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!

What is Devotion?

This morning when I woke up, the Lord was speaking to me about devotion.  And I wondered about devotion for a while.  What exactly is it?  It's the willingness to give up oneself to please the Lord. It's a desire to cleave to Him, to love Him with all of your effort.

"You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might."                                    Deuteronomy 6:5

"Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship."           Romans 12:1

We must desire to please Him.  We must desire for Him to see our devotion.  Devotion is more than just reading devotionals--I didn't do that at all this morning--although there are a lot of good devotionals out there.  Devotion is more than reading the Word in the morning--I didn't do that today, either--although the Word is our main source of hearing from God.  In fact, devotion is more than just having morning quiet time.

Devotion is having your eye remain single (Matthew 6:22) and understanding that the little I've given to God is enough for Him.  Devotion is laying it all out as an offering--humbly submitting ourselves with joy.  And devotion is an all-day process. It's a process of laying out a continual thanks offering.

We should know He's delighted in us!  We should know that He has accepted our sacrifice.  Once we know, that's when we can walk in it.  That's when we can remain devoted--when we can show by our works where our heart lies.  If we walk in humility and devotion, we can approach any future sacrifice choosing God over the world.  We can leave all that behind.  Why should I be a slave to the things that once had a hold on me? We've been set free from those things, now let's walk with devotion! (Romans 6:1 and context)


"Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls."                                        James 1:21


"But seek (aim at and strive after) first of all His kingdom and His righteousness (His way of doing and being right), and then all these things taken together will be given you besides."

Matthew 6:33

Snapshot: Morning Dew

This morning, I was driving to a new Church called The Bridge.  And right near the start of the drive, I saw a street sign called 'Morning Dew'.  It made me think about the way that the Lord pours His love onto us, even when we first wake up.  How He showers onto us such favor, such a rich anointing.  How the Lord awakens us spiritually and shows us new things.

"Let my teaching drop as the rain, My speech distill as the dew, As the droplets on the fresh grass and as the showers on the herb."                                      Deuteronomy 32:2

And I felt God encouraging me to enjoy my quiet time in the car--I had an hour long drive ahead of me, after all.  He was giving me hope for the journey.  So I opened my heart--no, He did--to receiving that.  I felt Him making me aware of this awesome opportunity--this morning dew.  He was telling me to draw near in worship.

And there were some great songs on Christian radio, some of my favorites.  Praise God, He knew that I would like them!  And I felt God's presence in such a powerful way.  I felt such love.  I felt such living water, in me and around me.  I felt the Lord pouring out...the 'morning dew'!  Praise Him, I had such a wonderful time on the way to Church.  Now, all time of worship is amazing, but this drive to Church was truly unique.  I tasted His character in a new way.

And then I get to Church, and it was great, too.  My first time at the Bridge--it was very good. Worship was powerful, and then a missionary from India shared and spoke some prophetic exhortation.  Next was the sermon, and before I knew it, we had all turned to Hosea 14:

"I will be like the dew to Israel; He will blossom like the lily, And he will take root like the cedars of Lebanon. His shoots will sprout, And his beauty will be like the olive tree And his fragrance like the cedars of Lebanon"                                                              Hosea 14:5-6

Wow!  What a confirmation!  And this is how God is to us.  He enriches us.  He showers us.  He pours out His Spirit on us!  He rewards us for seeking Him early--He rewards us with the morning dew.  We come in expectation, and we finish satisfied.  Jesus said we'd never thirst! (John 4:14).  He said that living waters would pulsate out of us (John 7:38).

And it starts in the morning!   Come in expectation--that's a biblical command!  Come and expect the Holy Spirit's infilling.  Come and expect God to show up.  Come and expect a revelation, visitation, or exhortation from the Lord.  He has all of Himself to give!

"And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek him."                     Hebrews 11:6

The "Humanism" Spirit

For the past two weeks, at least, the Lord has been really highlighting to me something called humanism.  It's a spirit, I've learned, and we see it everywhere in the world today.  There are just so many good, non-Christian people!  They may be educaters, benefit public awareness, work in hospitals, or teach as nice events. And they just may be under the influence of the spirit of humanism.

Jesus came to give salvation and abundant life to us.  He came to redeem fallen humanity.  But humanism is something else entirely.  Humanism leaves no room and no credit for the work of God. Humanism is dangerous--as I'll describe later, it's spirit is closely tied to antichrist.  For now, though, let's look at a few common beliefs propagated by those under it's influence.  Some may seem innocent enough...but they are all inherently wrong because they do not acknowledge or give glory to God.  The humanism spirit:

--Champions the rights of all

--"Loves" and empowers people

--Teaches unity, peace, and acceptance

--Has no absolute truths, believe whatever makes you feel happy

--Encourages people to be overcomers

--Encourages people to be successful and achieve their dreams

--Advocates self improvement, self help, and self control

--Advocates self-love

--Produces a lying version of the fruit of our Holy Spirit

Now some of these things sound good, and that's because they are!  They can be, if God is at the center.  It's conditional.  It's subtle.  It's so important to know that this spirit only produces corrupt versions of God's gifts.  Because God first thought of giving us dreams to achieve.  God first thought of giving us passions.  God first thought of allowing us to overcome--through His son, Jesus!

And that's where this spirit of humanism goes wrong.  It doesn't acknowledge Jesus!  It's not for Him--its against Him (Matthew 12:30).  It may preach a false Jesus (2 Corinthians 11:4) of universal love and good vibes.  But it does not accept the true Jesus at savior.  That's the problem--humanism glorifies people as gifted, dedicated, and elevated enough to save themselves!

As the list above shows, humanism has a false version of everything.  It's perverted the concept of going after one's dreams.  It's perverted the concept of things like human equality and human rights. It's perverted the Christ-based concept of being an overcomer.  The spirit of humanism has a form of godliness, but totally denies it's power (2 Timothy 3:5).  It improves the lives of people while on this earth so that they never have to turn to Jesus in the end.

I would never want to tell a non-believer that they're an overcomer.  I would generally not even say, "you can do this!" to them unless it was part of a larger ministry tactic.  I would definitely not encourage a non-christian to pursue their dreams.  I can't leave it at that!  At least not without telling them to seek first His Kingdom (Matthew 6:33).

I can't be for a person on their own effort.  I can't encourage them to just make themselves a better person.  I can't glory in their flesh (1 Corinthians 1:29-31).  I won't yield to the humanism spirit, no matter how good it might feel.  I need to point to Christ.

"But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned."

1 Corinthians 2:14 KJV

Word: Convert All Things to Trust

About a week ago the Lord spoke to me some words of encouragement.  He said,

"Today is a day to convert all things to trust."

And He went on with some reassurance in other areas...but I was still convicted by the wording of that first sentence.  Trust!  He was saying that every characteristic should be drained of itself and transformed into a trusting in Him.  Every anxious emotion should be converted into a hope in the Lord.

"Be strong and let your heart take courage, All you who hope in the LORD."             Psalm 31:24

Now I couldn't do this.  I can't convert all things into trust.  But the Lord can!  And He wants to.  So let's let Him--let's take from Him courage and hope.  God wants to alleviate us from every unbelieving thing.  He wants us to break out of every layer of fear and timidity and abide in Him.  

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline."

2 Timothy 1:7

He has given us a Spirit that personifies Christ's love.  He has given us His Holy Spirit, which drives out fear (John 4:18). God has given us a Spirit that works all things for our good (Romans 8:28)--a Spirit that converts all things into trust.

"Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge."

Psalm 62:8

Spiritual Midwives

Last week I was walking past the bookshelf and the Lord led my eyes to an older book called "Systems of Midwifery".  And then He spoke to my heart and told me that I was a midwife!  Hmmm, I thought that was interesting.

And then a few things happened.  I heard quickened conversations, observed signs, and received pieces to this whole midwifery puzzle.  Vanessa and I talked, and I realized that the Lord had shown me that I was to act as her spiritual midwife!  I was to help her see her promises 'birthed'.  I was to help with deliverance, not deliverance from evil, but deliverance into good.

See, we all have spiritual promises.  We all have something God has told us to expect in our future. And these gifts may not come to pass as we expect.  For Vanessa, they haven't.  And sometimes that's hard.  But all we can do is hold on to the promises.  All we can do is trust God.

"Until the time that his word came to pass, The word of the LORD tested him."          Psalm 105:19

So, we're being tested.  And God was telling me that I had to assist Vanessa with this struggle.  I had to help her as that one moment came to pass, as it continues to come to pass.  I had to assist as a midwife to those big promises.  And I understood that God was giving me a clear assignment here.

See, the Word can still become flesh and dwell among us (John 1:14).  It can still bring into fruition something tangible.  The Spirit of Jesus is still moving active on the earth.  That's all it takes for a promise to be fulfilled!  And this manifestation takes a spiritual birthing--and before that, it takes a spiritual pregnancy.  It takes effort and time.  It is a testing, and it is a struggle.  Midwifes help.

"My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you."
Galatians 4:19

The pieces of this rhema puzzle came together when I read the above verse.  Paul was in pain while Christ was being birthed in others.  He was in pain and longsuffering because of the slowness of the process.  He bore their burdens, and shared in their trials.  Paul was a spiritual midwife!

"For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now."                                                               Romans 8:22

I believe that all Spirit-filled Christians are called to midwifery at some point.  In fact, I think we're called to being midwives at most points.  We all have a brother, sister, daughter or father in Christ who is in the midst of seeing God's promises come to pass. They may have just received that otherwise impossible promise, or they may be almost ready to birth God's word into existence. But they will need assistance either way.  They will need to be encouraged--they will need to be encouraged to hold onto their promises!  They need to have their struggle distributed among others who can support them. They need someone who personifies God's kindness and steadfast love--someone they can count on to help them deliver.

Double Grace and Beyond the Law

For some time now, I've been seeing the number 55 so often--and I'm not talking about speed limit signs!  No, it's mostly been coming up in a time on the clock or in verse numbers in the Word.   55's even been coming up through TV shows and phone numbers.  I've been seeing it pretty regularly.  So I really felt the Lord was unearthing something.  But what does this all mean?

In Christian symbolism, 55 is associated with "double grace".  Praise God!  And that's what it's been recently--His grace has been a major encouragement.  Grace upon grace and mercy upon mercy--that's what the Lord gives us.  The mercy is new every morning (Lamentations 3:23), and the grace allows us to get through the day and persevere.

Now, God gives grace to all without finding fault (James 1:5).  Praise God!  But I feel like grace is not rightly conceptualized by much of the American Church today.  Grace is for gifting, not for sinning.  Let me elaborate--we all sin and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), and it is indeed grace that allows us to be redeemed from sin.  But more than that, grace is also meant to allow holy gifts to rest in impure vessels.  Grace is meant to have the gifting rest in us!

"And with great power the apostles were giving their testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace was upon them all."                        Acts 4:33

Great power calls for great grace!  Otherwise, the Lord's power would be too much for us to contain. We have His treasures in jars of clay (2 Corinthians 4:7), and grace is what allows us to experience the gifts nonetheless.  We need the grace to accommodate the gifting.  We need God's grace to operate in power while staying in purity.  (For more on purity and power, see this post.)

If we have double grace, good!  That means we'll need it to attain to the gift of God.  There must be a big gifting, a big mission, and a big mandate ahead of us.  We have all been called to mighty things, and between us and that attainment, there is a reservoir of grace awaiting our use.  And there is some distance between where we are now, and the fullest extent of what God wants us attaining!  We have some catching up to do.  The gift needs to be fanned into flames (2 Timothy 1:6), and our character has to be brought up to a higher standard, also.

And we also have this grace to allow us to fulfill the law.  It's not easy to fulfill the law!  It takes grace.  It takes grace and God's goodness that leads us to repentance.  Now in the Old Testament, the Israelites  had all those things.  But they didn't have within them He who is greater than the sin of the world (1 John 4:4).

But Jesus came so that we could fulfill.  With the Holy Spirit, we can do more than fulfill the law--we can transcend it.  In a sense, we are above it.  Keep in mind that we do follow the law--that's important.  But now, we have a list of "do's", not a list of "do nots".  Now we can live out the law in an expression of love--a new commandment.  We can embrace the Spirit of the law, not just the letter.  We can have the law of liberty written into our spirits (James 1:25), and we can receive a double portion of grace in getting there.  Hallelujah!

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another."                                                 John 13:34

Word: Seek and You Shall Find

Yesterday the Lord spoke to me and told me,

"There are many choices behind you, and many choices before you, but there is only one choice that's best.  So seek Me diligently.  Seek Me early, and seek Me late in the evening.  Seek, seek, seek...seek, and you shall find."

This has been such a recurring thing for me recently.  If I seek Him, I will find Him.  If I diligently seek Him, I will find His Will.  These are promises, and they are waiting to be fulfilled.  And the Lord continues to feed me this verse again, and again, and again... (and again, four times!). Remember Jesus' question to Peter? (John 21)  He speaks to us repetitively so that we can get His Word deeply ingrained.  He stresses a message so that we can know He is God, even in our stillness (Psalms 46:10).

I remember that when Vanessa and I were in Springfield, Missouri, last month, a close friend of ours imparted to me some godly wisdom.  Now this friend is very prophetic--glory to God for the gifting--and he told me specifically, "Seek and you will find".  I was so blessed by that.  The Lord has quickened this verse to me in my own quiet time so often and in so many ways.

There is so much to be found--so many things to find out.  There is so much to hunger after--the unspeakable riches we have inherited in Christ, and more than that, the unspeakable love we have been given by Christ.  We need to know that the Lord is good, so that we can praise Him accordingly.

And there is so much to seek.  Those who seek Him find Him (Proverbs 8:17).  Those who seek Him become filled as He draws near (James 4:8).  Those who seek Him do so when they are hungry, and He fills the hungry with good things (Psalms 107:9).

The Lord is coming in glory. (Isaiah 60:1) He is coming in splendor. And He will come, as soon as we really, really search for Him.  As we seek Him, pieces and portions of His character will surface. The many facets of His Will can come to the surface, and He brings them to our attention.  (Jeremiah 6:16)  Glory to God!  

"Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened."

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

  

Snapshot: Applying the Ephod

Yesterday the Lord led me to enter the number 642 into Eliyah's Greek lexicon.  Hmm, exciting stuff.  That website is such a good way to hone hearing.  And I found out what that meant, below:

--a girding on (of the ephod)

And I knew that it was time to put on my spiritual armor--that the Lord was encouraging me in that. In the Old testament, the Levites had the ephod, and today, every believer has the breastplate of righteousness.

"Stand firm therefore, HAVING GIRDED YOUR LOINS WITH TRUTH, and HAVING PUT ON THE BREASTPLATE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS"                                                       Ephesians 6:14

These are things that we ourselves are responsible to put on or apply to ourselves.  God doesn't necessarily do it for us.  We can apply to ourselves the Words of Truth and allow God to protect our body.  How are we protected?  Because we take on markings that set us apart.

And then today, I was reading 1 Samuel 30 (verses 6 through 8 below).  In it, David had just experienced a huge loss and was very much out of control.  But then a shift happened.  David found strength in the Lord.  He girded up and sought out God--to use some KJV terms.

Now David was greatly distressed, for the people spoke of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and his daughters. But David strengthened himself in the Lord his God.

Then David said to Abiathar the priest, Ahimelech’s son, “Please bring the ephod here to me.” And Abiathar brought the ephod to David. "

And David enquired at the Lord, saying, Shall I pursue after this troop? shall I overtake them? And he answered him, Pursue: for thou shalt surely overtake them, and without fail recover all.

Interesting, huh?  David applied the Urim and Thummim--a way of discerning God's will--to His problems so that He could overcome them.  That's how David mounted up.  That's how David recovered from such a tragedy.

We need to know that God is on our side.  We can't blame Him for problems or bad events.  We can't think He has made loss our only option.  Within the heart of God, there is a solution,  There is a way out.  David could seek God through inquiring of the Urim and Thummim, and we can seek God through inquiring of the Holy Spirit.  And He'll give us the right answer and the right plan.  Even the disciples in the book of Acts cast lots (Acts 1:26)!  So we can expect God to speak to us through whatever means the Spirit prompts us to use.

We can gird on the ephod today.  We can put on that breastplate of righteousness and know that God is good--that He's for us and not against us!  That's when we have confidence to inquire of Him. If you ask Him what to do, He'll give you the best solution.  He'll make your path perfect (Psalm 18:32)!  He'll provide a window of grace that enter in through and overcome.