On Monday, President Ahmadinejad will visit the United Nations in New York City to give a speech, possibly (likely) including a denunciation of Israel.
A prophesy...
A wicked man, this Prince of Persia, asks for a sign, yet none will be given him except the sign of Daniel. For as Daniel was cast by the Prince of Persia into the lion's pit, so Israel will, for a night, be cast into the darkness. With confidence and peace, Daniel (Israel) will rest in the night, in the darkness, with the assurance that God is present and will protect Him from the lions. That same night, the Prince of Persia will neither eat nor sleep nor be entertained, for the fate of Daniel will lie heavy upon him.
I tell you the Lion of Judah is mightier than the Lions of Babylon, of Persia, and of those who would seek Daniel's harm.
The Prince of Persia will stand, awaiting the coming morn, waiting to learn the fate of the man Daniel, whom he had cast into the lion's pit. When the sun has risen, and the pit uncovered, the Prince of Persia will see with his own eyes the Glory of God shown through the life of Daniel.
Then may the Prince of Persia declare: "I issue a decree that in every part of my kingdom people must fear and reverence the God of Daniel. For He is the Living God and He endures forever; His kingdom will not be destroyed, His dominion will never end. He rescues and He saves; He performs signs and wonders in the Heavens and on the Earth. He has rescued Daniel from the power of the lions."
Let it be. Amen.
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Monday, September 10, 2007
All your heart...
You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. Jeremiah 29:13
With all your heart... You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart...
Question... What happens when you don't seek Him with all your heart? What happens when you seek God with only part of your heart? Will you find Him? Will you find God? Or will you find god? What are you searching for? Really, what are you searching for? The god you settle for is the god you will have. What is your heart's desire? Is it something less than God? If it is, you will not find Him, only something less than. Something less than...
Will you settle for something less than God?
Or will you seek him with all of your heart?
With all your heart... You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart...
Question... What happens when you don't seek Him with all your heart? What happens when you seek God with only part of your heart? Will you find Him? Will you find God? Or will you find god? What are you searching for? Really, what are you searching for? The god you settle for is the god you will have. What is your heart's desire? Is it something less than God? If it is, you will not find Him, only something less than. Something less than...
Will you settle for something less than God?
Or will you seek him with all of your heart?
An Interpretation
So I have never been able to interpret tongues, but on Sunday I thought I could. I heard this (not verbatim, but close)...
Come. Come to me. Come home, my son, my Prodigal son. The feast awaits. The celebration awaits. You need only come home. Stop wasting your life in the cares of the world. Stop throwing away your inheritance on the dust of the Earth. It is meaningless, I tell you.
Come home. You are welcome here. Don't doubt it. Though you have been condemned by the world and by yourself, I do not condemn you. Come home. You need only be within sight... A spot on the horizon... And I will run to you. It is time for you to come home! The celebration awaits!
Come. Come to me. Come home, my son, my Prodigal son. The feast awaits. The celebration awaits. You need only come home. Stop wasting your life in the cares of the world. Stop throwing away your inheritance on the dust of the Earth. It is meaningless, I tell you.
Come home. You are welcome here. Don't doubt it. Though you have been condemned by the world and by yourself, I do not condemn you. Come home. You need only be within sight... A spot on the horizon... And I will run to you. It is time for you to come home! The celebration awaits!
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Risk
A silly blog...
What are you willing to risk to get all that you ever dreamed of?
Life is like a box of chocolates... Errr... Life is like the game of Risk. You versus the Enemy. Everything's already been set up.... Your pieces have been put into position, so have his. The game has already begun. But do you realize it?
The enemy's strategy is ruthless, trying to take advantage of the weak points in your defense. He advances; you draw back. Far too often when the Enemy attacks, we become fixated on the point of attack rather than realize that he has left himself open to a counterattack in another location. The Enemy often desires to drive a dagger deep into your territory, which he does for a time, only on the next turn to have you regain your position with little difficulty. But is the wound still there?
Sometimes we may think we are "all that." We ourselves may try to advance deep into enemy territory to make a great impact for the Kingdom, but if we do so without patience, perseverance, and power, it will all be for nought. The Enemy. on his turn, could send us reeling. We must wait... We must build up our defenses and manpower. We must look past the small encounters, the battles in life, to see a grander picture of the war we are in and set a larger goal for ourselves. Only then can we move forward, with God's empowering, to make a steady advance against the Enemy and drive him to defeat. But this one issue remains... Can we conquer our own mindsets first?
We need to wait patiently, building up our strength, building up knowledge, learning wisdom. Then we will be able to step out in authority to make firm advances against the Enemy on multiple fronts until the final day comes when the Enemy is defeated once and for all.
What are you willing to risk to get all that you ever dreamed of?
Life is like a box of chocolates... Errr... Life is like the game of Risk. You versus the Enemy. Everything's already been set up.... Your pieces have been put into position, so have his. The game has already begun. But do you realize it?
The enemy's strategy is ruthless, trying to take advantage of the weak points in your defense. He advances; you draw back. Far too often when the Enemy attacks, we become fixated on the point of attack rather than realize that he has left himself open to a counterattack in another location. The Enemy often desires to drive a dagger deep into your territory, which he does for a time, only on the next turn to have you regain your position with little difficulty. But is the wound still there?
Sometimes we may think we are "all that." We ourselves may try to advance deep into enemy territory to make a great impact for the Kingdom, but if we do so without patience, perseverance, and power, it will all be for nought. The Enemy. on his turn, could send us reeling. We must wait... We must build up our defenses and manpower. We must look past the small encounters, the battles in life, to see a grander picture of the war we are in and set a larger goal for ourselves. Only then can we move forward, with God's empowering, to make a steady advance against the Enemy and drive him to defeat. But this one issue remains... Can we conquer our own mindsets first?
We need to wait patiently, building up our strength, building up knowledge, learning wisdom. Then we will be able to step out in authority to make firm advances against the Enemy on multiple fronts until the final day comes when the Enemy is defeated once and for all.
Monday, August 6, 2007
Shaking
I don't know what this means yet. I haven't delved into it as I should. The Lord said:
Shake the Earth, Shake the Heavens.
What does it take, Lord? What can we do?
A prayer:
Lord, I come this day and claim spiritual authority in Jesus' name over the very ground on which my feet stand. I cry out, with Creation, with the dirt and the rocks and the bugs and the grass and the trees and the animals. I say shake what must be shaken! Let us cry out in praise to our God and King! Let the Heavens shake with this resounding cry of praise from this place! Let the cry never stop. Let praise arise! Let your worshippers arise! Let a new song go forth! Let the song You sang over us at creation be heard once again in this land!
Shake the Earth, Shake the Heavens.
What does it take, Lord? What can we do?
A prayer:
Lord, I come this day and claim spiritual authority in Jesus' name over the very ground on which my feet stand. I cry out, with Creation, with the dirt and the rocks and the bugs and the grass and the trees and the animals. I say shake what must be shaken! Let us cry out in praise to our God and King! Let the Heavens shake with this resounding cry of praise from this place! Let the cry never stop. Let praise arise! Let your worshippers arise! Let a new song go forth! Let the song You sang over us at creation be heard once again in this land!
Everest
The Lord has frequently brought me back to this same picture of my spiritual journey, that of my ascent up a hill or mountain... Previously, I've drawn really deep pictures of the Cross sitting atop Golgotha with my footprints in the mud and muck leading up to the foot of the Cross. Since then, I've had a little bit different picture of a mountain, not much different from a hill only more difficult and more deadly. Gosh! Anyways, in these pictures of me on this mountain, I've had at different times had pictures of myself stuck on the side of a cliff, unable to go higher but unable to climb back down. There have been at times different paths up the mountain, as any mountain climber would know. On Mt. Everest for example, there are multiple tracks climbers can take up to the summit, each one with it's own challenges and obstacles and time frame with which you reach the peak. There have been storms come against me in the midst of the climb. There have been avalanches knocking me back down. There has been a river coming out of the mountain I've had to trudge through, all on my ascent to the summit.
Everybody has different mountains they climb. Mountains of personal accomplishment, of financial freedom, of religious fervor even... But these are the Kilimanjaros, the McKinleys, the T2s... Great feats and difficult mountains to climb, yet there is a mountain yet to be conquered. This is the mountain of your (and my) spiritual journey. It is our Everest. There is nothing greater in all the world. No higher accomplishment can be attained on Earth.
What's is God's goal for our lives? That we may ever rest. That we may Everest. (Sorry for the pun.) That we may come to the end of ourselves to find, in what remains, God in His Glory revealed in our lives.
I've been given this picture of me as a little boy finally pulling myself up and on top of the final ledge and then running into the arms of my Father Jesus.
I've also long held that the summit of my Everest will be where Earth and Heaven meet, very literally. I have pictured myself stepping off the top of the mountain into the clouds, into Heaven. I've pictured myself after the ascent is complete, after the embrace with the King, then turning back toward Earth with a legion of Angels at my command, ready to wage war against the Enemy of my Soul and his minions.
I can't wait for that day to come.
Everybody has different mountains they climb. Mountains of personal accomplishment, of financial freedom, of religious fervor even... But these are the Kilimanjaros, the McKinleys, the T2s... Great feats and difficult mountains to climb, yet there is a mountain yet to be conquered. This is the mountain of your (and my) spiritual journey. It is our Everest. There is nothing greater in all the world. No higher accomplishment can be attained on Earth.
What's is God's goal for our lives? That we may ever rest. That we may Everest. (Sorry for the pun.) That we may come to the end of ourselves to find, in what remains, God in His Glory revealed in our lives.
I've been given this picture of me as a little boy finally pulling myself up and on top of the final ledge and then running into the arms of my Father Jesus.
I've also long held that the summit of my Everest will be where Earth and Heaven meet, very literally. I have pictured myself stepping off the top of the mountain into the clouds, into Heaven. I've pictured myself after the ascent is complete, after the embrace with the King, then turning back toward Earth with a legion of Angels at my command, ready to wage war against the Enemy of my Soul and his minions.
I can't wait for that day to come.
Sunday, July 15, 2007
High Places
Why has the Lord decreed disaster against America? First, there was the idolatry in the people's lives individually. Our own personal sin.
Second is the establishment of high places. For a definition, a high place in the Old Testament was general a hill or mountain or in some cases a man-made construction such as a tower or temple where there was worship and sacrifice. Generally, a high place is referred to negatively as a place of corporate established idol worship. Corporate in that it is a particular sin or idol that has affected a large number of people and has a foothold in their lives. Established in that the world system has made a way for the sin or idol to at least maintain itself if not grow in its influence over the population. For many, the sin/idol has become somehow acceptable, tolerable, or unchangeable. Idol worship in that it is something we very literally bow down to hoping to attain some form of usually material blessing. And the people would make sacrifices to their idols at these high places.
They have built the high places of Topheth (literally "altar") in the Valley of Ben Hinnom to burn their sons and daughters in the fire—something I did not command, nor did it enter my mind. This generation has sacrificed its son and its daughters on the altar of __________. Name your idol. Sexual "freedom." Personal security. Independence.
Jeremiah 7 continues on to describe the results of the establishment of high places. "I will bring an end to the sounds of joy and gladness and to the voices of bride and bridegroom in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem, for the land will become desolate." No joy. No gladness. Again, with abortion in the land, the voice of the bride is unable to cry out. Due to abortion, many believe the voice of the bridegroom stands silent until justice once again reigns in the land. Due to the high places, the land has become Desolate.
We need watchmen on the wall in this hour. Only then will the prophecy of Isaiah 62 come to fruition. "No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be married."
Revival and Transformation begin with the destruction of the high places, the places of corporate established idol worship. Then and only then will the voice of the Bride cry out for her King. Only then will the voice of the Bridegroom be heard again in the land calling to His Beloved. Only then will the land become fruitful again. Only then will there be Transformation.
Second is the establishment of high places. For a definition, a high place in the Old Testament was general a hill or mountain or in some cases a man-made construction such as a tower or temple where there was worship and sacrifice. Generally, a high place is referred to negatively as a place of corporate established idol worship. Corporate in that it is a particular sin or idol that has affected a large number of people and has a foothold in their lives. Established in that the world system has made a way for the sin or idol to at least maintain itself if not grow in its influence over the population. For many, the sin/idol has become somehow acceptable, tolerable, or unchangeable. Idol worship in that it is something we very literally bow down to hoping to attain some form of usually material blessing. And the people would make sacrifices to their idols at these high places.
They have built the high places of Topheth (literally "altar") in the Valley of Ben Hinnom to burn their sons and daughters in the fire—something I did not command, nor did it enter my mind. This generation has sacrificed its son and its daughters on the altar of __________. Name your idol. Sexual "freedom." Personal security. Independence.
Jeremiah 7 continues on to describe the results of the establishment of high places. "I will bring an end to the sounds of joy and gladness and to the voices of bride and bridegroom in the towns of Judah and the streets of Jerusalem, for the land will become desolate." No joy. No gladness. Again, with abortion in the land, the voice of the bride is unable to cry out. Due to abortion, many believe the voice of the bridegroom stands silent until justice once again reigns in the land. Due to the high places, the land has become Desolate.
We need watchmen on the wall in this hour. Only then will the prophecy of Isaiah 62 come to fruition. "No longer will they call you Deserted, or name your land Desolate. But you will be called Hephzibah, and your land Beulah; for the LORD will take delight in you, and your land will be married."
Revival and Transformation begin with the destruction of the high places, the places of corporate established idol worship. Then and only then will the voice of the Bride cry out for her King. Only then will the voice of the Bridegroom be heard again in the land calling to His Beloved. Only then will the land become fruitful again. Only then will there be Transformation.
Saturday, July 14, 2007
Jeremiah 16, Part 3
"When you tell these people all this and they ask you, 'Why has the LORD decreed such a great disaster against us? What wrong have we done? What sin have we committed against the LORD our God?' then say to them, 'It is because your fathers forsook me,' declares the LORD, 'and followed other gods and served and worshiped them. They forsook me and did not keep my law."
Who or What have we to blame for the coming disaster? A part of it, I believe, is generational sin. 40 years ago was the "Summer of Love," marked by the release of Sgt. Pepper's, the Beatle's best-selling album. It was a season marked by drunkenness, debauchery, and self-indulgence, a time of turning to sex, drugs, music... A generation would be marked and marred by its idol worship. Yet it is not their sin itself that would be the issue, but the fact that it has been promulgated. Jesus said, "Whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven." Jeremiah 16 continues, "But you (the next generation...) you have behaved even more wickedly than your fathers. See how each of you is following the stubbornness of his evil heart instead of obeying me.
What began as idol worship has led to so much more. Sexual "freedom" has led to a billion-dollar porn industry to which millions of men across our nation are addicted. The divorce rate stands at 31% and, according to some polls, is greater in the church than it is outside the church. The desire for professional success and material gain has made children a burden, a ball and chain around your ankle hindering your progress up the ladder of success. Thus, they are "prevented" using condoms or, when that doesn't work, they are "disposed of" through abortion. All for the comfort and convenience of (1) being able to have sex whenever, wherever, with whomever you want and/or (2) being able to climb the ladder of success, gaining "independence," self-sufficiency and material possessions. It is humanism to its greatest degree... Sex exists for the happiness of man. Drugs exist for the happiness of man. Music exists for the happiness of man. To many of this generation, even God exists for the happiness of man. To those, God is there to serve our needs and to give us what we think we are lacking to live the perfect life.
NO.
We exist to love, adore, worship and serve a living God who is altogether worthy to be loved, adored, worshiped, and served. The end of all creation is the glory of God.
Why has disaster been decreed against America? Because we have claimed the glory of God as the glory of Man. Our fathers prostituted themselves but, moreso, we have prostituted ourselves. We have delved even deeper than they into their idolatry. We of this generation like our sin and want to wallow in it.
No more!!
It is a time of turning. It is a time to rend our hearts, not our garments. Let us turn... to each other, to the Lord... now, while He may still relent...
Let the Call go forth!!
Who or What have we to blame for the coming disaster? A part of it, I believe, is generational sin. 40 years ago was the "Summer of Love," marked by the release of Sgt. Pepper's, the Beatle's best-selling album. It was a season marked by drunkenness, debauchery, and self-indulgence, a time of turning to sex, drugs, music... A generation would be marked and marred by its idol worship. Yet it is not their sin itself that would be the issue, but the fact that it has been promulgated. Jesus said, "Whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven." Jeremiah 16 continues, "But you (the next generation...) you have behaved even more wickedly than your fathers. See how each of you is following the stubbornness of his evil heart instead of obeying me.
What began as idol worship has led to so much more. Sexual "freedom" has led to a billion-dollar porn industry to which millions of men across our nation are addicted. The divorce rate stands at 31% and, according to some polls, is greater in the church than it is outside the church. The desire for professional success and material gain has made children a burden, a ball and chain around your ankle hindering your progress up the ladder of success. Thus, they are "prevented" using condoms or, when that doesn't work, they are "disposed of" through abortion. All for the comfort and convenience of (1) being able to have sex whenever, wherever, with whomever you want and/or (2) being able to climb the ladder of success, gaining "independence," self-sufficiency and material possessions. It is humanism to its greatest degree... Sex exists for the happiness of man. Drugs exist for the happiness of man. Music exists for the happiness of man. To many of this generation, even God exists for the happiness of man. To those, God is there to serve our needs and to give us what we think we are lacking to live the perfect life.
NO.
We exist to love, adore, worship and serve a living God who is altogether worthy to be loved, adored, worshiped, and served. The end of all creation is the glory of God.
Why has disaster been decreed against America? Because we have claimed the glory of God as the glory of Man. Our fathers prostituted themselves but, moreso, we have prostituted ourselves. We have delved even deeper than they into their idolatry. We of this generation like our sin and want to wallow in it.
No more!!
It is a time of turning. It is a time to rend our hearts, not our garments. Let us turn... to each other, to the Lord... now, while He may still relent...
Let the Call go forth!!
Jeremiah 16 continued...
"Why has the Lord decreed such a great disaster against us? What wrong have we done? What sin have we committed against the Lord?"
Disaster has been decreed against America. Yet, the Lord has directed us to pray NOW while He may relent. "Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity." There have been prophetic words spoken about various cities and states in our nation. Just last week, Bridget was awoken in the middle of the night and directed to intercede for the state of California. Previously to this, several people have been given visions of two cities being destroyed by events that would be interpreted by the world as acts of terrorism but would, to God, be acts of judgment against America. Some have not had the cities disclosed to them, some have. Washington D.C. and New York City. The centers of law and government and of the economy. It is sooo significant, I believe, the coming DC Call on 8/8/08. I believe it will be the last chance the government as it stands now will have the opportunity to turn and repent before the coming disaster. Yes, I am speaking specifically about abortion. Judgment has been decreed against America because of the persistence of injustice in the land (i.e. abortion) as well as the idolatry of economic/material prosperity symbolized by Wall Street and the numerous steel high-rises lining the New York City skyline.
It is a testament to how much the church in America is like the church of Laodicea. That church, if you know history, was so wealthy that even after an "act of God" a.k.a. a volcano eruption that covered the entire city in ash, the Laodiceans were completely able on their own to rebuild their city. They did so without God. I stand here watching as plans are being made not to simply rebuild the Towers but to build even a taller building with a 1776 foot spire - a testament to America's defiant attitude toward God, oops I meant terrorism. After 9/11, there was a boon of church attendance for approximately two weeks, after which people went back to their old ways and patterns. There continues to be no sustained church growth in the United States to this day.
Where has the joy gone? Where is the voice of the bride? When will the bridegroom come?
Disaster has been decreed. The need for the watchmen on the wall is great, greater than it ever has been. Time is short, Pray hard.
"Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing."
Disaster has been decreed against America. Yet, the Lord has directed us to pray NOW while He may relent. "Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity." There have been prophetic words spoken about various cities and states in our nation. Just last week, Bridget was awoken in the middle of the night and directed to intercede for the state of California. Previously to this, several people have been given visions of two cities being destroyed by events that would be interpreted by the world as acts of terrorism but would, to God, be acts of judgment against America. Some have not had the cities disclosed to them, some have. Washington D.C. and New York City. The centers of law and government and of the economy. It is sooo significant, I believe, the coming DC Call on 8/8/08. I believe it will be the last chance the government as it stands now will have the opportunity to turn and repent before the coming disaster. Yes, I am speaking specifically about abortion. Judgment has been decreed against America because of the persistence of injustice in the land (i.e. abortion) as well as the idolatry of economic/material prosperity symbolized by Wall Street and the numerous steel high-rises lining the New York City skyline.
It is a testament to how much the church in America is like the church of Laodicea. That church, if you know history, was so wealthy that even after an "act of God" a.k.a. a volcano eruption that covered the entire city in ash, the Laodiceans were completely able on their own to rebuild their city. They did so without God. I stand here watching as plans are being made not to simply rebuild the Towers but to build even a taller building with a 1776 foot spire - a testament to America's defiant attitude toward God, oops I meant terrorism. After 9/11, there was a boon of church attendance for approximately two weeks, after which people went back to their old ways and patterns. There continues to be no sustained church growth in the United States to this day.
Where has the joy gone? Where is the voice of the bride? When will the bridegroom come?
Disaster has been decreed. The need for the watchmen on the wall is great, greater than it ever has been. Time is short, Pray hard.
"Who knows? He may turn and have pity and leave behind a blessing."
Monday, July 9, 2007
Bride and Bridegroom
For this is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Before your eyes and in your days I will bring an end to the sounds of joy and gladness and to the voices of bride and bridegroom in this place.
This is where America is at today. Where is our joy? Where is our gladness? More importantly, where has the voice of the Bride gone? I think people don't understand the necessity of bridal intercession. It's a far cry from the servant intercession we have now. We stand feeling afraid, undeserving, unloved and at the mercy of a "Master" who could kick us out to the curb at any time for any reason. We feel we do not meet the standards we believe He has for us. We classify ourselves as second-, third-, or some lower class undeserving to sit at the Master's table. Like in Braveheart, we have spent too much time fighting for the scraps (the bits and pieces we are "lucky" enough to get) from the King's table to figure out that God wants to give us so much more! How long will it take of the "scraps" before we figure out that the feast has been prepared especially even for us, His Bride.
In that day, they will no longer call me "my master" but will call me "my husband."
What we need most in America today is the voice of the Bride crying out to her Bridegroom, and her Bridegroom hearing her, turning toward her, and coming closer to her! When the Bride cries out, what will the Bridegroom say? Will He say anything? Will He cry over us? Will He sing over us? Will He say His marriage vows to us?
This is where America is at today. Where is our joy? Where is our gladness? More importantly, where has the voice of the Bride gone? I think people don't understand the necessity of bridal intercession. It's a far cry from the servant intercession we have now. We stand feeling afraid, undeserving, unloved and at the mercy of a "Master" who could kick us out to the curb at any time for any reason. We feel we do not meet the standards we believe He has for us. We classify ourselves as second-, third-, or some lower class undeserving to sit at the Master's table. Like in Braveheart, we have spent too much time fighting for the scraps (the bits and pieces we are "lucky" enough to get) from the King's table to figure out that God wants to give us so much more! How long will it take of the "scraps" before we figure out that the feast has been prepared especially even for us, His Bride.
In that day, they will no longer call me "my master" but will call me "my husband."
What we need most in America today is the voice of the Bride crying out to her Bridegroom, and her Bridegroom hearing her, turning toward her, and coming closer to her! When the Bride cries out, what will the Bridegroom say? Will He say anything? Will He cry over us? Will He sing over us? Will He say His marriage vows to us?
Woe is me!
Woe is me.
I did not go to The Call. I wanted to go but couldn't. Things came up, the money wasn't there... So I missed it. Not even having talked to many of the people who went, I feel like I've missed out (which I have). Oh well...
I did not go to The Call. I wanted to go but couldn't. Things came up, the money wasn't there... So I missed it. Not even having talked to many of the people who went, I feel like I've missed out (which I have). Oh well...
Nerd?
Okay, for comparison sake, I took the test...
So there you go. I am nerdier than y'all, which I knew anyways...
So there you go. I am nerdier than y'all, which I knew anyways...
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
The Joshua Generation
We are the Joshua Generation...
In 40 years, where have we come from? How did we get here? More importantly, where are we going? We are the Joshua Generation, the generation after, the children of the promise... We stand and we honor our forefathers, the Moses Generation, the generation that led the people out of bondage in the land of Egypt... But for 40 years, under your leadership, Moses, we have continued to wander in the desert. We have been a stubborn, obstinate people and for 40 years we have continued to wander to and fro searching... Searching for what? We don't really know...
Now, our time has time. The wandering in the desert has come to an end. "In the desert, prepare ye the way of the Lord." We, the Joshua Generation, shall now arise... We, a generation dedicated to the One Thing... We, the people who, when Moses left the Tabernacle, would linger still more in the presence of the Holy God. We, the Joshua Generation, who bring back the good report, of a vast land flowing with milk and honey. We declare we are children of the promise... The land is ours for the taking... With our God leading us, who can be against us?
In 40 years, where have we come from? How did we get here? More importantly, where are we going? We are the Joshua Generation, the generation after, the children of the promise... We stand and we honor our forefathers, the Moses Generation, the generation that led the people out of bondage in the land of Egypt... But for 40 years, under your leadership, Moses, we have continued to wander in the desert. We have been a stubborn, obstinate people and for 40 years we have continued to wander to and fro searching... Searching for what? We don't really know...
Now, our time has time. The wandering in the desert has come to an end. "In the desert, prepare ye the way of the Lord." We, the Joshua Generation, shall now arise... We, a generation dedicated to the One Thing... We, the people who, when Moses left the Tabernacle, would linger still more in the presence of the Holy God. We, the Joshua Generation, who bring back the good report, of a vast land flowing with milk and honey. We declare we are children of the promise... The land is ours for the taking... With our God leading us, who can be against us?
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Fuego
I've had previous I guess you could call them visions... Just pictures of me seeing myself in different ways. At the One Thing Conference, I had these visions of oil on my hands and then visions of myself as ball of fire as I knelt down and prayed, and the more I prayed the more intense the fire got...
Well, add to that this:
I have seen the Lord essentially raining down literal fire from heaven. As I held my hands up, palms open, I saw fireballs in my hands. Again, as I continued to pray, they grew bigger and more intense until the point where there was literally a whirlwind of fire in each of my hands stretching into the sky toward Heaven. That's all with my hands pointed upward. Then I turned my hands down or horizontal and these whirlwinds of fire swirled around the room where we were located. And the whirlwinds continued to wrap around the room, twisting and rolling around until the entire room was caught up in the holy fire.
Can you feel the fire around you even now? Can you? It's there and it's real. Just close your eyes. Feel the warmth on your cheeks and forehead. See, even with your eyes closed, the bright white light that would blind you if you dared open your eyes. Allow it to burn you, to burn in you, to shine from your very core out, leaving no space hidden, no dark corner, in you. Feel the fire in your bones. Feel yourself shake. Feel yourself tremble. Capture the moment... Capture that essence... Feel the fire consume you even now... It wants to... Just let it...
Who can dwell with the consuming fire? Who can last with everlasting burning?
"Fuego!"
Well, add to that this:
I have seen the Lord essentially raining down literal fire from heaven. As I held my hands up, palms open, I saw fireballs in my hands. Again, as I continued to pray, they grew bigger and more intense until the point where there was literally a whirlwind of fire in each of my hands stretching into the sky toward Heaven. That's all with my hands pointed upward. Then I turned my hands down or horizontal and these whirlwinds of fire swirled around the room where we were located. And the whirlwinds continued to wrap around the room, twisting and rolling around until the entire room was caught up in the holy fire.
Can you feel the fire around you even now? Can you? It's there and it's real. Just close your eyes. Feel the warmth on your cheeks and forehead. See, even with your eyes closed, the bright white light that would blind you if you dared open your eyes. Allow it to burn you, to burn in you, to shine from your very core out, leaving no space hidden, no dark corner, in you. Feel the fire in your bones. Feel yourself shake. Feel yourself tremble. Capture the moment... Capture that essence... Feel the fire consume you even now... It wants to... Just let it...
Who can dwell with the consuming fire? Who can last with everlasting burning?
"Fuego!"
Monday, June 11, 2007
A Prophecy
And the Lord said...
At the end of the age, the Holy Spirit shall cover the Earth as the waters cover the sea...
We are the Noah generation...
The Spirit of the Lord says... Before the end comes... Before the Great Outpouring... You will witness a foretaste of glory divine. For before the end comes upon the entire Earth, it will come upon you, Fort Wayne...
For 150 days... As the rain came in the days of Noah, so the Spirit will come down upon you, Fort Wayne... For 150 days, the Spirit will cover every corner of the city, every tower, every street, every church, every house, every burrough, every hidden place... the Spirit will be over all and in all...
You, my beloved, Church of Fort Wayne... You will witness this...
In that day, you shall ask and it shall be given...
You shall not need to seek, for the Lord will be found everywhere.
You shall not need to knock, for every door will be open, for the Lord will be in all.
In that day, a new song will arise from Fort Wayne...
New Tongues will be spoken yet all will understand... The sick shall be healed... The lame shall dance before the Throne... The blind shall see the Lord's Beauty... The mute shall sing His Praises... The dead will rise...
All at the name of the One...
Yeshua
So shall it be for 150 days...
When will it begin? May be today...
At the end of the age, the Holy Spirit shall cover the Earth as the waters cover the sea...
We are the Noah generation...
The Spirit of the Lord says... Before the end comes... Before the Great Outpouring... You will witness a foretaste of glory divine. For before the end comes upon the entire Earth, it will come upon you, Fort Wayne...
For 150 days... As the rain came in the days of Noah, so the Spirit will come down upon you, Fort Wayne... For 150 days, the Spirit will cover every corner of the city, every tower, every street, every church, every house, every burrough, every hidden place... the Spirit will be over all and in all...
You, my beloved, Church of Fort Wayne... You will witness this...
In that day, you shall ask and it shall be given...
You shall not need to seek, for the Lord will be found everywhere.
You shall not need to knock, for every door will be open, for the Lord will be in all.
In that day, a new song will arise from Fort Wayne...
New Tongues will be spoken yet all will understand... The sick shall be healed... The lame shall dance before the Throne... The blind shall see the Lord's Beauty... The mute shall sing His Praises... The dead will rise...
All at the name of the One...
Yeshua
So shall it be for 150 days...
When will it begin? May be today...
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Holy Spirit Fire
Isaiah 32
In that day, the fortress will be abandoned, the noisy city deserted; citadel and watchtower will be a wasteland forever...
That is, Till the Spirit is poured upon us from on high.
Then, the desert will become a fertile field, and the fertile field a forest. Justice will dwell in the desert and righteousness live in the fertile field. The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.
I'm just going to leave this like this. There's more that I don't know if I'm allowed to share it yet. Yeah... Just wait... The Spirit is coming...
In that day, the fortress will be abandoned, the noisy city deserted; citadel and watchtower will be a wasteland forever...
That is, Till the Spirit is poured upon us from on high.
Then, the desert will become a fertile field, and the fertile field a forest. Justice will dwell in the desert and righteousness live in the fertile field. The fruit of righteousness will be peace; the effect of righteousness will be quietness and confidence forever.
I'm just going to leave this like this. There's more that I don't know if I'm allowed to share it yet. Yeah... Just wait... The Spirit is coming...
Tuesday, May 8, 2007
Cleansing the Rivers
Disclaimer: I do not claim to be a prophet.
Journal Entry from 5/5/07
Re: The Prophetic Act of Cleansing the Waters (throwing the salt into the three rivers)
I saw... as the salt hit the water, I saw what appeared to be a vortex shoot up out of the water. Each salt grain became an angel that shot upward toward Heaven out of the rivers. They formed a vortex at the confluence of the rivers. Oh the power of the vortex! It was drawing in... sucking in... the demonic spirits that had existed in the waters in Fort Wayne. The Lord said the waters were cleansed this day.
But Lo!, He says. The Lord's work is not complete with just the cleansing of the rivers; His desire is the cleansing of the entire city. The vortex did not disappear or dissipate after the cleansing of the rivers; it is still there. The city will reap the whirlwind of the Lord's cleansing. This will mean destruction to every part of the city that is not His. It will mean destruction to more of the city than you think. I tell you this so you will be prepared. Do not be offended by the work I will do. For I will do this. I will cleanse the city for My glory.
Journal Entry from 5/5/07
Re: The Prophetic Act of Cleansing the Waters (throwing the salt into the three rivers)
I saw... as the salt hit the water, I saw what appeared to be a vortex shoot up out of the water. Each salt grain became an angel that shot upward toward Heaven out of the rivers. They formed a vortex at the confluence of the rivers. Oh the power of the vortex! It was drawing in... sucking in... the demonic spirits that had existed in the waters in Fort Wayne. The Lord said the waters were cleansed this day.
But Lo!, He says. The Lord's work is not complete with just the cleansing of the rivers; His desire is the cleansing of the entire city. The vortex did not disappear or dissipate after the cleansing of the rivers; it is still there. The city will reap the whirlwind of the Lord's cleansing. This will mean destruction to every part of the city that is not His. It will mean destruction to more of the city than you think. I tell you this so you will be prepared. Do not be offended by the work I will do. For I will do this. I will cleanse the city for My glory.
Saturday, May 5, 2007
Three Rivers Accords
Preface: Tonight, we prayed over the rivers in Fort Wayne as a spiritual and prophetic act of cleansing and healing the land. Across the country, groups met to conduct similar prayer meetings. We met at Headwaters Park at the place where the St. Mary's, St. Joseph's, and Maumee rivers intersect.
So what happened: We were praying (that' s what we do). I kept hearing this same phrase over and over and over and over again in my head. A cord of three strands is not easily broken. A cord of three strands is not easily broken. So I thought, okay, Lord, we're here standing before the confluence of three rivers in the heart of Fort Wayne. Three strands coming together. This is pretty cool. But that ws SOOO not it... We began praying for reconciliation between the white man and the native peoples of the region. We repented for the sins of our forefathers, those who made and broke treaties with the Miami tribe and who did such terrible deeds in the name of Jesus. I'm still hearing... A cord of three strands is not easily broken. A cord of three strands is not easily broken. Then I hear this: An accord of three strands is not easily broken. An accord of three strands? An accord is a synonym of treaty. An accord / treaty made of three strands woven together will not be broken. A real, true, honest accord of the white man, the native peoples, and Yahweh will not be broken. Man cannot do this on his own... The efforts of man are fallible and inevitably fail because we are all sinners. But with GOD, all things are possible. The Lord says, An accord (treaty) of three strands (white man, native peoples, and Yahweh) will NOT be broken.
What does this mean?: Question... what would be the spiritual significance of a treaty signing between the spiritual leadership of the Church of Fort Wayne and the spiritual leadership of the Miami peoples? I'm not talking anything at all political. I don't want any news agency involved though I believe it would be a historic day. What would it be like? Can you imagine? A treaty signing... A signed document in which both sides, white man and native, declare their fallibility... declare openly the sins they have committed in shedding blood on the land, breaking covenants with themselves (between the tribes) and with each other (white man and native), etc., followed by a joint resolution by all parties declaring that the spiritual authority of our region is and shall be Yahweh, as well as declaring joint goals of reconciliation, of ending abortion, of whatever goals we mutually share as followers of Christ... Signed and sealed. An accord made before men but, more importantly, before the throne of the Creator. An accord of three strands, White Man, Native, and Yahweh, shall not be broken.
Tonight is the next step in this journey... Tonight we prayed for the rivers, but, more important I believe is the meeting Ben and Denise Bouwers are having with Chief Buchanon and the spiritual leadership of the Miami tribe at the Longhouse Meeting in Wabash. This meeting will only be the beginning... It is only the first bud of a strong, fruit-filled tree coming into season after a long winter.
Isaiah 65
Whoever invokes a blessing in the land (we invoke your blessing tonight, Father) will do so by the God of truth;he who takes an oath in the land will swear by the God of truth. For the past troubles will be forgotten and hidden from my eyes. (Verse 16)
Then, the Lord says (verses 17-19): Behold!, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Fort Wayne to be a delight and its people a joy. I will rejoice over Fort Wayne and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in her no more.
You can read on from there... Finish Isaiah 65. AMEN AMEN AMEN.
So what happened: We were praying (that' s what we do). I kept hearing this same phrase over and over and over and over again in my head. A cord of three strands is not easily broken. A cord of three strands is not easily broken. So I thought, okay, Lord, we're here standing before the confluence of three rivers in the heart of Fort Wayne. Three strands coming together. This is pretty cool. But that ws SOOO not it... We began praying for reconciliation between the white man and the native peoples of the region. We repented for the sins of our forefathers, those who made and broke treaties with the Miami tribe and who did such terrible deeds in the name of Jesus. I'm still hearing... A cord of three strands is not easily broken. A cord of three strands is not easily broken. Then I hear this: An accord of three strands is not easily broken. An accord of three strands? An accord is a synonym of treaty. An accord / treaty made of three strands woven together will not be broken. A real, true, honest accord of the white man, the native peoples, and Yahweh will not be broken. Man cannot do this on his own... The efforts of man are fallible and inevitably fail because we are all sinners. But with GOD, all things are possible. The Lord says, An accord (treaty) of three strands (white man, native peoples, and Yahweh) will NOT be broken.
What does this mean?: Question... what would be the spiritual significance of a treaty signing between the spiritual leadership of the Church of Fort Wayne and the spiritual leadership of the Miami peoples? I'm not talking anything at all political. I don't want any news agency involved though I believe it would be a historic day. What would it be like? Can you imagine? A treaty signing... A signed document in which both sides, white man and native, declare their fallibility... declare openly the sins they have committed in shedding blood on the land, breaking covenants with themselves (between the tribes) and with each other (white man and native), etc., followed by a joint resolution by all parties declaring that the spiritual authority of our region is and shall be Yahweh, as well as declaring joint goals of reconciliation, of ending abortion, of whatever goals we mutually share as followers of Christ... Signed and sealed. An accord made before men but, more importantly, before the throne of the Creator. An accord of three strands, White Man, Native, and Yahweh, shall not be broken.
Tonight is the next step in this journey... Tonight we prayed for the rivers, but, more important I believe is the meeting Ben and Denise Bouwers are having with Chief Buchanon and the spiritual leadership of the Miami tribe at the Longhouse Meeting in Wabash. This meeting will only be the beginning... It is only the first bud of a strong, fruit-filled tree coming into season after a long winter.
Isaiah 65
Whoever invokes a blessing in the land (we invoke your blessing tonight, Father) will do so by the God of truth;he who takes an oath in the land will swear by the God of truth. For the past troubles will be forgotten and hidden from my eyes. (Verse 16)
Then, the Lord says (verses 17-19): Behold!, I will create new heavens and a new earth. The former things will not be remembered, nor will they come to mind. But be glad and rejoice forever in what I will create, for I will create Fort Wayne to be a delight and its people a joy. I will rejoice over Fort Wayne and take delight in my people; the sound of weeping and of crying will be heard in her no more.
You can read on from there... Finish Isaiah 65. AMEN AMEN AMEN.
Thursday, April 5, 2007
Isaiah 4: A Prayer
Isaiah 4 (Normal):
In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel. Those who are left in Zion, who remain in Jerusalem, will be called holy, all who are recorded among the living in Jerusalem. The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire. Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over all the glory will be a canopy. It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.
Isaiah 4 (Amended):
In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Indiana. Those who are left in Allen County, who remain in Fort Wayne, will be called holy, all who are recorded among the living in Fort Wayne. The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Allen County; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Fort Wayne by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire. Then the LORD will create over all of Allen County and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over all the glory of the LORD will be a canopy. It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.
I love how rich the Word of the Lord is... I used to think it was just so absolutely boring, but in the context of prayer it is just coming alive!
Anyways, tidbits... I didn't put in the context... What happened in Chapter 3 that we are called "survivors?" I love that we will be called holy... Wow... We will be holy... Verse 4 is the best, though... The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Allen County (which I take as the Strip Clubs... See previous post.) He will also cleanse the bloodstains from Fort Wayne (duh! abortion) by Spirits of Judgment and Fire... I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing, but Lord come!! Come wash over us! Come cleanse us! Restore Fort Wayne to her glory for Your glory! I love the wilderness allegory. Just as the Lord led the Israelites from Egypt to Canaan, he wants to lead us now. Do we trust him? Or do we want to go back to Egypt? Are we satisfied with manna and quail? Or do we want meat? It is in the wilderness where the people learned to lean on God... It is out of the wilderness where the Shulamite comes out leaning on her Beloved...
Come, Lord... Let your glory fall! Come, Rain... Come, Reign...
Okay I will do more later...
In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Israel. Those who are left in Zion, who remain in Jerusalem, will be called holy, all who are recorded among the living in Jerusalem. The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Zion; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Jerusalem by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire. Then the LORD will create over all of Mount Zion and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over all the glory will be a canopy. It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.
Isaiah 4 (Amended):
In that day the Branch of the LORD will be beautiful and glorious, and the fruit of the land will be the pride and glory of the survivors in Indiana. Those who are left in Allen County, who remain in Fort Wayne, will be called holy, all who are recorded among the living in Fort Wayne. The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Allen County; he will cleanse the bloodstains from Fort Wayne by a spirit of judgment and a spirit of fire. Then the LORD will create over all of Allen County and over those who assemble there a cloud of smoke by day and a glow of flaming fire by night; over all the glory of the LORD will be a canopy. It will be a shelter and shade from the heat of the day, and a refuge and hiding place from the storm and rain.
I love how rich the Word of the Lord is... I used to think it was just so absolutely boring, but in the context of prayer it is just coming alive!
Anyways, tidbits... I didn't put in the context... What happened in Chapter 3 that we are called "survivors?" I love that we will be called holy... Wow... We will be holy... Verse 4 is the best, though... The Lord will wash away the filth of the women of Allen County (which I take as the Strip Clubs... See previous post.) He will also cleanse the bloodstains from Fort Wayne (duh! abortion) by Spirits of Judgment and Fire... I don't know if this is a good thing or a bad thing, but Lord come!! Come wash over us! Come cleanse us! Restore Fort Wayne to her glory for Your glory! I love the wilderness allegory. Just as the Lord led the Israelites from Egypt to Canaan, he wants to lead us now. Do we trust him? Or do we want to go back to Egypt? Are we satisfied with manna and quail? Or do we want meat? It is in the wilderness where the people learned to lean on God... It is out of the wilderness where the Shulamite comes out leaning on her Beloved...
Come, Lord... Let your glory fall! Come, Rain... Come, Reign...
Okay I will do more later...
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Moving Mountains
IHOP 6 a.m. set, 4/4/07... It generally always happens at the 6 a.m. set...
I have this vision of moving mountains. I am standing here on the road looking forward and I see a bright white light shining over top of the mountains and I just know that it's Jesus. (Side note: "He'll be coming 'round the mountains when He comes." The song was just in my head.) Anyways, I want to move closer to Jesus and so I tell the mountains to get out of my way and they do it. But then I'm given this entirely new perspective... In me telling the mountains to move, what actually happens is Jesus from the other side is throwing the mountains out of His way to His Beloved. It's interesting from my perspective when I see the mountains moving... I might think, "Wow, God! Look at that!" when in reality it's all completely and totally Jesus doing it all, throwing the mountains aside, simply because I want to be closer to Him. He responds by moving closer to us. I haven't moved a step yet, you see... I just told the mountains to move and it was almost instantaneous before the Son of Man was standing there next to me face to face. But that's not all... We have met here on this path... We're standing there face to face... Face to face... Do you get that? And I am given another perspective... Jesus and I have our eyes locked on each other and then we turn toward the Light shining over us... We stand before our Father God at the great Wedding Banquet, our Father/Pastor pronouncing the love of the Son toward His Beloved and that of the Beloved toward the Son...
Blessed is he who is invited to the Wedding Feast of the Lamb!!!
I have this vision of moving mountains. I am standing here on the road looking forward and I see a bright white light shining over top of the mountains and I just know that it's Jesus. (Side note: "He'll be coming 'round the mountains when He comes." The song was just in my head.) Anyways, I want to move closer to Jesus and so I tell the mountains to get out of my way and they do it. But then I'm given this entirely new perspective... In me telling the mountains to move, what actually happens is Jesus from the other side is throwing the mountains out of His way to His Beloved. It's interesting from my perspective when I see the mountains moving... I might think, "Wow, God! Look at that!" when in reality it's all completely and totally Jesus doing it all, throwing the mountains aside, simply because I want to be closer to Him. He responds by moving closer to us. I haven't moved a step yet, you see... I just told the mountains to move and it was almost instantaneous before the Son of Man was standing there next to me face to face. But that's not all... We have met here on this path... We're standing there face to face... Face to face... Do you get that? And I am given another perspective... Jesus and I have our eyes locked on each other and then we turn toward the Light shining over us... We stand before our Father God at the great Wedding Banquet, our Father/Pastor pronouncing the love of the Son toward His Beloved and that of the Beloved toward the Son...
Blessed is he who is invited to the Wedding Feast of the Lamb!!!
Monday, April 2, 2007
Vision #2 from the Divine Experiment
Revelation 4. There is a door standing open in the heavenlies. A door that no man can shut because God has opened it. Here we are, like John, here on Earth looking toward Heaven for the answer to every question we've ever wondered... And we can see, on the other side of the doorway, a pure, bright, white light. The presence of God was there.
But as I looked I was not called up in the Spirit... I stood there, waiting... Waiting for what? I don't know... My eyes were transfixed on the doorway... And as I looked the light grew brighter... And brighter... And brighter... And then there He was... Standing in the doorway... One like a Son of Man (Revelation 1)... Jasper, carnelian, sardonyx, emerald rainbow halo, hair white like wool, eyes of blazing fire, His voice like the rushing waters, the golden sash, the robe dipped in blood, and the feet glowing like burnished bronze... The Son of Man standing there in the doorway between Heaven and the world. And He stepped down!!
JESUS IS COMING!!!!
But as I looked I was not called up in the Spirit... I stood there, waiting... Waiting for what? I don't know... My eyes were transfixed on the doorway... And as I looked the light grew brighter... And brighter... And brighter... And then there He was... Standing in the doorway... One like a Son of Man (Revelation 1)... Jasper, carnelian, sardonyx, emerald rainbow halo, hair white like wool, eyes of blazing fire, His voice like the rushing waters, the golden sash, the robe dipped in blood, and the feet glowing like burnished bronze... The Son of Man standing there in the doorway between Heaven and the world. And He stepped down!!
JESUS IS COMING!!!!
Vision #1 from Divine Experiment
A vision concerning the Fusion Leadership Weekend and the 21 Day Divine Experiment...
I saw what appeared to be a Seraphim descend from heaven, land and stand in the corner of the building where we were meeting, and he proceeded to wrap his wings completely around us. And the Spirit of Pentecost descended upon the people meeting there... A fire from Heaven... The fire of the presence of the Lord... We were baptized into that spirit on that day. So what's up with the Seraphim?? He was there to limit the anointing... I don't know if that's how I want to say it... The Seraphim was there so that the Holy Spirit baptism would come up those meeting in the room... It was a gift for us. We were ready... We are ready... But what lies ahead? It's like the two Seraphim on each side of the Ark of the Covenant standing over the Mercy Seat of Christ as the sacrifice is made and the Lord accepts the offering. Are we the Atonement Cover? Will our blood be spilled for the Cause? I'll come back to that...
And last Friday night I heard the Lord tell us to tell him this: Take away the Seraphim. What does that mean? When the Holy Spirit fire falls, what will contain it? Nothing! It will spread uncontrollably like wildfire... Not by any means of human effort... Not by anything that we can claim as our own... Simply God moving into a city and changing everything for His Glory. Lord, take him away! Jesus come!
May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of his suffering!
I saw what appeared to be a Seraphim descend from heaven, land and stand in the corner of the building where we were meeting, and he proceeded to wrap his wings completely around us. And the Spirit of Pentecost descended upon the people meeting there... A fire from Heaven... The fire of the presence of the Lord... We were baptized into that spirit on that day. So what's up with the Seraphim?? He was there to limit the anointing... I don't know if that's how I want to say it... The Seraphim was there so that the Holy Spirit baptism would come up those meeting in the room... It was a gift for us. We were ready... We are ready... But what lies ahead? It's like the two Seraphim on each side of the Ark of the Covenant standing over the Mercy Seat of Christ as the sacrifice is made and the Lord accepts the offering. Are we the Atonement Cover? Will our blood be spilled for the Cause? I'll come back to that...
And last Friday night I heard the Lord tell us to tell him this: Take away the Seraphim. What does that mean? When the Holy Spirit fire falls, what will contain it? Nothing! It will spread uncontrollably like wildfire... Not by any means of human effort... Not by anything that we can claim as our own... Simply God moving into a city and changing everything for His Glory. Lord, take him away! Jesus come!
May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of his suffering!
Thursday, March 29, 2007
The Underground Church
Anyone who hasn't yet should go look at the preview and trailer for the upcoming movie on the Underground Church in America. It's at: underthethreshold.com.
A Dream about High School
Premise: I did not like high school much at all. I was not then the person I am now. I did not like the clique-ishness, arrogance, superiority complexes that everybody had.
So last week during the fast I had this dream... I dreamed that I was in high school, not my school but some school. I was standing there wading through my locker looking for the books, folders and stuff I needed for my next class. This was taking me a while as my locker was jam-packed full of stuff. The top section had every book for every class, various library books, folders, notebooks, and other stuff. In the main part was my normal jacket, my letter jacket, my duffle bag full of practice gear... Needless to say in most lockers, this was packed!! As is my life. It's all there. The status symbols (the letter jacket), the education... the voice of reason... the worldliness... All I was was all there.
So it was a passing period and I was there. I was an upperclassman, at least in my opinion. A big, tall, superior senior and I had that arrogance that seniors have. And, lo and behold, I had these two pip-squeak little boys, probably junior high-ers, there just trying to annoy me. I was there to get exactly what I needed out of the locker and then get on to class. And these boys were there trying to take stuff out of my locker and had there hands in there. I wasn't going to let this happen, so I (gently) stopped them, slapped at their hands, nudged them away, raised my voice a little, but they continued. Apparently they didn't have their own class to get to. And it was an urgent time! The passing period was just about over. Do you feel the urgency of the hour? And suddenly, BUZZ! Tardy! And I hear my name called over the speaker to come to the Principal's office.
So I leave my locker open (I don't know why or what I was thinking) and go down to the Principal. And I give my typical B-S routine that most high schoolers give. "I'm sorry, Mr. _____. It won't happen again." even though it probably will within a week or two. And the Principal talks to me a little, asking the common questions like "What's going on with you?" "How are you doing?" and then the profound, "This isn't like you." This isn't like you. This isn't like you to dwell on the stuff in your locker. This isn't like you to be late. This isn't like you to be annoyed by pip-squeak little boys. This isn't like you. The Principal knows me and he knows the way I'm supposed to be. And he is understanding of my mistakes and failures.
So I return to my locker to find it completely empty. While I was with the Principal, I came back to find that those same two pip-squeak little boys had made off with all my stuff! I looked down the hallway to see one of the boys carrying a load of my stuff. So what do I do? I'm human. I run after him. I want to get my stuff back. I chase him down the hall and around the corner and finally catch up to him and his partner over the pile of my stuff. And at this point I am so fed up and frustrated that I either am about to or do hit the first one. (I'm not sure. This is where I woke up.)
My life was filled with so much junk and here I was wanting to hold on to all of it. And I was willing to become violent about it! WOE IS ME! What's really important? Really? And the Principal's (Jesus's) words were so profound too. This isn't like you. Who am I really? Who are any of us? Are we merely a culmination of a big pile of stuff? Do we identify ourselves with certain cliques? certain identities? (In high school, it was athletics at Hagerstown. Now it could be a job or a ministry.)
So yeah, I repented.
So last week during the fast I had this dream... I dreamed that I was in high school, not my school but some school. I was standing there wading through my locker looking for the books, folders and stuff I needed for my next class. This was taking me a while as my locker was jam-packed full of stuff. The top section had every book for every class, various library books, folders, notebooks, and other stuff. In the main part was my normal jacket, my letter jacket, my duffle bag full of practice gear... Needless to say in most lockers, this was packed!! As is my life. It's all there. The status symbols (the letter jacket), the education... the voice of reason... the worldliness... All I was was all there.
So it was a passing period and I was there. I was an upperclassman, at least in my opinion. A big, tall, superior senior and I had that arrogance that seniors have. And, lo and behold, I had these two pip-squeak little boys, probably junior high-ers, there just trying to annoy me. I was there to get exactly what I needed out of the locker and then get on to class. And these boys were there trying to take stuff out of my locker and had there hands in there. I wasn't going to let this happen, so I (gently) stopped them, slapped at their hands, nudged them away, raised my voice a little, but they continued. Apparently they didn't have their own class to get to. And it was an urgent time! The passing period was just about over. Do you feel the urgency of the hour? And suddenly, BUZZ! Tardy! And I hear my name called over the speaker to come to the Principal's office.
So I leave my locker open (I don't know why or what I was thinking) and go down to the Principal. And I give my typical B-S routine that most high schoolers give. "I'm sorry, Mr. _____. It won't happen again." even though it probably will within a week or two. And the Principal talks to me a little, asking the common questions like "What's going on with you?" "How are you doing?" and then the profound, "This isn't like you." This isn't like you. This isn't like you to dwell on the stuff in your locker. This isn't like you to be late. This isn't like you to be annoyed by pip-squeak little boys. This isn't like you. The Principal knows me and he knows the way I'm supposed to be. And he is understanding of my mistakes and failures.
So I return to my locker to find it completely empty. While I was with the Principal, I came back to find that those same two pip-squeak little boys had made off with all my stuff! I looked down the hallway to see one of the boys carrying a load of my stuff. So what do I do? I'm human. I run after him. I want to get my stuff back. I chase him down the hall and around the corner and finally catch up to him and his partner over the pile of my stuff. And at this point I am so fed up and frustrated that I either am about to or do hit the first one. (I'm not sure. This is where I woke up.)
My life was filled with so much junk and here I was wanting to hold on to all of it. And I was willing to become violent about it! WOE IS ME! What's really important? Really? And the Principal's (Jesus's) words were so profound too. This isn't like you. Who am I really? Who are any of us? Are we merely a culmination of a big pile of stuff? Do we identify ourselves with certain cliques? certain identities? (In high school, it was athletics at Hagerstown. Now it could be a job or a ministry.)
So yeah, I repented.
21 Days
So we've finished the 21 days of fasting, the purpose of which was to empty my life of all sorts of junk so that God can fill me with the good stuff... It was an interesting, intriguing, challenging, confusing, cheering, sombering experience. I figured out how much I missed some things and how much stuff I did not miss much at all (like the television).
I have found the meaning of life... Not that I've never found the meaning of life, before, for it is completely, totally and utterly wrapped up in the nature and character of the Godhead... But I hadn't really been able to cut it down and make it succinct until now. Here it is... "That the Lamb who was slain may receive the reward of His suffering." I love Ten Shekels and a Shirt by Paris Reidhead.
More to come... I don't think I'll put it all here in one post.
I have found the meaning of life... Not that I've never found the meaning of life, before, for it is completely, totally and utterly wrapped up in the nature and character of the Godhead... But I hadn't really been able to cut it down and make it succinct until now. Here it is... "That the Lamb who was slain may receive the reward of His suffering." I love Ten Shekels and a Shirt by Paris Reidhead.
More to come... I don't think I'll put it all here in one post.
Thursday, March 1, 2007
True Repentance
I desire a city transformed by the manifest presence of Jesus Christ in me and in the lives of those who believe. I desire a city where God can come and reside with His Bride.
Where does it all begin? True repentance. True repentance in the heart of the Bride. A ceasing of the Prostitute and stepping into the promise of Bridal glory!! Are you ready to walk down the aisle, Beloved?!?
I'm dwelling on true repentance. What does it mean? Every sin I commit I wonder how much longer? When will it stop? When will I stop? What will it take? What can I do? What can be changed? Where does it end? Where did it begin? Where did I lose sight? Why can't I hear You? What is wrong with me? How wretched I am!! Wouldn't life be so much easier without so much temptation? Can't God just break my TV so I can't watch it? Or take this computer that I can't get on the Internet? Or take my job that I won't be bitter? What is God saying? What is He trying to say through it all? True repentance. What is it?
Simon Peter, son of Jonah (the same Jonah who turned and ran when instructed by God to preach repentance to the Ninevites) had himself denied Jesus Christ three times at his Crucifixion. In John 21, Jesus (in resurrected body) asked Peter this great and terrible question... Do you love me? Peter denied Christ a first time and Jesus asked, "Do you love me?" Peter denied Him a second time and Jesus doesn't scold him, reprimand him, shame him, disgrace him. No, Jesus asked, "Do you love me?" A third time, Peter denied Jesus and still Jesus was not angry, but Jesus knew the rebuke that needed to ring out of Peter's heart. Jesus asked, "Do you love me?"
How many times have I denied you, Jesus!!?!! Seven times seven? Seventy times seven? Seventy times seventy times seventy times seventy times seventy times... (you get the idea)? Yet, let this rebuke stir my heart. "Do you love me?" Do I love you, Jesus? Do I? With every sin, I think nought... Yet that is exactly the purpose, isn't it? With every temptation you allow, you are asking me, "Do you love me?" "Do you truly love me more than this?" Oh how I love you Jesus!! With all that is in my heart, I love you. My heart is what it's all about, isn't it? You did all this for my heart... for my love... If all you gained from all you suffered was the love of one broken hearted man, you would have suffered it all for me. For me... How... How you love me...
Lord, I ask that this message stir your people... Those who believe they have all the answers, the programs, the workshops, the "How To..." Manuals, yet they do not even know the question You are asking... Do you love me? Let those words ring in our ears and in our hearts, Abba. We love you.
So what is true repentance? Don't ask me, because I really don't know. But I think this may be the way to get there... It sounds so simple and yet it is so complex... It's so great for those who believe and yet so terrible for those who do not know You... The way is simply saying, from now unto eternity, the answer Jesus so longs to hear from His Beloved. Jesus asks the question over and over and over and over again... "Do you love me?" What is the answer? I LOVE YOU.
Every time the question is asked, "Do you love me?", "Do you love me more than this?", what will your answer be?
Where does it all begin? True repentance. True repentance in the heart of the Bride. A ceasing of the Prostitute and stepping into the promise of Bridal glory!! Are you ready to walk down the aisle, Beloved?!?
I'm dwelling on true repentance. What does it mean? Every sin I commit I wonder how much longer? When will it stop? When will I stop? What will it take? What can I do? What can be changed? Where does it end? Where did it begin? Where did I lose sight? Why can't I hear You? What is wrong with me? How wretched I am!! Wouldn't life be so much easier without so much temptation? Can't God just break my TV so I can't watch it? Or take this computer that I can't get on the Internet? Or take my job that I won't be bitter? What is God saying? What is He trying to say through it all? True repentance. What is it?
Simon Peter, son of Jonah (the same Jonah who turned and ran when instructed by God to preach repentance to the Ninevites) had himself denied Jesus Christ three times at his Crucifixion. In John 21, Jesus (in resurrected body) asked Peter this great and terrible question... Do you love me? Peter denied Christ a first time and Jesus asked, "Do you love me?" Peter denied Him a second time and Jesus doesn't scold him, reprimand him, shame him, disgrace him. No, Jesus asked, "Do you love me?" A third time, Peter denied Jesus and still Jesus was not angry, but Jesus knew the rebuke that needed to ring out of Peter's heart. Jesus asked, "Do you love me?"
How many times have I denied you, Jesus!!?!! Seven times seven? Seventy times seven? Seventy times seventy times seventy times seventy times seventy times... (you get the idea)? Yet, let this rebuke stir my heart. "Do you love me?" Do I love you, Jesus? Do I? With every sin, I think nought... Yet that is exactly the purpose, isn't it? With every temptation you allow, you are asking me, "Do you love me?" "Do you truly love me more than this?" Oh how I love you Jesus!! With all that is in my heart, I love you. My heart is what it's all about, isn't it? You did all this for my heart... for my love... If all you gained from all you suffered was the love of one broken hearted man, you would have suffered it all for me. For me... How... How you love me...
Lord, I ask that this message stir your people... Those who believe they have all the answers, the programs, the workshops, the "How To..." Manuals, yet they do not even know the question You are asking... Do you love me? Let those words ring in our ears and in our hearts, Abba. We love you.
So what is true repentance? Don't ask me, because I really don't know. But I think this may be the way to get there... It sounds so simple and yet it is so complex... It's so great for those who believe and yet so terrible for those who do not know You... The way is simply saying, from now unto eternity, the answer Jesus so longs to hear from His Beloved. Jesus asks the question over and over and over and over again... "Do you love me?" What is the answer? I LOVE YOU.
Every time the question is asked, "Do you love me?", "Do you love me more than this?", what will your answer be?
Monday, February 26, 2007
Holy Fire or Hell Fire ?
I am pondering old testament prophecies and their relation not only to Jesus' first coming but also to His second. I've been pondering the Sign of Jonah and the Days of Noah, wondering if there will be a literal 3 days or 3 years...
Matthew 24: 36-39
36"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
In the Days of Noah, the people of the Earth had never experienced rain. Never. When Noah said that water would fall from the sky, the people literally believed that he was crazy. They had no basis of comparison, no experience of what God was about to do. Before the rains came, the plants received their water from the air each morning probably from dew, which made them grow, produce fruit, and feed the people. When the rains came, a lot of people probably rejoiced. They did not know or understand what the rain was or, more importantly, what it's purpose was. The people may very well have thought to themselves, "Water from Heaven! The harvest will be great this year!" Just picture it... the water began as a cool drizzle on a hot summer's day. Relaxing, refreshing. People probably stood out in it showering... They did not know what it's purpose was, what it was there for. They did not know how to respond, repent... As the waters of the depths arose, the people began to recognize danger, fear, dread... But it was too late...
It is the same today. At the coming of the Son of Man, the divine presence (i.e. Holy Fire) of the Holy Spirit will cover the Earth as the waters covered it in Noah's day. And no one (outside the true Church) will know what the heck is going on. Deep will call unto deep. As the waters fell upon the Earth, so did water arise from the depths. They were waters of judgment and of cleansing. As the Holy Spirit descends upon the Earth in the time of the coming of the Son of Man, so will the Hell Fire from the depths arise in equal measure. I don't get what I'm writing but hopefully I get it soon. Will we know which is which? Will we be able to tell the difference? How subtle a difference it will be! Will we rejoice? What signs and wonders will there be? How great and yet how terrible!!! People will be looking skyward taking in what they believe is a cool, refreshing rain, will they even notice the water rising to their ankles? To their knees? Waist deep? Will the people praise the AntiChrist when world peace comes and when signs and wonders are performed? Will they believe he is the Messiah?
Who of us can dwell with the consuming fire? (Isaiah 33) There will be a consuming fire at the end of the age. There will be Holy Fire and there will be Hell Fire. All-powerful, all-consuming fires. There will be a choice, so subtle, yet it will define who you are for all eternity. Will you dwell with the consuming (Holy) fire? Or will you be consumed by the (Hell) fire?
Choose wisely.
:edit: I should listen to Corey Russell's Days of Noah CD.
Matthew 24: 36-39
36"No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 37As it was in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the Son of Man. 38For in the days before the flood, people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day Noah entered the ark; 39and they knew nothing about what would happen until the flood came and took them all away. That is how it will be at the coming of the Son of Man.
In the Days of Noah, the people of the Earth had never experienced rain. Never. When Noah said that water would fall from the sky, the people literally believed that he was crazy. They had no basis of comparison, no experience of what God was about to do. Before the rains came, the plants received their water from the air each morning probably from dew, which made them grow, produce fruit, and feed the people. When the rains came, a lot of people probably rejoiced. They did not know or understand what the rain was or, more importantly, what it's purpose was. The people may very well have thought to themselves, "Water from Heaven! The harvest will be great this year!" Just picture it... the water began as a cool drizzle on a hot summer's day. Relaxing, refreshing. People probably stood out in it showering... They did not know what it's purpose was, what it was there for. They did not know how to respond, repent... As the waters of the depths arose, the people began to recognize danger, fear, dread... But it was too late...
It is the same today. At the coming of the Son of Man, the divine presence (i.e. Holy Fire) of the Holy Spirit will cover the Earth as the waters covered it in Noah's day. And no one (outside the true Church) will know what the heck is going on. Deep will call unto deep. As the waters fell upon the Earth, so did water arise from the depths. They were waters of judgment and of cleansing. As the Holy Spirit descends upon the Earth in the time of the coming of the Son of Man, so will the Hell Fire from the depths arise in equal measure. I don't get what I'm writing but hopefully I get it soon. Will we know which is which? Will we be able to tell the difference? How subtle a difference it will be! Will we rejoice? What signs and wonders will there be? How great and yet how terrible!!! People will be looking skyward taking in what they believe is a cool, refreshing rain, will they even notice the water rising to their ankles? To their knees? Waist deep? Will the people praise the AntiChrist when world peace comes and when signs and wonders are performed? Will they believe he is the Messiah?
Who of us can dwell with the consuming fire? (Isaiah 33) There will be a consuming fire at the end of the age. There will be Holy Fire and there will be Hell Fire. All-powerful, all-consuming fires. There will be a choice, so subtle, yet it will define who you are for all eternity. Will you dwell with the consuming (Holy) fire? Or will you be consumed by the (Hell) fire?
Choose wisely.
:edit: I should listen to Corey Russell's Days of Noah CD.
Monday, February 12, 2007
The Lion
So I was meditating and asking Jesus to come down and His glory to fall and I heard this...
If I come, I come as the Lion of Judah.
And I had this vision of Jesus, the Lion of Judah, standing triumphant over a smaller weaker lion, who, for argument's sake, we shall call the Lion of Babylon (i.e. religion). There He was... Standing proud. A meaty, tasty, bloody piece of the inferior lion in His mouth. Rachel's favorite quote from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is (of Aslan): "He's not safe, but He's good."
If I come, I come as the Lion of Judah.
Job 37
1 "At this my heart pounds
and leaps from its place.
edit: So we were praying on Sunday at First Assembly from Isaiah that God would send a coal to cleanse our lips... I LOVE that passage let me tell you... But then I got to thinking... What will I do with my clean lips? So I began to praise God. Then I got another idea... With my clean lips I will KISS THE SON!!! So I started going crazy standing in His presence KISSING THE SON. And I was like, Jesus come kiss me. Jesus come kiss me. And then...
The Lion licked me.
Oh yeah!!!
Kissed by the Son. Licked by the Lion. Jesus loves me! And He is simultaneously seriously passionate and crazy, playful and funny. I love Jesus!!!
If I come, I come as the Lion of Judah.
And I had this vision of Jesus, the Lion of Judah, standing triumphant over a smaller weaker lion, who, for argument's sake, we shall call the Lion of Babylon (i.e. religion). There He was... Standing proud. A meaty, tasty, bloody piece of the inferior lion in His mouth. Rachel's favorite quote from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is (of Aslan): "He's not safe, but He's good."
If I come, I come as the Lion of Judah.
Job 37
1 "At this my heart pounds
and leaps from its place.
2 Listen! Listen to the roar of his voice,
to the rumbling that comes from his mouth.
3 He unleashes his lightning beneath the whole heaven
and sends it to the ends of the earth.
4 After that comes the sound of his roar;
he thunders with his majestic voice.
When his voice resounds,
he holds nothing back.
edit: So we were praying on Sunday at First Assembly from Isaiah that God would send a coal to cleanse our lips... I LOVE that passage let me tell you... But then I got to thinking... What will I do with my clean lips? So I began to praise God. Then I got another idea... With my clean lips I will KISS THE SON!!! So I started going crazy standing in His presence KISSING THE SON. And I was like, Jesus come kiss me. Jesus come kiss me. And then...
The Lion licked me.
Oh yeah!!!
Kissed by the Son. Licked by the Lion. Jesus loves me! And He is simultaneously seriously passionate and crazy, playful and funny. I love Jesus!!!
Monday, February 5, 2007
Our New Toy
So it just so happens that I am blogging on my new laptop computer :o) Yeeeaaaaahhhh Baby!!!
I's excited!
Our birthday was yesterday (February 4) and my parents spoil me rotten. I am truly blessed! And now we have a laptop with which we can do business stuff (i.e. IHOP record keeping, administrative stuff).
Otherwise, God is good but God is frustrating me at the moment. God has given us so much yet I complain about not having enough. We were convicted to begin tithing to First Assembly, which is just fine and dandy, but adding that to what we've already promised to give to IHOP people on a monthly basis... It's just crazy!!! Numbers do NOT add up. But God is providing... God is faithful... I have to keep telling myself that. God is faithful. I trust Him. God is faithful. I trust him. Living from this place of dependency is tough. I'm impatient, unwilling. I'm dealing with my own unbelief. I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow or next week, if we're going to have enough or not... Okay... Enough of that.
I's excited!
Our birthday was yesterday (February 4) and my parents spoil me rotten. I am truly blessed! And now we have a laptop with which we can do business stuff (i.e. IHOP record keeping, administrative stuff).
Otherwise, God is good but God is frustrating me at the moment. God has given us so much yet I complain about not having enough. We were convicted to begin tithing to First Assembly, which is just fine and dandy, but adding that to what we've already promised to give to IHOP people on a monthly basis... It's just crazy!!! Numbers do NOT add up. But God is providing... God is faithful... I have to keep telling myself that. God is faithful. I trust Him. God is faithful. I trust him. Living from this place of dependency is tough. I'm impatient, unwilling. I'm dealing with my own unbelief. I don't know what's going to happen tomorrow or next week, if we're going to have enough or not... Okay... Enough of that.
Friday, January 26, 2007
The Second Holocaust
I was reading the Jerusalem Post (Kudos Tamara) and found the following article. I really have nothing to say having read it... It's an article by Benny Morris on the Second Holocaust.
Read it here: http://tinyurl.com/2waqfr
Read it here: http://tinyurl.com/2waqfr
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
God is ....
I am a deep-thinker. Contemplative. I love to sit here and think deep meaningful wonderous thoughts. And right now all that is in my head is...
God is
Not God is beautiful, marvelous, wonderful, glorious, lovely, gracious, forgiving, merciful, mighty, powerful, great, awesome, majestic... Not any of those and yet all of them and more...
I'm stuck on this... God is. I'm letting this just wash over me. God is. I love to be in the presence of the Lord Almighty! Who was, and is, and is to come. Whoa... God was. God is. God is to come. God was. God is. God is to come. (I love meditating while I'm blogging.) God was the Alpha and He will be the Omega. Before creation, there was God in perfect communion with the Son and the Holy Spirit. Just sitting there, taking up all of ... all of Them... being in communion with each other. Outside of space and time. God was. God is. God is to come.
So much of the Bible comes back to this fact. God is...
Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
I would love to take a theology class on "God is." I would love to have deep philosophical conversations on this topic. I need to have more deep philosophical conversations on this topic. I need to have more deep philosophical conversations on this topic with Jesus. (No offense to anyone who wants to discuss this with me other than Him.)
God is
Not God is beautiful, marvelous, wonderful, glorious, lovely, gracious, forgiving, merciful, mighty, powerful, great, awesome, majestic... Not any of those and yet all of them and more...
I'm stuck on this... God is. I'm letting this just wash over me. God is. I love to be in the presence of the Lord Almighty! Who was, and is, and is to come. Whoa... God was. God is. God is to come. God was. God is. God is to come. (I love meditating while I'm blogging.) God was the Alpha and He will be the Omega. Before creation, there was God in perfect communion with the Son and the Holy Spirit. Just sitting there, taking up all of ... all of Them... being in communion with each other. Outside of space and time. God was. God is. God is to come.
So much of the Bible comes back to this fact. God is...
Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation."
I would love to take a theology class on "God is." I would love to have deep philosophical conversations on this topic. I need to have more deep philosophical conversations on this topic. I need to have more deep philosophical conversations on this topic with Jesus. (No offense to anyone who wants to discuss this with me other than Him.)
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Abortion Strategy
Another vision...
I'm beginning to think that my abortion strategy and my strip club strategy are and will overlap tremendously... And the wonder of it is that I'm still downloading.
Call a Joel 2 solemn assembly. This is not just the "sacred" assembly that the Church of Fort Wayne had last week, but a truly solemn one. One where there is literally weeping and gnashing of teeth!!
Anyways, I've thought of the solemn assembly as a one-day, 24-hour IHOP-style prayer meeting. I know we aren't 24/7 yet by any means but I believe that God would release the right pieces to bring one 24 hour set to fruition. This would be followed by 40 days of prayer and fasting, and perhaps a literal taking-on of sackcloth and ashes. I believe we need people committed to 40 days straight to pray and fast in both the foreground and the background; those willing and able to mount physical and spiritual protests at the doors of the abortion clinic as well as those who would pray for them from across town in the prayer room. God wants us to go after the closure of the clinic.
I believe this must be a none-stop 40 day event - not partial, not half-hearted. It must be a complete, total and utter statement of the people's belief that this place should close down. This will not be a "weekend warrior" event like those in the past who held weekend protests, went to jail for the cause, received their own glory and honor from man, and were bailed out to return to work on Monday.
I believe God is asking for a continual 40 days. And I believe he wants to use this event to raise up a generation of teens and young adults into passionate pursuit of the Bridegroom. God wants to use them because they are not afraid yet of what the world thinks of them. Those who are willing, if it comes to it, to be arrested for protesting the abortion clinic and joyfully go off to a weekend of bible reading, prayer and fasting in the jailhouse. If you're arrested and bailed out (I believe God would also set up financial supporters throughout the city to aid this effort also), then you walk out of jail, get picked up and go right back to praying, petitioning, fasting and protesting in front of the abortion clinic. So shall it continue to 40 days. 40 days of unstopping, unrelenting, uncompromising, uninterrupted expression of desire to bring life back to Fort Wayne through prayer seeking God's favor, His forgiveness, His justice...
In your majesty, ride forth!
Come to us. Victorious!
I'm beginning to think that my abortion strategy and my strip club strategy are and will overlap tremendously... And the wonder of it is that I'm still downloading.
Call a Joel 2 solemn assembly. This is not just the "sacred" assembly that the Church of Fort Wayne had last week, but a truly solemn one. One where there is literally weeping and gnashing of teeth!!
Anyways, I've thought of the solemn assembly as a one-day, 24-hour IHOP-style prayer meeting. I know we aren't 24/7 yet by any means but I believe that God would release the right pieces to bring one 24 hour set to fruition. This would be followed by 40 days of prayer and fasting, and perhaps a literal taking-on of sackcloth and ashes. I believe we need people committed to 40 days straight to pray and fast in both the foreground and the background; those willing and able to mount physical and spiritual protests at the doors of the abortion clinic as well as those who would pray for them from across town in the prayer room. God wants us to go after the closure of the clinic.
I believe this must be a none-stop 40 day event - not partial, not half-hearted. It must be a complete, total and utter statement of the people's belief that this place should close down. This will not be a "weekend warrior" event like those in the past who held weekend protests, went to jail for the cause, received their own glory and honor from man, and were bailed out to return to work on Monday.
I believe God is asking for a continual 40 days. And I believe he wants to use this event to raise up a generation of teens and young adults into passionate pursuit of the Bridegroom. God wants to use them because they are not afraid yet of what the world thinks of them. Those who are willing, if it comes to it, to be arrested for protesting the abortion clinic and joyfully go off to a weekend of bible reading, prayer and fasting in the jailhouse. If you're arrested and bailed out (I believe God would also set up financial supporters throughout the city to aid this effort also), then you walk out of jail, get picked up and go right back to praying, petitioning, fasting and protesting in front of the abortion clinic. So shall it continue to 40 days. 40 days of unstopping, unrelenting, uncompromising, uninterrupted expression of desire to bring life back to Fort Wayne through prayer seeking God's favor, His forgiveness, His justice...
In your majesty, ride forth!
Come to us. Victorious!
A Strip Club Strategy
January 11, 2007
A vision...
The Lord said we are as Joshua. We have crossed the Jordan and entered the Promised Land. The Lord has promised us this land! It is only up to us to claim and maintain it. But I also heard the Lord say, "There's still Jericho..." There are institutions and strongholds of demonic activity in our city. They have a synergy just like we do. There are demons working together to bring down individuals, families, neighborhoods, and communities and on up the line. The strip clubs are manifestations of this demonic activity. They are not the walls of Jericho, but are representative of those who are on or within it's walls. All we've been doing in praying and working against the strip clubs is shooting arrows over the wall. We are not attacking the wall itself - the foundations of sinfulness that have led to the expansion of the strip clubs. Be it personal, private sin; broken relationships; sexual immorality; lust; divorce; economic hardship (for the girls who work there); these walls need to be broken down.
The point... God says we need seven days of corporate prayer and fasting in which groups will prayer walk around the strip clubs of the city praying strategically that the walls break down upon which the strip clubs rest. There would be prayer also for how God's people can train their hands for war - so we could learn what we ourselves can do... Perhaps God will show us of the need for physical picket-line protests? Perhaps there are business owners who would give good-paying jobs to these girls?
What a wonderful picture of Fort Wayne Transformed!
Picture it... Divorce lawyers choosing not to take divorce cases or (better yet) having to find alternative practices because they aren't getting any business. Strip clubs razed to the ground and, in their place, dance studios where young girls and boys can learn to dance before God! The closure of the abortion clinic!
The Lord is asking us for - and we, as a Church, need this - SEVEN DAYS of prayer and fasting for wisdom and revelation about our role and our ability to close these places down and cleanse our city.
Another thought... Think about this not as doing what's right, as servanthood, as another volunteer effort... No, think of this seven days as an act of WORSHIP before our God... to cleanse our land, to cleanse the House of God (Bethlehem / Fort Wayne, See Previous Post), that the name of our Lord may be known throughout our region and our nation!
EDIT:
God gave me this other picture tonight (1/16/07) of just what the SEVEN DAYS could be and could mean. God wants to raise up warriors; He wants them called out to this event. As God has shown that his desire is prayer for loneliness, broken relationships, sexual immorality, lust, divorce, etc., God said that he not only wants to heal our land but he wants to heal our PEOPLE through this event. God wants us to call forth warriors to prayer and fasting. Those he wants are the people who come from the broken relationships, men and women who've gone through a divorce, children of divorced parents, men who've looked at porn on the internet... people who have been hurt, weighed down and burdened by the sins (represented in the strip clubs) that rae rampant in our community. He wants to use them to pray down these walls and, in the process, to break down their own walls, allowing the River to flow into them and heal their hearts and their souls as He heals our land!
A vision...
The Lord said we are as Joshua. We have crossed the Jordan and entered the Promised Land. The Lord has promised us this land! It is only up to us to claim and maintain it. But I also heard the Lord say, "There's still Jericho..." There are institutions and strongholds of demonic activity in our city. They have a synergy just like we do. There are demons working together to bring down individuals, families, neighborhoods, and communities and on up the line. The strip clubs are manifestations of this demonic activity. They are not the walls of Jericho, but are representative of those who are on or within it's walls. All we've been doing in praying and working against the strip clubs is shooting arrows over the wall. We are not attacking the wall itself - the foundations of sinfulness that have led to the expansion of the strip clubs. Be it personal, private sin; broken relationships; sexual immorality; lust; divorce; economic hardship (for the girls who work there); these walls need to be broken down.
The point... God says we need seven days of corporate prayer and fasting in which groups will prayer walk around the strip clubs of the city praying strategically that the walls break down upon which the strip clubs rest. There would be prayer also for how God's people can train their hands for war - so we could learn what we ourselves can do... Perhaps God will show us of the need for physical picket-line protests? Perhaps there are business owners who would give good-paying jobs to these girls?
What a wonderful picture of Fort Wayne Transformed!
Picture it... Divorce lawyers choosing not to take divorce cases or (better yet) having to find alternative practices because they aren't getting any business. Strip clubs razed to the ground and, in their place, dance studios where young girls and boys can learn to dance before God! The closure of the abortion clinic!
The Lord is asking us for - and we, as a Church, need this - SEVEN DAYS of prayer and fasting for wisdom and revelation about our role and our ability to close these places down and cleanse our city.
Another thought... Think about this not as doing what's right, as servanthood, as another volunteer effort... No, think of this seven days as an act of WORSHIP before our God... to cleanse our land, to cleanse the House of God (Bethlehem / Fort Wayne, See Previous Post), that the name of our Lord may be known throughout our region and our nation!
EDIT:
God gave me this other picture tonight (1/16/07) of just what the SEVEN DAYS could be and could mean. God wants to raise up warriors; He wants them called out to this event. As God has shown that his desire is prayer for loneliness, broken relationships, sexual immorality, lust, divorce, etc., God said that he not only wants to heal our land but he wants to heal our PEOPLE through this event. God wants us to call forth warriors to prayer and fasting. Those he wants are the people who come from the broken relationships, men and women who've gone through a divorce, children of divorced parents, men who've looked at porn on the internet... people who have been hurt, weighed down and burdened by the sins (represented in the strip clubs) that rae rampant in our community. He wants to use them to pray down these walls and, in the process, to break down their own walls, allowing the River to flow into them and heal their hearts and their souls as He heals our land!
The Week of Prayer... Jesus and Our Lampstand
I was given this picture last Thursday I believe as we were in the middle of the week of prayer over Fort Wayne. We had been praying through the seven churches in Revelation and I was given this picture.
The Lord is walking among you, Church of Fort Wayne. He has turned his gaze toward you. He has seen your Lamp, sometimes strongly burning, sometimes wavering to and fro ready to go out. Jesus wants you to know that He has turned to you to give you what you need. He is looking upon you, evaluating you. He has found only one thing lacking - Oil for your lamp. Where is the oil for your lamp, Church of Fort Wayne?
The Lord wants to pour oil onto and into your lamp, Church of Fort Wayne, so that you may shine brighter, stronger, cleaner and purer than you ever have before, and your light will not waver and not go out, ever.
I believe the Lord is seeking a Psalm 23/133 reality. He wants to anoint our heads with oil until our cup overflows and then
SET US ABLAZE!!!
The Lord is walking among you, Church of Fort Wayne. He has turned his gaze toward you. He has seen your Lamp, sometimes strongly burning, sometimes wavering to and fro ready to go out. Jesus wants you to know that He has turned to you to give you what you need. He is looking upon you, evaluating you. He has found only one thing lacking - Oil for your lamp. Where is the oil for your lamp, Church of Fort Wayne?
The Lord wants to pour oil onto and into your lamp, Church of Fort Wayne, so that you may shine brighter, stronger, cleaner and purer than you ever have before, and your light will not waver and not go out, ever.
I believe the Lord is seeking a Psalm 23/133 reality. He wants to anoint our heads with oil until our cup overflows and then
SET US ABLAZE!!!
Thursday, January 4, 2007
Catching Up... One Thing
So I seem to be the last person in my household who has yet to blog about my fascination with One Thing. There's so much still downloading into my brain and (more importantly) into my heart that I don't really know where to begin.
I must say I preferred the teaching above the worship. Wow. I don't really know how I could say that, given the exorbitant party held for Jesus on New Year's Eve. But, yeah, the teaching was profound, intriguing and thought-provoking (very good for a 2L, deep-thinker that I am). There's just so much there. Tidbits...
I attended all four sessions on Leadership (two tracks on Full Time Ministry and two on Called to Leadership) because I think that is where God wants to take me. Anyway, there was one on the Five Fold Ministry (Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Preachers, Teachers) where the instructor spent almost two hours and didn't even get to the evangelists, preachers and teachers. The most powerful thing he stated at least to me was at the end when he stated that the key to having, attaining, and/or maintaining one of these "offices" in the church was a foundation in the Sermon on the Mount, on essentially character development before leadership. He talked abit about the book God's Generals and Ted Haggard and other leaders in the church that messed up, forgot their oil, and ended up ruining their respective churches, movements, etc. So I decided that since I am essentially in none of the five roles right now, though I would like to attain to some (apostleship seems the most me), I believe that I will simply focus on character development and filling my cup with oil.
I love Mike Bickle's sermon on the ten virgins, the five with ministries that went out in the middle of the night because they had left their oil behind and the five with lights that never went out because they maintained oil in their lamps. I SOOO was given direction from there in our prayer time back to Psalm 23: Thou anoint my head with oil until my cup overflows. I had a song in my head that was slow and melodic asking the Lord to anoint me with oil followed by a very fast transition to the words "and then SET ME ABLAZE!" God gave me so much at the conference I still don't understand most of it. Two more things, both from the solemn assembly... I felt like three times that I had oil on my hands. Second, I saw this picture of me kneeling down and praying and very literally being a ball of fire, not one that consumed me but one that emanated from me while I was praying. That was cool.
More stuff... Allen Hood talked twice and I love his preaching and I would love to go to the FSM to sit under his wisdom but the more I think about it the more I ask God to simply fill me with His wisdom Himself that I might live out a life of meekness before God and be given my own stories and own experiences from Him. One of the things Allen talked about was preaching in the End-Times and how much the stereotype needs broken of pastors leading small (500 or 1000) member congregations for 30-40 years and then retiring without ever actually doing anything for the Kingdom to true, passionate, bold preachers to the nations who will not stop with the limited scope of 1000 member churches but will truly minister to the nations. Allen also talked about why we aren't that way now, specifically mentioning how lies and deceit have worked their way into our lives and into our churches. For me personally, I can say that when I was growing up I wanted to be a preacher. This was back when I was like seven and saw my Dad and other role models doing it. But then the disqualification came, with me accepting things like how I don't talk right, I'm not eloquent enough, etc. Things like a deacon in my church telling me not to read Revelation because "it's too confusing and you won't understand it" at age 10, a year after I was saved. Anyways, long story short, I believe that I have been told to reclaim this calling to preach (though the whole apostle thing might come later). I want to do things like go back to the church I grew up in and scold them wretchedly about how wrong they were/are and how they need to repent. But I can't do that in love yet so I'm going to wait until then to do that. I'm interested to see what Ben needs of me as part-time/full-time staff.
Oh, when I reach heaven and God asks me what I did during my 70 year internship, my answer will now be "I love Jesus." Not I did this or that (obviously because works don't do it) and not as much "I claim the blood of Jesus" because that mentions Him but now my response to what He did. I will now say "I love Jesus!" (Can I get married now? When does the honeymoon begin? :-)
I must say I preferred the teaching above the worship. Wow. I don't really know how I could say that, given the exorbitant party held for Jesus on New Year's Eve. But, yeah, the teaching was profound, intriguing and thought-provoking (very good for a 2L, deep-thinker that I am). There's just so much there. Tidbits...
I attended all four sessions on Leadership (two tracks on Full Time Ministry and two on Called to Leadership) because I think that is where God wants to take me. Anyway, there was one on the Five Fold Ministry (Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Preachers, Teachers) where the instructor spent almost two hours and didn't even get to the evangelists, preachers and teachers. The most powerful thing he stated at least to me was at the end when he stated that the key to having, attaining, and/or maintaining one of these "offices" in the church was a foundation in the Sermon on the Mount, on essentially character development before leadership. He talked abit about the book God's Generals and Ted Haggard and other leaders in the church that messed up, forgot their oil, and ended up ruining their respective churches, movements, etc. So I decided that since I am essentially in none of the five roles right now, though I would like to attain to some (apostleship seems the most me), I believe that I will simply focus on character development and filling my cup with oil.
I love Mike Bickle's sermon on the ten virgins, the five with ministries that went out in the middle of the night because they had left their oil behind and the five with lights that never went out because they maintained oil in their lamps. I SOOO was given direction from there in our prayer time back to Psalm 23: Thou anoint my head with oil until my cup overflows. I had a song in my head that was slow and melodic asking the Lord to anoint me with oil followed by a very fast transition to the words "and then SET ME ABLAZE!" God gave me so much at the conference I still don't understand most of it. Two more things, both from the solemn assembly... I felt like three times that I had oil on my hands. Second, I saw this picture of me kneeling down and praying and very literally being a ball of fire, not one that consumed me but one that emanated from me while I was praying. That was cool.
More stuff... Allen Hood talked twice and I love his preaching and I would love to go to the FSM to sit under his wisdom but the more I think about it the more I ask God to simply fill me with His wisdom Himself that I might live out a life of meekness before God and be given my own stories and own experiences from Him. One of the things Allen talked about was preaching in the End-Times and how much the stereotype needs broken of pastors leading small (500 or 1000) member congregations for 30-40 years and then retiring without ever actually doing anything for the Kingdom to true, passionate, bold preachers to the nations who will not stop with the limited scope of 1000 member churches but will truly minister to the nations. Allen also talked about why we aren't that way now, specifically mentioning how lies and deceit have worked their way into our lives and into our churches. For me personally, I can say that when I was growing up I wanted to be a preacher. This was back when I was like seven and saw my Dad and other role models doing it. But then the disqualification came, with me accepting things like how I don't talk right, I'm not eloquent enough, etc. Things like a deacon in my church telling me not to read Revelation because "it's too confusing and you won't understand it" at age 10, a year after I was saved. Anyways, long story short, I believe that I have been told to reclaim this calling to preach (though the whole apostle thing might come later). I want to do things like go back to the church I grew up in and scold them wretchedly about how wrong they were/are and how they need to repent. But I can't do that in love yet so I'm going to wait until then to do that. I'm interested to see what Ben needs of me as part-time/full-time staff.
Oh, when I reach heaven and God asks me what I did during my 70 year internship, my answer will now be "I love Jesus." Not I did this or that (obviously because works don't do it) and not as much "I claim the blood of Jesus" because that mentions Him but now my response to what He did. I will now say "I love Jesus!" (Can I get married now? When does the honeymoon begin? :-)
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