Sometimes fearing we are not hearing the voice of God is stopping us from hearing the voice of God. Jesus said, "My Sheep Know MY Voice". They do. But satan the father of lies uses fear (as he always does) to convince people they can't possibly hear God speak. That He wouldn't talk to them. IF they did hear something, maybe it's satan's voice.
Certainly a person can be confused. A person can be convinced to wrong things. When that happens it's not the voice of God. God will never say ANYTHING ever to you that contridicts anything he placed in His word. That's the critical thing. We don't read and study to word to hear what God is saying to us, we read and study the word to learn His voice by running the voices we hear thru the screen of His word. To have confidence in his voice. To know how He speaks. And what He says to us. When we get to the place where that is deep in us, when the still small voice comes, we will know it at once.
So stop worrying about hearing from God, learn His voice and you will hear. He is speaking all the time. He is whispering good things in your ear. Your spirit man is alive to Him and there is constant spirit to Spirit communication going on. Once you have tuned your ear, you can go a long way on the word you have hid in your heart, That was his origional plan. He never intended you to lug around that big black book. He intended you to carry it inside and he would activate it for your edification.
So relax. Open up your ears. You can hear him.. don't try too hard.
Saturday, March 9, 2013
Friday, March 8, 2013
Give yourself away
The Lord told me something I already knew..but NOW I'll tell you. Righteous are never forsaken. Righteousness is the test. God says, Test me in this if I will not....POUR OUT.
We thought this was about giving. What if I told you that if you NEVER EVER put another dime in the offering plate for the rest of your life you can enter into the flow of God's provision because of your righteousness. Here's the rub. God's requirement in righteousness is generosity. Generosity of spirit. Generosity of time. Generosity of service. Generosity of yes, money, but that's the easy one.
Anyone can give money, you can give money and NOT be generous. Happens every Sunday morning in churches all across America. IF you would enter into the fullness of God's provision and protection in this life, give YOURSELF away. You will discover that you are the only pathway God has on this earth to provide for what his purposes are towards man. Jesus paid the price for your to become his hands and feet here and now. Your righteousness is not about sinlessness.. that's paid for at the cross, your righteousness is about the overflow of generosity out of your being...and mostly other than money.
I am NOT against putting money in the bucket as it goes by. I do it twice or three times a week. I do it with Joy. I just find so many other ways to be generous, and sometimes I even use money. So if you are a senior leader and you think I am against giving in the church, no I am not. I am against people think they can bribe God into provision by giving in Church. It's a principle, not a law. Test God, try to out give HIM in generosity of Spirit towards others, and see how the windows open for you. Give yourself away
We thought this was about giving. What if I told you that if you NEVER EVER put another dime in the offering plate for the rest of your life you can enter into the flow of God's provision because of your righteousness. Here's the rub. God's requirement in righteousness is generosity. Generosity of spirit. Generosity of time. Generosity of service. Generosity of yes, money, but that's the easy one.
Anyone can give money, you can give money and NOT be generous. Happens every Sunday morning in churches all across America. IF you would enter into the fullness of God's provision and protection in this life, give YOURSELF away. You will discover that you are the only pathway God has on this earth to provide for what his purposes are towards man. Jesus paid the price for your to become his hands and feet here and now. Your righteousness is not about sinlessness.. that's paid for at the cross, your righteousness is about the overflow of generosity out of your being...and mostly other than money.
I am NOT against putting money in the bucket as it goes by. I do it twice or three times a week. I do it with Joy. I just find so many other ways to be generous, and sometimes I even use money. So if you are a senior leader and you think I am against giving in the church, no I am not. I am against people think they can bribe God into provision by giving in Church. It's a principle, not a law. Test God, try to out give HIM in generosity of Spirit towards others, and see how the windows open for you. Give yourself away
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Between the Doors
There is MUCH more to this than will appear. And its personal. A lesson learned in my life and even yesterday. WE all know and love the concept of opening and closing doors. When one door closes, the Lord opens another. I won't rehearse the related bible passages. I'm assuming it's probably on your refrigerator somewhere. My experience has been that when the Lord shuts a door, and before the next one opens, there is sometimes a time lag. Our flesh wants to run back and pound on the closed door begging it to be opened again. We aren't even sure there is an open door anywhere. It is in those interludes that we need to keep our eye on the Gate Keeper .... HE who can and does open the doors in our lives. And closes them. Until I am able to rest in between the doorways... and know that he know not only WHICH door to open, but WHEN... I will always be in turmoil. Rest, Sabbath Day rest is the prescription that is answered when we are between doors. OK. This is a bit obscure... but it's personal. ALL GOOD. And... if I know the Holy Spirit's anointing, this was just for someone who needed to read this who is right now between the doorways. Trust HIM. He knows.
Monday, March 4, 2013
A Trinity of Generations
God always has three generations of His people on the earth:
*The Young... Birth to Adulthood in late Twenties
*The Adult... Thirty Somethings to Sixty Somethings
*The Elder... Seventies to eternity
In a way it's the proverbial three leggeed stool. It's a type of the trinity. It's a perfect triangle.
I am becoming more and more aware of this dynamic. Where does the Church spend much of it's energy? As I enter the last phase, I consider what this means.
Each of these has something to give and has needs.
I don't have more...except to say, maybe we need to value each of these as they are... supportive legs of a stool. If one is missing the stool collapses. When a fellowship begins to collapse... a leg is missing.
*The Young... Birth to Adulthood in late Twenties
*The Adult... Thirty Somethings to Sixty Somethings
*The Elder... Seventies to eternity
I am becoming more and more aware of this dynamic. Where does the Church spend much of it's energy? As I enter the last phase, I consider what this means.
Each of these has something to give and has needs.
I don't have more...except to say, maybe we need to value each of these as they are... supportive legs of a stool. If one is missing the stool collapses. When a fellowship begins to collapse... a leg is missing.
Sunday, March 3, 2013
When There is No Place, Knowing Your Place isn't Possible
I have too many friends with great gifts from God frustrated and ready to chuck it all when it comes to Church. I understand. They are Square Peg Gifted in a Round Peg Church. There is no place for them.
Some of these men and women are unique, amazing, used of God in a powerful way; but they don't fit in any churchianity profile.
These ordained of God men and women have been taught to stay in their place, wait their turn, find a place to serve (insert classic cleaning of the toilets line here) and allow the "leadership" to appoint them. Most often they are appointed to a place they have zero anointing for. They feel set aside, in neutral, purposeless. Neutered.
That's NOT the way it was in the Book of Acts. People went. They never questioned their place. If we are going to have an Acts level outbreak of the Holy Spirit, we have to put away the childish things that have trapped men and women with a legitimate call on their lives in a system that crushes their gift. Religion and the Church have insured a lack of fruitfulness in their gift. All this is done in the name of Order. All this is done in the name of hierarchy. Man does not always confirm what God has ordained. That is not God's plan. God Ordains, man Confirms. They even tried to KILL Jesus for declaring God's call on his life in the temple. Satan has no new plan. He is doing it today. Synagogues of MEN are still trying to put to death the call of God on HIS people.
Too many square pegs are stuck in round hole churches. They don't fit. They know they don't fit. They have no purpose. They are meaningless in ministry because they are called on to do what is not what they are called to do...by God. There are Round holes and those with round hole anointings need to fill them, just not with square pegs.
Not everyone is to be a preacher. Some are. Not everyone is called to teach. Some are. Not everyone is gifted in Apostolic Leadership. Some are. Not everyone has the gift of Evangelism, but some do. No everyone has a Prophetic call on their life, but some do.
The Square peg in a round hole church is meaningless. I have seen it. So have you. These poor souls are frustrated. They also become fodder for the ministry money machine to eat them up. They invest time energy and money to advance a vision they are not part of. They pour themselves into round hole ministry when as a square peg they were never called to this.
I believe I hear the Spirit of the Lord saying, "It's time to clearly identify your purposes in God and begin to move out in them. IF the place you hang your hat in fellowship isn't able or willing to use the gifts God has given you, find a new place".
Some churches need to be emptied of the gifted able ministries resident in them. That might mean that attendance some churches drops by 80% or more That would be God and not you.
In the days to come God is going to place a burning in the hearts of his People that will only be quenched by doing the will of the Father. Keeping a church seat warm, standing, sitting, singing, clapping on cue, raising your hands and paying your tithe is NOT what you were created for.
There are many many ministries in the Body of Christ. The curse is KNOWING what yours is and finding zero opportunity ...... to use it. Here's an important question. One that the saints of God must answer. WHY BOTHER WITH CHURCH AT ALL if it's a place in which you have no opportunity to be what God equipped and gifted you for. What is the drive he has purposed in you? Empowered you with? Many saints would be better used walking away from "church" and finding a place of Ministry that fits them. I know many such. They will never darken a church door again. Yet they are passionate about Jesus. They are hungry to fulfill their God Ordained purpose.
Jesus knew this well: Luke 4 The woman at the Well:
This is what is about to happen. As we leave the church and go to the community following the great commission, (not go ye therefore, but as you go therefore) Preach, teach, make disciples. Do the work of the ministry. In some cases the purposes of God would be advanced if the Churches were emptied out and the people would simply GO find people who need Hope and show them where to find it.
That's what Jesus did and as a result he was filled, purposed and in the center of God's will.
That is your mission. GO. Get out. And if you are a square peg in a round peg church, then start to find a square peg place. Life is far too short and too many people are perishing because they are without hope.
Now GO!
Some of these men and women are unique, amazing, used of God in a powerful way; but they don't fit in any churchianity profile.
These ordained of God men and women have been taught to stay in their place, wait their turn, find a place to serve (insert classic cleaning of the toilets line here) and allow the "leadership" to appoint them. Most often they are appointed to a place they have zero anointing for. They feel set aside, in neutral, purposeless. Neutered.
That's NOT the way it was in the Book of Acts. People went. They never questioned their place. If we are going to have an Acts level outbreak of the Holy Spirit, we have to put away the childish things that have trapped men and women with a legitimate call on their lives in a system that crushes their gift. Religion and the Church have insured a lack of fruitfulness in their gift. All this is done in the name of Order. All this is done in the name of hierarchy. Man does not always confirm what God has ordained. That is not God's plan. God Ordains, man Confirms. They even tried to KILL Jesus for declaring God's call on his life in the temple. Satan has no new plan. He is doing it today. Synagogues of MEN are still trying to put to death the call of God on HIS people.
Too many square pegs are stuck in round hole churches. They don't fit. They know they don't fit. They have no purpose. They are meaningless in ministry because they are called on to do what is not what they are called to do...by God. There are Round holes and those with round hole anointings need to fill them, just not with square pegs.
Not everyone is to be a preacher. Some are. Not everyone is called to teach. Some are. Not everyone is gifted in Apostolic Leadership. Some are. Not everyone has the gift of Evangelism, but some do. No everyone has a Prophetic call on their life, but some do.
The Square peg in a round hole church is meaningless. I have seen it. So have you. These poor souls are frustrated. They also become fodder for the ministry money machine to eat them up. They invest time energy and money to advance a vision they are not part of. They pour themselves into round hole ministry when as a square peg they were never called to this.
I believe I hear the Spirit of the Lord saying, "It's time to clearly identify your purposes in God and begin to move out in them. IF the place you hang your hat in fellowship isn't able or willing to use the gifts God has given you, find a new place".
Some churches need to be emptied of the gifted able ministries resident in them. That might mean that attendance some churches drops by 80% or more That would be God and not you.
In the days to come God is going to place a burning in the hearts of his People that will only be quenched by doing the will of the Father. Keeping a church seat warm, standing, sitting, singing, clapping on cue, raising your hands and paying your tithe is NOT what you were created for.
There are many many ministries in the Body of Christ. The curse is KNOWING what yours is and finding zero opportunity ...... to use it. Here's an important question. One that the saints of God must answer. WHY BOTHER WITH CHURCH AT ALL if it's a place in which you have no opportunity to be what God equipped and gifted you for. What is the drive he has purposed in you? Empowered you with? Many saints would be better used walking away from "church" and finding a place of Ministry that fits them. I know many such. They will never darken a church door again. Yet they are passionate about Jesus. They are hungry to fulfill their God Ordained purpose.
Jesus knew this well: Luke 4 The woman at the Well:
28 Then, leaving her water jar, the woman went back to the town and said to the people, 29 “Come, see a man who told me everything I ever did. Could this be the Messiah?” 30 They came out of the town and made their way toward him.
31 Meanwhile his disciples urged him, “Rabbi, eat something.”
32 But he said to them, “I have food to eat that you know nothing about.”
33 Then his disciples said to each other, “Could someone have brought him food?”
34 “My food,” said Jesus, “is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. 35 Don’t you have a saying, ‘It’s still four months until harvest’? I tell you, open your eyes and look at the fields! They are ripe for harvest. 36 Even now the one who reaps draws a wage and harvests a crop for eternal life, so that the sower and the reaper may be glad together. 37 Thus the saying ‘One sows and another reaps’ is true. 38 I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.”
This is what is about to happen. As we leave the church and go to the community following the great commission, (not go ye therefore, but as you go therefore) Preach, teach, make disciples. Do the work of the ministry. In some cases the purposes of God would be advanced if the Churches were emptied out and the people would simply GO find people who need Hope and show them where to find it.
That's what Jesus did and as a result he was filled, purposed and in the center of God's will.
That is your mission. GO. Get out. And if you are a square peg in a round peg church, then start to find a square peg place. Life is far too short and too many people are perishing because they are without hope.
Now GO!
John Belt: The Power of the Blood of Christ is Sufficient to Cover and Protect
"When I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you..."
Storms & Passover
As we pursue God's Kingdom agenda for our lives, there are spiritual
storms that come our way. No matter how you see that storm – allowed by
God or sent by the devil or both – the power of the Blood of Christ is
sufficient to cover and protect. We overcome by His Blood. God is
pleased with us when we respond in faith, knowing that we are overcomers
and that He is for us.Exodus 12:12-14 For I will pass through the land of Egypt this night, and will smite all the firstborn in the land of Egypt, both man and beast; and against all the gods of Egypt I will execute judgment: I am the Lord. And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt. And this day shall be unto you for a memorial; and ye shall keep it a feast to the Lord throughout your generations; ye shall keep it a feast by an ordinance for ever.
When we look at the event of Passover in the Book of Exodus, we see when they put the blood on the doorposts they were protected from that which God was bringing to judge the Egyptians. Through this blood applied to the doorposts, God made a distinction between the Egyptians and the Jewish people. While the Egyptians were getting hit by the destruction, God kept His people safe. In the same way, the Blood of Christ covers and protects us from all destruction that would try to come our way.
The Secret Place
There are times that we speak to the storm, but there are also times
where we ask the Lord to cover us and cause the storm to "pass over" us –
maybe both. One thing is for sure...intimately knowing God is
prerequisite for us to have both protection and authority. We have one
of the greatest promises in Scripture in Psalm 91.Psalm 91:1-2 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of Jehovah, He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in whom I trust.
This is one of my favorite chapters in the entire Bible because it is all centered around "dwelling in Him," knowing God through intimacy with Him. In this passage, we are told that when we dwell in the "secret place" of the Most High, we will dwell in His shadow. In this place we can confidently declare that He is our refuge and fortress. In this chapter we also have a multitude of protections – blessings given to us by the Lord because we have set our love upon Him.
Led By the Spirit
I'm thankful for the different avenues that God has provided for us
in our approach to things, whether it be a trial, test, or moving into
new territory for God's Kingdom (or all of the above). I believe in the
decree, speaking to things to see them shifted. I also believe in the power of the Blood of Christ that is sufficient to cover and protect.
I believe in the power of simplicity in worship that can shift
atmospheres with His manifested Presence. I also believe the joyful
heart, laughter, and dancing are all weapons. Even just "letting go of things" can be a huge weapon. I believe there is power in the name of JESUS, the name that is above every name. I believe in all kinds of prayer and petitions to God, because God will use any and all of these avenues as He sees fit. Why? HE IS GOD. The point is that there is no formula. The sons of God are led by the Spirit of God (see Romans 8:14).
Filling In the Blanks
God always leaves blanks so we cannot "formulize" everything. He
always wants us to remember that "ultimately" He has all the answers and
we don't, leaving us seeking His face for the solutions. He does leave
blank spaces for us to fill in. Not concerning His will and desires, but
in exactly how it will come about. Isn't that what "faith" is about? Faith is not about having everything figured out but about "stepping out."Romans 8:31-32 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? He that spared not His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not also with Him freely give us all things?
There is no weapon that is formed against us that will prosper. God is for us. If He is for us then it does not matter who is against us. The bottom line is that the weapons that He has provided for us are more than sufficient for us to overcome. With God on our side, we have the majority and the victory!
God's blessings,
John & Brandi Belt
Overflow Global Ministries
Email: office@overflowglobal.com
Website: overflowglobal.com
Saturday, March 2, 2013
The COURAGE of MY Word
As I get closer to eternity and reflect on what God wants to do with my life till I step over, I am convinced that courage is what the task at hand is.
There are a lot of challenges this time and day brings to us all. There are things that are discouraging. The economy, marriage issues, health problems, despair, depression, disasters, discouragement, debt, defeat, deception and a dozen other demonic devilish plots to designed to destroy us.
These things bring people down. They are discouraging. It is the plot of satan is to wear down the saints so they give up. So they passively allow changes in the law. Change the times. Satan has no new schemes. He is called out. Daniel 7:25 (two different versions follow for clarity)
When you hear, times are changing or we need to get with it and modernize you know that is a wearing down of the saints. Homosexuals as normal...get with it. Abortion as birth control, it's the law of the land. Same Sex marriage, things are changing.
The scheme has always been to discount the law, the truth, the Gospel and to use the pressure of peers and political systems to destroy the vision of the plumb-line. Even the saints of God, those who dance and sing with great passion in churches on Sundays have been blinded, the very elect deceived by this antichrist spirit among us. It's not a man, it's the manifestation of a spirit. John the Apostle cleared this up in his Epistle: 1 John 4:1-3
There is a spirit of antichrist loose in the world. Many believers embrace this spirit without recognizing their error. They embrace it in the music they hear, the movies and TV they watch, the magazines they read, the people they embrace and the leaders they support (politically and spiritually). There is only one culture and mixing the cultures of world and the culture of Christ is defilement. God gave a command long ago that reinforced this truth of the danger of mixture.
While on the surface this appears to be about clothing, animals and seed, it is about the sin of mixing. We embrace the new wine in old wine-skins...but it is the same principle. No mixing.
Now we have a world where the cultural mixes, the political mixes, pollution of the corrupt has created an atmosphere of discouragement among HIS people. So, many protest, they rally, they try to turn back the corruption without recognizing it is the core mixing that has corrupted before it ever manifested.
As a prophet my job is to EN courage. Not DIS courage. To offer Hope. To bring clarity. Sometimes that will be by pointing out how far from the Plumb-line we have swung. Sometimes to warn as Jeremiah did about how hard the days will be but to say at the same time, God will give you a hope and a future...here and now.
Hope is hard to come by other than in HIM. HE is our only hope. Who have I but YOU Lord?
So as I point out the fallacies, frailties and fickleness of our culture and our corrupted political system, don't see it as adding to discouragement, see it as a beacon of Hope to lead you back to the center of Plumb.
God's word IS hope and courage, no discouragement nor dismay. He said so.
There are a lot of challenges this time and day brings to us all. There are things that are discouraging. The economy, marriage issues, health problems, despair, depression, disasters, discouragement, debt, defeat, deception and a dozen other demonic devilish plots to designed to destroy us.
These things bring people down. They are discouraging. It is the plot of satan is to wear down the saints so they give up. So they passively allow changes in the law. Change the times. Satan has no new schemes. He is called out. Daniel 7:25 (two different versions follow for clarity)
And he shall speak words against the Most High, and shall wear out the saints of the Most High; and he shall think to change the times and the law; and they shall be given into his hand until a time and times and half a time. NIV
He will defy the Most High and oppress the holy people of the Most High. He will try to change their sacred festivals and laws, and they will be placed under his control for a time, times, and half a time. NLT
When you hear, times are changing or we need to get with it and modernize you know that is a wearing down of the saints. Homosexuals as normal...get with it. Abortion as birth control, it's the law of the land. Same Sex marriage, things are changing.
The scheme has always been to discount the law, the truth, the Gospel and to use the pressure of peers and political systems to destroy the vision of the plumb-line. Even the saints of God, those who dance and sing with great passion in churches on Sundays have been blinded, the very elect deceived by this antichrist spirit among us. It's not a man, it's the manifestation of a spirit. John the Apostle cleared this up in his Epistle: 1 John 4:1-3
1Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, 3but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
There is a spirit of antichrist loose in the world. Many believers embrace this spirit without recognizing their error. They embrace it in the music they hear, the movies and TV they watch, the magazines they read, the people they embrace and the leaders they support (politically and spiritually). There is only one culture and mixing the cultures of world and the culture of Christ is defilement. God gave a command long ago that reinforced this truth of the danger of mixture.
"You must obey all my decrees. "Do not mate two different kinds of animals. Do not plant your field with two different kinds of seed. Do not wear clothing woven from two different kinds of thread. Leviticus 19:19
While on the surface this appears to be about clothing, animals and seed, it is about the sin of mixing. We embrace the new wine in old wine-skins...but it is the same principle. No mixing.
Now we have a world where the cultural mixes, the political mixes, pollution of the corrupt has created an atmosphere of discouragement among HIS people. So, many protest, they rally, they try to turn back the corruption without recognizing it is the core mixing that has corrupted before it ever manifested.
As a prophet my job is to EN courage. Not DIS courage. To offer Hope. To bring clarity. Sometimes that will be by pointing out how far from the Plumb-line we have swung. Sometimes to warn as Jeremiah did about how hard the days will be but to say at the same time, God will give you a hope and a future...here and now.
Hope is hard to come by other than in HIM. HE is our only hope. Who have I but YOU Lord?
So as I point out the fallacies, frailties and fickleness of our culture and our corrupted political system, don't see it as adding to discouragement, see it as a beacon of Hope to lead you back to the center of Plumb.
God's word IS hope and courage, no discouragement nor dismay. He said so.
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