The Ephesians 4 outline of those who are called to the five fold ends with the declaration that the purpose of the Five Fold is for the equipping of the saints. Problem is, not everyone is equippable... if that's a word.
Jesus who was the ultimate in Five Fold didn't spend his efforts equipping everyone. He equipped those who were ready.
This doesn't mean that he didn't teach and encourage. It does mean however that he was selective in equipping. So who is qualified to be equipped?
1. They must be a saint. Not a new believer or even an unbeliever. They must be saved, filled with the Holy Ghost and power and anointed by HIM for the works of the ministry. That should be a package deal, but many are not so positioned. Some equipping like trying to teach a pig to sing... it annoys the pig and wastes time for the equipper.
2. They must be committed to the work of the ministry they are called to. The worst thing in the world for a saint is the drudgery of doing things for God out of duty and requirement, not a calling. I was recently asked if I would be interested in being on a missions committee. I do not have a calling to that in my life. Equipping me for missions would be a waste of time. I do however have a heart for helping people reach their potential, for people to begin to hear from God for themselves and to give people hope for a glorious future. Of course, whatever your ministry call is, you can't understand for a minute why anyone wouldn't want to be called the same way you are. If you are called to missions, you are puzzled by anyone who is not. That's not how equipping works. One must be equipped to do the work predestined for them from before the foundations of the earth according to Ephesians. Doing work outside of that is flesh, not ministry. God knows what he is doing.
3. Some are Saints in this sense and are called, but they are not yet ready to answer to become equipped. It may not be disobedience. God may have them on the sideline for a while. Happens all the time. It happened to Paul the Apostle. Certainly qualified, Certainly called, but he was sidelined for a while even at Tarsus until he was brought out of hiding by Barnabas.
As a five fold, we must be aware of the fact that those in need of equipping the called according to his purpose will be a selective act. Households and even Group salivations are normal, but that's not the pattern for equipping.
Take the pressure off, God will show you who is ready for equipping, invest in them and much fruit will be supplied.
It's God's purpose to do so.
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
The Wasted Gift
I heard a prophet I know say this to a man a few weeks ago, "You are wasting your gift". This was to a man with obvious ability to bring the word of God. A man with leadership quality. But his gift was being wasted on drugs, alcohol and sexual addictions. His giftedness was wasted. That is easy to see. We can all get behind this idea that wasting our gift on dissipation is a crime. There is one just as wasteful and one many Christians willingly participate in not knowing that it is just as destructive. As he spoke of the Wasted Gift I was suddenly rattled by the Spirit of God.
I have known great men of God, Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Teachers and Pastors who's gifts are trampled underfoot by a religious system made up of giftless leaders.
The Bible says that a man's gift makes room for him. That is not what the text means, it has to do with bringing a gift to a king or other greatness to have audience with him. You can read it yourself. Proverbs 18:16. It is a verse used by giftless leadership to keep at bay those who carry the anointing of God and are purposed by Him to exercise that gift which has been vested in them. It's a board nailed over the place of escape they use in the hope of keeping you in the building.
Sowing your gift in good ground is the will of God for your life. In the parable of the sower the sower seems to be indiscriminate in his sowing on paths, rocks and weeds. While the parable was about soils, it never speaks of the sower. He was random. God is NOT.
I have been a farmer. Picking where to plant your precious seed (gift) is a major task. Seedbed preparation is a big deal. Getting the weeds out by fallow practices. Making certain the seedbed is fertile. God expects no less than that from us.
He is saying, "Don't waste your gift. I gave it to you to plant in fertile places. Places prepared for you. Places that are ready for your gift."
There is a Holy Discontent that comes on those called of the Spirit of God when the awareness that the ground into which they thought had potential for their gift to be sown is rocky, hard and weedy. Think abstractly is if you had been one of the seed sown by the sower filled with the word of God and you ended up in the crack of a rocky place. Even if the rain fell, you had no hope of prospering. Any root you might try to put down would result in death as soon as the rain stopped. You would have wasted your gift. The sower made a mistake. God doesn't. He gives us choice of soils.
It is less random than we think. God chooses carefully those who he calls. He chooses those able to equip others. Then as the saints are equipped, fruit comes. But if the place that gift finds itself is not prepared or too filled with hardness, rocks and weeks to be a place of fruitfulness, then unlike the seed sown, the word of God as a seed hidden in the hearts of those called to equip have the capacity to claw their way to better soils.
That is a challenge, but the first realization is the fact that your gift is being wasted on bad soils, and then, do something about it.
I have known great men of God, Apostles, Prophets, Evangelists, Teachers and Pastors who's gifts are trampled underfoot by a religious system made up of giftless leaders.
The Bible says that a man's gift makes room for him. That is not what the text means, it has to do with bringing a gift to a king or other greatness to have audience with him. You can read it yourself. Proverbs 18:16. It is a verse used by giftless leadership to keep at bay those who carry the anointing of God and are purposed by Him to exercise that gift which has been vested in them. It's a board nailed over the place of escape they use in the hope of keeping you in the building.
Sowing your gift in good ground is the will of God for your life. In the parable of the sower the sower seems to be indiscriminate in his sowing on paths, rocks and weeds. While the parable was about soils, it never speaks of the sower. He was random. God is NOT.
I have been a farmer. Picking where to plant your precious seed (gift) is a major task. Seedbed preparation is a big deal. Getting the weeds out by fallow practices. Making certain the seedbed is fertile. God expects no less than that from us.
He is saying, "Don't waste your gift. I gave it to you to plant in fertile places. Places prepared for you. Places that are ready for your gift."
There is a Holy Discontent that comes on those called of the Spirit of God when the awareness that the ground into which they thought had potential for their gift to be sown is rocky, hard and weedy. Think abstractly is if you had been one of the seed sown by the sower filled with the word of God and you ended up in the crack of a rocky place. Even if the rain fell, you had no hope of prospering. Any root you might try to put down would result in death as soon as the rain stopped. You would have wasted your gift. The sower made a mistake. God doesn't. He gives us choice of soils.
It is less random than we think. God chooses carefully those who he calls. He chooses those able to equip others. Then as the saints are equipped, fruit comes. But if the place that gift finds itself is not prepared or too filled with hardness, rocks and weeks to be a place of fruitfulness, then unlike the seed sown, the word of God as a seed hidden in the hearts of those called to equip have the capacity to claw their way to better soils.
That is a challenge, but the first realization is the fact that your gift is being wasted on bad soils, and then, do something about it.
Monday, July 29, 2013
Johnny Enlow: The California Gold Rush, Part II
This is a second posting – a Part II of a word Johnny Enlow received about a Gold Rush in California. To read the first part (click here).As we arrived to our new home in Valencia, California, where gold was first discovered in the State, I began to dialogue with the Lord as to His promises over California. In my spirit this is what I heard Him say...
"I hear the questions many of you in
California are asking. You are saying, 'How can there be another Gold
Rush? Even if the gold is there, it is now too cost prohibitive to go
after it. Environmental restrictions make it too economically unviable
to even attempt to mine the gold.' Some of you think either there is no
more gold or it can't be accessed, I tell you that I, THE LORD, am the
ultimate expert on these matters and you are wrong on both of these.
"The Golden State is still full of
Gold AND I am going to make it worth your mining effort. I am going to
entice you into treasure hunting with Me. As I told you in the
Scripture, "The Kingdom of God is like a treasure hid in the field" (Matthew 13:44)
– the objective of advancing MY Kingdom is all about experiencing a
proper treasure hunting dynamic. I am going to teach you by what I do in
California. The field there has treasure, and if you will join in My
adventurous ways, you will be invited to experience joyful discoveries
of secret treasures.
An Underground "Fort Knox"
"There
is an underground "Fort Knox" in California that is worth trillions of
dollars. It is in the 120-mile long section called 'The Mother Lode.'
There is a vein of gold so thick and solid that the treasure does not
need to come 'out of the field' to be valuable. My Kingdom is like a
treasure hid IN THE FIELD. It does not need to be separated from the
field to be made valuable.
"Even as you, My golden sons and daughters,
do not need to be separated from your 'field of dirt' and challenges to
be valuable, even so, there is a new way of discovering and classifying
this gold that is to lead to a new economic reality for California, for
America, and even the world. This gold does not need to be mined to be
considered an asset. It is an asset whether you separate it from the
rock and soil or not. I have released the technology so that this gold
vein's existence can conclusively be identified. It is as if there were an underground Fort Knox and it is so secure that you don't have to worry about guarding it.
"As a state and as a nation, under present
economic precepts, you are permitted to print money that is backed by
that asset. I am a real and practical God. There are Josephs that I am giving the plan to on how to move this forward contractually. It doesn't need to be complicated. Your age of restoration is upon you and I will not allow the enemy to destroy the world economy.
Yes, of course, he is always trying to do this and yes, he uses wicked
and selfish men. He comes to steal, kill and destroy. I come as the
Desire of the nations and Mine is the silver and Mine is the gold. I
always have a plan to trump what the enemy would desire.
"My children, I ask you to cease focusing on his conspiracies and turn your attention to Me and what I make available to you.
You can either be driven to immobilizing fear – by attention to the
wicked and their conspiracies – or you can ask of Me the nations as your
inheritance. You choose. My treasure, My Kingdom, is everywhere, and I
will make an example in California that will testify to every tongue,
tribe, and nation. I am bigger than your giants and I will stun you and
the nations with My goodness."
Multiple Levels of Gold: Shallow, Mid-level, and Deep Gold
"Furthermore, I am releasing gold at
multiple levels even in California. I have shallow gold, mid-level gold,
and deep gold. You will hear of discoveries in all depths. Rivers will flood and reveal new gold rushing possibilities. It will be in the water, it will be in the sand, it will be in the rocks, it will be in the mountains, it will be – Men will dig in their back yards and discover gold nuggets.
"Gold
will be discovered in your sand that you will better know how to
separate and extract. I will release 'gold equivalent' in your sands and
in your deserts. There are 7 'golds' that are already in your sands and
in your deserts. These are 'gold equivalents' whose name would not mean
much to you at this point. Gold will be found everywhere. It will be
in the water, it will be in the sand, it will be in the rocks, it will
be in the mountains, it will be hiding in plain sight, it will be hidden
in not so plain sight.
"California, it is time to play Treasure Hunt
with Me. I am inviting you on an exhilarating wild adventure that will
be full of ME. I will make you again the Golden State and it will speak
to you and all – the reality, that I have undiscovered treasures
everywhere. I am going to develop in you treasure hunting skills so you
can discover what I have hidden in nations, in cities, in families, and
in individuals. I am inviting you to find ME, the Pearl of great price,
everywhere you go. Cease to be distracted by the field and know the
treasure is IN THE FIELD.
"The whole earth is already filled with My glory/treasures, and I need a people who can joyfully find and reveal this glory. Again,
I tell you, that I am Who the nations desire and the silver and the
gold is Mine. So are the cures for every major illness. So are the new
energy forms. So are the new better ways of doing
everything. My ways are treasures to be discovered and they are the
better way of doing everything. You can find Me in government, in
education, in media, in arts and in all of life. It is a treasure I have
to offer the nations and you must begin to seek for these at this time
and cease to analyze and validate the giants in the land.
"ALL giants are designed to be bread for you, but you must carry a treasure hunting-spirit rather than a giant-hunting spirit.
Whichever you look for you will find. Did I not cause for even gold
dust and specks to manifest in your meetings and on your hands and on
your faces when you searched for it while enjoying My Presence? I
am asking you to expand that same dynamic into society itself. I can
make gold show up anywhere – even if it wasn't there before. That is the
lesson I taught you in your Glory Meetings. Now look for it and
experience it everywhere."
Gladiators
"And
I am asking to you to do this joyfully. I am asking for My army of
Pollyannas to arise. I am asking you to carry a contagious GLAD spirit.
This is the kind of GLADiator I am looking for in this day. Your mortal
enemy is hopelessness, anxiety, and fear. Be anxious for nothing. Fear
nothing. Be My golden gladiators. You be My treasure that is hidden in the field of the nations of the world.
"In turn, you then discover even new hidden treasures in what you assumed was all dirt. I have a treasure to be desired in every nation, every city, every family, and every person.
I am asking you to TREASURE HUNT WITH ME. I am going to turn around
California, the forerunner state, and you will know that I can do this
anywhere and everywhere."
Johnny EnlowEmail: Contact@JohnnyandElizabeth.com
JohnnyandElizabeth.com
Johnny Enlow is a social reformer, international speaker, spiritual mentor, and author of The Seven Mountain Prophecy, The Seven Mountain Mantle, and Rainbow God. He and his wife Elizabeth are focused on awakening individuals to their call to provide practical solutions from the heart of God for every problem in society- until the real God of all of life is displayed in the 7 primary areas of culture in all nations: Media, Arts and Entertainment, Government, Family, Religion, Economy, and Education.
Meeting Jezebel
I decided to visit a fellowship I know something about. I was in a season where I needed to see what..
I am used to a Jezebel Free Zone at places like Crusaders. Where control is never imposed. Apostolic authority is so strong control is not an issue.
There is small church about 15 minutes from my house should be the dominant fellowship in the area. The people are nice enough. The worship was great. Spirit of God moved. The ministry time was good. The preaching was adequate. I've heard worse. There was only one thing that was evident. As a prophet I knew at once I was in the presence of that old demon spirit Jezebel. Control. Dominance. Self Aggrandizement. Keeping the spotlight on Him or Her. Look at me.... Keep the mike rocking... when silence would have been much better served.
When I heard one of the Pastor's say, "If you want to teach, we will sit with you and help you to teach right things". I don't know how mature or immature the people are there. Some of those I met seemed to have been there a while. The desire on the part of leadership to not allow anything to go on without a heavy hand was beyond me. Even the sermon was "controlled". Jezebel manifested in spades.
There were several other things that reeked of Jezebel. If I described them you may know the church I am talking about... and that's not my point.
This is not a new fellowship, they have been there for 20 years or more and are stuck... really stuck. There is not more than 100 people any Sunday. This in a community that desperately NEEDS a good charismatic pentecostal witness. The fear of the unknown is killing this church.
I know why people stay away in droves..... the stench when you meet Jezebel is undeniable. You may not know what or why, you just know THAT it is there and you don't want any more of it.
What a waste of a good worship team and a nice building. There are so many great men and women of God who could make good use of such a facility and team. Nope, all serving Jezebel.
Demons... I hates them.
I am used to a Jezebel Free Zone at places like Crusaders. Where control is never imposed. Apostolic authority is so strong control is not an issue.
There is small church about 15 minutes from my house should be the dominant fellowship in the area. The people are nice enough. The worship was great. Spirit of God moved. The ministry time was good. The preaching was adequate. I've heard worse. There was only one thing that was evident. As a prophet I knew at once I was in the presence of that old demon spirit Jezebel. Control. Dominance. Self Aggrandizement. Keeping the spotlight on Him or Her. Look at me.... Keep the mike rocking... when silence would have been much better served.
When I heard one of the Pastor's say, "If you want to teach, we will sit with you and help you to teach right things". I don't know how mature or immature the people are there. Some of those I met seemed to have been there a while. The desire on the part of leadership to not allow anything to go on without a heavy hand was beyond me. Even the sermon was "controlled". Jezebel manifested in spades.
There were several other things that reeked of Jezebel. If I described them you may know the church I am talking about... and that's not my point.
This is not a new fellowship, they have been there for 20 years or more and are stuck... really stuck. There is not more than 100 people any Sunday. This in a community that desperately NEEDS a good charismatic pentecostal witness. The fear of the unknown is killing this church.
I know why people stay away in droves..... the stench when you meet Jezebel is undeniable. You may not know what or why, you just know THAT it is there and you don't want any more of it.
What a waste of a good worship team and a nice building. There are so many great men and women of God who could make good use of such a facility and team. Nope, all serving Jezebel.
Demons... I hates them.
This for me
"Then the LORD opened Balaam's eyes, and he saw the angel of the LORD standing in the road with his sword drawn. So he bowed low and fell facedown" (Num 22:27-31).
Have you ever wanted something so badly that your perception of the situation became distorted? We can force situations so much that we lose perspective.
The Israelites were defeating all their enemies in the Promised Land. Balak, the king of Moab, feared that they would be defeated by the Israelites. Balaam was a prophet of the Lord in whom Balak knew had the power to bless or curse a nation. So, he sent a delegation to get Balaam to curse the nation of Israel. Balaam wanted to do this for a nice fee that would come with his cooperation. However, God was not pleased. "But God said to Balaam, 'Do not go with them. You must not put a curse on those people, because they are blessed'" (Num 22:12).
Balaam was not being obedient to the Lord because he proceeded with his plan. And this was displeasing to the Lord. God sent an angel to stop him and would it not have been for his "talking donkey" he would have been killed by the angel.
In our ministries we can become driven to achieve. We become deceived by the need to be effective at any cost in our life.
In order to achieve Godly results, we must be sensitive to those around us who can give input to the direction we may be taking. God will confirm His direction in our lives if we are willing to accept input from those around us. It can come through a spouse, a co-worker, a boss, a secretary or any other person. Be aware of situations that encourage you to press too hard for a particular outcome.
Achieving goals should be a result of following the actions you believe God leads you to take. Let results become a fruit of your strategic actions.
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Major Earthquake Coming to the Heartland of America from a Blog of collected Prophecies
I do not embrace nor denounce these prophetic writings and pronouncments. They are interesting. They seem to be saying the same thing. I have been watching this. It is interesting that as I spent the night right on top of the place where this is supposed to happen, I had a prophetic download. So, I think it's worth reading, if only to be aware.
Several different prophetic ministers have received warnings from the Lord over the past several years regarding a major earthquake, which will hit the heartland of America. Most of the prophetic words connect the earthquake directly to the judgment of God for America’s role in pressuring Israel to divide their land.
Major Earthquake Coming to the Heartland of America
Several different prophetic ministers have received warnings from the Lord over the past several years regarding a major earthquake, which will hit the heartland of America. Most of the prophetic words connect the earthquake directly to the judgment of God for America’s role in pressuring Israel to divide their land.
Major Earthquake Coming to the Heartland of America
John Belt: Our God is the Rock! Everything That Can Be Shaken Will Be Shaken
I
had a dream where we were riding on Air Force One. As I was standing
inside we were in flight. I noticed how solid the floor was. Then
someone chimed in saying that Air Force One was made so that no matter what storms or winds came the people inside would not notice it.
Then I went to the back of the cabin finding the resting places – beds
that were plush and very nice to rest on. I took some time to test it
out saying it was wonderful.Our God is the best! When we take our flight in Him, we have a refuge and resting place in the heavens with Jesus. We can stand with confidence knowing that He has us covered and taken care of no matter what may happen on the outside. He is our refuge. He gives us solid ground to stand on. We can stand securely knowing that He is a solid rock for us.
Our Refuge
Psalm 9:9 "The Lord also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble."There are many words for refuge: defense, high place, high tower, fort, a cliff or other inaccessible lofty place. No matter what is happening we can take refuge in the Lord. He is a safe and secure place. His is "high place".
He is too high for our enemies. We can truly hide in the cleft of the rock of God. He is inaccessible to those who do not know Him, to the enemy of our souls. The devil cannot gain access to our lives when we are hidden in Him. We cannot be found because we are hidden in this lofty inaccessible place.
Our Resting Place
Jeremiah 6:16 "Thus
saith the Lord, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old
paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest
for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein."The actual word for "rest" is from the Hebrew h4771 – margoa'; a resting place. God is our resting place. He provides a place for us as we stand in His ways holding to the paths of His Presence, those ways of God that have stood true from generation to generation.
As we walk in the ways of God we find rest for our souls. When we understand that His ways are higher than ours, then embrace them, we find a peace that passes all understanding. The God of peace crushes satan under our feet.
We Can Stand on the Solid Rock
Philippians 4:1 "Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved."2 Samuel 22:47 "The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and exalted be the God of the rock of my salvation."
Our
God is the Rock. He solid, immovable, unshakable, never ending and
never changing. His Word endures forever. Heaven and earth will pass
away but His Word will never pass away. We can stand strong know that the substance of His Word is unwavering. His Word is Truth. Jesus said when we build our house on the rock of His Words that storms will rage all around but our house will stand and not be shaken.
Everything that can be shaken will be shaken, but if we are found in God's Air Force One we will be safe, secure and able to stand and rest in the midst of the worst conditions. Just as Jesus rested and slept in the boat when all the storms were breaking in all around, we too have that same blessed rest in Him.
John & Brandi Belt
Overflow Global Ministries
Email: office@overflowglobal.com
Website: overflowglobal.com
Friday, July 26, 2013
The Fault Line and the Upheaval to Come... a Download from New Madrid MO
I have recently been given a fresh look at the real roots of our racial divide in America. This came as a download while I was staying in a motel right on top of the New Madrid fault in MO. The place where what is considered the greatest continental earthquake took place in the early 1800s. IF it happened again in the same place with the same intensity, hundreds, perhaps thousands would die. The Lord spoke to me of the fault and what lies beneath.
Looking at it on the surface there appears to be no difference in the geography of the area around New Madrid than anywhere else. Flat open farm fields growing corn and soybeans. Like much of IL and IA. Bucolic. Peaceful.
Yet deep below the surface there is tension. One plate pushing against another. Tension that builds until it cannot tolerate any more, in a sudden deadly movement the earth experiences violent upheaval that shakes everything that can be shaken.
What you see on the surface is not reality. It's a cloak. It's a cover. It gives a false sense of security that has no basis in fact.
This divide, this earthquake took place on the most southern point of the Mason Dixon Line. The earthquake took place before the civil war. Here is a photo of that line.
If you look at the lowest point of the state of IL, just to the left of that point in MO is where the epicenter of the quake was.
The war between the states that cost so much life was preceded by the upheaval on New Madrid.
The problem is that the tension must be relieved or it will continue to build until a catastrophic event exhausts the pressure.
This is what I am seeing in our racial and economic divide in the USA. What I am about to describe is a both way tension. Just like the fault line at New Madrid is not one plate or another's fault, it is the differential that matters. So, this is about race intolerance going both ways.
Level ONE - INTOLERANCE: Beneath the surface there are people overtly intolerant of any of another race. Truly outspoken racists. This is a much smaller number than people believe. It's not OK to be this way and so in order to avoid being ostracized people keep their mouth shut.
Level TWO - TOLERANCE: These are people who tolerate others, obey the law, but don't engage the other race. They are on the surface normal looking, but beneath the surface they harbor a low level resentment. IF you could pry open their brains you would find resentment there.
Level THREE - ACCEPTANCE: These are people who recognize you can't unring a bell. That the ship has sailed. They might rather that we didn't have what we have in America, but we do. We must live together. They accept that fact. They are not begrudging. They are willing to be part of this world. They smile. They are friendly. They'll be peaceful. They may wonder why there are the separations.. yet they maintain borders. They will play pool together, play touch football together, have some surface friends in other racial groups. But for the most part their level of racial division is that border invisible fence they keep around themselves. Most white liberal Americans live in this never never land. They voted "right" in 2008 and pride themselves on their lack of racism. YET.. they are not engaged.
Level FOUR - ENGAGEMENT: These are people who have made a conscious decision to integrate themselves into relational community with those who do not share a cultural or racial similarity. They want to know, understand and appreciate the people who did not grow up exactly as they did. This takes intellectual honesty. It's not easy. It becomes more difficult when we find ourselves face to face with resistance when intentions are sincere.
Level FIVE - INTEGRATION = Assimilation: This word has been so badly used and abused. True integration involves assimilation, celebration and unification built on our commonality. You can't do this loading kids on a bus and hauling them across town. It must be with full equanimity. This final stage is the final barrier to relieving the stress that could lead to an earthquake. If the New Madrid plate materials slowly crumbled their resistances and melded into one another the threat of a next quake would be gone. It is the unwillingness to assimilate that is at the root of the problem. Making a demand to maintain distinct identity outside of the community of assimilation has maintained an unwelcome division.
Assimilation must be both ways. The entertainment and sports world have shown that there is the potential for assimilation in music. A white basketball player is an anomaly. We celebrate those stars. Yet much of the tension and tracked that drive racist thinking is an unwillingness to assimilate and celebrate one another leading to a new community unification.
In my recent travels I was exposed to level ONE and TWO racism. It shocked me. When I was with those of great wealth I saw level Three. Sadly, as rare as Level one is in today's society, Levels Four and Five are just as rare. It's like a sad dance from a forced marriage. Keeping our distance we dance to different drums.
Here's the raw truth of the matter, Racism is rampant and it is Black on White, White on Black, White on Indian (native American), Indian on White, Hispanic on White, White on Hispanic, Black on Hispanic, Hispanic on Black and a half dozen other nuances that keep us divided.
IF we don't get to level's Four and Five with one another, we may see another upheaval, natural and cultural. The depths to which we have fallen in our racial divide in this country corresponding to the election of a half black/white president has become a shame that stains our nation.
His election that caused many to celebrate, has caused those same people grief at the depths of rejection of the ideal this election held. This will take everyone recognizing the racist depths to which we have fallen. Recent events have demonstrated how much division there is. No matter the truth IF you are strongly racially identified, you may have fallen to become a level one or two racist. At this dangerous depth there is only that contains the frictions that will result in another quake. It's time to start to come up higher.
Looking at it on the surface there appears to be no difference in the geography of the area around New Madrid than anywhere else. Flat open farm fields growing corn and soybeans. Like much of IL and IA. Bucolic. Peaceful.
Yet deep below the surface there is tension. One plate pushing against another. Tension that builds until it cannot tolerate any more, in a sudden deadly movement the earth experiences violent upheaval that shakes everything that can be shaken.
What you see on the surface is not reality. It's a cloak. It's a cover. It gives a false sense of security that has no basis in fact.
This divide, this earthquake took place on the most southern point of the Mason Dixon Line. The earthquake took place before the civil war. Here is a photo of that line.
The war between the states that cost so much life was preceded by the upheaval on New Madrid.
The problem is that the tension must be relieved or it will continue to build until a catastrophic event exhausts the pressure.
This is what I am seeing in our racial and economic divide in the USA. What I am about to describe is a both way tension. Just like the fault line at New Madrid is not one plate or another's fault, it is the differential that matters. So, this is about race intolerance going both ways.
Level ONE - INTOLERANCE: Beneath the surface there are people overtly intolerant of any of another race. Truly outspoken racists. This is a much smaller number than people believe. It's not OK to be this way and so in order to avoid being ostracized people keep their mouth shut.
Level TWO - TOLERANCE: These are people who tolerate others, obey the law, but don't engage the other race. They are on the surface normal looking, but beneath the surface they harbor a low level resentment. IF you could pry open their brains you would find resentment there.
Level THREE - ACCEPTANCE: These are people who recognize you can't unring a bell. That the ship has sailed. They might rather that we didn't have what we have in America, but we do. We must live together. They accept that fact. They are not begrudging. They are willing to be part of this world. They smile. They are friendly. They'll be peaceful. They may wonder why there are the separations.. yet they maintain borders. They will play pool together, play touch football together, have some surface friends in other racial groups. But for the most part their level of racial division is that border invisible fence they keep around themselves. Most white liberal Americans live in this never never land. They voted "right" in 2008 and pride themselves on their lack of racism. YET.. they are not engaged.
Level FOUR - ENGAGEMENT: These are people who have made a conscious decision to integrate themselves into relational community with those who do not share a cultural or racial similarity. They want to know, understand and appreciate the people who did not grow up exactly as they did. This takes intellectual honesty. It's not easy. It becomes more difficult when we find ourselves face to face with resistance when intentions are sincere.
Level FIVE - INTEGRATION = Assimilation: This word has been so badly used and abused. True integration involves assimilation, celebration and unification built on our commonality. You can't do this loading kids on a bus and hauling them across town. It must be with full equanimity. This final stage is the final barrier to relieving the stress that could lead to an earthquake. If the New Madrid plate materials slowly crumbled their resistances and melded into one another the threat of a next quake would be gone. It is the unwillingness to assimilate that is at the root of the problem. Making a demand to maintain distinct identity outside of the community of assimilation has maintained an unwelcome division.
Assimilation must be both ways. The entertainment and sports world have shown that there is the potential for assimilation in music. A white basketball player is an anomaly. We celebrate those stars. Yet much of the tension and tracked that drive racist thinking is an unwillingness to assimilate and celebrate one another leading to a new community unification.
In my recent travels I was exposed to level ONE and TWO racism. It shocked me. When I was with those of great wealth I saw level Three. Sadly, as rare as Level one is in today's society, Levels Four and Five are just as rare. It's like a sad dance from a forced marriage. Keeping our distance we dance to different drums.
Here's the raw truth of the matter, Racism is rampant and it is Black on White, White on Black, White on Indian (native American), Indian on White, Hispanic on White, White on Hispanic, Black on Hispanic, Hispanic on Black and a half dozen other nuances that keep us divided.
IF we don't get to level's Four and Five with one another, we may see another upheaval, natural and cultural. The depths to which we have fallen in our racial divide in this country corresponding to the election of a half black/white president has become a shame that stains our nation.
His election that caused many to celebrate, has caused those same people grief at the depths of rejection of the ideal this election held. This will take everyone recognizing the racist depths to which we have fallen. Recent events have demonstrated how much division there is. No matter the truth IF you are strongly racially identified, you may have fallen to become a level one or two racist. At this dangerous depth there is only that contains the frictions that will result in another quake. It's time to start to come up higher.
Bob Hartley: Be a People of Hope with a Courageous and Childlike Spirit - that Praises Him in the Face of Evil Despair
"Calling Forth Voices of Hope" by Johnny Enlow and Bob Hartley and
scribed by Michael Sullivant:
Bob's Encounter: The Hope in Christ's Heart
In a recent spiritual dream, Bob Hartley saw himself behind a desk.
From the torso up, he looked as though he was in good shape; however, he
saw that under the desk his legs were atrophied. His ability to "walk
in hope" had been hindered and he was in great need of the Lord's
encouragement. The Holy Spirit showed Bob that it was when his health was severely challenged that his "hope legs" became crippled. A spirit of heaviness had seeped unnoticed into his soul to gradually quench his thanksgiving and praise (Isaiah 61:3). He also understood that we all need our marvelous comrades, fellow hope reformers, to come alongside us and sing the song of our heart even when we forget the tune.
Then
he saw about 50 people whom he knew to be those who were full of hope;
people who could always see the "silver lining" in the storm clouds of
life. Some of them were Bible characters like Barnabas and Ruth. Others
were real people from history like Winston Churchill and Norman Vincent
Peale. Some were people unknown to the world, but extremely hopeful
people Bob has known in life. Others were fictional characters like
Pollyanna...though Bob did not realize that her legs became crippled in
the story. The Lord Jesus then said to Bob, "If you added together all the hope in the lives of these people, it would only represent one percent of the hope that I have in My heart for the cities and nations of the earth and also for the challenging situations of your life. I have also called you to become more hopeful than all these people put together.
"It is a new season when there will be grace for the 'double portion' of hope. And even beyond this, it will be a season of 10x multiplication. There will be unprecedented manifestations of righteousness, peace and joy attended by endless celebrations. Hopes and promises that have been deferred and assaulted by a spirit of negation will be restored."
In this dream, Bob was also reminded of an event in his history when he was in the skybox of a professional sports arena. He found himself focused on an empty table that he expected to be laden with food. However, behind and all around him were six other tables filled with amazing and exquisite delicacies. The Lord said to him, "Do not be fixated on or distracted by the table that is empty. Open your eyes and see all the tables of plenty."
He knew it was a time like when the children of Israel were exiting the wilderness and entering the Promised Land. The manna ceased, but they were called to now eat the fruit that the land produced (see Joshua 5:12). The Holy Spirit used this encounter to instruct him to not lose hope when one area of life seems barren, but rather to look around for, focus upon, and be thankful for other areas where the grace of God is at work during any particular season of life.
When
Bob and Johnny Enlow (pictured here) caught up in person last month,
Bob gave Johnny a date that he knew by the Holy Spirit was somehow
significant to both Johnny and Bob's above spiritual encounter. That
date was June 1st. (To view a recent word published by Johnny Enlow on the Elijah List click here.)
As it turned out, this date was Johnny's 54th birthday and the day of
the wedding of his daughter, Promise, over which Johnny officiated. The
Holy Spirit is referring to Isaiah 54, and that it is the Father's
pleasure for us to be married again to His promises over which we have
had our hope deferred, but which will now come to pass and cause our
territory to be enlarged.Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes...Fear not, for you will not be ashamed; be not confounded, for you will not be disgraced; for you will forget the shame of your youth, and the reproach of your widowhood you will remember no more. For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name... (Isaiah 54:2, 4-5a).
Johnny's "Pollyanna" Encounter
June 1st was also the day that Johnny finished his notes for his
final sermon as the senior pastor of Day Star Church in Atlanta, "God's
Pollyannas". (He and his wife Elizabeth and their family have now
relocated to the Los Angeles area to carry on their at-large ministry.)
It was during this conversation that Johnny first shared with Bob his
parallel prophetic message regarding Pollyanna.From time to time in the course of sharing a message with God's people, Johnny would preface certain statements that hold great divine promise for this age by stating, "I'm not just being a 'Pollyanna' when I say this..." Being "Pollyannaish" has become a well-known negative label to describe someone who expresses hope that is viewed as unrealistic in the eyes of her/his surrounding culture. Being "Pollyannaish" is to process life in an overly simplistic way. It implies that such a person is naive and in denial. She/he is viewed as being excessively cheerful or foolishly optimistic.
Recently when he made this qualifying phrase, the Lord responded suddenly and clearly to Johnny and said, "What's wrong with Pollyanna? I like her. I want a 'Pollyanna' people. I want a 'Pollyanna' Bride!" This stunned him and sent him on a course to research the story of Pollyanna and to look to the Scriptures for confirmation.
The
essence of the story revolves around the orphaned daughter, Pollyanna,
of a missionary family whose wise and loving father taught her to play
the "glad game" as a way of life before he passed away. This
game involves continually looking for something to be glad about in
every situation one faces in life and to focus one's attention upon that
good thing. The carefree and vivacious Pollyanna is sent to live with her proper, stern and legalistic Aunt Polly in a small town in Vermont. Pollyanna's cheerful ways are an affront to her aunt and her aunt treats her quite harshly. Despite this opposition, Pollyanna continually plays the "glad game" and teaches others to do the same. She endears herself to many townspeople, old and young alike, and her infectious joy quietly spreads among them and makes an indelible mark upon them. When Pollyanna has an accident that paralyzes her legs, her own hope is deeply challenged and she becomes temporarily depressed.
However, Pollyanna reaps the good that she has sown and the townspeople respond to her situation with great love and kindness bringing cheer back into her heart. She even wins over her stubborn Aunt Polly whose heart is melted by the joyful love of her young niece who proves to be wise beyond her years. Finally, Pollyanna regains the use of her legs and she becomes more grateful and hopeful than ever.
Of course, we know from the Bible that God loves to use stories and parables to reveal His heart to us. So, it shouldn't surprise us that the Holy Spirit might use the 100th anniversary of the tale of Pollyanna (which neither Bob or Johnny knew at the time of their encounters) to speak a fresh word of prophecy to the Body of Christ. God has always enjoyed confounding the wisdom of the wise by simple childlike truths.
For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men...But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are, so that no human being might boast in the presence of God (1 Corinthians 1:25, 27-29).
Is it Biblical to be Like Pollyanna?
But is it Biblical to be "Pollyannaish"? Consider these quite serious and clear apostolic injunctions....be filled with the Spirit, addressing one another in songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:18b-21).
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice...do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God...Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these thing. (Philippians 4:4, 6, 8).
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18).
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him (James 1:2-5).
This Greek word for "count", heggemia, in the above passage involves the concepts of "lead, rule and command". In other words, we have been given grace from God to take authority over our response to trials in order to obtain the correct divine perspective on our situation. This is why James says to ask for and expect wisdom (divine perspective) to come to us in the context of trials. This will ensure for us the positive results and outcomes that our good Father intends through any challenging situation or circumstance. This is pretty clear "Pollyannaish" thinking and living!
Paul and Silas modeled this extremely hopeful and unashamed way of processing negative life situations very clearly in the account of their imprisonment in Philippi. Also, notice both the amazing divine and human responses in this circumstance as you read on in the account.
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone's bonds were unfastened (Acts 16:25-26).
Many
people will say that this way of life is not "realistic". But is
moping, complaining, grumbling, and being oppressed with an impending
sense of doom and gloom honestly more "real" than having hope – when the
truly good and living God is always active in our world and on our
side? How has despair, worry and anxiety been working for us anyway? "Keeping it real", from the angle of some, will only keep us in defeat!
The Holy Spirit said to Johnny, "When you magnify God deliberately enough to be able to see and then praise Him in the most adverse conditions...a dunamis power of God can be released to burst into circumstances and even liberate the 'prisoners' around you."
The world is watching and we should never waste an opportunity to "see" and praise God in a contradictory situation. These apostles had gone on a mission trip and were rewarded with persecution instead of the expected blessing or breakthrough. Yet, they magnified God in their prison until they saw Him. Paul and Silas' "Pollyannish" spirit released the freedom of God's Kingdom not only into their circumstances, but it also loosed the observing prisoners to bring salvation to many. Paul and Silas viewed themselves as the "prisoners of hope" prophesied by Zechariah more than the prisoners of men.
...and He shall speak peace to the nations; His rule shall be from sea to sea, and from the River to the ends of the earth. As for you also, because of the Blood of My covenant with you, I will set your prisoners free from the waterless pit. Return to your stronghold, O prisoners of hope; today I declare that I will restore to you double (Zechariah 9:10b-12a).
In the mysterious quantum world, inanimate matter behaves differently depending on if it is being observed and who is observing it. Particles are activated in various ways by the power of observation. What if the living God's invisible power can simply be activated for good by the anointed observation of His sons and daughters?
Jesus said that unless we are born again we cannot see the Kingdom of God (see John 3:3). But the implication is that if we are born from above, we are enabled to perceive the Kingdom of God, thereby acknowledging and anticipating the presence and activity of the Holy Spirit. The Kingdom of God is in the Holy Spirit (see Romans 14:17).
We are challenged in the New Testament to see God at work in the midst of our trials so that amazingly positive outcomes are secured. Isn't this what Paul and Silas "saw" in the darkest hour with bleeding backs and bound in the prison stocks? The Holy Spirit is promising us that in these days we are going to begin to "see" the invisible God at work in ways that we have not recognized before. This spiritual insight is what distinguishes this "Holy Spirit optimism" from the mere "power of positive thinking".
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen (2 Corinthians 4:16-18).
Of course, we also "see Him" in the midst of the many blessings He provides for us as well.
Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow (James 1:17).
Conclusion: Voices of Hope Rising Up
• The invisible God becomes activated when we "see" Him.• Look for the silver lining (redemptive purpose) in every cloud (trial).
• Good things are always going on, even when we're in a test of hope or faith.
• Ask "Where is God working?" and magnify that. Not, "Where or why is God not apparently working?"
• If we see what God is doing and thank Him for this, He will cause His blessings to multiply and will go to work in those yet untouched or unmoved arenas.
• Like with the account of the loaves and fishes, offer to God the "little" breakthrough we do have and trust Him to miraculously bless and multiply it.
• Praise and gratitude pave the way for the release of greater power.
As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen (1 Peter 4:10-11).
In this divine interchange, Johnny was aware that the Holy Spirit was using "Pollyanna" as an inspired word play on poly (manifold) and anna (grace) or "multicolored grace". God wants a Pollyanna people who will have a courageous and childlike spirit that praises Him greatly for all His goodness, smack in the face of the evil despair, pessimism and cynicism of this world. They will not be ashamed to show their fullest and truest colors that display the multi-faceted genius and nature of the living God, Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, who freely takes the things of the Father and the Son and reveals them to us.
The "Pollyannas" of God will be winsome and compelling hope reformers who usher in a New Renaissance of a divine kind into all the seven mountains – the primary spheres of influence upon our societies. (The first Renaissance was limited in its scope by its humanistic center.) They will not do this as worldly sophisticates or protesters of evil, but they will disarm evil through a divine innocence, presence, and power that only the Holy Spirit can impart to and through human beings.
In Bob's encounter, the Lord also revealed to him that we have now crossed over into an hour in God's purposes when millions of dormant Hope Reformers – God's "Pollyannas" – will be raised up and activated by simple words of prophetic declaration and the laying on of hands through those who have become "voices of hope". Those so activated will also become "voices of hope" to many others in need.
Again and again, Bob has seen a Royal Pathway of Hope that the Lord is calling His children to traverse. Through the years, our respective ministries have been developing materials that are tools designed to set people upon and keep them advancing along this pathway. It involves developing a daily lifestyle of Spirit-filled adoration, Spirit-led inquiry and Spirit-inspired confessions of who we are in Christ, who He is in us, and who He is in all the earth. Join us on the journey!
Bob also saw how God wants to deliver His children from being like Eyeore, the despairing, glum and always pessimistic donkey of Winnie the Pooh fame.
But that's another story!
Bob Hartley, scribed by Michael Sullivant
Deeper Waters Ministry
Email: deeperwatersofhope@gmail.com
Website: bobhartley.org
Bob Hartley is the founder of Hartley Institute/Deeper Waters Ministry in Kansas City, Missouri. Bob served as a pastor at Metro Christian Fellowship with Mike Bickle before entering the marketplace in 1983, with a vision to see the marketplace redeemed and cities established that value and love the person of Jesus. He is also the Chief Executive Officer of the Hartley Group, a "Hope Center" for the marketplace, consisting of Hartley's Executive Cleaning, Swift Chemicals & Supply, Prize Properties and H&H Management in Kansas City, Missouri. Bob is a frequent speaker to youth, churches, businesses, and national leaders throughout America and the world. His quest has been to bring the Kingdom of God into every arena of life and give spiritual tools and equipping to those seeking to know and love God in the midst of their everyday lives. Currently, Bob resides in Kansas City with his wife and four children.
with Johnny Enlow
Email: Contact@JohnnyandElizabeth.com
JohnnyandElizabeth.com
Johnny Enlow is a social reformer, international speaker, spiritual mentor, and author of The Seven Mountain Prophecy, The Seven Mountain Mantle, and Rainbow God. He and his wife Elizabeth are focused on awakening individuals to their call to provide practical solutions from the heart of God for every problem in society- until the real God of all of life is displayed in the 7 primary areas of culture in all nations: Media, Arts and Entertainment, Government, Family, Religion, Economy, and Education.
Tuesday, July 23, 2013
Giftedness is Seldom Monitized until it Flows out of Love
A major frustration among those with great artistic giftedness is that they pour their hearts into their art and no one buys it. After they have invested their very life in it, there seems to be no monitory purpose in it. Ask anyone who has tried to make a living as an artist. You will hear their frustration.
I have a friend who wrote a long piece on this. I know what her hearts cry is. I have so many extraordinarily gifted people I know. People who by all rights should be on the top. Yet they are not.
These people are artists (paints and painting), sculptors, musicians of all stripes, composers, writers of books and preachers. Most of them struggle to get paid for what their hearts passion.
I have asked the Lord why. Freely given freely give.
Please understand, they deserve to be paid. They deserve more. The problem is as soon as one begins to focus on striving for wealth out of the gift, they become their own worst enemy. Sure, a Micheal Jackson, the Beatles, an Andy Warhol, A Joel Osteen and numbers of others have succeeded in monetizing the gift they were given by God. Sometimes it is just knowing how to push the buttons on the star making machine.
It really comes down to the flow of the gift from God. IF an artist truly gifted from God knew full well he or she would never ever make a penny for the rest of their life on their art, would they stop painting, sculpting, composing, playing, writing or preaching? IF the answer is yes, they would stop, then it was not a gift.
True artistic giftedness is a flow. Inspiration comes and the art is performed or created for it's own sake. Music is different in that it can be repeated. People covering their own music sometimes are the most sad. No one says to Van Gogh, "Paint another "Starry Night" again". He could have. It might even be good. But it would be a copy. The nuance in giftedness is seeing the difference.
I know the history of art. Patrons supported artists. Artists produced art... much of it great. Bach wrote something every week fresh. Mozart fought to stay alive on patron money. Commissioned paintings. Commissioned sculptures. That tradition seems to be lost. Not much of that going on any more. Sure as a writer, if you are good enough, you can find someone to advance you money on a book.
This frustration has caused discouragement and even anger on the part of many. I knew a gifted artist who in frustration took all her paintings and sculptures and piled them up, poured gasoline on them and burned them. She told me her artistic flow increased. I thought it was a pretty radical thing to do.
I have writings and sermon notes from the last 20 years. In boxes. I from time to time have dipped back in them. They are good. YET.. I can never preach nor teach the same material twice. I hear renowned preachers and teachers four or five times and begin to hear serious recycling going on. No fresh manna. That is when purely for money stifles the flow. It's what happens when the ministry money machine is turned on.
Please hear my heart. I am NOT critical of people who make a good living on their art. I wish all could. It must start however with the gift being able to flow thru us.
One of my relatives, Terry Redlin is a famous wildlife artist. He has become wealthy by his art. What most don't know is when he wasn't wealthy, when we worked for a magazine (Dakota Farmer) for peanuts he painted all the time for free. Gave it away. I have some.
Unless we are prepared to play, paint and preach for free...we will never find the flow that makes it possible for monetization. Here's a prayer for artists written by Ginger Pennington:
Now go on producing the flow of the Holy Spirit given to you freely. When the times comes if it ever does you will see a reward. The art you bring will be it's own reward in love ... and the world will be a better more beautiful place.
I have a friend who wrote a long piece on this. I know what her hearts cry is. I have so many extraordinarily gifted people I know. People who by all rights should be on the top. Yet they are not.
These people are artists (paints and painting), sculptors, musicians of all stripes, composers, writers of books and preachers. Most of them struggle to get paid for what their hearts passion.
I have asked the Lord why. Freely given freely give.
Matthew 10:7And proclaim as you go, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ 8Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, cast out demons. You received without paying; give without pay. 9Acquire no gold nor silver nor copper for your belts, 10no bag for your journey, nor two tunics nor sandals nor a staff, for the laborer deserves his food. 11And whatever town or village you enter, find out who is worthy in it and stay there until you depart. 12As you enter the house, greet it. 13And if the house is worthy, let your peace come upon it, but if it is not worthy, let your peace return to you. 14And if anyone will not receive you or listen to your words, shake off the dust from your feet when you leave that house or town.
Please understand, they deserve to be paid. They deserve more. The problem is as soon as one begins to focus on striving for wealth out of the gift, they become their own worst enemy. Sure, a Micheal Jackson, the Beatles, an Andy Warhol, A Joel Osteen and numbers of others have succeeded in monetizing the gift they were given by God. Sometimes it is just knowing how to push the buttons on the star making machine.
It really comes down to the flow of the gift from God. IF an artist truly gifted from God knew full well he or she would never ever make a penny for the rest of their life on their art, would they stop painting, sculpting, composing, playing, writing or preaching? IF the answer is yes, they would stop, then it was not a gift.
True artistic giftedness is a flow. Inspiration comes and the art is performed or created for it's own sake. Music is different in that it can be repeated. People covering their own music sometimes are the most sad. No one says to Van Gogh, "Paint another "Starry Night" again". He could have. It might even be good. But it would be a copy. The nuance in giftedness is seeing the difference.
I know the history of art. Patrons supported artists. Artists produced art... much of it great. Bach wrote something every week fresh. Mozart fought to stay alive on patron money. Commissioned paintings. Commissioned sculptures. That tradition seems to be lost. Not much of that going on any more. Sure as a writer, if you are good enough, you can find someone to advance you money on a book.
This frustration has caused discouragement and even anger on the part of many. I knew a gifted artist who in frustration took all her paintings and sculptures and piled them up, poured gasoline on them and burned them. She told me her artistic flow increased. I thought it was a pretty radical thing to do.
I have writings and sermon notes from the last 20 years. In boxes. I from time to time have dipped back in them. They are good. YET.. I can never preach nor teach the same material twice. I hear renowned preachers and teachers four or five times and begin to hear serious recycling going on. No fresh manna. That is when purely for money stifles the flow. It's what happens when the ministry money machine is turned on.
Please hear my heart. I am NOT critical of people who make a good living on their art. I wish all could. It must start however with the gift being able to flow thru us.
One of my relatives, Terry Redlin is a famous wildlife artist. He has become wealthy by his art. What most don't know is when he wasn't wealthy, when we worked for a magazine (Dakota Farmer) for peanuts he painted all the time for free. Gave it away. I have some.
Unless we are prepared to play, paint and preach for free...we will never find the flow that makes it possible for monetization. Here's a prayer for artists written by Ginger Pennington:
My prayer for the struggling artist:
Despite these things, we will trust in the Lord. He works all things for good to those who love Him and are the called according to His purposes. We will walk by faith and not by sight. We may not know what opportunities or seeming lack thereof will come down the road for us, but God, you do, and you know better than we the plans you have to prosper us, give us hope, and a future. The rich may rule over the poor and the borrower is slave to the lender, but even still may we remove our dependence upon others and simply trust in YOU [God] to send us provision and wisdom. May we be trusted when we have very little so that we can be trusted with much, since whomever is dishonest with very little is dishonest with very much. Let us receive a renewed vision and hope from you without any doubt, so that we will no longer be like a wave tossed to and fro in the ocean, and so that we may receive anything that we ask from you. Keep our hearts pure, full of love, and eager to always serve you in the name of Christ. Let whatever we create come together in a way that both brings glory to your name and draws souls to the love and freedom you provide in Christ for eternity. Hallelujah!
Now go on producing the flow of the Holy Spirit given to you freely. When the times comes if it ever does you will see a reward. The art you bring will be it's own reward in love ... and the world will be a better more beautiful place.
Monday, July 22, 2013
WHAT IF.... By BREN WARD
I didn't write this, but I concur. This is why on this prophetic blog you won't find much prophetic writing or pronouncement about end times. Sure, we are in a time...end? Don't think so. We are experiencing predictable cycles that take us from prophetic fulfillment to another and then around again. The devil has no new schemes. He is the master at recycling. Read this and ask yourself if this resonates.. it does to me. I won't condemn you for believing all you hear on Christian TV.. but this is another look at truth
WHAT IF.... By BREN WARD
WHAT IF from a spiritual perspective, the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, at 70 AD was what Jesus had it mind when He taught those who had ears to hear to flee Jerusalem when they see the Judgment of God coming, (in their lifetime). The Jews still under the law continued to offer sacrifice, not having accepted Jesus as the acceptable Sacrifice God foreshadowed prophetically. This kept them bound to vain, inherited traditions of men, via Blind Leaders leading the blind; Blind Leaders who had not received Gods Truth, but hung onto Vain inherited Traditions which were a distortion of Father’s intention and kept those who would from entering into the Kingdom of God, as a Spiritual Kingdom. Those who did not embrace the spirit of the Teachings of Jesus, were looking for Him to release them from Roman Bondage as they believed their Messiah would set up an Earthly Kingdom whereby they would rule over men with Him, in the Natural, as a Great Nation. They had temporal thinking… they had not spiritual eyes to see, nor ears to hear, through His Eyes of Eternity.
WHAT IF after he was exiled to Patmos by Nero, John did receive a visitation whereby Jesus revealed the Revelation God gave him, in a Symbolic/Spiritual Language (so the fleshly Romans could not understand), of Gods judgment that was going to SHORTLY come upon those Jews who were worshiping from a Religious mindset, rather than worshiping in Spirit and Truth.
WHAT IF the Revelation given to Jesus Christ by God, (verse 1) in context as a whole, was meant to be a message of encouragement for those who would become "Spiritual Israel". Shortly after, the Romans (of an anti-Christ spirit) utterly destroyed the Temple after a long and bloody siege, 66-70 AD. The Jews revolted against their Authority, believing God would give them the Victory; instead their Temple was completely and utterly destroyed. Only the wall outside the Temple remains. Why would He allow this, if there was still a need for it? The known world, watched as the great City of Peace, Jerusalem, fell and the Harlot (those who worshiped a false God, calling themselves Jews but were of the Synagogue of Satan, walking in the flesh) was revealed. During the process, some were taken some left while working in the fields to mention another Scripture. The letters of Paul and the other Apostles urged those who were more carnal than spiritual or spiritual infants not to go back into the legalism/bondage of a dead Religion, nor try to incorporate their worldly Belief's into the Teachings of Christ (they were taught an anti-Christ Spirit is in the world trying to bring about a Religion of the Flesh. Historically the Hebrew People made this same mistake, among others and found them selves brought into Captivity, repeatedly, only by the Grace of God's indwelling Spirit manifesting the truth of our redemption, could the cycle stop).
With the destruction of the Temple, Prophecy was fulfilled is the understanding I have received as I have studied diligently since 1978. No longer can the lineage of the Messiah be proven as the Records were destroyed, (this is the reason for the recording of the begets in Scripture). No longer is there a Sacred Place for the people to gather for atoning sacrifice or the Celebration of Religious Feasts (Outer Courts). No longer is there a Sacred Place for the Priests to go before Almighty God as a representative of the people, with Prayer (Inner Courts ... "My house is to be a house of prayer, but you have made it a Den of Thieves!"). No longer is there a Sacred Place for the Holy of Holies where the High Priest went behind the Veil once a year, (the Veil which represented the veil of the flesh that separated man from God through a sin consciousness was torn, from the TOP down. It was opened the moment Jesus died during a Great Earth Quake speaking of the Truth man can now come to God directly, having been reconciled, for their sins have been atoned once and for all. There was no longer a need for yearly sacrifices to put their mind at ease.). In the Holy of Holies was the Ark of the Covenant, the Sacred Place God's Spirit Dwelt among men who were of the Flesh and not His Spirit, waiting for redemption as promised to Eve. It too no longer exits, was it destroyed along with the Temple? The Romans hated the Jews so much they even burnt the Gold which was within the Temple, nothing was left. (For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.) Such were shadows of that which was to come, spoken of in the Old Testament prophetically via a Covenant made with the Descendants of Abraham, both Spiritual and Natural, (anyone could receive of the Covenant, but the Jews became inclusive, much like some who call themselves by the Name of God today, and did not welcome them; such a false representation of God had to be brought to its end). This has become my understanding, thus far. If I may continue....
The New Testament brings about the abolishing of vain religious traditions, imposed upon man through hypocritical, power hungry Religious Leaders, (The High Priest was appointed by Rome, in Jesus’ day.). The New Covenant reveals Christ within (manifesting the anointing of God our Father), the Hope of Glory (evidence of the Presence of Omni God within those who are born of the Holy Ghost and His Presence among us seeking to save those who are lost in outer darkness through ignorance and what it is to walk in the Flesh and not after the Spirit). Through embracing the New Covenant one on one, we each become a Temple of God... a dwelling place whereby we commune with God our Father privately, first of all, with a knowing we can Trust Him to teach us, lead us into all truth as His Spirit within transforms us, according to His unfolding plan; which is Just.
Surely, His Spirit abides in us through the Holy Spirit within; establishing His Kingdom on earth as it already is in Heaven, exponentially, beginning within our hearts. Part of the Good News of God is we do not have to die a physical death to enter the Kingdom of God, for it is within and among us, it is a Spiritual Kingdom which the new birth experiences causes us to become a part of enabling us to become Fully Alive in Jesus. Those who are OF it are OF their Heavenly Father. Its fruit is peace, joy and righteousness, in the Holy Ghost.
Through the power of the resurrection of Christ, we can become Of Christ; A dwelling place for the living Word of God our Father to be manifested as our truth experientially. (Jesus said the words I speak are Father's words, the works I do are Fathers works, when you see me you see Him and prayed that we too would become ONE with them as recorded in John 17.) In Him we can live and move and have our Being, according to HIS unfolding plan. The fiery trials and tribulations of life are a spiritual gift to remove that which would separate us from the love of God .... such experiences helps to separate lies from truth. Father's Spirit of Truth leads us into all truth as we choose to seek and embrace it with an open/repentant heart, having been convicted of our need to be teachable as well as other needs only our Father can fill. Through the new birth experience (the awakening of our Spirit) we each receive a new heart, a loving heart, which is willing to let go of that which needs to be purified, as the spirit of our mind is renewed and our soul is restored/transformed.
Seems to be the Spirit that brought in the Information Age is causing more and more of us to seek TRUTH for ourselves; Truth that affects, not only the health of our body, and soul, but our eternal spirit as well. Truth brings us into wholeness, as we are conformed into the Image and Likeness of God's Son. (Those who are OF Christ are neither Male nor Female, neither Pagan nor a Jew, neither a slave nor free, but One in Christ; one who was created to walk in the Spirit, in our now, as we receive spiritual discernment and embrace the power bestowed upon us.)
I am curious, as to how many of us are being moved to do research for ourselves with regard to the History surrounding the Old Covenant and the New Covenant, 70 AD and the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem, how that affected the Religion of the Hebrew People and those who chose to follow Christ Jesus, that they might worship in the Spirit and in Truth. How many of us are researching the History of the Bible and the establishing of the Church as the Body of Christ. How many of us are asking God directly to reveal to them the truth, rather than going to a man 'first', to hear. Perhaps in the doing, one of the greatest moves of God's Spirit will take place, bringing about the greatest Spiritual Renaissance since the ascension of Christ.
This has become my understanding, which is expanding as I grow spiritually, thanks kindly for considering it.
WHAT IF.... By BREN WARD
WHAT IF from a spiritual perspective, the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, at 70 AD was what Jesus had it mind when He taught those who had ears to hear to flee Jerusalem when they see the Judgment of God coming, (in their lifetime). The Jews still under the law continued to offer sacrifice, not having accepted Jesus as the acceptable Sacrifice God foreshadowed prophetically. This kept them bound to vain, inherited traditions of men, via Blind Leaders leading the blind; Blind Leaders who had not received Gods Truth, but hung onto Vain inherited Traditions which were a distortion of Father’s intention and kept those who would from entering into the Kingdom of God, as a Spiritual Kingdom. Those who did not embrace the spirit of the Teachings of Jesus, were looking for Him to release them from Roman Bondage as they believed their Messiah would set up an Earthly Kingdom whereby they would rule over men with Him, in the Natural, as a Great Nation. They had temporal thinking… they had not spiritual eyes to see, nor ears to hear, through His Eyes of Eternity.
WHAT IF after he was exiled to Patmos by Nero, John did receive a visitation whereby Jesus revealed the Revelation God gave him, in a Symbolic/Spiritual Language (so the fleshly Romans could not understand), of Gods judgment that was going to SHORTLY come upon those Jews who were worshiping from a Religious mindset, rather than worshiping in Spirit and Truth.
WHAT IF the Revelation given to Jesus Christ by God, (verse 1) in context as a whole, was meant to be a message of encouragement for those who would become "Spiritual Israel". Shortly after, the Romans (of an anti-Christ spirit) utterly destroyed the Temple after a long and bloody siege, 66-70 AD. The Jews revolted against their Authority, believing God would give them the Victory; instead their Temple was completely and utterly destroyed. Only the wall outside the Temple remains. Why would He allow this, if there was still a need for it? The known world, watched as the great City of Peace, Jerusalem, fell and the Harlot (those who worshiped a false God, calling themselves Jews but were of the Synagogue of Satan, walking in the flesh) was revealed. During the process, some were taken some left while working in the fields to mention another Scripture. The letters of Paul and the other Apostles urged those who were more carnal than spiritual or spiritual infants not to go back into the legalism/bondage of a dead Religion, nor try to incorporate their worldly Belief's into the Teachings of Christ (they were taught an anti-Christ Spirit is in the world trying to bring about a Religion of the Flesh. Historically the Hebrew People made this same mistake, among others and found them selves brought into Captivity, repeatedly, only by the Grace of God's indwelling Spirit manifesting the truth of our redemption, could the cycle stop).
With the destruction of the Temple, Prophecy was fulfilled is the understanding I have received as I have studied diligently since 1978. No longer can the lineage of the Messiah be proven as the Records were destroyed, (this is the reason for the recording of the begets in Scripture). No longer is there a Sacred Place for the people to gather for atoning sacrifice or the Celebration of Religious Feasts (Outer Courts). No longer is there a Sacred Place for the Priests to go before Almighty God as a representative of the people, with Prayer (Inner Courts ... "My house is to be a house of prayer, but you have made it a Den of Thieves!"). No longer is there a Sacred Place for the Holy of Holies where the High Priest went behind the Veil once a year, (the Veil which represented the veil of the flesh that separated man from God through a sin consciousness was torn, from the TOP down. It was opened the moment Jesus died during a Great Earth Quake speaking of the Truth man can now come to God directly, having been reconciled, for their sins have been atoned once and for all. There was no longer a need for yearly sacrifices to put their mind at ease.). In the Holy of Holies was the Ark of the Covenant, the Sacred Place God's Spirit Dwelt among men who were of the Flesh and not His Spirit, waiting for redemption as promised to Eve. It too no longer exits, was it destroyed along with the Temple? The Romans hated the Jews so much they even burnt the Gold which was within the Temple, nothing was left. (For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.) Such were shadows of that which was to come, spoken of in the Old Testament prophetically via a Covenant made with the Descendants of Abraham, both Spiritual and Natural, (anyone could receive of the Covenant, but the Jews became inclusive, much like some who call themselves by the Name of God today, and did not welcome them; such a false representation of God had to be brought to its end). This has become my understanding, thus far. If I may continue....
The New Testament brings about the abolishing of vain religious traditions, imposed upon man through hypocritical, power hungry Religious Leaders, (The High Priest was appointed by Rome, in Jesus’ day.). The New Covenant reveals Christ within (manifesting the anointing of God our Father), the Hope of Glory (evidence of the Presence of Omni God within those who are born of the Holy Ghost and His Presence among us seeking to save those who are lost in outer darkness through ignorance and what it is to walk in the Flesh and not after the Spirit). Through embracing the New Covenant one on one, we each become a Temple of God... a dwelling place whereby we commune with God our Father privately, first of all, with a knowing we can Trust Him to teach us, lead us into all truth as His Spirit within transforms us, according to His unfolding plan; which is Just.
Surely, His Spirit abides in us through the Holy Spirit within; establishing His Kingdom on earth as it already is in Heaven, exponentially, beginning within our hearts. Part of the Good News of God is we do not have to die a physical death to enter the Kingdom of God, for it is within and among us, it is a Spiritual Kingdom which the new birth experiences causes us to become a part of enabling us to become Fully Alive in Jesus. Those who are OF it are OF their Heavenly Father. Its fruit is peace, joy and righteousness, in the Holy Ghost.
Through the power of the resurrection of Christ, we can become Of Christ; A dwelling place for the living Word of God our Father to be manifested as our truth experientially. (Jesus said the words I speak are Father's words, the works I do are Fathers works, when you see me you see Him and prayed that we too would become ONE with them as recorded in John 17.) In Him we can live and move and have our Being, according to HIS unfolding plan. The fiery trials and tribulations of life are a spiritual gift to remove that which would separate us from the love of God .... such experiences helps to separate lies from truth. Father's Spirit of Truth leads us into all truth as we choose to seek and embrace it with an open/repentant heart, having been convicted of our need to be teachable as well as other needs only our Father can fill. Through the new birth experience (the awakening of our Spirit) we each receive a new heart, a loving heart, which is willing to let go of that which needs to be purified, as the spirit of our mind is renewed and our soul is restored/transformed.
Seems to be the Spirit that brought in the Information Age is causing more and more of us to seek TRUTH for ourselves; Truth that affects, not only the health of our body, and soul, but our eternal spirit as well. Truth brings us into wholeness, as we are conformed into the Image and Likeness of God's Son. (Those who are OF Christ are neither Male nor Female, neither Pagan nor a Jew, neither a slave nor free, but One in Christ; one who was created to walk in the Spirit, in our now, as we receive spiritual discernment and embrace the power bestowed upon us.)
I am curious, as to how many of us are being moved to do research for ourselves with regard to the History surrounding the Old Covenant and the New Covenant, 70 AD and the destruction of the Temple of Jerusalem, how that affected the Religion of the Hebrew People and those who chose to follow Christ Jesus, that they might worship in the Spirit and in Truth. How many of us are researching the History of the Bible and the establishing of the Church as the Body of Christ. How many of us are asking God directly to reveal to them the truth, rather than going to a man 'first', to hear. Perhaps in the doing, one of the greatest moves of God's Spirit will take place, bringing about the greatest Spiritual Renaissance since the ascension of Christ.
This has become my understanding, which is expanding as I grow spiritually, thanks kindly for considering it.
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Ten Things the Word of the Lord brings us today - Heed them and live
James 4:1-3
What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
Galatians 5:19-21
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Romans 8:7-8
For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Isaiah 59:7
Their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; desolation and destruction are in their highways.
Psalm 58:2-3
No, in your hearts you devise wrongs; your hands deal out violence on earth. The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies.
Luke 6:45
The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Proverbs 4:23
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
1 Corinthians 15:33
Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
Proverbs 22:5
Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked; whoever guards his soul will keep far from them.
Hebrews 12:15
See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;
What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask wrongly, to spend it on your passions.
Galatians 5:19-21
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.
Romans 8:7-8
For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Isaiah 59:7
Their feet run to evil, and they are swift to shed innocent blood; their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; desolation and destruction are in their highways.
Psalm 58:2-3
No, in your hearts you devise wrongs; your hands deal out violence on earth. The wicked are estranged from the womb; they go astray from birth, speaking lies.
Luke 6:45
The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
Proverbs 4:23
Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.
1 Corinthians 15:33
Do not be deceived: “Bad company ruins good morals.”
Proverbs 22:5
Thorns and snares are in the way of the crooked; whoever guards his soul will keep far from them.
Hebrews 12:15
See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;
Saturday, July 20, 2013
Judge Not According to the Flesh
There is a spirit of racism alive once more in the earth. It is driven by the devil's deception to cause us to judge by the flesh, appearance. All _________ people are the same. You can insert your own category in there. Indian, Black, Hindu, Muslim, Catholic, Irish, Italian, Mexican, etc. It's racism and it is because we judge according to the flesh. It's a sin. Stop it.
JOHN 7:24 NKJ
24- "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment."
Making a snap judgment based on appearance often works , but not always. And the exceptions can really cost you.
The world teaches us to judge people by their appearance. But God doesn't judge people by how they look , and neither should we.
1 SAMUEL 16:7 NLT
7- But the LORD said to Samuel, "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him.
The LORD doesn't make decisions the way you do! People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at a person's thoughts and intentions."
One main reason we're not qualified to judge others is because we don't know their thoughts and intentions. Only God does.
As they say, "You can't always judge a book by its cover."
LUKE 16:15 CEV
15- But Jesus told them: You are always making yourselves look good, but God sees what is in your heart. The things that most people think are important are worthless as far as God is concerned".
It is important that we treat all people with respect , since they are created and loved by God , no matter how they look.
JOHN 7:24 NKJ
24- "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment."
Making a snap judgment based on appearance often works , but not always. And the exceptions can really cost you.
The world teaches us to judge people by their appearance. But God doesn't judge people by how they look , and neither should we.
1 SAMUEL 16:7 NLT
7- But the LORD said to Samuel, "Don't judge by his appearance or height, for I have rejected him.
The LORD doesn't make decisions the way you do! People judge by outward appearance, but the LORD looks at a person's thoughts and intentions."
One main reason we're not qualified to judge others is because we don't know their thoughts and intentions. Only God does.
As they say, "You can't always judge a book by its cover."
LUKE 16:15 CEV
15- But Jesus told them: You are always making yourselves look good, but God sees what is in your heart. The things that most people think are important are worthless as far as God is concerned".
It is important that we treat all people with respect , since they are created and loved by God , no matter how they look.
Friday, July 19, 2013
Johnny Enlow: Prepare to be Amazed. Massive "Gold" Discovery In California
Prophetic word given July 10, 2013 while in Santa Barbara, California: "You must now arise and shine with a message and attitude of hope and faith." The Lord says, "I am going to do something in your state – that should I tell it to you, you would not believe it. I am going to turn everything around. I am going to invade every mountain and sphere of your state and I am going ignite a turn around that will astound all. I have released the great angels already.
"I will work with My children who will
choose to see Me and what I am doing as opposed to what the enemy is
doing. The religious anxiety and sobriety you have felt is not Me, and I
ask you to step out of it. I will now arise upon My Josephs and My
Josephines. I am inviting all of you and even demanding of all who are
Mine to leave behind despair Christianity. You must rise above the fray
and see Me and what I am doing. I will turn your state around.
"Another Gold Rush - I Will Release and Reveal Gold..."
"There will be another gold rush and it will astonish the experts.
I will release and reveal gold in places where it is assumed there
can't be gold. I will economically rescue you with My kindness and you
will even be used to economically rescue the nation. I still have 90% of
California's treasure hidden for such a time as this. Even the desert
will bloom and will reveal unexpected treasures.
"I love all your prayers that have come up
to Me and now I need you to go beyond the prayers and allow Me to invade
every structure, sphere and mountain. Everywhere the soles of your feet will go Monday through Friday – I am ready to make Kingdom territory.
"I will send the rains and will break the
drought. I will water you with the rains of Heaven and will bring back
even ecological balance to your state. I will be made known in
government, I will be made known in your city halls. I will be made
famous in Hollywood for the old system has broken. But you must
awake, you must arise and you must shine. You must be courageous and you
must take Me with you into every place you go. You must tell it is I who am helping and you must tell that I am going to even further help.
"California, Your Age of Restoration is Upon You"
"As they are astonished at My kindness you
must tell them it is Me. You must see into where you live, work and
study, and you must tell of the good things I am going to do there. I
need you to echo Me. I am going to invade and this time it will
not just be the deserts and remote places. I will come right into day to
day society and I will be seen.
"California
your age of restoration is upon you. As you see your roads and highways
repaired and restored know that it will be an evidence and a sign of
what I am doing in the soul of your state.
"My Church, do not resist Me. My Church do
not stay in doubt. My Church agree with Me. My Church cease being
judgment-conscious and start being restoration-conscious. My Church
enter into My joys. My Church enter in My hopes for you. I am going to
do that which you have feared to even hope for. I am going to show you
that I am the 'bigger than' God. Today I ask you to join Me. Today I ask
you to agree on earth as I am telling you from Heaven."
Johnny EnlowEmail: Contact@JohnnyandElizabeth.com
JohnnyandElizabeth.com
Wednesday, July 17, 2013
PROPHECY? or Powder Puff Promises
I am around a large number of prophetic folks. They mean well. Most are very encouraging. Inspiring. Motivating. Hope giving. I like that when it happens. Some are great teachers and dividers of the word of God. I think that is wonderful.
What is missing?
Those who prophesy... things and events. Future history. What will happen. A pulling back of the veil and with accuracy are able to declare with humility, even pain, the days ahead.
That happens too seldom. It's a rough task if you have been given it to carry out. When I have to bring such a word to a man or woman, it's a hard thing to do. I did so yesterday. I met a grandma. Her grandchild was with her. Mom (single) was nearby. She and I engaged in light conversation... for a moment. Then without even knowing what I was saying, I said to her, "Your gift to your daughter is that her fears for her baby are resting in you and you carry her hope. You will be the bridge to the generation and while it will be hard, it will be an event resulting in great joy eventually in your life". It turns out her daughter (about 40 and unmarried) has terminal cancer. Grandma and grandpa will be raising the child. That prophetic word (I was not at all religious, just related it as a part of the conversation).
Here's the facts. Prophecy when it is real will help a person rest in the truth of God's promises.
Let's have more prophecy and less motivational powder puff promises. Prophets... step up!
What is missing?
Those who prophesy... things and events. Future history. What will happen. A pulling back of the veil and with accuracy are able to declare with humility, even pain, the days ahead.
That happens too seldom. It's a rough task if you have been given it to carry out. When I have to bring such a word to a man or woman, it's a hard thing to do. I did so yesterday. I met a grandma. Her grandchild was with her. Mom (single) was nearby. She and I engaged in light conversation... for a moment. Then without even knowing what I was saying, I said to her, "Your gift to your daughter is that her fears for her baby are resting in you and you carry her hope. You will be the bridge to the generation and while it will be hard, it will be an event resulting in great joy eventually in your life". It turns out her daughter (about 40 and unmarried) has terminal cancer. Grandma and grandpa will be raising the child. That prophetic word (I was not at all religious, just related it as a part of the conversation).
Here's the facts. Prophecy when it is real will help a person rest in the truth of God's promises.
Let's have more prophecy and less motivational powder puff promises. Prophets... step up!
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
Dutch Sheets: Necessity Isn't the Mother of Invention, Your Dreams Are!
You may or may not be aware of it, but you have a dreaming nature.
You inherited this part of your disposition from your Creator. He
created us in His image and likeness so our hearts could relate to His
and His dreaming heart could find millions of expressions. You were
designed to dream and you must dream—both for yourself and for God. In fact, if you don't dream with Him, He can't experience all of His dreams, and you'll never achieve your destiny.A life without dreams is like a GPS without a satellite. The GPS might operate, but it would lead you nowhere. Likewise, without God-given dreams to guide you, you will travel life's highway searching for a destination you'll never find. Divinely inspired dreams, on the other hand, will guide you to the destiny He intended for you.
Your Designer dreamed dreams for you before you were even born, then skillfully wove them into your DNA as you were created, along with the ability to find and fulfill them. His destiny for you will be the sum of those dreams. The journey of life, then, is meant to be a dream quest; finding those dreams your Maker has dreamed for you brings life's ultimate satisfaction and should be life's ultimate pursuit.
If
you don't discover God's dreams, you'll either waste your life running
in wrong races and crossing wrong finish lines or, like many people,
have no finish line at all. Other individuals stop running altogether,
wandering through life as though it were a maze, hoping they stumble
upon the right exit. What a tragedy! Your Creator doesn't intend for
life to be such a gamble. You can find His plans and dreams for you and pursue them with confidence!
It Begins With a Dream
Things are supposed to be different on Planet Earth because you
showed up. You're part of the plan. A solution, an invention, a prayer,
another person yet unborn—there is something in you we need. It begins
with a dream. In his book A Savior for All Seasons, William Barker speaks of dreaming. He tells of a disagreement between a traveling bishop and the president of a religious college who also taught physics and chemistry. The itinerant minister persistently contended that we must be near the return of Christ and the beginning of His Millennial reign. Why? "Because just about everything concerning nature has been discovered and all inventions created."
The college president disagreed and insisted there would be more discoveries.
"Name one," challenged the preacher.
"Well, I'm certain that within 50 years humans will be able to fly," replied the president.
"Nonsense!" shouted the skeptical minister. "Only angels are intended to fly."
The preacher's name? Wright. He had two sons at home, dreamers named Orville and Wilbur—you know them as the innovative Wright brothers—who proved to have a bit more vision than Dad!
Dream, Plan and Create
Dreaming ignites creativity. The impossible is powerless against the relentless energy and creative imagination flowing from a dreaming heart. Dreams are pregnant with hope, persistence, ingenuity and inventiveness—if you dream you will create.
Contrarily, if you do not have dreams to pursue, you'll languish and
stagnate in a sterile, uninspired, unimaginative and uninventive
world—exactly the way most people live!The world of the non-dreamer is small and confined, restrained by his or her mundane existence. For them, the fulfillment of destiny is not accomplished by dreaming, planning and creativity, but instead, is based on chance. God's plan for us, however, is not to spin in circles on the roulette wheel of life hoping we bounce off at the right place and land on success. Our Maker wants us to dream, plan and create.
Many people are simply waiting for "the big break" or longing to be "discovered;" they trust to chance, wandering through life hoping for the right lottery number to appear. Those are fantasies, not dreams. God doesn't want you to live in a fantasy world, waiting for a magical spider bite to launch you on your Spider-Man journey. Just because we're dreamers doesn't mean we have to live in a make-believe world.
The Bible says much about dreaming, and it is enlightening that the concepts of dreaming and creating are both found in the same Biblical word. Yatsar (Hebrew) means "to create;" yetser, a slightly different form of the word, means "imagination, conception, and thought." Yetser refers to the plans and purposes formed in the mind, which, of course, includes dreaming; yatsar is the resulting act of creation. So the power to create begins with the ability to dream.
This is exactly how God functions. Isaiah 46:10 states that He declares the end from the beginning. In other words, He sees or imagines the end result (yetser), backs up to form the plan or design, then begins creating (yatsar). He dreams, then He creates.
Dreams Happen! But They Don't Just Happen
Likewise, when God fashioned humans in His image, He placed within us a portion of His ability to imagine and create.
We have a God-given ability to conceive something in our mind or heart,
which then awakens the creativity and innovation He placed in each of
us. Like Him we dream, and then we create the dream. Consider these
cases-in-point. All of these once unbelievable concepts began with a dream. Dreaming, then, unlocked creativity. And by the way, dreams don't have to be big to be substantial in their impact. Consider these "insignificant" dreams:
Someone got tired of their papers being displaced and dreamed of a paper clip. (They also made sure they were small enough to lose easily so we would have to buy trillions of them.)
Dreams happen! But they don't just happen. They're accomplished because dreaming unlocks creativity, innovation, action and originality. If you don't dream you won't create. Period. End of story. But if you do dream, you must create.
Necessity isn't the mother of invention, dreams are!
Dutch Sheets
Dutch Sheets Ministries
Email: click here
Website: dutchsheets.org
Saturday, July 13, 2013
When TRUTH is lost, LIFE is lost
Watching the events surrounding the recent trial in Florida I have become aware of an imminent death-curse that lurks. It's the bondage of the big lie. Already many people have decided to take truth and distort it to fit the facts. This is called Confirmation Bias. Whatever you believe or do not believe to be true, the facts or more important the distortions of the facts are twisted to conform to the bias you already have.
If a fact or truth does not fit thru the paradigm of "Facts" as you see them, they are rendered suspect or worse labeled as lies.
The problem is truth is truth. If a lie is accepted, it will put you in chains. More important if we see what JESUS defined as truth, it should give us pause:
IF we read this properly, we can see what is really being said in an inversion, "I am the path on which you must travel, that path is made up of truth, not lies and if you fail to follow that path by accepting a lie, it will lead to your death. You will NOT find your way to the Father by believing or accepting lies, those lies will lead you into bondage and away from the Father".
People who call themselves Christians, who jump and shout in church, who are very passionate about being a good member, those same people IF they accept rumor as truth, idea as truth, accusation as truth, those people are headed in a direction NOT leading to the Father.
I won't identify the lies being told right now, but as the time rolls on... truth will be the only way to life. All other ways lead to death and bondage.
What will you choose?
If a fact or truth does not fit thru the paradigm of "Facts" as you see them, they are rendered suspect or worse labeled as lies.
The problem is truth is truth. If a lie is accepted, it will put you in chains. More important if we see what JESUS defined as truth, it should give us pause:
"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me". John 14:6
IF we read this properly, we can see what is really being said in an inversion, "I am the path on which you must travel, that path is made up of truth, not lies and if you fail to follow that path by accepting a lie, it will lead to your death. You will NOT find your way to the Father by believing or accepting lies, those lies will lead you into bondage and away from the Father".
People who call themselves Christians, who jump and shout in church, who are very passionate about being a good member, those same people IF they accept rumor as truth, idea as truth, accusation as truth, those people are headed in a direction NOT leading to the Father.
I won't identify the lies being told right now, but as the time rolls on... truth will be the only way to life. All other ways lead to death and bondage.
What will you choose?
Thursday, July 11, 2013
The Beast wants you to take the CHIP
The chip he wants you to take is one on your shoulder. He wants to separate you from others by getting you convinced that you are abused and a victim. That will successfully cause you to become obligated to him for your provision and protection. God offers that for free, but if the enemy can get that chip big enough you will become so alienated that you will only survive by the anti christ system he has set up.
Growing up in the western rural America we had many such in our town. People who felt or believed that life had never worked out for them. These people I knew figured out nothing was ever going to work out for them. There was no use.They were also the ones who (as we said often) felt like the world owed them. They had been abused, shorted.
They had a chip on their shoulder. My dad was an employer of others. He would never hire one such because that chip was always an obstacle to accomplishment. They were just unlucky. If you are gonna get lucky you gotta believe you ARE lucky.They didn't.
Now we are in a time when having a chip on your shoulder has become the mark of whole groups of people. People reinforced by government and social propaganda has caused them to think they are owed.
The truth that no one owes you anything is one that once you get that in your head, it is a gift. People who come from other countries to the USA to get into business are Black, White, Hispanic, Asian, Indian or anything else come knowing that truth. Nobody owes you nothing. They come without the demon chip of entitlement. They come and become the successful, wealthy and respected of their generation.
That chip is the reason the enemy has you convinced you can't make it. That the game is rigged. That you are discriminated against.
YES, there are bias'. I know them. I heard the Spirit of God say to me this morning, "The conviction that nothing is going to work out, that everything is stacked against people and that there is no hope is NOT from ME".
I could post about 50 Bible bullets to prove this, but I'll spare you. I know I heard from God on this, Stop taking the mark of the Beast by that CHIP on your Shoulder.
Growing up in the western rural America we had many such in our town. People who felt or believed that life had never worked out for them. These people I knew figured out nothing was ever going to work out for them. There was no use.They were also the ones who (as we said often) felt like the world owed them. They had been abused, shorted.
They had a chip on their shoulder. My dad was an employer of others. He would never hire one such because that chip was always an obstacle to accomplishment. They were just unlucky. If you are gonna get lucky you gotta believe you ARE lucky.They didn't.
Now we are in a time when having a chip on your shoulder has become the mark of whole groups of people. People reinforced by government and social propaganda has caused them to think they are owed.
The truth that no one owes you anything is one that once you get that in your head, it is a gift. People who come from other countries to the USA to get into business are Black, White, Hispanic, Asian, Indian or anything else come knowing that truth. Nobody owes you nothing. They come without the demon chip of entitlement. They come and become the successful, wealthy and respected of their generation.
That chip is the reason the enemy has you convinced you can't make it. That the game is rigged. That you are discriminated against.
YES, there are bias'. I know them. I heard the Spirit of God say to me this morning, "The conviction that nothing is going to work out, that everything is stacked against people and that there is no hope is NOT from ME".
I could post about 50 Bible bullets to prove this, but I'll spare you. I know I heard from God on this, Stop taking the mark of the Beast by that CHIP on your Shoulder.
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Bearing MUCH Fruit
Sometimes natural things reveal spiritual truths. This is that.
Last year we went thru a very dry time in our area. Plants struggled to survive. Fruit harvests were sparse in some cases. Growth did not take place.
This year there has been more than ample rain. More than ample sun. Perfect growing conditions. Plus the time of pollination didn't have frost interruptions as so often happens.
For these reasons, we have an abundance of fruit. At the Church who's grounds I help take care of there are Cherries and Currants galore. I can't eat fast enough to get it all done. The birds help..but even they can't do much more than stay even.
At my house the Raspberries are overwhelmed. More than enough.
What is most interesting is the fact that the greatest fruit production is on the oldest vines and branches. The young fast growing green shoots are pretty and promising but they bear little fruit.
The multiplication of fruit this year MORE than makes up for the shortfall last year. Even if you averaged it up, we are on total much greater in net yield.
All the fruit produced in the same time. All at once. It's usually progressive. Last spring all the trees bloomed at the same time with promise of fruit, but none came.
I know this seems like a report on the local horticulture. It's not. I see Jesus in EVERYTHING:
SELAH
Last year we went thru a very dry time in our area. Plants struggled to survive. Fruit harvests were sparse in some cases. Growth did not take place.
This year there has been more than ample rain. More than ample sun. Perfect growing conditions. Plus the time of pollination didn't have frost interruptions as so often happens.
For these reasons, we have an abundance of fruit. At the Church who's grounds I help take care of there are Cherries and Currants galore. I can't eat fast enough to get it all done. The birds help..but even they can't do much more than stay even.
At my house the Raspberries are overwhelmed. More than enough.
What is most interesting is the fact that the greatest fruit production is on the oldest vines and branches. The young fast growing green shoots are pretty and promising but they bear little fruit.
The multiplication of fruit this year MORE than makes up for the shortfall last year. Even if you averaged it up, we are on total much greater in net yield.
All the fruit produced in the same time. All at once. It's usually progressive. Last spring all the trees bloomed at the same time with promise of fruit, but none came.
I know this seems like a report on the local horticulture. It's not. I see Jesus in EVERYTHING:
Don't worry about the dry times in your life, when the restoration comes it will be more than you could imagine.
Don't be impressed by showy displays of glory on others, they may look good, but is there going to be any fruit.
The young green shoots that shine so brightly are wonderful to see, they hold promise, but the well rooted established branches and vines are the ones who bring forth great fruit.
The dry times prepare the hardened off branches for the fruitfulness to come. It's a time of preparation.
Never be quick to cut off that which appears to be dead... it may be the next harvest. Look beneath for life.. if it's there... nurture and watch the glory come.
Sometimes a time of frost will kill off the fruit you were meant to receive. Don't worry so much, another season will come and another harvest.
Your time of fruitfulness is not over, in fact it's here now.. and will continue as long as you stay rooted.
SELAH
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