Friday, April 30, 2004
Mark1:7 And he was preaching, and saying, "After me One is coming who is mightier than I, and I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals.
Some old thoughts:
The activity:
Preaching should be preparatory to people meeting with God in ministry time, or repentance and salvation, or healing, or prophetic ministry. “After me…”
What the Lord can do after the preaching may be more powerful than what the preaching did. “One … Who is mightier than I…”
The place:
Humility is the result of the wilderness, the fullness and leading of the Spirit. The wilderness tries our fears, our lusts, our ambitions, our motives. Only the wilderness could produce this type of prophetic voice.
The harshness of the wilderness – the quickness of bloom of desert flower and the transitory nature of the same equips and instructs the transitional man.
The person:
Blessed is the person who knows that he is a transitional figure. It is important for us to know when we are in a transitional time. Many of us get attached to “a time” or “season” of God’s moving and can’t move on. That is why the previous move always tends to persecute the immediate activity of God.
Blessed is the person, or movement, who honors the next move more than his own ministry when the next ministry actually arrives! It is one thing to prophesy it. It’s another thing to actually honor it when it is there and the emphasis of God shifts. Are we content, then, to fall into rank? Are we so attached to the message of the wilderness (the preparatory time) that we can’t make the transition?
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Some old thoughts:
The activity:
Preaching should be preparatory to people meeting with God in ministry time, or repentance and salvation, or healing, or prophetic ministry. “After me…”
What the Lord can do after the preaching may be more powerful than what the preaching did. “One … Who is mightier than I…”
The place:
Humility is the result of the wilderness, the fullness and leading of the Spirit. The wilderness tries our fears, our lusts, our ambitions, our motives. Only the wilderness could produce this type of prophetic voice.
The harshness of the wilderness – the quickness of bloom of desert flower and the transitory nature of the same equips and instructs the transitional man.
The person:
Blessed is the person who knows that he is a transitional figure. It is important for us to know when we are in a transitional time. Many of us get attached to “a time” or “season” of God’s moving and can’t move on. That is why the previous move always tends to persecute the immediate activity of God.
Blessed is the person, or movement, who honors the next move more than his own ministry when the next ministry actually arrives! It is one thing to prophesy it. It’s another thing to actually honor it when it is there and the emphasis of God shifts. Are we content, then, to fall into rank? Are we so attached to the message of the wilderness (the preparatory time) that we can’t make the transition?
Thursday, April 29, 2004
The Importance of Being Earnest
Paul & company wrote the new-born Thessalonian community a letter containing exhortation, explanation and emotional openness.
In this epistle we find a key to understanding how the pastoral care of a congregation continued even when the apostles were not present.
Apostolic follow up included prayer.
Paul described his team’s intercessory activity for the Thessalonian believers:
“… we night and day keep praying most earnestly …” (1 Thessalonians 3:10)
The New American Standard uses the word ‘earnestly’ to describe the state of Paul’s soul. The Greek allows for this description of the quality of soul, but there is another meaning of this word.
This Greek word describes the quantity as well as the quality of prayer. It’s utilized to emphasize the amount as well as the degree of intensity.
He prayed with intensity, yes. He also prayed a lot. Paul was praying ‘night and day.’
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Paul & company wrote the new-born Thessalonian community a letter containing exhortation, explanation and emotional openness.
In this epistle we find a key to understanding how the pastoral care of a congregation continued even when the apostles were not present.
Apostolic follow up included prayer.
Paul described his team’s intercessory activity for the Thessalonian believers:
“… we night and day keep praying most earnestly …” (1 Thessalonians 3:10)
The New American Standard uses the word ‘earnestly’ to describe the state of Paul’s soul. The Greek allows for this description of the quality of soul, but there is another meaning of this word.
This Greek word describes the quantity as well as the quality of prayer. It’s utilized to emphasize the amount as well as the degree of intensity.
He prayed with intensity, yes. He also prayed a lot. Paul was praying ‘night and day.’
Tuesday, April 27, 2004
Persist, pray, prevail!
We are at war. In Daniel 10 we get inspired testimony of demonic opposition to God's purposes.
Jesus's parable of persistence in Luke 18:1-8 records the words "Give me justice against my adversary! ... but when the Son of Man comes will there be faith in the earth?" The oppressed remnant is to exercise their faith throughout this age. This is manifest in persistent prayer for vindication against the adversary.
We have been informed that we are not "ignorant of the devil's schemes" (2 Corinthians 2:11). Nobody is exempt from spiritual warfare. (1 Peter 5:8,9). The enemy opposes the "knowledge of God" (2 Corinthians 10:4,5). What can we know about them and their devices?
In Deuteronomy 32:8,9 we read that the nations were divided according to the sons of God (LXX), but Israel belongs to YHVH. The nations were placed under the custody of the angelic realm. These principalities perverted their stewardship. They were empowered to rule, the nations worshipped them!
From Ephesians 2:12-19 we know that although the Gentiles are strangers to God. Yet, when redeemed, they are fellow citizens of God's kingdom along with the Israel of God (believing Jews -- Galatians 6:16).
The enemy has no "legal right" to oppress God's redeemed transnational people. In fact, this united "people" has been called into existence to display God's wisdom to the "rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 3:10,11).
In Daniel 10 the angelic forces that ruled Persia and Greece, who opposed God's will, are exposed to the faithful reader. (They are typical of all other principalities and powers that are not specifically unmasked.) YHVH decreed Israel's restoration and the revelation of His purposes to His prophet (Daniel 10:12-14,20,21). These principalities sought to delay or halt God's purposes -- to further their own! This is what they are like. This is what they do. Like Daniel, we must persist in prayer until they are overcome.
Paul instructed the Ephesian community that our protracted struggle is not against flesh and blood (i.e. humanity, human structures), but against wicked spirits (Ephesians 6:10-12). We are at war against every describable level of satanic opposition.
Describing the struggle, Paul wrote that these beings oppose the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 4:4; 10:3-6). The apostle claimed that as God's people we can "demolish" these "strongholds" through the effective use of holy spiritual weaponry!
All these were created by God through the Messiah (Colossions 1:16). God created them and they are under Messiah's feet now (Ephesians 1:20-23)! They are part of things in heaven, on earth and under the earth that will bow at the name of Jesus at the final judgment (Philippians 2:6-10,11).
These beings are evil. Right now they are opposing God. In 1 Corinthians 2:8 we find they have authority in this world through human rulers and institutions (Revelation 13). They are partly responsible for Jesus's crucifixion.
They are similar to the Devil. They are under the authority of Satan (Revelation 12:9) and seek to alienate men from God (Ephesians 2:2), to trap men and to bring them to hell (2 Timothy 2:26), making them miserable when they are alive (John 10:10).
They can be overcome (James 4:6,7; 1 John 2:13; Revelation 12:11)! We need the armor of God in order to effectively stand against them (Ephesians 6:11,13).
The Messiah has guaranteed us protection from, and authority over, the enemy as we are involved with His work (Luke 10:20, 21). One snare to avoid is being distracted from our devotion to the Most High (2 Corinthians 11:3).
Remember, the enemy is not the focus of our lives. Doing the commandments of God are the focus of our lives (love the Lord, love the brethren, love the lost, seek first the Kingdom of God, etc.)!
Paul wrote that God would actively strengthen and protect His people (2 Thessalonians 3:3).
The Messiah is building His people. He promised that the schemes, and barriers of hell will not prevail against us (Matthew 16:18)! God will crush Satan underneath our feet (Romans 16:20)!
These are the scriptures cited:
1. Luke 18:1-8
2. 2 Corinthians 2:11
3. Peter 5:8,9
4. 2 Corinthians 10:4,5
5. Deuteronomy 32:8,9 (LXX),
6. Ephesians 2:12-19
7. Galatians 6:16
8. Ephesians 3:10,11
9. Daniel 10:12-14,20,21
10. Ephesians 6:10-12
11. 2 Corinthians 4:4; 10:3-6
12. Ephesians 1:20-23
13. Philippians 2:6-10,11
14. 1 Corinthians 2:8
15. Revelation 13
16. Revelation 12:9
17. Ephesians 2:2
18. Timothy 2:26
19. John 10:10
20. James 4:6,7
21. John 2:13
22. Revelation 12:11
23. Ephesians 6:11,13
24. Luke 10:20, 21
25. 2 Corinthians 11:3
26. Thessalonians 3:3
27. Matthew 16:18
28. Romans 16:20
29. Luke 11:5-11
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We are at war. In Daniel 10 we get inspired testimony of demonic opposition to God's purposes.
Jesus's parable of persistence in Luke 18:1-8 records the words "Give me justice against my adversary! ... but when the Son of Man comes will there be faith in the earth?" The oppressed remnant is to exercise their faith throughout this age. This is manifest in persistent prayer for vindication against the adversary.
We have been informed that we are not "ignorant of the devil's schemes" (2 Corinthians 2:11). Nobody is exempt from spiritual warfare. (1 Peter 5:8,9). The enemy opposes the "knowledge of God" (2 Corinthians 10:4,5). What can we know about them and their devices?
In Deuteronomy 32:8,9 we read that the nations were divided according to the sons of God (LXX), but Israel belongs to YHVH. The nations were placed under the custody of the angelic realm. These principalities perverted their stewardship. They were empowered to rule, the nations worshipped them!
From Ephesians 2:12-19 we know that although the Gentiles are strangers to God. Yet, when redeemed, they are fellow citizens of God's kingdom along with the Israel of God (believing Jews -- Galatians 6:16).
The enemy has no "legal right" to oppress God's redeemed transnational people. In fact, this united "people" has been called into existence to display God's wisdom to the "rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 3:10,11).
In Daniel 10 the angelic forces that ruled Persia and Greece, who opposed God's will, are exposed to the faithful reader. (They are typical of all other principalities and powers that are not specifically unmasked.) YHVH decreed Israel's restoration and the revelation of His purposes to His prophet (Daniel 10:12-14,20,21). These principalities sought to delay or halt God's purposes -- to further their own! This is what they are like. This is what they do. Like Daniel, we must persist in prayer until they are overcome.
Paul instructed the Ephesian community that our protracted struggle is not against flesh and blood (i.e. humanity, human structures), but against wicked spirits (Ephesians 6:10-12). We are at war against every describable level of satanic opposition.
Describing the struggle, Paul wrote that these beings oppose the knowledge of God (2 Corinthians 4:4; 10:3-6). The apostle claimed that as God's people we can "demolish" these "strongholds" through the effective use of holy spiritual weaponry!
All these were created by God through the Messiah (Colossions 1:16). God created them and they are under Messiah's feet now (Ephesians 1:20-23)! They are part of things in heaven, on earth and under the earth that will bow at the name of Jesus at the final judgment (Philippians 2:6-10,11).
These beings are evil. Right now they are opposing God. In 1 Corinthians 2:8 we find they have authority in this world through human rulers and institutions (Revelation 13). They are partly responsible for Jesus's crucifixion.
They are similar to the Devil. They are under the authority of Satan (Revelation 12:9) and seek to alienate men from God (Ephesians 2:2), to trap men and to bring them to hell (2 Timothy 2:26), making them miserable when they are alive (John 10:10).
They can be overcome (James 4:6,7; 1 John 2:13; Revelation 12:11)! We need the armor of God in order to effectively stand against them (Ephesians 6:11,13).
The Messiah has guaranteed us protection from, and authority over, the enemy as we are involved with His work (Luke 10:20, 21). One snare to avoid is being distracted from our devotion to the Most High (2 Corinthians 11:3).
Remember, the enemy is not the focus of our lives. Doing the commandments of God are the focus of our lives (love the Lord, love the brethren, love the lost, seek first the Kingdom of God, etc.)!
Paul wrote that God would actively strengthen and protect His people (2 Thessalonians 3:3).
The Messiah is building His people. He promised that the schemes, and barriers of hell will not prevail against us (Matthew 16:18)! God will crush Satan underneath our feet (Romans 16:20)!
These are the scriptures cited:
1. Luke 18:1-8
2. 2 Corinthians 2:11
3. Peter 5:8,9
4. 2 Corinthians 10:4,5
5. Deuteronomy 32:8,9 (LXX),
6. Ephesians 2:12-19
7. Galatians 6:16
8. Ephesians 3:10,11
9. Daniel 10:12-14,20,21
10. Ephesians 6:10-12
11. 2 Corinthians 4:4; 10:3-6
12. Ephesians 1:20-23
13. Philippians 2:6-10,11
14. 1 Corinthians 2:8
15. Revelation 13
16. Revelation 12:9
17. Ephesians 2:2
18. Timothy 2:26
19. John 10:10
20. James 4:6,7
21. John 2:13
22. Revelation 12:11
23. Ephesians 6:11,13
24. Luke 10:20, 21
25. 2 Corinthians 11:3
26. Thessalonians 3:3
27. Matthew 16:18
28. Romans 16:20
29. Luke 11:5-11
Monday, April 26, 2004
is this sick or what?
http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040425/D82633UO0.html
"Look at the pictures, look at the pictures," shouted abortion opponents, holding up big posters showing a fetus at eight weeks.
"Lies, lies," marchers shouted back.
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http://apnews.myway.com/article/20040425/D82633UO0.html
"Look at the pictures, look at the pictures," shouted abortion opponents, holding up big posters showing a fetus at eight weeks.
"Lies, lies," marchers shouted back.
Saturday, April 24, 2004
We believe the Lord has told us that He was going to both contend for and defend the voice of our community – His voice in our midst.
Our prayer strategy has been implemented again:
a. the prophetic word in ‘triplicate’
b. the ‘word’ being discerned by the government of our fellowship as valid
c. receiving a prayer strategy and releasing it to the Harp&Bowl intercessory worship meetings.
The section of Scripture we used in praying for this Sunday is 2 Thessalonians 3:1-3 –
1 Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you; 2 and that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.
Probably Monday, I’ll share about this section of enscriptured prayer.
We are expecting the Lord to increase His dominion through His word being released to us, tomorrow.
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Our prayer strategy has been implemented again:
a. the prophetic word in ‘triplicate’
b. the ‘word’ being discerned by the government of our fellowship as valid
c. receiving a prayer strategy and releasing it to the Harp&Bowl intercessory worship meetings.
The section of Scripture we used in praying for this Sunday is 2 Thessalonians 3:1-3 –
1 Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you; 2 and that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.
Probably Monday, I’ll share about this section of enscriptured prayer.
We are expecting the Lord to increase His dominion through His word being released to us, tomorrow.
Friday, April 23, 2004
Interpretation of Prophetic Data 1
Consonants Without Vowels
Biblical and modern Hebrew has no written vowels. Originally, Biblical Hebrew had no spaces between the letters. Reading and interpreting it often depended upon its context. It is like looking at GDSNWHR.
When we add vowels it can look like:
GoDiSNoWHeRe
Then one has to determine whether or not those vowels spell:
GoD iS NoW HeRe
or
GoD iS NoWHeRe
It depends on the perspective. Maybe the vowels are wrong and it’s supposed to read…
GooD SoN, WHeRe?
Not only one’s perspective counts, the context of the consonants count, too.
Maybe the consonants are supposed to say…
Go Do SiN. WHeRe?
or
“Go Do SiN,” We HeaR?
If the context of these consonants appearing is a meeting where the Lord shows up, these consonants gdsnwhr would probably best be interpreted as:
GoD iS NoW HeRe!
In the same way these consonants can be interpreted or misinterpreted, so we must often rely on context when we are seeking to discern a vision, word or impression.
For instance if someone has a vision of a boot and reports it in a meeting, how can you know what it might mean? It may depend upon the context of the meeting.
Maybe you’re supposed to pray for Italy.
Maybe you’re supposed to pray for someone to fill somebody else’s shoes, or perhaps the Lord is speaking evangelism.
Maybe somebody needs boots because it’s cold and there’s GooD SNoW HeRe.
Some other alternatives: gdsnwhr
GuiDe iS NoW HeRe
GuiDe uS NoWHeRe
aGeD SNoW HaiR
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Consonants Without Vowels
Biblical and modern Hebrew has no written vowels. Originally, Biblical Hebrew had no spaces between the letters. Reading and interpreting it often depended upon its context. It is like looking at GDSNWHR.
When we add vowels it can look like:
GoDiSNoWHeRe
Then one has to determine whether or not those vowels spell:
GoD iS NoW HeRe
or
GoD iS NoWHeRe
It depends on the perspective. Maybe the vowels are wrong and it’s supposed to read…
GooD SoN, WHeRe?
Not only one’s perspective counts, the context of the consonants count, too.
Maybe the consonants are supposed to say…
Go Do SiN. WHeRe?
or
“Go Do SiN,” We HeaR?
If the context of these consonants appearing is a meeting where the Lord shows up, these consonants gdsnwhr would probably best be interpreted as:
GoD iS NoW HeRe!
In the same way these consonants can be interpreted or misinterpreted, so we must often rely on context when we are seeking to discern a vision, word or impression.
For instance if someone has a vision of a boot and reports it in a meeting, how can you know what it might mean? It may depend upon the context of the meeting.
Maybe you’re supposed to pray for Italy.
Maybe you’re supposed to pray for someone to fill somebody else’s shoes, or perhaps the Lord is speaking evangelism.
Maybe somebody needs boots because it’s cold and there’s GooD SNoW HeRe.
Some other alternatives: gdsnwhr
GuiDe iS NoW HeRe
GuiDe uS NoWHeRe
aGeD SNoW HaiR
Thursday, April 22, 2004
“I WANT IT PAINTED BLACK”
Religious Spirit 1:
The other month we had an intense encounter with a religious spirit operating through a person who came in off the street. In the time he was there, we were treated to a whirlwind of confusion and accusation.
1. The first thing he did was lie about his intentions: “I’m here to learn.”
2. He then said, “Please correct me if I’m wrong.” But this was false humility. (He was not open to correction or instruction. He had unique private interpretations of the Scriptures that he thought were absolute truth.)
3. He began talking to us haughtily putting down other ministries, looking for agreement.
4. His expressed perspective was that they don’t do enough for God, neither do you.
5. Then he displayed a great appreciation for God’s wrath, “God is not just a God of love.”
6. After he sat for a while, when we paused, he attacked praise and intercession – “That’s not real worship.”
7. Then he sought to usurp authority, seeking to wrest the leadership from the meeting.
8. He proclaimed that when Isaiah spoke of “the Holy One”, the prophet was referring to the Scriptures. He told us, “The Word is God.”
9. Resisting correction and feigning openness he then shared some other kooky interpretation of the Scriptures. When we interacted with what he said, he rejected the plain meaning of the text.
10. Then he attacked the leader’s authority.
11. Then he accused the leader of viewing himself as infallible.
12. When others tried to reason with him, he attacked them, accusing them of being dominated by the leader.
13. Then he returned to disqualifying the leader because of the stand against Islamic terror he had heard in one of our meetings.
14. As he was preparing to leave he attacked our ‘worldliness’, making plain that, “Things that are pleasurable are not good for you.” He was using food as an example of this. He told us that eating anything but unleavened bread and water should be forbidden. “The reason things taste good is because they’re poison.”
15. As he was leaving he testified to having a unique spiritual witness – a burning sensation in him. This subjective manifestation confirmed for him the rightness of his position.
16. As he left he manifested intense anger towards me.
This was a very sad encounter. It was only afterwards that we recognized it was a pure manifestation of the religious spirit we’ve encountered over the last 25 years.
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Religious Spirit 1:
The other month we had an intense encounter with a religious spirit operating through a person who came in off the street. In the time he was there, we were treated to a whirlwind of confusion and accusation.
1. The first thing he did was lie about his intentions: “I’m here to learn.”
2. He then said, “Please correct me if I’m wrong.” But this was false humility. (He was not open to correction or instruction. He had unique private interpretations of the Scriptures that he thought were absolute truth.)
3. He began talking to us haughtily putting down other ministries, looking for agreement.
4. His expressed perspective was that they don’t do enough for God, neither do you.
5. Then he displayed a great appreciation for God’s wrath, “God is not just a God of love.”
6. After he sat for a while, when we paused, he attacked praise and intercession – “That’s not real worship.”
7. Then he sought to usurp authority, seeking to wrest the leadership from the meeting.
8. He proclaimed that when Isaiah spoke of “the Holy One”, the prophet was referring to the Scriptures. He told us, “The Word is God.”
9. Resisting correction and feigning openness he then shared some other kooky interpretation of the Scriptures. When we interacted with what he said, he rejected the plain meaning of the text.
10. Then he attacked the leader’s authority.
11. Then he accused the leader of viewing himself as infallible.
12. When others tried to reason with him, he attacked them, accusing them of being dominated by the leader.
13. Then he returned to disqualifying the leader because of the stand against Islamic terror he had heard in one of our meetings.
14. As he was preparing to leave he attacked our ‘worldliness’, making plain that, “Things that are pleasurable are not good for you.” He was using food as an example of this. He told us that eating anything but unleavened bread and water should be forbidden. “The reason things taste good is because they’re poison.”
15. As he was leaving he testified to having a unique spiritual witness – a burning sensation in him. This subjective manifestation confirmed for him the rightness of his position.
16. As he left he manifested intense anger towards me.
This was a very sad encounter. It was only afterwards that we recognized it was a pure manifestation of the religious spirit we’ve encountered over the last 25 years.
