Saul, The Company of Prophets and The Gospel

I haven't been blogging lately because I've been working on a Prophetic Bible study
 

Soaring in the Prophetic

Here is an excerpt from Soaring:

Saul wasn’t known as a prophet or as one among their company. But, in 1 Samuel 10 we read that the Spirit of God would come upon Saul and he would prophesy when he met up with this group of prophets. We also read the prophets were known by Samuel to carry musical instruments.

1 Sa 10:5-6 "After that you shall come to the hill of God where the Philistine garrison is. And it will happen, when you have come there to the city, that you will meet a group of prophets coming down from the high place with a stringed instrument, a tambourine, a flute, and a harp before them; and they will be prophesying. "Then the Spirit of the LORD will come upon you, and you will prophesy with them and be turned into another man. 

Could it be that this is why Saul wanted David in his kingdom?  Because Saul remembered back in the beginning, when he first met the prophets how the Spirit of God would come when the music was played?  Was this why Saul called David to come play his harp when he was in torment, because he remembered the prophets, their music and the Holy Spirit? 

1 Sam 16:23 And so it was, whenever the spirit (evil) from God was upon Saul, that David would take a harp and play it with his hand. Then Saul would become refreshed and well, and the distressing spirit would depart from him. 

This also is probably a significant reason why people receive Jesus Christ when they come to church – The enemy can’t handle the worship and leaves the tormented unbeliever for a while – long enough for the person to encounter God and hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  The Gospel – Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh, crucified in love, raised in power, calling every person to receive Him – this should be offered in every service.

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During Prayer...

I believe the Lord spoke this to me while in prayer this morning:

Many of you are drained of energy and there doesn’t seem to be enough hours in the day for you to do all you need to get done. The Lord says, Consider your ways! As I put holes in the wage bags in Haggai so I put holes in your time bags. Return to Me says the Lord. I have dried up your time as I dried up the dew in Haggai. The noose of the world has been strangling you – break free of it by returning to Me with all your heart. I will break it off you as you return to Me.  You say, “I serve the Lord”, but you worship Me while you serve your idols (2 Kings 17:41). There is much work to be done in this hour. There is much Anointing to be poured out for those who have the wisdom to purchase it (Matthew 25).  Don’t be found wanting in this day – it is an hour like none other on the face of the earth.  There is a cloud on the horizon the storm is coming, get ready.  What do we do you ask? Return to Me with all your heart, in prayer and fasting and the wisdom you need will be given to you. It is not hard but it is costly. The flow of evil is at the door of the nations. Be strong and resist the flow in your lives and the lives of your family and friends. Stand in the gap and exhort one another today while it is still called day.

The Time of John – The Time of the Messenger

The Time of John – The Time of the Messenger

When God is about to do something new there is a time between the old and the new called “The Time of the Messenger” or “The Time of John”.  It is a time of intense ardent pursuit of the Kingdom of God, a violent pursuit to usher in and be a part of the new. We are in such a time.

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When Herod started killing babies the Jews ought to have realized something was stirring in the Kingdom of God; the enemy always tries to hinder what God is up to.  The Jews should have paused and remembered Moses, the slaughter of the babies by Pharaoh and their deliverance from Egypt. 

It had been nearly 400 years since the prophets and now this crazy man named John showed up on the scene and was telling the people to repent and be baptized.  Something was stirring.  The people asked John if he was the Prophet, Elijah or the Christ; “Who are you so we can tell those who sent us?” John’s response was startling, “"I am the voice of one calling in the desert, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’" Some liked John and came to the baptism waters others scoffed. Had the echo of Herod’s slaughter already been wiped from their memory?  Some understood some didn’t.

Are we any different? Do we realize the time in which we live?  The unborn are being murdered before their first breath. Why is satan so outraged at this generation?  Could it be he knows his time is short and the generation which will resist his kingdom out of loving obedience to the Lord Jesus is upon the face of the earth?  

When God is about to move dynamically upon the Earth He sends out His messengers (like John), some people hear and respond to the call and some people don’t. The message is still ringing “prepare the way for the Lord” will we respond and rise to the occasion to seek His Face and advance with Him in His Kingdom?  Will we hear the sound and respond?

I believe this is a unique time on the earth.  Like the scripture below in Matthew 11 – The flute has been piping and the dirge has been sung. We have heard it, have we responded?  God has spoken and has been calling to this generation through many means: the prophets, signs in the earth, disasters, wars, world leaders rising and falling, the economy, the ability to plant chips in people and many others.  The end is not here but the sun is definitely setting upon this age!  Are we ready for what is coming?  The birth pains are here, the olive tree has sent out its tender shoot – 

How will you respond in the Time of the Message?

Hear this scripture from Matthew 11:

Matthew 11

As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: "What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written: "’I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way before you.’

I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the Kingdom of Heaven is greater than he. From the days of John the Baptist until now, the Kingdom of Heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. He who has ears, let him hear.

"To what can I compare this generation? They are like children sitting in the marketplaces and calling out to others: "’We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge, and you did not mourn.’ For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Here is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners."’ But wisdom is proved right by her actions."

Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent.  "Woe to you, Korazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you.  And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted up to the skies? No, you will go down to the depths. If the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day.  But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you."

At that time Jesus said, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.

What will you response be?

Hearing God Lesson #3

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Hearing God Lesson #3

God Uses Everyday Life to Reveal Spiritual Truth

Saturday George and I went rock hunting up in the mountains near Boise, Idaho; I love rocks.  As we drove up highway 55 toward McCall we noticed a large pile of rocks probably from a landslide which at one time covered the highway; it was filled with dried mud, wood and rock.  I of course couldn’t pass up the opportunity to check it for some beauties. 

As I scaled the pile of debris I saw a beautiful rock whose tip was just peeking out the top. As I continued to look more and more tips were visible but they were hard to find because their beauty was nearly completely covered in mud.

They were my favorite colors, deep camel, crystals, and black shiny stuff.  I found myself brushing off mud from rocks which I thought could be what I was looking for but it was difficult because of all the mud.  Some of the rocks cut my hands as I brushed off the ugliness from them. 

But then something awesome happened – it began to rain!  The water from the rain washed the mud off the rocks revealing their beauty.  As I observed this The Lord whispered something like, “This is much like the washing of water through the Word of God in your own life”.  As I thought about this a few places in scripture came to mind, one is: 

Ephesians 5 says, Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.

God reminded me of a spiritual truth through an everyday activity.  In the Bible we can see Jesus did exactly the same thing; He would take everyday life things and reveal spiritual truth through them - For example the parable of the Sower and the Seeds found in the Gospels or the Lost Coin.  God does this because when we have something to attach a spiritual truth to it is easier to remember it...I doubt I will ever look for rocks again without thinking about the water washing off the mud to reveal the beauty again.  

The principle truth God is getting at here is - The Word of God is so important; It has dynamic power in our lives and can pierce though our thoughts and transform our thinking.  It cleanses us as we read and as we hear God speaks - It is like taking a spiritual shower! 

This is another example of how God speaks to us but it is easy to miss if we don’t know His Word or His languages.  When something catches your attention ask the Lord, “Are You trying to speak to me through this?” And keep reading the Bible since in it we find the principles of God’s communication to us. 

Remember: He who comes to God…must believe He rewards those who seek Him!

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Change is Coming, Change is Here – Keep in Step

Change is Coming, Change is Here
Keep in Step

God is changing the way we see the church; Things are shifting now and quickly!

God is raising up and sending out the Haggais and the Zerubbabels for the rebuilding work.

What you don’t understand, don’t reject rather reevaluate what you believe.

Many many are bulking at what they see as traditional church and the way things are done.

Discontentment is soaring – to bring in the new – marry discontentment to prayer and the Word – As The Lord spoke this I knew He was tying it to the outcry of the Israelites in Egypt (Exodus 3).

The Holy Spirit is again brooding over the face of the deep – light is about to shine in the darkness again!

The moving of the Holy Spirit has been laying a foundation – I have already begun to build on that foundation, says the Lord.  Keep step with Me. This will take much laying aside of previous ways and thoughts and beliefs.  I am doing a new thing – even now it springs up – can you not discern it.  Look around you and you will see – look back even 10 years and see the change which has taken place in the earth and in My church.  

Today, if you will but turn to Me with all your heart then I will reveal Myself you and I will reveal yourself to you that you may repent and turn to Me!  I want you to partake of what I am doing – much Harvest is coming in!  Prepare the nurseries, put in place what needs to be prepared for them so it will be ready when they come – I will evaluate your obedience that you may receive more and more and more Anointing and revelation!  

Many have not stayed in step with My Spirit and are living on yesterday’s manna and revelation – Consider your ways and turn to me in fasting and prayer and I will again bring the light of revelation into your life and church.  I am moving, I am turning the pages of history, says the Lord, you are written on those pages, move forward with Me.

Hearing God Lesson #2 - The Audible Voice of God

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Hearing God Lesson #2

God speaks in many different ways, think of it as His languages.  We have all overheard people speaking foreign languages and understood to varying degrees what they were saying.  It is pretty much the same with God. 

Job 34 says:

For God may speak in one way, or in another, Yet man does not perceive it.

How then does God speak?  Both the New and Old Testament have many examples of God speaking though He isn’t confined to speaking in these ways.  The most advantageous thing we can do is get to know Him through the Bible and prayer.  As we get to know God in these ways we will better recognize His languages when He speaks – keeping in mind anything God says will not contradict the Bible.  I will go through some examples in the Bible of how God speaks and add personal experiences as we go, starting with God’s audible voice since it is the first account recorded in the Bible of God speaking to man.

The first time I heard an audible voice (it could have been God or an angel) was in 1985.  I was driving my car on a back road in Oregon; it was dark and I was coming upon an “S” curve when a voice from the backseat yelled “DEER!”!  (I thought I was alone)… I of course slowed way down and right there in the middle of the “S” curve was a deer. I believe God saved my life that night!

Over the course of walking with God now for almost 32 years I have heard an audible voice (if I counted right) 8 times – 3 of them are still a mystery to me, 1 I understood as time went by and the others made sense immediately.  By talking to others I understand this is rare to hear Him audibly at all… But even 32/8 = is only about every 4 years.  When God did speak audibly it was always very short and precise like “DEER” instead of “Hey, Berta there is a deer in the road right in the middle of the “S” curve so how about slowing down so you don’t die tonight.”  This is my experience with the audible voice of God, of course He can do whatever He wants and could speak in volumes audibly to others. 

What I would like you to take away from this is that God rarely speaks audibly but most young Christians are looking for the audible voice, hence frustration and disappointment and often a missing of the voice of God as He speaks in other ways. 

Remember – Hebrews 11:6 God rewards those who seek Him!

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Lesson #1 Hearing God

Lesson #1  Hearing God

I know of a young person who wants to learn to hear God; I’ve told them I’d share little lessons I’ve learned combining them with their scriptural tether. 

 

The Platform  to Hearing God:

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.  Hebrew 11:6

 

·      Faith is essential – ask Him to increase your faith

·      Faith pleases God – “I want to please You God and I know You are pleased that I want to hear You”

·      Must come to God – Constantly tell God you want to hear Him & set time aside daily for prayer

·      Must believe He is – “I believe You God” even if it seems you don’t – the very fact you are coming to Him reveals you truly do believe Him. Ask Him to help any unbelief you have (Mark 9:24)

·      Must diligently seek Him – “I won’t give up”

·      Must believe He rewards the seeker – put it back on Him – “You said You would reward me… I want to hear Your Voice”

Feel free to ask questions…

When God Leaves a Movement - Reason 5

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Introduction: 
Jesus said I will never leave you or forsake you. I am not discussing salvation in this article – I am talking about moves of God – revival, renewal and even some denominations. In the Book of the Revelation Jesus said some churches were in danger of having their candlestick removed – Jesus was speaking to churches as a whole not to individuals.  Individuals are dealt with differently than corporate groups or churches.  This article has in mind special times throughout history where there was a significant outpouring of God's Spirit.

When God Leaves a Movement

Sometimes what began as a genuine move of the Holy Spirit ends as a monument with the inscription:

“God Was Here”

Why does this happen?  

I’ve heard it said, “The devil knows he can’t stop revival so he adds to it.”  If the enemy can add the flesh, lies and heresies to what God is doing then the Holy Spirit will leave and let the flesh and the enemy have their way.  And since people are all too often willing participants, moves of God tend to ebb longer than they flow. Also, detrimental to a movement is when devotion to Jesus Christ is replaced with programs, formulas, and laws. When this happens we enter into a man-made Christianity – true Christianity is Christ-centered and Holy Spirit lead.

Consider these two scriptures:

Galatians 3: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh?

James 3: Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic.  For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there.

Notice how James says, every evil thing are there? No wonder The Holy Spirit backs off from a movement when we are trying to control it by the flesh; He won’t anoint the flesh – He anoints what is of His Spirit! 

Quite some time ago a glacier dammed up the Columbia River in Washington State backing up the water into Idaho, Montana and Oregon; during this time the river took an alternate route and flowed over a cliff creating an enormous water fall nearly 10 times the size of Niagara Falls!  After the glacier melted the Columbia returned to its previous channel leaving a scalloped landscaped and the now, awesome Dry Falls (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry_Falls). We traveled to see this remarkable sight in the late 1990s and as I looked over to the chiseled cliff which was once the massive water fall the Lord spoke to me and said, “Where the river once flowed it flows no more.” Along with His Voice was the understanding that the Dry Falls is a monument to past moves of God – Where His River once flowed It flows no more!  

I believe The Lord is in the process of raising up a people in these days who will not bow to the flesh and its desires but who will be a people on their knees; humble and led by the Holy Spirit, willing to do things His way, a people who can be trusted with gifts, power, and Anointing.  Let us be those kind of people!

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time… 1 Peter 5

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Why I Love and Value the Prophetic: 5

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Why I Love and Value the Prophetic

Revelation for the Local Church

When we look at the Book of Revelation chapters 2 an 3 we find an amazing revelation of the Heart of God to His 7 churches.  In these two chapters Jesus Christ speaks to each church through the aggelos (ang’-el-os:  a messenger, envoy, one who is sent, an angel) of each church, giving revelation for their particular situation; He rebukes where needed, encourages when needed, He gives praise, and also points out what must be done for them to be successful before God if their lampstand is in jeopardy of being removed. The Lord still has specifics for churches today, some as severe as we see in The Book of Revelation and others not as severe – just guidance and correction to varying degrees.  The Prophetic when spoken into these situations can give precision in helping the church become more effective and pleasing to the Lord. 

Here is such a story.

Some years back the Lord had us at a church in a university town. During the months the university students were in town we as a church spent much time and resources focusing on them; their needs, their strengthening and their spiritual maturity.  However, as is the case in most university town churches attendance during the summer was much lower than at other times of the year leaving us mostly families with children while the students were away.

One day The Holy Spirit showed me a moving picture of the life of a tree.  In this movie the tree went through all the seasons of the year highlighting different stages the tree went through during each season. In spring the tree was fertilized and blossomed; summer it bore fruit (the fruit having seeds); autumn came, the leaves blew away; winter with pruning and the tree went through the cycle again. 

I shared this revelation with the leaders of our church; after some discussion and prayer we concluded God was giving us direction for our church.  The Tree itself represented the local church.  The tree (as it would look in winter with bare branches, the trunk and root system) was representative of the people who were there year round – the strength of the tree.  The fertilizer represented what we were supposed to do while the students were away so we would blossom.  The fruit – the students who were with us for awhile but then were picked off the tree and became nourishment for others and having the seed within they were able to reproduce themselves (2 Tim 2:2); finally, the leaves which blew off in the wind represented the students leaving at the end of the school year. 

Though this simple movie The Lord revealed His will for our church; we were to invest heavily in strengthening the community of believers who were there year round while the students were away for the summer. During the summer months the leaders changed the focus and format of the meetings in order to obey the revelation from the Holy Spirit.

This is just one account of the way the prophetic can impact a local church and of how the prophetic should yield to and work with the leadership of a church.

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