Prophetic Dream About 2 Timothy 2:2

I had a prophetic dream the other night. It is a message for some—not all.

In my dream I had a child of someone who I had invested in spiritually for years staying with me. After a couple days the child (probably somewhere between 6-9 years old) came up to me tugging on his diaper asking me if I was ever going to change it. I was filled with all kinds of questions and felt as though I had let my friend and her son down by not noticing he would need his diaper changed. At the same time I kept thinking that I hadn’t even considered that this child would still be in diapers. At his age he shouldn’t need someone to help him in the very basics of growing up—to be potty-trained. He should have even been able to help a younger brother or sister by now, but he couldn’t because he wasn’t trained himself. Sounds like Hebrews 5.

When I awoke I felt bad like I hadn’t done enough for my friend. Then, knowing it was prophetic, I began to pray asking the Lord what He meant by the dream. The Lord answered and gave me 2 Timothy 2:2, “And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” His message was not about my friend and me, it was about passing down the value of discipleship to the next generation.

Have we done a good job discipling others, if we have not instilled in them the same value of making disciples who would in turn make disciples, who would in turn make disciples…? Some have, I am sure, while others have not. This is a call from the Holy Spirit to focus on making disciples who will reproduce disciples. It is a call to focus on the generations to come by highlighting the necessity of 2 Timothy 2:2.

Jehu and the Prophet's Son

2 Kings 9:11-13

[After a prophet’s son, sent by Elisha, prophesied to Jehu] Then Jehu came out to the servants of his master, and one said to him, “Is all well? Why did this madman come to you?” And he said to them, “You know the man and his babble.” And they said, “A lie! Tell us now.” So he said, “Thus and thus he spoke to me, saying, ‘Thus says the LORD: “I have anointed you king over Israel.”’” Then each man hastened to take his garment and put it under him on the top of the steps; and they blew trumpets, saying, “Jehu is king!”

Berta paraphrase: “These prophets and their sons are insane crazies. But humor us why did he come to you and what did he say? We know they only babbled madness. Entertain us, what did he say?” … “Oh wait, he said what? He said you are king!! We like that…Jehu is king!!”

What happens when people cannot recognize the word of the Lord when they hear it. We are called mad babblers, but then, when they like what they hear they claim it as true.

Where are the Teachers?

Where are the Teachers?

“Where are the teachers?” Over and over I kept hearing, “Where are the teachers?” Prophets and the prophetic in general, pastors and evangelists, and even apostles (though they may be called denomination heads or superintendents), are widely accepted by the Charismatic Christian community. But are teachers? Are 5-fold equipping teachers embraced by the Charismatic church at large? (All overseers must be able to teach, but not all overseers are 5-fold governmental teachers.)

As the Holy Spirit asked me where the teachers were, He showed me a picture of a train to speak about the 5-fold ministry and the church.

Blueprints for the train were given to Apostle. Apostle helped others see their part in building the train, since the train is built as each member does its work.

Pointing the train in the right direction was Prophet. Prophet saw conditions ahead and helped others to see too. I saw Prophet leaning out the side of the train into the future. Wind blowing in their face—stretching and pointing ahead trying to get those they had gathered around them to see what and as they saw.

Pastor’s main concern and focus was for those on the train. I saw that Pastor reproduced their ministry in others; therefore, those on the train began to serve and take care of one another due to the ministry of Pastor.

Leaning out the window at every stop was Evangelist. They were pleading with all to get on aboard. Evangelist ran up and down the train's aisles to stir up as many as possible trying to get them involved—to get them to see the condition of the people off the train. Evangelist caused quite a commotion.

And Teacher—Teacher’s function and key ministry was to keep the train on the tracks. Teacher knew it took quite a bit of skill and study to maneuver through the storms and winds, but they found great joy in doing so and in teaching others to do so, as well. Teacher knew the train was built to run on the tracks and there was great danger if the train got off the tracks.

The Lord, furthermore, spoke about the Holy Spirit’s fire that burns fuel to power the engine. There were different fuels and different ways that He converted it into power. The Lord is a consuming fire, and we are the sacrifice that is to be burned, along with the oil of His Spirit that we purchase. (Matthew 25) Our hearts should look like this train's firebox.

1 Thessalonians 5:19 warns and instructs us not to put out the Spirit’s Fire. Without fuel converted into power the train won’t go anywhere—except downhill.

Ephesians 4 says the purpose of the 5-fold is for equipping and edifying the church, so that she will grow up able to discern error, stand in truth, and promote growth by speaking the truth in love.

Doctrine that is off-center is incapable of keeping people biblically sound. It is also incapable for healthy growth and will not lead to the Kingdom of God manifesting on the earth through the church. The body of Christ needs teachers to break through erroneous doctrines and by the constraints of sound teaching move people who are off the tracks back onto the tracks.

However, truth comes at a cost. Paul said to the Galatians, “Have I become your enemies by telling you the truth?” Stephen was stoned after speaking truth to the Jews. When Jesus spoke the truth, “Before Abe was I AM,” the people picked up stones to kill Him on the spot. The Jews (and Romans) killed their Messiah—the Truth incarnate. Think about the Old Testament prophets and others who stood for truth—many were killed.

Here is an example of a teaching that will undoubtedly stir up some conflict. It is an example of why Charismatic churches need to embrace teachers.

I often hear, "You will also decree a thing, and it will be established for you; And light will shine on your ways.” (Job 22:28 NAS)

The point leaders are making is that we can decree a thing, as the church, and it will be established. So, people go on decreeing things they want done—maybe even things God wants done. The first time I heard this taught some years ago, I felt uncomfortable. When I got home I looked up the scripture in the Bible. I found it in Job 22:28 NAS.

There are rules for Bible exegesis. Context is one of those rules. “Decree a thing, and it will be established for you” was spoken by Eliphaz the Temanite! God said to Eliphaz in Job 42:7, “My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.” (NKJV) To use Job 22:28, spoken by Eliphaz, as a proof-text that we can make a decree and it will be established is completely against sound Biblical exegesis. We cannot pull from Eliphaz’s words to establish a doctrine—he did not speak accurately about God! There is another who didn’t speak accurately about God and I don’t imagine we want to quote him for a proof-text either.

A teacher should inspire others to pursue truth. They should not be boring information providers. They should speak under the Anointing of the Holy Spirit and ignite others to search out the scriptures. They should equip others on how to study the Bible, receive the truth within, and rightly handle the Word of Truth.

A teacher should whet the appetite of those they instruct.

A teacher keeps the church on the tracks.

satan is a community organizer

The other day as I was reading Hebrews another scripture gusted into my thinking – “truth is fallen.” This scripture is from Isaiah 59:14-15a, “Justice is turned back, And righteousness stands afar off; For truth is fallen in the street, And equity cannot enter. So truth fails, And he who departs from evil makes himself a prey.” In context Isaiah 59 is about the dark-heartedness of people and says that God was astonished that there was no man to intercede…so He did it Himself. Isaiah goes on to say, “When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him.” (59:19) Although Isaiah 59 is specifically prophetic about Jesus Christ coming to save us, most Old Testament prophecies have at least duel applications.

satan is a community organizer

How was it that Jesus was finally put to death? Not by what means, as in the Cross and the nails, but rather why did the people kill their Messiah King? What set the stage for such a diabolical rage of the mass?

From the time of Jesus’ birth satan wanted this One – this Only Begotten – DEAD! It seems obvious that it was he who incited Herod to kill ALL the babies around Jesus’ age, thus his evil pursuit began right after Jesus was born. Jesus however escaped due to his parents’ prophetic revelations from God. First to Egypt, then to Galilee. Later satan tempted Jesus in the desert trying to gain His allegiance through intrigue, but to no avail.

We know Jesus laid down His own life, but what was satan’s part? How did satan finally accomplish his evil scheme? Besides his brief appearance in the desert, while Jesus was fasting, the Bible doesn’t say much about what the enemy was doing between the birth and death of Jesus. So what was he up to? I think he was community organizing!

satan worked through the masses – the people. He knows the heart of man, apart from God, is desperately wicked, so they would be his pawns, his puppets – his ignorant allies.  He waged war through their thoughts, religion, jealousy, and through deception. He worked by enticing the soul of man. Man at his worst. Man’s twisted evil unregenerate soul. Then he gave them a channel through which their anger and hatred could flow. That is how satan worked out his evil scheme. He thought, “I can’t kill Him so I will incite others to do it for me. I will use their system, their framework, and their laws … their evil hearts will bow to me – they will do it for me! Yes, that is how it will work.” And it did.

This community organizer’s intrigue is on the rise again with increasingly intense acceleration. He is stirring up the masses by inciting hatred, flaring racial tensions, social tensions, religious tensions, and economic tensions. He is breaking down the doors wherever sin has been crouching. With every opportunity he is ravaging our streets – in our America, in our world.  

But what did the Lord say? “When the enemy comes in like a flood, The Spirit of the LORD will lift up a standard against him.” God is a community organizer too.

To be continued in Part 2...

"I AM-the-God-Who-Sees"

"I AM-the-God-Who-Sees."

"I AM-the-God-Who-Sees you." For some "I AM-the-God-Who-Sees you" (El Roi) strikes a chord of fear (minor of course), but in truth this is of great comfort. God sees us! He sees our struggles, He sees our finances, He sees our friendships, He sees our family, and He is the-God-Who-Sees me -- my heart, my thoughts, my intentions, my "why I do what I do"s; He is the God Who sees [me]. He is my El Roi!

How many times have I prayed "Jesus, save me![!!]"? Some days it is a prayer that reverberates repeatedly. No I'm not talking about the "Jesus save me" from hell. This "Jesus save me" is a crisis bellowing from deep within me and for no apparent reason except that I am faced once again with the realization that apart from Him I can do nothing.

Here I am, here -- right here -- in my life. I can think that we (George and I) have made all our decisions -- moving here, moving there, this job, that church, that..., this..., and on and on. But where is that in the life of a believer? The end of that kind of thinking is a pretty scary place. And it totally takes God's sovereignty out of the picture of our life -- your life, my life -- when His sovereignty is supposed to [and does] frame our lives.

Even if we have made decisions that weren't His best, our lives are still framed by Him. He surrounds us. He knows us. He loves us. He sees us!

Take comfort and regain some reliance that He is you El Roi too; He is the God Who Sees you!

From Genesis 16:13 "You-Are-the-God-Who-Sees."

Prophetic Lessons from Thessalonians

Prophetic Lessons from Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians 2:1-3a “Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come. Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed…”

2 Thessalonians is specifically directive concerning the coming of the Lord – His return. Nevertheless, it can educate us on how to navigate current winds, reports, and prophecies, whether true or not.

Because many people are out to gain reputation for themselves and promote their name (among other motivations) there are all sorts of perspectives and winds voiced. People who engage in self-promoting mindsets usually are not people of prayer, since having a vital prayer life keeps us from such foolishness. Note the attitude of our Lord Jesus from Philippians 2, “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form [morphe: internal manifesting externally] of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped [seized], but emptied Himself, taking the form [morphe] of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.” Because He was God, He lived as a servant. Furthermore, because He was God, He died. Intense!

Getting back to 2 Thessalonians. As stated, 2 Thessalonians is prophetic about the returning of our Lord Jesus. Since it is prophetic in nature, we also may be able to glean from it some helpful instructions on the prophetic. It seems there is so much more that resides within the depths of these scriptures.

Initially we have this exhortation, “do not be soon [hastily or quickly] shaken in mind or troubled...” This sets quite a sea-tossed stage in the Greek, denoting the imagery dominance of the word “shaken.” The Greek word means literally “the tossing or swell of the sea.”

Paul goes on to say how these winds can come to us, “either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us.” We may want to throw in “by phone, email, text, TV, radio, or web.” Demons can and do speaks lies to people that are then repeated through seemingly prophetic means. Throw into that mix people’s emotions and unspiritual thinking, you then end up with a ship tossed back and forth in hurricane force winds. (Sounds like Ephesians 4 – how desperately we need the 5-fold to rise up and equip the church!) Paul even says that these “prophecies” may even come through people in positions of authority “as if from us” – maybe even from people we trust in the church.

Basically, the Holy Spirit is saying, “Do not let things you hear create hurricane force winds in your thinking causing you to be frightened and alarmed.” Jesus said to take heed to both what [who, which, what] and how [in what way] we hear. Sometimes we do not have control over what we hear, but we always have control over how we hear. So, how can we be discerning and not tossed about? How can we stand stable in a fluctuating and violently blowing world?

First of all, as we hear it is essential we rely on the Holy Spirit and His Word to help us judge what we are hearing. Along with that let’s be courageous enough not to believe everything we hear no matter who we hear it from. Know God for yourself. Know His word so you have a context for things you hear. He has graciously granted us His anointing, Who teaches us all things. 1 John 2:27b (NIV) says, “But as His anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit —  just as it has taught you, remain in Him.” We can rely on His anointing to guide us through the tumultuous seas and guide our ship safely to its haven. It is not counterfeit though the liar wants us to believe it/He is! We have the ability through the Holy Spirit to make righteous sound judgments. In fact, we are supposed to. 1 Corinthians 2:15 says that the spiritual person judges all things. Let’s stop being blown around, grow up, and make righteous judgments. (As a side note, sometimes we don’t “hear” a true prophecy because it doesn’t apply to us. It is for others but not for us.)

Interestingly this exact theme is in John 14:25-29, spoken to the disciples by Jesus. He told them the Holy Spirit would guide them into all truth, that He would give them peace, and also that He was leaving and coming back again. There are plenty of reasons to live in the hurricane, but we can and should live in peace – peace that is discerning.

“These things I have spoken to you while being present with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you. Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

“You have heard Me say to you, ‘I am going away and coming back to you.’ If you loved Me, you would rejoice because I said, ‘I am going to the Father,’ for My Father is greater than I. And now I have told you before it comes, that when it does come to pass, you may believe.”

If you are in the hurricane, tossed to and fro, stop listening to the winds. Rely on His Spirit to guide you into truth. He is your Due North.

God Enjoys Revealing Secrets

God Enjoys Revealing Secrets

There are times when we think that God isn’t around; we feel lost and alone; we feel like God is silently leaving us with unanswered questions.

Hebrews 1 says that Jesus is the exact representation of the Father – the perfect imprint and very image of God, and that He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

In Luke 24, right after the Resurrection, two disciples were walking on the road towards Emmaus. They were sad and had many unanswered questions. Their Hope had died. But as they conversed Jesus actually joined them; He entered into their discussion. Interestingly they admitted later on that they could feel His Presence, though at the time they didn’t realize what was Him.

Jesus is the same today. He joins us even when we don’t recognize He is with us. He speaks truth to our hearts and opens up scriptures that are veiled. I just don’t think we often recognize Him. Jesus spoke in John of the Glorious Holy Spirit Whom He would send; He would teach us things and reveal things to come. He – the Holy Spirit – will “glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.” This is coupled with, “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth…”

Jesus said that the Holy Spirit would both tell us things and He would guide us into all truth. These are two different dynamics, though both are revelatory in nature. One is progressive, while on our journey down the Emmaus Road. It's truth spoken to us by the Holy Spirit and it builds upon itself. The other is a declaration – the text mood seems to point to an "in the moment" revelation – He will declare the things of Jesus to us.

However, three places in the New Testament the scriptures tell of times when He could not take people deeper or couldn’t feed them the meat of the Word (to the Corinthians, the Hebrews, and the disciples). Every time it was because they couldn’t handle it, not because God wanted to withhold the deeper things. The Father’s heart is to reveal the things of Jesus. Our hearts must be holy, set apart to Him; that good soil, prepared not only to hear, but also to allow that word to take root and bear fruit.

The Holy Spirit is always at work to guide us further down our Emmaus Road, but whether or not we hear Him, while on that road, is really up to us – our maturity. Daniel says “But there is a God in heaven who reveals secrets...” That is Who He is! He enjoys revealing His secrets. 

Jesus answers our questions when we can hear them. Sometimes He even answers our questions, but we don’t recognize it is Him – like the guys on the Emmaus Road. He sent us the Holy Spirit to lead us into all truth and to tell us things when we can bear them. Sometimes we don’t get answers because we cannot hear them yet. But, be assured that He is with us. He is walking with us. He may be veiled, our eyes may be restrained [divinely] from seeing Him, but be assured that He hears every word, sees every thought, and answers every question. Howbeit, when we can bear it.

John 16 “I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.”

Hebrews 1 “In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, and through whom he made the universe. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.”

Luke 24 “Now behold, two of them were traveling that same day to a village called Emmaus, which was seven miles from Jerusalem. And they talked together of all these things which had happened. So it was, while they conversed and reasoned, that Jesus Himself drew near and went with them.  But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.”

Reflections from Psalm 116:1-9

Reflections from Psalm 116:1-9

Do you ever wake up feeling like you are being visited by an unseen darkness — a dark gloom casting its encroaching shadow over you? Or maybe you just have had a great victory and now distress, sorrow, and possibly terror are feeding upon you? Something more than just tired; something more than from the natural realm. What is this? What happened? Psalm 116 give some great insight.

Psalm 116:1-9

“I love the LORD, because He hears My voice and my supplications. Because He has inclined His ear to me, Therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live. The cords of death encompassed me And the terrors of Sheol came upon me; I found distress and sorrow. Then I called upon the name of the LORD: "O LORD, I beseech You, save my life!" Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; Yes, our God is compassionate. The LORD preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me. Return to your rest, O my soul, For the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. For You have rescued my soul from death, My eyes from tears, My feet from stumbling. I shall walk before the LORD In the land of the living.”

First, the unknown psalmist (referred to as “Psalmist” henceforth) is reflecting back on an experience they had had saying that God had heard them when they had called upon Him. And because the intervention by God was seemingly so profound, Psalmist would now call upon Him as long as they lived! This adds to the weightiness of the experience Psalmist must have had—that now after being rescued by God in this attack they declare that He is worthy of the rest of their life!

Death, referred to in both verses 3 and 8, can be personified according to the Hebrew Lexicon. Listen to what the Psalmist is saying in verse 3, “The cords of (D)death encompassed me And the terrors of Sheol came upon me; I found distress and sorrow.” Sheol is the underworld, grave, hell, pit, abode of the dead, the place of no return, and “cord” can be anything from a cord, a rope, a territory, a band, or even a company. Doesn’t it sound like an unseen visitor, Death, paid the Psalmist a visit? Psalmist doesn’t fear for his life, rather he talks about his soul; his soul is who Death sees as its prey.

But, Psalmist has an encounter with the mighty Lord! His soul was in danger; he cried out to the Lord, and the Lord heard and delivered him! Psalmist, through this attack comes to know God as gracious, righteous, and compassionate. (We do come to know God better through our trials.) Psalmist says that God rescued his soul from (D)death, his eyes from tears, and his feet from stumbling. And that now because the Lord had dealt bountifully with him, he was returning to the land of the living. Do you ever feel like you too need to return to the land of the living? Maybe it could also be stated as, “You need a breath of fresh air."

So what’s my point? Many of us who sincerely live for the Lord and who are trying to make an impact in our culture—whether in or out of the church—are under assault by (D)death. We may feel (and that is a big word, because (D)death does prey on our emotions big time!) sad or strangled, or fretful, or like we are sinking into a black hole. If that fits how you feel—you are probably having an encounter with (D)death! But, there is good news! Jesus won and because He won we win too! It will take a bit of work to resist the devil, but be assured that Jesus won the victory over him and that victory is ours to walk (and stand) in. So resist your adversary and call upon the Name of the Lord! Prepaid freedom! Prepaid victory!

1 Peter 5:8-11 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist (to set one’s self against, to withstand, resist, oppose) him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.”

“But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

God the Chess Master

This morning as I was sitting with the Lord (as my friend, Richard, used to say) the Lord showed me a colossal chessboard before His Throne. The enormous board represents the earth and the pieces are the kings, rulers, nations, and peoples—even the devil. God was playing both sides of the board. Even though God was moving the piece around, each piece thought it was in control. I watched as some pawns became kings.

These can be fear-filled times. I know many people, even some of God’s people, awaken in the night with a sense of dread. Earth’s newsrooms are only the natural perspective of a very spiritual dynamic on the earth. And when we look at the earth’s stage naturally, yes it looks dreadful. But the proper vantage point is from a spiritual/Heavenly position. “Come up here, and I will show you things which must take place after this.”

The Book of Revelation is the finale of this age. Chess pieces are moving around the board. Nations and leaders and peoples are rising and falling. Chaos and darkness ensue. But, let us not miss the name of the book: The Revelation of Jesus Christ! The Bible clearly shows that God is in absolute control of Earth’s events and the Book of Revelation is no different. Many people when reading Revelation focus on the End-time events and completely miss the backdrop of the whole book—Jesus Christ is Lord, ruler over the kings of the earth.

Daniel puts it this way, “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever…” “He removes kings and raises up kings.” And Isaiah, “He brings the princes to nothing; He makes the judges of the earth useless. Scarcely shall they be planted, Scarcely shall they be sown, Scarcely shall their stock take root in the earth, When He will also blow on them, And they will wither, And the whirlwind will take them away like stubble.” This is the story of Pharaoh too. Romans 9 says, “For the Scripture says to Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.”” Pharaoh was a chess piece. An evil tyrant that God used for His purpose—a type of the anti-christ, the man of sin, the son of perdition (2 Thessalonians 2).

By Flickr.com user "Lukas"
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[CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)],
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The pawns who became kings are like King David. He started out as a nobody. Nothing about his family would have made him king. Except God found in David a man after His own heart. David spent his pre-king days, unbeknownst to him, in preparation for the throne. He did what did to protect his sheep…and he worshiped; he engaged with God. How many times I wonder, when he was ruling Israel did he wish he was out there…in the pasture…alone with God? His worship—his whole-hearted devotion—prepared him for kingship. The pawn became king.

God can and will move the progression of the End-time events without us, but that isn’t what He wants to do. He wants us to be engaged. He will always have those who will partner with Him. However, the stirring you feel, even the fear, is an invitation to be a part of what He is doing. Do not think God is even for a second out of control or at a loss as what to do next. Take heart! He is the chess Master and He controls both sides of the board.

Isaiah 24:21-26 “Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is He who sits above the circle of the earth, And its inhabitants are like grasshoppers, Who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, And spreads them out like a tent to dwell in. He brings the princes to nothing; He makes the judges of the earth useless. Scarcely shall they be planted, Scarcely shall they be sown, Scarcely shall their stock take root in the earth, When He will also blow on them, And they will wither, And the whirlwind will take them away like stubble. “To whom then will you liken Me, Or to whom shall I be equal?” says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high, And see who has created these things, Who brings out their host by number; He calls them all by name, By the greatness of His might And the strength of His power; Not one is missing.”

Self-Control

Self-Control 

Self-control is a fruit that the Holy Spirit produces in us. But does anyone else think that self-control is kind of bizarre? Think about it—self is controlling self. Self, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, is being controlled by self that is not under His influence. That is, self, influenced by the world, the flesh, and the devil is at war with self that wants to yield to the control of the Holy Spirit. That yielding to the Holy Spirit is self-control.

Lately I have listened to a few messages that have rocked my world. I highly recommend you listen to them!

One is by my good friend, Chris Hoff, while preaching at Jesus Pursuit Church, Albany, Oregon:

http://www.jesuspursuit.org/podcast//1-25-15%20Chris%20Hoff.mp3

The others are from Mike Bickle’s series: The Millennium: Heaven on Earth:

http://mikebickle.org/resources/series/the-millennium-heaven-on-earth

And the One Thing Conference: 2014:

http://mikebickle.org/resources/series/onething-conference-2014

All these messages emphasize the eternal rewards of God’s people in view of how they lived while on the earth. (See Luke 19:11-27.)

My blog could take a turn here; I could write on many subjects relating to these teachings. Listening to messages like the ones above move us to do great things: conquer worlds, slay demons, invent things, run for office, be the next Mother Theresa or Reinhard Bonnke, etc. But, I want to point to one aspect of ruling and reigning with Christ: Ruling and reigning your own self—self-control.

Proverbs 16:32 says, “He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.”

What God is after are people who know and love Jesus Christ and are yielded to His Spirit. These people will be strong, and carry out great exploits (Daniel 11:32 “Those who do wickedly against the covenant he shall corrupt with flattery; but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits.”) Great exploits are not necessarily outward visible taking of cities; maybe, but not necessarily. An example of this is also from Daniel. Daniel 10 tells of how Daniel spent 3 full weeks in mourning and fasting pleasant foods. (I’d say fasting takes self-control.) At the end of the 3 weeks a “man” came to Daniel revealing the warfare taking place while Daniel was fasting. The “man” called Daniel “highly esteemed” twice! Daniel didn’t conquer cities, but he did serve the Lord with whole-hearted devotion right where he was.

I know there is a lot more to Daniel than this one testimony of his fasting experience. Daniel served under 4 kings, was over the sorcerers in Babylon, interpreted dreams, and advised kings. But without self-control and whole-hearted devotion to the Lord Daniel’s story would read much differently. We read of King David—a man after God’s own heart—whose mighty devotion to God woos us all. However, it is hard to read about King David without remembering the tragedy of his lack of self-control. (“...he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.”) Moses too. Moses’ lack of self-control cost him entrance into the Promise Land. (“He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty…”)

Again, self-control is a product of living under the rule of the Holy Spirit in your life. Anyone who has the Holy Spirit living within them can live in self-control. All it takes is saying “No” to self and “Yes” to the Holy Spirit—very simple, and yet very difficult. The Holy Spirit has empowered us to live under His rule. He has already given us all things that pertain to life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3), but we must apprehend them and take them by force.

Titus 2, “It [the grace of God] teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age…”

True riches and rewards belong to those who have lived their lives by the leading of the Holy Spirit. Those who have followed the Lamb wherever He goes. To those who have made themselves ready. If you are called to the nations, go to the nations. If you are called to raise godly kids and fold clothes, then do it with all your might serving the Lord!

My point is that we call all please the Lord right where we are. Have a dynamic prayer life! Read your Bible! Love the Lord! Love those around you! And if God calls to somewhere else or to something else, then do that with all your heart too.

We can all live in such a way that we hear,“Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.”

Living in the Filter of His Presence

This morning I got my cup of coffee and routinely sat down to sip, read, and commune with the Lord. However, I opened my computer and began to read the news. And as I did this is what I saw.

I saw the Lord as a big screen. Not as a TV or movie screen, but as a filter-screen. He said that it is best not read the news until I first encounter Him. He will filter what is true and what is not true through His abiding anointing that lives inside me. (See 1 John 2) He will bring even what is true into proper focus—He will be a filter-wall for me [and you].

We live in days of great deception and open doors to fear—dread. The Middle East, parts of Europe, and large parts of Africa are swarming with the locust of ISIS. I went to sleep last night praying for my kids wondering if we could be on the brink of WWIII. Have I trained them to be led by His Spirit and to trust Jesus no matter what?

Yesterday I was prompted by the Lord to count it a privilege to live in these days, whether or not they are the End-Times. To live every day in the steps He preordained for us to walk in. No matter what we can live in victory if we are in Him.

We hear about the economy on the verge of bust. Others say great incredible financial blessings await us in 2015. People who are known as prophets prophesy both extremes. What are we supposed to believe?

Here is a truth encounter from Psalm 91

“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.” Surely He shall deliver you from the snare [trap] of the fowler And from the perilous pestilence. He shall cover you with His feathers, And under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler. You shall not be afraid of the terror by night, Nor of the arrow that flies by day, Nor of the pestilence that walks in darkness, Nor of the destruction that lays waste at noonday. A thousand may fall at your side, And ten thousand at your right hand; But it shall not come near you. Only with your eyes shall you look, And see the reward of the wicked.”

“Because you have made the LORD, who is my refuge, Even the Most High, your dwelling place, No evil shall befall you, Nor shall any plague come near your dwelling; For He shall give His angels charge over you, To keep you in all your ways. In their hands they shall bear you up, Lest you dash your foot against a stone. You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra, The young lion and the serpent you shall trample underfoot. “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high, because he has known My name. He shall 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 I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.””

This promise is not for the casual believer in Jesus. This psalm is written to those who dwell in His secret place—under His shadow. It is a promise of living without fear, living under His protection. If we do not live close to Him we will not have the confidence we need to live victoriously in this life. We know God does not cast a shadow (James 1:17); the point of Psalm 91 is that God’s Presence is always covering us, standing between us and danger. Nothing passes by Him unnoticed. Remember Jeremiah, the prophet, was given complete freedom to roam about the land while the rest of the nation was led into Babylonian captivity. (Jeremiah 40:4) Even while the sun is setting for some, it is rising for others.

I am not saying God is promising freedom from pain or freedom from heartache—or even death. But, we can be assured that in the midst of severe times we can trust the Lord that nothing comes near us without it being filtered through Him first. If we die, we are received into glory with a “Well done.” I don’t think that sounds so bad.

While we are alive, let’s live close to His heart. 

Let’s make a difference in the lives around us. 

Let’s impact the world for Jesus Christ.

The Reclamation

The Reclamation

The Lord began speaking “Reclamation” to me a few weeks ago. What I write will speak to some of you. Not all of us are in the same place, so if this is for you, allow the Holy Spirit to do His reclamation process in you. Furthermore, let Him take you beyond reclaiming what has been lost into claiming new lands and new territory inhabited by your enemies—the world, the flesh, or the devil.

To begin, think about your walk with the Lord right now. Pause. Reflect. Take as long as needed. Get understanding on where you are overall. We all have highs and lows, but overall, where are you? Have you lost ground or are you walking where you have attained?

As I said, the Lord began speaking “Reclamation” to me a few weeks ago. Reclamation is defined as: 

(Free Dictionary)

·      The act or process of reclaiming.

·      A restoration, as to productivity, usefulness, or morality.

(Merriam-Webster)

Ø  the act or process of reclaiming [relating to]

·      reformation, rehabilitation

·      restoration to use: recovery

Ø  reclaim

·      to get back (something that was lost or taken away)

·      to make (land) available for use by changing its condition

·      to get (a usable material) from materials that have been used before

·      the act or process of improving something or someone by removing or correcting faults, problems, etc.

I think we get the picture.

Here in Idaho it is a bright sunny [cold] day. I can see clearly out my windows. Everything looks crisp and beautiful. It’s like having on the right prescription of glasses—everything looks sharp and lovely. However, if my windows were covered in the toils of storms with wind thrown dirt and dust on them, outside would be a blur at best. Everything I saw would be tainted with the ugliness of my filter.

1 Corinthians 13 says that we see through a glass darkly. But we should see more clearly as we mature in the Lord. Proverbs 4:18, “The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.” Jesus put it this way, “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light. But if your eye is bad [the Greek is: full of labors, annoyances, hardships; diseased, blind; evil, wicked…], your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness!”

Getting back to, “Where are we now?” First of all, the Holy Spirit is in the business of Reclamation. He delights in reclaiming and restoring things that have been lost or stolen. Whether that is man who needs to be restored to God or whether it is in our own lives where we have lost ground. The Holy Spirit’s reclamation also takes things that were once unusable and worthless and gives them value and purpose. He does this even with the tragedies of our lives—He can and does cause all things work together for our good. And the Holy Spirit, as we allow Him to, takes every part of our person and wholly purifies and sanctifies us to God.

The flip-side, we have to work with Him. We have to repent. We have to change what we are doing, what we are thinking, what we are loving. We must change.

The Holy Spirit loves to takes us further and deeper in our walk with Him. He loves to reveal the deep things of God to us, bringing the light of revelation to our hearts. He delights in revealing Jesus to the human, and to all of creation. He leads us into new lands, arms us for victory, and puts to flight our adversaries. And, the Holy Spirit also loves to reconcile man to God, whether unbeliever or believer.

If you have lost ground—if your windows are a bit hard to see out of—ask Him for help. He is close. He is an ever present help. We must be honest with Him, though. It could be something such as losing ground in your battle with anger or weight control. The children of Israel were continuously fighting the inhabitants of Canaan, even though God had already given the land to Abraham and his descendants. If He is calling you to new victories, to conquer your Canaan—He goes before you to route your enemies. Follow His lead. Move when He moves, stop when He stops, and camp when He camps.

If there has been tragedy, heartache, bruises, or things you cannot even imagine God could redeem, He can. He is asking you to trust Him with even your very darkest places. God called the harlot, Rahab, into His linage of Jesus Christ. Her name is linked to Egypt, a sea-dragon monster, and evil. Yet, when she trusted God look what He did. He made her beautiful. He reclaimed her.

It is time to retake our land and move forward.

“See, I have set the land before you; go in and possess the land which the LORD swore to your fathers — to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob — to give to them and their descendants after them.” Deuteronomy 1:8