Broken Vessels, A sweet incense before Him

Mark 14:3 And being in Bethany in the house of Simon the leper, as he sat at meat, there came a woman having an alabaster box of ointment of spikenard very precious; and she brake the box, and poured it on his head.

Jesus, King of Life, Lily of the Valley, bright and morning star, lover of my soul, altogether worthy one, of all of our worship, life, and service.

Some have said that Jesus was poor! Nope! He had a thief for treasurer,and here, when a woman poured out her life savings saved up as her dowry, in an extravagant offering to Him, He did not get upset, but gave her that which money could never buy. The eternal record of her act, forever recorded in the Word of God, her sacrificial love forever displayed for all to see.

How I love to make headlines in heaven, allowing my life to be the writing instrument, that Holy Spirit picks up to write HIS Story on the tapestry of time.
Once you have experienced His love, His life, His tremendous truth that sets us free at the deepest levels of our being, we find our hearts ravished with love for Him, and Him alone.

Is there any sacrifice too great, any offering too extravagant for the King of the Universe?

What can you give our King today?

‘Let’s pray:
Holy Spirit, ignite my life with passion for Jesus. Show me the things I might break at His feet, that will move His heart. May today be eternally recorded in heaven, as a day that I did something radical, and revolutionary for my King, Jesus! Amen!’

Empty Enemies

Empty Enemies

1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.
16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.
17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

And so we see the enemies of God: This worldly impersonal organized system devoid of love and life – the world, the Bible calls it.

Organizational structures that are sterile, void of care, concern, compassion, yet strong enough to endure generations. This is why we know the letter of the law kills, it is the spirit that brings life. If we build these empires, organizationally and administratively clean, yet without care and concern for the people these structures are supposed to serve and help, the very people we create these to serve, become crushed beneath their weight, the tyranny of unfulfilled expectations, that places people on a treadmill like a hamster: ever running, but going nowhere, making no difference, living and dying as fuel for the machine, blind to the rule of the one behind it, the god of this world, satan himself. The Nazi’s had order – just no love, nor life in their system.

Then there is the lust of the flesh: The savage passions for promotion, power, possessions, people, places and things, that can never be satisfied. Fallen flesh, that is ever hungry for more. More what? More money, more food, more power, more sex, more entertainment, more friends, more stuff, more knowledge. Always hungry, never satisfied: lust. No matter how much you feed it, it leaves a painful empty ache each time you indulge it, because you know that you fed the wrong thing, and your true hunger, for God, for intimacy, for purpose, for passion, for peace, for honor, for love, for holiness, was never met, no matter how much you indulge carnal appetites.

Is 55;1 ¶ Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.
2 Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness.

There is that which will fulfill our deepest thirsts! Come to Jesus!

Then there is the pride of life: Look at me, look what I can do, look at my house, my status, my company, my associations with the right people. Beautiful wife, beautiful life, empty, void of life. Spending time and money to impress people who neither understand nor care about you, or who you really are, For what?

Satan was Lucifer, the chief worship leader in heaven, closest to the throne before he fell. Why? He became proud. Those who are blinded by him, become like him – proud, selfish, screaming for entitlement, power and control. Love serves….

Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.

Have you discovered the emptiness of life yet? Have you run hard enough on your little treadmill of work, relationships, activities, pleasures that leave you dry, weary, poured out and cored out – a hollow shell of who you are created to be? It may take some time to learn how to feed on that which truly does satisfy – to begin to feast on bread of life and things of eternal glory, but is is worth obeying that deeper nudge…that itch that has never been scratched by worldy pursuits, for you are created for much more than this world can offer. He created the universe – and is the only One big enough to fully satisfy and understand the complexity that is you!

It is Jesus who alone can satisfy the thirst and deepest hungers in your heart. Let all these enemies of God and you, die, slain at the cross, that you, like Jesus, might experience the resurrection life, found only in Him.

He is more than enough…

It has been said: ‘When the student is ready, the teacher appears…’ Are you ready yet? He is waiting, still, with loving heart, and open arms. He knows, He cares, and He waits, until you are ready to receive Him…

Let’s pray:
‘Father, I see the tyranny of the world: The hardness, the severe toughness, of the daily rough and tumble of the world. It has left a coldness, hardness, and meanness deep within my soul. How well, I know see the foolishness of my own passionate pursuits, that have left me empty, dry, hungry for what truly satisfies. So I have fallen into the comparison trap, the competitive need to impress people I barely know, nor care about. My own self will, determined to do my own will, against you. Forgive me Father, and have mercy. Meet with me, and show me why I exist, Your highest and best for me and my life. Fill me with Your Spirit, for I hunger deep inside, and nothing satisfies me…help me Jesus. Amen’

Staying Faithful to the End – Mannasseh

A cry for holiness and purity of heart

Today, as I read 2Kings 20,21 we are left with the account of Manasseh:

2 Kings 21:6 And he made his son pass through the fire, and observed times, and used enchantments, and dealt with familiar spirits and wizards: he wrought much wickedness in the sight of the LORD, to provoke him to anger.

There must be a total consecration to Jesus, and the authority of His Word, without compromise.

Why? Satan is a liar:

Joh 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

2Co 4:4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

He is a mind blinding spirit, and unless we stay in the Word of God, in clean fellowship with a strong local church, and deliberately seeking God daily, we will be deceived. As we read the accounts of the kings of Israel and Judah, we stand amazed that they keep leaving God, building idol temples, performing demonic sacrifices, and listening to actual demons. Manasseh, son of Hezekiah, man of God, served as king for 55 years, yet did evil in the sight of the Lord, and departed from Him.

Seems having a godly family can help us, but ultimately, we must choose our own way in life, whether to serve God, or ultimately, devils. If we do not actively choose God, we will serve demons. Demons know how to implant thoughts in our minds, to get us off.

I realized this some years ago, after reading a little book by A.W. Tozer entitled ‘The knowledge of the Holy’, taken from the passage in Proverbs:
Pr 9:10 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Seems that wisdom is the principal thing, but for a young man of God starting out, I saw wisdom was not the be all and end all. Solomon cried out for wisdom, in humility before the Lord, and yet erred in using his wisdom, to sin against God, and take 1000 wives, that corrupted him, and drew him away from God.
Twice in my life, after doing some great exploits for God, I have had God appear to me, in His glory, leaving me on my face before Him, simply attempting to breath.

Twice He has asked me, “Child, what you have done, is pleasing in my sight, ask me whatever you want, and I will give it to you.’ Twice I have said the same thing:
“Father, I want to be holy and pure in heart”

So began the preparation for ministry,that has involved incredible hardship, suffering, rejection, and pain, as He has stripped away my soulical desires, and ravished my heart with His love and presence. It has been over 25 years since those encounters, yet I see His faithfulness in answering them, as I have met with Him, over and over again, and seen the dross of my own desires, consumed in the fire of His love: my passions met in the power of the cross, that I might live solely, to do His will, His way, for His motive.

Publicly, I am a fool for Christ, misunderstood at best by most people, and many Christians, but there is One upon whose face I sense a smile, a grin that draws the great cloud of witnesses into peeking over the balconies of heaven, as I run my race before Him. I am heard upon High, and nations shake as I pray, demons are terrified of my presence, my authority, my words, and angels stand to attention, at the name of Jesus uttered from my lips. I have become one of whom the world is not worthy, crucified with Christ, sold out totally to Him and His call upon my life.
There is a joy and a peace in this, that nothing can compare to nor take away.

Mt 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

As my heart is purified by His fire, separated from my desires, that I may see His, my eyes are opened to see Him, the living God, high and lifted up, moving in incredible power and majesty throughout the earth.

Let me pray for you:

‘Father God, I know you love us, and want us happy and blessed, yet I also know that there is no greater happiness, than holiness. Purify our hearts of our sin and selfish ways, that our desires line up with your desires. Fill us with your love, light, and presence today, and give us courage, to abandon all for the sake of your call upon our lives. In your name I pray Lord Jesus, Amen!’

Giving Jesus MY ALL – Today!

Giving Jesus MY All, Today!

Mar 14:9 Verily I say unto you, Wheresoever this gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, this also that she hath done shall be spoken of for a memorial of her.

The woman with the alabaster jar, poured out her life, her offering, in such reckless abandon upon the feet of Jesus, that He, King of the Universe, deemed that her act become an eternal memorial of her.

Ever thought that we can live in such radical obedience, passion, brokenness at His feet in love, that our lives might be written as eternal memorials to our sacrifice?

Mal_3:16 Then they that feared the LORD spake often one to another: and the LORD hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the LORD, and that thought upon his name.

There is a book being written in heaven, that will be an eternal best seller. The book of remembrance of the acts of the saints, forever recorded, for the glory of Jesus, the testimony of the saints.

Let’s live in such a way today, they we cause heavenly scribes to have to pick up the pen on our behalf, writing headlines in heaven, angels to rejoice, Jesus to smile, and the great cloud of witnesses to be on their feet, peering over the balconies of heaven, as our life, our testimony, our radical passion for Jesus, our sacrifice, and poured out consecration for Him!

Let’s Pray:
‘Father, burn like a fire in me, blazing bright to this generation. Jesus! I come to your feet, and pour out my love, my life, my passion, my all for you, today. May I live in such a way as to make headlines in heaven, eternal record of my love for you, that you might smile, as you receive, through me, the reward of your suffering. Amen’

Fresh Fire – Fresh Problems!

Heavenly Vision and Glory, Earthly Problems!

Psalm 85:6

Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee?

“Holy Brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling” (Hebrews 3: 1).

Mark 6:3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.
4 But Jesus said unto them, A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house.
5 And he could there do no mighty work, save that he laid his hands upon a few sick folk, and healed them.
6 And he marvelled because of their unbelief. And he went round about the villages, teaching.

Seems people have not changed much over the centuries!

It has been said, that the very participants of the previous great move of God, become the greatest opponents of the current move, because they are sure God should do it like He did it last time.

Yet, God loves to confound the wise, to keep us humble and intimate with Him.

Seems He places His hand upon some of the weakest and most foolish looking people, and opens heaven to them in their brokeness and humility, and reveals mysteries, keys to unlock the hearts of the current generation, yet, previous soldiers in the previous move, who through obedience and good works are now generals in God’s army, often oppose vehemently, that which God is determined to do.

And so there is conflict in the kingdom.

The younger generation, firebrands with open heaven experiences, are often quenched by the old guard, and wonderful moves of the Spirit can be aborted, before they ever begin to bear great fruit for the kingdom.

Yet, we need each other.

I love the African proverb:
‘When an old man dies, a library burns to the ground!”

We need the wisdom and seasoning of the mature, yet not at the expense of obedience and fire!

Heard a preacher say: “Sure we want the fire of God, but not wildfire!”
Another man replied: “Any fire is better than no fire, fire burns best on old dead wood!”

Yet, the Scripture says that things in public worship must be done ‘decently and in order!’

Things are in perfect order in a graveyard!

People generally are not particularly spiritual, and when a heavenly office with all it’s glory hits the earth, like in the days of Jesus, people love to categorizee folks by their family, education, culture, vocation, or anything familiar to them.

Mark 6:3 Is not this the carpenter, the son of Mary, the brother of James, and Joses, and of Juda, and Simon? and are not his sisters here with us? And they were offended at him.

Yet, this was God the Son! The man Christ Jesus, having stepped into His heavenly office, mandate, and ministry, the miracle worker.

Yet, people did not recognize Him!

So, young firebrand with heavenly vision, is it any wonder that people don’t recognize you?

Yet, do what Jesus did. Don’t fight with them, nor try to curry favor.

Simply do the will of the Father, and move on in your ministry. Maybe you will be of some use to them in later years….

I remember the initial days of what is now known as ‘The Toronto Blessing’ where people howled, jerked, moaned, and lay on the floor as Holy Spirit wrecked lives with his love. It was an awe inspiring thing.

Then came Pensecola, where REPENT was the word, God is Holy, come running for mercy!

Over the years, I have seen God move in missions, the Word of Faith camp as we all shouted, ran, and laughed in the glory, often drunk as skunks with holy laughter, with incredible miracles occurring.

Yet, that was then, and NOW faith is. His name is I AM!

In ‘Conspiracy of Kindness’, we see the dealings of God: When He wants to move, He lays His hand upon a MAN, and gives him a MESSAGE, a MESSAGE  of fire, and passion that moves the hearts and lives of a generation. From the MESSAGE, comes a MOVEMENT of men, materials, resources to facilitate that particular move of God. Yet, if the MOVEMENT develops METHODS that are not continually pruned by the Spirit of God, then the new wine continually coming out of heaven, finds old wines skins, and the adherants to the METHODS become legalists, actually quenching what they fought to build! While the MESSAGE of the gospel will never change, the METHODS constantly change, as the creative love of God breaths His love towards hurting people, and if we do not continually change with them, all we have is a MEMORIAL and a MONUMENT,  to what God did then, instead of what He IS doing NOW.

I want to be included in His movings NOW, in this generations, and it is my cry that He not pass me by, that I might be included in this fresh wind of heaven, this breath of God to our generation..

Let me always have a message that is a voice, not an echo!

Let’s Pray:
Father God, speak to me today. Use me! Let me not bow to people but serve and obey You above them, seeking Your approval and acceptance, above theirs. Let not my fire nor vision be quenched by their lack of understanding, but may I move on and move out, into the fullness of all you created me to be and do in this, my generation.May the fire of Your passion and love, burn from me any hint of bitterness or offence!

Light me on fire with your love and passion Jesus, that people might come and watch me burn, Amen’

Ravenous Wolves….

As I learn to walk with Jesus, I again read this verse this morning, and see within it, deeper truth:

 

Matthew 7:15

Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves

 

I know many people of God, who name the name of God, even Jesus, yet I watch the way they are treating people around them, manipulating, slithering around them, to get their own needs met.

 

Not just financial needs!

 

Sure we have seen people merchandise the ministry, making some practices look like the old fashioned ‘snake oil salesmen’ or schemers out of the proverbial shell game.

 

Yet it is not just ministry leaders that prey upon God’s sheep. I see it in business and politics too, ambitious, passionate people making merchandise of people with no concern for the care and needs of those they are using.

 

Ezekiel 22:27

Her princes in the midst thereof are like wolves ravening the prey, to shed blood, and to destroy souls, to get dishonest gain

Isaiah 56:11

But the dogs have monstrous appetites. They never have enough. They are shepherds who don’t understand. All of them have turned to their own ways, every last one greedy for profit.

So what makes a spiritual wolf?

I believe it is all about hungers….appetites designed to be legitimately met by Jesus and the bread of His Word,  that feed on the flesh and brokenness of others.

It is all about the heart. We have passions that rage within ourselves, needs for love, intimacy, sex, food, success, to be noticed…

God will supply all of these, if we allow Him to break our hearts, and give to us the living waters of His Spirit that Jesus promises, but this is not a quick, microwave thing, it takes hours, daily, alone with Him in prayer, as He gently soaks us with His Spirit, washes us with His Word, feeds our heart of heart with His love, understanding, revelation, and peace, quieting our raging passions in the ocean of His presence.

Yet, I have learned that most leaders are way too busy for this degree of intimacy, and they gotta GO!

No realizing that in many cases the ‘gotta’ is an unmet appetite, that they are going to get fed in the rough and tumble of life.

Gotta make that deal, sign that contract, make that buck, conquer that person, have sex with the object of my desire.

Self…

Ravenous passions….

The tyranny of unmet expectations, the pursuit of unholy desires….

Jesus saw all this while He was on the earth, which is why I believe He told His disciples:

Matthew 10:16

Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

He knew the pride and passion of sinful people, wolves, bloodthirsty predators…

So we walk with Jesus, allowing Him to meet with us deep within the secret places of our heart, and each day, He gently sends us out into this broken world as His sheep, in the midst of people who are as ravenous and predatory as wolves…

Yet His command is clear, walk with Him in their midst, as wise as a serpent, as gentle as doves…

Not all leaders are false, God does still call leaders!

Jeremiah 3:15

I will appoint shepherds with whom I’m pleased, and they will lead you with knowledge and understanding

John 10:11

I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.

There are still servant hearted servants of the Lord, laying down our lives for the feeding and leading of God’s people, because we honestly care…

Let’s Pray:

‘Father, thank you for Jesus. May we continually seek You First, and allow you to meet our deepest needs, directly by Your Word and through Your presence Holy Spirit. Protect us from our own raging passions and appetites, and may they rage only for You and Your kingdom. As leaders, may we gently lead, feed, protect, and empower your people, as You gently give us a good word in season, knowledge from heaven to meet the needs of your people. I ask this, looking to You Lord Jesus, the chief shepherd, my Lord, and my King, Amen’

America is Great, because America is Good!

Righteousness Exalts a Nation!

Proverbs 14:34

Righteousness exalteth a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.

AMERICA
The United States and its citizens

French writer Alexis de Tocqueville, after visiting America in 1831, said, “I sought for the greatness of the United States in her commodious harbors, her ample rivers, her fertile fields, and boundless forests–and it was not there. I sought for it in her rich mines, her vast world commerce, her public school system, and in her institutions of higher learning–and it was not there. I looked for it in her democratic Congress and her matchless Constitution–and it was not there. Not until I went into the churches of America and heard her pulpits flame with righteousness did I understand the secret of her genius and power. America is great because America is good, and if America ever ceases to be good, America will cease to be great!”

Alexis de Tocqueville.

This quote may be old, yet it is still true, and I still believe that America is good!

I do not believe this based upon the insanity I see in the Media, or the corruption and treachery I see in politics. I base this upon the fire I still see in the churches, the flaming pulpits of righteousness that still burn with fresh fire taken from the living coals of God’s alters of prayer.

My faith is no longer in the leaders of this nation, but in good, solid, hard-working American’s who still value truth, honor, honesty, hard-work, love, sacrifice, and concern for our fellow man.

Yes, our families are under attack, our government has been shown to be less than perfect, some churches, have laid down their swords, and given up the fight for holiness, and given into to moral compromise.

But I have not!

And I am convinced that I am not alone!

Righteousness exalts a nation, and Jesus is our ever living Lord.

I am calling on good, American people to serve Jesus, and to turn this vile tide of wickedness away from this nation once again.

One by one, person by person, we can decide to live right before God, and any one of us, walking with the Creator of the universe, becomes a majority, as His power displayed justifies, vindicates, and delivers us from wickedness both within our hearts, and from the hearts of those around us.

Love holiness, seek purity, and regain the fire of His presence that will burn through your eyes, as His passion blazes through you.

You will see Jesus, staring back at you in the mirror in the morning, His fire in your eyes, His voice speaking boldly in Your heart, His courage blazing bright for all to see.

Others will see Him too, and want what you have, no matter how much they try and deny Him in their own compromised lives, they cannot deny Him in Yours!

Our church, has embraced the cross, and is again preaching we become people of the cross.

Luke 12:For unto whomsoever much is given, of him shall be much required: and to whom men have committed much, of him they will ask the more.

⁴⁹ I am come to send fire on the earth; and what will I, if it be already kindled? ⁵⁰ But I have a baptism to be baptized with; and how am I straitened till it be accomplished! ⁵¹ Suppose ye that I am come to give peace on earth? I tell you, Nay; but rather division:

Burn bright for Jesus today!

Preach to someone! Tell them about His life, His love, His power, and demonstrate it with bold prayers for the miraculous, and watch Him show up and show out in Your life!

Let’s pray!

‘Father, if it is going to be, begin it with me. I’m not looking to this government, my family, even my church, for solutions to America’s problems any more, but I am looking to You, Creator of heaven and earth. Burn like a fire in me. Make me good! Give me places to speak Your word, people who need to see Your power, may my life blaze with love for You, Your passion and zeal in my very eyes. I ask this, knowing I am heard, for I ask in Your name Lord Jesus, Amen’

Victory Daily Bible Reading

March 17th,,2014

ALL IN!

When I trained triathlon, it consumed me, for 7 of the hardest most difficult years of my life, as I set sights on it potentially becoming an Olympic sport. 4 Hours each day, and then the long runs and rides on the weekends, aching, but working the dream, staying focused upon the dream, allowing the coaches and training log to keep me honest.

Walking by faith, is harder…

Rom 4:20 He staggered not at the promise of God through unbelief; but was strong in faith, giving glory to God;
21 And being fully persuaded that, what he had promised, he was able also to perform.

Sometimes, you just gotta believe. I’m still believing what I know He said. Had no idea it would be so insanely difficult, yet, I believe! No holding back, No compromise, full commitment!

Rom 4, Lev 22, 23 and Prov 15 are today’s readings!

Listen here: http://easterlingtribe.com/audiobible

Get the whole year schedule, here: https://www.victory.com/assets/v6/resources/brp/BibleReadingPlan.pdf

Do you know Jesus?

Each day, we seek first the kingdom of God, and this post is designed to encourage you to read through your Bible, daily, each year.

Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.

Joh 5:39 Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.

Each day, as we read, we must meet with Him, for He is life!

Knowing Him, is the difference between heaven and hell, healing and sickness, heartbreak or peace, success or failure…

Today, give Him your life, for He is King of the universe.

Ac 2:21 And it shall come to pass, that whosoever shall call on the name of the Lord shall be saved.

Call on Him today! He loves you!

Ro 10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
Let’s pray!
“Father God in heaven, I come to you now, and ask that You would forgive me. I choose to believe, that You raised Jesus from the dead, and Lord Jesus, I receive You now. Please come into my life, and fill me with Your presence, plan, and purpose, that I am created to live. Fill me with Your love, and may I obey, and love all those You place in my path, Amen.’

To Declare His Righteousness!

To Declare HIS righteousness!

The Word of God declares:

Rom 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness

Forgiven, Redeemed, Adopted, made right with God!

This is the confession of every blood-bought, child of the King!

This is right standing with God!

All because of Jesus!

It’s His righteousness, freely given to us, to anyone that would receive it, by faith. We can’t earn it, only obtain it, simply because He loves us!
Yet, though we are royalty, kings and priests before the throne of God, with full access, literally ruling and reigning in Him, over the god of the world, He alone is Lord!

There is indeed rank, order, privilege in the kingdom, and even as Jesus lived only to do the will of our Father, so must we.
Ps 82:1 «A Psalm of Asaph.» God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.
Ps 82:6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.

John 10:34

Jesus answered them, Is it not written in your law, I said, Ye are gods?

John 10:35

If he called them gods, unto whom the word of God came, and the scripture cannot be broken

As royalty, we reign, but how quickly we learn obedience!

John 3:²⁷ John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.

We may be children, royal heirs, but we have a Father, who must be obeyed!

Despite the preciousness of His promises, He has a timing, that will be fulfilled in our lives, and sometimes, waiting is an excruciating thing!
Ec 3:11 ¶ He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end.

 

NOW, faith is, for He is I AM.
Yet, after we have believed, our very faith, generates a heavenly process, that is magnificent to behold in hindsight….
Yet, during!

Romans 8:²⁹ 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.

We learn to be like Jesus, and if we would be like Him:

Hebrews 5:8

Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered;

There are levels of intimacy, that can cause such excruciating pain, simply because of the depth of our commitment to love, to believe, to honor, to never compromise the call…
There can be groanings…

Romans 8:26 (KJV)

²⁶ Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Let’s Pray!
‘Father God, I come boldly before Your throne today, as Your child. Thank you for forgiving, adopting, blessing, and providing for me today! I love you, and would do Your will today. Show me Your glory! Give me grace, to not compromise, nor shrink back from what I know You have spoken to me, no matter what the cost! In Your name I pray Lord Jesus! Amen!

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Give in faith!

1 Corinthians 9:11 If we have sown [the seed of] spiritual good among you, [is it too] much if we reap from your material benefits?

1 Corinthians 9:14 [On the same principle] the Lord directed that those who publish the good news (the Gospel) should live (get their maintenance) by the Gospel.

Paul goes on to say, that he did not use his position as a minister of the gospel to take up offerings, rather he worked, making tents, to support himself. You might notice here, that Paul was not married, nor did he have children. Family responsibilities take time, and just as you bust a move on your job to provide for your family, I work every bit as hard, doing this, faithful to the Lord in prayer and the ministry of His Word, to you.

I will never charge for this: it my responsibility to God, my calling. Freely I have been given, now, I freely give…

As you give, hear Holy Spirit what to give, and honestly expect God to reward you for your giving.

Matt 10: 41 He who receives and welcomes and accepts a prophet because he is a prophet shall receive a prophet’s reward, and he who receives and welcomes and accepts a righteous man because he is a righteous man shall receive a righteous man’s reward. 42 And whoever gives to one of these little ones [in rank or influence] even a cup of cold water because he is My disciple, surely I declare to you, he shall not lose his reward.

I am a five-fold ministry gift and office – this is my life – I pray, I hear, I write, and wonderful things happen. You have your job description, I have mine – this is mine….

I have ‘see through’ faith for you, in this: Gal 3: 9 So then they which be of faith are blessed with faithful Abraham.

I believe I have a responsibility before God to be like Jesus, in every offering I receive. I receive it with thanksgiving, just like Jesus did the little boys lunch.

Then, because I walk and live by faith according to the blessing of Abraham, I believe that God will take your seed sown, and multiply it, according to what the blessing of Abraham promises:

Genesis 22:17 In blessing I will bless you and in multiplying I will multiply your descendants like the stars of the heavens and like the sand on the seashore. And your Seed (Heir) will possess the gate of His enemies

It has been a joy to me, to see the hand of the living God act in the lives of those of you who have supported us this year!

Many have seen tremendous blessing come into your households, and for this we give thanks, and give Jesus all the glory!

Deep prayer, from a dream…

I was awakened, troubled….

Da 4:5 I saw a dream which made me afraid, and the thoughts upon my bed and the visions of my head troubled me.
Suddenly, I saw many people I knew, that have died over the past couple of years, and the Lord caused me to understand why.

Pr 18:14 The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?

Pr 13:12 Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

I have seen a number of people suffer physical heart attacks, or simply give up, and die, because the pain of living each day, was simply too much to bear.

I was reminded of the Toronto revival, where God met us, repeatedly on the carpet, in savage inbreakings of His love, and we discovered that we have a Father that loves us, intimately.

I also discovered that I have huge, deep, emotional needs, hungers that only God, in His intimacy can feed and fill.

And so we would meet with God, and sometimes, what had been a silent prison of pain, a silent scream deep inside, was silent no more. We would shout, and weep, and God would come in passion and power, and wreck us, and meet us, and make us whole.

So I saw, so much ministry: filled with revelation, wisdom, strong teaching, and gifts of the Holy Spirit, but missing this one thing: this savage searing presence of our Father, that rips through our shattered walls, and meets us, heart to heart, with a love, intimacy, and passion, that no earthly love can compare to.

And then I saw it. People, good people, like walking zombies. Knowing that the answers they seek are in God somewhere, but stumbling from meeting to meeting, sometimes church to church, aching, seeking, longing for something real, and NOT FINDING IT, and quietly, giving up, and dying and going to heaven to be with Jesus.

God dealt with me that this, this intimacy and deep soaking in His love, must be the heart of all we do, or we will reach people, but not heal hearts, and they will die….

Our vision must be progressive, and there MUST be a corresponding deep move of the Holy Spirit at all times, that continually meets with and transforms wounded people into warriors, or they quietly check out emotionally at first, but physically eventually.

They kept hoping that the Holy Spirit ‘goose-bumps’ might actually meet the desperate needs of their hearts, and if we don’t get to them quick enough, their hearts become sick, and another child of God goes to heaven, earthly destiny unfulfilled, their ministry aborted, before it ever really got off the ground.

Having worked construction for many years, most foundations are made of concrete, and there is a saying: ‘It’s hard to pour concrete in a tornado!’

When a person’s life is shattered, when they did not grow up in a good home, and their foundation is destroyed, and all they feel, is worthlessness, pain, and numbness (because it hurts to much to get in touch with how we really feel), it is very difficult to build in them, a strong foundation in the Word of God!

Sometimes, only a terrifying, deep move of Holy Spirit is the only answer for them, and we, as leaders, must cry out until it comes, and no matter how messy it may look, in disrupting our services, we must let God out of the box, and let Him build, blast, and meet with His children.

If we don’t contend for it. They die, and for me, their blood is on my head, for I KNOW BETTER!

Stand with me, contend with me, for this one thing: this radical intimacy with our Father, that meets us at our deepest point of need, the sweeping winds of heaven, that again move with savage passion and power to reach those outcast, neglected, abandoned, traumatized by the brutality of their lives…

Let’s Pray:
‘Father, you put this in me, this hunger, passion, fervency, and recognition of the needs of Your children. Sweep through my life, blast away my religious habits, and grant again, Your deep, deep waves of searing intimacy, that heal, set free, and fill the deepest hungers, creaks and crevices in my soul. I cry unto you Lord Jesus, do it again, here, and now, Amen’