The Supernatural Blessing of Rain..

As most of you know, we have spent many years walking among native americans, learning much about the movings and workings of God in North America, from a people close to Him and nature.

Many times, in times of drought, we would witness prayer for rain, and it would rain, watering the earth, and causing life to again come forth.

We know how God caused a drought to come upon Israel and then Elijah prayed and rain came, in abundance.

Rain in Scripture, generally symbolizes God’s blessing upon the earth:

Deuteronomy 28:12

The Lord will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none.

Psalm 147:8

He covers the sky with clouds; he supplies the earth with rain and makes grass grow on the hills.

There are many instances of God sending rain, throughout Jewish history. Here is an account given in my seminary reading from Dr. Young’s ‘Jesus the Jewish Theologian’, that I find edifying and comforting, the story of the Jewish rabbi known to be heard by God, and answered in rain: He is known as Choni the Circle Maker. Here is his story, from the Jewish legend:

http://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/448345/jewish/Choni-the-Circle-Maker.htm

Is it any wonder then, that many native american tribes identify strongly with Israel, recognizing clearly that the Jesus we worship as Christians is Jewish, that His homeland is Israel, the land that He loves.

Yesterday, as Franklin Graham opened in prayer at President Donald Trumps inauguration, as President Trump took the platform, a gentle rain began to fall:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l8CHxAoIcl4

I believe God has had mercy on the nation of America again, that as we again bless Israel, stop abortion and corruption, and do what is right before God, He will again bless this country.

God has had mercy upon America again!

Now, we must recognize this great love towards us, and respond to heaven…

The change begins with me and you.

What can I do to make America great again?

What can you do?

What are areas of corruption that I have allowing in my life, my family?

What, today, will I do to eliminate these, to rise up to be the person of honor God has created me to be?

Stop, Drop and Roll!

Sometimes in life, as leaders, we need to do what we teach our children in fire drill: STOP, DROP, and ROLL!

STOP – A fervent command from the Lord, that a season of life and ministry has ended. We need to immediately STOP what we think we need to be doing. If like Elijah, the brook has dried up, the only way to live is not to try and call the ravens back, we need another word from God. Mt 4:4 But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

DROP – Be willing to drop whatever business, schedule, appointment, committment, or even fuzzy vision that we are seeking to implement. This may be hard on certain relationships, but it is always better to please God than man. True friends will understand, but with fresh vision, can come fresh relationships. Allow Holy Spirit to sift close relationships and schedules. Only pick up, that which He clearly directs.

Roll – Be flexible. He is doing a new thing, and you cannot put new wine in an old wineskin. The greatest opponents of fresh moves of the Holy Spirit, have often been stalwart bastions of faith, that lived through a previous move of God. Don’t become dogmatic in methods, or legalistic in way. Truth will endure, but traditions and methods can go. Let them go!

Ac 6:2 Then the twelve called the multitude of the disciples unto them, and said, It is not reason that we should leave the word of God, and serve tables.

There are seasons of business (busy-ness) in ministry, but our primary responsibility as leaders, is to the Word of God and prayer. It is only when we slow down, wholly committed to obey whatever He says, daily, that He can truly promote and use us. Much more needs to be said here, but the Word of the Lord to me, is “STOP!” I am now spending required hours in prayer and the Word, a very difficult thing for an action oriented guy like me!

Ac 17:11 These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

God is doing new thing in my life, and the life of many ministries, today. I am so hungry for His life, freshness, anointing, power, and goodness to manifest. I honestly want to obey Him in spirit and in truth, yet He will always confirm truth, in the Word of God.

2Co 11:28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

The challenge is always to fulfill natural responsibilities, (children need tending to, business requires work, ministry requires work)

Heb 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

So, here is the eternal challenge, as we grow in Him. We are seeking Him, listening, endeavoring to hear and obey, and change, to become more like Jesus in thought and deed, yet we must continue to feed the flock among us, and to exhort, encourage, and uplift those He has called us to lead and serve.

Zec 13:9 And I will bring the third part through the fire, and will refine them as silver is refined, and will try them as gold is tried: they shall call on my name, and I will hear them: I will say, It is my people: and they shall say, The LORD is my God.

Yes, we are being changed from glory to glory, now let’s roll with Jesus today!

Let’s Pray:

‘Father, my life is in Your hands. Give me grace to know, embrace, and to pursue Your high calling upon my life, and to accept the changes Your new seasons bring to me today. In Your name I pray Lord Jesus, Amen’

CHANGED! From Glory to glory!

Seeking Jesus, we are changed!

2 Cor 3: 18 But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

Romans 8:29 (AKJV)

²⁹ For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.


Let’s Pray:
‘Jesus, we seek to see you today, in our prayer, our praise, our worship, our service, in your Word, in our relationships, in our families, in our church, in our communities, as you change us, from glory to glory, making us more than we could ever become, in and of our own selves. Change me today, Lord. Make me more like you. Amen’

Pray, Obey, and Stop Arguing!

When we pray, Holy Spirit convicts of sin:

John 16:8

And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment:

Ever noticed that when a person is doing something wrong, and you try to tell them, they either rationalize it, get angry with you, or ignore it completely.

Yes, we should speak the truth in love, gently correcting people, but then PRAY!

Fervently, asking Holy Spirit to help them see, and want to change.

John 8:9

And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.

Notice here, it was the Holy Spirit that convicted them in their conscience.

Rather than argue with someone doing wrong, pray for them. God is able to correct them…

Here are two verses I pray for people who are not listening to me:

Philippians 2:13

For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.

Philippians 1:6

being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

Let’s Pray:

‘Father, You are the God that speaks to the hearts of men upon their beds. You who created them, are working in them to will and to do of Your good pleasure, and You who began a good work in them, are causing them to will and to do, of Your good pleasure. I trust you to touch, convict, and cause them to see the error of their ways, and to want to change. I ask this Father, knowing I am heard, and answered, for I ask in Your mighty matchless name Lord Jesus.’

Anointed to Change the World

When Godly Leadership shows up…
Matt 2:3 When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.
Notice here, how, when Jesus, God the Son was born, the leadership of the day not only heard about it, but it troubled them. Not only did it trouble the king, but the whole city of Jerusalem.
So, the response of the king, was kill the baby, before it could grow up, and become a threat to his rule.
Yet, God preserved the baby, and countless others were slaughtered, in the wicked kings attempt to stop the true authority of God, from ever manifesting in the earth.
While there is much that can be said here, about you and I, as we grow in our gifts and callings, the point that Holy Spirit keeps rolling around my heart, is this:
THE VERY PEOPLE CALLED TO BRING GROWTH AND LOVING CHANGE TO AN ORGANIZATION, TROUBLE THOSE CURRENTLY IN LEADERSHIP, COMFORTABLE WITH THE STATUS QUO.
AND,
The people currently in leadership, and often the entire organization God is wanting to grow, bless, and increase, will try and destroy the very leader that is called and sent of God, to help them!
Not sure who I am speaking to today, but this is the Word of the Lord for us today.
1. Don’t allow them to kill you, your dream, or your vision.
2. Don’t be afraid to avoid confrontation and controversy as people cuss and discuss you.
3. DO NOT SETTLE INTO THE STATUS QUO!
If you are called to provide leadership, strength, and growth to an established organization, it may well be that you are quite unlike the people currently involved in it. It is your very uniqueness, strength, passion, zeal, and particularly different viewpoint and authentic anointing from God, that brings the most controversy to leadership, and employees alike.
Weather the storm, your presence causes.
Do not get discouraged, defeated, or bitter.
Relax, tension can get so high, that your very presence, produces the proverbial ‘elephant in the room’ syndrome.
Refuse to attack current leadership, nor defend your clearly different mandate than is currently in place. In due season, God will give you a platform to speak, if you quietly pray it out, and wait upon Him.
PRAY! Take your frustrations to God, not people. Complaining will only get you in trouble, and if you are not careful, disqualify you. Tell Jesus about it, weep, pour out your heart to Him if you must. He knows, He cares, and He, and He alone can do something about it.
Let’s pray:
‘Father, I love You, and because of Your great love, I am determined to make a mark on this generation. Cause me to walk in the high calling of God in Christ Jesus, without compromise, fear, or complacency. May I never settle for the status quo, but stay in the press with you, in continued growth of heart, mind, and strength. Show me when to quietly stand in faith, and when it is time to run for my life! Give me courage, patience, grace, and ability to not give up, no matter how I feel, that You Lord Jesus, might find one worthy here, as a reward for your sufferings for me. Amen’