All Saints Day 2011 Part 1

This year I had a rather peaceful All Saint's Day experience.  Though I had several experiences, at this point I feel the Lord has only given me revelation concerning one of them and would like to go ahead and release that one at this time.

During the course of the morning, the Holy Spirit spoke to me and said that the colors for the following year are Blue, Red and Orange.  As I didn’t have an immediate spiritual interpretation for the colors, I felt led to look up Bob Jones’ interpretation and use of colors in the past and the following is what I found...

Blue

“The blue was given in part to illustrate the release of the Spirit of Revelation in greater measure. The "rhema" revelation of the Word will be the food by which this group is sustained and upon which He will place His seal.

Our commission for this hour is to do "THE WORKS OF GOD," not merely the works of our own desires, thoughts and agendas. There is a prominent distinction. By virtue of the increase of the Spirit of Revelation delegated to us, we will see more clearly the thoughts and ways of the Father and do them likewise.”(Shepherds Rod 2002) 

Red

”This is a representation of God’s dual desire for us to apprehend greater understanding of the Lord’s sacrifice and the full redemptive power of His blood. It is also a symbolic portrayal of a present call to spiritual war. The “promise land” must be contended for.

A greater understanding of the divine life provided through the Lord's blood will be deposited in this army. We have scarcely touched the redemptive virtues provided through His sacrifice. The spirit of revelation will be imparted to this company, not only to understand, but also embody spiritual excellence.

They will be the virtues of the overcomers.

And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death. — Revelations 12:11

Victory is achieved through the blood of Jesus and the application of it to our spirit, soul, and body.” (Shepherds Rod 2005)

Orange

In Shepherds Rod 1999, Bob says that the color orange in an invitation from God for intimate relationship.  He also says that those that engage the Lord in intimate relationship will become… “dread champions that will begin to emerge during the course of this Season of the Spirit. These will be fearless warriors who have been with the Lord and are steadfast in their convictions. From this intimate companionship shall emerge a mighty army of fearless warriors that will begin to lead the church into deliverance and salvation .

The disciple John felt uninhibited to lay his head upon the very breast of God because of intimate fellowship and companionship that he had with the Lord. This is an example of the relationships that some will establish with the Lord during the course of this year.

At the last supper, even Peter recognized that John's relationship was so close to the Lord that he asked John to ask questions of the Lord. Those that attain this intimate companionship with the Lord will be able to inquire of the Lord and He will respond to their inquiry. (John 13:23-26)” 

My response to these words at this time is to take a faith and intercessory role and by praying and declaring the following...

• Blue: I pray that God would release the word of revelation that will allow us to increasingly walk out the works of God.

• Red: I pray that we would have revelation concerning the blood of Jesus in such a way that we would understand what was obtained through the sacrifice of Jesus and thus walk out in a victorious overcoming life.  I declare that we will increasingly understand that we have already been redeemed and reconciled by Christ's blood to God's original intent and purpose for our lives and we can now live life as children made in the image and likeness of God with access to the Father as though we had never sinned.

• Orange: I pray that we would have such an intimate relationship with God that we would display strength and take action because we know our God and that our intimate relationship with the Lord would be so self evident that those around would be attracted to that type of relationship with God.

Thank you to my friends who prayed for me during this season.  I hope to post more experiences in the near future when released!

Stay Close to the Coach!

Recently had a significant dream that has continued to resonate in my spirit as a word from the Lord.

In the dream, I was at a large school and there was going to be a big game soon.  There was lots of activity with people getting ready for the game.  The Coach of the school walked up and told me to stick with him and he would take care of me.  I followed Coach everywhere he went as he was prepping for the game, but after awhile I realized that I was naked.  Coach told me not to worry about it as he would get me some clothes soon enough, just stay with him and he would take care of it.


After awhile I just couldn't stand being naked anymore so I left the coach to go find some clothes.  I did find some clothes, but after putting them on I couldn't find the coach again.  He had gone back to the locker rooms where the players were and nobody was allowed back there unless you were with the coach.


It dawned on me that I didn't know if I would even be able to get into the game now as the Coach was my ticket in.  I also became aware the the clothes that Coach was going to give me were playing jerseys and that I very well could have been one of the players of this great game that was about to happen.

Since having this dream I can't tell you how many times I've prayed the prayer, "Coach, I'm staying with you!"  There are numerous times when I start to feel exposed and uncomfortable because I don't know exactly how things are going to pay out.  It is when I start considering how I'm going to take care of myself that I remember this dream and again choose the life of faith by staying with Coach.

He is a good Coach and has things in store for us that are better than we can imagine.  He might even have a starring role on his Dream Team for those that are willing to persevere and stay with him!

Dreams of Fruit

The following is a poem I wrote after meeting yesterday with my good friend Kurt Mahler.  After having such a good talk concerning the things God is doing in our life, I began to hunger again for the fruit of all that we've sown, the fruit that I've thus seen only through dreams, pictures in the night and internal knowings.

This hungering opens a place in my heart that can hurt so bad that it causes me to stop and miss all that God has for me today.  In the past, this hunger has incapacitated me in such a way that I return to the altar of sacrifice time and time again and offer up my hunger to the only one who can fill it.  Though I've not yet seen the fulfillment of the promise or the satisfaction my soul longs for, still I will trust the only one who is trustworthy.

As I searched my heart in the midst of this pain, the following are the words that arose...



When will I arise?  When will I wake?  When will the visions that I’ve seen take place?

It seems I’ve died daily for a thousand years; sown my fair share in the river of tears.

Things that were promised so long ago, in my spirit have never yet ceased to grow.

I’ve plowed the hard ground with blood, sweat and tears; removed large stones of anxiety and fear.

The seed that was planted under pressure quickly died and thus was released the miracle of new life.

In fact the trunk is now quite large and the branches are green, but the wondrous fruit promised is yet to be seen.

Tantalizing glimpses seem to come and to go, of the coming harvest to which the world will soon flow.

Perhaps if it were now, the branch would be not able; to bear that which is coming and will fill many tables.

So a process slowly done is better to be had, than riches quickly gained and lost like a fad.

So be still my soul, learn to enjoy where you’re at, trust that He is good and your fruit will be fat!

The Angelic

Master’s of power with sword burning bright

These magical beings guard us day and night.

More times than not, their roles are overlooked

Often we don’t know it was their advice that we took.

In many different ways and on many different days

These chosen ones have intervened to keep destruction at bay.

Necessary and vital to all that we do, they are

These mysterious creatures are the ones that fight for the Lord.

What need must there be to recognize such as these?

For to see if we could, we would be very pleased.

Worry and fear would cease need to live

God chose well when giving charge over us to them He did bid.

If we really believed that these things were true

Then we would fear no more, instead we would push through.

So do not let unbelief begin to cloud your heart

For all we need of faith is that precious little spark.

Then the fire will begin and we will see

That they will be released to do all that we need.

Be it to comfort or fight or even to give wisdom

Or maybe sing a song and increase our vision.

Whatever they may do their roles are dear

And recognize we should and then walk free from fear.

Joel 2:1 - 11

Blow the trumpet in Zion;

Sound the alarm on my holy mountain.

Let all of the people of the land tremble,

for the day of the Lord is at hand.

For the wicked and all Christians who love this world it is a day of darkness and fear, 

A day of clouds and of blackness.

A large and mighty army is coming.

There has never been one like it, nor will there ever be again.

Before this army the fire of the Lord’s love consumes everything and behind them that fire never goes out.

The wealth and prosperity of this world that seemed to be as the garden of Eden, becomes a devastated desert in light of the reality of this army’s eternal treasures.

They will compromise nothing and tolerate no lies.

They have the appearance of an invincible army streaming down the mountain rushing to the battle.

You can hear the roaring of their worship and rejoicing as they hurdle mountainous problems with ease.

Their passionate love for God and each other rages like a fire moving across dry grass as it consumes all religion and dead works like dry stubble.

At the sight of them the evil powers over nations are in anguish.

Every demon and lukewarm Christian’s face turn’s pale because these people know the authority and power of the name and blood of Jesus.

They charge like warriors, completely free from fear and they can scale any wall because they know the strength and might of their God.

They all march in line never swerving from their course, because their actions are synchronized by the Holy Spirit.

They never push each other, because they are free from pride and selfish ambition.

Doubt and unbelief has been completely removed from their hearts.

Each marches straight ahead, their eyes fixed on the Captain of the Hosts.

They shoot through defenses because they know that greater is He who is in them, then he that is in the world.

They never break rank, because each is confident and flowing in the gifting and role the Lord has placed them.

They rush upon whole cities shaking the powers of the air.

They run along walls having nothing hidden from their sight, able to see far, far ahead.

They climb into houses binding the strong man and like thieves they enter windows and plunder the enemies houses, because the Lord is their covering.

Before them the earth shakes and the sky trembles at the power of the Lord’s chosen and anointed ones.

The sun and moon darken and the stars no longer shine at the light of the presence of God made manifest in his people.

The voice of the Lord thunders at the head of His army.

His forces are without number for the hidden ones have been brought to light.

Mighty are those who obey His every Word.

The Day of the Lord is terrible, who can endure it?

Reality Check

Fires of heaven blaze in the night

Where darkness abounds we go shine the light.

Left alone the darkness gets darker and the peoples turn twisted

Demons ride their backs and they don’t even know they’ve been enlisted to do the work of evil.

Left alone the darkness gets darker and the peoples turn twisted

Demons ride their backs and they don’t even know they’ve been enlisted to do the work of evil.

In their own minds they have created a fantasy world

Their reality is based on nothing that is real

Then they try to convince us that they are right

They tell us that the darkness is really light.

But I have met reality and Jesus is his name

When you truly meet him you won’t see things the same.

When truth is revealed what was nice starts to bite

What you thought were flowers in the day

You begin to see were snakes in the night.

I now see things differently than I did before

Reality up close is better than deception from afar

Though Truth was hard and caused my heart to spar

I now see peace instead of war.

Now I can enjoy the wind on my face

Dreams of joy fill my ecstasy embrace

Though sight revealed my wounded heart, now I am healed

I thought I would never experience the freedom I now feel.

I no longer fight and the flowers no longer bite.

A Touch of Mysticism

Abstinence is burning

Desires are yearning

Yet my fasting is turning

the world around me.

Holiness is bringing

Humility teaching

Supernatural releasing

of divine authority.

Fasting’s reward

If it’s not ignored

Will open the doors

of which we’ve only dreamed.

Not religions boring morality

Or the worlds flight from mortality

But instead a spirituality

where fantasy has become reality.

Holiness is the pipeline

To channel that power divine

Opening eyes that are blind

and deaf ears to hear.

It’s a crazy obsession

This divine possession

Or maybe a spiritual lesson
for those with eyes to see.

The Body of Christ

We know that his body was broken, but did you know it was then made strong?

We know that he was beaten and bruised, but it is his power with which we are now fused.

As Eve was birthed from the rib in Adam’s side, Christ’s Body was birthed on the day that he died.

All that had been lost became a gain, our lives forever changed with him we now reign.

On this earth to serve as ambassadors to be, the representation of Christ, in other words his Body.

Not his body alone, but with his spirit we are filled, thus the authority to reap the harvest in our mission field.

Bringing strength to the weak and rest to the weary, Christ’s love to all in the midst of this life’s journey.

As Christ’s body we have learned many lessons along the way, the name of Jesus for many turns night into day.

The power of his word as always never fails, and when we take time to listen revelation is revealed.

Grace is freely given, never, ever earned. This perhaps is the greatest lesson we could ever learn.

We journey not alone on this life’s path we tread, because it is by His Spirit that each day we are led.

Each time we meet with him our eyes are opened to see, the representation of Christ we are each called to be.

His Body we are, his body we shall be, even as we continue to sojourn on this life’s journey.

Dark Night of my Soul

The pain and emptiness of being alone,

Waiting for the fruit of all that I’ve sown.

Pruned beyond recognition my branches are bare,

I’ve been looking at other’s lives and thinking it’s just not fair.

I have worked much harder, been through much greater pain,

But it’s always the others that seem to get all of the fame.

Promises I have been given, visions I have seen,

Revelations at night sneak up on my dreams.

Yet they all seem so far away right now, 

Even my hearing is gone the silence is so loud.

How long must it be that my heart goes unsatisfied?

All the streams I’ve used in the past have dried up and died.

Fleeting thoughts, one moment here the next they are gone,

Enduring my night I am waiting to awaken the dawn.

May it come quickly…

Struggles of a Young Prophet

I live in my own world of fascinations and dreams

Emotions subjective yet they go to the extreme

I thought I was standing up, now I know I am lying down

War cries all around

To lay down is to die, to stand is to try

Yet I fall underneath the wall

It was whitewashed looking pretty

But a bad foundation, now there isn’t any

There was no cornerstone, now I’m left all alone

Where has He gone?  Was He really here?

The Truth I hold dear?

Insanity knocks trying to break the locks

The Three in One made

I’m not insane, yet I lost my take in a black caldron.

Words of knowledge, words of wisdom

The future laid bare

Miracles if you dare

Vanity, vanity, all is vanity

I seek and I try though I never ask why

The burden I’m called to bear

Overwhelming, little birds sounding

All around my head

Depression, suppression, vain hallucinations

Yet God continues to speak

His voice I know

It is His Person I have lacked.

Religion Unmasked

Religion masquerades as our friend

Though we don’t, we should all know it is sin.

Its roots stem from places of pride

All of our weaknesses it seeks to hide.

Particularly at the young spiritual level

Our emotions we think virtuous to embezzle

By calling forth what we see with our eyes

Instead of prying beneath what the surface hides.

It seems so easy to just pretend

That what we see without must be within

But in the end when all is said and done

Our spiritual journey has not even yet begun.

It is our identity we thought we had found

But it was just uneasiness discomforting frown

That we sought to avoid and thus we employed

Formulas and ways to take the place of grace.

There is a deeper way that is far better

Than putting on a smile and giving our best endeavor

It is the way of openness and honesty

Things we keep hidden brought out for others to see.

This is the way that few have dared to tread

It is the way of the walking dead

Dead to the world, but alive to Christ

And thus we inherit a supernatural life.

And what is this life that we should value so

That to give all our possessions we would not say no?

It is life as it exists up above

Peace and serenity like that of a dove.

Supernatural signs and wonders untold

Intriguing mysteries before our eyes unfold

All this and more we will begin to see

When we persevere in upholding honesty’s decree.

Ridding ourselves of religions talon is a good first step

And as we go we will learn to recognize how to bless

Not the flesh without, but the spirit within

And thus the spiritual journey we come to begin.

I think we will be surprised when in the end we see

All that was needed was the virtue of simplicity

All the things we used, all that we thought we would need

Could easily be summed up with love and honesty.

Pushing Into Maturity

Daily we have opportunities to increase in wisdom, but interference’s steadily come to distract us from our mission.

Many forms they take and by deceptions they make, us to believe that we have no needs, whispering that there is no need for urgency.

They come in many different ways to occupy our day, whether work or play as long as from God we stay away.

You see every encounter with Him changes our life, whether visible or not our spirit grows stronger with increase in light.

It is this light before which the darkness cannot stand, to sever this powerhouse the devil will try again and again.

For God’s authority we have been given to bear, to cast down the prince of the air, but if not from us, then the world’s deliverance will come from nowhere.

But if the darkness is successful in blinding our eyes, we may become susceptible to all sorts of lies.

The darkness will get darker and deceptions grow subtler still, like a frog slowly introduced to boiling water, the pain we may not feel.

If we choose not to move, but instead to be still, who knows who it may be next the darkness may choose to kill?

Or through our lack of movement will we continually test our fate, saying that God’s grace is freely available why not wait?

Or if by choice we stand and push though the night, then our light will grow brighter and we will increase with might.

The power of God will then become manifest, because we have chosen to believe his Word and not put him to the test.

The darkness of deception only works when we choose to be still, so let us seek his face and his purposes to fulfill.

With God as the Head and us as the body, the power that will be released will cause History to write a brand new story.

A story about a bride that is without spot or stain, the perfect representation of Christ and to God we will bring fame.

All the nations will see and they will all be glad, when we put on our white garments and with freedom we dance.

And the nations will join with us in singing amazing songs like Holy is the Lamb and Worthy is the Son.

And for all eternity we will continue to grow, but our destiny begins now through what we choose to sow.

We can sow to the flesh and from the flesh reap corruption, or we can sow to the Spirit and from the Spirit reap Holy Ghost unction.

And what we reap begins not just when we die, but through the power that comes on this earth we will fly.

The nations will come running and with joy they will sing, because healing and deliverance the church has come to bring.

The Kingdom of Darkness we will then cause to fall and we will be established as the mountain that is chief above all.

We will be a church without limits, borders or walls. For this is our heritage, our destiny, our call.

11:02 (Eleven O Two)

This poem is actually a dream that I had recently.  When I woke up I took my journal, got my coffee and sat down in the sun room to write down the dream.  As I put pen to paper, it was as though the Holy Spirit walked into the room and the dream came out in the form of a poem.  This type of poem could take me days or weeks to write, but this time the whole thing came out complete and whole in about 15 - 30 minutes.  I love it when God shows up and does his thing!  Enjoy!

11:02 (Eleven O Two)

A demonstration of power is what they said; little did I know it was to be somebody’s head.

At 11:02 the town’s bell would toll, then the principality would come down and his plans would unfold.

Fear and mayhem was the name of his game, keep lives in bondage, may they feel all is vain

But it was that day that I walked through with the gospel to tell and the priest picked me for his God to kill.

The loss of my life was to be a demonstration of power when his god came down at the 11:02 hour.

What do I do?  What do I say?  Where do I go that I might get away?

There is no escaping, said the priest as he laughed, of this I’m sure at 11:02 you will be dead.

I began to run as I looked at my watch, realizing 11:02 was the very next notch.

My heart began to pound, there was pressure in my head, as the bell began to toll I felt a sense of dread.

That feeling increased as something came down, darkness thick under which the whole town was bound.

My light grew dim; my breathing slacked, before something in my spirit rose up to fight back.

“Jesus is Lord,” became my mantra, my cry and the darkness shrank under words that could not be denied.

“Jesus is Lord!” I yelled out loud again and again, though my heart continued to beat like this was the end.

"There is no power save his alone, because he paid the price to sit on the throne."

I grew in confidence and surety, as I spoke Jesus name and made my decree.

The priest's laughter was now totally gone, having never seen something like this go on

The darkness shrank each time I said the name, till it finally disappeared thus ending it’s game.

Fear and confusion from the town square were now gone, peace and joy came down with this new spiritual dawn.

I shared my message of good news and peace and for the first time the people’s eyes were opened to see.

They received truth in droves as quick as they could for they had seen their god’s power burn like wood.

The confrontation had not been fun, not easy at all, but for the first time at 11:02, no one did fall.

April 2011: Greater Tornadoes Coming

On Friday, April 29^th, I had a dream that I felt was from the Lord and was concerning spiritual storms that we deal with as the body of Christ.  I’ve written out the dream and what I feel God is speaking through it. 

In the dream, while running down the street towards Wal-Mart, I looked up and saw that in all directions there were numerous tornadoes.  I stopped under a large highway overpass that would shield me if a tornado came my way and I took out a cell phone so that I could take pictures of them.  In so doing I began to notice very specific characteristics about these tornadoes.

I saw that the tornadoes behind me had already passed.  I saw that the tornadoes in front of me had not yet come and that they were giant, monster storms in that they were much larger than the tornadoes behind me. I realized I needed to no longer pay attention to the ones that had passed, but needed to focus my energies on determining the best course to deal with the ones that were coming. 

As I was standing under the highway overpass, I felt I was safe until a small, yet highly destructive tornado that was able to go under the highway overpass came my way.  In the dream I saw that this tornado was filled with and empowered by demons, I also saw that the tornado was called Jehovah’s Witness.  I began to pray and the tornado moved away from me.

Then the dream shifted and my grandfather was standing before me in his full naval military uniform.  I saw that he had fought and persevered through numerous wars, and had also participated in an award ceremony that bestowed authority on him.  This authority was pictured through a colored belt like a sash that had been fixed around his waist.  In the dream, I knew that there was still a price to be paid so that the benefit of the authority could be passed on to me and if this price could be paid, then I would have much greater spiritual authority to deal with the coming storms.  That was the dream.

 The following is what I feel God is saying through this dream…

We have each endured and persevered through large storms, there are however much larger storms ahead of us.  In the midst of these storms the Lord has provided us with a place of safety, a shield from the coming storms (the bridge).  I felt God was highlighting as the bridge of safety the scripture that says Jesus is himself our way, truth and life. (John 14:6)

I was personally perplexed as to the demonically empowered tornado called Jehovah’s Witness that entered into my place of safety, until I read the following clip from Rick Joyner’s book, “The Harvest.”

In many ways, religious activity has been substituted for obedience and the presence of the Lord.  Many of the good works being accomplished by the church today truly are good works—they are just not the works that we have been called to…It was Jonah’s rebellion that brought the storm on the heathen in the ship; the church’s rebellion and tendency to go the wrong way is the reason for many of the storms...

After reading this I felt the Holy Spirit quicken in me that the storm, the demonically empowered tornado that the enemy is sending into our space of safety is that of religious activity that God has not called us into.  Religious activity, while being “good works,” if it is apart from the personhood of Jesus himself, is sin and sin is empowered by the demonic.  This religious activity in effect creates a storm that moves us out from the place of safety we have in Jesus and exposes us to the damage of the greater storms that are coming. 

In real life, when my grandfather was alive, he had fought in numerous conflicts including World War II.  I felt the dream was reflecting on those wars my grandfather had persevered through as spiritual conflicts and I believe the belt in the dream symbolized a spiritual belt of truth that gives us authority over spiritual conflict.  I think that God desires to highlight to us that we cannot bring peace to spiritual storms by coasting on other peoples past successes.  While we are grateful for all that have gone before and for the freedoms that others have championed, we must personally be willing to pay the price necessary to have authority over spiritual conflict. 

I believe that God is saying that the time to prepare for this coming conflict is now.  We must be willing to pay the price by personally seeking God so that when the storms come we will then have the authority to be victorious through them.  Jesus spoke to the storm and it became still.  The measure that Christ is manifest in us is the measure that we will be able to speak to the coming storms and command them to be still.

If Christ were sitting here with us, the following is what I feel he would say concerning this dream…

Remain in me, and I will remain in you.  He who remains in me will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.

I am teaching you to be aware of your environment, to see the storms of life even before they get here, but while seeing the storms that are coming, do not be afraid, for I am with you.  This is my mercy that you might pray and partner with me in averting what the enemy intends for evil.

Be aware of the storm of religious activity.  Its winds can unseat from my place of safety those who are not wary.  Instead of religious activity, renew the work you have done in the past by seeking me again.  Be baptized in my Spirit again. Those who seek me will find me when they seek me with their whole heart and I will then release a new mantle of authority, a new anointing, fresh with revelation that will position you to be more than over-comers in the midst of the storms that are ahead.  You are to be my mountain, established as chief over the other mountains that all might see and know that I am good.

Again, remain in me and I will remain in you.  He who remains in me will bear much fruit.  Apart from me, you can do nothing.

History is marked by great triumphs, usually the result of great battles in which men and women sacrificed and persevered to see righteousness reign.  We are entering into another of those times, which will go down in the annals of history and we are being given the opportunity to partner with Jesus to see his Kingdom come, his will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

November 2010: An Attack on the Release of Prophecy

I have recently had multiple dreams concerning a specific spiritual attack intended to heighten the perception that there is major abuse, misuse, or misrepresentation happening concerning the gift of prophecy in the context of the local church.  I also feel that God is speaking through the dreams that the enemy’s purpose of creating these negative perceptions is to create fear and mistrust with the hope that the response of leadership will be to curtail or limit the ways or forms in which prophecy can or should be released in the local body.

After praying about this issue for a period of time I feel God desires to give us a working definition of prophecy, to put us all on the same page concerning what we are talking about as well as highlight several particular open doors that the enemy could use to cultivate a negative mindset regarding prophecy.

Prophecy: A working definition

The word prophecy itself can potentially and unknowingly be a source of conflict and misunderstanding as it means many things to many different people.  For some, prophecy is simply a word in season, an encouragement spoken at the right time, or an exhortation to persevere through a particular trial.  For others, the idea of prophecy engenders pictures of declarations of judgment concerning the nations, visitations of angels to encourage, empower and protect; or dramatic open visions in which secrets of hidden places are revealed!

Although some of these examples sound extreme, none of these definitions are particularly wrong, although at one point in time or another, all of these descriptions of prophecy could be wrong!  How can this be?

Revelations 19:10 for the testimony of jesus is the spirt of prophecy

Here, John the Revelator is sharing out of a more dramatic experience of prophecy that he has received on the island of Patmos in which he had communication with angels, was taken up into the third heaven, even saw God himself speaking and moving in the earth.  Taking what he said in this passage and making it applicable to life today, we would have to say that practically, this Revelations passage of scripture is saying that Jesus testimony is prophecy; therefore prophecy is whatever Jesus wants to say to us, however he wants to say it. 

Therefore our working definition of prophecy is going to be, “Prophecy is whatever Jesus wants to say to us, however he wants to say it.”

With this working definition, we have laid the foundation to continue on regarding the open doors that the enemy wants to use to induce fear and mistrust concerning prophecy.

Door #1: A Lack of understanding concerning receiving prophecy.

A key door that leads to fear, mistrust and people being hurt by prophecy has to do with a lack of training or understanding concerning the receiving of prophecy from other individuals.  Those other individuals can be known or unknown, even leaders with proven reputations in the prophetic or revelatory gifts.

1 Corinthians 14:29 Two or three prophets should speak, and the others should weigh carefully what is said.

Here scripture says that we are to judge the words of even proven prophetic leaders in the Body of Christ.  If we are to judge the words spoken by men and women that are trusted, have proven track record and history, how much more should we not judge the words coming from those we don’t know, those who are learning and will make mistakes in both message and delivery?  Here is another scripture that follows the same vein of thought.

2 Peter 1:19  And we have the word of the prophets made more certain, and you will do well to pay attention to it, as to a light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts. 

Words given by prophets, people with a proven track history in giving words should be as a light in a dark place, illuminating that which God desires to say to an individual or to a group.  That illumination is not the end of the experience however.  That illumination should be just a catalyst leading towards the Morning Star rising in your heart.  As the morning star is a prophetic picture of Jesus, (he is the bright and morning star) God’s ultimate goal is that the individuals relationship with and communication with Jesus would rise to ever greater and higher levels.

Ultimately, this means that it is up to the receiver of a word to determine for themselves if what has been given to them whether through an individual or from a corporate word is relevant or pertinent to them.  Does it cause the dawning of revelation of Jesus or increase in us the knowledge of what Jesus has to say to the receiver?  If an individual is struggling with a word that has been spoken to them, whether personally or corporately, there are two very healthy options that they can take concerning that word.

·         One option is to talk to several friends or people that they trust concerning that word.  Friends typically can be a safe place to air your concerns and bounce things off of. 

·         The second option is to simply, “put the word up on the shelf” and trust that if God desires to accomplish something through that word, we can trust that he is bigger than our ability to get off track and bigger than the enemies ability to deceive us.  He is good, and will do good to us and the knowledge of his character in that regard allows us to trust him to bring about his will.  If we are open, humble and walking with Jesus, he will see his plans come to fruition.

Door #2: Discerning what Jesus wants to say

Scripture says that Jesus did so many things while here on earth, that no amount of books in the world could contain them.  So when we hear of particular manifestations of the spirit communicating to and through individuals, that type of occurrences failure to exactly appear in scripture is not sufficient evidence to allow us to dictate an automatic dismissal of that event.

That being said, some individuals have an uncanny gift or ability to see what is happening in the spiritual realm concerning individuals, corporate groups, or even what God is doing over whole nations, the entire body of Christ or even the world.  The way in which God communicates these messages to individuals are just as wide and varied as the number of stars in the sky he created.

Just because an individual may discern what is happening in the spiritual realm concerning an individual or a group, does not mean that the communication of that knowledge is what Jesus has to say to the individual or the group at that point in time. 

Some words are more intended for the individual discerning those words to use as a catalyst in partnering with God bringing his will about here on earth as it is in heaven through intercession.  The role of intercession is a vital partnership role with God to see what he doing in the spiritual realm and calling it forth into the physical.  This role can often be lonely, as God is not showing everyone the same thing, but ultimately grows great levels of personal intimacy, character and integrity in the one God is using for this purpose.  As an individual learns to wait on the Lord in regards to sharing what he is shown, the Lord is able to entrust him with higher and higher levels of revelation.  Those who are faithful in little will be made rulers over much.

An Appropriate Response

So what do we do with words that are given us, whether from individuals or from a corporate setting that seems to be off?

Honor people, but give the opportunity of personal growth through correction of the word.  If the word was in a personal setting, then the correction should be personal.  If the word was from a corporate setting, then the correction should be corporate.  Those who are openly hostile, vicious, or intentionally harmful should obviously be restrained, but the majority of people are sincere and desiring to personally learn and grow in this gift that should be desired above all the gifts.

The appropriate response, in which words are bad or even malicious, is not the limiting of all people attempting to speak and grow in the spirit of prophecy.  Personal dealings with sin should be dealt with through the biblical model of talking to them individually, then with a witness, then before the church, but most mistakes concerning prophecy are usually a lack of experience, maturity or understanding concerning the administration of God’s heart.

Ultimately a great plumb line concerning discerning the prophetic gift is, no matter whom the vessel in the giving of a prophetic word is, we each have a responsibility to judge the word and we do this by determining, does it cause the dawning of the Morning Star, an increasing revelation of Jesus in our hearts?

 

New Year's Day 2008

The first picture was of a gumball machine that was square that symbolized us as a church.  I felt the Holy Spirit say that he wanted to change us to make us round.

 A friend has told me that a square gumball machine won’t work, because the gumballs will get jammed instead of flowing out smoothly. A round gumball machine however naturally funnels its contents out very smoothly. Later, while praying and asking the Lord what the change was that was needed to allow things to flow smoothly for us I felt God say that it was the development of the 5 fold ministry as is listed in Ephesians. However, I felt very strongly that God wanted to be very specific in that before the 5 fold ministry can be built, the foundation must first be laid. Ephesians 2:20 states that God’s house is…built on the foundation of the Apostles and Prophet’s, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. I feel God wants to say to us that it is after the laying of the foundation of Apostles and Prophets, that the foundation is big enough and strong enough to support what God wants to release through the 5 fold ministry which builds up …the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way (Eph 1:23).

Next I had a dream. In this dream it was dark outside, but the night was almost over and the day was almost here. I took a bottle of wine to pour myself a glass, but because the bottle was almost empty only a small amount of wine came out. Next I knew that my Mom was going to be there soon and we were going to be spending some time together.

I felt through the dream that God was saying that a new day is dawning for our church and that God desires to give us new structures (bottles) that will contain new moves of the Spirit (wine). I feel the mother symbolizes the vision that gave us birth and that God says that we can have new structures and new moves of the Spirit, yet still remain true to the vision that birthed us and has nurtured our growth.

Then I had a picture of a lady whose long hair was becoming shaggy. The Lord said he wanted to encourage us that a haircut helps to remove dead cells.

In general I think that we would feel averse to any cell group ending, but I felt that God’s heart was that it makes his bride, the church so much more beautiful and glorious when we take regular stock of our cells and in a sense get a haircut when things are getting shaggy. It helps to prevent split ends!

In the next dream our church was getting dancing lessons from an instructor who was an African American woman. She showed us all the first three steps of a very simple dance, which we all did together. Then she let out class early because there was a festival or a celebration that we were all invited to attend. Two dark (evil) men dressed in suits came in and began trying to convince the instructor and the rest of us that we did not want to go to the festival. I looked at my watch to see what day it was and the date was June 3rd. We each had to decide for ourselves if we were going to attend the festival or not.

The dream reminds me of the parable where a king invites all his friends to a wedding feast, but they are too busy to come. I feel God has something special planned sometime around June 3rd and is inviting us to celebrate with him. At the same time the enemy is actively engaged in trying to detract us from experiencing the joy God has for us. I also think that this year is going to bring the first steps of something new that God has for us in the realm of corporate worship.

The last picture was of a dark man that was wearing heavy gold chains and lots of jewelry. 

I felt God was saying that he wants to financially bless us this year by delivering us of financial bondage.