A Call to Purim to Break the Bonds of Wickedness in Our Land!

The current news cycle regarding national politics seems very compressed right now with virtual 24/7 reporting of political intrigue, accusations, calls for impeachment and back-stabbing like we have never seen before in our nation's history. Sure, there have been times of acrimony and political intrigue, but not on this level. 

There is a concerted effort, actually a plot, to force President Trump either to resign or, if not, be impeached so that he loses all credibility to govern effectively. It is not unfounded to say that the goal of this plan is to cause the current administration to crash and burn. However, if this were to happen it would lead to a wound in our national spirit that would cause the cycle of reprisals and revenge to repeat itself with the result of weakening the nation from within and eventually render governing on a national level to paralysed and ineffective. 

Without recapping all the details as to each of the events that have transpired leading us to this place, I think it is most important to mention what follows herein as an understanding of our spiritual situation as a nation. The spiritual health of this nation is the most important consideration because it determines and affects the strength, moral climate, unity and character of our people and its government. 

On a spiritual level, when Barack Obama became president in 2008, I saw in the spirit the gates of hell being opened up and demonic activity flowing with great energy and unbridled power. Then President Obama ushered in an era of immoral legislation, corruption of power and governmental institutions, and the re-opening of the wounds of racial hatred. He did not support authority and undermined law & order. He also did not understand the motives of our nation's enemies and castigated, as well as alienated our allies. An atmosphere of intolerance grew during this time where good became evil and evil because good. Those who represented moral decency, spiritual integrity, and a voice increasingly against authoritarian government were treated as enemies within their own country and no longer had a voice. A good friend of mine and bible teacher, Ed Welch, has shared with me that he believes President Obama was given to us by God to wake up the slumbering and corrupted church. Very interesting insight. Obama's presidency and the current turmoil caused by him, as well as those loyal to him, are causing us to pray and seek God for increased wisdom, faith, and in Godly action. 

Since the Democrats lost the national election in November of 2016 they have done everything they can to destabilize and oppose the newly elected president. What is now occurring is a warfare both in the political realm, as well as spiritual realm. The fact that witches from all over the nation have attempted to cast spells on both President Trump and this nation should be proof enough. America is in great conflict on these levels. 

It is time to pray. It is time to turn to God and to ask for His help. Now is the hour to pray for our nation, its leaders and our destiny. 2 Chronicles 7:14 states: "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." (KJV)

On February 17, 2017 I was praying about the state of our nation and God placed the Book of Esther on my heart. On that day I posted the following on Facebook: 

"I am drawn to Esther chapters 8 & 9 when the Jews were threatened with extermination by their enemies. At that hour, the king issued an edict allowing the Jews to defend themselves. Mordecai and the Jews, rather than being slaughtered (which their enemies saw as inevitable), instead, struck down their enemies and utterly defeated them. Queen Esther and Mordecai responded as they absolutely had to and because of their heroism, the people were saved. We, as intercessors, were created "for such a time as this" (Esther 4:14) and cannot remain silent, lest our hopes for our country and our president perish. That is not acceptable and not God's plan. We will, with our God's help, respond at this critical hour, by petitioning our King, as He sits on His throne, for relief and deliverance. Let's enter into His presence and ask accordingly. We have His heart and His ear."

Interesting that we are coming to that time on the Hebrew calendar known as the Festival of Purim, which in 2017 is going to be celebrated from Saturday night March 11th through March 12th. It commemorates the salvation of the Jews, as mentioned in the preceding paragraph. 

When the Jews uncovered the plot to exterminate them, they called for a time of fasting. Esther 4:16 - "Go, gather together all the Jews who are in Susa, and fast for me. Do not eat or drink for three days, night or day. I and my attendants will fast as you do. When this is done, I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish." (NIV).

Because ot the threat now faced by the U.S., now it is time for us to prepare our hearts by fasting and pray as one - this is our Festival of Purim. By coming together we can thank or God for His grace and for this nation. We can petition Him for His will to be accomplished in our lives and land, as a nation. We can repent for our sins and ask Him to heal our land, as well as move by His Spirit. To bring an awakening of our hearts to Him with a yieldedness to His will and a reverential fear (respect) for the Lord God Almighty. We need to pray for wickedness, along with its manifestations and effects, be broken in the name of Jesus and for restoration to take place in our land. 

Isaiah 58: 6 - 

New Living Translation (NLT)

⁶ “No, this is the kind of fasting I want:

Free those who are wrongly imprisoned;

    lighten the burden of those who work for you.

Let the oppressed go free,

    and remove the chains that bind people.

⁷ Share your food with the hungry,

    and give shelter to the homeless.

Give clothes to those who need them,

    and do not hide from relatives who need your help.

⁸ “Then your salvation will come like the dawn,

    and your wounds will quickly heal.

Your godliness will lead you forward,

    and the glory of the Lord will protect you from behind.

⁹ Then when you call, the Lord will answer.

    ‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.

“Remove the heavy yoke of oppression.

    Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors!

¹⁰ Feed the hungry,

    and help those in trouble.

Then your light will shine out from the darkness,

    and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.

¹¹ The Lord will guide you continually,

    giving you water when you are dry

    and restoring your strength.

You will be like a well-watered garden,

    like an ever-flowing spring.

¹² Some of you will rebuild the deserted ruins of your cities.

    Then you will be known as a rebuilder of walls

    and a restorer of homes.

Reformation 2.0

God has been showing me recently that this year, 2017, is going to be a very significant year. Because of this, He is impressing upon me that we can expect a number of events to unfold, ones that will affect our lives. First, 2017 marks the 500^th Anniversary of the Protestant Reformation. Second, this year also marks the 70th year of the founding of the state of Israel, as well as the 50^th Anniversary of the reunification of Jerusalem, the Jubilee celebration. 

Biblically, the number 70 is made up of "7", which stands for perfection, and also "10" (7 x 10), which represents completeness. It symbolizes perfect spiritual order carried out with all power. The number "50" biblically represents the coming of the Holy Spirit, deliverance or freedom from burden, as well as a year of Jubilee.(1) 

While we have to exercise care using biblical numerology, nevertheless, these things taken together seem to speak of change, along with alignment and a release of things in the spiritual realm that will receive in the natural realm.

The 500 Year Cycles of History

With regard to the 500^th Anniversary of the Reformation, it is important to understand that significant changes take place approximately every 500 years in human history. This does not mean that changes do not take place between these time intervals; however, there have been some very significant changes or shifts in human history roughly every 500 years. Here is a brief list of some of these changes:

-Birth of Christ circa 0 A.D.

-Circa 476 A.D. - Official end date of the Roman Empire - when the last Roman Emperor was overthrown and Western Roman Empire ceased to exist after years of decline.

-Circa 1000 A.D. the Dark Ages. Leif Eriksson discovers North America. Destruction of the Church of the Holy Sepulchre  in A.D. 1009. In 1054 A.D., the final separation takes place between Eastern (Orthodox) and Western (Roman) churches.

-1453 A.D. – Transition to modern era with the emergence of nations and nation states. Also Turks conquer Constantinople causing the end of the Byzantine Empire. 1492 A.D. – the Moors are conquered in Spain.1500 A.D. – the beginning of the end of the Renaissance and start of the modern era. 1517A.D - Martin Luther posts his 95 theses denouncing the Catholic Church and the Reformation formally starts. 

-2000 A.D. - Shift from the preeminence of Western Civilization to the rise of a portion of Eastern Civilization. Dawn of post industrial age with rise of robotic and artificial technology which, if left unchecked, will cause an existential crisis for humanity. Breakdown of 20th century political, military and economic alliances and the creating of new orders. The dawning of renewed space exploration with the goal of colonization and commercial development of moons and planets.

The Protestant Reformation - Restoration of some biblical truths...

This magnificent move of God did not give us new biblical truth. Rather, it was the most significant restoration of biblical truth since Jesus gave us the new covenant by His blood.

God restored the following biblical truths through the Reformation: 1) The bible as the sole authority for biblical faith and its practice. Church rules and tradition have nothing to do with salvation. 2) Salvation by God’s grace only, not by works, through faith in Christ alone. 3) The believer having personal and direct access to God and does not require the intermediary of a priest.

Just as the original Reformation in the 1500s restored God’s truth to the church and believers, 2017 will begin a significant Reformation (2.0).

The Pouring Out of Holy Spirit - Consider the biblical promises...

Jeremiah 31:34 states: “No longer will they teach their neighbor, or say to one another, 'Know the LORD,' because they will all know me, from the least of them to the greatest," declares the LORD. "For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more."

This promise is repeated in Hebrews 8:11 because it was fulfilled in the new covenant in Jesus.

In Acts 2:16-21 Peter addresses the crowd in Jerusalem on the Day of Pentecost and repeats what was spoken by the prophet Joel (Joel 2:28-32) because it was fulfilled on the Day of Pentecost. 

Acts 2:16-21 states: ‘In the last days,’ God says,

‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy.
Your young men will see visions,
and your old men will dream dreams.
In those days I will pour out my Spirit
even on my servants—men and women alike—
and they will prophesy.

And I will cause wonders in the heavens above
and signs on the earth below—
blood and fire and clouds of smoke.
The sun will become dark,
and the moon will turn blood red
 before that great and glorious day of the Lord arrives.
But everyone who calls on the name of the Lord
will be saved.’

Holy Spirit's Reformation (2.0) - The coming restoration...

These two Old Testament promises were fulfilled in the New Testament as being an authoritative and spiritual reality, however, there is still needed a fuller expression of these truths in our day. 2017 is 500 years after the Reformation and this will be the year when Holy Spirit will begin to bring about a Reformation (2.0) in the areas of our experiential understanding and application of a deeper presence of Holy Spirit in our lives, a much more powerful testimony by Holy Spirit in and through our lives, along with more magnified giftings and incredible manifestations of Holy Spirit. It will be an empowerment that God, by His grace, provides.

While the wonderful ministry of Holy Spirit is not new, what will be new is that it will be an explosion in the number of believers who will be exercising incredible giftings of Holy Spirit. There will also be manifestations and giftings that have rarely been seen or experienced. These things will happen on a grand scale and will truly be an outpouring of Holy Spirit in very great measure.

Because we are coming toward the end of the church age, and because we currently live in the age of the ministry of Holy Spirit (because Jesus ascended into heaven and sent Holy Spirit to comfort and teach us), these things must happen. Tragically, Holy Spirit has been the person in the God-head who has received the least respect and obedience by many of God’s people. Because He flows like the wind (John 3:8) He has been the least understood of the three persons of the Trinity. It is a mark of our times that many Christians deny that the gifts of Holy Spirit are for today and many have hardened their hearts, to one degree or another, from hearing or responding to His voice. In addition, many Christians and churches are happy with their lives and worship being simply the way it’s been and do not want Holy Spirit to mess with it. 

Like the original Reformation that restored foundational biblical truth to believers, this Reformation (2.0) will break down religious and erroneous beliefs about Holy Spirit, as well as give us a restored and enhanced understanding as to His presence and power in believer’s lives. A prophetic spirit will be released that will re-energize the church in its life, mission, and intimacy with Jesus. This prophetic spirit will cause many to testify as Peter did on the day of Pentecost and cause untold numbers of people to come to the Lord. Holy Spirit will teach the church how to move forth in unparalleled power and witness of God’s love and grace. Accompanying this will be dreams, visions, miracles and powerful works accomplished by Holy Spirit testifying to His Lordship. Truly, the gospel will be preached with signs following (Mark 16:20). 

A great multitude of believers will preach the Word of God, not with wise and persuasive words but with a demonstration of the Spirit’s power. Many will come to Christ. It will be the awakening of our age. You may think that this is nothing new, scripture testifies about this (1 Cor. 2:4). However, it will now become an everyday reality in the lives and ministries of almost countless numbers of believers. That will be the difference. All this will bear witness to this generation that God is real, cannot be denied and that He is turning the world upside down to make Himself known.

Holy Spirit Driven Move of God Using The Multitude of Believers

Perhaps the most exciting thing I see is that these things will not be clergy driven. They will be Holy Spirit driven. It will not be where the clergy will do most of the ministry and the people are only spectators. Rather the ministry will truly be one in which Holy Spirit moves and equips the believers, with the five-fold (apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors, and teacher – Ephesians 4:11-12) being in proper coordination with Holy Spirit for equipping believers for ministry. 

Sadly, it is very often the case that the five-fold is doing the ministry while believers are either not equipped and/or are spectators who are either not encouraged to minister or are not faithful to do so. What will be accomplished will be nothing short of a fulfillment and healthy alignment of Ephesians 4:12 where the body of Christ will be edified (strengthened). The body of Christ will function in a much greater fulness like never before, stronger, healthier, and more vibrant. While Ephesians 4:11-12 has been scripturally true, this will be a time of experiential fulfillment on a vast plane, because of what Holy Spirit is pouring out. It is truly Reformation (2.0).

Reformation (2.0) will experience God pouring forth Holy Spirit like He did on the Day of Pentecost. There will be untold demonstrations of His power with signs following. The difference is that it will be in our age and not localized (as it was in Act 2 in Jerusalem), rather it will occur throughout the world. This is the time of great harvest and because of this Reformation (2.0) is needed to accomplish the task God has ordained. 

Footnote: (1) - http://www.biblestudy.org/bibleref/meaning-of-numbers-in-bible

God Wants Us to Know Both His Name AND His Acts!

Exodus 6:2-3 – An God said to Moses, ‘I am Yahweh – the Lord’. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob as El-Shaddai – ‘God Almighty’ – but I did not reveal my name, Yahweh, to them. (NLT)

We know from this, as well as from other scriptures, that God appeared and made Himself known to the patriarchs. He also made a covenant with Abraham (Genesis 15:1-21). God then reiterated this same covenant with Isaac (Gen 26:1-3) and then again with Jacob (Gen 28:1-4 & 35:9-12). Since He spoke to these patriarchs in such a defining way, what then is meant in Exodus 6:3 where it states that He did not reveal His name (YHWH or Yahweh) to them?

Before we answer this question, let’s give a little more background. First, in Exodus 6:3 the name for God used here is El-Shaddai. It is translated “God Almighty” and can also be translated as “The God Who is Enough”, “The All-Powerful” and “The One Who is Self-Sufficient”. These are wonderful names that speak to God being Israel’s protector, source of strength and blessing. There are two times in the book of Genesis where God reveals Himself as “I Am El Shaddai” – once to Abraham (17:1) and then to Jacob (35:11). These two verses are the background verses to help us understand Exodus 6:3. [1]

Second, in Exodus 3:14 says “God said to Moses, I Am Who I Am. And He said, ‘Thus you shall say to the children of Israel, ‘I Am has sent me to you.’”  The name used here is YHWH. According to the notes in the “New Spirit Filled Life Bible” pg. 80 – “God identifies Himself as ‘I Am Who I Am’. Revealing His divine name declares His character and attributes, reinforcing that the issue is not who Moses is, but who is with him. This name is related to the Hebrew verb meaning ‘to be,’ and so implies the absolute existence of God. The Hebrew here is also the source of the English, ‘Yahweh,’ ‘Jehovah,’ or ‘Lord’ (vs. 15).”

Third, during the Patriarchal period, the name YHWH was used frequently. As a matter of fact, it appears 148 times in the book of Genesis.[2]

So, as asked above, if God was known by the His name (YHWH) prior to Exodus 6:3, what does He mean when He says that He did not reveal His name?

Context is always important to consider. Therefore, in order to help us better understand Exodus 6:3 we need to read 6:4-8, which states:

    ⁴ And I (YHWH) reaffirmed my covenant with them. Under its terms, I promised to give them the land of Canaan, where they were living as foreigners. ⁵ You can be sure that I have heard the groans of the people of Israel, who are now slaves to the Egyptians. And I am well aware of my covenant with them. ⁶ “Therefore, say to the people of Israel: ‘I am the Lord. I will free you from your oppression and will rescue you from your slavery in Egypt. I will redeem you with a powerful arm and great acts of judgment. ⁷ I will claim you as my own people, and I will be your God. Then you will know that I am the Lord your God who has freed you from your oppression in Egypt. ⁸ I will bring you into the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I will give it to you as your very own possession. I am the Lord!’” (NLT)

In this portion of scripture, YHWH/the Lord reveals the answer to our question. God is saying that He is going to do something that He has never done before. He is about to act and act very decisively on behalf of Israel against the oppression of Pharaoh and Egypt. To reiterate, God tells Moses: (1) He will establish His covenant with His people [v. 4]; (2) He has heard their groaning and has remembered His covenant [v. 5]; (3) YHWH states that He is their God and that He will redeem and deliver them [v. 6-7]; (4) He will bring them to the land He promises for them [v. 8].

Israel will not only have a knowledge and familiarity of God’s name (YHWH), as important as that is to know the character and person of God. But, by the deliverance of YHWH they will gain an in-depth experiential understanding, far beyond what the patriarchs knew about God. As a matter of fact, “A knowledge of God as Lord/YHWH will emerge from the experience of these events that would be impossible without the experience of these events." [3]

God “appeared to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (in limited form) as El Shaddai (who makes covenantal promises). But I (God) was not the object of (full) covenantal knowledge to them as conveyed by my name Yahweh (who keeps covenantal promises).” [4]

In other words, they will come to know YHWH/Lord/God in a much deeper way, not just by His NAMES (El Shaddai and YHWH) but also, by God's deliverance, because of His mighty ACTS!

It is also wonderful to look at this in terms of the covenant promise and blessing. God not only establishes covenants, but also acts powerfully to fulfill the terms of the covenant for the sake of His people.

Just as Exodus chapter 6 marks the restoration of the Israelites in covenanted relationship with God in order that they would know both His NAME and His ACTS, so now God wants to show us His NAMES and His ACTS. The overriding goal of God is to bring us into deep, abiding, and intimate relationship with Him and this in how He does it. 

Just as He delivered Israel from the bondage and oppression in order to start them on the journey toward the Promised Land, His heart’s desire is to deliver us from sin, thereby redeeming us, and grant us liberty and freedom. The purpose of this liberty and freedom is so that we are free from the entanglement of sin (Galatians 5:1) and are empowered to  live in faith and faith that is expressed by love (Gal. 5:6, 13-14).

Every Christian needs to know God by His character, promises, and the historic written testimony of the Word of God. As mentioned above, and in the context of this article, we call this - knowing God’s NAME. This is absolutely wonderful and necessary. All of us need to know who our God is because this is foundational for our capacity to have trust and relationship in Him.

However, as stated previously, God wants us to know even more than just His NAME. He wants us to know His ACTS as well. Knowing the ACTS of God is vital to the growth of our faith and for participating with Him by allowing Holy Spirit to flow in and through us with demonstrations of His power which confirm His Word. 

This is something important to understand so that we will align our lives to God, have faith and expectation based upon the Word (knowing who He is and His promises to us). As we put to death the deeds of the flesh, renew our minds, and look to live only for Him, we open up the gate of our spirits and souls (mind, will, and emotions) for God to flow by His presence and power. This is how we are called to live. This is a reality that is meant to be ours because of the covenant promises we have in our Lord. 

To know God by His NAME and ACTS is what God wants us to experience, to grow in, and walk in - knowing greater victory, His anointing and the awesome power and presence of His Spirit. It was true for the Israelite in Exodus and it is even truer for us today!

---

[1] Exodus – An Exegetical Commentary by Victor P. Hamilton, Baker Academic, div. of Baker Publishing Group, 2011, pg. 99.

[2] Exodus – An Exegetical Commentary, Victor P. Hamilton, p. 100.

[3] Exodus – An Exegetical Commentary, p. 101.

[4] Exodus – An Exegetical Commentary, quoting Garr (1992:408), p. 102.

The Power of Divine Inspiration

Have you ever gone through a dry spell, felt stuck, or perhaps had some sort of blockage getting from point “A” to point “B” in your life? Of course, it happens to everyone at one time or another. The question is what should you do at times like this? I think I have the solution for you. Actually, I don’t have any solution, but I can point you in the right direction to where you can get it. 

While the solution is really nothing new, it is nonetheless important to bear in mind. In my opinion, the best way to overcome our limitations and setbacks is to receive the help and inspiration of the Holy Spirit. He is the solution!

We know that the Holy Spirit is our comforter and lead us into understanding. When we spend time and cultivate our relationship with God through the Holy Spirit we transcend ourselves and our limitations. We create a new atmosphere- one that is super-charged with the presence of God. This is the same God who has no limitations, is the author of creativity, and the same God who wants to share all things with us. Praying in the Spirit is powerful. Doing so as a habit for a good length of time on a regular basis leads to our transformation and a coveting of the presence of God in our lives. Remember when Moses spent time with God and His face? It radiated and glowed with the glory of God. When we spend time in His presence our spirit and lives radiate and glow too!

Incredible things happen to us when we are in God’s presence. While He builds and strengthens our spirits, His Spirit also melds with our spirits and the two become like one. This is participating with God in His divine nature and being brought into the presence and pace of the Trinitarian love relationship between Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

Something incredible happens when we are in God’s presence. While it builds and strengthens our spirits, His Spirit also melds with our spirits and the two become like one. I cannot prove this but praying in the Spirit fires our spirits AND our brains. When this becomes a lifestyle, expect dynamic things in the spiritual and natural dimensions to happen. 

Personally, I have found that time spent with God in prayer and worship has been like sowing and reaping. As I have sowed into my most important and eternal relationship, I have received greater insights into things, answers to problems, renewed creative energy and, at times, have seen God work powerfully on my behalf. Basically, it’s the power and presence working in and through us. Thankfully, it is available to everyone who seeks it. 

Enjoy the power of divine inspiration!

God is EAGER to Enlarge your life!

God REALLY wants to Enlarge your Life. Recently, God showed me in a vision that He is waiting and wanting to enlarge us and has an eager desire to do so. Tragically, we often view Him as indifferent, or stingy, or mysterious as to how He interacts with us. None of this is true.

We have His unconditional love and favor – that is biblical truth. He is determined to advance His kingdom and we are central to that plan. He has given us the Holy Spirit to assist us every step of the way and we have been given every spiritual blessing in Christ. We need to live, worship and work with a boldness – a confidence and determination, that we are fulfilling His calling in everything we do. As we do, God activates and enlarges His presence and power in our lives. When we love Him, serve Him, and obey Him; without reservation or the blockage of sin in our lives, we are participating with God in His divine nature. As a result, we will absolutely see the growth of His Kingdom in and through us.  

By living a yielded life and surrendering to the Holy Spirit, we participate with God in who He is and what He wants to accomplish. Our yielding causes Him to occupy our space and to permeate the atmosphere of our lives. And, where God is, there is life, blessing, favor and expansion. As a result, He will grow our hearts, minds; expand our gifts, talents, and abilities. New opportunities, creativity, opening of closed doors, and the revealing of new strategies simply unfold before us. Because we are connected to Him and cultivate our relationship with Him, we experience His anointing and see His power flow through our lives. His power and presence changes us and permeates the world around us. 

When God is enlarged in our lives, we are enlarged. God is eager and wanting this to happen. Because He is eager, we should be too! This is something to covet and cultivate. We can be absolutely assured that by cultivating time in God’s presence we will look like Him, act like Him, love what He loves and hate what He hates. He acts become our acts, and His passion becomes ours. Because of this, we see a powerful God doing powerful things through us and on our behalf. 

This is how our lives are enlarged, because it is God doing the enlarging.  Isaiah 54:2-3 - “Enlarge your house; build an addition. Spread out your home, and spare no expense! For you will soon be bursting at the seams.

2017 - The Year of Sea Change

It has been 5 years since my last contribution to this blog. That is a very long time. Too long; however, I had to embark upon an odyssey during that time which led me to understand some things before I could once again pick up the pen and continue. Now that I am back from my unpaid sabbatical, here is the first entry for this New Year of 2017.

God has shown me that this is the year of Sea Change. When God spoke this, I remember having heard the words 'sea change' before; however, I wasn't sure what it meant. I looked up the definition as quickly as I could and here is what it means: 'A profound or notable transformation.' Jesus made it very clear to me that this year will be one of profound changes on many levels. Things will unfold that will cause people to see things in a totally new light. There will be transformation, new innovation, with limits becoming seemingly limitless in many areas. 

It is important to understand this so we can prepare ourselves to see things in new ways.It will be a paradigm shift in the way we view many things in life. With spiritual insight God wants us to have spiritual vision in order to project from the prophetic realm what He is releasing so we can apprehend it and call it forth, as well as utilize it, and be a part of it. 2017 will be the year that will become known for the birthing of many important things in many areas of life, such as the economy, technology, science, and even politics. In many situations where it seemed that only problems existed with no hope of solutions, there will now come solutions. An oppression and glass ceiling is being lifted. There will be more creativity and an ease in accomplishing many things on many levels of society and in many sectors. It is all because of a release from heaven and the kingdom of God being enlarged upon the earth. 

What is happening in the spirit is a very significant shift in the spiritual realm.It is also a significant download of God's presence, power, and influence into our realm. It will require that we shift and align ourselves with what God is doing and has yet to do. Without aligning ourselves, there is a risk that we may miss these blessings for our personal lives. 

2016 was a very difficult and painful year in many ways. Just think about the news events and headlines over the last year. However, in 2017, God wants to heal, bless, restore and enlarge. He will move by His spirit through His people to accomplish His purposes, as He always has done. Yet, He will also bless and move through people who don't know or acknowledge Him. Through them God will accomplish many of His purposes and many of these same people will come to experience and know Him. These are people who may otherwise not encounter Him. 

On a personal level, God wants to bring you over the threshold from your current situation and experience to a new reality, a new invigorating experience - a 'Sea Change!' What will it look like? Answer: Well, that is something between you and God. However, I believe that it will involve a birthing of God's plans in your life. How can you posture yourself to receive this? Answer: By apprehending and spending time in the presence of God through the Holy Spirit. 

This is a time to spiritually romance the Holy Spirit and long after Him. "Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you your heart's desires" (Psalm 37:4 NLT). Begin to cultivate a deeper relationship with Him now so you can yield more of His presence, joy and power in your life and endeavors. Invite Him to have first consideration and place in your life so that you diminish and He increases, thereby allowing Him to move through you to: effect and change, bless, heal, grow, innovate, cultivate, enlarge, strengthen, create, and increase your life, relationships, work, and creative endeavors. 

Hope you have a wonderful and prosperous life during this year of 'Sea Change'.

The Resurrection is the Recalibration of Our Reality

The resurrection of Jesus is the most important historical event for mankind, next to the creation of the world. It demonstrated that Jesus is the Son of God with power over sin and death (Romans 1:4). Because He went to the cross, bearing our sin and shame, we can now live life abundantly in Him (John 10:10) escaping the corruption of sin (2 Peter 1:4) and judgment of God upon sin (Romans 5:9).

The resurrection is the great "game-changer" for those who turn to God and believe. Prior to this, mankind was separated from God because of sin and lawless acts (Colossians 2:13). But because of God's love for us, while we were dead in our sins, He sent His son as the ultimate sacrifice to die in our place (Romans 5:8). When Jesus shed His blood for you and me it reconciled and made us right (justified) before God, saving us from the penalty of sin and God's wrath (judgment) against us (Romans 5:8-9). When we turn from sin, considering ourselves dead to it, acknowledge Jesus as our Savior and Lord, we now experience life by the power of God (2 Timothy 2:11). As a result, we partake of His divine nature, escaping the corruption of sin (2 Peter 1:4). The eyes of our understanding are opened so that we may may know the hope of His calling, as well as the riches of the glory of His inheritance for us - for His children who believe (Ephesians 1:18).

God wants us to understand and experience the incredible greatness of His power for our lives, which is the same power that God utilized when He raised Jesus from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places above every other power and authority, placing everything under His feet (Ephesians 1:19-22).We are no longer to walk in sin, nor are we to walk in defeat and weakness - we have God!

The Apostle Paul understood this and made it His life's passion to love and serve God, without reservation. He purposed to know Christ and the power of His resurrection (Philippians 3:10) in his life and ministry. We too are called to walk this way. Though we are weak in ourselves, we no longer serve ourselves and can call upon a God who loves us, blesses us and gives us His power to overcome the obstacles and problems in life, as well as minister with His power and love. As we seek God and love Him with all our hearts (Deuteronomy 6:5) obeying and trusting in Him, we come to see His glory and the goodness He had given us with His very great and precious promises that are for us (2 Peter 1:4). Because we belong to Him, He has given us every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3).

For this reason we bow before God, serving Him with all reverence and love. We are strengthened by His power through the Holy Spirit in our inner self so that Christ dwells in our hearts by the faith He has given us. Being rooted and grounded in His great love, He reveals the breadth, length, height, and depth of the love of Christ - a love that goes beyond all knowledge, so we may know all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:14-20).

This is the true meaning and purpose of life - the life we are meant to live, as destined by God. This is the abundant life God has for us who believe. We are to receive the power of the resurrection from Him. God is so glorious and His love is so wonderful that it recalibrates our reality!

2011 - The Highway to Our God

God wants 2011 to be a year of great blessing for His people. 2010 was a year of remaining faithful, sowing in faithfulness and persevering in our faith. It was a time of preparation, remaining true to God, and maintaining our first love. In 2011 God's heart and desire is to bring about a harvest for those who sowed in faith. There are a number of blessings God wants to pour out on His people to build us, bless us, provide for our needs., expand His Kingdom and glorify His name.
One of the scriptures God has put on my heart concerning this new year is Isaiah 62:10 - "Pass through, pass through the gates! Prepare the way for the people. Build up, build up the highway! Remove the stones. Raise a banner for the nations."

God is greatly encouraging us, His people, to pass through the "gates". What are these "gates"? While there are physical gates there are also spiritual gates. Like physical gates, spiritual gates provide or deny us access to new spiritual places and territories. Many gates can only be opened or broken by God (the breaker) and He will do that just to bless His people.

According to author Barbara Yoder (The Breaker Anointing, pg 44)..."The house of God [the Church - His people] is the place where the gate of heaven resides...the Church becomes the place where the gate of heaven will open. When the gate opens, the opening either permits what is on Earth to ascend into heaven, or it allows what is in heaven to descend to Earth. It is through these gates that heaven comes down to Earth. We know from Micah 2:13 that God, [who] is the breaker goes before us and breaks open the way. Something compels God into action to open those gates - [it is] faith coupled with obedience."

God is saying "prepare the way for the people. Build up, build up the highway." God is leading His people by the multitudes to travel on the straight way that leads to His presence. God is also telling us to "remove the stones", to remove anything that gets in our way from coming to God and accessing His presence. Hebrews 12: 1 tells us to: ..."throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." 


Our wonderful Heavenly Father is calling us to come into His presence to worship with all our hearts and give Him all the glory due to His name. It is in His presence that we are fully actualized, energized, transformed, and empowered to live the life we were destined by Him to live. Also, in His presence is healing, unfathomable blessing, forgiveness, and grace. His presence means power - "incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms" (Ephesians 1:19-20). This is resurrection power, the most powerful power!

As we spend time in His presence, God will transform us by the power of the Holy Spirit. He will remove yokes and bondages, as well as restore that which the devourer, satan, has stolen (Joel 2:25, Malachi 3:11). He wants to move through His Church dynamically and desires His people to yield to His leading and voice. He's calling for His people to desire nothing more than His heart and who will allow Him to receive all the glory for what He will do. As a result, the Church will "raise a banner for the nations" for all to see and marvel at. His banner is one of victory and triumph. As we raise Him up He gives us the victory in Christ (1 Corinthians 15:57).

Are you ready? Are you ready for a new move of God in your life? Are you willing to yield to God in all faithfulness, pass through the gates, travel down the highway into His presence and worship before His throne until you are completely transformed and fully yielded to Him with every fiber of your being? If so, 2011 could turn out to be the most transformational year that you have ever had in your life. It will be full of every spiritual blessing in Christ (Ephesians 1:3) and riches in God that are beyond compare. Our destiny awaits and our destination and destiny is God!

Immanuel-God With Us!

Isaiah 7:14 & Matthew 1:22 - "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel - which means, 'God with us.'"

This was written about 700 years before Christ and was a prophecy given by Isaiah the prophet to Ahaz, the king of Judah. While it is part of a larger prophecy concerning Ahaz, Judah and Assyria, it also served as a Messianic prophecy because it foretold the coming of God Himself to mankind.

The Jewish people had longed for the coming of the Messiah, the King of Righteousness, for centuries. The Messiah was the fulfillment of the hopes and prayers of many people in many generations who sought their Heavenly King to rescue/deliver them in the midst of a very broken world wrought with sin and great oppression. Jeremiah 23: 5-6 states: "'The days are coming,' declares the Lord, when I will raise up to David a righteous Branch, a King who will reign wisely and do what is just and right in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. This is the name by which he will be called: The Lord Our Righteousness."

Matthew, the writer of the book of the same name, repeats the prophecy (Isaiah 7:14) in Matthew 1:23 to illustrate that Jesus is, in fact, the Messiah that was promised. The name 'Jesus' means "God is salvation" and the name 'Immanuel' means "God with us" which speaks of Jesus being both God and man. He was fully man so he could share in our humanity and that by His death He would destroy him who holds the power of death - that is, the devil - and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death. For this reason He had to be made like us in every way, in order that He would become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that He would make atonement for the sins of the people (Hebrews 2:14-15, 17-18). He was also fully God because He was, and is, the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of His being, sustaining all things by His powerful word (Hebrews 1:3).

The Old Testament believers prior to Christ were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised (Hebrews11:39). But for us today, who know Him as our Lord and Savior, we have the fulfillment of what they hoped for, which is the presence of God with us!

Jesus is our Immanuel and we therefore have the riches of God's grace lavished upon us with all wisdom and understanding (Ephesians 1:8). Also,..."because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace [we] have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:4-7).

Not only is God with us, He is also in us by the person and power of the Holy Spirit. Ephesians 1:13-14 says:  "Having believed, we were marked in Him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a guarantee of our inheritance in God" (Ephesians 1:13b-14a). The fact that each of us as believers has the Holy Spirit is a guarantee that we belong to God, that we have every spiritual blessing in Him (Ephesians 1:3), that our future hope of eternity with Him is very real and will be fulfilled because of His faithfulness. What a hope! What a joy! What a life we have in Him!

May God open the eyes of our hearts that they may be enlightened in order that we would know the hope to which He has called us, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and His incomparably great power for us who believe (Ephesians 1:18-19).

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses (the Old Testament believers who hoped and prayed for the coming of Immanuel), let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith..." (Hebrews 12:1-2).

Jesus is our Immanuel who in ages past was the unrevealed mystery of God, but who has now been made known to us as God in us and amongst us, our hope of glory (Colossians 1:27).

What To Do When You Are At The End Of Your Rope!

Our current recession in the U.S. is taking a toll on many families and lives. There are so many people who are either out of work or fearful that they will soon be because of the shrinking economy. Many people have lost their homes over the last few years, due to foreclosure, and many more hope and pray that it will never happen to them. In addition, personal finances are getting increasingly tight for many people yet expenses continue to rise. Bills mount, stress builds, and hope of relief seems to grow very distant. Does this sound like you or the life of someone you know? Perhaps your situation is different, yet you still feel like you are at the end of your rope. If you are in a desperate situation, whatever the cause of it, and you need to know how to get out of it then this article is for you!

There is a story in 1 Kings 17:8-24 about a widow who was in a somewhat similar situation to what I just described. She lived in Zeraphath, a Mediterranean town located near Sidon, during a time of severe drought and famine. Her situation was very desperate. Being a widow, she didn't have anyone to support her. She was the sole provider for herself and her son, who needed to be fed. Her situation was so bad that she only had enough food for one more meal. She determined, based upon her situation, that this would be her last meal. She would go home, prepare it, feed herself and her son and then after die. Horrible, isn't it?

But, God had a plan! God told His servant and prophet, Elijah, to go to Zeraphath and meet this widow. God told Elijah, who was also hungry, that He would provide him with food from this woman. Now, remember, this is the woman who had the very meager ingredients for only one meal, and from this meal she had to feed two people, herself and her son, and then after planned to die. It would seem to make more sense if God sent Elijah to the home of a king or a rich person. However, God often does things in ways that we would never conceive and has plans that are infinitely wiser than our own.

When Elijah met the woman in verse 10, she was in the midst of gathering sticks with which to cook her last meal. Elijah asked this woman to give him water and a piece of bread (vs. 11). She told him that she didn't have any bread but only a small amount of flour and olive oil with which she would make one last meal for herself and her son before they died (vs. 12). Elijah then told her not to be afraid but to go home and make the meal she planned, yet first make him a small loaf of bread (vs. 13). The prophet then said: "For this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: 'The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the Lord sends rain on the land'" (vs. 14). What a test of faith it must have been for this woman, yet what a wonderful promise. Wow!

What did the widow do? She responded in faith and obedience! She went home and did exactly what Elijah told her to do. Because of this she and her son were blessed. Verses 15-16 state that there was enough food every day for the woman, her son and Elijah, "for the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the Word of the Lord spoken by Elijah." There is more to the story which you can read about in 1 Kings 17.

What a wonderful illustration about how God delivers. It should greatly encourage us because God cares for everyone of His children, just as He did with this woman. He is our deliverer (Psalm 18:2) and our help (Psalm 124:8). The Bible says in Hebrews 4:16 that we can approach God's throne of grace [that means grace for us!] with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace [His help and empowerment] in our time of need. These are very real promises from our very real and very caring God. Psalm 9:18 says, "But God will not forget the needy; the hope of the afflicted will never perish." This is the same God who provides for the birds of the air and the flowers of the fields and promises to care even more for us (Matthew 6: 25-34).

So, how will God help you when you are at the end of your rope? First, trust in Him, knowing that He loves and cares for you with all His heart. Stand on His promises and as Proverbs 3:5-6 says: "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight." Second, get close to God, cling to Him and obey Him. In John 15:7 Jesus said "if you remain in Me and my Words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." Third, wait and have hope in God. Don't give up! Isaiah 40:31 states: "but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Fourth, the Lord is a deliverer and He will deliver you. "The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; He is their stronghold in times of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers them..." (Psalm 37:39-40).

Though being at the end of your rope is very threatening God is there with you. When you reach the end of yourself, you reach the beginning of God. Let Him reveal Himself to you in your situation and miraculously provide for you. Give Him thanks and praise in the meantime in anticipation of His deliverance.