Kim Clement: Little Signs Have Come Along the Way - It's Going to Erupt

From The Den April 28, 2012 - From The Den:

Elijah saw the cloud the size of a man's hand. This is what happened, and it's important for all of you watching, for your own prosperity in the next seven years, starting almost immediately, that you listen and be patient. Remember what I taught you the other day; I said by patience you must possess your soul. In other words, don't let your soul get disrupted when something doesn't happen when you want it to happen.

We heard about Firepointe, we heard about Ford – we heard about lots of things, and some people are getting impatient (speaking of the Iraqi Dinar). These things happen in time. Obviously, there are moments where God says this is going to be released now, but this is what happened with Elijah: Elijah heard the sound of abundance. There were no clouds; there was no sign of abundance. He heard the sound; then he said to his servant, "Go, and look until you see it." Here comes the "optical fusion": The servant went looking six times. You know, he could have come back the fifth time and Elijah could have said, "Just forget it!" Six times he ran back and forth, and Elijah said, "Go back." On the seventh time he saw a cloud the size of a man's hand.

Fusion Brings Acceleration

The reason I'm taking over here just for a minute is because I'm getting something prophetic. When Elijah went from the brook – now, if you know the story, all of you – he was at the brook for three and a half years. A few months ago, I prophesied the three and a half years of famine in America has come to an end and the beginning of a seven-year period of acceleration. So, Elijah – the brook dried up; everything seemed to be at an end. That's where we're at – for a lot of people. We're at a place where the brook has dried up; you've lost your job, you don't have much finances, you have a lot of debt – we understand. However, let's look at the sign, please.

Elijah himself was at a place where there was no provision – no food for him. The raven stopped feeding him; the water ran dry. Instead of him sitting there and moping, God says to him, "Go to a place; I've commanded blessing." So, he goes to this town and there's a woman who's a widow that has no money, who's about to die with her last little piece of bread. That's God's way of doing it: He's connecting Elijah with an impossible situation so that she can be blessed.

Now listen carefully; the reason I'm saying this is not (just) for any reason but to let you understand when I start prophesying to listen to the little things that are coming out.

So, what was it that he used? What was it that she was picking up to make the last meal? And what came out of it was flour, the wheat, and she had oil. Now let's just think about this – she's picking up sticks, dust from the earth, stones, all kinds of just junk, and what we've prophesied about now, from the earth will come all these little things and come energy. In her energy, there was a mixture of all these little things so she could have her last meal. I found it interesting that from the earth she was gathering, and she was almost at her end; and God is using this example – how there will be oil that will not run dry, that will not come to an end until the day the Lord sends rain to the earth. That was the start of it, where God said, "I'm going to bring a new source of energy," and then she was taken care of.

Then he moved up to the mountain and called fire from Heaven, the sacrifice was made, and then the seventh time, when the servant looked, there was a small cloud. What happened after that? He said, "Run like you've never run before, because it's going to come quickly." My point to you is this: Little signs have come along the way, but when it begins to show – (from Kim's online broadcast: what Sunil is doing is showing you the little cloud the size of a man's hand). He's saying, "It's going to erupt."I'm just showing you so you can see it, because the minute the servant saw it, that's when Elijah said, "Let's go."

That's "optical fusion" we're talking about, because the minute the servant saw what Elijah heard from God, that fusion brought about acceleration, and that's why I'm saying to you keep your eye open – for the Firepointes, and everything else. It's going to happen, and God's going to prosper you as a result of it.

Kim Clement
Prophetic Image Expressions
Email: hope@kimclement.com

Bobby Conner: The Goodness of God

The Spirit of Truth is highlighting this powerful Psalm (below). I know your heart will be encouraged and your spirit lifted by these powerful promises.

For the Lord God is a Sun and Shield; the Lord bestows [present] grace and favor and [future] glory (honor, splendor, and heavenly bliss)! No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. Psalm 84:11 Amplified Bible

When we make the choice to put God's Kingdom first in our life, then He is released to open Heaven's treasures to us (see Matthew 6:33). The pathway of blessing is the pathway of surrender and obedience to the will and Word of God (see Psalm 19:7-14). We are told if we obey the Word of God, the blessings of God will overtake us (see Deuteronomy 28:2).

Give attention again to Psalm 84:11: "For the Lord God is a Sun..."The sun gives light and life, warmth, comfort, and beauty to the creation. This passage speaks of God as the source of light, joy, happiness, and peace.

"...And Shield..." – speaks of protection (see Psalm 27:1-14).

"The Lord bestows [present] grace and favor and [future] glory..."– Grace, or favor, here; glory, or honor, in the days to come (see 2 Corinthians 6:2). God will bestow all needful favor on His people in this life. Grace and glory are connected. Grace and favor comes before glory; glory always follows where grace and favor are given.

"No good thing will He withhold...!" This promise is revealed inPsalm 23:1: "The Lord is my Shepherd; I shall not want."

In Nahum 1:7 we discover the fact that God is good! And He is helpful to all that trust in HIM: "The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him."

It is as we focus our thoughts and mind upon Christ that He floods our heart with overwhelming peace (see Isaiah 26:3).

Bobby Conner
Eagles View Ministries
Email: manager@bobbyconner.org

Bill Yount: A Work In Progress

Philippians 1:6 (MSG) There has never been the slightest doubt in my mind that the God who started this great work in you would keep at it and bring it to a flourishing finish on the very day Christ Jesus appears.

Each one of us is a work in progress. God is not through working on any of us. This is one reason we cannot judge one another.

Where I'm living, there is a construction site nearby. I can't escape it. Right when I turn on to the main road there it is. A major four-way intersection under construction causing traffic to stand still and people to go crazy. The bank I'm customers with is right on the corner of it. Going inside the bank you get to breathe dust, as they are remodeling the bank after tearing half of it down to make room for these new sophisticated routes of traveling.

Many Times God Uses a Red Light To Speak To Us

I am not judging the construction workers, but I am convinced that my two flat tires within three days on the same tire was caused by pieces of metal debris picked up from crossing through that intersection. The other day, I was waiting again in a line of traffic backed up what seemed to be a mile. The light changed and, being in a hurry, we began to move slower than I wanted.

Finally approaching the intersection, the light turned red personally just for me right before I could go through. That did it. Sitting there, I felt like getting out of my car and shouting to every construction worker at the top of my lungs, "Would you please stop working on this intersection? I can't take this anymore!" (But I didn't.) Sitting there, waiting for the light to change, there came a moment of stillness and the Lord whispered to me, "But wait till you see when it is finished. Wait till you see when it is finished."

When Things Appear To Be Falling Apart, They Could Be Actually Falling Together!

I believe there are many people right now like me who are a work in progress. The Lord has been working overtime in your life, although things seem to be falling apart and going crazy. You have been tempted to say, or maybe have said to Him, today, "Would You please stop working on me? I can't take it anymore!" But I sense the Lord saying to you, "But wait till you see when I am finished. Wait till you see when I am finished. Things are not falling apart, they are falling together! You are a work in progress."


Bill Yount
Blowing the Shofar Ministries
Email: theshofarhasblown@juno.com

IF you don't, then skip Easter and Christmas

Today is Pentecost Sunday. IF your church doesn't preach the Holy Ghost today, His Outpouring, His Infilling and empowerment two thousand years ago and today you are only getting half the story. The promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit was as critical to the establishment and enlargement of the Kingdom of God on planet earth as was the Coming of the Son for our redemption. IF Holy Spirit isn't celebrated today then skip resurrection Sunday and Christmas in the coming twelve months. Most people filled with the Holy Spirit will say as I do, it was as significant as being born again and more dramatic in impact. The testimony of the Disciples on that Day of Pentecost was the same. They went from just being aware of the death and resurrection to being able to proclaim it with boldness...That is what is missing today. We proclaim His death and resurrection..but without Boldness. BE YE FILLED! It's not a suggestion nor an option. It's a MANDATE!

Here's a history of the latter day outpouring at Azusa Street...

Azusa Street

The group from Bonnie Brae Street eventually discovered an available building at 312 Azusa Street, which had originally been constructed as an African Methodist Episcopal Church in what was then a black ghetto part of town.[10] The rent was $8.00 per month.[14] A newspaper referred to the downtown Los Angeles building as a "tumble down shack". Since the church had moved out, the building had served as a wholesale house, a warehouse, a lumberyard, stockyards, a tombstone shop, and had most recently been used as a stable with rooms for rent upstairs. It was a small, rectangular, flat-roofed building, approximately 60 feet (18 m) long and 40 feet (12 m) wide, totaling 4,800 square feet (450 m2), sided with weathered whitewashed clapboards. The only sign that it had once been a house of God was a single gothic-style window over the main entrance.[10]

Discarded lumber and plaster littered the large, barn-like room on the ground floor.[15][16] Nonetheless, it was secured and cleaned in preparation for services. They held their first meeting on April 14, 1906.[9][13][17] Church services were held on the first floor where the benches were placed in a rectangular pattern. Some of the benches were simply planks put on top of empty nail kegs.[8][10] There was no elevated platform, as the ceiling was only eight feet high.[17] Initially there was no pulpit. Frank Bartleman, an early participant in the revival, recalled that "Brother Seymour generally sat behind two empty shoe boxes, one on top of the other. He usually kept his head inside the top one during the meeting, in prayer. There was no pride there.... In that old building, with its low rafters and bare floors..."[1]

The second floor at the now-named Apostolic Faith Mission[9] housed an office and rooms for several residents including Seymour and his new wife, Jennie. It also had a large prayer room to handle the overflow from the altar services below. The prayer room was furnished with chairs and benches made from California Redwood planks, laid end to end on backless chairs.[1]


The Apostolic Faith Mission on Azusa Street, now considered to be the birthplace of Pentecostalism.By mid-May 1906,[11] anywhere from 300[2] to 1,500 people would attempt to fit into the building. Since horses had very recently been the residents of the building, flies constantly bothered the attendees.[17] People from a diversity of backgrounds came together to worship: men, women, children, black, white, Hispanic, Asian, rich, poor, illiterate, and educated.[13] People of all ages flocked to Los Angeles with both skepticism and a desire to participate.[2][17] The intermingling of races and the group's encouragement of women in leadership was remarkable, as 1906 was the height of the "Jim Crow" era of racial segregation,[9] and fourteen years prior to women receiving suffrage in the United States.

Services and worship
Worship at 312 Azusa Street was frequent and spontaneous with services going almost around the clock. Among those attracted to the revival were not only members of the Holiness Movement, but Baptists, Mennonites, Quakers, and Presbyterians.[14] An observer at one of the services wrote these words:

No instruments of music are used. None are needed. No choir- the angels have been heard by some in the spirit. No collections are taken. No bills have been posted to advertise the meetings. No church organization is back of it. All who are in touch with God realize as soon as they enter the meetings that the Holy Ghost is the leader.[7]
The Los Angeles Times was not so kind in its description:

Meetings are held in a tumble-down shack on Azusa Street, and the devotees of the weird doctrine practice the most fanatical rites, preach the wildest theories and work themselves into a state of mad excitement in their peculiar zeal. Colored people and a sprinkling of whites compose the congregation, and night is made hideous in the neighborhood by the howlings of the worshippers, who spend hours swaying forth and back in a nerve racking attitude of prayer and supplication. They claim to have the "gift of tongues" and be able to understand the babel.[4]
Charles Parham was also sharp in his criticism:

Men and women, white and blacks, knelt together or fell across one another; a white woman, perhaps of wealth and culture, could be seen thrown back in the arms of a big 'buck nigger,' and held tightly thus as she shivered and shook in freak imitation of Pentecost. Horrible, awful shame![4]
The first edition of the Apostolic Faith publication claimed a common reaction to the revival from visitors:

Proud, well-dressed preachers came to 'investigate'. Soon their high looks were replaced with wonder, then conviction comes, and very often you will find them in a short time wallowing on the dirty floor, asking God to forgive them and make them as little children.[8]

Among first-hand accounts were reports of the blind having their sight restored, diseases cured instantly, and immigrants speaking in German, Yiddish, and Spanish all being spoken to in their native language by uneducated black members, who translated the languages into English by "supernatural ability".[7]

Singing was sporadic and in a cappella or occasionally in tongues. There were periods of extended silence. Attenders were occasionally slain in the Spirit. Visitors gave their testimony, and members read aloud testimonies that were sent to the mission by mail. There was prayer for the gift of tongues. There was prayer in tongues for the sick, for missionaries, and whatever requests were given by attenders or mailed in. There was spontaneous preaching and altar calls for salvation, sanctification and baptism of the Holy Spirit. Lawrence Catley, whose family attended the revival, said that in most services preaching consisted of Seymour opening a Bible and worshipers coming forward to preach or testify as they were led by the Holy Spirit.[18] Many people would continually shout throughout the meetings. The members of the mission never took an offering, but there was a receptacle near the door for anyone that wanted to support the revival. The core membership of the Azusa Street Mission was never much more than 50-60 individuals with hundreds and thousands of people visiting or staying temporarily over the years.[4]

Come Fall on US TODAY

James W. Goll: The Day of the Watch Has Come!

"I will restore the ancient tool, the Watch of the Lord, that has been used and will be used again to change the expression of Christianity across the face of the earth."

Since God ignited my burden for the Watch of the Lord at Herrnhut, the site of the great Moravian prayer watch, it is no accident that He has sent me to draw from their deep pool of wisdom again and again along my journey. The Day of the Watch has come. The words of the Rev. John Greenfield, the great Moravian evangelist and author, ring as true today as they did 70 or more years ago:

"Prayer always precedes Pentecost. The Book of Acts describes many outpourings of The Holy Spirit, but never apart from prayer. In our own day the great Welsh and Korean revivals were preceded by months, if not years, of importunate and united praying. Hence the supreme importance of the prayer meeting, for it is 'the power-house of the Church.'"

Years ago, the Lord told me, "I will restore Pentecost." Many people think that is an odd or even heretical statement. "After all, Pentecost happened once and for all." Since that time, I have discovered a way to describe this work of God: He is sending yet another Pentecost!

The only way to spread fire is to catch fire! Theology never saved anyone – only a personal experience with a living Savior can do it. Theology never launched a worldwide revival. In every case, it took a fresh revelation of the living Savior to ignite the world with fire from Heaven.

D.L. Moody, one of America's most revered evangelists and conservative church leaders had this to say about the Holy Spirit in one of the last sermons he preached in his life:

"See how He came on the day of Pentecost! It is not carnal to pray that He may come again and that the place be shaken. I believe Pentecost was but a specimen day. I think the Church has made this woeful mistake that Pentecost was a miracle never to be repeated. I have thought too that Pentecost was a miracle that is not to be repeated. I believe now if we looked on Pentecost as a specimen day and began to pray, we should have the old Pentecostal fire here in Boston."

God is restoring the fire of the Holy Spirit to His people so we will restore the fire of prayer on His altar of incense, and release the glory of God on the earth! The same God who engineered this miracle in Jerusalem and in Herrnhut in the 1700s appears determined to do the same across the earth in our day! God is not interested in mere "corporate assent" to the principle of revival – He demands personal surrender, commitment, and sold-out service in prayer accompanied by demonstrations of His mighty acts for His glory!

When the people of God dare to surrender to the Holy Spirit of God and then live lives of continuous consecrated prayer, they will display an infectious joy that will draw the lost to them again and again in divine appointments of destiny.

God's Intention

Matthew Henry wrote, "When God intends great mercy for His people, the first thing He does is to set them a praying." God intends to cover the earth with His glory and with a flood of mercy and grace. But first, God must wake His sleeping giant, the Church. We can no longer afford to hear the urgent word of the Lord and walk away passively. The call is the same regardless of what title or flavor adorns the sign over the door of our place of worship.

Jesus warned us eleven times to "be on the watch, be on the alert, wake up, and watch out that no one deceives you." Too many of us have stopped listening and stopped caring.

God is calling His watchmen – every Blood-washed saint and redeemed king and priest – in groups of twos or threes to come together on the wall. He is calling forth the ancient tools to bring salvation to our generation. Do you believe dead men's bones can live again? I believe dead men's bones will live again. Some see dry bones; I see an army! I believe that the same Spirit who kept the promises of God for generations in the past is waiting for us to enter into the Holy of Holies for our time and our generation!

On a Worldwide Scale

God fully intends to do on a worldwide scale what He did more than 200 years ago. He is out to raise up a Church, a nation of kings and priests, whose determination is to know nothing among men save Jesus Christ and Him crucified, whose theology has become Christology, and whose creed was, in one word, the "Cross."

The key to fulfillment and fruitfulness in your life is found in one word of eternal significance: "Yes." Your commission is clear: As a king and priest cleansed by the Blood of Jesus, your lifelong calling is to offer the fire and incense of prayer, praise, worship, and intercession to the Most High God and to intercede on behalf of this lost and dying generation.

Join me and hundreds of others in our weekly Global Prayer Storm efforts to win for the Lamb the rewards of His suffering. Yes, it is time to mount the Watch of the Lord. It is time to light the watch fires and restore the lost art of intercession – the ancient tool of the Lord – to the Church of the Lord. Let it increase and consume you and me for such a time as this!

A Prayer of Consecration

Here I am, Lord. Let the fire of Your hot love burn on the altar of my heart. Let there be fire on my altar and may it never go out. Count me in. Sign me up as a watchman on Your wall. Restore the lost art of intercession. Restore the power and the passion of the watch of the Lord. Use me in Your End Time Army and set me as an intercessor for Christ's namesake. Amen.

James W. Goll
Encounters Network • Prayer Storm • Compassion Acts Team
Email: info@encountersnetwork.com

IN REMEMBERENCE - Always on HIS mind

I have a dear friend, Harold Hein, he often brings me thoughts and concepts that need to ferment in my spirit before they become living truths. I guess I'm slow...but I don't grab onto every glib statement I hear from other Christians. They have to pass the test of time and scripture to become Rhema.

He said to me recently, the statement Jesus makes at the Last Supper "In remembrance of ME" is accurate as far as it goes..but that it should also be and perhaps is more accurately "I remember (am remembering) YOU".

That we are always on His mind. What Harold said is what Misty Edwards said in her song of a few years ago- Always on His Mind:

Lord, I will seek You
On my bed, think upon You
In the day, I'll dream of You
You're always on my mind
With my whole heart I'll love You
With my mind and my strength too
Waste my life searching for You
You're always on my mind
Though I'm poor and needy, the Lord thinks upon me
Though His name is Holy, I'm always on His mind - I'm always on His mind
Though I'm weak and lowly, the Lord thinks about me
Though He's high and lofty, I'm always on His mind - I'm always on His mind.

No matter how BIG God is in your mind, HE is infinitely bigger than that...and His being so big, so omnipotent, so omnipresent means that every hair on your hear, yea, every cell in your body is of importance to HIM and noted. Not one thing in your life changes without his note..Jesus said so. Matthew 10:28-31

You really are always on His mind. He can say to you as you take part in a communion service in the future, "In Remembrance of YOU".

And as we remember those who have gone before...let us not forget we TOO are remembered...by THE ONE.

Rick Joyner: Focus On the Light

We know from Scripture that with unity there is a multiplication of spiritual authority. There is the Biblical testimony that one can put a thousand to flight, but two can put ten thousand to flight. The Lord also taught that if any two could agree, then it would be done for them. Of course, this agreement is more than just an intellectual assent to a matter; rather it implies an actual and deep union between the two. This takes an investment in both the matter that we are uniting about and the people we are uniting with, but it is not superficial.

Just as Elijah, a prophet and seer, was deceived into thinking he was the only one left who stood for the Lord, when in reality the Lord had many thousands more, we are not alone. The Lord has many more than we know who are standing for His truth. However, even if we are alone and we die for our stand, is there a better way to die? We are seeing a remarkable miracle take place in the Body of Christ in America right now – the Body of Christ is starting to come together in unity. It may still be far from what our idealism would imply unity is, but it is happening.

We are coming to the greatest opportunity we have ever had to be who we are called to be – faithful witnesses who esteem the truth of the Gospel more than our own lives. We will see those who we may think are weak showing remarkable courage and strength. In the increasing darkness, we will see the Church arise in unprecedented light and glory. We will see Isaiah 60:1-5 fulfilled:

"Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness will cover the earth, and deep darkness the peoples; but the Lord will rise upon you, and His glory will appear upon you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes round about and see; they all gather together, they come to you. Your sons will come from afar, and your daughters will be carried in the arms. Then you will see and be radiant, and your heart will thrill and rejoice; because the abundance of the sea will be turned to you, the wealth of the nations will come to you."

As we see here, it is during the times of great darkness that the glory of the Lord appears on His people. In verse 3, the Bible says the light will win and the nations will come to the light, not stay in the darkness.

As we are told in Psalm 97:2, "Clouds and thick darkness surround Him..." For this reason, as we see the darkness and confusion of the nations increasing, we should start looking for the Lord. Just as the Lord exhorted us to "be careful how you hear" (see Luke 8:18), we should be careful how we see, too. Who has most of our attention – the Lord or the devil?

If we are to understand the times, we must give much more attention to what Christ is doing than what the antichrist is doing. It is right to understand the schemes of the devil, but that should only be a small part of what we give our time and attention to understanding. Have you noticed that most of the books written on the Book of Revelation are about the antichrist, and some are entirely about the antichrist? We are told in the first verse of Revelation that this is "the revelation of Jesus Christ," not the antichrist. How does our vision get so skewed?

To be the light, we must have our focus on the light. This does not mean that we will not be aware of the darkness and even have an understanding of the schemes of the devil, but we will be changed into what we behold, as we are told in 2 Corinthians 3:18:

"But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit."

If we behold the glory of the Lord, we will be changed into His image. If we spend more time and attention beholding the devil, we will become like him. Have you noticed how so many cult watchers start taking on more of the nature of the accuser of the brethren than they do the nature of Christ? Their original intent to protect the Body of Christ from deception may have been noble and sincere. However, if they spend too much time looking at what the devil is doing, they will start acting more like the devil than Christ. If they spend more time looking at what is wrong rather than what is right, they will get twisted with the error they're beholding.

Many have fallen to this trap of focusing too much on the enemy, and many cannot hear anything negative. These are the ones the Apostle Paul warned about "who only want to have their ears tickled" (see 2 Timothy 4:3), or who can only hear what they consider to be positive things. They too are doomed to being deceived. A key to walking in the Light is keeping our attention on Him and letting Him direct us to when and where we need to understand the schemes of the devil.

Another key is that as we see in Daniel 2, when the empires of this world are collapsing, the Kingdom is growing. When everything else is falling apart, we are building. Is what we are doing building or tearing down?

Rick Joyner
MorningStar Ministries
Email: info@morningstarministries.org

Spiritual Gifts, Spiritual Fruit and the Evidence of True Pentecost by J. Lee Grady

Pentecost’s power is more than wind, fire and supernatural hoopla. Without love it is just noise.

What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear the word “Pentecostal”?

A. · · A woman with a beehive hairdo, support hose, Granny shoes and no makeup?
B. · · Someone rolling on the floor while speaking in tongues uncontrollably?
C. · · A slick-haired televangelist in a white suit who begs for donations?
D. · · A sour-faced Christian who looks like he just sucked all the juice out of a lemon?
E.···· A sincere Christian who passionately loves God and people and believes in the supernatural power of the Holy Spirit?

I wish we all could answer E., but we Pentecostals have an image problem. I’m not ashamed of the word itself, but I don’t use it as a label because the bad stereotypes (A., B., C. and D.) have just about ruined it for the rest of us. Many people associate Pentecostals with dry legalism, fanaticism, charlatanism and downright hatefulness.

“Unselfish love, generosity, brotherly affection and sincere kindness is just as much a manifestation of the Spirit as healing or miracles. In fact, powerful signs and wonders are more likely to happen in an atmosphere that is bathed in Holy Ghost love.”

One friend of mine says it this way: “Some of the meanest people I know speak in tongues.”

That’s tragic, because the majority of Pentecostals in the world today are not mean, legalistic or stuck in a time warp. Most are from the developing world, a majority are young and many will be leading the global church in the next decade. Part of their job will be to redefine the word Pentecostal for a new generation.

So how do we move beyond the stereotypes and reclaim the heart of Pentecost? It would help to remember that the leaders of the New Testament church never separated spiritual gifts from spiritual fruit, and they never placed the manifestations of the Spirit above the priority of Christian love. They believed:

… Character is just as important as anointing. In our performance-driven culture, we are pressured to get results. We don’t believe the Holy Spirit shows up in a meeting unless someone falls on the floor or claims a healing. We want action—and if we don’t get any, we will make stuff up! Paul the apostle, on the other hand, preached that the Holy Spirit not only manifests Himself through the nine “power gifts” (listed in 1 Cor. 12:8-10) but also through His fruit (in Gal. 5:22-23). It’s not just about what the Spirit does; it is about who He is. We invite problems when we showcase the spectacular and ignore the essential.

… Truth is more vital than tongues. The gift of speaking in tongues has been a priceless blessing in my own life. But the apostle Paul, who prayed in tongues more than anyone in Corinth, said he’d rather hear a five-word sermon in a language he could understand than hear someone else babble in tongues for hours (see 1 Cor. 14:18-19). Paul knew that spiritual gifts can be abused and misused. And he admitted that someone who speaks in tongues but doesn’t show the love of God is like a “noisy gong” (13:1). That is a nice way to say “ANNOYING!”

While we should still pray for people to speak in tongues, perhaps we should spend twice as much time discipling them in how to represent Christ in their daily conversation. (Note: That would include teaching Christians to stop mocking other religions, telling racist jokes or using hate speech directed at the gay community.)

… Love is more crucial than charismatic manifestations. Many of us will preach from Acts 2 this Pentecost Sunday, and we will emphasize the wind and fire that came from heaven on that powerful day. But let’s remember that the Spirit manifested himself in another way in the same chapter. The first Christians were united by a bond of love. The Spirit brought about a holy connection—something called koinonia (“fellowship”) in Acts 2:42—and this holy love held them together.

When the early disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit a second time (during a prayer meeting that ended with an earthquake!), this love was immediately manifested again. Immediately after the Spirit’s infilling, the Bible says: “And the congregation of those who believed were of one heart and soul; and not one of them claimed that anything belonging to him was his own, but all things were common property to them” (Acts 4:32, NASB).

Unselfish love, generosity, brotherly affection and sincere kindness is just as much a manifestation of the Spirit as healing or miracles. In fact, powerful signs and wonders are more likely to happen in an atmosphere that is bathed in Holy Ghost love.

William Seymour, the father of modern Pentecostalism and founder of the Azusa Street Mission in Los Angeles, said it this way: “Pentecostal power, when you sum it all up, is just more of God's love. If it does not bring more love, it is simply a counterfeit.”

Could this be the reason we don’t see as many supernatural manifestations today? When we are smug, hypocritical, bitter, harsh, judgmental and hateful, we totally short-circuit God’s power. This Pentecost, I pray we will embrace not just the sound and the fury of God’s power but also the genuine love that flows from His heart.

J. Lee Grady is the former editor of Charisma and the director of The Mordecai Project. He is the author of several books including The Holy Spirit Is Not for Sale.

Your inner zombie...a sinful nature by Rick Cruz Torres

This is an interesting take on sin nature:

Hey Christian! Yeah, you...the one that just can't seem to stop repeating that same old sin. You may have been taught you have an inner zombie...a sinful nature...an enemy that can attack you from within at any time and that there's not really much you can do about it but "repent and keep on fighting by the grace of God." After all, even the Apostle Paul was a victim of his own flesh and did the very things he didn't want to do while he was unable to do the things he did want to do. Right? ;-)

What would it mean to you if you found out that what you've been thinking about sin and your flesh and grace and what your life is supposed to look here on earth -- was ALL wrong? Would you be offended? Alarmed? Angry? If someone were to tell you -- and show you in Scripture -- that you no longer possess a sinful nature, that your flesh has already been sanctified and that you can walk in perfect victory over sin right here right now TODAY --- would you REJOICE and worship King Jesus with a whole new measure of freedom....or would you tell that person they were a heretic, a false teacher and a bearer of dangerous theology?

Let's take this out of hypothetical...

Guess what?

You no longer possess a sinful nature. Your flesh has already been sanctified and you can walk in perfect victory over sin and darkness right NOW and for the rest of your life here on Earth. There, you see? I told you and now I'm going to show you in Scripture:

"Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ. For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority.

When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature. For you were buried with Christ when you were baptized. And with him you were raised to new life because you trusted the mighty power of God, who raised Christ from the dead.

You were dead because of your sins and because your sinful nature was not yet cut away. Then God made you alive with Christ, for he forgave all our sins. He canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross."
(Colossians 2:8-15)

John and Kelly Sielski: It Is Time For You to Move Forward

[How] can two walk together, except they be agreed? Amos 3:3

Your Heavenly Father's love is absolutely, completely unconditional. God is love. But man's definition of love is not necessarily the reflection of the image and likeness of God. Men will love you on the basis of what you can do for them for their own personal benefit, the potential of what they think they can get or take from you...usually involving position, power, and monetary gain. Even people in ministry are guilty of this.

Your Heavenly Father loves you because He can't help Himself – can't help but love you. God is love. Your Heavenly Father's love is absolutely, completely unconditional. What you do, or don't do, does not...cannot...will never...determine who God is or His mood. Or else you will arrogantly presume that you control and define who "God" is.

God is, before the beginning ever was. God is love. The only begotten Son Jesus Christ, who is in the bosom of the Father, has declared this love. And in this particular thing alone was the love of your Heavenly Father unfurled toward you: "In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him. Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us, and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sins" (1 John 4:9-10). "In this..." specifies Jesus' finished work upon the Cross.

God is saying, "It is time for you to move forward. You've been spinning your wheels now for far too long, attempting to commune and fellowship with evil acquaintances, while avoiding and even deeming to be 'unnecessary' those with whom I have called you to walk together."

1 Corinthians 15:33-34 (NKJV) Do not be deceived: "Evil company corrupts good habits." Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God. I speak this to your shame.

Hebrews 10:24-25 (KJV) And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

2 Chronicles 20:20 (KJV) And they rose early in the morning, and went forth into the wilderness of Tekoa: and as they went forth, Jehoshaphat stood and said, "Hear me, O Judah, and ye inhabitants of Jerusalem; believe in the Lord your God, so shall ye be established; believe His prophets, so shall ye prosper."

John and Kelly Sielski
Today's Voice Christian Fellowship
E-mail: todaysvoicecf@verizon.net

When a Prophetic Church Prophesies...lives Change

This morning I was part of a Church Service in Ann Arbor MI. Shekinah Church on Scio Church Road. I have been there before...but today was special. This is the Church led by Apostle Barbara Yoder. She is a friend and I respect her greatly.

So many things...

The worship team was amazing. I honestly didn't know who was leading...it all flowed so well...both in song and in prophetic worship. IF a professional music group is better, I don't know who. There were a Dozen people on the platform, all skilled, all worshipers, no one cared anything other than to worship the ONE. So fresh. So anointed of God.

It's not a huge church. In fact if there were 200 people there it might be all there were.

Yet, today, the presence of God came in such a unique way it was hard to stand. The word of the Lord in prophecy went forth. Pastor Benjamin Deitrick delivered several, some to people with ailments, some with people in trouble and then he delivered one to Peggy and me. It was so accurate, so directive, it was like getting a telegram direct from the throne. Benjamin and I had not talked, we are not connected except thru Apostle Yoder. Yet he spoke things over us only God knows. That's the mark of a true prophet. I won't rehearse it here, but if you live in the Ann Arbor area and need a word from God, you will get one at Shekinah. GO!!

During the service since I had been given release to do so, I came up and gave a prophetic word confirming the flow of the service. Pastor Tonya Roberson, (who also is connected to Apostle John Eckhardt as I am) was surprised by my walking to the platform, she didn't get the memo..but Cindy Williams interceded and the word came forth.

These are precious people and I was surprised at the change in atmosphere I sensed. I now understand what Apostle Yoder was talking about when she talks about the future. The future at Shekinah is in GOOD hands. I had questioned this a bit and was pleasantly surprised. God uses even family.

It was one of those amazing services where preaching can be superficial. In fact, as I left, I had this thought:

What if every pastor and teacher in the land was to stop delivering prepared sermons for the next year. Nothing unless the Holy Ghost provides; OR sit down and be silent. That would test the spiritual mettle of most preachers. What if the only activity in the Church was to be what is in 1 Corinthians 12-14? I remember the story behind "The Heart of Worship" by Matt Redman. It's time for those who call themselves Christian to let HIM flow and get out of the way.

Maybe it's time to restore the Apostolic and Prophetic to the place the word of God said it should be...foundational. Time to tone down the pulpit and raise up Jesus.

I can only tell you this, I received a hundred times a confirmation on what the Lord wants me to do. I will obey. I'm so thankful for those who I love that are part of this fellowship. I hope to be there again soon. Prophetess Cindy Williams was amazing..as she always is. Bless her for her obedience. I received at her hand....the future is amazing.

I cannot be in any house that is not prophetic. If I lived in Ann Arbor I would be in that house.

God is going to take the church and form it into HIS image. If you resist...He is the potter...you are simply clay and you will end up in potters field...unless....

Great day in God.

"I Do Not Want My People To Struggle" Susan O'Marra 05-18-12

I heard the Lord say, "I do not want My People to struggle." So, I wrote down the next things the Lord said:

"When I called My People to walk with Me in intimacy and in My paths, I did not intend that they would struggle in their relationship with Me, but I intended that they would yield fully to Me and enjoy My Presence each day. I have desired that My People would delight themselves in the knowledge of Me and also with Me. I do not struggle in Myself to know you, nor do I struggle to find or to seek you. Yet, My People struggle with knowing Me. Know that I am within you, and I am always with you! I am aware of you at all times! I want you to become even more conscious of Me within you and with you. I want My People to cultivate our relationship even more. I want them to open wide unto Me. I want to reveal Myself to each of you in even more deeper ways, so that I can satisfy your deep longings and desires. I want to also lift you each higher."

"I chose each of you before I ever made you, and I chose for you each to be born in this generation for My purpose. I have not forgotten one thing that I have planned for you, nor am I unaware of everything that is happening right now, for I made your paths for you. I made them in such a way, that you would find Me and know Me in each step you take. I have tailor made your lives to match My desire for you, and so that you as you did, you would know My joy. I take great joy in being with you and in walking with you. I do not take pleasure when you doubt Me or choose to walk away from Me in your choices. I made you for fellowship with Me, and also for you to come into an understanding of the things that I have for you to do in the earth."

"I want My People to walk in the joy of My liberty each day, as they commune with Me in intimacy. The days activities are not to dampen My voice within you, nor are they to block out My face as you go. I want you to learn to see Me wherever you are, and to hear Me speaking wherever you go. I am with you always. You need not ever be without My council or My help, for I am surely your only source of Life! I desire to flow through you at all times, you just have to draw upon Me from within you. I am speaking in the earth, in the heavens, and in My People. But do you see Me, and do you hear Me? Listen, and understand that I shall not fail to fulfill My part of your life. I also do not desire that you fail to fulfill your parts, so I am reminding you that you must open your spirit more fully to Me, so that I can fully live through you and accomplish My full will through your lives."

"You must sharpen your awareness of Me, and shake off the slumber that keeps you from being ever mindful of Me. Do not struggle to know Me, for I am within you, and you only need to open more fully to Me, and you shall see Me and hear Me even more clearer. There is nothing to fear in the earth, nor in the heavens, but you are to fear and reverence Me alone. I am in full control of all things in the earth and also in the heavens. But why do My Children still become anxious as they go? It is time to draw from deep within yourself, and as you do, you will tap into a deep reservoir from within your spirits, and it shall cause you each to rise up and stand tall, even among those who live among the shallow, dry places in their lives. You are to be My fiery witnesses, and you must show them the way to commune with Me, by the mirror of your own intimacy with Me!"

"I am revealing Myself to those who seek for Me and to those who call out for Me. I know each one, and I know how to speak to them and to reveal Myself to them, so that they can receive Me. I do not struggle to save My Children, No! I have made the way, for each to come to Me everyday. I know the very minute they shall open fully to Me, and I also know those who will turn the other way, and also who will walk away from Me. You are not to struggle in your lives trying to gain favor with men to make spiritual advances for Me. No! I have already laid out your course, just walk it with Me, and live it with Me! Remember, I am the Door by which you come in and go out, each and every day. I lead you through each day, and I provide for you each faithfully, each step of the way. I will bring you out into the fullness of each day that I have ordained for you. Know that this is true! You just have to walk with Me, and trust in Me, and I will surely fulfill My Words concerning you! Do not struggle to figure things out, but know that I am at work and I am opening up new things for you. Do not struggle in your thoughts, but let Me in more! Let Me have your fears and your doubts and your troubles, and let My inner peace within you break out!"

"I am the past, the present, and also the future. I made all things, and just as the works of death are still working in the earth, so also are My works! I came to destroy the works of death, of sin, and of the devil. You are to do this also, and you do this by walking with Me, and by obeying all that I tell you to do, and by embracing all that I reveal to you and also teach you. It is time for change, and even for great change. You must learn to flow with Me as the changes come. I am teaching you as you go, so that I can accomplish all that I desire within the new days ahead of you. If you will let Me do this, then My joy and peace will fill your heart and mind, and you will greatly and deeply shine!"

Scriptures the Lord quickened to me:

Psalms 139:15 My frame was not hidden from You when I was being formed in secret [and] intricately and curiously wrought [as if embroidered with various colors] in the depths of the earth [a region of darkness and mystery]. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance, and in Your book all the days [of my life] were written before ever they took shape, when as yet there was none of them. 17 How precious and weighty also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How vast is the sum of them!

Hebrews 3:10 And so I was provoked (displeased and sorely grieved) with that generation, and said, They always err and are led astray in their hearts, and they have not perceived or recognized My ways and become progressively better and more experimentally and intimately acquainted with them.

Proverbs 8:17 I love those who love me, and those who seek me early and diligently shall find me.

Jeremiah 29:13 Then you will seek Me, inquire for, and require Me [as a vital necessity] and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

Joel 2:12 Therefore also now, says the Lord, turn and keep on coming to Me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning [until every hindrance is removed and the broken fellowship is restored].

Romans 6:9 Because we know that Christ (the Anointed One), being once raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has power over Him. 10 For by the death He died, He died to sin [ending His relation to it] once for all; and the life that He lives, He is living to God [in unbroken fellowship with Him]. 11 Even so consider yourselves also dead to sin and your relation to it broken, but alive to God [living in unbroken fellowship with Him] in Christ Jesus.

John 10:9 I am the Door; anyone who enters in through Me will be saved (will live). He will come in and he will go out [freely], and will find pasture.

Romans 8:28 And we know that to them that love God all things work together for good, even to them that are called according to his purpose. 29 For whom he foreknew, he also foreordained to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren:

1 John 4:15 Anyone who confesses (acknowledges, owns) that Jesus is the Son of God, God abides (lives, makes His home) in him and he [abides, lives, makes his home] in God. 16 And we know (understand, recognize, are conscious of, by observation and by experience) and believe (adhere to and put faith in and rely on) the love God cherishes for us. God is love, and he who dwells and continues in love dwells and continues in God, and God dwells and continues in him. 17 In this [union and communion with Him] love is brought to completion and attains perfection with us, that we may have confidence for the day of judgment [with assurance and boldness to face Him], because as He is, so are we in this world.

1 John 2:13 I am writing to you, fathers, because you have come to know (recognize, be aware of, and understand) Him Who [has existed] from the beginning. I am writing to you, young men, because you have been victorious over the wicked [one]. I write to you, boys (lads), because you have come to know (recognize and be aware) of the Father. 14 I write to you, fathers, because you have come to know (recognize, be conscious of, and understand) Him Who [has existed] from the beginning. I write to you, young men, because you are strong and vigorous, and the Word of God is [always] abiding in you (in your hearts), and you have been victorious over the wicked one. 15 Do not love or cherish the world or the things that are in the world. If anyone loves the world, love for the Father is not in him.

Acts 22:14 And he said, The God of our forefathers has destined and appointed you to come progressively to know His will [to perceive, to recognize more strongly and clearly, and to become better and more intimately acquainted with His will], and to see the Righteous One (Jesus Christ, the Messiah), and to hear a voice from His [own] mouth and a message from His [own] lips; 15 For you will be His witness unto all men of everything that you have seen and heard.

Philippians 3:8 Yes, furthermore, I count everything as loss compared to the possession of the priceless privilege (the overwhelming preciousness, the surpassing worth, and supreme advantage) of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord and of progressively becoming more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him [of perceiving and recognizing and understanding Him more fully and clearly]. 10 [For my determined purpose is] that I may know Him [that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving and recognizing and understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and more clearly], and that I may in that same way come to know the power outflowing from His resurrection [which it exerts over believers], and that I may so share His sufferings as to be continually transformed [in spirit into His likeness even] to His death, [in the hope]

Ephesians 3:16 May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality]. 17 May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love, 18 That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God's devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it]; 19 [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]! 20 Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams]--

Luke 4:43 But He said to them, I must preach the good news (the Gospel) of the kingdom of God to the other cities [and towns] also, for I was sent for this [purpose].

Acts 26:16 But arise and stand upon your feet; for I have appeared to you for this purpose, that I might appoint you to serve as [My] minister and to bear witness both to what you have seen of Me and to that in which I will appear to you,

Ephesians 6:10 In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].

Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: 20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Will you truly trust Me when all fails you in the days ahead? Kevin Barrett

While worshipping the Lord this morning, He said these words to me: Son, tell My people that My love for them is great and everlasting.

Word from the Lord:

My people, hear Me this day. Soon and very soon there will be chaos and destruction everywhere. My people, fear not when you see these things. Those that have prepared their hearts before Me shall be at peace. For those caught unaware, I say to you this day to run into My arms of love when this happens. I love you, My people, and do not desire that any of you should perish. But for those that react in fear, you will be open game to the enemy. This ought not to be so, My people.

Many of you say that you trust in Me. But I see all things, My children. I see that many of you trust in Me provided that you’re secure and satisfied with things of this world. I say to you, what shall you do when all falls out from under you? Then where shall your trust be? Will you still trust Me to provide when your job fails? Will you still trust Me when your government can no longer lend? I tell you, My people, that these things shall surely come. For those that have not prepared their hearts before Me, it shall be a test. Who shall you trust? Will you go down to Egypt for help? Or will you stand still and watch the salvation of the Lord your God? I love you, My dear people. But I tell you the truth this day; those that have not been tested in these things shall have a difficult time. For those of you that have given yourselves over to Me and allowed Me to test your hearts, you shall be at peace.

Oh, My dear little ones, do not take this as harsh or partiality. For I am no respecter of persons. But this is all of your own choices in this life. There are those that have sought after Me and My righteousness, and then there are those that only seek after My gifts and blessings. The choice has always been yours, My little ones. But now the time has come to see who is really Mine and who shall follow after the lawless one.

Hear Me, My people. Many of you will be shocked and dismayed at what shall come then cry out that I have forsaken you. This is not true, for I shall NEVER forsake My children. But because many of you have not allowed Me to take you through the fires of My testings, then you shall not be prepared when all this suddenly comes upon the earth. And many of you shall turn away and say that it is too hard. Oh, My little ones, how I do not desire this for you. So I give you this warning now that you may be prepared when all that you rely on and trust in shall crumble from beneath your feet. I love you, My little ones. So heed My warning this day to prepare your hearts before Me. Ask of Me to give you strength in the days ahead. For nobody shall be able to stand if they are not resting in Me.

Hear My heart crying out to you, My little ones. Prepare your hearts before Me now, before it is too late. I love you all, My dear children, and do not desire that any of you should perish. So heed My warning this day, for it is to your own advantage, sayeth the Lord.

www.hearhisheart.wordpress.com

1 Thessalonians 5:3 While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.

Isaiah 31:1 Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help And rely on horses, And trust in chariots because they are many And in horsemen because they are very strong, But they do not look to the Holy One of Israel, nor seek the LORD!

John 6:60,66 When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” After this many of his disciples turned back and no longer walked with him.

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

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart And do not lean on your own understanding.

Exodus 14:13 And Moses said to the people, “Fear not, stand firm, and see the salvation of the LORD, which he will work for you today. For the Egyptians whom you see today, you shall never see again.

John 16:33 “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

Hebrews 4:11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest, so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience.

Matthew 7:24-27 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and acts on them, may be compared to a wise man who built his house on the rock. “And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had been founded on the rock. “Everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not act on them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. “The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and slammed against that house; and it fell—and great was its fall.”

John Belt: Seven Things God is Saying For 2012

1. Patience & Maturity

James 1:4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

God has been working with His people to bring them into a place of maturity through patience. He has to be able to get His people to slow down. It is important for what God is taking us into that we learn we can do nothing apart from Him. He is taking us through situations which require our patience and trust in Him. The heart of this process is about our learning not to do things in our own strength. When we try to accomplish things in our own strength it results in a heart that moves away from the Lord.

Jeremiah 17:5 Thus says the Lord: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, whose heart departs from the Lord."

2. Healing, Renovation & Restoration

Acts 3:21 ...Whom Heaven must receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world began.

We are in a time of full circle right now. Things are coming around full circle into a place of restoration. Some things had to rest for a season, but now there is a reigniting of God's purposes. With that there will be renovations in our thinking. There is a "next round" for all those who would like to enter in to it. However, what this will require is a different way of doing things – a different mindset and a releasing of the old ways.

God has to renovate the way we think to take us into this next round of His glory and plans. There will be a release of fresh healing oil that will be both for the body and soul. God's power will be displayed again, but not in the way that many would expect. There will be healing communities that will display His power just through the corporate atmosphere of His glory. God is bringing healing, renovation and restoration by His Spirit.

3. Developing the Whole Man
(Spirit, Soul & Body)

1 Timothy 4:15 Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all.

Man is comprised of spirit, soul and body. When all of these work together with one another there is an excellence of life that is produced. God wants to bring all of these aspects of who we are into a healthy state. Our spirit is first, being the center of communion with God. But if our body isn't healthy, then our spirit is hindered from operating at full capacity. We need to understand that when Jesus, Paul and Peter walked the earth... they walked!

We are not living in the same day. It is the day of McDonald's and driving. Everything is far too easy, which promotes laziness and bad health. This is part of the reason why people are obese and struggling spiritually. Then our minds must get on a Word diet. The Word of God produces a sharpness in our walk. Welcoming the Holy Spirit to illuminate God's Word will bring the Spirit of revelation to us, enabling us to have love and discernment. When the spirit, soul and body are taken care of we will have the ability to walk in a place that is much higher in God's heart.

4. What Does Apostolic Look Like?

Ephesians 4:11 And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers...

I think many have a misconstrued idea of what apostolic ministry actually is. It is not nearly as glorious as many would suppose. For people who would like to be apostolic, or have the badge or title of some other five-fold ministry office, don't get enamored with it. What I would compare apostolic ministry to, even though I'm not an expert or claim to know the ins and outs, is a man working hard, digging into some really hard, weedy and thorny ground, sweating profusely and yet growing stronger as he goes. That would describe a pioneering spirit or someone who is actively engaged in apostolic ministry.

What does it really take to be apostolic? It takes God and a yielded vessel. That's it. The same thing with being a prophet, a pastor, a teacher, or an evangelist. The main thing that we all need to be concerned with is that Jesus is saying to us, "Well done, good and FAITHFUL servant... you heard My voice and you did what I said to do." You don't have to have a cheer leading squad singing your praises to be in apostolic ministry. What you do need is God to give you a phone call, give you directions, and then you simply do it.

One thing is for sure: You need to be used to having regular communication ("phone calls") with God. We all have the hot line inside us, it just needs tending to. If you want to be apostolic, then be apostolic. If you want to be prophetic, be prophetic. If you want to teach, then teach. If you want to pastor, then be pastoral. We don't have to be in an office to do the works of Jesus. We have the freedom without limitations to walk in all of these aspects of His life. We are all called... but, I guess the question would be Who is being chosen? Then, if so, why? Maybe hunger for God has something to do with it. You think?

5. Being a House of Prayer

Isaiah 56:7 Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer...

Being a "house of prayer" is an important thing. And although there are stereotypes of what this could look like, the most important thing to remember is that buildings are not the "house of prayer"; firstly, we are the house of prayer. God wants us to be burning lamps of worship and prayer. When His flames are burning inside of us, prayer is the result.

There are all kinds of prayers. There is my favorite kind of prayer – communion with the Holy Spirit speaking in tongues; there is petitionary prayer; there are corporate prayers of agreement. We have prayers that are songs from the Spirit as well as prophetic prayer. God uses all these kinds of prayer. As we begin to engage in not just one but all forms of prayer, our lives will take on a greater completeness in our union with God and each other. Become a member of the "burning prayer house," a place of His presence, worship and prayer.

6. The Army of God

2 Timothy 2:4 No one engaged in warfare entangles himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who enlisted him as a soldier.

Are you in the army of God? Do you believe in the army of God? If you don't, it is time that you do! God put us all here on purpose, for a purpose. It is not for the purpose of our convenience, our wants, our opinions and complacency. God wants to set His people on fire to bring awakening. I'm not referring to a religious zealot mindset, but rather a people that are so on fire and ignited by the Holy Spirit. This is just naturally offensive because we are operating from the Kingdom of Light. To be in an army you must be a soldier, at the very least. That means active duty is the norm.

Did you know that when someone is in the army they get promoted because of acts of valor? There are different ranks in God's army just as in the natural. No one gets promoted going AWOL. It is time for people to get their eyes off of themselves and get about the Father's business. While people are busy nursing themselves, others are dying because of a lack of help because no one wants to get in the battle. It is time to tap into the raw power of the Holy Spirit. What people need is an encounter with God! I believe in the family of God and the ARMY OF GOD. Don't be "entangled" with the "things, stuff or affairs" of the world. Rather, stay with single focus on the Father's business.

7. Breakthrough

2 Samuel 5:20 So David went to Baal Perazim, and David defeated them there; and he said, "The Lord has broken through my enemies before me, like a breakthrough of water." Therefore he called the name of that place Baal Perazim.

God is ready to give His people breakthrough. Although this term can be overused and can seem a little outdated, breakthrough is very real. People are going to find breakthrough as they enter into a greater surrender, deeper devotion, and more excellent commitment to the Lord and His purposes. Make sure to chronicle what God is speaking to you. Be ready to write a scroll on the promises He will give to you. Awake with a spirit of expectation in faith to what He has in store for you.

In the story of Daniel, we see that he had an "excellent spirit." We also see how this was manifested in his actions. Daniel went with the vegetables. Daniel essentially changed his diet, changed how he was living, even though he could not change where he was living. God made Daniel prosper where he was because of his outstanding commitment to God's purposes and plans. God dropped downloads into Daniel's spirit, gave him favor with the King, and opened up the double doors in His life to overflow, promotion, and blessing. It is time to move out of mediocrity and into excellence. Don't be content with your predicament. Press through to the breakthrough!

Have a great week with God!

John Belt
Live In His Presence Ministries
Email: admin@liveinhispresence.com