Inversion of a Great Passage

Sometimes by inverting the Truth of the Gospel, we discover truth we hadn't seen before.

Today in Church that revelation hit.

Philippians 3:¹² Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. ¹³ Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

The inversion of that is also true:

If I have already obtained at MY goal, I will back off to release that which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers and Sisters, if I consider myself fully in control of what I am to perceive, then I will remember the cost of what it took to get here and will not make any attempt to move ahead. I will miss what God has called me to.

In other words, whatever I do that doesn't include furthering HIS KINGDOM in my life, will take me further from HIM and his PURPOSE for ME. Going either toward him or away. There is no middle ground.

A valuable truth. When God speaks, that is prophecy. He spoke.

The Prophetic Thelma and Louise Moment

If you ever saw the movie...you know this scene. It's the end. The ladies have been on the run. The cops are about to catch them. They have no where to turn except face the music and suffer the consequences for the mistakes and murder they have committed or to drive off the end of the cliff and commit mutual suicide.

They make a decision.

Over the cliff to certain death.

Roll Credits.

The worlds economy and in particular the USA has been warning that we had to stop running wide open, turn around and face the music. Take our very bitter medicine and be healed.

Instead in the last few days I have had the distinct impression that the other option is being taken. Just as in the movie. The cliff is just ahead. It's pedal to the metal.

There is a time for bravery in the face of overwhelming odds if God is in it. He isn't in this anymore. Of that much I am certain. Reality is about to hit.

Jesus warned of this:

Luke 14:25-35 Now great multitudes were going with him. He turned and said to them, "If anyone comes to me, and doesn’t hate his own father, mother, wife, children, brothers, and sisters, yes, and his own life also, he can’t be my disciple. Whoever doesn’t bear his own cross, and come after me, can’t be my disciple. For which of you, desiring to build a tower, doesn’t first sit down and count the cost, to see if he has enough to complete it? Or perhaps, when he has laid a foundation, and is not able to finish, everyone who sees begins to mock him, saying, ‘This man began to build, and wasn’t able to finish.’ Or what king, as he goes to encounter another king in war, will not sit down first and consider whether he is able with ten thousand to meet him who comes against him with twenty thousand? Or else, while the other is yet a great way off, he sends an envoy, and asks for conditions of peace. So therefore whoever of you who doesn’t renounce all that he has, he can’t be my disciple. Salt is good, but if the salt becomes flat and tasteless, with what do you season it? It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown out. He who has ears to hear, let him hear."

Our culture, our leadership....we have failed to understand the cost of being salt. Our end is clear.

So, just put that pedal to the metal and enjoy the ride.

Others will now have to pick up the pieces.

Doug Addison: Watch Out for Distractions

Last January I released a prophetic word for 2011 and said that the entire year will be strategic:

We will begin moving into more clarity about our destinies as God has been shifting our assignments. Similar to 2010, we will see a major increase and thrust in March of 2011 at the beginning of Spring. During April our time of waiting will be turned into a time of action. New life will come in June and by September of 2011 things that many have longed for will take more shape. (Click here to read the word in its entirety on The Elijah List).

It is time to spring into action. One of my guiding Bible verses is Matthew 7:7, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Notice that ask, seek, and knock are all proactive steps and the door will not be open "for you" but "to you." This is a time right now to take initiative and watch and see what new opportunities begin to open.

Watch Out For Distractions

As you begin to take action, watch out for distractions in communications and technology. I have not seen such a fierce attack on communications in a very long time. The enemy is trying to cause disruption and miscommunications with people right now. The reason for this is that God is releasing divine connections that will be strategic for the coming years.

While preparing to deliver this message on my webcast on April 5, the company who hosts our live web stream went down and we had trouble with the recording. My new Macbook Pro notebook has been in the shop for three weeks and Apple still cannot figure out what's wrong. While preparing to place this article on my Blog, I accidentally nuked my custom Blog design.

If you experience technological distractions and breakdowns, don't misunderstand this to be a block. We must break through right now. As a result of all the setbacks, I asked God for full repayment of what the enemy is stealing and disrupting. Just this week I was given two brand new Macbook Pros that are of a greater value than what I had before. It is time to turn the distractions into blessings.

Divine Connections Starting Now

Many people are being called to something new right now. This is why things have slowed down on your current situation. The new has not fully come yet. Starting in April through June be careful to make choices that will open new opportunities and not repeat old ones.

Obviously you need to pray about this, but if you are given the choice to do something new versus something that you are comfortable with doing, try to stretch yourself to do the new. From this will come new connections you will need for future advancement.

The Power of a "Spiritual Passover"

Passover, which was just celebrated, is a Jewish festival that reminds us of God's greatness when He gave instructions to the Israelites in Egypt that would cause the spirit of death to "pass over" their houses (Exodus 11–12). The spiritual aspect of "Passover" is still available to us today.

When bad things happen and it appears to be judgment or tragedy in any form – whether economic, spiritual, environmental, or whatever – God will most often let His people know how to avoid it or at least how to suffer minimal damage. In some cases, God will even show His people how to profit during a downturn (Genesis 41). The key is to listen to God's voice as He speaks to us and follow the instructions that He gives.

My Dream of a Bad Storm

I had a dream earlier last year that a fierce storm (maybe the worst ever) was coming to the west coast of the U.S. It appeared that we were going to suffer great losses and maybe even die. Everyone was panicking and running to take cover. Faith rose up in me and I felt an anointing from God to stand and watch this storm. I saw a consuming fire in the storm and, just as it approached my house, it passed over and immediately it was a bright sunny day with a rainbow in the sky. I was amazed that there was no damage at all to my property or my loved ones.

I awoke from the dream realizing that we need to stand in the midst of the storms coming against us personally and as a nation. God will give us instructions on what to do and when to do it. The key is to remain at peace and do not be afraid. We need to understand that the principle of disaster passing over is still available to us today.

With all the tragedies and uncertain events happening in the U.S. and the world right now, we need to ask for God's glory to be released in greater measure. Ask God to cause the bad things to pass over you, and pray that God reveals strategies from Heaven. It is a great time to be alive!

Blessings,

Doug Addison
InLight Connection
Email: respond@dougaddison.com

Bloodless Preaching is Killing Christians

The preaching formula is “thus says the Lord,” not “I’m telling you!”
by Evangelist Reinhard Bonnke

People filled with the Holy Spirit should be marked with the true features of witnesses. They neither dither nor dogmatize. They are sure of their aim but are not arrogant. They have the cool assurance of knowing that two plus two equals four with no need to prove it - no polemics. They are passionate but not pushy (with few exceptions). They let the truth speak for itself, not knocking people into submission. They do not wear boxing gloves. The preaching formula is always “thus says the Lord,” not “I’m telling you!” Witnesses just pass on what they had heard and saw. It is not their business to defend it or even to invite questions. It is the Lord’s responsibility to confirm the righteousness of His own Word.

Last night after Church I was in a rich conversation with Jon Byrd. We have both been disturbed by a bloodless preaching style. How much of what you hear in the public pulpit is either feel better about yourself, God wants you rich and well dressed, God needs a king on earth and you just might be him or don't worry your silly little head off about anything regarding the actions of evil on the earth, Antichrists, beasts, wrath, or judgments. Have an optimistic view of the end. It will make you feel soooo much better.

What we DON'T hear is the blood preached any more. The price paid. The propitiation for sin. The pain Jesus endured because of our rebellion.

I too would love to enjoy feel good sermonizing. Then there is Paul the Apostle in 1 Corinthians Chapter 1:18-3:3a. How much preaching is Pauline today?

Christ Crucified Is God’s Power and Wisdom, a word from the Apostle Paul to Corinth

1 Corinthians:1:¹⁸ For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. ¹⁹ For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise;
the intelligence of the intelligent I will frustrate.”

²⁰ Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? ²¹ For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not know him, God was pleased through the foolishness of what was preached to save those who believe. ²² Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom, ²³ but we preach Christ crucified: a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, ²⁴ but to those whom God has called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. ²⁵ For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength.

²⁶ Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. ²⁷ But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. ²⁸ God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, ²⁹ so that no one may boast before him. ³⁰ It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. ³¹ Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

¹ And so it was with me, brothers and sisters. When I came to you, I did not come with eloquence or human wisdom as I proclaimed to you the testimony about God.

² For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified. ³ I came to you in weakness with great fear and trembling. ⁴ My message and my preaching were not with wise and persuasive words, but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power, ⁵ so that your faith might not rest on human wisdom, but on God’s power.

God’s Wisdom Revealed by the Spirit

⁶ We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. ⁷ No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. ⁸ None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. ⁹ However, as it is written:

“What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived” —
the things God has prepared for those who love him—

¹⁰ these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit.

The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God. ¹¹ For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. ¹² What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. ¹³ This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. ¹⁴ The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit. ¹⁵ The person with the Spirit makes judgments about all things, but such a person is not subject to merely human judgments, ¹⁶ for,

“Who has known the mind of the Lord
so as to instruct him?”

But we have the mind of Christ.

¹ Brothers and sisters, I could not address you as people who live by the Spirit but as people who are still worldly—mere infants in Christ. ² I gave you milk, not solid food, for you were not yet ready for it. Indeed, you are still not ready. ³ You are still worldly.

I no longer can listen to much Christian Television or Radio. It grieves me. So much of what I hear is just milk...pap....empty. Jon told me he was listening to a CD by a famous preacher, one both of us have loved for a long time. It got such that his preaching got so far from the truth that Paul tries to explain above that Jon threw the CD out the window.

I understand that. I have yelled at the radio driving in my car because of preaching that is so far from reality to be not only useless, but harmful.

IF we want to see signs and wonders on the earth, we first must preach the cross and Christ Crucified. Bloodless Christianity is also powerless.

I heard the Lord Say:

My people have fixed their eyes on things below and not on things above. They no longer see ME high and lifted up. They are focused on who THEY are and not who I AM. They no longer glory in the cross..they glory in the world. Wherever their hearts are, that is the kingdom of whom they are a citizen.

Paul agrees:
But God forbid that I should glory, save in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. Galatians 6:14

New season and realm is coming upon the Remnant by Chris Mckay

For some of you, the realm of darkness has been so intense with its warfare since the start of 2011.. Heaven is allowing for this darkness to keep rearing its head at you so your heart that is born from the Secret Place can begin to exercise,grow and rise up in its Rule and Reign that comes only through the image that the Heavenly Father has created you to be as his Beloved when you abide inside Jesus Christ..

Because we are in a new season with the Heavenly Fathers heart.. It is for the good if we embrace what can be formed out of the warfare that is coming against us through all the darkness.. The darkness is going to be nonstop for a reason, especially after April.. The darkness will get so intense all you can do is get inside the Secret Place in Jesus heart and stay there.. The darkness sees the threat that is starting to emerge from the Secret Place in its Rule and Reign through the Remnant who will allow for the Heavenly Fathers heart to dawn and rise through them as the Beloved in these end-times.. Those who are truly marked and sealed as the Beloved inside the womb of the Secret Place, will be the Precious Jewels to see the Heavenly Father rise on their behalf against the darkness as he covers them with his Sword of the Spirit and abiding Presence..

The Heavenly Father will also use the darkness at times to help push us into something new he is wanting to take us into with his heart.. A lot of the warfare can come through the transition process as we continue to hang onto the realms of the old where the Heavenly Father is wanting to lovingly push us out of it, so we can enter into the new.. So at times to help push us into the new, God allows for the darkness where it has been trying to hide in the old to begin manifesting and unveiling itself as the waters of his spirit begins to flush it out of being suppressed to where it was trying to hide under the cover of darkness.. That which you thought of being so familiar in the old starts to become your worst nightmare, as the darkness you were so familiar with through false self in the soul where you would try to hide with its masks begins to expose itself as the very thing that has been trying to abort who you really are as the Beloved that is born from the Secret Place in the Heavenly Fathers heart..

P.S The only realm that can show up with its Rule and Reign in the midst of darkness is the true image that is born from the Secret Place with the Heavenly Fathers heart. The power of God with his Kingdom authority doesn't show up at times because we have had a wrong perspective and belief of who we think Jesus is that we form in the mind through false self in a religious spirit in the soul out of its familiarity that we can control on our terms.. The Heavenly Father cant back up a distorted and defiled impure image formed from religion in the mind and soul outside of the Secret Place that is not of his spiritual Kingdom DNA.. The Heavenly Father only backs up the word with his sword of the spirit that is formed from his presence inside the Secret Place in oneness to the true image as the Beloved as you abide inside Jesus Christ.. Trying to take on a realm of darkness with the authority of Jesus while still sleeping with the enemy in its realm of darkness through false self in a religious spirit that is formed outside the Secret Place from the carnal culture and image of the world just wont cut it in these end-times, and the darkness will begin to overtake you through your lack of truly abiding inside Jesus Christ.. The darkness recognizes true authority from the Kingdom of Heaven when the enemy sees you abiding inside Jesus heart in the Secret Place in oneness to the Heavenly Fathers presence.. It is then that the power of God with his Authority which is connected to the Heavenly Fathers heart can show up mightily as a confronting standard to put the darkness under your feet as a footstool > as to back up the image of who Jesus Christ is with his Rule and Reign as you abide inside the Secret Place through intimacy with his Holy Spirit in your true image as the Beloved.

Remembering Calvary - a vision by David Smith

Saturday, April 23, 2011 at 8:09am

One of the most heart-rending visions that the Lord has ever showed me was a vision of Calvary. In the vision, I knew that it was just moments from the time that our Lord cried out, "It is finished!". Oh, how my tears flowed - even now, the tears gather in my eyes.

I believe the Lord allowed me to glimpse the scene as it actually happened. Below is the vision.

The first thing I saw was the sky. The sun was setting, the darkness was gathering, and the sky was turning red with the setting of the sun. In the distance was Calvary - I am so thankful that the Lord did not show me a close up view of the crucifiction of Jesus. I saw the crosses where they were crucified, Jesus & the others with him. Below the crosses, starting to disappear into the darkness, were the people that were watching.

And then, the Lord showed me more.

Gathered all around, and above, the hill where Jesus was - there was the demonic horde. I don't know if ever devil spirit in existence was there, but there were thousands - the darkness of their presence hung like an oppressive cloud all around the area where Jesus was moments away from death. There was dark celebration, gloating, and glee. The devil's army had defeated the Son of God - they were glorying in the sight of the messiah hanging on a tree. The celebration was sickening.

But the demonic horde was worried. They kept glancing upward. They kept looking around. There was fear in the demonic darkess & air.

And then, the Lord showed me more.

Up in the sky, above the entire terrible scene, there were heavenly angels - watching.

I don't know if every one of Heaven's angels were present - but there were thousands of them. They far out-numbered the demonic horde below - there was twice as many. But, they simply watched the scene below. I sensed the sadness, the anguish, & the anger at what they were watching. I sensed how the angels of heaven felt as they watched the Son of God crucified below.

But, there was more.

They had gathered to watch the scene below. For thousands of years they had fought the demonic horde to bring the world to this moment. They were seeing the promise fulfilled from the promise that was made. The heavenly angels were watching as HISTORY unfolded before their eyes. They were seeing the Word of God happen just as their God had said. But, it was still hard to watch - knowing the Son of God would soon be dead.

It was even harder for the angels to stand at a distance and see Jesus beaten, tormented, humiliated, and mocked.

But, for now, they simply waited - and watched.

And below, the demonic horde continued to celebrate - and worry.

Why did not the angels of heaven rescue their Saviour? Why did they not come to save the Son of God from impending death? The demonic army tried to completely surround the area - to keep the angels of heaven from getting to the Son of God - but the fallen angels of the devil could not understand WHY there was no rescue... WHY they simply WATCHED!

But, then, the demonic horde forgot about their fear. They looked back at the pathetic little man hanging on the cross and laughed & cheered. They had won! The Son of God had died! They had killed him - and the demonic horde cheered!

And the angels above watched - as did their God.

And the vision faded.

We know the rest of the story - now, you know what really happened at Calvary.

A prophetic vision from the Cross - The Price Paid in Eternity

Consider the view from the Cross. In Jesus eyes. In the pain. In the torment.

There was a time as He suffered when the glory set before Him by which He could endure the pain was obscured. There was a time when He became all the sin for you, for me, for all. The torment of death by sin was transferred...in that moment.....when He really needed the Father His eyes could no longer see Him. Doing what He sees the Father do no longer was His response. He was alone, dying, in pain, in more agony from ALL the guilt and curse of sin that He cried out..."MY GOD....MY GOD....Why have you forsaken me"? How long did that go on? How much pain was there?

Some accuse Catholics of crucifying Jesus over and over and over. Yet, in eternity, He is. Jesus died for your sins. He did pay the price, is paying the price as your intercessor and upon your death will demonstrate that the price is paid by presenting you as perfect not in your flesh but in your sanctified state by His blood.

The despair that Jesus felt for that moment of abandonment was sheer terror; a prospect that He might NEVER again have unity with the Father. This is a mystery..yet a truth.

I submit it was an eternity. Is still an eternity. When we sin today, that is at once transferred to that eternal payment moment in eternity, that eternal moment of abandonment, all sin laid on Him. Since in the timelessness of eternity Jesus is NOW crucified and sitting on the throne as Man King God right now and the slain lamb is there. The picture of that truth is in Revelation 5. A man on the throne yet at the same time a slain lamb. JESUS in the Moment

Yet Jesus proclaims...It IS Finished...in our time.

So for us it IS finished - Sin and Death are conquered and satan is defeated.

In time and eternally.

Glory