There is a hunger for more. A cry for God's power and might.
A yearning for what many call 'revival' .
The enemy, it appears to many,
has come in like a flood. The waters are rising.
When will God raise up a standard against?
What will he do? How will he do it?
When you did terrible things that we looked not for,
you came down... Isaiah 64.3
Years ago when I was seeing signs from the Lord
that he in fact was planning a mighty 'move' of the Spirit,
the word 'revolution' was dropped into my spirit.
When this was given to me it was actually just bare bones.
The word 'revolution' and then three words:
repentance,
revival,
and restoration.
I understood at this time that these three R's signified
three different and distinct phases of spiritual revolution.
So what were looking at here is more than revival.
It has been said that 'we are past the point of revival'.
Something more is needed.
The 'more' is contained in the understanding of revolution:
earth shaking,
mind shattering,
heartbreaking,
life transforming- revolution.
Revival is talked about as though it were an end in itself.
We need to see it as part of a larger process.
Jesus didn't come to bring revival.
He said that no stone would be left upon another
and in the new creation this has been accomplished on every level.
No, the fire he sent in the earth was the fire of a mighty revolution..
I am come to send fire in the earth...Luke 12.49
So after I got the bare bones of this I was led to more,
given more light and revelation so as to flesh it out.
It was years later that it dawned on me that the passage
in second Chronicles describes this very process.
If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray
and turn from their wicked ways (repentance),
I will hear from heaven (revival)
and forgive their sin and turn and heal their land (restorationn).
2 Chronicles 7.14
Yes,we are going to see dramatic change.
God is indeed going to do things we looked not for.
He is going to do exceedingly abundantly above anything
we can think or even ask.
And when it is all said and done we will see that he did indeed
fulfill our great expectations. The God of promise
becomes for us the God of fulfillment.
And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God;
we have waited for him, and he will save us:
this is the LORD; we have waited for him,
we will be glad and rejoice in his salvation. Isaiah 25:9 KJV
Wednesday, September 28, 2011
Friday, September 23, 2011
More Than Words
Even the Gospel has no effect upon me
until his hand is stretched out.
Spurgeon.
God never intended to send his servants forth
into the world with words alone.
No, there are two witnesses that come from heaven-
the Word and the Spirit.
And these two are always found working in conjunction.
They could no more be separated in their working
than the light could come forth from the sun without heat.
...nothing is hidden from its heat.
Psalm 19.6
The most respected Charles Spurgeon bears witness
that words alone don't cut it.
The good news must be accompanied
with the right hand of God's own strength.
For the kingdom Of god is not in word
but in power.
1 Corinthians 4.20
He asks and answers the question,
"Is not what we need...
...the Holy Spirit that dwells within us..."
David cried out to the Lord-
My soul clings to the dust.
Psalm 119.25
And there is another respected and notable
tabernacle of witness, Andrew Murray, that speaks to us.
When writing in his book,The Two Covenants,
he poses the question,
"Do we not need something more than
words and thoughts?”
'
...the flesh profits you nothing'. John 6.63
His soul, he found, was often drawn
to that which is worldly and sensual
and his flesh was bogged down as in a mire.
He knew that he needed a touch from God
and therefore he cried for the remedy.
Quicken me according to your word. Psalm 119
Jesus came recognizing the need of all mankind
and especially that of his servants to fulfill their work
according to their high and holy calling.
Murray cautioned-
The flesh and the spirit are mutually exclusive.
They are oil and water-they do not mix.
One does not help the other.
In fact one will crucify the other.
If we follow the Lord the flesh will be crucified.
And he said to them all,
If any man will come after me,
let him deny himself,
and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Luke 9.23
If we walk after the flesh the Lord will be.
....seeing they crucify to themselves
the Son of God afresh...
Hebrews 6.6
But God gives great grace to those who follow Jesus –
to those who set their hearts to keep his word.
Quicken me after thy lovingkindness;
so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.
Psalm 119.88
His testimonies are kept as we learn to receive
and walk in his grace and power.
But if the Spirit of him that raised up
Jesus from the dead dwell in you,
he that raised up Christ from the dead
shall also quicken your mortal bodies
by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Romans 8.11
until his hand is stretched out.
Spurgeon.
God never intended to send his servants forth
into the world with words alone.
No, there are two witnesses that come from heaven-
the Word and the Spirit.
And these two are always found working in conjunction.
They could no more be separated in their working
than the light could come forth from the sun without heat.
...nothing is hidden from its heat.
Psalm 19.6
The most respected Charles Spurgeon bears witness
that words alone don't cut it.
The good news must be accompanied
with the right hand of God's own strength.
For the kingdom Of god is not in word
but in power.
1 Corinthians 4.20
He asks and answers the question,
"Is not what we need...
...the Holy Spirit that dwells within us..."
David cried out to the Lord-
My soul clings to the dust.
Psalm 119.25
And there is another respected and notable
tabernacle of witness, Andrew Murray, that speaks to us.
When writing in his book,The Two Covenants,
he poses the question,
"Do we not need something more than
words and thoughts?”
'
...the flesh profits you nothing'. John 6.63
His soul, he found, was often drawn
to that which is worldly and sensual
and his flesh was bogged down as in a mire.
He knew that he needed a touch from God
and therefore he cried for the remedy.
Quicken me according to your word. Psalm 119
Jesus came recognizing the need of all mankind
and especially that of his servants to fulfill their work
according to their high and holy calling.
Murray cautioned-
The flesh and the spirit are mutually exclusive.
They are oil and water-they do not mix.
One does not help the other.
In fact one will crucify the other.
If we follow the Lord the flesh will be crucified.
And he said to them all,
If any man will come after me,
let him deny himself,
and take up his cross daily, and follow me.
Luke 9.23
If we walk after the flesh the Lord will be.
....seeing they crucify to themselves
the Son of God afresh...
Hebrews 6.6
But God gives great grace to those who follow Jesus –
to those who set their hearts to keep his word.
Quicken me after thy lovingkindness;
so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth.
Psalm 119.88
His testimonies are kept as we learn to receive
and walk in his grace and power.
But if the Spirit of him that raised up
Jesus from the dead dwell in you,
he that raised up Christ from the dead
shall also quicken your mortal bodies
by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Romans 8.11
Monday, September 19, 2011
The Church’s Finest Hour
The dawning of the church age, with the advent of the Spirit on Pentecost,was with glorious and colorful display of God’s power
and the truth as it is found in Christ Jesus.
Thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.
Psalm 65.8
And now at the end of the age the colorful displays, like that of the morning and the evenings’ joyful entrance and exit,
are going to be more and more evident.
God is making his salvation and power known.
As dramatically as at the first he comes now at the end of the age.
And these coming days as a result could indeed be our (the Church’s)
Finest hour.
Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD… Jeremiah 31.12
The call is going forth and many hearts are being touched.
There are many who are responding to the call
and drawing near in this hour.
Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple .
Psalm 65.4
And as many as draw near unto God are used of God
in the work of his Kingdom and power.
The day of “professional ministers” is swept away
as God raises up members of his body to work together
in the accomplishing of the work; people like you and me.
Everyone has their part and their place.
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part , maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. Ephesians 4.16
To those who believe and trust God doors are being opened that the Witness
might go forth even when doors are closed in a traditional system. And that which for a long time has been considered non-traditional or non- denominational is now become traditional and dead.
God is looking for new wines skins to hold this new wine of these latter days.
*********************
The Church’s Finest Hour- part 2
The word “church” is said to have derived from the Greek word Kuriakon:
meaning the Lord’s house.
(See Eaton’s Bible Dictionary)
But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we… Hebrews 3.6
We“the whole body of the redeemed, those whom the Father hath given to Christ, the invisilbe…church… ” are God’s house. (Eaton)
We who are saved through the sacrifice of the Lamb are become living tabernacles of the Holy Ghost, washed by the water of the word and cleansed through the blood of the everlasting covenant. Hebrews 13.20
Yes, we are the temple of God, the ecclesia, the called out ones.
…ye also are the called of Jesus Christ. Romans 1.6
And as the called of God we are given a lively hope with much to be fulfilled in this life and in this hour
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Romans 8.30
And there is a glory to be found on us even in this life.
And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel. Acts 6.15
Especially for those who standing up for truth in this hour and suffer persecution for their witness.
The king's daughter is all glorious within:
her clothing is of wrought gold. Psalm 45.13
O, yes there is a glory to be found within for as Jesus said,
"the Kingdom of God is witnin you."
If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye;
for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you:
on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
1 Peter 4.14
Yes, it is the finest hour of the church of Jesus Christ when she stands valiant for the truth and suffers for His name’s sake.
But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God… Acts 7.55
Through the scriptures, recording the colorful birth of the Church
in the age of the Apostles, we can get an idea of what God is looking for in this age as the sun begins to descend towards the horizon resplendently.
A friend of mine once told me that he pictured the church in the last days like a bright white spot on a dark and black background.
This still rings true for me.
Have you ever seen all the colors that make up 'white'?
And scripture confirms as well.
For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. Isaiah 60.2
*****************************
The Church’s Finest Hour: part 3
For the LORD will not forsake his people
for his great name’s sake:
because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.
1 Samuel. 12.22
Isn’t that awesome? Wow! It makes me want to shout!
We who have the inner workings of the Spirit of God have light within, and the Spirit bears witness of the truth in power.
Our eyes behold scripture that stirs a breathing,
an inspiration, as the Holy Ghost confirms and strengthens our hearts
in the redemption that flows though God’s own Son like a mighty river.
…thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God… Psalm 65.9
O halleluja!
Ah, we who were once not a people are now the people of God.
We who were once wandering aimless and hopeless through the wilderness
of this world are now made partakers.
We who were once so lost and broken and addicted are now immersed
into the very Body of Christ and are members one of another.
And God does not call us to build him a house,
He is building a house for us!
Furthermore I tell thee that the LORD will build thee an house. 1Chronicles 17.10
Has any such thing so great and glorious ever been imagined?
But now as we look to the image of Christ we find that all is exceedingly abundantly above anything that we could think or ask. (Ephesians 3.20)
The images of the world always disappoint- they always look better
than they turn out to be in actuality.
But the image of the invisible God always goes beyond expectation.
In fact, it is not even in us to expect so great things,
but we receive them by faith.
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things
that are freely given to us of God.
1 Corinthians 2.12
‘So great a salvation’ becomes ours as we seek him all our days.
...and serve him in truth with all your heart:
for consider how great things he hath done for you.
1 Samuel 12.24
and the truth as it is found in Christ Jesus.
Thou makest the outgoings of the morning and evening to rejoice.
Psalm 65.8
And now at the end of the age the colorful displays, like that of the morning and the evenings’ joyful entrance and exit,
are going to be more and more evident.
God is making his salvation and power known.
As dramatically as at the first he comes now at the end of the age.
And these coming days as a result could indeed be our (the Church’s)
Finest hour.
Therefore they shall come and sing in the height of Zion, and shall flow together to the goodness of the LORD… Jeremiah 31.12
The call is going forth and many hearts are being touched.
There are many who are responding to the call
and drawing near in this hour.
Blessed is the man whom thou choosest, and causest to approach unto thee, that he may dwell in thy courts: we shall be satisfied with the goodness of thy house, even of thy holy temple .
Psalm 65.4
And as many as draw near unto God are used of God
in the work of his Kingdom and power.
The day of “professional ministers” is swept away
as God raises up members of his body to work together
in the accomplishing of the work; people like you and me.
Everyone has their part and their place.
From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part , maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love. Ephesians 4.16
To those who believe and trust God doors are being opened that the Witness
might go forth even when doors are closed in a traditional system. And that which for a long time has been considered non-traditional or non- denominational is now become traditional and dead.
God is looking for new wines skins to hold this new wine of these latter days.
*********************
The Church’s Finest Hour- part 2
The word “church” is said to have derived from the Greek word Kuriakon:
meaning the Lord’s house.
(See Eaton’s Bible Dictionary)
But Christ as a son over his own house; whose house are we… Hebrews 3.6
We“the whole body of the redeemed, those whom the Father hath given to Christ, the invisilbe…church… ” are God’s house. (Eaton)
We who are saved through the sacrifice of the Lamb are become living tabernacles of the Holy Ghost, washed by the water of the word and cleansed through the blood of the everlasting covenant. Hebrews 13.20
Yes, we are the temple of God, the ecclesia, the called out ones.
…ye also are the called of Jesus Christ. Romans 1.6
And as the called of God we are given a lively hope with much to be fulfilled in this life and in this hour
Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified. Romans 8.30
And there is a glory to be found on us even in this life.
And all that sat in the council, looking stedfastly on him, saw his face as it had been the face of an angel. Acts 6.15
Especially for those who standing up for truth in this hour and suffer persecution for their witness.
The king's daughter is all glorious within:
her clothing is of wrought gold. Psalm 45.13
O, yes there is a glory to be found within for as Jesus said,
"the Kingdom of God is witnin you."
If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye;
for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you:
on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.
1 Peter 4.14
Yes, it is the finest hour of the church of Jesus Christ when she stands valiant for the truth and suffers for His name’s sake.
But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God… Acts 7.55
Through the scriptures, recording the colorful birth of the Church
in the age of the Apostles, we can get an idea of what God is looking for in this age as the sun begins to descend towards the horizon resplendently.
A friend of mine once told me that he pictured the church in the last days like a bright white spot on a dark and black background.
This still rings true for me.
Have you ever seen all the colors that make up 'white'?
And scripture confirms as well.
For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, and gross darkness the people: but the LORD shall arise upon thee, and his glory shall be seen upon thee. Isaiah 60.2
*****************************
The Church’s Finest Hour: part 3
For the LORD will not forsake his people
for his great name’s sake:
because it hath pleased the LORD to make you his people.
1 Samuel. 12.22
Isn’t that awesome? Wow! It makes me want to shout!
We who have the inner workings of the Spirit of God have light within, and the Spirit bears witness of the truth in power.
Our eyes behold scripture that stirs a breathing,
an inspiration, as the Holy Ghost confirms and strengthens our hearts
in the redemption that flows though God’s own Son like a mighty river.
…thou greatly enrichest it with the river of God… Psalm 65.9
O halleluja!
Ah, we who were once not a people are now the people of God.
We who were once wandering aimless and hopeless through the wilderness
of this world are now made partakers.
We who were once so lost and broken and addicted are now immersed
into the very Body of Christ and are members one of another.
And God does not call us to build him a house,
He is building a house for us!
Furthermore I tell thee that the LORD will build thee an house. 1Chronicles 17.10
Has any such thing so great and glorious ever been imagined?
But now as we look to the image of Christ we find that all is exceedingly abundantly above anything that we could think or ask. (Ephesians 3.20)
The images of the world always disappoint- they always look better
than they turn out to be in actuality.
But the image of the invisible God always goes beyond expectation.
In fact, it is not even in us to expect so great things,
but we receive them by faith.
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things
that are freely given to us of God.
1 Corinthians 2.12
‘So great a salvation’ becomes ours as we seek him all our days.
...and serve him in truth with all your heart:
for consider how great things he hath done for you.
1 Samuel 12.24
Friday, September 09, 2011
We have now come...
We are come to Mount Sion
a spiritual place upon which the light always shines.
We are come unto the city of the living God,
a city unlike any of human origin
wherein dwells crime and corruption
but truly a city of God
wherein dwells righteousness . nothing unclean can enter.
We have not come to a place desolate, remote, and far removed
but to one inhabited by an innumerable company of angels
and the saints of the Most High
where once we were not a people
now we are his people, the community of the redeemed
We have come to the grandest assemblage of living beings
that anyone could possibly imagine, no
beyond all possible imaginings
in this finite realm
And to the church of the firstborn
not a physical structure
but a chosen people washed in the blood of the Lamb
Finally, we are come to God the Judge of all men
The Fair and Gracious One
The Merciful
The Beautiful
The Almighty
And to those who have come before and passed through- triumphant
But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things that that of Abel.
Hebrews 12.22-24
a spiritual place upon which the light always shines.
We are come unto the city of the living God,
a city unlike any of human origin
wherein dwells crime and corruption
but truly a city of God
wherein dwells righteousness . nothing unclean can enter.
We have not come to a place desolate, remote, and far removed
but to one inhabited by an innumerable company of angels
and the saints of the Most High
where once we were not a people
now we are his people, the community of the redeemed
We have come to the grandest assemblage of living beings
that anyone could possibly imagine, no
beyond all possible imaginings
in this finite realm
And to the church of the firstborn
not a physical structure
but a chosen people washed in the blood of the Lamb
Finally, we are come to God the Judge of all men
The Fair and Gracious One
The Merciful
The Beautiful
The Almighty
And to those who have come before and passed through- triumphant
But ye are come unto mount Sion, and unto the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to an innumerable company of angels,
To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things that that of Abel.
Hebrews 12.22-24
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