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One of my experiences in doing great exploits in confidence, feeling the sense of God's presence, and being so excited, grateful, zealous… is that if something goes wrong, the air suddenly goes out of the balloon and intimidation of the atmosphere or the fear of men takes center stage. Being bold enough to say "yes" to our mountain has an unexpected implication. We become much larger targets for spiritual warfare. For the first time the accusations of giants are pointed directly at us! When Goliath taunted Israel and David, it naturally sparked fear.
We have been emphasizing that those who have truly received Christ have been recreated with a new life source, one which originates in God, carrying His essence and quality. As the Lord said through Paul: "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come. Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ" (2 Cor. 5:17-18). This thoroughly coincides with what Jesus Himself said: "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly" (John 10:10). Today, let's look at what Jesus said more closely. Those with the resources of the church have repeatedly been made aware of the emphases on the words "life" (zoe) and "abundantly" (perissos).
The Lord has been speaking to me recently about the day of Pentecost, the birthday of the church. As the disciples were gathered together in the upper room, waiting for the promise of the Father, God's Spirit was poured out upon them and released dunamis power in each of their lives. The pouring out of God's Spirit on the day of Pentecost reveals three distinct experiences the disciples had on that day and that we can have, also. First, a violent wind filled the house where the disciples were gathered together. This breath or wind is symbolic of the Spirit of God. Ezekiel 37 tells the story of the prophet's vision of a valley of dry bones that came together when the breath of God entered into them.
Go where I (Papa) send you. Your obedience will be rewarded. Go where I send you, for there is a higher purpose than you can see. As you engage with My instructions, more doors will begin to open. They will remain shut until you take steps towards them. My favor will go with you. You don't have to be afraid of missing it...no, not at all. For you are not alone; I am with you! I am a good Father, and I will make sure you have everything you need to succeed at this, only move forward in faith. Not everything will be picture-perfect clear. If that was the case, then there would be no need for faith, there would be no need for Me.
I had a dream last night where I heard the Lord saying that the people of God are about to enter into knowing a new level of grace and empowerment for the new PACE, SPACE and PLACE. The sense surrounded me in the dream and as I woke about a transition that is taking place in the body of Christ right now where the Lord is moving His people who have given Him their surrendered "YES" into new SPACES, PLACES and PACES. As I awoke the Lord spoke to me about the people of God being awakened to a new level of empowerment, strength and ease that is found in His grace.
A Jew, a Rabbi, and a Christian walk into a bar... What would once be the opening of a great joke - well, is not the great opener it once was...why? In the last few years there has become a great awakening or awareness into the religious beliefs and differences because of the wide spread use and daily consumption of social media. Social media is allowing everyone to have a voice, and every voice has some level of influence to all that hear it.
Jesus said, "My words are spirit and they are life" (John 6:63). Think about that for a minute. The words of Jesus were unlike any other words ever spoken. When the Bible says that "man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the LORD" (Deuteronomy 8:3), it likens the Word of God to spirit food. It feeds our spiritual man just like natural food feeds our bodies. This is how we become partakers of the divine nature. This is how we become "the Word made flesh" in our world (John 1:14).
One of the most powerful ways we can "turn the tide" of what is going on in our lives and the things going on around us is through our surrendered worship. Maybe you feel like the tide is against you right now. Realize that you can turn the tide through your simplicity of worship to the Lord. It does not need to be a big display, but it does need to be fresh. Through the spirit of worship we are able to access the realms of glory where revelation flows. (Revelation 19:10) When revelation flows there is truth present that has the power to make you free. You shall "know" the truth and the truth shall make you free. (John 8:31) The Word of God is truth but it needs to be accompanied with the spirit of revelation.
The prophet Ezekiel speaks of proper Wheel Alignment; "As to the appearance of the wheels and their construction: in appearance they gleamed like chrysolite; and the four were formed alike, and their construction work was as it were a wheel within a wheel." (Ezekiel 1:16) "Wherever the Spirit went, the creatures went and the wheels rose along with them, for the spirit or life of the [four living creatures acting as one] living creature was in the wheels. When those went, these went; and when those stood, these stood; and when those were lifted up from the earth, the wheels were lifted up high beside them, for the spirit or life of the [combined] living creature was in the wheels." (Ezekiel 1:20-21 Amplified Bible) To Align is a verb, an action word. Alignment is all about our actions, our lifestyle, not just the way we think, but what we actually DO.
A girl, bound and gagged, was thrown into a deep pit. She was about to give up all hope when a rock climber propelled down to her, untied her ropes, and brought her back to the surface. "It's going to be OK," he said, carrying her to the safety of the waiting helicopter. "You're going to be OK. I've got you." Way too often we feel like the girl in this story. The things of this world have a way of oppressing us to such an extent that we only see the darkness (fear, hatred, loss and violence) instead of the light (love, hope and peace) that God offers. But God is like the rock climber – always ready to extend His saving grace toward us. We are more than conquerors, because we have been given everything needed to overcome all attacks of the enemy…
