Keep the rod of God’s authority lifted!

As I read this mornings account, I am reminded of our spiritual responsibility as leaders, to exercise God’s authority in the earth, through prayer, in this, our generation:

Ex 17:11 As long as Moses held up the staff in his hand, the Israelites had the advantage. But whenever he dropped his hand, the Amalekites gained the advantage.

We must submit first to God, and His authority in our lives, then from that position, use spiritual authority to change our generation.

In order to have authority, we must submit to authority, then we can do true eternal damage to darkness:

Clearly, in Jesus, we have authority from heaven to be exercised in the earth. In order for the kingdom to go forward, we must continue to stand for righteousness and holiness, purity and God’s power.

Let’s Pray:

“Father, I stand for my home, my community, my state, and my nation before Your throne, exercising Your authority against principalities and powers, and every demonic power and person serving darkness. I enforce Your kingdom in righeousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost, and expect Your power to manifest today, destroying wickedness, and prospering Your people, in the name and authority of Jesus, Amen!”

Giving: For God so loved the world that He gave….

For God so loved the world, that He gave…

 

As I read my  Bible I read: Ex 35: ²¹ All whose hearts were stirred and whose spirits were moved came and brought their sacred offerings to the Lord.

Looks a lot like: 2 Corinthians 9:7

So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver.

God is the giver of all life! His nature is to give! As we walk with Him, we discover the joy in giving, but notice in these verse this one thing:

In each case God stirred the heart of the person to give!

God knows how to take up an offering, and who He can stir to pay His bills.

For those of us called into full-time ministry, that takes all the pressure off of people, and puts it where it rightfully belongs: on His exceedingly great and precious promises.

He cannot lie, and He cannot fail, and He is well able to stir the hearts of those He has called to support us in our vision and mandate.

Our job is to remain holy, so that their offerings will be like this verse calls them: ‘sacred offerings’ unto the Lord.

Where do I give? Who do I give to?

Hebrews 7:8

Here mortal men receive tithes, but there he receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives.

I believe the correct answer to that question is not merely who, what and where, but according to this verse: HOW I give.

I must give in faith. Sure, mortal men receive tithes, but when I give, Jesus, the high priest of my confession, personally receives them as part of my worship, and then He acts in my life, bearing witness that He has risen from the dead: He LIVES!

So, Jesus is Lord, and He speaks whomsoever He will, where to give, who to give to there, and then looks to see HOW we give, with a good heart, a heart of thanksgiving and worship unto Him.

Put a smile on Jesus face today. Do like He does, give!

There is joy and purpose in it, and He loves to get actively involved with us in our prosperity, as we give.

Worship!

Let’s Pray:

‘Father, show me what to give, where, to whom, today. May I worship you in this, giving glory and testimony to the fact that Jesus LIVES, He is risen from the dead, and He reigns! Amen”

https://chrisaomministries.com/2016/08/06/the-purpose-of-this-blog/

Making a ‘Supply’ of the Holy Spirit Available Today!

Philippians 1:19(KJV)

¹⁹ For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

Are you in ministry?

The gospel always goes forward on its knees, as broken hearted servants cry out to God for His servants, and God delivers them, and they do what we do – preach the gospel, heal the sick, cast out devils, teach, make disciples, build projects, and perform the acts of Jesus love that alleviate human suffering wherever we can – the stuff.

That involves all of us, not just five-fold ministry gifts and offices:

2 Corinthians 5:18

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

Yet, in the midst of this we quickly learn that strict obedience to Jesus is mandatory, for we often find ourselves in brutal tests, trials, that require the power of God to extricate ourselves. In this opening verse, history tells us the apostle Paul had been shipwrecked, and wrote from prison. He saw how he was going to get out too, through the supply of the Spirit made available to him, as his friends in Phillipi prayed for him!

What the Church needs today is not more machinery or better, not new organizations or more novel methods, but men whom the Holy Ghost can use–men of prayer, men mighty in prayer.

E.M.Bounds

We are the Body of Christ, and quickly we discover there are no big ‘I’s’ and little ‘you’s’ in the kingdom of God, we are all called, we are all needed, and the kingdom grows ONLY as we work together, in our place.

Ephesians 4:16King James Version (KJV)

¹⁶ From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

We must each do OUR part, bringing our particular supply of the Holy Spirit, the life blood of the Body, and so the kingdom grows, becomes healthy, strong, victorious.

The moment you wake up each morning, all your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals. And the first job each morning consists in shoving it all back; in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view, letting that other, larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in.

C.S. Lewis

PRAY FOR US!

And so the intercessors enter the fray, and they begin to pray for us, with prayers that slap heaven and earth together, and as they do, rivers from the throne, supplies of His Spirit, become available to us.

When almighty God shows up, we get delivered from our current trial, with great glory to His name.

MOBILIZE PRAYER!

So, if you are a Christian leader, mobilize prayer. Without it, your troubles may well destroy you.

I heard Dr. Negiel Bigpond say that true intercessors are assassins, trained killers. They attack and kill things in the spirit that would surely kill you, if they had not prayed.

Are you a prayer warrior? Please add me and other missionaries to your daily prayer list, we cannot do it without you.

Are you called to Go, preach teach and make disciples?

“…Men may spurn our appeals, reject our message, oppose our arguments, despise our persons — but they are helpless against our prayers.”

Sidlow Baxter

After 25 years in this thing, I am convinced that the most important thing that we can do is mobilize prayer for the Spirit inspired directives we are called to perform in the earth.

https://chrisaomministries.com/2016/08/06/the-purpose-of-this-blog/

Let’s Pray:

‘Father, I ask you would raise up intercessors, and faithful prayer warriors for me, my family, and my mandate in this generation. I ask that we remain faithful to pray for those providing leadership to the kingdom of God, and for those you have called us to serve today. Holy Spirit, I need You. Touch me, deliver me, direct me, work in and through me today for Your good pleasure. I ask this, knowing I am heard, for I ask in Your name Lord Jesus, Amen.’

Eagles Still Go to Church! Today!

Eagles Still Go to Church!

Luk 17:37 And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.

I like to think about this verse literally. Eagles fly alone in general, except when they find their mate, for life.

Yet, here, God calls a people to Himself, the Body of Christ, and here, in the church, the Bride of Jesus, eagles gather.

You, are a unique, privileged, child of the king, with a specific, individual destiny and calling in Him. We hear the voice of God, and soar high on the winds of His grace, Holy Spirit leading us into higher and higher levels of truth in the Word of God, in our business, our family, revelation often separating us unto God Himself, for only He who gave the insight, truly understands the incredibly complex creation that we are, and the intricacies of our lives.

Yet, we are not called to fly alone, we are part of the body of Christ. Though much of our week may be alone, in our unique calling, where the Body is, we gather.

Leaders go to church.

Ro 15:1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.

3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

Jesus is Lord, the ultimate leader, yet He comes to church!

Hebrews 2:12

Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

Heb 10: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

The days of lone ranger Christianity are gone. You were not designed to walk alone, totally. You are part of the Body of Christ, and where the Body is, eagles gather…

Let’s pray:

‘Father, show me the areas I need to fly alone in life, the unique, individual plans you have for me, in this life. Yet, despite my uniqueness, you have called me to the Body of Christ, and given me a place there. Help me to find my place, and help others around me. In your name I pray Lord Jesus, Amen’

Making a ‘Supply’ of the Holy Spirit Available

Philippians 1:19(KJV)

¹⁹ For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

Are you in ministry?

The gospel always goes forward on its knees, as broken hearted servants cry out to God for His servants, and God delivers them, and they do what we do – preach the gospel, heal the sick, cast out devils, teach, make disciples, build projects, and perform the acts of Jesus love that alleviate human suffering wherever we can – the stuff.

That involves all of us, not just five-fold ministry gifts and offices:

2 Corinthians 5:18

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

Yet, in the midst of this we quickly learn that strict obedience to Jesus is mandatory, for we often find ourselves in brutal tests, trials, that require the power of God to extricate ourselves. In this opening verse, history tells us the apostle Paul had been shipwrecked, and wrote from prison. He saw how he was going to get out too, through the supply of the Spirit made available to him, as his friends in Phillipi prayed for him!

We are the Body of Christ, and quickly we discover there are no big ‘I’s’ and little ‘you’s’ in the kingdom of God, we are all called, we are all needed, and the kingdom grows ONLY as we work together, in our place.

Ephesians 4:16King James Version (KJV)

¹⁶ From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love.

We must each do OUR part, bringing our particular supply of the Holy Spirit, the life blood of the Body, and so the kingdom grows, becomes healthy, strong, victorious.

PRAY FOR US!

And so the intercessors enter the fray, and they begin to pray for us, with prayers that slap heaven and earth together, and as they do, rivers from the throne, supplies of His Spirit, become available to us.

When almighty God shows up, we get delivered from our current trial, with great glory to His name.

MOBILIZE PRAYER!

So, if you are a Christian leader, mobilize prayer. Without it, your troubles may well destroy you.

I heard Dr. Negiel Bigpond say that true intercessors are assassins, trained killers. They attack and kill things in the spirit that would surely kill you, if they had not prayed.

Are you a prayer warrior? Please add me and other missionaries to your daily prayer list, we cannot do it without you.

Are you called to Go, preach teach and make disciples?

After 25 years in this thing, I am convinced that the most important thing that we can do is mobilize prayer for the Spirit inspired directives we are called to perform in the earth.

https://chrisaomministries.com/2016/08/06/the-purpose-of-this-blog/

Let’s Pray:

‘Father, I ask you would raise up intercessors, and faithful prayer warriors for me, my family, and my mandate in this generation. I ask that we remain faithful to pray for those providing leadership to the kingdom of God, and for those you have called us to serve today. Holy Spirit, I need You. Touch me, deliver me, direct me, work in and through me today for Your good pleasure. I ask this, knowing I am heard, for I ask in Your name Lord Jesus, Amen.’

REAP! It’s your responsibility!

Reap!

The Parable of the Growing Seed

^{Mark 4:26} And He said, “The kingdom of God is as if a man should scatter seed on the ground, ²⁷ and should sleep by night and rise by day, and the seed should sprout and grow, he himself does not know how. ²⁸ For the earth yields crops by itself: first the blade, then the head, after that the full grain in the head. ²⁹ But when the grain ripens, immediately he puts in the sickle, because the harvest has come.”

Notice here, that the person who plants the seed, is responsible to REAP their harvest.

The Workers Are Few

³⁵ Jesus went through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and healing every disease and sickness. ³⁶ When he saw the crowds, he had compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. ³⁷ Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. ³⁸ Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.”

Luke 10:² He told them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.

John 4:35

Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest.

36 Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together.

Reap (reep)

verb (used with object)

1. to cut (wheat, rye, etc.) with a sickle or other implement or a machine, as in harvest.
2. to gather or take (a crop, harvest, etc.).
3. to get as a return, recompense, or result:

Notice here that Reap is used as a verb. Verbs are action words. We need to be working, doing, moving, putting action to our crops and fields of endeavor.

We sow our finances, our effort, our time, our talent, our prayer, the word, and our faith, all for one thing: The Harvest.

The earth will produce, but we must reap it’s rewards.

We do this through:

1. Work, never heard of a harvest that did not require work to get into the barn.
2. Faith, we need God to supply the weather, health, wisdom to get it done.
3. Diligence, we must stay faithful to finish what we start.

Let’s Pray:

‘Father God, please give us strength, wisdom, diligence and courage, to continue to work faithfully in Your Kingdom, in only the fields of endeavour You have called us to. We aks, knowing we are heard, for we ask in Your name Lord Jesus, Amen.’

For prayer, comments, or to donate online:

https://chrisaomministries.com/2016/08/06/the-purpose-of-this-blog/

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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!

Even miracles and God’s presence will NOT always cause a person to repent!

The Presence of God, and gifts of the spirit, will not change a human heart….

As I read this passage, I am reminded of so many I have met over the years:

1 Sam 19:19 And it was told Saul, saying, Behold, David is at Naioth in Ramah.

20 And Saul sent messengers to take David: and when they saw the company of the prophets prophesying, and Samuel standing as appointed over them, the Spirit of God was upon the messengers of Saul, and they also prophesied.

21 And when it was told Saul, he sent other messengers, and they prophesied likewise. And Saul sent messengers again the third time, and they prophesied also.

22 Then went he also to Ramah, and came to a great well that is in Sechu: and he asked and said, Where are Samuel and David? And one said, Behold, they be at Naioth in Ramah.

23 And he went thither to Naioth in Ramah: and the Spirit of God was upon him also, and he went on, and prophesied, until he came to Naioth in Ramah.

24 And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night. Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?

Surely, we see a divine encounter with the kingdom of God here. Let’s think about what is going on here.

Saul disobeyed God, and the kingdom was stripped from him. The anointing of God was taken from him, and given to David, and an evil spirit came upon Saul. Saul, hates David, because he sees in him, that which he lacks in himself: courage, bravery, excellence of spirit, purity of heart, and a heart that is in love with God Himself.

Despite the fact that Saul has been throwing spears at him, and hunting him to kill him, David, on the run, refuses to take Saul’s life, and he continually cries out to God on behalf of Saul. Yet, Saul, determined to keep the kingdom, continually sends soldiers to attempt to kill David, and David, by hearing intimately the voice of God, is able to avoid them, every time.

Why did God allow David all those years in the wilderness running from Saul? I think it is because:

David had to hear God accurately, in life or death situations, if he was ever going to be fit to be king.

In this account, David has run for refuge from Saul to Samuel’s house, and they are having a revival meeting where the gifts of the Holy Spirit are very much in operation, so much so that when Saul’s soldiers come chasing David there, they are arrested by the Spirit of God, and find themselves prophesying under the anointing of God.

Saul does not want to hear this, so sends two more sets of messengers to Ramah, and each time, they too succumb to the power of God, and find themselves prophesying by the Spirit of God, and unable to apprehend David.

So, Saul Himself goes down to Samuel’s revival meeting, and what happens: v 24 And he stripped off his clothes also, and prophesied before Samuel in like manner, and lay down naked all that day and all that night.

Wherefore they say, Is Saul also among the prophets?

So, you would think, after the Holy Spirit so humbled Saul, that he would repent, and begin again to serve the Lord, and leave David alone.

Yet, what did he do?

He went home, and again began to plot again how to murder king David!

Even after the presence of God had caused him to prophesy naked for a day and a night at the feet of Samuel!

In Luke 16, we read the account of the rich man and Lazarus. Notice here that this is not an allegory or parable, but a true story Jesus is recounting. The rich man went to hell, and the poor beggar went to Abraham’s bosum or paradise (Jesus had not yet risen from the dead, so heaven was not open yet).

We see this rich man in hell, seeing father Abraham, and crying out that someone be sent to his family, that they not end up in the same place.

Yes, people in hell are praying that we share the gospel with their families!

Let’s pick it up here:

Luke 16: ²⁹ Abraham saith unto him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.

³⁰ And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent.

³¹ And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

Notice what Abraham, in the afterlife said: that it is more important for people to hear the word of God, and repent, than to see miracles. In fact the implication here is strong: That if someone will not hear the word of God, even if they saw someone raised from the dead telling them of what was to come, they would not change!

So what is the moral of the story?

Simple: The gifts of the Holy Spirit, and the presence of God, will not change a human heart, unless that heart is willing to be changed.

I have heard it said:

that the only thing greater than the power of God in the earth, is the free will of man.

Saul might have been able to repent here, and be of some use to king David in his future reign, had he humbled himself, but he absolutely refused!

It eventually cost him his life, and the life of his son, and many others.

The only safe prayer I see in all of this, is the repeated theme of my life and ministry:

‘Father, please grant me purity of heart and purpose. Please open my eyes, and deliver me from my own delusions of grandeur, my will, and my way. Jesus, you are the way, please become my way, with no other agenda, no compromise. May I serve and fully obey You, in spirit and in truth, whatever the cost, for your name and honors sake, Amen’

Eagles Still Go to Church! Today!

Eagles Still Go to Church!

Luk 17:37 And they answered and said unto him, Where, Lord? And he said unto them, Wheresoever the body is, thither will the eagles be gathered together.

I like to think about this verse literally. Eagles fly alone in general, except when they find their mate, for life.

Yet, here, God calls a people to Himself, the Body of Christ, and here, in the church, the Bride of Jesus, eagles gather.

You, are a unique, privileged, child of the king, with a specific, individual destiny and calling in Him. We hear the voice of God, and soar high on the winds of His grace, Holy Spirit leading us into higher and higher levels of truth in the Word of God, in our business, our family, revelation often separating us unto God Himself, for only He who gave the insight, truly understands the incredibly complex creation that we are, and the intricacies of our lives.

Yet, we are not called to fly alone, we are part of the body of Christ. Though much of our week may be alone, in our unique calling, where the Body is, we gather.

Leaders go to church.

Ro 15:1 We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.

2 Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification.

3 For even Christ pleased not himself; but, as it is written, The reproaches of them that reproached thee fell on me.

Jesus is Lord, the ultimate leader, yet He comes to church!

Hebrews 2:12

Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

Heb 10: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

2Th 2:3 Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition;

The days of lone ranger Christianity are gone. You were not designed to walk alone, totally. You are part of the Body of Christ, and where the Body is, eagles gather…

Let’s pray:

‘Father, show me the areas I need to fly alone in life, the unique, individual plans you have for me, in this life. Yet, despite my uniqueness, you have called me to the Body of Christ, and given me a place there. Help me to find my place, and help others around me. In your name I pray Lord Jesus, Amen’

Party! Our Father is throwing a party!

Party! Our Father is throwing a party!

Ah, the age old story of ‘the prodical son’, told by Jesus Himself recorded for us in Lukes gospel, chapter 15. As I read this story again, these words leap off the page at me:

Luke 15:17 And when he came to himself…

We see there are moments in life, when a person ‘comes to themselves’, and see’s themselves from God’s perspective. At that moment, they get right with God, and the people they have been hurting…

2Ti 2:25 In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth;

26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will.

Ps 119:67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.

As we read through the Bible, we again read the story of the prodigal. The wayward son, who believed a lie, and in his passion, pride and deception, thought that he knew more than his father. He demanded his inheritance, and off he went, out into the world, to let off steam, and party. Been there done that…UGH!

While I was in the bar scene, out from my parents authority, I had a man (who later brought me to an AA meeting) who said: ‘Son, the elevator in your life, is going down, but you can get off at whatever floor you want!’

One morning, after a 40 hour week on the end of a shovel working underground in a nickle mine, I awoke with a wicked hangover, and thought about those words. Where were my friends now? Where was my paycheck from the day before? Spent mostly in the bar the night before, and I was hurting…

Seems the best we can do sometimes is speak a word of love and truth into a person’s life that is going away from God, honor, and who they were created to be.

I repeat my version of repentance. RE means: ‘to return to’. PENT actually means five, but for the sake of the illustration (its my sermon!), it makes me think of a penthouse. In elite condominiums, the penthouse is normally the most expensive lavish unit in the complex, in a motel it is often the executive or honeymoon suite, the best room in the place.

We are children of the most high God, King of the Universe. Eph 2:6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: We are not worms groveling before a Holy God, but adopted sons and daughters called to come boldly before the throne of His grace, in joy!

Repent! Come back to the High place of privilege, promise, purpose and passion!

Notice in this story of the prodigal, the father came running out to meet the son, ordered the best robe, ring, and shoes for him, and threw a party for him.

We, who come to our heavenly Father, find Him running towards us in love, covering our shame with the robe of righteousness, placing upon our finger again, the family ring of covenant and love, and covering the filthiness of our dirty feet with new shoes, the gospel of peace! As if this was not enough, He then throws a party for us!

Well, one day, when I was driving home from a dry legalistic church service, as a ministry student, I saw a carload of college students in front of me, drunk, with the windows down, hanging out of the windows, singing! Suddenly, Holy Spirit spoke to me: ‘Do you miss it?’

I was suddenly reminded of the incredible pressure of engineering school, where on a Friday night we would work as hard as we could on our computer assignment, determined to get it complete by midnight, so we could literally run across campus, run into the pub, grab a pitcher of beer, chug as much beer as possible in 5 mins to get enough courage, to run over to the table with the prettiest girls at it, and grab one, and drag her laughing unto the dance floor, where we would dance like idiots, getting the whole bar in hysterics!

I used to say, ‘You can’t make a man go through several hours of brutal swim practices, then schedule every minute of every week with classes, homework assignments, and lab reports, without it coming out somewhere. Yep, when we entered the college pub, the crowded pub would yell: “Hurray, the engineers are here!”

Well, back to my conversation with God in the car, watching the party animals in front of me. There I was, having just come out of a Bible study, in my suit and tie, and truth be told, I did miss the scene. Church was strict, dry and boring. College dances, were alive, fun, but probably very excessive.

So, I knew God knew my heart anyway, so I said: ‘Yes, Father, I do miss it, but not enough to go to hell over.”

I felt Him smile.

I thought He would change my heart, purify me, and make me no longer desire the passion of the party, but I did not yet know my Father.

Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition, when infinite joy is offered to us, like an ignorant child who wants to go on making mud pies in the slum because he cannot imagine what is meant by the offer of a holiday at the sea. We are far too easily pleased.

C.S. Lewis.

Instead of making me a dry, dead, leader, He threw me into the river of His love, being poured out in what became known as ‘The Toronto Blessing’. There I learned that when someone comes home to Him, there is a party thrown in heaven, with the best of everything supplied.

Learned to dance, shout, get insanely drunk in the Holy Spirit (He slammed me so hard one night, that me and a friend not only couldn’t walk, but the ushers had to carry us to the door. When we discovered that we still couldn’t walk, we laughed too hard, that we literally crawled a ¼ mile up the street to where our car was parked, and had to have a friend drive us back to the hotel.

Quite frankly, I miss that!

This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one: the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap, and being a force of nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances, complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.

George Bernard Shaw quoted in: Jon Johnston, Courage – You Can Stand Strong in the Face of Fear, SP Publications, 1990, p. 171.

Lu 15:7 I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance.

I want to be around the joyful, drunk in the Holy Ghost, partying, harvesting, saints of God.

To join God’s party, we need to be around where prodigals are coming home. Hey, even the guests get to drink the best wine, enjoy the best steak (they killed the fatted calf), and there is such good will flowing, you might find yourself with a couple of new sets of clothes, shoes, jewelry. Can’t count the times we would go to check out of the motel, to discover that some other holy drunk, had picked up our tab, and paid our rooms. Fathers will, is Father’s bill!

Our Father is throwing extravagant parties all over the world, serving the best wine during these last days. Places of crazy, stupid drunken Holy Ghost joy, and extravagant grace, where free favors from heaven abound.

Last year I attended #AzuzaNow, hosted by Lou Engles in Los Angeles. 3 days drive each way, for a couple days of poured out weeping, dancing, shouting, drunken laughter in the Holy Spirit, crying out that God have mercy and spare the United States again…Jas 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

Watching my daughter dancing before the Lord I see her joy: the kingdom of God is a party, if you are getting your job done, seeing the prodigals coming home!

May you get drunk today! Crazy, stupid, falling down, insanely laughing drunk in the Holy Ghost, today!

Tomorrow night, I get to attend ‘Night to Honor Israel’ here at Victory Christian Center here in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Got to thinking about the Old Testament passage:

Deuteronomy 14:²⁶ Use the silver to buy whatever you like: cattle, sheep, wine or other fermented drink, or anything you wish. Then you and your household shall eat there in the presence of the Lord your God and rejoice

Get a harvest mindset, and it will happen. Share the gospel with someone, pray with a stranger, hand out a tract, and watch how quickly joy begins to well up again in your heart. Giving is the nature of Jesus, for God so loved the world that He gave…

Jesus will sing and dance with us in it!

Heb 2:12 Saying, I will declare thy name unto my brethren, in the midst of the church will I sing praise unto thee.

“Father, throw me into the river of your love, your harvest, your joy, the river of life, abundance, refreshing, and extravagant grace! Teach me how to dance, sing, shout, and rejoice before you, as the prodigals come home, and the lost get saved. Come on Jesus, let’s dance!”

 

And God spoke to Cyrus…

God is ruler of the nations!

As I read these passages, thoughts flood my mind:

2 Chron 36:21 To fulfill the word of the LORD by the mouth of Jeremiah until the land had enjoyed her sabbaths: for as long as she lay desolate she kept the sabbath, to fulfill threescore and ten years.

22 ¶ Now in the first year of Cyrus king of Persia, that the word of the LORD spoken by the mouth of Jeremiah might be accomplished, the LORD stirred up the spirit of Cyrus king of Persia, that he made a proclamation throughout all his kingdom, and put it also in writing, saying,

23 Thus saith Cyrus king of Persia, All the kingdoms of the earth hath the LORD God of heaven given me; and he hath charged me to build him a house in Jerusalem, which is in Judah. Who is there among you of all his people? The LORD his God be with him, and let him go up.

Notice here, that Cyrus, was not an Israelite, nor in covenant with God, yet God spoke to Him, and Cyrus knew His voice.

Ac 2:17 And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh:

This is clear, God will pour out His Spirit on all people, not just Christians, and Jews. Two things will result:

1. People will recognize His voice, and will either accept or reject Jesus, 1Ti 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;

When people do this, they will be given eternal life. For those who reject this, they will be eternally damned:

Mt 7:23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

Mt 25:41 Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

42 For I was an hungered, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink:

43 I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not.

44 Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungered, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee?

45 Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.

46 And these shall go away into everlasting punishment: but the righteous into life eternal.

2. He will move the nations into His fulfillment of end time prophecy, speaking to leaders either blessing or cursing of their nation. Many of these leaders are not in covenant with Him, but He will speak to them anyway because He is Lord of Heaven and Earth.

Mt 25:32 And before him shall be gathered all nations: and he shall separate them one from another, as a shepherd divideth his sheep from the goats:

I originally wrote this in 2012, and stumbled across it today, as I thought about the background of our President, Donald Trump. Could he be the Cyrus God has raised up, for such a time as this, to bring this nation into order, and to see Jerusalem established before the nations of the earth, as the city of God, the capital of the whole earth?

Let’s Pray:

‘Father God, speak to me today. May I be found pleasing in your sight, in both thought and deed. May I use all my influence, prayer, and work, to cause this nation, to be a sheep nation in your sight, that we may be blessed with your hand, both in this life and in eternity. Amen’