Please, don't be offended at the following words. I don't want to, in the name of removing your condemnation, put you under condemnation. However, these issues need addressing:
An ungodly amount of pressure concerning evangelism has caused many Christians to become cold, unfeeling, mechanical repeaters of rehearsed rhetoric.
An ungodly amount of pressure concerning healing has caused many Christians to settle for cheap parlor tricks, and adrenaline rushes instead of real signs and wonders that confirm the Gospel.
An ungodly amount of pressure concerning prophetic ministry has caused many Christians to become glorified cold readers, and detail fishers, instead of edifiers, exhorters, and comforters.
You are not performing for your identity. Your identity is secure. You're a son, not a Holy Ghost Pez dispenser, or a miracle vending machine.
You don't have to preach to everyone.
You don't have to prophesy over everyone.
You don't have to pray for everyone.
I'm not promoting a form of spiritual pacifism, but when we become burdened by a pressure to perform, we wind up perverting the purity of that with which we have been entrusted. You are to move in response to the Spirit's voice, not out of a sense of pressure and condemnation. When you perform under pressure, you subconsciously bring to the table your insecurities and feelings of inadequacy, and are tempted to employ certain tactics that you know will work in order to keep your confidence level high. This might be good for you, but not for the person at the other end.
Let your confidence be in Christ, not the accuracy of a "word", or the speed at which a shortened limb grows. Be at rest in your place as a son of God! You don't *have* to do the works of Jesus, you *get* to do the works of Jesus. Not to become a son, but because you're a son. Stand firm in your identity, and don't settle for anything less than what Christ paid for.
Friday, July 13, 2012
Thursday, July 12, 2012
5 major paradigm shifts in my life by Craig Lewis
I would now like to give a short narrative of the 5 major paradigm shifts in my life. A paradigm in the American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language means: "A set of assumptions, concepts, values, and practices that constitutes a way of viewing reality for the community that shares them, especially in an intellectual discipline." I definitely have had some changes over my life pertaining to my assumptions, concepts, values & practices. Especially as it related to my beliefs, and doctrines and my theology.
My first paradigm shift was when I were born naturally. Does that surprise you? I thought that the world as I knew it was suspended in liquid, quite dark and confining. I got my nourishment from a tube connected to my belly. What a surprise awaited me as I entered into the second phase of my life. I'm sure you can relate to the changes that took place at that point. I now had to learn to fend for myself in this strange new world which my "Eyes and Ears had been closed to". There were all kinds of "New" things, (which had been there all along), but had just now been revealed to me. Now I saw in a much different light and I was able to hear things that I had never heard before. What an exciting time to explore this new revelation of life. What a time of education and exploration of these "new things."
My second paradigm shift was when I heard and read the Word of God and understood that I could be re-born. This time "spiritually" born, by realizing the sacrifice of Jesus' death while on the cross and the fact that God raised that same Jesus from the dead to new life. That we have salvation as a free gift and have eternal life with God. In faith I acknowledged Jesus sacrifice and Oh!, what a blessing and a change in my life that brought. That void in my life was suddenly filled with the knowledge and peace of Almighty God within me. It had always been there resident in me and written in God's word but my eyes and ears had previously been blinded and deafened to the truth of their existence. An experience hard to explain but yet experienced within myself. Oh, what a change in my life took place compared to where I had previously been. To experience a life with meaning and at last to be aware and sure of my eternal destiny. To know God and experience the presence of God the Father in my life.
My third paradigm shift was when I came into the knowledge that I needed the Holy Spirit. I had always believed and been taught by our denomination that when we accepted our salvation in Jesus, that the Holy Spirit was part of the package. But when God revealed the truth and spoke it into my spirit, and in faith I received the Holy Spirit, I experienced a whole new dimension in God that I had not had prior. One of authority, and power, and enlightenment to the very scriptures themselves as the Holy Spirit began to then teach me of the things of God. They had been there all along, my eyes and ears had simply been "blinded and deafened to the truth" of their existence. Oh what a change in my life took place. That was the beginning of my real ministry within the body of Christ. We were now endued with power from on high. The ministry gifts of the Holy Spirit began to come forth in my life. I began to see miracles by my own hands.
My fourth paradigm shift was when I came into the revelation of the establishment of God's Kingdom here on earth. A Kingdom not made with hands. The Kingdom of heaven in which the King of Kings reigns. The Kingdom Jesus spoke so often of. This paradigm shift is so dramatic and life altering that it is impossible to put into proper words. As you who have experienced the first 3 paradigm shifts you can attest to how difficult it is to convey in words what God had done in your life and how you know it really is of God. So it is with the Kingdom of God. It must be understood in Spirit because it is a Spiritual Kingdom which God is calling men to. Not an earthly kingdom like we saw the early Christians seek after. Jesus taught them these things but many did not have eyes to see nor ears to hear what he was telling them. In order for you to understand it you must pray that the Holy Spirit would teach you of it, and that your spiritual eyes and ears might be open to what the Spirit is saying.
The Kingdom of God will not be taught of man. It will only be revealed to us by the Father. Just as Jesus never did or said anything except the Father told him. It Will be no different in this day. Each paradigm shift must proceed the other. You cannot have access to the fullness of the Holy Spirit until you have come to the realization that you are a Son of God through the spiritual awakening or "re-birthing" of the salvation which has been provided to ALL mankind. In the same way you can not enter into the Kingdom of God without the fullness and witness of the Holy Spirit. It is He who will guide you into all truth.
There will be many in the days ahead who will speak "Words" of the Kingdom, but will not really have a clue what they are saying. God will speak through them but they themselves will still be blinded to the truth. There are others who will actually see the revelation of the Kingdom, but because of the "Riches" of their man-made "ministry kingdoms" that they are ruling over, they will have great difficulty entering into The Kingdom of God which is not made with hands. Matthew 19:23-24 Jesus himself said concerning the Kingdom, "I tell you the truth, (or Assuredly in KJ version), it is very hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of heaven, (or Kingdom of Spiritual places)." Vs 24, "I say it again, --- It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, (Eye of needle refers to a place at which contests were held to see what camels, with very great difficulty, could go through a special shaped rock formation called "the eye of a needle".), than for a rich person to enter into the Kingdom of God." Today many churches have become in a sense The Babylonian Church of Today. A Church which is intermingled with the things and ways of the world. Living in a world of worldly prosperity and power. In contrast, our example Jesus came as a meek servant yet walked in spiritual power and might. In the True Kingdom of God, The Father is above every part of the body. Jesus and the Father are one, and as Christ he is Head of the Body. Everything is His. All the money, the homes, the jobs, the family, the church, the ministry, etc. Those who realize this are the true ministers of "faith". So many people today are being duped into sending in their money to various ministries with the hope of reaping a large harvest of money. Earthly riches and carnal desires of the world is their real motivation. Many, because of their own greed and lust for the things of the world send it in and then usually nothing happens. Next they feel they somehow are not spiritual enough. Men are being judged as to how spiritual they are by how much money they accumulate. Instead let us learn of the Father and His Kingdom. then ALL things can be entrusted to us by the Father, Then we will not waste them on selfish desires and carnal things of the world. Instead we will use them as HE directs us to use it. It's not a tenth that is His. It's ALL His! When we have gotten to the state of being dead to ourselves and alive only to God, Then will all heaven be opened and the true richness of the King of Glory be manifested. Only then will we really prosper and be in health. First spiritually, and then in the natural. Much more can be found on our "Study Topic Pages" concerning these truths from the word of God.
The Church age is passing and the Third Day Kingdom Age is coming to fullness. They are as different as the three major feasts found in the Old Testament. The Feast of Passover, represents salvation as originally portrayed by the eating of the lamb and the covering of the slain lamb's blood over the doorposts. We must have the Slain Lamb of God, (Jesus), in us, and have His spilled blood covering the door posts of our life (our inner spirit). Then there was the 2nd major feast which represents the manifestation of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and the Church Age. It is interesting to note that this was the only feast where God commanded "leavened" bread be brought as a sacrifice. Then when it was waved before God by the priest as God had commanded, God rejected, and did not accept it. This represents the church of today. Leaven always has represented sin. And the present day church as a whole has a mix of leaven, or sin, or the way of the world, or earthly, Adamic carnality mixed into it. And God will never have his son marry a bride, the church, who is defiled. Entering into the Kingdom will involve a "purifying as by fire" of each who enters in. And then there is the last major Feast, the Feast of Tabernacles which represents the Kingdom Age. This is the feast where the priest would enter behind the veil, into the Holy of Holies, to enter into the very presence of Almighty God Himself. Jesus Christ made It possible at Calvary for ALL to enter in to the presence of the Father. There are still many today who have not entered in. Others are going through the purification stage of trial as by fire from on high. Sadly though most Christians today are found in the "outer court" being ministered to but never really entering into the fullness of God. There will always be a continued need for those who are in the "inner-court ministry" (the organized church and the fivefold ministry), to minister to the masses and point them to the Father. But the scriptures tell us that few will enter into the fullness of the "Holy of Holies, or Most Holy Place, to become one with the Father in his Kingdom. It is this place that no one will place himself, but rather the Father must place in position to reign as Sons, with His First Born Son, Jesus the Christ, over the Kingdom of God. It is there that they become one with the Father.
All of these things are being revealed to those who are hungry and thirsty after righteousness, Those who are tired of the religious Pharisee type ministries who are administering the things of God as by the law with rules, regulations and ordinances. They are not hearing and seeing those things which are being revealed spiritually by the Father. Men cannot understand spiritual things with their natural minds and reasoning. Spiritual things are only revealed to us by God.
My fifth and most recent paradigm shift happened on February 22, 2005 when I had a severe heart attack. I was dead for 23 minutes. After returning to my body I waited another 45 minutes and then underwent a 2 hour procedure to place three stints in the main artery on the right side of my heart as there was no blood flow to that side. It was reported that the left side was severely blocked as well but still getting some blood flow. It was decided at that time that a decision as to what would be done would happen 7-8 weeks later as my heart needed to recover from lack of blood for almost 3 hours. At that time I would have a nuclear stress test done to determine how much damage had been done.
While in intensive care the next day I was able to get out of bed (still hooked up to an array of tubes and wires), and sit. While sitting alone I was suddenly surrounded by a clear, odorless, almost opaque substance which I can only describe as similar to oil in appearance. Then it disappeared and I got back into bed. I did not tell anyone as I wasn't sure what I had observed or why. The next day I was again out of bed sitting in a chair alone when a substance which can only be described by me as an almost opaque smoke and which behaved similar to that of dry ice but with a slight grayish hue appeared. It began at the edges of all four walls in the room along the floor and increased until it reached my feet and the whole floor was covered. I could not feel or sense it except by sight. It then began to rise until it filled the entire room. At that moment I asked, "Lord, Am I able to see things spiritually that I could not before?" Suddenly a voice spoke audibly and said, "The smoke from the alter of incense filled the Most Holy Place." At that moment I realized I was in the presence of Almighty God. Then the smoke-like substance dissolved into thin air. I climbed back into bed and just a few minutes later was interrupted by my daughter and son-in-law coming to visit me. Before I could tell them about my experience we were interrupted by the head nurse who informed me that a gentleman wanted to see me and wondered if one of my relatives could leave so he could come in. (Hospital rules of only two visitors at a time). my daughter left and a man who I regard as a great man of God and also as a personal friend whom I had not seen for awhile walked in. He sat at the foot of my bed and folded his arms and gave me a great big old smile. Then he asked, "What did God show you this morning?" I relayed the occurrences of the last two mornings and then he put his head back and laughed. Then he said "God is so cool!" Then he fixed his eyes on me and said, "God woke me up this morning and told me to come to the hospital and give you this word." This is the word which was given to me at that time. " The other day you died. You no longer have a past and you no longer have a future, for I am the God of the present. The purpose which you were placed here on earth for was accomplished. Your only responsibility which you now have is to do whatever I put in front of you, and to say whatever comes to you to say, nothing else. The only responsibility you have to anyone else including your family is the responsibility Christ has to them." That word came on the second day of my hospital stay in the intensive care unit. That evening I was moved to a regular hospital room. The next morning a series of miraculous events began to happen and lasted the next 3 days until I was released. Someday maybe I will write of those events both in the hospital and days following which confirmed that my experience was real.
Exactly one month to the day I received an anonymous email which said, "When Craig died in the emergency room, with his death passed all the heavenly goals he was given to accomplish in the Earth. If he accomplished them, great. If not, there is no going back to re-live that life. His ownership of stuff, his life plans, goals, ministry, ambitions, preferences and reputation went with him. God did not raise you up from the dead to finish living that life. That man is gone with all that was his. Let judgment day be accomplished for him. The rewards and corrections of that life will be revealed on that Great Day.
The man raised up to live now is to live as an angel, a messenger, a voice from heaven, with nothing to gain or lose except the pleasure of his maker in every given day. The provision for the moment is more than enough. As long as he lives during this day, and for any more days he is requested by his maker to continue in this body of flesh, he will joy in the glory of his redeemer and be the blessing of God to all he encounters. The family he used to be responsible for are now in the care of an under the abundant provision of their Savior. The extent to which this resurrected man is honored to bless them, love them, give of himself to them and intercede for them like Our High Priest does, is one aspect and facet of how Christ himself desires to minister to them.
Each day is a new life. No beginning of days. Each moment is a lifetime. No ending of days. If Christ desires you to remain in this Earth Realm forever, you will pay whatever cost involved to make that happen. We die daily. We are raised to walk in newness of (eternal), life daily."
Since my death I have seen God's word in a new way. I took a year off to learn and consider these things. I have heard many things from the Father. One very important thing He said to me one day on my way while driving to attend Church was, " I see you are going to church this morning." then a long pause, then "I guess I am going also." which for some reason seemed to amuse me. Then he said, and I will never forget it, "There won't be much for me to do though. They already have everything planned." On another occasion He said to me. "Because of Religion, most men have never known me!, Including yours!" Needless to say my walk now is somewhat changed from before.
As you enter our website you will learn to be as the Bereans were in Acts 17:11. "The people of Berea were more open minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul's message. THEY SEARCHED THE SCRIPTURES DAY AFTER DAY TO CHECK UP ON PAUL AND SILUS, TO SEE IF THEY WERE TEACHING THE TRUTH." You will find that many of the "Truths and Doctrines and Beliefs" we hold so dearly, when researched will show historically that they are half truths, with error, and often completely wrong due to various bible translators. Yet often we have believed what ever was told to us. We were taught based on what a denomination or a previous pastor or teacher or bible school taught, ( Religion). Sometimes we believed it because of the particular translation we were using. There are even bestselling books, which by the way are fiction, which people are believing to be truths concerning the end times. I ask, "have you ever wondered why we have so many denominations? Each states that they have the truth. We must learn to only accept the word when The Father, through the Holy Spirit, reveals it to us. We must put aside our "Carnal Knowledge" of the Word. The Pharisees and Sadducees had human knowledge of the scriptures and yet had no clue to what Jesus was showing them of the Kingdom of God. Yet they were highly educated and were very knowledgeable about the scriptures. ( I Think we often have painted them as cruel evil men. but no, I believe they were just like most Christians today). Therein lies the problem, for many today are depending on their own natural, carnal, knowledge of the scripture as determined by men and have formed beliefs coinciding with such knowledge. God could care less how much we "know about Him". He cares about us "Knowing Him" and learning to become one with Him!
Each of us must begin to partake of the Word as God speaks it into us by His Spirit. God has said in His Word, “For My ways are completely different than yours” says the Lord. “And My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine” …And My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-10. He says later in verse 11 of the same passage, “ ….with My Word, I send it out, and it ALWAYS produces fruit. It, (My Word), will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.” Vs, 12, “ You will live in Joy and Peace;” NLV. Prepare your heart to hear from the Father as you look at those things which the Father is revealing to us through His Word. You may find that they may at times seem opposed to that which you have previously been taught or "believed." Much of what you may have been taught were words which concentrated on making YOU richer, healthier, smarter, better and yet the requirement of the Kingdom is that we become DEAD unto OURSELVES, and we do that by becoming ALIVE to GOD and full of His Wisdom and Understanding. ONE with HIM. Jesus was "One with Him" and says "He (Jesus) is One with US" so therefore as we enter into His "ONENESS" we experience "ONENESS with GOD," When people see you, do they only see the Father? That's where He wants to take you. Hallelujah To God Almighty!
John Nicholson once wrote, " We have come to the Most Holy Place and have now taken a step within the veil. We have moved beyond Pentecost and have begun to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. This is a dimension where Father deals with us in a more intense manner than He did in the Pentecostal or Fundamental realm. We were baptized in water and into the Body of Christ in the Outer Court; we were baptized in the Holy Spirit in the Inner Court; and we are now being baptized in FIRE in the Holy of Holies. We are in a dimension of Fathering that will eventually bring us into the very image, nature and character of Yahweh Himself. We find that we move from being servants and friends to becoming SONS. "If ye endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons" (Hebrews 12:7). Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless afterwards it yields the peaceable fruits of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby."
My first paradigm shift was when I were born naturally. Does that surprise you? I thought that the world as I knew it was suspended in liquid, quite dark and confining. I got my nourishment from a tube connected to my belly. What a surprise awaited me as I entered into the second phase of my life. I'm sure you can relate to the changes that took place at that point. I now had to learn to fend for myself in this strange new world which my "Eyes and Ears had been closed to". There were all kinds of "New" things, (which had been there all along), but had just now been revealed to me. Now I saw in a much different light and I was able to hear things that I had never heard before. What an exciting time to explore this new revelation of life. What a time of education and exploration of these "new things."
My second paradigm shift was when I heard and read the Word of God and understood that I could be re-born. This time "spiritually" born, by realizing the sacrifice of Jesus' death while on the cross and the fact that God raised that same Jesus from the dead to new life. That we have salvation as a free gift and have eternal life with God. In faith I acknowledged Jesus sacrifice and Oh!, what a blessing and a change in my life that brought. That void in my life was suddenly filled with the knowledge and peace of Almighty God within me. It had always been there resident in me and written in God's word but my eyes and ears had previously been blinded and deafened to the truth of their existence. An experience hard to explain but yet experienced within myself. Oh, what a change in my life took place compared to where I had previously been. To experience a life with meaning and at last to be aware and sure of my eternal destiny. To know God and experience the presence of God the Father in my life.
My third paradigm shift was when I came into the knowledge that I needed the Holy Spirit. I had always believed and been taught by our denomination that when we accepted our salvation in Jesus, that the Holy Spirit was part of the package. But when God revealed the truth and spoke it into my spirit, and in faith I received the Holy Spirit, I experienced a whole new dimension in God that I had not had prior. One of authority, and power, and enlightenment to the very scriptures themselves as the Holy Spirit began to then teach me of the things of God. They had been there all along, my eyes and ears had simply been "blinded and deafened to the truth" of their existence. Oh what a change in my life took place. That was the beginning of my real ministry within the body of Christ. We were now endued with power from on high. The ministry gifts of the Holy Spirit began to come forth in my life. I began to see miracles by my own hands.
My fourth paradigm shift was when I came into the revelation of the establishment of God's Kingdom here on earth. A Kingdom not made with hands. The Kingdom of heaven in which the King of Kings reigns. The Kingdom Jesus spoke so often of. This paradigm shift is so dramatic and life altering that it is impossible to put into proper words. As you who have experienced the first 3 paradigm shifts you can attest to how difficult it is to convey in words what God had done in your life and how you know it really is of God. So it is with the Kingdom of God. It must be understood in Spirit because it is a Spiritual Kingdom which God is calling men to. Not an earthly kingdom like we saw the early Christians seek after. Jesus taught them these things but many did not have eyes to see nor ears to hear what he was telling them. In order for you to understand it you must pray that the Holy Spirit would teach you of it, and that your spiritual eyes and ears might be open to what the Spirit is saying.
The Kingdom of God will not be taught of man. It will only be revealed to us by the Father. Just as Jesus never did or said anything except the Father told him. It Will be no different in this day. Each paradigm shift must proceed the other. You cannot have access to the fullness of the Holy Spirit until you have come to the realization that you are a Son of God through the spiritual awakening or "re-birthing" of the salvation which has been provided to ALL mankind. In the same way you can not enter into the Kingdom of God without the fullness and witness of the Holy Spirit. It is He who will guide you into all truth.
There will be many in the days ahead who will speak "Words" of the Kingdom, but will not really have a clue what they are saying. God will speak through them but they themselves will still be blinded to the truth. There are others who will actually see the revelation of the Kingdom, but because of the "Riches" of their man-made "ministry kingdoms" that they are ruling over, they will have great difficulty entering into The Kingdom of God which is not made with hands. Matthew 19:23-24 Jesus himself said concerning the Kingdom, "I tell you the truth, (or Assuredly in KJ version), it is very hard for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of heaven, (or Kingdom of Spiritual places)." Vs 24, "I say it again, --- It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle, (Eye of needle refers to a place at which contests were held to see what camels, with very great difficulty, could go through a special shaped rock formation called "the eye of a needle".), than for a rich person to enter into the Kingdom of God." Today many churches have become in a sense The Babylonian Church of Today. A Church which is intermingled with the things and ways of the world. Living in a world of worldly prosperity and power. In contrast, our example Jesus came as a meek servant yet walked in spiritual power and might. In the True Kingdom of God, The Father is above every part of the body. Jesus and the Father are one, and as Christ he is Head of the Body. Everything is His. All the money, the homes, the jobs, the family, the church, the ministry, etc. Those who realize this are the true ministers of "faith". So many people today are being duped into sending in their money to various ministries with the hope of reaping a large harvest of money. Earthly riches and carnal desires of the world is their real motivation. Many, because of their own greed and lust for the things of the world send it in and then usually nothing happens. Next they feel they somehow are not spiritual enough. Men are being judged as to how spiritual they are by how much money they accumulate. Instead let us learn of the Father and His Kingdom. then ALL things can be entrusted to us by the Father, Then we will not waste them on selfish desires and carnal things of the world. Instead we will use them as HE directs us to use it. It's not a tenth that is His. It's ALL His! When we have gotten to the state of being dead to ourselves and alive only to God, Then will all heaven be opened and the true richness of the King of Glory be manifested. Only then will we really prosper and be in health. First spiritually, and then in the natural. Much more can be found on our "Study Topic Pages" concerning these truths from the word of God.
The Church age is passing and the Third Day Kingdom Age is coming to fullness. They are as different as the three major feasts found in the Old Testament. The Feast of Passover, represents salvation as originally portrayed by the eating of the lamb and the covering of the slain lamb's blood over the doorposts. We must have the Slain Lamb of God, (Jesus), in us, and have His spilled blood covering the door posts of our life (our inner spirit). Then there was the 2nd major feast which represents the manifestation of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, and the Church Age. It is interesting to note that this was the only feast where God commanded "leavened" bread be brought as a sacrifice. Then when it was waved before God by the priest as God had commanded, God rejected, and did not accept it. This represents the church of today. Leaven always has represented sin. And the present day church as a whole has a mix of leaven, or sin, or the way of the world, or earthly, Adamic carnality mixed into it. And God will never have his son marry a bride, the church, who is defiled. Entering into the Kingdom will involve a "purifying as by fire" of each who enters in. And then there is the last major Feast, the Feast of Tabernacles which represents the Kingdom Age. This is the feast where the priest would enter behind the veil, into the Holy of Holies, to enter into the very presence of Almighty God Himself. Jesus Christ made It possible at Calvary for ALL to enter in to the presence of the Father. There are still many today who have not entered in. Others are going through the purification stage of trial as by fire from on high. Sadly though most Christians today are found in the "outer court" being ministered to but never really entering into the fullness of God. There will always be a continued need for those who are in the "inner-court ministry" (the organized church and the fivefold ministry), to minister to the masses and point them to the Father. But the scriptures tell us that few will enter into the fullness of the "Holy of Holies, or Most Holy Place, to become one with the Father in his Kingdom. It is this place that no one will place himself, but rather the Father must place in position to reign as Sons, with His First Born Son, Jesus the Christ, over the Kingdom of God. It is there that they become one with the Father.
All of these things are being revealed to those who are hungry and thirsty after righteousness, Those who are tired of the religious Pharisee type ministries who are administering the things of God as by the law with rules, regulations and ordinances. They are not hearing and seeing those things which are being revealed spiritually by the Father. Men cannot understand spiritual things with their natural minds and reasoning. Spiritual things are only revealed to us by God.
My fifth and most recent paradigm shift happened on February 22, 2005 when I had a severe heart attack. I was dead for 23 minutes. After returning to my body I waited another 45 minutes and then underwent a 2 hour procedure to place three stints in the main artery on the right side of my heart as there was no blood flow to that side. It was reported that the left side was severely blocked as well but still getting some blood flow. It was decided at that time that a decision as to what would be done would happen 7-8 weeks later as my heart needed to recover from lack of blood for almost 3 hours. At that time I would have a nuclear stress test done to determine how much damage had been done.
While in intensive care the next day I was able to get out of bed (still hooked up to an array of tubes and wires), and sit. While sitting alone I was suddenly surrounded by a clear, odorless, almost opaque substance which I can only describe as similar to oil in appearance. Then it disappeared and I got back into bed. I did not tell anyone as I wasn't sure what I had observed or why. The next day I was again out of bed sitting in a chair alone when a substance which can only be described by me as an almost opaque smoke and which behaved similar to that of dry ice but with a slight grayish hue appeared. It began at the edges of all four walls in the room along the floor and increased until it reached my feet and the whole floor was covered. I could not feel or sense it except by sight. It then began to rise until it filled the entire room. At that moment I asked, "Lord, Am I able to see things spiritually that I could not before?" Suddenly a voice spoke audibly and said, "The smoke from the alter of incense filled the Most Holy Place." At that moment I realized I was in the presence of Almighty God. Then the smoke-like substance dissolved into thin air. I climbed back into bed and just a few minutes later was interrupted by my daughter and son-in-law coming to visit me. Before I could tell them about my experience we were interrupted by the head nurse who informed me that a gentleman wanted to see me and wondered if one of my relatives could leave so he could come in. (Hospital rules of only two visitors at a time). my daughter left and a man who I regard as a great man of God and also as a personal friend whom I had not seen for awhile walked in. He sat at the foot of my bed and folded his arms and gave me a great big old smile. Then he asked, "What did God show you this morning?" I relayed the occurrences of the last two mornings and then he put his head back and laughed. Then he said "God is so cool!" Then he fixed his eyes on me and said, "God woke me up this morning and told me to come to the hospital and give you this word." This is the word which was given to me at that time. " The other day you died. You no longer have a past and you no longer have a future, for I am the God of the present. The purpose which you were placed here on earth for was accomplished. Your only responsibility which you now have is to do whatever I put in front of you, and to say whatever comes to you to say, nothing else. The only responsibility you have to anyone else including your family is the responsibility Christ has to them." That word came on the second day of my hospital stay in the intensive care unit. That evening I was moved to a regular hospital room. The next morning a series of miraculous events began to happen and lasted the next 3 days until I was released. Someday maybe I will write of those events both in the hospital and days following which confirmed that my experience was real.
Exactly one month to the day I received an anonymous email which said, "When Craig died in the emergency room, with his death passed all the heavenly goals he was given to accomplish in the Earth. If he accomplished them, great. If not, there is no going back to re-live that life. His ownership of stuff, his life plans, goals, ministry, ambitions, preferences and reputation went with him. God did not raise you up from the dead to finish living that life. That man is gone with all that was his. Let judgment day be accomplished for him. The rewards and corrections of that life will be revealed on that Great Day.
The man raised up to live now is to live as an angel, a messenger, a voice from heaven, with nothing to gain or lose except the pleasure of his maker in every given day. The provision for the moment is more than enough. As long as he lives during this day, and for any more days he is requested by his maker to continue in this body of flesh, he will joy in the glory of his redeemer and be the blessing of God to all he encounters. The family he used to be responsible for are now in the care of an under the abundant provision of their Savior. The extent to which this resurrected man is honored to bless them, love them, give of himself to them and intercede for them like Our High Priest does, is one aspect and facet of how Christ himself desires to minister to them.
Each day is a new life. No beginning of days. Each moment is a lifetime. No ending of days. If Christ desires you to remain in this Earth Realm forever, you will pay whatever cost involved to make that happen. We die daily. We are raised to walk in newness of (eternal), life daily."
Since my death I have seen God's word in a new way. I took a year off to learn and consider these things. I have heard many things from the Father. One very important thing He said to me one day on my way while driving to attend Church was, " I see you are going to church this morning." then a long pause, then "I guess I am going also." which for some reason seemed to amuse me. Then he said, and I will never forget it, "There won't be much for me to do though. They already have everything planned." On another occasion He said to me. "Because of Religion, most men have never known me!, Including yours!" Needless to say my walk now is somewhat changed from before.
As you enter our website you will learn to be as the Bereans were in Acts 17:11. "The people of Berea were more open minded than those in Thessalonica, and they listened eagerly to Paul's message. THEY SEARCHED THE SCRIPTURES DAY AFTER DAY TO CHECK UP ON PAUL AND SILUS, TO SEE IF THEY WERE TEACHING THE TRUTH." You will find that many of the "Truths and Doctrines and Beliefs" we hold so dearly, when researched will show historically that they are half truths, with error, and often completely wrong due to various bible translators. Yet often we have believed what ever was told to us. We were taught based on what a denomination or a previous pastor or teacher or bible school taught, ( Religion). Sometimes we believed it because of the particular translation we were using. There are even bestselling books, which by the way are fiction, which people are believing to be truths concerning the end times. I ask, "have you ever wondered why we have so many denominations? Each states that they have the truth. We must learn to only accept the word when The Father, through the Holy Spirit, reveals it to us. We must put aside our "Carnal Knowledge" of the Word. The Pharisees and Sadducees had human knowledge of the scriptures and yet had no clue to what Jesus was showing them of the Kingdom of God. Yet they were highly educated and were very knowledgeable about the scriptures. ( I Think we often have painted them as cruel evil men. but no, I believe they were just like most Christians today). Therein lies the problem, for many today are depending on their own natural, carnal, knowledge of the scripture as determined by men and have formed beliefs coinciding with such knowledge. God could care less how much we "know about Him". He cares about us "Knowing Him" and learning to become one with Him!
Each of us must begin to partake of the Word as God speaks it into us by His Spirit. God has said in His Word, “For My ways are completely different than yours” says the Lord. “And My ways are far beyond anything you could imagine” …And My ways are higher than your ways and My thoughts higher than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-10. He says later in verse 11 of the same passage, “ ….with My Word, I send it out, and it ALWAYS produces fruit. It, (My Word), will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.” Vs, 12, “ You will live in Joy and Peace;” NLV. Prepare your heart to hear from the Father as you look at those things which the Father is revealing to us through His Word. You may find that they may at times seem opposed to that which you have previously been taught or "believed." Much of what you may have been taught were words which concentrated on making YOU richer, healthier, smarter, better and yet the requirement of the Kingdom is that we become DEAD unto OURSELVES, and we do that by becoming ALIVE to GOD and full of His Wisdom and Understanding. ONE with HIM. Jesus was "One with Him" and says "He (Jesus) is One with US" so therefore as we enter into His "ONENESS" we experience "ONENESS with GOD," When people see you, do they only see the Father? That's where He wants to take you. Hallelujah To God Almighty!
John Nicholson once wrote, " We have come to the Most Holy Place and have now taken a step within the veil. We have moved beyond Pentecost and have begun to celebrate the Feast of Tabernacles. This is a dimension where Father deals with us in a more intense manner than He did in the Pentecostal or Fundamental realm. We were baptized in water and into the Body of Christ in the Outer Court; we were baptized in the Holy Spirit in the Inner Court; and we are now being baptized in FIRE in the Holy of Holies. We are in a dimension of Fathering that will eventually bring us into the very image, nature and character of Yahweh Himself. We find that we move from being servants and friends to becoming SONS. "If ye endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons" (Hebrews 12:7). Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous; nevertheless afterwards it yields the peaceable fruits of righteousness unto them which are exercised thereby."
The POWER in the Song of the Lord
Last night I was part of a service where I brought the song of the Lord. The song of the Lord is a prophetic first person God utterance but instead of in simply words, it is sung. No "thus saith the Lord", just sing it. He says to us, "I love you and I gave Myself for your good" to music. All scriptural, but sung. I did this once with the Book of Joel. I sang the words of the Prophecy set to music. I don't sing as well as many, but it always has the same effect. It touches people in different places emotionally and mentally (the soul) then simply words or text does.
I think we might better understand this if we consider Gabby Giffords, the congresswoman who was shot in her head a few years ago. Her brain was damaged. New synapses have had to be developed. She could not speak, but she could sing songs, songs she knew. You may have seen the special on TV about her recovery. Music occupies a different place in the brain then speech does. This works on stroke victims as well. In a soft way, when we have gone thru very difficult times or are facing a serious challenge, it can be as debilitating as a stroke in some ways. The only way is to hear from God in the Song.
There is another example of the power of the Song of the Lord. Elisha was called upon by the King to bring a prophetic word about upcoming warfare and strategy:
As always happens when the song of the Lord comes forth in prophetic utterance people are touched, changed, released. I heard sobbing and wailing as the song came forth last night.
We need the song of the Lord in our Worship services. Much that passes for "Music" isn't. It can be entertaining, but for the most part it's time being marked. Let's get our three songs in so we can get to the sermon. I'm not much impressed by much of what passes for worship unless it's real. Last night was real.
We know the verse in the Bible that says,
It would be better set to anointed music,
I am always with you, I am using my mighty hand to save, rescue, recover and restore you. I take marvelous delight in you, I love everything about you. You have peace in My love, you can settle down under My wings as a refuge of silence from the clamor of the day. I sing over you my Love, I have great Joy in Singing over you. Hear My song. It comes to you now. It is My love song to you. Peace and Joy are found in it. I JOY over you with SINGING.
THAT is the song of the Lord. It's about what the Lord gave me to sing last night. Same concept as the passage from Zephaniah, but lyrical. Try using this next week. It is the heart of God. At least that's what he said in his word.
People NEED to hear the song of the Lord.
I think we might better understand this if we consider Gabby Giffords, the congresswoman who was shot in her head a few years ago. Her brain was damaged. New synapses have had to be developed. She could not speak, but she could sing songs, songs she knew. You may have seen the special on TV about her recovery. Music occupies a different place in the brain then speech does. This works on stroke victims as well. In a soft way, when we have gone thru very difficult times or are facing a serious challenge, it can be as debilitating as a stroke in some ways. The only way is to hear from God in the Song.
There is another example of the power of the Song of the Lord. Elisha was called upon by the King to bring a prophetic word about upcoming warfare and strategy:
2 Kings: 14And Elisha said, “As the Lord of hosts lives, before whom I stand, were it not that I have regard for Jehoshaphat the king of Judah, I would neither look at you nor see you. 15But now bring me a musician.” And when the musician played, the hand of the Lord came upon him. 16And he said, “Thus says the Lord, ‘I will make this dry streambed full of pools.’ 17For thus says the Lord, ‘You shall not see wind or rain, but that streambed shall be filled with water, so that you shall drink, you, your livestock, and your animals.’ 18This is a light thing in the sight of the Lord.The place in Elisha's soul and spirit that needed touching came thru music. Then he heard from the Lord. Even secular writers know this.
"Music hath charms to soothe a savage breast, to soften rocks, or bend a knotted oak." William Congreve
As always happens when the song of the Lord comes forth in prophetic utterance people are touched, changed, released. I heard sobbing and wailing as the song came forth last night.
We need the song of the Lord in our Worship services. Much that passes for "Music" isn't. It can be entertaining, but for the most part it's time being marked. Let's get our three songs in so we can get to the sermon. I'm not much impressed by much of what passes for worship unless it's real. Last night was real.
We know the verse in the Bible that says,
The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing."
Zephaniah 3:17
It would be better set to anointed music,
I am always with you, I am using my mighty hand to save, rescue, recover and restore you. I take marvelous delight in you, I love everything about you. You have peace in My love, you can settle down under My wings as a refuge of silence from the clamor of the day. I sing over you my Love, I have great Joy in Singing over you. Hear My song. It comes to you now. It is My love song to you. Peace and Joy are found in it. I JOY over you with SINGING.
THAT is the song of the Lord. It's about what the Lord gave me to sing last night. Same concept as the passage from Zephaniah, but lyrical. Try using this next week. It is the heart of God. At least that's what he said in his word.
People NEED to hear the song of the Lord.
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
End Times Race, to the Finish Line... by David L. Smith
While at Church of the Hills - Austin, our Lord gave me a vision during Praise & Worship for the Firm Foundations class today (Sunday, July 8, 2012). Interestingly, AFTER the vision, and AFTER Praise & Worship, the very 1st verses shared for session 3 was a confirmation of the vision. Those verses follow the vision...
The vision opened with running a race; the perspective was from the viewpoint of the runner(s). Ahead, the final stretch of the race was approaching the finish line. Lined along the roadway were hundreds, perhaps even thousands of people. They were shouting, cheering, crying out words of motivation...
They were the great cloud of witnesses that had gone before. These were those who had RUN their Race, completed their course, finished their walk on earth.
It was much like the lines of crowds you see gathered at the finish line of a marathon - the final section where one's body is crying out in exertion & pain; seeing the finish line ahead gives the runner(s) the encouragement to expend their last strength in one last glorious effort!
As the runner(s) passed between the lines of cheering believers, who had gone before, there were more than shouts and cheers -
I could hardly believe what I was seeing. These heroes and generals of the faith were throwing the anointings and mantles and strengths that they had needed on earth. It was almost like the anointings were taking the form of red roses being tossed down from a stadium to those running past, pushing towards the final mark...
They were helping to further equip God's End Times Army for the last days of man.
As the runner(s) approached the finish line - the greatest prize was seen...
waiting for them - at the finish line - was the throne...
- Jesus Christ was before them and they were coming ever closer... they were about to see Him FACE-TO-FACE!
Hebrews 12:1 - "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset [us], and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,"
12:2 - "Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of [our] faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God."
I am a Fraud.... Confession of a Prophet
Yes, you heard me right. I am a fraud if you think I am somehow better or superior to anyone else as a man. I am as flawed a person as you might find. It grieves me up that I am so weak in so many ways. I wish I could live up to even half my press releases. But I can't. I'm a fraud.
So are you.
So were all the men who gave up all to follow Jesus. They were weak, sometimes clumsy and very flawed. They saw Jesus die and rise again. Yet they had fear. Even AFTER the Holy Spirit was poured out, there were spells where they failed to live up to what we might have expected of them.
This came to me overnight as I pondered the note of a friend calling out a national televangelist as a fraud. It's an appellation towards him that I might even agree with. I don't think much of this man. Yet, to call him a fraud sweeps a wide brush over all of us. Who isn't a fraud?
I have known personally many highly visible men and women of God in my decades as a Christian. Some who I even admire. If I called their names you would be impressed or think I was name dropping. The truth is, the closer you get to "greatness" the more you come to the awareness that they/we are all flawed.
The tendency to learn how to put on a well pressed suit just zipped out of the bag with a fresh shower and coiffed hair to do a 3 hour dog and pony show complete with a love offering means we don't get to know them for who they really are. Flawed. Frauds if you like.
I have developed a great affection for and admiration of Apostle John Eckhardt. There are a lot of reasons, but one is that in spite of the horrible examples some of our national leaders have been, he is willing to go into their camps, minister to them and be a friend. I have been less then that in toleration of what I see as foolishness. I am learning to be more agape in my love of my fellow workers in the Kingdom. If I get to complete sanctification I might even learn to accept someone who votes for democrats. (A little prophetic humor).
IF we examine the life of Paul as revealed in his epistles and in the Book of Acts you will see him often referring to himself in his weakness, inadequacy, fumbling, sin, pride and anger. Romans 7, 2 Corinthians 11-12 and a dozen other places.
If Paul were of a truth today, he would say of himself, "I'm a fraud" BUT... I am Paul, an Apostle, sent one, given by God as a gift to serve you.
Can we say any more or less? "I'm a fraud", but I am Gene, a Prophet given by God as a gift to serve you.
Maybe it's about time we get over our own bad self...and let HIM Shine THRU us?
That is a word for someone today. It was for me.
So are you.
So were all the men who gave up all to follow Jesus. They were weak, sometimes clumsy and very flawed. They saw Jesus die and rise again. Yet they had fear. Even AFTER the Holy Spirit was poured out, there were spells where they failed to live up to what we might have expected of them.
This came to me overnight as I pondered the note of a friend calling out a national televangelist as a fraud. It's an appellation towards him that I might even agree with. I don't think much of this man. Yet, to call him a fraud sweeps a wide brush over all of us. Who isn't a fraud?
I have known personally many highly visible men and women of God in my decades as a Christian. Some who I even admire. If I called their names you would be impressed or think I was name dropping. The truth is, the closer you get to "greatness" the more you come to the awareness that they/we are all flawed.
The tendency to learn how to put on a well pressed suit just zipped out of the bag with a fresh shower and coiffed hair to do a 3 hour dog and pony show complete with a love offering means we don't get to know them for who they really are. Flawed. Frauds if you like.
I have developed a great affection for and admiration of Apostle John Eckhardt. There are a lot of reasons, but one is that in spite of the horrible examples some of our national leaders have been, he is willing to go into their camps, minister to them and be a friend. I have been less then that in toleration of what I see as foolishness. I am learning to be more agape in my love of my fellow workers in the Kingdom. If I get to complete sanctification I might even learn to accept someone who votes for democrats. (A little prophetic humor).
IF we examine the life of Paul as revealed in his epistles and in the Book of Acts you will see him often referring to himself in his weakness, inadequacy, fumbling, sin, pride and anger. Romans 7, 2 Corinthians 11-12 and a dozen other places.
If Paul were of a truth today, he would say of himself, "I'm a fraud" BUT... I am Paul, an Apostle, sent one, given by God as a gift to serve you.
Can we say any more or less? "I'm a fraud", but I am Gene, a Prophet given by God as a gift to serve you.
Maybe it's about time we get over our own bad self...and let HIM Shine THRU us?
That is a word for someone today. It was for me.
Garris Elkins: Living In the Green Light: "What Are You Waiting For?"
Several years ago, Jan and I had the privilege of having lunch with David and Deborah Crone who pastor The Mission, a church in Vacaville, California. When I get together with leaders like the Crones, I often ask what guides them in their ministry. When I asked David this question, without hesitation he said, "We live in the green light of God."
David's words deeply impacted my spirit. An adjustment of my life paradigm occurred as David's words hung over the lunch table. Deborah added to David's comment by saying that God is faithful to give us the red lights when we need to stop if we will simply live in His green light.
As Jan and I drove home after lunch, David's words began to rearrange certain areas of my life and ministry. I knew I had received an impartation of truth.
"What Are You Waiting For?"
Some of our lives resemble beautiful and powerful automobiles that are running at idle while waiting at an intersection, even though the light is green. It has been "green and go" since the Day of Pentecost, yet some of us still wait, continuing to idle and going nowhere. I sense that God is asking His Church, "What are you waiting for?" The reality is that the Heavens are open, and the Spirit has been given to us. We are seated in Heaven at the right hand of the Father on purpose. The green light of God is present in His people. It is time to invite the Holy Spirit to reveal why some of us are stopped instead of moving forward. It is also time to renew our minds and live as people positioned by God to do more than just wait at intersections and idle our engines of faith.
Many of us have forgotten that we really are children of the Most High God. We have allowed lies to remain embedded and unchallenged in our lives. We have created a performance-based relationship with the Grace-Giver. We live in fear of failure, and so we avoid stepping out in faith, thinking that failure means rejection. Some of us are afraid to move forward in boldness because we still believe that God can only love us if our performance is without fault.
This fear has immobilized the prayer of faith in some; it blinds us to the green light and keeps us from pressing down on the accelerator pedal and moving forward. We displace this lie by remembering that we are loved, not as the result of our performance, but out of the very nature of God. He can only love. He is love. He is unchangeable in His love.
Fear of failure and rejection can redirect the focus of our prayer back onto self, and when this happens we become the ones responsible for the results of what we have prayed. We take on the burden of outcomes.
"What if I pray and the person is not healed?" "What if I turn to the table behind me, say the word God asked me to give, and they reject it?" If we feel that we are responsible for the results of our faith, we will inevitably live in the prison of performance, because the perceived power source is with us and not with God. This prison holds our life and faith captive to personal doubt instead of the open road of freedom that comes from living in the green light of God.
Are You a Friend?
In John 15 Jesus said that He would no longer relate to His disciples as servants. He would now relate to them as friends. The shift here was not simply about using a new word to describe their relationship but rather how being a friend would radically change the way the disciples would relate to Jesus in the future.
Remember: servants live with a list of things to do. Servants execute lists of performance, and when they are done performing, they go back to the servants' quarters. A friend is different. A friend lives in anticipation of what their friend desires. They have a relationship that is powered by intimacy and union. They see an open road and the green light of relationship and freedom.
All of God's promises are "yes" in Jesus.
As surely as God is true, I am not that sort of person. My yes means yes because Jesus Christ, the Son of God, never wavers between yes and no. He is the one whom Timothy, Silas, and I preached to you, and he is the divine Yes – God's affirmation. For all of God's promises have been fulfilled in him. That is why we say "Amen" when we give glory to God through Christ. 2 Corinthians 1:18-20
This kind of friendship with God that Paul described, and its resulting prayer, looks reckless to people who have yet to realize His friendship. Friendship with God looks reckless because you end up blasting past people who are still parked at the intersection with their foot on the brakes. Friends of God travel right through intersections because they are fulfilling the anticipated desires of the Master: living in the green light of God.
In the area of Oregon where I live, the police and fire vehicles are equipped with transmitting units that send signals ahead of them to change traffic lights from red to green so that the responding public safety personnel can reach the emergency site unimpeded. The vehicles carry with them the ability to change the function of the traffic light. You and I carry the presence of Jesus Christ. That presence changes everything.
Followers of Jesus Christ live in the green light of God's promises. All of God's promises are "yes." "Promise" is a word that can be translated "to announce upon." Jesus told the disciples in Luke 24:49, "And now I will send the Holy Spirit, just as My Father promised. But stay here in the city until the Holy Spirit comes and fills you with power from Heaven." When Jesus said these words, He was assuring His disciples that in the near future God would "announce upon them" the Spirit.
The prophet Joel announced the promise of the future outpouring of the Spirit in the latter days. On the Day of Pentecost, timeless eternity announced the reality of Joel's prophecy down upon earth.
Right now, God is announcing His promises upon the earth through His Church. This really is a new day. The fires of revival are sparking and igniting upon the earth on every continent. The promise of God has been announced to us, His friends, and we are the chosen voices of Heaven to speak truth into our world by believing that all the promises are "yes" in Christ and by speaking that "yes" into a fearful and hesitant world.
We live in the green light of God.
Garris Elkins, Senior Leader
Living Waters Church - Medford, Oregon
Email: prophetichorizons@gmail.com
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
Instructions From the Prophet's Widow's Deathbed
There is a story in 2 Kings often preached or taught as an indicator of God's faithfulness and provision. It's popular among prosperity preachers. Yet, if we look into the depth of the story we find a prophetic lesson that warns us not to despise prophecy. Many are in want because they did not heed carefully the prophetic word given them. Here's the story from the NIV...
Her reaching out to Elisha for help wasn't wrong...but it was late. The creditors were already at the door to take the boys to jail. There were other prophets in the School I am sure. Had she already appealed to them? OR was she looking to just to to the "Big Guy". (IF I could just have Benny Hinn lay hands on me I would be healed).
Elisha isn't put off, but he is puzzled. HOW can I help you? She was in her question looking for money, (or magic). She came to the right place and he asked the right question. What do you have? He was looking for a point at which to pivot her faith. She was going to be asked to take what she had and release her faith to accomplish much with it. Her report was, I HAVE NOTHING.......but. She had something, but considered it nothing.
She is desperate, but her mental condition belies spirit of poverty she was trapped in. To her nothing included a small bottle of oil.
Then the prophet gives her a word of instruction. Find every container you can. Scour the neighborhood. Find every thing that can hold oil. See your neighbors and get what you can. The easy part was the containers they already had in the house. The harder part was begging help from the neighbors. But they did. I don't know how hard they looked, how many they found, but at some point they said to themselves...that's enough. The room had a lot of oil buckets in it.
God was as good as the prophet's word. They poured out the oil until the response to bring another container was... “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing. I can't imagine what heartbreak there was at that moment of revelation. If we had worked harder to find more jars, we'd have more oil.
When the prophet returned to see how they did, he saw several full containers of oil, but if I read between the lines...he was a little disappointed. They had been given a chance to enter into prosperity they never could have believed for on their own. IF they had known how this was going to work out in advance (the Prophet told them, but they really didn't believe the word in full) they would not have shut the door to start pouring until the room was packed full, stacked up, every corner occupied with empty vessels until you couldn't walk.
They had enough to pay off the creditor and enough to live... but they didn't have enough to share, to give, to prosper.
When we share this story, we must share it with the widow's thoughts as she lay on her deathbed.... "If we only had believed the prophet, we'd have had more oil".
Today, many receive a word from the Lord and partially believe it...but because they doubt, they only halfheartedly gather enough vessels to receive what the Lord wants to provide.
Without Faith it is Impossible to please God. Faith without works is dead.
Partial works from partial faith releases partial blessings.
God had so much more for her. The only limiting factor was her faith.
Many people proclaim that they have great faith, but their actions declare the faith level they are activated in.
Have the FAITH OF GOD! There is no limit there.
The Widow’s Olive OilShe was the widow of a prophet. One who had worked with or under Elisha. He had seen and experienced many great works. Elisha did twice as many mighty works as had his predecessor, Elijah. Her husband must have many times told her and her sons of the great things he had seen and probably done.
2 Kings 4 The wife of a man from the company of the prophets cried out to Elisha, “Your servant my husband is dead, and you know that he revered the Lord. But now his creditor is coming to take my two boys as his slaves.”
2 Elisha replied to her, “How can I help you? Tell me, what do you have in your house?”
“Your servant has nothing there at all,” she said, “except a small jar of olive oil.”
3 Elisha said, “Go around and ask all your neighbors for empty jars. Don’t ask for just a few. 4 Then go inside and shut the door behind you and your sons. Pour oil into all the jars, and as each is filled, put it to one side.”
5 She left him and shut the door behind her and her sons. They brought the jars to her and she kept pouring. 6 When all the jars were full, she said to her son, “Bring me another one.”
But he replied, “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing.
7 She went and told the man of God, and he said, “Go, sell the oil and pay your debts. You and your sons can live on what is left.”
Her reaching out to Elisha for help wasn't wrong...but it was late. The creditors were already at the door to take the boys to jail. There were other prophets in the School I am sure. Had she already appealed to them? OR was she looking to just to to the "Big Guy". (IF I could just have Benny Hinn lay hands on me I would be healed).
Elisha isn't put off, but he is puzzled. HOW can I help you? She was in her question looking for money, (or magic). She came to the right place and he asked the right question. What do you have? He was looking for a point at which to pivot her faith. She was going to be asked to take what she had and release her faith to accomplish much with it. Her report was, I HAVE NOTHING.......but. She had something, but considered it nothing.
She is desperate, but her mental condition belies spirit of poverty she was trapped in. To her nothing included a small bottle of oil.
Then the prophet gives her a word of instruction. Find every container you can. Scour the neighborhood. Find every thing that can hold oil. See your neighbors and get what you can. The easy part was the containers they already had in the house. The harder part was begging help from the neighbors. But they did. I don't know how hard they looked, how many they found, but at some point they said to themselves...that's enough. The room had a lot of oil buckets in it.
God was as good as the prophet's word. They poured out the oil until the response to bring another container was... “There is not a jar left.” Then the oil stopped flowing. I can't imagine what heartbreak there was at that moment of revelation. If we had worked harder to find more jars, we'd have more oil.
When the prophet returned to see how they did, he saw several full containers of oil, but if I read between the lines...he was a little disappointed. They had been given a chance to enter into prosperity they never could have believed for on their own. IF they had known how this was going to work out in advance (the Prophet told them, but they really didn't believe the word in full) they would not have shut the door to start pouring until the room was packed full, stacked up, every corner occupied with empty vessels until you couldn't walk.
They had enough to pay off the creditor and enough to live... but they didn't have enough to share, to give, to prosper.
When we share this story, we must share it with the widow's thoughts as she lay on her deathbed.... "If we only had believed the prophet, we'd have had more oil".
Today, many receive a word from the Lord and partially believe it...but because they doubt, they only halfheartedly gather enough vessels to receive what the Lord wants to provide.
Without Faith it is Impossible to please God. Faith without works is dead.
Partial works from partial faith releases partial blessings.
God had so much more for her. The only limiting factor was her faith.
Many people proclaim that they have great faith, but their actions declare the faith level they are activated in.
Have the FAITH OF GOD! There is no limit there.
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