagine what would happen if we all fasted and prayed and became closer to God! Fasting may be hard, but it's worth the rewards. And I believe we're missing out.
Remember that Jesus said "when" you fast. Jesus said "when" you pray. When, and not if! Christians today have come to realize the importance of prayer, and that's awesome...but what about the importance of fasting?
“And now about fasting. When you fast, declining your food for a spiritual purpose, don’t do it publicly, as the hypocrites do, who try to look wan and disheveled so people will feel sorry for them. Truly, that is the only reward they will ever get. But when you fast, put on festive clothing, so that no one will suspect you are hungry, except your Father who knows every secret. And he will reward you." Matthew 6:16-18 TLB
Fasting eliminates the distractions caused by over-indulging in food. Fasting causes hunger, and that leads to desperation. Fasting causes desperation, and desperation leads us to seek God. And a hunger for God leads us to rewards from the Father!
Fasting is something we do for our own good! Fasting feeds the spirit, not the flesh. It feeds the Spirit of God within us, not our own flesh. Fasting gives the Holy Spirit free reign.
When we fast and pray, revelation starts to flow. We can see and hear God more clearly. We can feel His heart without normal distractions! It becomes our food to do the will of the Father. And when we do the will of the Father, He gives us our daily bread and we become satisfied by Him.
FASTING BRINGS BREAKTHROUGH
Right now, there are barriers between us and God's will. There are blockages, delays, and obstacles opposing what God wants to do. There are things hindering us from being blessed, and there are things hindering us from overcoming. There are problems in our life that don't seem likely to ever go away.
Remember, there are some problems that only go away with prayer and fasting. When desperation is mixed with faith--when fasting is mixed with prayer--breakthrough happens! When we draw near to God, we can ask for anything in His name. And when we ask, He allows us to receive for our problems the right solution. Fasting removes the blockages.
FASTING BRINGS UNDERSTANDING
Right now, there are things we don't understand. There are situations that we just can't figure out. But we need to remember that Jesus lifted off the veil. Jesus paid for our spiritual discernment, and He paid in full for our wisdom and understanding.
Now, God does not promise us all knowledge. But if something impacts us, it's within our area of influence, and it's within our inheritance to understand. It's within His power to cause us to know.
Fasting allows us to live in a place where we experience wisdom. We can validate by the Holy Spirit that Jesus really did tear the veil! We can validate by our walk in the Spirit that Jesus really does give the spirit of prophecy. We can receive God's perspective on things if we are spiritually hungry enough to attain to it.
There's a time for everything, and for you, it may not be time to fast. But I believe this is a word in season, and I believe that fasting, combined with prayer, is something that the Church is missing right now. Imagine what would happen if we all fasted and prayed and became closer to God! Fasting may be hard, but it's worth the rewards. And I believe we're missing out.
Tuesday, April 28, 2015
"Denominationalism": When The Little Foxes Creep In
This all started when Vanessa and I were talking about John McArthur and other cessationalists while doing some errands a few days ago. We were driving along and pondering how and why some people go wrong in their teaching, and we saw a custom license plate that said, "LIL'FOXS"
"Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom."
Song of Solomon 2:15
First, we need to realize that Song of Solomon is a parable. The Lover in that book can be likened to Jesus, and the Beloved can be likened to His bride, the Church!
The true Church, the sons and daughters of Father God, will be able to look across various churches and discern that some things may have went wrong. Little foxes have crept in. Left untouched in the vineyard, they can ruin it's plants and spoiled it's fruit.
I've read parts of Arthur Burt's "There Shall Be No Ebb", and he stated that every denomination was formed right where the Holy Spirit first began a new move of God. John Wesley began a revival and holiness movement that, once plateaued, became known as Methodism. The Salvation Army was once a group of powerful evangelists that did just what their name entailed. And the Baptist Church also started off with more passion and Spirit-given life than they generally have now. You can go on and on.
And it's been this way since the start. Even the Azusa street revival was split by theological differences into various subsets and denominations. A newly introduced 'Finished Work' doctrine divided the movement and caused the largest revival ever to ebb. Six year after it started, Azusa was finished, because the pride and tradition of man opened the door for some little foxes to come in.
And we can gather from the past a pattern. It starts off with God's Spirit and ends with divisions:
1) Revival starts! The Church is taken back to the Book of Acts. Awesome!
...Mass salvations, signs and wonders, and Holy Spirit fire follow.
2) With revival comes the Spirit of wisdom and revelation.
...The Word comes alive as God teaches the revived how to walk in it.
3) Those involved receive a key revelation to the scriptures
...A Kingdom mystery is revealed, and people realize just what they've been missing. So they start walking in this or that newfound truth. Good!
4) Pride creeps in.
...Usually, this begins in the person whom God has been using the most. And a measure of the glory goes, because God gives grace to the humble.
5) People who have received revelation become presumptuous.
...And they assume that the scriptural key they received is THE key. They stress their new revelation above all others. They broaden the scope of their revelation by using out of context scripture to support it. And they begin to look down on others. The attitude of a revival shifts from welcoming to competitive. And what really counts is then overlooked!
...Oneness Pentecostals claim that speaking in tongues in critical to salvation.
...Baptists may believe that baptism in water is essential to salvation.
...Holiness preachers stress the importance of works and perfectionism
...Catholics talk about penance, purgatory and prayer to saints.
...Cessationalists claim that tongues and healings are of the devil (hmm, doesn't that sound familiar? Jesus was accused of such things by the pharisees).
At this point, revival is over, having been stifled by the pride of us people. And the need surfaces to start a new denomination!
And the end result of all these errors is that church congregations lose their good fruit. With that, they lose members. And worst of all, they lose the favor of God. All they have is a memory of what the Lord used to do. All they have is a watered-down testimony. All they can do to retain some measure of hope is look back.
Those who look back become more and more deadened to the present reality of God. They create denominations that become increasingly watered down. Some even discount the present work of God almost entirely, stripping the Gospel of everything but salvation. That's where cessationalism (the belief that spiritual gifts have ceased) comes in. That's where pride, even an actual spirit of pride, can take over. People fall deeper and deeper into err, because they understand neither the scripture nor the power of God. They respond by lashing out at those who are still moving, still operating, and still loving by the Holy Spirit. This is a vicious cycle, as people fall further and further from the actual, scriptural truth.
At this point, a once fruitful vineyard has become bitter and barren. A church does not have the presence of the Holy Spirit, so much as they have a man-made template signifying who He seemed in the past to be. Moves of God are stifled. Gifts from God are discounted. Conversely, a church may become hyper-charismatic and try to replicate God's gift with an effort out of the flesh. The church becomes overrun with little foxes--spirits of pride, envy, hatred, mockery, 'pharisee spirits', and spirits that bear false witness. The fruit of the Spirit is gone because the Spirit itself is gone, save for the measure that God, in His grace, retains so that there is still the reality of salvation.
The above is a sad reality in many churches today. What is the solution?
...To welcome the Holy Spirit
...To humbly accept the implanted word
...To walk in love--from which all else flows: kindness and patience and humility and meekness and peace and hope and faith and joy
...To acknowledge that we see in part--therefore, our insight is not the only insight, nor is it the most critical one. We need to remain teachable
--To fulfill the law, not through this or that theology, but for an overwhelming love for God and others
Let's address this by looking to the Word:
"So be careful how you live; be mindful of your steps. Don’t run around like idiotsas the rest of the world does. Instead, walk as the wise! Make the most of every living and breathing moment because these are evil times. So understand and be confident in God’s will, and don’t live thoughtlessly. Don’t drink wine excessively. The drunken path is a reckless path. It leads nowhere. Instead, let God fill you with the Holy Spirit. When you are filled with the Spirit, you are empowered to speak to each other inthe soulful words of pious songs, hymns, and spiritual songs; to sing and make music with your hearts attuned to God; and to give thanks to God the Father every day through the name of our Lord Jesus the Anointed for all He has done. And the Spirit makes it possible to submit humbly to one another out of respect for the Anointed." Ephesians 5:16-21
*thank you Angel S. for the timely scripture (:*
This is what we need to do. We need to keep in tune and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit in order to keep any bond of peace. We need to stay sensitive, patient, and humble. We need to give all the glory to God, so that all the discernment can be with Him, as well. We need to steward His Spirit and His works in love and power.
"Catch the foxes for us, the little foxes that spoil the vineyards, for our vineyards are in blossom."
Song of Solomon 2:15
First, we need to realize that Song of Solomon is a parable. The Lover in that book can be likened to Jesus, and the Beloved can be likened to His bride, the Church!
The true Church, the sons and daughters of Father God, will be able to look across various churches and discern that some things may have went wrong. Little foxes have crept in. Left untouched in the vineyard, they can ruin it's plants and spoiled it's fruit.
I've read parts of Arthur Burt's "There Shall Be No Ebb", and he stated that every denomination was formed right where the Holy Spirit first began a new move of God. John Wesley began a revival and holiness movement that, once plateaued, became known as Methodism. The Salvation Army was once a group of powerful evangelists that did just what their name entailed. And the Baptist Church also started off with more passion and Spirit-given life than they generally have now. You can go on and on.
And it's been this way since the start. Even the Azusa street revival was split by theological differences into various subsets and denominations. A newly introduced 'Finished Work' doctrine divided the movement and caused the largest revival ever to ebb. Six year after it started, Azusa was finished, because the pride and tradition of man opened the door for some little foxes to come in.
And we can gather from the past a pattern. It starts off with God's Spirit and ends with divisions:
1) Revival starts! The Church is taken back to the Book of Acts. Awesome!
...Mass salvations, signs and wonders, and Holy Spirit fire follow.
2) With revival comes the Spirit of wisdom and revelation.
...The Word comes alive as God teaches the revived how to walk in it.
3) Those involved receive a key revelation to the scriptures
...A Kingdom mystery is revealed, and people realize just what they've been missing. So they start walking in this or that newfound truth. Good!
4) Pride creeps in.
...Usually, this begins in the person whom God has been using the most. And a measure of the glory goes, because God gives grace to the humble.
5) People who have received revelation become presumptuous.
...And they assume that the scriptural key they received is THE key. They stress their new revelation above all others. They broaden the scope of their revelation by using out of context scripture to support it. And they begin to look down on others. The attitude of a revival shifts from welcoming to competitive. And what really counts is then overlooked!
...Oneness Pentecostals claim that speaking in tongues in critical to salvation.
...Baptists may believe that baptism in water is essential to salvation.
...Holiness preachers stress the importance of works and perfectionism
...Catholics talk about penance, purgatory and prayer to saints.
...Cessationalists claim that tongues and healings are of the devil (hmm, doesn't that sound familiar? Jesus was accused of such things by the pharisees).
At this point, revival is over, having been stifled by the pride of us people. And the need surfaces to start a new denomination!
And the end result of all these errors is that church congregations lose their good fruit. With that, they lose members. And worst of all, they lose the favor of God. All they have is a memory of what the Lord used to do. All they have is a watered-down testimony. All they can do to retain some measure of hope is look back.
Those who look back become more and more deadened to the present reality of God. They create denominations that become increasingly watered down. Some even discount the present work of God almost entirely, stripping the Gospel of everything but salvation. That's where cessationalism (the belief that spiritual gifts have ceased) comes in. That's where pride, even an actual spirit of pride, can take over. People fall deeper and deeper into err, because they understand neither the scripture nor the power of God. They respond by lashing out at those who are still moving, still operating, and still loving by the Holy Spirit. This is a vicious cycle, as people fall further and further from the actual, scriptural truth.
At this point, a once fruitful vineyard has become bitter and barren. A church does not have the presence of the Holy Spirit, so much as they have a man-made template signifying who He seemed in the past to be. Moves of God are stifled. Gifts from God are discounted. Conversely, a church may become hyper-charismatic and try to replicate God's gift with an effort out of the flesh. The church becomes overrun with little foxes--spirits of pride, envy, hatred, mockery, 'pharisee spirits', and spirits that bear false witness. The fruit of the Spirit is gone because the Spirit itself is gone, save for the measure that God, in His grace, retains so that there is still the reality of salvation.
The above is a sad reality in many churches today. What is the solution?
...To welcome the Holy Spirit
...To humbly accept the implanted word
...To walk in love--from which all else flows: kindness and patience and humility and meekness and peace and hope and faith and joy
...To acknowledge that we see in part--therefore, our insight is not the only insight, nor is it the most critical one. We need to remain teachable
--To fulfill the law, not through this or that theology, but for an overwhelming love for God and others
Let's address this by looking to the Word:
"So be careful how you live; be mindful of your steps. Don’t run around like idiotsas the rest of the world does. Instead, walk as the wise! Make the most of every living and breathing moment because these are evil times. So understand and be confident in God’s will, and don’t live thoughtlessly. Don’t drink wine excessively. The drunken path is a reckless path. It leads nowhere. Instead, let God fill you with the Holy Spirit. When you are filled with the Spirit, you are empowered to speak to each other inthe soulful words of pious songs, hymns, and spiritual songs; to sing and make music with your hearts attuned to God; and to give thanks to God the Father every day through the name of our Lord Jesus the Anointed for all He has done. And the Spirit makes it possible to submit humbly to one another out of respect for the Anointed." Ephesians 5:16-21
*thank you Angel S. for the timely scripture (:*
This is what we need to do. We need to keep in tune and under the guidance of the Holy Spirit in order to keep any bond of peace. We need to stay sensitive, patient, and humble. We need to give all the glory to God, so that all the discernment can be with Him, as well. We need to steward His Spirit and His works in love and power.
Friday, April 24, 2015
All About Visions: Walking into the Vision
**For the previous posts in this series on visions, see these links:
All About Visions: Discerning the Meanings
All About Visions: Sharing the Message
Visions come in all sorts or different ways. Many of them are interactive! This was the case in Bible times, and this is still the case today.
Then He said to me, "Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel." So I opened my mouth, and He fed me this scroll. He said to me, "Son of man, feed your stomach and fill your body with this scroll which I am giving you." Then I ate it, and it was sweet as honey in my mouth.
Ezekiel 3:1-3
Here we have Ezekiel in a vision that transcended his current reality. It was much more real than 'real' life! I would call this sort of experience a trance vision. In it, one may move, touch, taste, smell, etc. the things being seen. They may talk to other people or to angels. I would consider this kind of thing to be an out-of-body experience.
And it all started for Ezekiel when "the heavens were opened" (Ezekiel 1:1). That's when it starts for all of us! God comes down and sets up habitation with us. And that's when the supernatural things of God start to happen. That's when we can 'walk into' a vision and really experience it--earthly senses included.
Interactive visions may come for many reasons--but one of the main reasons is so that we know how to intercede. Visions are a wonderful way to conceptualize God's will, and if we know His will, then we'll also know how to pray for others. We'll know how to intercede and pray into God's target. (More on this in a future post). So, how do we have an interactive vision? Let's look to the Word:
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened."
Matthew 7:7-8
"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?"
Luke 11:11
So, we can ask in faith, not doubting, and then receive! Now, seeking may be a process, even a long one, of drawing closer and closer to the Lord. But He gave us a wonderful promise there! We ask, we believe, we receive--and we do so by living within the Holy Spirit. While we're there, God will decide exactly what to give us, but we can trust that He is gracious an faithful to give.
If God is willing to give of Himself, then the question is, how do we position ourselves? How do we get into the Spirit? Music can be a major way. Praise and worship can intensify the work of the Holy Spirit, who is already alive and active within us. Music can activate the prophetic, it can activate visions ...it can activate our understanding of a parable that the Lord has already spoken. Music can bring us into the Spirit. Let's take a look at the Word, again:
But now bring me a minstrel." And it came about, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him. He said, "Thus says the LORD....
2 Kings 3:15
"I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre."
Psalm 49:4
John was in the Spirit when God gave him revelation (Revelation 1:10). He was told to "Come up here" (Revelation 4:1)! And it can be just the same today. We get into the Spirit and the Lord extends His arm and takes us into a vision. He allows us to walk into it, to interact with it, and to change it, all for His purposes and all for His glory. We may see the resurrected Jesus. We may see angels. We may see family members that we need to pray for. Or we may see things that are mostly symbolic. It's God who gives the vision, and it's God who decides what He will.
We should all be seeking the Lord for a full portion. He wants to give us all our daily bread. He wants to give us all something powerful enough to radically change us! God satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things (Psalms 107:9). He fills them!
All About Visions: Discerning the Meanings
All About Visions: Sharing the Message
Visions come in all sorts or different ways. Many of them are interactive! This was the case in Bible times, and this is still the case today.
Then He said to me, "Son of man, eat what you find; eat this scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel." So I opened my mouth, and He fed me this scroll. He said to me, "Son of man, feed your stomach and fill your body with this scroll which I am giving you." Then I ate it, and it was sweet as honey in my mouth.
Ezekiel 3:1-3
Here we have Ezekiel in a vision that transcended his current reality. It was much more real than 'real' life! I would call this sort of experience a trance vision. In it, one may move, touch, taste, smell, etc. the things being seen. They may talk to other people or to angels. I would consider this kind of thing to be an out-of-body experience.
And it all started for Ezekiel when "the heavens were opened" (Ezekiel 1:1). That's when it starts for all of us! God comes down and sets up habitation with us. And that's when the supernatural things of God start to happen. That's when we can 'walk into' a vision and really experience it--earthly senses included.
Interactive visions may come for many reasons--but one of the main reasons is so that we know how to intercede. Visions are a wonderful way to conceptualize God's will, and if we know His will, then we'll also know how to pray for others. We'll know how to intercede and pray into God's target. (More on this in a future post). So, how do we have an interactive vision? Let's look to the Word:
Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. "For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened."
Matthew 7:7-8
"Which of you fathers, if your son asks for a fish, will give him a snake instead?"
Luke 11:11
So, we can ask in faith, not doubting, and then receive! Now, seeking may be a process, even a long one, of drawing closer and closer to the Lord. But He gave us a wonderful promise there! We ask, we believe, we receive--and we do so by living within the Holy Spirit. While we're there, God will decide exactly what to give us, but we can trust that He is gracious an faithful to give.
If God is willing to give of Himself, then the question is, how do we position ourselves? How do we get into the Spirit? Music can be a major way. Praise and worship can intensify the work of the Holy Spirit, who is already alive and active within us. Music can activate the prophetic, it can activate visions ...it can activate our understanding of a parable that the Lord has already spoken. Music can bring us into the Spirit. Let's take a look at the Word, again:
But now bring me a minstrel." And it came about, when the minstrel played, that the hand of the LORD came upon him. He said, "Thus says the LORD....
2 Kings 3:15
"I will incline my ear to a proverb; I will solve my riddle to the music of the lyre."
Psalm 49:4
John was in the Spirit when God gave him revelation (Revelation 1:10). He was told to "Come up here" (Revelation 4:1)! And it can be just the same today. We get into the Spirit and the Lord extends His arm and takes us into a vision. He allows us to walk into it, to interact with it, and to change it, all for His purposes and all for His glory. We may see the resurrected Jesus. We may see angels. We may see family members that we need to pray for. Or we may see things that are mostly symbolic. It's God who gives the vision, and it's God who decides what He will.
We should all be seeking the Lord for a full portion. He wants to give us all our daily bread. He wants to give us all something powerful enough to radically change us! God satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things (Psalms 107:9). He fills them!
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.
Tuesday, April 21, 2015
Mark Four: Mysteries and Parables
So, onto the second part of Mark four. Jesus gives the disciples several other parables and explains to them that these parables speak of Kingdom mysteries.
Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the parables meant.
He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders, so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled:
‘When they see what I do,
they will learn nothing.
When they hear what I say,
they will not understand.
Otherwise, they will turn to me
and be forgiven.’”
Mark 4:10-12
It's taken me a little while to realize, but God still speaks in parables today. And He does so in a way that is modeled by how Jesus did so for His disciples. Often I'll perform an everyday task, just going through the motions, when the Lord reveals to me a parable relating to what I just did. God wants to turn even the little things into a learning experience for us. He wants to give us revelation and understanding on the big things by speaking to our minds as we work on the small.
It is a great feeling when you are working on something, and then the Lord begins to speak. He tells you the symbolism behind what you just did, and how you essentially just walked out a Kingdom principle by your actions. He gives you a now word that reveals a new segment of truth. Our God wants to redeem every bit of our time--provided we are using it to try to please Him (Ephesians 5:16). He wants to re-purpose the ordinary and turn it into an opportunity to learn from Him. He wants to speak to us through parables!
And it's within our own minds and in our time alone with the Lord that He reveals to us something that unbelievers just wouldn't understand. He reveals a spiritual truth out of the ordinary, and as we spend more time with Him, He imparts more and more. The parable may be played out in public, but the interpretation, the knowing, comes with His inner stillness as we take time to put our attention onto Him.
Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.”
Mark 4:24-25
There is no end to the depth of revelation we can find in a parable. God can just keep giving more and more! He may symbolize His love by our action first, and as we go deeper into the parable's symbolism, He can then reveal a message of spiritual giftedness, too. If we listen, He will continue to speak. If we listen more closely, He will speak more deeply! We can be comforted in knowing that if we try, God will come in and equip us with all the understanding we need to discern what He's saying.
We need to take every message from God seriously. Every word from Him gives life, and every parable from Him gives understanding. If we have an ear to hear, He can speak to us nonstop! He can redeem every action, and turn it into a parable or an opportunity to learn. God wants to speak to us about even the little things--He wants to give us that 'blessed assurance' even while we work on smaller tasks.
Confirmed: The Lord spoke to me about Mark four yesterday afternoon, and in the evening, I came across a new word on the Elijah list. It's called "God Has a Specific Word Waiting For You", and for me, it in itself was a very specific word, as it ties in so closely to what God had just been showing me! So cool. That's the link, if you have time to read it.
Later, when Jesus was alone with the twelve disciples and with the others who were gathered around, they asked him what the parables meant.
He replied, “You are permitted to understand the secret of the Kingdom of God. But I use parables for everything I say to outsiders, so that the Scriptures might be fulfilled:
‘When they see what I do,
they will learn nothing.
When they hear what I say,
they will not understand.
Otherwise, they will turn to me
and be forgiven.’”
Mark 4:10-12
It's taken me a little while to realize, but God still speaks in parables today. And He does so in a way that is modeled by how Jesus did so for His disciples. Often I'll perform an everyday task, just going through the motions, when the Lord reveals to me a parable relating to what I just did. God wants to turn even the little things into a learning experience for us. He wants to give us revelation and understanding on the big things by speaking to our minds as we work on the small.
It is a great feeling when you are working on something, and then the Lord begins to speak. He tells you the symbolism behind what you just did, and how you essentially just walked out a Kingdom principle by your actions. He gives you a now word that reveals a new segment of truth. Our God wants to redeem every bit of our time--provided we are using it to try to please Him (Ephesians 5:16). He wants to re-purpose the ordinary and turn it into an opportunity to learn from Him. He wants to speak to us through parables!
And it's within our own minds and in our time alone with the Lord that He reveals to us something that unbelievers just wouldn't understand. He reveals a spiritual truth out of the ordinary, and as we spend more time with Him, He imparts more and more. The parable may be played out in public, but the interpretation, the knowing, comes with His inner stillness as we take time to put our attention onto Him.
Then he added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given—and you will receive even more. To those who listen to my teaching, more understanding will be given. But for those who are not listening, even what little understanding they have will be taken away from them.”
Mark 4:24-25
There is no end to the depth of revelation we can find in a parable. God can just keep giving more and more! He may symbolize His love by our action first, and as we go deeper into the parable's symbolism, He can then reveal a message of spiritual giftedness, too. If we listen, He will continue to speak. If we listen more closely, He will speak more deeply! We can be comforted in knowing that if we try, God will come in and equip us with all the understanding we need to discern what He's saying.
We need to take every message from God seriously. Every word from Him gives life, and every parable from Him gives understanding. If we have an ear to hear, He can speak to us nonstop! He can redeem every action, and turn it into a parable or an opportunity to learn. God wants to speak to us about even the little things--He wants to give us that 'blessed assurance' even while we work on smaller tasks.
Confirmed: The Lord spoke to me about Mark four yesterday afternoon, and in the evening, I came across a new word on the Elijah list. It's called "God Has a Specific Word Waiting For You", and for me, it in itself was a very specific word, as it ties in so closely to what God had just been showing me! So cool. That's the link, if you have time to read it.
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.
Tuesday, March 31, 2015
Snapshot: Spiritual Communion
I remember once the Lord showed me a vision where He was breaking bread. He was breaking the bread, and He told me--He told me to eat His flesh.
Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.
John 6:53-57
This is what happens during communion, when we get together as a church or alone and eat in remembrance of the Lord. And it also happens when we commune with Him spiritually. That's when we are nourished. That's when the Father gives us our daily bread (Matthew 6:11). Jesus mediates this, and in the vision He gave, the Lord Jesus tore that loaf right open.
After this experience, I was instructed to get to the online Hebrew/Greek lexicon. I find God likes to confirm Himself that way. And I felt Him tell me to plug in the number 1234, into Hebrew. So I did.
Strong's 1234- baqa
--to split, cleave, break open, divide, break through, rip up, break up, tear
Wow! That's communion. That's when God through His Son rightly divides the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). He comes along with the Spirit of love and the Spirit of revelation (Ephesians 1:17). He divides the fresh bread of the Word for us, so that we can then do it for others! He gives us nourishment that leaves us empowered, not ashamed.
And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." Luke 22:19
Let's break bread with Him before we break it with anyone else. Let's come to Him. Those who seek Him find Him. Let's feast on His holiness. Let's come to Him and never hunger again!
Jesus said to them, “Very truly I tell you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life, and I will raise them up at the last day. For my flesh is real food and my blood is real drink. Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them. Just as the living Father sent me and I live because of the Father, so the one who feeds on me will live because of me.
John 6:53-57
This is what happens during communion, when we get together as a church or alone and eat in remembrance of the Lord. And it also happens when we commune with Him spiritually. That's when we are nourished. That's when the Father gives us our daily bread (Matthew 6:11). Jesus mediates this, and in the vision He gave, the Lord Jesus tore that loaf right open.
After this experience, I was instructed to get to the online Hebrew/Greek lexicon. I find God likes to confirm Himself that way. And I felt Him tell me to plug in the number 1234, into Hebrew. So I did.
Strong's 1234- baqa
--to split, cleave, break open, divide, break through, rip up, break up, tear
Wow! That's communion. That's when God through His Son rightly divides the word of truth (2 Timothy 2:15). He comes along with the Spirit of love and the Spirit of revelation (Ephesians 1:17). He divides the fresh bread of the Word for us, so that we can then do it for others! He gives us nourishment that leaves us empowered, not ashamed.
And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." Luke 22:19
Let's break bread with Him before we break it with anyone else. Let's come to Him. Those who seek Him find Him. Let's feast on His holiness. Let's come to Him and never hunger again!
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
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Word: Trust Leads to Freedom
"I am taking you to a new level of freedom. Yes, I am giving you liberty and freedom in the Spirit, because I trust you, because you belong to me"
We belong to Him. And when we walk in that, that's why He trusts us! And that's why He gives us life to the fullest where we can be free and liberated from sin. Praise God for freedom. Praise Him for liberty, and praise Him for the law that His Spirit lives by. Praise Him that He gives trust to those whom He first entrusted with His Holy Spirit. And finally, praise God that we belong to Him! He is so intent on showing us that. He is so pleased when we realize all that He's done for us. Every promise in the Word has been given to us. And every word He's given will come to pass.
"And now that you belong to Christ, you are the true children of Abraham. You are his heirs, and God's promise to Abraham belongs to you."
Galatians 3:29
A little later yesterday, I went into the garage from outside just in time to hear Christian radio for a minute or so. And They were describing how Jesus reveals His secrets to those He trusts. Although the world does not know or recognize Him, they said, He has taken us in and entrusted us with Himself. He spoke in parables so often, but to His own, He occasionally revealed more.
I was so thankful to hear this little segment of radio...and then it was time for me to head back outside. God's timing was so perfect! It perfectly confirmed the word from earlier that morning -- "...because I trust you..." And I realized that because He trusts me, that's why He's going to be revealing more to me! This is something I've been praying for recently--that God would reveal more unknowable knowledge to me, more prophetic insight, more deep things. And that morning, He had comforted me in saying that He trusted me. After you have the trust, only then can Jesus reveal the secrets. Awesome!
"I will give you hidden treasures, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the LORD, the God of Israel, who summons you by name."
Isaiah 45:3
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Snapshot: Entering into Resurrection Power
A few mornings ago, on Sunday, the Lord took me into a vision where I saw Matthew 28:2 and 28:3 played out.
"And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow." Matthew 28:2-28:3
And He showed me that things that are blocking His people from walking in resurrection life are being removed. He showed me that obstacles to our supernatural restoration are being thrown aside. He's making a way for His resurrection power to flow out. He's making a way for Jesus to be revealed. He's removing things, and making a way for His power to touch us!
They were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?" Mark 16:3
Sometimes we wonder this very same thing. How will Jesus reach us in our lives? How will we reach Him? How will we see Him, and have Him transform us so that we can be as He really is? These are all real questions, and they are all created by very real situations. They are created by blockages--spiritual or physical problems that put us between a rock and a hard place, so to speak.
In the midst of unsolvable problems, we need to know that God has our solution. We should actively seek His coming. We need to seek Him until He rolls away those blockages, those roadblocks that cut us of from receiving a fullness of life.
While only God's Spirit can remove these things for us, we have a role to play, too. We need to cling to God. We need to flee from sin, and resist the devil. We need to throw off all our entanglements, as best as we know how.
"My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me" Psalm 63:8
"Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." 2 Timothy 2:22
"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us..." Hebrews 12:1
So, there are things we can throw off, too. There is a small portion of responsibility that has been given us--things that God empowers us to do so that we can choose to do them out of our own free will. We can throw off sin. We can throw off hindrances. We can do this, and as we walk in His will, we can expect the Lord to clear out the bigger roadblocks ahead of us. God is paving a way for all of us to really know Jesus.
And then the freedom begins. Then the adventure really begins. Then we walk in the Spirit, flow with the Spirit, and live filled with the Spirit. We emanate resurrection power. It's a lot of fun! And more than that, it pleases the Lord and brings joy to His heart.
Confirmed: At the start of Church that day, we started off after worship with a prayer asking the Lord to resurrect us, awaken us, restore us to His life and power. Awesome! God wants us to know that there is one Spirit, one mind, and one Body.
We also read John 11 that day, were Lazarus is resurrected. And we talked about how this raising foreshadowed Jesus' own rise from the grave. We talked about how Jesus' miracle here pointed to His own future glory. Below is what we went over in Church--John 11:41-44 . Talk about confirmations! Our God is so, so good.
(Amplified version)
"And behold, a severe earthquake had occurred, for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven and came and rolled away the stone and sat upon it. And his appearance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow." Matthew 28:2-28:3
And He showed me that things that are blocking His people from walking in resurrection life are being removed. He showed me that obstacles to our supernatural restoration are being thrown aside. He's making a way for His resurrection power to flow out. He's making a way for Jesus to be revealed. He's removing things, and making a way for His power to touch us!
They were saying to one another, "Who will roll away the stone for us from the entrance of the tomb?" Mark 16:3
Sometimes we wonder this very same thing. How will Jesus reach us in our lives? How will we reach Him? How will we see Him, and have Him transform us so that we can be as He really is? These are all real questions, and they are all created by very real situations. They are created by blockages--spiritual or physical problems that put us between a rock and a hard place, so to speak.
In the midst of unsolvable problems, we need to know that God has our solution. We should actively seek His coming. We need to seek Him until He rolls away those blockages, those roadblocks that cut us of from receiving a fullness of life.
While only God's Spirit can remove these things for us, we have a role to play, too. We need to cling to God. We need to flee from sin, and resist the devil. We need to throw off all our entanglements, as best as we know how.
"My soul clings to you; your right hand upholds me" Psalm 63:8
"Flee the evil desires of youth and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart." 2 Timothy 2:22
"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you." James 4:7
"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us..." Hebrews 12:1
So, there are things we can throw off, too. There is a small portion of responsibility that has been given us--things that God empowers us to do so that we can choose to do them out of our own free will. We can throw off sin. We can throw off hindrances. We can do this, and as we walk in His will, we can expect the Lord to clear out the bigger roadblocks ahead of us. God is paving a way for all of us to really know Jesus.
And then the freedom begins. Then the adventure really begins. Then we walk in the Spirit, flow with the Spirit, and live filled with the Spirit. We emanate resurrection power. It's a lot of fun! And more than that, it pleases the Lord and brings joy to His heart.
Confirmed: At the start of Church that day, we started off after worship with a prayer asking the Lord to resurrect us, awaken us, restore us to His life and power. Awesome! God wants us to know that there is one Spirit, one mind, and one Body.
We also read John 11 that day, were Lazarus is resurrected. And we talked about how this raising foreshadowed Jesus' own rise from the grave. We talked about how Jesus' miracle here pointed to His own future glory. Below is what we went over in Church--John 11:41-44 . Talk about confirmations! Our God is so, so good.
So they took away the stone. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.
Yes, I know You always hear and listen to Me, but I have said this on account of and for the benefit of the people standing around, so that they may believe that You did send Me [that You have made Me Your Messenger].
When He had said this, He shouted with a loud voice, Lazarus, come out!
And out walked the man who had been dead, his hands and feet wrapped in burial cloths (linen strips), and with a [burial] napkin bound around his face. Jesus said to them, Free him of the burial wrappings and let him go.
(Amplified version)
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Snapshot: Your Testimony, A Testimony to Jesus
"Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, so that no one may boast before him."
1 Corinthians 1:26-29
God chose you. God chose you to be His forever. God chose us all, to show of His goodness and salvation to the world. Isn't that awesome? He chose at a point of personal weakness. He probably chose you when you realized the things of the world were not enough.
I came upon this section of the Word right after sharing my testimony with a friend. Wow, God really touched my heart with that. He chose the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. He took all of us captive and demonstrated His power by overshadowing our lives. He gave us a story, and He gave us a testimony.
"They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death." Revelation 12:11
These two things are related. Our testimony shows others what Jesus has done. Our story points to the blood of the Lamb. That's what we need to tell others of. That's what we are supposed to talk about--how God came into our lives and made Himself real to us. Our testimony should reveal His supernatural Love.
If we are Christians, this is how it should be. Our testimony should not be about our career, the therapy that 'helped us become a better person', our athletic achievements, or how well we did in college. Our testimony should not point to the importance of yoga, that great chiropractor we go to, or even that nutritional supplement we started taking that turned our health around. Our testimony should be about Jesus, and from hearing it, others should see that He is all we need. The Lord is God, and we can't have any other Gods before Him!
I'm not definitively saying that the Lord may not guide someone to yoga or to Vitamin C. But I do think that something is wrong if we are giving the glory to Issagenix or to our doctor or to anything else. Revelation 12:11 does not say,
"They triumphed over him by the power of a 12 step program and by the word of their testimony..."
Once again, I'm not totally excluding that. But isn't God enough? Isn't the Holy Spirit within us enough? I don't need anything else if I let Him be enough. It should be easy for everything we do to glorify God. Let's show that God is truthful and powerful. Let's make Him prominent in our lives.
Our testimony should be spiritual. To some, it may make no sense. Those with worldly knowledge may not accept it. Those who do not believe God fully may not believe your testimony about Him, either. But remember that God chose the foolish things of the world to act on. He chose the lowly things, because these are the things that can humbly accept His power. Let's all have a testimony, and let's make sure it points to Jesus. Let's make sure that it proves the will of God (Romans 12:2). Let's make sure it lives out the Word.
1 Corinthians 1:26-29
God chose you. God chose you to be His forever. God chose us all, to show of His goodness and salvation to the world. Isn't that awesome? He chose at a point of personal weakness. He probably chose you when you realized the things of the world were not enough.
I came upon this section of the Word right after sharing my testimony with a friend. Wow, God really touched my heart with that. He chose the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. He took all of us captive and demonstrated His power by overshadowing our lives. He gave us a story, and He gave us a testimony.
"They triumphed over him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death." Revelation 12:11
These two things are related. Our testimony shows others what Jesus has done. Our story points to the blood of the Lamb. That's what we need to tell others of. That's what we are supposed to talk about--how God came into our lives and made Himself real to us. Our testimony should reveal His supernatural Love.
If we are Christians, this is how it should be. Our testimony should not be about our career, the therapy that 'helped us become a better person', our athletic achievements, or how well we did in college. Our testimony should not point to the importance of yoga, that great chiropractor we go to, or even that nutritional supplement we started taking that turned our health around. Our testimony should be about Jesus, and from hearing it, others should see that He is all we need. The Lord is God, and we can't have any other Gods before Him!
I'm not definitively saying that the Lord may not guide someone to yoga or to Vitamin C. But I do think that something is wrong if we are giving the glory to Issagenix or to our doctor or to anything else. Revelation 12:11 does not say,
"They triumphed over him by the power of a 12 step program and by the word of their testimony..."
Once again, I'm not totally excluding that. But isn't God enough? Isn't the Holy Spirit within us enough? I don't need anything else if I let Him be enough. It should be easy for everything we do to glorify God. Let's show that God is truthful and powerful. Let's make Him prominent in our lives.
Our testimony should be spiritual. To some, it may make no sense. Those with worldly knowledge may not accept it. Those who do not believe God fully may not believe your testimony about Him, either. But remember that God chose the foolish things of the world to act on. He chose the lowly things, because these are the things that can humbly accept His power. Let's all have a testimony, and let's make sure it points to Jesus. Let's make sure that it proves the will of God (Romans 12:2). Let's make sure it lives out the Word.
Sunday, January 18, 2015
Snapshot: Tongues as Our Truth Filter
A few days ago God gave me a reminder of the importance of praying in tongues. It all began when I was directed to a book advertisement on the Elijah list-- "70 Reasons for Speaking in Tongues". Several other confirmations followed. Spurred on by this, I began speaking in tongues much more, and noticed that my clarity improved afterwards.
Tongues reveal the truth. They align us with the reality of the Holy Spirit within us. I know that some healing evangelists like their congregants to speak in the Spirit when receiving words of knowledge. Why? Because tongues bring us up into God's spiritual frequency, where we can align our spirits with an uncovered portion of the truth. Then come accurate words of knowledge. We may not know, but He does, and as we let the Spirit pray through us, He imparts to us unsearchable things.
"But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God's deep secrets." 1 Corinthians 2:10
When we pray in the Spirit, we receive from Him increasingly accurate spiritual insights--whether prophecies, visions, or words of knowledge. We receive a perfect, pure filter through which knowledge flows unhindered from the throne of God to us. We receive encoded messages of a sort, which are then unveiled as the Holy Spirit translates these messages to our spirit.
"The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Corinthians 2:14
If I ever have uncertainties or questions to God, praying in the Spirit removes any 'spiritual fog' that might be resisting me. A friend of mine prays in the Spirit when they need a dream interpreted by the Lord. Aligning with the Spirit via tongues brings deception and confusion under submission to Christ.
"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5
Tongues are divinely powerful. They serve as a truth filter! Revelation from tongues reveals the pure truth. Praying in the Spirit removes the influence of the flesh, which after all profits nothing (John 6:63). This is a way that we can prove the will of God.
"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:2
Tongues reveal the truth. They align us with the reality of the Holy Spirit within us. I know that some healing evangelists like their congregants to speak in the Spirit when receiving words of knowledge. Why? Because tongues bring us up into God's spiritual frequency, where we can align our spirits with an uncovered portion of the truth. Then come accurate words of knowledge. We may not know, but He does, and as we let the Spirit pray through us, He imparts to us unsearchable things.
"But it was to us that God revealed these things by his Spirit. For his Spirit searches out everything and shows us God's deep secrets." 1 Corinthians 2:10
When we pray in the Spirit, we receive from Him increasingly accurate spiritual insights--whether prophecies, visions, or words of knowledge. We receive a perfect, pure filter through which knowledge flows unhindered from the throne of God to us. We receive encoded messages of a sort, which are then unveiled as the Holy Spirit translates these messages to our spirit.
"The natural person does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are folly to him, and he is not able to understand them because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Corinthians 2:14
If I ever have uncertainties or questions to God, praying in the Spirit removes any 'spiritual fog' that might be resisting me. A friend of mine prays in the Spirit when they need a dream interpreted by the Lord. Aligning with the Spirit via tongues brings deception and confusion under submission to Christ.
"We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ." 2 Corinthians 10:5
Tongues are divinely powerful. They serve as a truth filter! Revelation from tongues reveals the pure truth. Praying in the Spirit removes the influence of the flesh, which after all profits nothing (John 6:63). This is a way that we can prove the will of God.
"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:2
Friday, January 16, 2015
Snapshot: While We Wait
Two days ago, I saw a vision of a clothes hanger, then saw the word, "Hangar". Right away I had a mental image of a massive aircraft hangar--something like this.
And I realized that each airplane symbolized a believer waiting for upliftment from the Lord. The hangar itself represented God's protective covering, the shelter of the Almighty. Under this canopy, the planes were protected from rain, wind, and anything else that might lead to their decay. God has built this overhanging safeguard just for us. He has stored us away for Himself, so that nothing stands between us and Him.
"The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock." Matthew 7:25
"Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty." Psalm 91:1
The airplanes under the hangar were waiting for their takeoff. They were abiding under God until He brought them higher, to their next spiritual destination. These Christians were awaiting a sudden breakthrough, a miracle from God. They were waiting patiently in a safe place.
"For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay." Habakkuk 2:3
Revelation from God will come, and it will come suddenly! We have been prepared to take off. God has positioned us well for the appointed time. Until then, we should wait patiently. We should wait in His abiding presence until He leads us forward!
"But if we look forward to something we don't yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently." Romans 8:25
Everyone has something they are waiting for. Everyone has a hope for something. Don't get impatient! Instead, say 'yes' to God's timing. Say 'yes' and do not try to hurry God along (Isaiah 5:19 and context). Say 'yes' to God's next move. There is an appointed time. There is a time where God will move. There is a time for fulfillment. Those who hope IN HIM will not be disappointed (Psalms 25:3).
Confirmed: Doves have been a recurring theme recently. Specifically, doves taking off! This has been similar to my airplane vision. God is preparing us to soar! His service is upliftment. His heart is to draw us near. And anyone can come to Him an experience victory. Everyone who loves Him can come up and be loved. Glory to God! He is bring bringing us up higher, above an beyond the high places where darkness dwells (Ephesians 6:12). High isn't good enough! We need to be drawn near. We need to soar.
And I realized that each airplane symbolized a believer waiting for upliftment from the Lord. The hangar itself represented God's protective covering, the shelter of the Almighty. Under this canopy, the planes were protected from rain, wind, and anything else that might lead to their decay. God has built this overhanging safeguard just for us. He has stored us away for Himself, so that nothing stands between us and Him.
"The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock." Matthew 7:25
"Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty." Psalm 91:1
The airplanes under the hangar were waiting for their takeoff. They were abiding under God until He brought them higher, to their next spiritual destination. These Christians were awaiting a sudden breakthrough, a miracle from God. They were waiting patiently in a safe place.
"For the vision is yet for the appointed time; It hastens toward the goal and it will not fail. Though it tarries, wait for it; For it will certainly come, it will not delay." Habakkuk 2:3
Revelation from God will come, and it will come suddenly! We have been prepared to take off. God has positioned us well for the appointed time. Until then, we should wait patiently. We should wait in His abiding presence until He leads us forward!
"But if we look forward to something we don't yet have, we must wait patiently and confidently." Romans 8:25
Everyone has something they are waiting for. Everyone has a hope for something. Don't get impatient! Instead, say 'yes' to God's timing. Say 'yes' and do not try to hurry God along (Isaiah 5:19 and context). Say 'yes' to God's next move. There is an appointed time. There is a time where God will move. There is a time for fulfillment. Those who hope IN HIM will not be disappointed (Psalms 25:3).
Confirmed: Doves have been a recurring theme recently. Specifically, doves taking off! This has been similar to my airplane vision. God is preparing us to soar! His service is upliftment. His heart is to draw us near. And anyone can come to Him an experience victory. Everyone who loves Him can come up and be loved. Glory to God! He is bring bringing us up higher, above an beyond the high places where darkness dwells (Ephesians 6:12). High isn't good enough! We need to be drawn near. We need to soar.
Tuesday, January 13, 2015
Snapshot: A Dim Mirror For Now
A few days ago, God started doing a new thing in the visions He gives me. I think sometimes He likes to throw us off a little. Our ways are not His ways, after all (Isaiah 55:8) I started seeing words written in reverse, as if I was looking at them in a mirror. This happened a few times, and seemed to happen when I was praying for others. The fact that these words and phrases were written backwards baffled me for a little while. Then, I was praying for a friend and I saw another phrase drawn out in reverse:
"God conquers all"
So, I saw this being written out backwards, and finally I got it. The Father gave me enough wisdom to understand what He was saying... I realized that these words were going out to my friend as a message from God. I realized that The Lord was showing me the spiritual significance of my intercession for them. Through my prayers, a spiritual message was sent to this person from the Light. What was the message? That God conquers all!
And I realized that they would see this from their perspective as a message coming from the Lord. I realized that God was granting me a taste of the spiritual world in showing me that a message from Him was going out from my prayers.
In a way, my prayers--all of our prayers--are marked by the Lord as being sent from His Spirit. They come labeled with a message from God. What I've learned from these visions is a new conceptualization of prayer. I've realized that the receivers of our prayers are getting a message sent from us, to God, to them. God does this regardless of whether we perceive it or not (Isaiah 43:19).
"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit..."
Ephesians 1:13
God gave me a glimpse of what prayer really looks like. I understood a small measure of what intercession actually did. The sender of God's goodness can indeed perceive power going out from Him. Jesus was finely in touch with this (Luke 8:46). I, on the other hand, still see dimly. I needed manufactured phrases to perceive that God was flowing prayerful power through me. Still, God is so faithful to help us understand a hidden concept. He is even willing to put the concept into English! His Spirit is teaching us new things.
The recipient of prayer receives a touch from God. They receive a message, from God, that often was distributed through the mind of someone else. They receive from God a message, in this case, that He conquers all. They receive His presence and His love as a reward. They may not understand this completely or be totally in touch with the spiritual world, but God works regardless!
"For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." 1 Corinthians 13:12
Glory to God that if we believe, we will have whatever we ask for in prayer (Matthew 21:22). The answer may not be immediate. For now, we only see dimly. We have a conceptualization of the truth that has not yet reached fullness. We may not understand exactly what we're up against in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12). But that's OK! Seeing in part is better than not seeing at all! I feel so blessed by the Lord for Him to have taught me so well already. I'm thankful to see in part.
But God can reveal more! God wants to reveal more! He wants to give us the Spirit of revelation. He wants to give us eyes to see. He wants to cut through any fog or confusion on our behalf. He wants us to be in tune with the spiritual, but more than that, in step with HIS Spirit. That's what keeps us safe. That's what marks us as His own. That's what seals us. The Lord is ready to show us more. Have we received from Him wisdom and the Love required to lead us into all truth?
"God conquers all"
So, I saw this being written out backwards, and finally I got it. The Father gave me enough wisdom to understand what He was saying... I realized that these words were going out to my friend as a message from God. I realized that The Lord was showing me the spiritual significance of my intercession for them. Through my prayers, a spiritual message was sent to this person from the Light. What was the message? That God conquers all!
And I realized that they would see this from their perspective as a message coming from the Lord. I realized that God was granting me a taste of the spiritual world in showing me that a message from Him was going out from my prayers.
In a way, my prayers--all of our prayers--are marked by the Lord as being sent from His Spirit. They come labeled with a message from God. What I've learned from these visions is a new conceptualization of prayer. I've realized that the receivers of our prayers are getting a message sent from us, to God, to them. God does this regardless of whether we perceive it or not (Isaiah 43:19).
"And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit..."
Ephesians 1:13
God gave me a glimpse of what prayer really looks like. I understood a small measure of what intercession actually did. The sender of God's goodness can indeed perceive power going out from Him. Jesus was finely in touch with this (Luke 8:46). I, on the other hand, still see dimly. I needed manufactured phrases to perceive that God was flowing prayerful power through me. Still, God is so faithful to help us understand a hidden concept. He is even willing to put the concept into English! His Spirit is teaching us new things.
The recipient of prayer receives a touch from God. They receive a message, from God, that often was distributed through the mind of someone else. They receive from God a message, in this case, that He conquers all. They receive His presence and His love as a reward. They may not understand this completely or be totally in touch with the spiritual world, but God works regardless!
"For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." 1 Corinthians 13:12
Glory to God that if we believe, we will have whatever we ask for in prayer (Matthew 21:22). The answer may not be immediate. For now, we only see dimly. We have a conceptualization of the truth that has not yet reached fullness. We may not understand exactly what we're up against in the heavenly realms (Ephesians 6:12). But that's OK! Seeing in part is better than not seeing at all! I feel so blessed by the Lord for Him to have taught me so well already. I'm thankful to see in part.
But God can reveal more! God wants to reveal more! He wants to give us the Spirit of revelation. He wants to give us eyes to see. He wants to cut through any fog or confusion on our behalf. He wants us to be in tune with the spiritual, but more than that, in step with HIS Spirit. That's what keeps us safe. That's what marks us as His own. That's what seals us. The Lord is ready to show us more. Have we received from Him wisdom and the Love required to lead us into all truth?
Sunday, January 11, 2015
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.
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
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Snapshot: Respond to God
Yesterday morning in my quiet time the Lord showed gave me a visual that showed me how we as
Christians should respond to Him. This whole teaching helped me understand how God wants us to react to His presence.
Picture yourself in Church. You and your churchmembers are in a time of worship and God is present and bringing comfort and conviction. Those hungry for Him are being satisfied and He is showing Himself Love on behalf of His many promises:
"For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them."
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."
"Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
So, the people are seeking God, and He is showing up. The Kingdom of Heaven is being taken by God's mercy. God's arm and His Spirit have been brought into the room on behalf of those who seek Him. The Church responds in worship and repentance, and whatever other things the Spirit prompts the people to do. Everybody praises God and has been maneuvered to a state of thankfulness.
But what happens after the music stops? What happens when the people go home and go about with their lives? This is exactly what I've been thinking about recently. And this is what God was speaking to me about beginning yesterday.
How do we respond to His Love? By changing our ways. By "bearing fruits worthy of repentance" (Matthew 3:8). In other words, by showing our change of heart by putting out greater effort to emulate Him. Those who change their ways can and WILL live in the Kingdom long after being affected by the Lord in the Church service. Those who are willing to follow Him wherever He takes us, wherever He goes, are the ones who are able to stay in the Kingdom.
And so many things distract us from Him. So many things block out our Heavenly Home. We need to think about Him. We need to purify our hearts. We even may need to give up our things if we are wanting to truly follow Him. Let's not be like the rich young ruler. Nothing among our own possessions is worth keeping if that means being unwilling to enter the Kingdom of God.
So, we need to be passionate for Him. And we need to be flexible enough to stay with Him long after the worship ends. We need to be flexible enough that He causes us to bend our wills, and even our perceptions of His. The passionate and flexible--the hungry and thirsty--are those who will see God.
He desires to have us remain in His presence all day. Will you yield? It's only after yielding that we can abide in Him. This is the way to part from the world and become best friends with God. It's not by power or by might, but by His Spirit (Zechariah 4:6). And it's by a humble and desperate heart.
Confirmed: Today Vanessa was reading Hosea and came across a great passage. Let's LIVE in His presence:
"After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence." Hosea 6:2
Let's be revived through worship, live our life in His presence, and the press on to know Him. If we press in, He will allow it. If we search for Him, He will reveal Himself. Glory to God!
"So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He will come to us like the rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth." Hosea 6:3
Christians should respond to Him. This whole teaching helped me understand how God wants us to react to His presence.
Picture yourself in Church. You and your churchmembers are in a time of worship and God is present and bringing comfort and conviction. Those hungry for Him are being satisfied and He is showing Himself Love on behalf of His many promises:
"For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them."
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled."
"Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded."
So, the people are seeking God, and He is showing up. The Kingdom of Heaven is being taken by God's mercy. God's arm and His Spirit have been brought into the room on behalf of those who seek Him. The Church responds in worship and repentance, and whatever other things the Spirit prompts the people to do. Everybody praises God and has been maneuvered to a state of thankfulness.
But what happens after the music stops? What happens when the people go home and go about with their lives? This is exactly what I've been thinking about recently. And this is what God was speaking to me about beginning yesterday.
How do we respond to His Love? By changing our ways. By "bearing fruits worthy of repentance" (Matthew 3:8). In other words, by showing our change of heart by putting out greater effort to emulate Him. Those who change their ways can and WILL live in the Kingdom long after being affected by the Lord in the Church service. Those who are willing to follow Him wherever He takes us, wherever He goes, are the ones who are able to stay in the Kingdom.
And so many things distract us from Him. So many things block out our Heavenly Home. We need to think about Him. We need to purify our hearts. We even may need to give up our things if we are wanting to truly follow Him. Let's not be like the rich young ruler. Nothing among our own possessions is worth keeping if that means being unwilling to enter the Kingdom of God.
So, we need to be passionate for Him. And we need to be flexible enough to stay with Him long after the worship ends. We need to be flexible enough that He causes us to bend our wills, and even our perceptions of His. The passionate and flexible--the hungry and thirsty--are those who will see God.
He desires to have us remain in His presence all day. Will you yield? It's only after yielding that we can abide in Him. This is the way to part from the world and become best friends with God. It's not by power or by might, but by His Spirit (Zechariah 4:6). And it's by a humble and desperate heart.
Confirmed: Today Vanessa was reading Hosea and came across a great passage. Let's LIVE in His presence:
"After two days he will revive us; on the third day he will restore us, that we may live in his presence." Hosea 6:2
Let's be revived through worship, live our life in His presence, and the press on to know Him. If we press in, He will allow it. If we search for Him, He will reveal Himself. Glory to God!
"So let us know, let us press on to know the LORD. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; And He will come to us like the rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth." Hosea 6:3
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