“In a sort of ghastly simplicity we remove the organ and demand the function. We make men without chests and expect of them virtue and enterprise. We laugh at honour and are shocked to find traitors in our midst. We castrate and bid the geldings be fruitful.”
― C.S. Lewis, The Abolition of Man
Lions Get Wounded Too
Today’s climate towards men is interesting to say the least. There are screams of “The Patriarchy” to “Toxic Masculinity” to “The New Beta Males”. As if things were that simple. Taglines, headlines, news snippets are a plenty. Also we hear, “Believe Women” and the “Me too” movement gaining ground but that’s a different blog for a different person to write.
Lions do get wounded but how many address it. There is a huge stigma with men and owning up to their issues regardless of self or other inflicted. I think there is a healthy medium to be at. Too far has the pendulum swung. It really has been a slow fade. In the 90’s sitcom and even today’s the man has, generally speaking, come across as a buffoon. Dads are mocked. Fathers are non existent. Men are pointed out as chauvinist or super alpha. Hardly the case in real life but in today’s social media and headline world there seems to be no middle ground.
So…I began this blog post almost 4 years ago…my have things changed. I’m now considered racist, privileged, and nationalistic purely because I’m a man and I’m white. A always thought one was judged based on the content of their character and not the color of their skin but I guess not. What is Operation Mockingbird up to these days? The word “Man” is now under attack as well. This isn’t even a political post, this is a realistic, real life post. The media, in my opinion, are to blame along with “higher” learning. I hope there is a revival amongst the geldings to regain their God given manhood and begin offering their strength once again. There is definitely “toxic” masculinity out there just as there is “toxic” femininity…don’t shout me down when I’m preaching good. It is true that men has ravaged the world but equally true that good men have counteracted and fixed or prevented the ravaging millions to their own death.
So men, buck the media’s false version of you! Rid yourself of the geldingness! Regain your manhood! Stand up straight with chins high, so high as to gaze upon the One who made you a man for a reason! Walk humbly yet confident! Be proud of whatever color of skin you have for that is how God made and intended you to be!
Welcome to my first ever Guest Blogger. He is my best friend and a great writer. We’ve written one book together and he has written others one of which is in the publishing process. Below you’ll see a blurb about said book. Enjoy the post and, if you feel led, donate to his GoFundMe as I know it’s good soil.
In this world we struggle trying to keep up with many financial obligations. It seems like we work endless hours and overtime to barely make a dent into the bills that our due.
Is this all that life is? Are we born, live and die only to work? Or is life so much more?
It has always been thought that the husband and wife were the main providers for their families. Is this true, or could it be the couples are in error? You may ask, “Well, if not us, then who?”
In my book, Who is your Provider?? I touch on this topic and many more. In it, I speak of God being the source of everything we need. This is a challenge to not only many in the church, but in this world because man being the source has always been. However, a transition needs to be made to where man looks to God for everything he needs.
Ever since my faith walk started in 2008, I had been put in the place to where God has been my source. He more or less tied my hands to where I couldn’t do anything but rely on Him. Through this time, amazingly He provided for all of my needs. All the contents in the book is everything I had learned through this time of trusting on God.
I had finished writing it in 2010 and now it is the 7th year. I had been waiting in faith for the Publisher God had told me about. Recently I sent my manuscript to a literary agent from Christian Faith Publishing. After the review board read it, I was informed that they loved it.
As of now, I’m walking in faith for the amount close to $5000 to get it through the publishing process. Once the amount is paid, six months down the road the book will be on the stands for people to read.
I have set up a Gofundme page so people can not only see the progress of the book, but if God leads them to give towards it. On the page, I have placed a promotional video about the book and an unedited excerpt from one of the chapters in it.
I hope you will like it and I look forward to your reading it once it comes out.
If you would like to see the Gofundme page, here is the link to it:
This may sound strange coming from a man but…I love reality shows. Well not all reality shows but certain ones hold some value. Not those silly Survivor, Jersey Shore, and other weird ones. My two favorites are The Voice and So You Think You Can Dance. I tear up when I experience seeing someone who is somewhat hidden now blossoming into their gift. I absolutely love honor, dignity, and being noticed. This article could go very religious in that I could talk about vanity, God’s glory versus man’s, and the other arguments against, well whatever religious people hate about random things but I’m want to come from a different vantage point.
Like I said above, seeing someone be recognized for their gift and honor moves my spirit and soul to a deep place within me. However, if you’re like me, than you’ve tried many things to find “what you’re good at” and have yet to hit the mark. I played Soccer as a kid (who hasn’t) and then tried baseball one summer then went on to play football for a losing team on a local community league. I then played JV football at high school (nobody gets cut there) then got cut in 11th grade for Varsity football because I was more of a soft-spoken, laid back type of gent. I didn’t care much about school nor about the future. My siblings were excellent hockey players who went on to play pro roller hockey but not me. I liked pot and video games. Then when I was 20 I (re)dedicated my life to Jesus. Got free from pot yet still entangled with self-worth issues.
You see I had trouble individuating when I was younger. I wasn’t really great at one thing. Sure I was semi good at soccer, in baseball I couldn’t hit the ball for the life of me, and in football I wasn’t as aggressive as I should have been. I actually tried out for hockey once but made the B team and then dropped out. I wasn’t good at any particular subject in school though I enjoyed Home EC and the Sciences in general. I absolutely hated reading and writing was a close second. I couldn’t sing, dance, or play an instrument (I tried learning guitar many years back as an adult but threw my “Idiots Guide to Playing Guitar” book away after it demanded I learn to read music) so that was a bust. I even wrote and recorded rap songs (which can still be found online) when I had a lot of free time on my hands. I wasn’t good at it, though I thought the lyrics were on point and held several meanings often. I did not have an education so I went into the family business of carpentry. I was fairly good at that. I do have a strong attention to detail, when I want to, so that helped in that field. Left that field went to other labor work of delivering mattresses and then working at a major toy company’s distribution center. After working 10 hour shifts on concrete floors and working 10 hour shifts during a 12 day stretch twice during Christmas season I had enough of that riff raff. I then took classes at a local community college to help study for three different computer certifications. That was over 4 years ago and I only have 2 out of 3 certifications…in a field where I don’t find fulfillment or gratification. Then I started studying and reading about inner healing & deliverance concepts and I’m hooked. It fascinates me to no end. That and psychology as well. Abnormal psychology to be exact. My new venture is writing. For a person who abhorred reading and writing to become an avid reader and writer is interesting to say the least. The verdict (mine, God’s, and those who read it) is still out on writing. I also find immense fulfillment is doing prayer ministry in the limited time I do it. If would do it full-time if it were to be economically viable one day. I still have my doubts, which is something I’m pondering in my spirit and my soul, if this is what God has for me or not. Looking back I wish I went to college for Christian counseling but some things weren’t meant to be I suppose. Even at 33 years old I’m still individuating. Still investigating to find my niche. Still trying to “Do” while finding out what I’m suppose to “Do.”
What I wrote above is probably not foreign to many of you. The only difference is that you may be 20, 40, or 50 and above and still not know. Mid-life crisis anyone? Most of us in waiting have to do what we have to do to survive and pay bills and most hobbies are to kill time. We are swamped with responsibilities and somewhat forced into fields that don’t fulfill. To those who love what they do and get fulfillment and get paid we all envy you or at least I do. Now here’s the rub…what do you do when you don’t know what to do.
We must reconcile our past and present with God’s truth over us. And to borrow Graham Cooke’s quote, “We must bring the future into today.” The foundation for any “Doing” comes from “Being.” Character is the foundation where fulfillment can be built. When you live in and with fulfillment, the problem of problems diminishes. Problems become a stepping stone instead of a stumbling block. Fulfillment bends the will of the problem in your favor wherein problems become but a servant to a master. Fulfillment comes when God’s design, imprinted in your spirit, meets the works that were prepared for it. So here are a few places needing to be addressed.
Time
Land
Agreements
Surroundings
I’ll attempt to explain these as short and concise as possible. Remember there is no shame or condemnation just reconciliation and alignment.
Time
How many of you have been asked the question, “If you were living in a different time when would it be and why?” It’s a great ice breaker in small groups. But how many actually wish they lived in a different time? When we reject the point in time we are in now we reject God’s very own placement of us. We can see God’s time set for all of us in Acts 17:26 which says, “And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their lands and territories.” You see here that God determines the time in which we will live. If we have rejected our time then we must repent and ask God to forgive us. Some have trauma related to time (good teaching here) and some have even cursed their conception and birth like Job (Job 3:3). Still others have actually had their time switch and manipulated through occult activity and SRA. If that is the case God can and will reorient us back to His original timeline for us. When we come to a place where we accept when we are then we can look at the where we are.
Land
Land is an interesting one. There is not much teaching on land in the body of Christ. But if you were to do a word search the word “land” is used in the KJV you’ll find it used 1,717 times in 1,489 verses. Most, I’m sure, are simply talking about land in general but if you look deeper and read all that within the Scripture you’ll see that land plays a big role. As we see in the Acts verse above God appoints land and territories. God appointed land to Adam & Eve, Moses, and Abraham. The only way these people could live out their destiny is to be on the right land. There are deeper dynamics to land (good teaching here) but I’ll queue you in on one. 2 Chron. 7:14 says, “and My people, who are called by My Name, humble themselves, and pray and seek (crave, require as a necessity) My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear them from heaven, and forgive their sin and heal their land.” We’ve all heard this verse but how many have glossed over the ending? I know I have for years but it shows that God wants to heal land. And, like a lot of things, the New Age has stolen and perverted due to the Church leaving a vacuum of not address the whole counsel of God.
When it comes to us and land there are generally two current realities. One is that we are on the land God wants us on or we are not on the land God wants us on. If the former is true and you agree with the Lord than awesome. All is well on the land aspect. If the former, then there are a few reasons. One is that we reject where God wants us just like the time aspect above. Two is that we are not on the land but are moving towards it like Moses and Abraham. Three is that we are dynamic in our land relationship. We go in and out with bondage or we go in and out with freedom. If in bondage, than we are being pulled away by the enemy, ourselves, or trauma but are fighting to stay in. If in freedom, than we accept our land but also know that God has things for us in temporary land placement. To reconcile the where we must again repent for rejecting the land where we are and to ask the Lord if we are on the right land now and if not where to go. God may not say exactly but He may move you to a different city or state like He did to me. We should also ask God about the current land to cleanse it and mine it for God’s treasures (gardeners will understand).
Agreements
We all make agreements as we go through life. Some we vocalize while other we internalize. Both can be labeled “Inner Vows“. Another good article on this is “What is the Soundtrack to Your Story“. When we make agreements on our current life situations, we enforce and solidify the mentality and emotional reactions which then cloud and distort future life situations. That means the past life situations in which you made unhealthy agreements with yourself, others, or the enemy are now clouding and distorting your current reality. We make or have made bitter root judgments which then create a bitter root expectancy. These judgement we have made then hold us and keep us from advancing. It may very well be one major aspects of not know what to do. We again must repent for our inner vows, bitter root judgments & expectancies and ask God to release us from our words and vows so we can move forwards. All of these steps are things you can do before you know what to do.
Surrounding
We are, for the most part, products of our surroundings. We are an amalgamation of our past. We had good parents, bad parents, or no parents. We had good, bad, or no siblings. Our home was either structured, chaos, or somewhere in between. The list goes on and on. Our environment is a huge factor on who we are and whose we are. As you read above in the “Agreements” section you may notice that some of those agreements we’ve made come from the surroundings we were in. Now the past is the past and can be healed, redeemed, and we can learn from the pain we experienced. What I want to talk about is current surroundings. We need freedom. Freedom to do. Freedom to be. Freedom to try. Freedom to fail and freedom to succeed. If you are not in a place, especially Church, where you can’t grow, try new things, expand than you may need to ask the Father if there is a better place for you. If you were never able to individuate as a child or young adult or even a middle-aged adult then it’ll be difficult to live a life of fulfillment. We must surround ourselves with encourages, life-givers, and positive people. It may be hard where you are now but God can provide at least one person but if not, His Presence can surround you and show you Himself and yourself.
Conclusion
Above I described at least four things to do before you know what to do. The list could go on and on but I wanted to give you a few things that maybe you haven’t looked at before. We need to accept the time we are in and the current land that we are on. Then break previous debilitating agreements and adjust our surrounding as much as possible. You’re probably thinking that you don’t have gifts but I can assure you, God has places design and birthright into your spirit and soul. It’s the process of finding what it is that proves to be most difficult. There is probably no platform, TV show, or other experience where you will get honored or esteemed. But if there was a show highlighting people’s ability to speak peace over troubled souls then you’d been voted in. If there was a show looking for the best mom then you’d be at the top. If there was a contest for “Best Dad” then you would out shine them all. If there was a show where a person who loves to serve without any recognition then you would be showcased. If there was a show where raving about the best person who goes over and beyond while behind the scenes then you would be the star.
I struggle everyday to know “What I’m Good At” and still question the things that I think maybe I have a shot at it. I’m still individuating. Maybe I’m a good writer or maybe I suck. Maybe I’ll be a prayer minister (current dream) or maybe I’ll do more harm than good. I still feel the “problem of problems” and am seeking fulfillment where obstacles bend to my design instead of me bending to them. I’m still attempting to walk out of spirit looking for the works that God designed for it. If I look for outward fruit I may be disappointed but I must know that every tree bears fruit at different seasons. When or where is my season? I don’t know. When and where is your season? I don’t know. But what I do know is that we can prepare beforehand and rid ourselves of baggage and develop character and the fruit of the Spirit which provides a foundation for the gift. Graham Cooke said it best, “People destroy with their character what they’ve built with their gift”.
Spirit I call you to attention and I give you freedom to try and to fail.
I give you freedom to try and to succeed.
I give you freedom to receive your sonship and legitimacy from God your Father.
I give you freedom to be a bride who can rest in the Bridegroom.
I speak peace in the process.
I speak healing from the past and restoration in the present.
I bless you with walking with God instead of walking for God.
I bless with you being before doing.
I bless you with being you and no one else.
I bless you with looking in the mirror and liking what you see.
I bless you with looking in the mirror and loving what you see.
I bless you in the name of Jesus, who loves you with an everlasting love.
And I, brethren, could not speak to you as to spiritual men, but as to men of flesh, as to infants in Christ. I gave you milk to drink, not solid food; for you were not yet able to receive it. Indeed, even now you are not yet able,for you are still fleshly. For since there is jealousy and strife among you, are you not fleshly, and are you not acting like mere men?For when one says, “I am of Paul,” and another, “I am of Apollos,” are you not like mere men? – Apostle Paul speaking to the Corinthians
This passage for the past several months has intrigued me. Not the jealousy bit or the strife, not even the “I am of…” statements. But the “acting like mere men”. This has been pinging around my noggin and spirit. Are we not to act like men? Or just like mere men?
Mere defined is: that is solely or no more or better than what is specified. The smallest or slightest.
Spiritual in Greek is pneumatikos which means, “relating to the human spirit, as part of the man who is akin to God and serves as his instrument or organ.”
The above Scripture is 1 Corinthian 3:1-4 and speaks of infancy versus spiritual, milk versus meat. Believe you me, I love getting back to basics. For it’s the basics that provide foundation. If you know anything about building or bedding you know you need a good foundation. Without a proper foundation a house can crumble and a bed can sag…neither are desirable. But lets look at the Scriptures below:
“For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food.For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word of righteousness, for he is an infant.But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice have their senses trained to discern good and evil…Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God,of instruction about washings and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead and eternal judgment. – Hebrews 5:12-14, 6:1-2
Growth is key in the Kingdom. Salvation is the first step…the most important step as it is clearly the foundation of a person life but we must grow. However growth is a gray area. Depending on who you talk to and their background growth means character development, theological understanding, or the amount of miracles that are happening in and around them. I feel like it’s a combination of the three. Balance is key. In order to move forward you need balance. We must submit to God’s grace in order to grow in the fruit of the Spirit. We must learn and grow in our understanding of God and ourselves. We must also grow in faith and understanding of the power of God.
We are not merely men and women but brand new creations in Christ. We must live with this truth. We are spiritual people having physical experiences and not the other way around. The problem is we live as physical beings attempting to obtain spiritual experiences. We have lost touch of Eden and are absorbed with the fallenness that has entrapped us. It is no wonder that Scripture uses the term ransom in regards to our freedom. We live veiled and attempt to re-sow the fabric of the Temple. The matrix has become our reality. Christ did more than die for sins, He restored our position. He restored our spirituality from the sin of looking to the ground and relationship for identity and security. He came to show us Himself.
Ask any scientist about this world. Physicists, Biologists, Astronomy, etc. There is so much to this world that we are finding out and still searching for. Space, biology, oceanography, physics, geology are all fields looks for answers and reasons. I think, no I know, we need more scientists in the Spirit. The Earth is filled with God’s taste and to say that this world is extremely detailed while the spiritual world isn’t is ignorant. People need to launch off of the foundation of the basics and searching for truth and Truth. To say there is no more to God than what Scripture says is a fallacy. Whoa Jordan back up! Are you talking about extra-biblical stuff? Yes and No. Yes because God is bigger than a book and the KJV is not the 4th person of the Trinity. No because God has given us the Scripture as a foundation and blueprint to work from. We must break free from our small boxes of denominations and small views of God and ourselves and enter into a bigger box of God allowing us to see more. Need Scripture proof? Here you go:
So now through the church the multifaceted wisdom of God [in all its countless aspects] might now be made known [revealing the mystery] to the [angelic] rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. – Ephesians 3:10
Multifaceted in Greek is polypoikilos which means much variegated, marked with a great variety of colors. So here we see that through the church God’s multi-colorful, multi-faceted wisdom would be made known to the heavenly places!! We are commissioned to seek God’s wisdom, that hasn’t yet been seen or known, to the physical and spiritual world. This wisdom isn’t milk. It’s meat and we need people who are not mere men and women who can chew on this wisdom. Ask, seek, and knock for those who ask, receive and those who seek, find and those who knock, the door will be opened. We must submit to the training of the Lord so we can better discern between good and evil. Real and false. True and counterfeit.
Can we live a truly physical life and spiritual life together? Why yes you can. As far as we know Jesus is the only person in Heaven with a physical body (one can argue if Elijah, Enoch, or even Moses are included). Jesus is living a truly physical and spiritual life at the same time. Our body is the gateway for the spiritual to operate in the physical (more on that with an upcoming post). We are not mere men. We are more so. We must live above the natural man because, to the core, we are more than that. We are individuals in the Kingdom but we are more so a part of a body and this body needs to work together. This world is dying, hurting, and in pain and we need wisdom from God. We must no longer use prepackaged answers for non packaged problems. People’s pain is specific so our answers should be as well. And we can only handle the answers if stop acting as mere men and engage our spirit with God’s Spirit to co-labor with Him to prepare for His coming.
In closing I hope you understand what I’m getting at. There is so much more to this walk then doing church. There is true adventure when we engage with the Lord in our everyday life. If you have a problem and haven’t found the answers in the 5th book you’ve read on the subject or the 10 time in the prayer line then engage with the Lord and own the answer. We must move past our toddler staged Christianity and enter adolescence and then onto adulthood. There is wisdom to the person who asks and is able to get past the milk and onto the solids.
“To whom would He teach knowledge, And to whom would He interpret the message? Those just weaned from milk? Those just taken from the breast?
Dualism – the division of something conceptually into two opposed or contrasted aspects, or the state of being so divided
Gnostic Dualism is the heretical teaching that says all physical matter is evil thus shunning it and only adhering to spiritual world.
Charismatic Dualism can be described as the belief that the soul-life is bad and the spirit/Spirit life is good.
This isn’t a wide-spread issue that I personally know of however from time to time I do hear the phrase “They were in the spirit and then dropped back into the soul” meaning what they were doing was good but now that it’s the soul it’s not good anymore. Spirit = good and soul = bad. This is not so in my opinion and I believe Scripture supports it.
Another common sayings could be, “Oh he is just operating from the soul” or “That person is so soulish.” What I think is happening is that people mistake soul with flesh or carnality. They are not the same thing. “More of Him and less of me” is also a common one. Personally I don’t like that term either. Number one reason for not liking it is because people base that off of John the Baptist says in John 3:30, “I must decrease and He must increase”, when the context was John the Baptist forerunning Jesus’ coming and Jesus’ ministry. Some of us take it as we don’t matter and we need to crucify the soul. Both are wrong.
3 John 1:2 says,
Beloved, I pray that in all respects you may prosper and be in good health, just as your soul prospers.
Soul in the Greek is psychē and simply means the seat of the feelings, desires, affections, aversions, etc. So here Paul is saying he wants us in good health and prosperous just as our soul prospers. So our souls must prosper and if so, how can they prosper if we equate the soul with flesh, evil, etc? God gave us a soul and it is the life of God. God made it and gave it so His original intent was and still is for good. The soul operates with the organic body. Mind with brain, emotions with chemicals (generally speaking), and will with brain (conscious or subconscious). The soul can only operate as good as the organic operates. That is why when there is a chemical imbalance in the body, emotions, will, and mind do not operate the best. With the soul we do believe, have faith, reason with the Lord and others, have strongholds (whether good or bad), and affect the body. Our souls must be healed, cleansed, restored, set apart, and grown. Our souls carry a strong redemptive gift (see http://www.sandylandry.com) and with that redemptive gift is a birthright, authority, and redemptive quality God has given us to affect the world around us. The soul is good because God originally created it good and once saved it becomes good. But the most important factor in our soul’s growth, stability, wholeness, and essence is when the soul is led by our spirit (of course the Holy Spirit as well).
1 Thessalonians 5:23 declares,
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Do you see how it’s listed? Not body, soul, and spirit but spirit, soul, and then body. I have a hypothesis about why the body is listed last and not first but that’s for another blog.
God has designed the spirit, as the light of God and made in the very essence of God, to lead the soul and body. This is why I believe Moses, Jesus, and others could have not eaten or drank water for 40 days yet survive. Their spirits were leading and in charge of their soul and body.
Spirit in Greek is pneuma and simply means the part of us never referred to as a depersonalised force but the efficient source of any power, affection, emotion, desire, etc. Oftentimes the spirit and soul get combined together as one so we longer are a trinity like God (thought we are created in His image) but a dual being of sorts. However, Hebrews 4:12 dispels this argument and says that there is a division that happens and must happen. But this division is not for dividing to separate and remove but to distinguish mode and function.
For so long we have operated out of our souls in most of our spiritual activities. Our souls have been trying to do the work of our spirit and vice versa…and it’s not our soul’s fault not our the fault of our spirit per se. It is the fault of inadequate teaching of our spirit’s role, design, and function. Our spirits have an incredible database of things spiritual, soulful, and bodyful (is that a word?). Our spirit is light and light can and does carry data. “Really?” you ask. Yes, really. Think fiber optics. Data is put into light, then transferred to then be used. Same as our spirit. “In Him was Life and that Life was the Light of Men,” says John 1:4.
Only when our life, mode of being, and priorities are lined up spirit, soul, and body will we see ourselves prosper in ways never dreamed of. Our souls have a function and our spirits have a function. Each has different functions and some functions being very similar. Each has its own emotions. Our spirit loves differently than our soul does. Did you know our spirit has a voice just like our soul? Our body also having a voice. Three Scriptures that have jumped out at me ever since learning about the human spirit are 1 Corinthians 2:11, Proverbs 18:14, and Proverbs 20:27 and they really give a broader picture of the place of our spirit.
The spirit and great and the soul is great. It’s all about alignment. Next time you hear someone speak bad about the soul just know that our souls need work but they aren’t bad…they just need direction and leadership from our spirit. Our souls give us context to the natural world whereas our spirits give us context to their spiritual world both of which are and should be under the Will and Want of Father God. And when we beat up our soul for not doing the spirit’s job then we are missing the mark.
Charistmatic Dualism should have no place in the Church. Another aspect of Dualism is that our spirit and soul are one and the same, but that is a whole other subject.
This was kind of birthed through doing ministry with an individual. We weren’t able to connect via phone one week so I decided to create a YouTube video…and then it dawned on me, I should create a YouTube channel. So I did!
It will mostly be simple prayers to bless your spirit. I will also include soul and body blessings as well as other prayers and possible rambles.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOQ1-RJJckEiKTmBVYNIg-g is the link to my channel. If you have a YouTube account you can subscribe and get notifications when I post a new video. Starting out the quality of the video won’t be the best but the quality of the content in the video will be great.
I’ve posted prayers in my blogs but sometimes it helps to have someone pray them out loud over you so that’s why I wanted to start the channel.
Most confuse the first two and hardly talk about the last one. Lets explore their real meaning and possible applications in New Testament thinking. Lets dive in and see how many don’t like what I have to say. If you don’t please comment and explain your take on the different sides, definitions, and applications.
First three(ish) Greek definitions
Condemnation – katakrima in Greek – an adverse sentence (the verdict):—condemnation
Judgment – krisis in Greek – decision (subjectively or objectively, for or against); by extension, a tribunal; by implication, justice (especially, divine law):—accusation, condemnation, damnation, judgment
Judge – krinō in Greek – properly, to distinguish, i.e. decide (mentally or judicially); by implication, to try, condemn, punish:—avenge, conclude, condemn, damn, decree, determine, esteem, judge, go to (sue at the) law, ordain, call in question, sentence to, think
Discipline – paideuō in Greek – to train up a child, i.e. educate, or (by implication), discipline (by punishment):—chasten(-ise), instruct, learn, teach
Now our English definitions according to Oxford Dictionary
Condemnation – The expression of very strong disapproval; censure
Judgment – The ability to make considered decisions or come to sensible conclusions
Judge – Form an opinion or conclusion about
Discipline – Train (someone) to obey rules or a code of behavior, using punishment to correct disobedience
Does God still condemn? Does God still judge or give judgment? Does God still discipline?
Many “Grace Preachers” (a term used to describe their teaching and is in no way derogatory) teach God in no way condemns nor judges or gives judgments. I haven’t heard much if they believe God still corrects or disciplines (could be due to so much emphasis on God not judging). Many “Judgment Preachers” (a term used to describe their teaching and is in no way derogatory) teach God is still in the judging/judgment business and He does it often and without restraint. This view is usually about how God is angry at sin and sinners and is punishing them for it yet you don’t hear much about restoration or redemption in it. “Death to California and NYC” tends to be their mantra.
Funny thing is the hyper-grace people tend not to offer the same grace to those who don’t align with their thinking. And the judgment people don’t offer grace to much of anything. I think the “Judgment Preachers” need a lot more grace and the “Grace Preachers” need a lot more discernment, which true judgment is. All the while neither side knows there is a balance between the two. Look at the Apostle John. Only the Apostle of Love could receive Revelation and all it’s hard sayings.
Both sides hold very strong beliefs regarding their viewpoints. Both usually tell the other side to question what they’ve been taught. Both are tend to be hardliners. Both, in my opinion, burn bridges and castigate each other. Do they not realize they’ll be spending eternity together? God will one day set us all straight in our beliefs…but until then the schism remains and the devouring lingers. For what it’s worth, which may not be much, here is my belief, not to tear one down nor build another up. I will digress from my ratiocination above and move along.
Do I think God condemns people? In a word no. People think God does but He really doesn’t. People are not meant to condemn other people either. It’s interesting to note that Hell was never intended nor created for human beings but the devil and his angels. But Hell does exist and some invariably will choose to reject Christ and His offer and end up there, despite some Christian Universalist’s claims. It is interesting to note that in Matthew 12:41 that the men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it along with the Queen of the south. However there is another Scripture in Luke 6:37 that says not to condemn or you will be condemned. Clearly in John 3:17 it says God did not send Jesus to condemn us. Our hearts can condemn us according to 1 John 3:20. But God is greater than our hearts and supersedes it.
Now what about judgment or judging? The most common Scripture used to say we are not to judge is Matthew 7:1 which says judge not lest you me judged. Like I said most common used Scripture. However many miss another Scripture in John 7:24 which says,
Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment.
There is a righteous judgment that is necessary and allowed, you may even take it as a command but that’s on you. Lets be honest with ourselves for a moment… We all judge. Everyday. Mostly based upon outside appearances. Sometimes internal. As the saying goes “Never judge a book by its cover”, so goes in life. 1 Samuel 16:7 says,
But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.
I ran across another blog written by an outright pagan. Now I wasn’t there and I don’t know either of the parties involved so I can’t judge their hearts but their actions may point to something here. I am not condemning them at all but pointing out something that is sorely needed, especially in Charismatic circles where some strange people seem to surface (I say in jest). She and another visited a Healing Rooms in a very prominent Charismatic church in Cali. There aim was simple and quite neutral and genuine. They wanted whatever this particular Healing Rooms had to offer. So they went and encountered absolutely loving, gentle, and encouraging people. They received very encouraging words a
Another passage about judging is 1 Corinthians 6:1-11. To keep the word count down I won’t supply the whole passage but the gist of it is this: we are called to judge with righteous truth and discernment. We will judge angels and the world yet it is not politically correct to judge people’s actions according to some. You can see this in the current events. For fear of profiling and judging a terrorist attack in San Bernardino could have very well been prevented. The situation in question was purely an outside appearance issue. But because of the sensitive nature of people these days a person did not come forward with a concern. Spiritually speaking, discernment should one or the only criteria for judging. There is right and wrong plainly explained in Scripture and should be taught, preached, and learned. There is also much gray areas as well. There are also some areas that aren’t touched at all. Some other Scriptures that point to fact that we need to point out issues in our lives and other people’s live, if they have given us authority to do so, I repeat, if they have given us authority to do so are: 2 Tim. 4:2, Eph 4:15, Eph 4:25-26, 2 Cor 7:8, 1 Cor. 2:10-16, and 1 Cor. 14:24-25. Many people judge others and have no clue who the person is or where they came from or their story. In these cases judgment should only be used via discernment and not outright rebuke. Discernment is but judgment devoid of outward appearances. Rashness, bigoted, hateful speech is never, ever a legitimate expression of righteous judgment or discernment. Ever. Because of the “Judgment Preachers” people are hating Christians even more these days. And this may very well be the reason for the appearance of “Grace Preachers.” However both have been around since the start of Christianity. The biggest problems with the “Judgment Preachers” are the sub group I call, “Date Setters”. Whether it’s Jonathan Cahn, John Hagee, or the eBible Fellowship people, they have an issue with sin…and obviously don’t know how to handle it. Truth with love, speech seasoned with salt to give grace, grace that empowers change and not that destroys countries. On the discipline…
I’ll start with Heb. 12:5-17
…and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons, “My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, norfaint when you are reproved by Him; for thosewhom the Lord loves He disciplines, and He scourges every son whom He receives.”
It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.Furthermore, we had earthly fathers to discipline us, and we respected them; shall we not much rather be subject to the Father of spirits, and live? For they disciplined us for a short time as seemed best to them, but He disciplines us for our good, so that we may share His holiness.All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness. Therefore, strengthen the hands that are weak and the knees that are feeble,and make straight paths for your feet, so that the limb which is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with all men, and the sanctification without which no one will see the Lord.See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled; that there be no immoral or godless person like Esau, who sold his own birthright for a single meal. For you know that even afterwards, when he desired to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no place for repentance, though he sought for it with tears.
And Revelation 3:19 which says,
Those whom I love, I reprove and discipline; therefore be zealous and repent.
Discipline, correction, and rebuke. All three are come from judgment/discernment and are labeled as condemnation by those who don’t fully understand the terms. Hopefully the I answered that and if not then I would encourage you to study it more than I have. This blog is already getting too long…lol
God does indeed discipline and correct us and if Hebrews is right then that proves we are legitimate. And if He doesn’t there is illegitimacy. “Rebuke a wise man and he will love you for it,” says Prov. 9:8. “Rebuke a fool and he will hate you,” goes the rest of it. Look I don’t like people telling me I’m wrong. Usually people don’t. But to remove that from our lives is to remove growth in areas we don’t think we need growth. Have you ever sought the Lord for a Word concerning something but He gave you a Word about something totally different? It goes the same way. We need to have people in our lives who can challenge, correct, exhort, and come alongside us.
One scripture that is oft quoted is 2 Tim. 1:7 which says,
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
We love not being given a spirit of fear. He crave love. We yearn for His power. But a sound mind? What does that even mean? Glad I asked! Sound mind in Greek is sōphronismos which means discipline. Ever since I looked up the meaning I’ve wondered why the translators chose such a different phrase that discipline. How many crave discipline? I do as an adult. But hated it as a child. Maybe that’s the difference? Maturity versus childhood.
Redemptive shame, just like redemptive pain, is a gift from God. However, destructive shame and destructive pain from the enemy is a curse and not a blessing. Knowing the difference is key. Yes there is redemptive shame and sorrow (see Acts 5:41, 1 Cor. 1:27, 1 Cor. 6:5, 2 Thes. 3:14) Redemptive shame and destructive shame are only confused by the voice of the enemy. God brings hope. Enemy despair.
James 2:13 says,
For judgment will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy; mercy triumphs over judgment.
Judgment and mercy. Mercy and judgment. A paradox.
In my experience, mercy, not getting what I do deserve, has often been, getting a little bit of what I do deserve. Shame, fear, hell, judgment, pain is what drove me to Jesus. I felt like a horrible human being who didn’t deserve to live. And God used that feeling to get me to dive to His feet. I was stumbling on a path the led to nowhere but hell and destruction and was enjoying it…until He put His hand on my life and said, “You’re wrong and you and I both know it.” He disciplined and corrected me in the midst of it all and 12 years later I’ve changed and I’m changing…and it wasn’t a pretty process. It was a redemptive process but not a pretty one. Sometimes God gives you what you want to show you what you need as someone has said.
For me I must be open to His many ways of dealings with me. I cannot turn a blind eye or a deaf ear if He wants to show me how I’m wrong. I should crave it! King David said his judgments (which He uses to correct and discipline) are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired than fine gold or a winning Powerball ticket. Sweeter than honey or stevia, whichever you prefer. For by them your servant and son are warned. In keeping them is great reward.
Condemnation is a no-no for humans. Judgments are a yes-no but only when love, mercy, and true righteousness is established in their heart. Discipline is a yes-yes for without it we are illegitimate. And fear not because God doesn’t correct but for our own benefit and not destruction.
So I did my best, which is far from perfect, but I thought I’d open a dialogue that many have shut down. I aim to regain bridges that have been burned. A good scribe brings from his storeroom treasure both old and new.
There are two sides to every coin and only when a coin has two different sides is it ever of any worth.
I’m not one to ask for help. Could be my maleness or my Polishness; unsure at this point. It could very well be my soul vying for dominion because God knows the soul has had the throne uncontested for some time. I feel in my spirit a satisfaction that comes from knowing the affection of my Heavenly Father regardless of activity. My soul has the need for affirmation and perfection, both of which will never come outside of Him. Right now the soul is pinning down the spirit and the count is two with one second left to spare. It may be a last-ditch effort to show the spirit who is boss…at that is where you may come in.
I have 9 blogs in draft, one being a short story, and a two books held in my spirit: a novel and non-fiction. At the moment time is the commodity in need, even though Ravel and Rachmaninoff stole some of it when it was available. So far 100% of my blogs have been written in the midst of turmoil; the turmoil of my job. I work an IT help desk job so I am on and off the phone all day and attempt to write in the between. When I go home I tend to thwart all needs for a computer. All writers know “writer’s block” and loathe it at times. I struggle with that as well.
I am not a popular blogger and don’t have hundreds of likes, shares, or views but that doesn’t matter. This blog is more for me than you but I do it for you more than me (if that makes any sense at all). I am asking for prayer. That I would access the time I have and that it would be redeemed. Also that this last-ditch effort of the soul would be thwarted by an even stronger reversal from my spirit (after all the spirit loves the soul much than the soul loves the spirit (at least according the soul’s current view-point)). That any all fog would lift.
I’m also “planning” on moving to another state and city both of which are Teacher redemptive gift which I also am a Teacher redemptive gift (see http://www.sandylandry.com/) There is an immense blessing that would come with this and an immense ability to respond and redeem the negatives that can also creep in. I could use prayer for a job for my wife and I that could make for a much smoother transition being as I am not moving for work but for God’s leading. He’s provided before and I know He will provide again.
I’m learning and filling myself up with much teaching and tools that I need and that I can minister to others with. As a Teacher I am prone to want to get every teaching, listen to every sermon, or read every book I can on a subject. This can be good but at the same time could take up that commodity called time. I had some responses from my blog: I’d Love To Help In Any Way I Can and so far fruit has come out of it. Prayer points for that would be increased wisdom, discernment, and insight.
In the midst of great things happening things can still get foggy. Please pray that either the fog will lift our for my spirit to focus on the Light in the midst of it. I also am Asthmatic, which sucks, and dealing with panic/stress related feelings in my body both of which I’m looking for insight into healing and deliverance from. I’m also overweight so I need some healthy discipline and self-control in that area. Both Asthma and panic/stress issue hold me back from exercise. The other day I was listening to two individuals who love Jesus but are riddled with health issues and it breaks my heart that surviving is so hard using artificial and fabricated medicines. “White knuckling” life in the midst of a promised abundant life. I wanted to weep and I’m welling up slightly recalling the conversation.
Above all I want a more intimate walk with my Daddy, Dad, Father, and King. To walk in full Sonship. To hear, feel, see, and experience Him more fully. That my spirit would rise to dominion and my soul would finally rest in submission to my spirit and that the full transfiguration process would continue to progress as I look with an unveiled face.
Thank you and God bless!
PS: thank you to those who have sown into my blog with finances, prayer, likes, comments, encouragement, and admonishment. I know change is happening in you and I and I’m blessed to be a part of it. It is this that spurs me onward.
Disclaimer: I’m neither a psychologist nor trained in mental health whatsoever. However, I do read a lot of books, articles, studies, teachings, ideas, etc about mental health and the people who suffer from mental health issues. My heart goes out to them. If it were one people group who I would love to see most set free, healed, and delivered it would be those who suffer with mental illness. History has shown that patients with mental illness have had atrocious things done to them and I am horrified about it. Thankfully science, psychologists, and revelation has increased and brought much growth, understanding, and tools to bring freedom, healing, and deliverance to those precious people suffering under the weight mental illness.
The past several weeks I’ve been reading “Brain Rules” by John Medina. Needless to say the book fascinates me. I just finished the chapter on Stress and you can read the overview of the chapter here: http://www.brainrules.net/stress.
In the chapter on Stress, one point in particular jumped out at me and it was talking about Learned Helplessness. If you Google it you’ll come up with several different links that are much more detailed and scientific that anything you’ll read below. But I’ll do my best.
Learned Helplessness is when a human or animal is subjected to aversive stimuli which is inescapable. The result is that a person or animal stops trying fight against it and just takes it basically. Things will never change so why even try anymore type of mindset. Even when opportunities exist to get out of the stimuli their learned helplessness will forestall any movement to get away from it.
This concept is geared more towards animal psychology however, it can apply to many situations regarding human beings. The notion is that the lack of control a person experiences breeds a helpless attitude, which in turn will cause a person to overlook openings for change and/or growth.
Steven F. Maier and Martin Seligman were the two psychologist who stumbled upon this discovery. They detected this via an experiment on dogs. They found helpless behavior in canines who were trained to expect an electric shock after hearing a noise. After this conditioning, they placed the dogs in another box where there is one side that would provide an electric shock and another side which provided no shock and the only separator was a very low wall which the dogs could easily walk over to get to the other side. The dog who was conditioned to feel the shock never even attempted to leave the electrocuted side. In another test one of the dogs was harnessed and shocked so the dog was unable to vacate the electrocutable side. (To read the rest of the explanations and different test that were fun visit: http://psychology.about.com/od/lindex/f/earned-helplessness.htm)
Now regarding people. It happens all the time. A person undergoing stress for a prolonged time that is inescapable can Learn Helplessness. It can be a root issue that can lead to depression. Personally, I’ve experienced Learned Helplessness, but not to extremes as some have I’m sure, but I’ve felt it’s twinge in my life. However, my reactions usually show up in other ways like being angry at bad drivers or people who mess up by food order.
Here’s a quick backstory. Growing up I, for the most part, was raised in the ideology that a kid is meant to be seen and not heard(some of you may have grown up with “It’s better not to be seen or heard”). It was not always the case but most of the time it was true. I was the quiet one, who didn’t excel in sports, so I was pretty much dragged along to my brother’s traveling sports team. I was raised not to ask questions therefore, my opinion didn’t matter. This was and is still an issue in my adulthood. Without a voice as a child, I “knew” my voice didn’t matter as an adult. I learned that it was pointless to speak my mind because it was never heeded nor sought out. Now as an adult my wife almost always wants my opinion, she even loves my opinion. This was new to me. I lived so long on the electrocuted, your voice doesn’t matter so why even say anything, side of the box. Growing up hearing my father reply to me asking a question, “Just say, ‘Yes, dad.'” was my harness holding me back. I just went along with things.
Another slight pang of Learned Helplessness I’ve experienced is lack of control in my life. For the Alphas out there it is probably the exact opposite you’ve experience. In the lion’s share of my adult life I was again dragged along with others. I didn’t go to college and didn’t have a career. My parents divorced and my dad moved out so I was lived in our house with my mom and brother. It was a trying time to say the least. Both of them were party animals drinking and partying very late in the evenings when I liked to sleep. I felt totally disregarded. They didn’t give a lick of what I had to say. Then when I called them out on it, I wasn’t a righteous person either, they called me judgmental. So my uncle in MN had ALS so my mom wanted to move out there…so I followed with no real choice. I lived in MN for three years, my cousin passed away, my mom dispersed all her money from selling the house, then she decided to move back to MD…I followed. I felt helpless to make my life’s choices because I didn’t feel I had a choice. Electrocuted again.
Now back in MD I lived with my dad, because I didn’t have a choice. Then moved back in with my mom and brother and the partying commenced but this time at other houses thankfully but unthankfully. Unthankfully because I received a phone call at 2:00 AM saying there was a car accident and my mother was pinned in the car. Harnessed and electrocution. I told my mother that evening to come home. She didn’t listen. Thankfully she is in Our Father’s arms. It took me years to be able to keep my phone on during the night after that. Being as I lived with her and she was no longer alive…I was forced to move once again.
Lack of control is still a pain I feel from time to time. This isn’t the need to control everything but simply having a choice and making a choice. I’m going on 32 and am almost three years into a career that I thought I’d like but ended up not being exactly what I thought. Now it’s not that I don’t like what I do but it is a very high stressful job. My biggest problem is that I care. I want to help people. Fixing computers isn’t really helping people but it does partially pay the bills. Being married presses me onward though because I need to support my wife and any future children. The job is stressful and that is the crux of Learned Helplessness. I care and want things to work but I am given poor tools. It’s like giving me a screwdriver when I need a screw gun. Five months into the job I started getting panic attacks at very random times. Not to mention leaving a church and having a brother and father who didn’t want me to get married, didn’t hear what I had to say, and even tried to split my wife and I up. Mixed in was lies, gossip, triangulation, and never being able to provide the other side of the story.
Now my story isn’t that bad and nowhere near other people’s stories. We can all find places in our life where we’ve Learned Helplessness. The issue here is the “learned” part. It’s very hard to unlearn sometimes. The number one thing to help Unlearn Helplessness would be an incredible conspiracy of grace to come upon you. A conspiracy so profound that it would totally shift your paradigm. Thankfully some do experience it. I envy them. However others do not. For those who don’t, there is one word that will explain the medium for healing and that is process. I do not like process. It’s messy, it disturbs my current reality, and can be quite painful. It takes trust and when it’s hard to trust it’s hard to submit to process. As Wm. Paul Young says in The Shack,
“I suppose that since most of our hurts come through relationships so will our healing, and I know that grace rarely makes sense for those looking in from the outside.”
You can’t schedule friendship and friendship is where healing comes from the most. Friendship with God and friendship with His children, our brothers and sisters. Even then it’s incredibly difficult to find friends who are willing to be available. That’s why people have to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars on counseling or therapy when just having real, available, grace empowered friends would provide the soil for healing. So where do we go from here? Great question!
Pray for willingness. It’s the obstacle that births Learned Helplessness to begin with. We don’t posses the ability to be willing to walk over that small wall to that other side of the box where there are no pangs, twinges, or electrodes. We can’t be willing because we are hurt. Is it no wonder that in Matthew 8:2 the leper asked Jesus,
“Are you willing to make me clean?”
Sometimes we need someone else’s willingness to breath upon the ember of our fading willingness. And what did Jesus do in response? He said,
“I Am willing. Be cleansed!”
Then He reached out and touched him. He reached out. He touched.
Maybe you don’t have any Learned Helplessness…but you know someone who does. Maybe, based upon the Spirit’s movement, it’s time for you to reach out and bring a whole bunch of willingnessness with you. Sometime all someone needs is a touch. A gesture. Intentionality is key. Generally speaking, people know when someone does something intentional. There is usually a cost or sacrifice entailed with it.
Now for those in my boat and so many others what do we do? Is there hope? Are we harnessed somehow? Have we lost the willingness we so desperately need? Like I said above we need to pray. Pray for willingness. God has promised to give us willingness. Philippians 2:13 declares,
For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure.
Dearly Beloved God is willing! God is able! Grace is within you whether you know or have experience it or not. Grace and Joy are your inheritance.
Our hurts don’t come prepackaged, so neither will our healing. Our wounds are specific so our healing should be just as specific.
Lets pray.
For your soul:
Father, yes, you are a father despite my experiences that try to tell me otherwise. I have learned helplessness. I’m not speaking death but being real. I’ve been harnessed and electrocuted. I’ve been hurt. The pain is real and I flinch at the smallest things sometimes. I see faith, I see hope, I see joy but they seem so out of reach. But I choose to say, “You are Good.” You are a good Father despite it all. Give me willingness. Holy Spirit breath and birth in me willingness. Send me those who are willing who can walk with me, side by side. Father show me your willingness. Jesus reveal Yourself to me. Show me where you have been throughout my life. Show me that you’ve been with me in this box all along. Apply Your salve. Apply your oil. Heal my soul. Heal my body. Give me back a voice. Give me back my ability of choice. Make my will free again. Father, I ask You to lift off all crushing and shame that’s on my spirit. Lift off rejection from my soul. Release all demonically inspires lies and harassment. Remove the talons of the enemy from my mind. Father, give my soul perspective that in the midst of stress I can choose peace. In the midst of heartache and despair I can walk to the other side of the box and have joy. In the midst of this dark night of the soul I want a bright day of the spirit. Thank you Father for being my Father.
For the spirit:
Soul I recognize the frustration, pain, hurt, and trepidation that you have been experiencing. But, if I may, ask you to step aside for a brief moment. This is not rejection. I am just applying something to the spirit that will assist you along the path of healing. Spirit of _____ I call you to attention in the name of Jesus Christ. Spirit, I understand if you may be distant and afraid to come fully forward and I understand that and I acknowledge your right to feelings of safety. Please stay present throughout this blessing. Spirit if you are fully forward than great. Receive the word of God for you today in Philippians 2:13 , “For it is [not your strength, but it is] God who is effectively at work in you, both to will and to work [that is, strengthening, energizing, and creating in you the longing and the ability to fulfill your purpose] for His good pleasure. Spirit God has and is giving you willingness to jump to the other side of the box. Where the soul has learned helplessness, spirit you have learned willingness. You are designed to lead, guide, and bring into alignment the soul with the Kingdom and to take all of life’s woes with a more than conqueror mindset. You have the ability to help the soul get free. And spirit only you and the Holy Spirit knows the things of man. The soul does not. I bless you spirit with going to mind and setting things right. Where stress has taken over and damaged the brain, you spirit have the ability to repair. You, spirit, are the sustaining force that God created the whole of man to have. You, along with the Holy Spirit sustain man. Spirit go to the face of the Father and receive instruction, insight, revelation, power, and authority to set things right. Joy, Peace, Love, Faith, Hope are all your forte. It’s who you are. You are created and creative light made from the same substance as God. You are created in His image according to His likeness. You have what it takes. I bless you spirit in the name of Jesus Christ.
I hope this helps. I love people and I want to see them whole, healthy, set free, and walking in the fullness that Jesus died for and God created us for. Be blessed today and for the rest of your life. Let us no longer learn helplessness but to learn willingness to move over and manage, with out spirits and the Holy Spirit, the stress that the worlds brings.
If you’ve read through and I got something wrong please comment below cordially. If you have any insight or tools that may help comment as well.
…love, like, have learned, want to learn, haven’t learned, and a few random things and quotes for your possible enjoyment in no particular order.
I like predatory birds hence my feature image
I have had a couple prophetic dreams of said predatory birds
I would love to try by hand at falconry (It’s a lost art form)
I like food. It is interesting to note that food was used before music in Old Testament worship. Also communion in the New Testament was a table full of food and not a dissolvable wafer with Welch’s cup worth a half a sip. Also wine was used hence some being drunk.
I would love to study Quantum Physics
I wish I could see in the spiritual realm better. Like Quantum Physics there is much more to the spiritual realm that doesn’t mean the natural eye. If the natural world was created out of Christ and is His taste then I must conclude that the spiritual realm is much, much more intricate, expansive, deeper, and higher than the seen.
I have learned the reality of the human spirit and am learning the proper structure of spirit, soul, body relationship and how the spirit is to have dominion.
When talking about God or praying almost always using the word “Father.” To me it seems much more relational and put things into perspective.
God loves me and likes me. I’m His friend and brother. If Jesus even calls Judas “Friend” than He must be pretty intentional when He calls anyone something. (See Matthew 26:50)
I’m a son and not a slave
God turned a person who hated reading and writing into a man who loves reading and writing. Or should I say He breathed upon a fire within me which I didn’t know existed?
I want to write a book. Two or more to be precise. One novel and one non-fiction.
Also want to try my hand at writing a short story on this blog. I’ve done one poem (See Awake)
Sometime God’s mercy is getting a little bit of what you deserve (See Galatians 6:7)
I believe I am Teacher Redemptive Gift (See this link and this link I can’t vouch for anything else on these sites)
I struggle with dream interpretation however I can be very prophetic at times
I firmly believe Jesus is coming back for a beautiful, overcoming bride and not a struggling fearful church
If I go to the Scriptures to find out who everyone else instead of myself my agenda is skewed
I love the idea of living and loving without an agenda but my analytic reasoning messes with me regarding the statement. In other words if I am living and loving without an agenda is my agenda living and loving without one? I know, confusing isn’t it? I mean my assessment of the statement.
The “New Age” has done its best at perverting divine truths, principles, and ideas and have stolen them for their own gain…because the Church has abandoned things unseen.
God won’t set you up for failure…unless that is what you need.
We live for an Audience of One where the praises at our right hand and criticism at our left meaning nothing
However if I shun the voice of my family I may set myself up for that failure in #21
A wise man loves the taste of his own medicine
You know you are a Pharisee if your life’s motto is “Do as I say, not as I do” – A Graham Cookeism fashioned from my own mind
God has not only given me grace but has lavished it upon me and you. (See Lavished!)
I oftentimes utilize Google for word definitions and right click and choose correct spelling when I see those annoying red squiggly lines under my misspelled words
Problems are a prerequisite for a revelation from God
Shame is a dirty mirror. Never let it determine the image you see
I am not wretch but a saint
Romans 7 is not the life of a Christian battling sin but a believer who doesn’t know they are dead to the law
I love useless knowledge. It sometimes actually helps but most of the time is works in jokes
I wished I lived in NYC…but at the same time I wish I lived in a log cabin in the woods
When it comes to intercession I lean towards undercover sniper style and not front line in your face style
I am curious as to the spiritual implications of the “Baby Witching Hour”
The biggest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he doesn’t exist – The Usual Suspects
I had a dream with an old pastor of mine where he said I am an exquisitor. Looked it up and fits me to a T.
I curious as to why after God changed Jacob’s name to Israel, He still referred to him as Jacob at times
If I knew I couldn’t fail I would pray and minister to all in the Mental Health Wards that they would get total freedom
I would also, if I knew I wouldn’t fail, love to be able to prophetically find all missing and abducted people to help the authorities find them
I sometimes think the same way that Walter Mitty does
God allows in His wisdom what He could easily prevent by His power – Graham Cooke
I feel called to teach in front of churches but am terrified of public speaking
I used to write Rap songs 5 years ago (they can still be found online) and still want to write more at times
1 John 4:17 is my life verse. Still learning and pondering the implications of it
I love language. I would love to learn more of Spanish. Also Polish, Hebrew, Greek, and Mandarin
I love some reality TV shows. The ones where people finally get recognized for talents and gifts that they have spent years and years to get by training and building themselves. It may seem superficial at first but we have a desire to be recognized and make a difference. This is why I love Prophecy!
I would love to be in full-time inner healing & deliverance ministry…not the “demon under every rock” kinda deliverance
Some times I play both sides of the field and by taking both sides of an argument and try to find middle ground.
There is a difference between wrestling with God and fighting against God
I am coming to the belief that we can and will be transfigured just like Jesus was…before any rapture(if that even happens) or when Jesus comes back physically
There is more to us than meets the eye – Transformers
I want to travel the world. I love cultures and I believe God created many different cultures
I’m not a fan of the term “counter-culture”
I believe that when Jesus said He only does what He sees the Father doing that He meant it…including going to the cross
I believe soul ties are real…and have recently learned about spirit ties
I love Pit Bulls and I don’t believe in breed discrimination
I also believe in generational deliverance and blessing
Paradigms power perception and perceptions power emotions. Most emotions are responses to perception – what you think is true about a given situation. If your perception is false, then your emotional response to it will be false too. So check your perceptions, and beyond that check the truthfulness of your paradigms – what you believe. Just because you believe something firmly doesn’t make it true. Be willing to reexamine what you believe. – Wm. Paul Young
God’s desire and your necessity are co-laboring in your problem to manifest His promise
Never assume tone in text, social media messages/comments, or emails. Only an emoji can determine somewhat of the tone
I believe God came as a Father because a Father is what was/is needed most (See Why A Father?)
God is making Josephs, fathers to Pharaohs and making Moseses like God to Pharaohs
My needs need to transfigured into glorious stepping stones. My wants need to be there without the gravitational pull of disappointment. For I do have an appointment but until Presence cuts the veil I remain living with God in the present with His Presence with an expectancy of future Promise. – When Needs Overcome Wants
I am learning what Church is all about and what is it’s meaning
I find it hard to recognize people no longer after the flesh…especially when driving
God’s wisdom is truly multi-colored and multi-faceted
The incarnation is the single most beautiful and inviting thing to have ever happened in all of history. That the God who we kept distant, broke through our preconceived notions and obliterated our false views of Himself. We denied Him access to ourselves yet came inviting us to Himself.
Fruit is the foundation for the gifts to have their full and safest expression
I’m frustrated that I don’t know what my recurring dreams mean
The stories of Mephibosheth and Joshua the High Priest bring me to tears
I am trained and certified in Sozo, Healing Rooms, and Elijah House ministry. I also glean a lot of teaching from Arthur Burk and Paul Cox
Past anointing and mantles are simply taking the baton and fulfilling and perfecting what God is already doing or wanted to do
Habitation requires a habitat. Creating a place by making it ready to receive what it was designed for. This is what the Church is about. There is an interesting word in the Greek and it is, hetoimazō, which means to make the necessary preparations, get everything ready and drawn from the oriental custom of sending on, before kings on their journeys, persons to level the roads and make them passable. This word is used for John the Baptist preparing a way in the wilderness (see Mark 1:3) and the Bride of Christ making herself ready (see Rev. 19:7). We also see it in how Jesus prepares a place for us so that we can dwell where He is (see John 14:3).
I’ve learned to read the Scripture to find out who God is and who I am…not who the enemy is or the who the Anti-Christ is
I love living in mystery…except when I don’t
I want unity in the worldwide Church. One accord in Acts means to rush along in unison and resembles a musical piece. Several notes combine to form one song.
I always wonder why my name, Jordan, meant. Then God told me. Possessor
I believe in Presence before and over Promise no matter how hard life can be
Inner vows can be a hard pill to swallow
Speaking life is much better than speaking death…even to speaking death to bad things. Life is much better
I firmly believe God shares, is sharing, and will share His glory
Four years ago I didn’t want to live another day because of shame and was almost suicidal…then God broke through with a prophetic word of encouragement
God also broke a huge period of rejection in my life. I used to never have a strong group of friend in school so I didn’t have a lunch table to sit at. A year or so ago I had a vision of this same cafeteria room and Jesus waved me over and gave me a head seat at His table. Now whenever I don’t have a table or no one sits at the table I’m at I just remember Jesus gives me a good seat all the time
God gave me an incredible wife that has seen me through darkness, sin, and despair. I’m a better man because of her
I’m an athletic man in a fat man’s body…#4 get in my way too many times
I feel much younger than 31 years old
I may move to Philadelphia next year in which #4 may get in my way too since Cheesesteaks are my favorite
I’m bad with keeping up with old relationships or any relationship that isn’t right in front of me
My favorite music is rap
I’ve been sober for 11 years
My dream car is a Subaru WRX STI
I’m a huge work in progress and I have barely scratched the surface of the revelation of God to man and man to God
It’s definitely been a journey. So what spurred me onto doing a blog? Glad you inquired so inquisitively (yes I spelled that correctly the first time).
Basically I was blowing up my Facebook friend’s timelines, news feeds, or walls depending on whatever it was called at that time. My aunt from Minnesota, where I was born but moved away when I was 3 then moved back when I was 19, where God got ahold of me, and then left again at 21, (ok breath now) said, “Why don’t you start a blog?” I believe someone else recommended that to me also but I don’t quite remember. So I himmed and hawwed (or is it “hemmed and hawed”) about starting one for a while. The thing is previously I wasn’t really serious about growing and seeking His face that much. I went to a great church with great speakers (big name Charismatic speakers) and great prophetic worship that sometimes last hours without needing scripted music lyrics. I was comfortable being fed by someone else’s hand, so to speak. Now this is not to say you can’t be fed by someone else’s hand but with maturity comes self-sufficiency but not self-sufficiency where you isolate and become above rebuke or think more highly than yourself. The self-sufficiency that I’m talking about is where you no longer look to someone else for your growth but you press onto maturity in Him. (See Isaiah 28:9 and Isaiah 28:9)
My problem was I didn’t think I had anything to share. In the real-life world of shapes, sounds, and time I am a man of few words. Very introverted. Introverted to the point when I hear “Stand up and greet someone” in church I either stay seated or go on my phone…but not all the time. Part of that had to do with being raised to not ask questions, not to inquire with “Why?” but just reply, “Yes, dad.” Now over a period of 4+ years I have been regaining my voice back and realizing I do have things to share, maybe wrong or maybe right I don’t know. Even now very few of the people I know is this real world share, comment, or inquire much about my blogs, which I’m ok with. My wife does support me in it 100% and supports my desire to want to write a non-fiction and fiction book sometime in the future. I am however really encouraged to those on WordPress, Facebook, and even Twitter by people sharing, liking, and commenting. It encourages me to continue on with a 101st blog and not quit. If you knew me before I was 20 and before I started this blog in January 2014 you would be surprised I am where I am.
Before I started walking with the Holy Spirit I hated reading, so much that I did maybe 1 or 2 summer reading assignments in High School or 8th grade (I was homeschooled from 1st-7th and skipped 5th (because I didn’t like it…just kidding. I skipped it…I was smart…back then)). I hated reading. I loved being outside or playing video games however. But after I started following the Lord I started to pick up every Christian book I could. Read the Bible all the way through, I was a sponge at that point. But I still hated writing. Then someone mentioned starting a blog so I launched out and signed up. It’s been an amazing thing in my life.
I did leave that one church and started going to another local church which has few speakers but still good worship and good teaching. This kind of incentivized me on to going after the Lord for myself by seeking what has been implanted instead of waiting in a prayer line for an impartation all the time. I realized that I have something to offer to others and being as I’m not a pastor nor an itinerant minister or singer/songwriter I had to vehicle until I started this blog. It was like the floodgates opened to me and a rush of new thoughts, ideas, personal applications, revelation, etc came to me. And they only left when I wrote them down but then more came. It continues to this days. That’s why it is 100 and counting.
So I have a question to those who have read to the end. What has been your take away from this blog? Has it helped or not? Is it applicable in your life? Do you have questions, concerns, or would want my thoughts concerning things either general or specific? Above all I do my best not to take sides or be involved in the schisms of isms. I like balance and riding the fences on some things. However I am firm on the essentials. My aim to know Him and to offer different views with different applications. Our life and issues do not come pre-packaged so neither will our growth or healing. I always want an open toolbox with the filter of 100% Scripture and 100% Spirit.
Thanks to all those who have liked, following, reblogged, comments, and shared. I am excited for the next 100 posts.
Impart by definition is tomakeknown;tell;relate;disclose
Implant by definition is toputorfixfirmly; to plant securely
Impart in the Greek is metadidōmi which means to give. (See Romans 1:11)
Implant in the Greek is emphytos which means engrafted; inborn, implanted by nature, implanted by others instruction. It is a derivative of phyō which means to be born, to spring up, to grow. (See James 1:21)
These words may be seem very identical but I will be semantic because I believe there is a distinction and I would love to discuss it with you all.
First things first. I am what some would call a Charismatic Christian, however I’m not the biggest fan of labels and it is more a movement then a denomination, so this is the mindset/paradigm that I most come from. Through my 11 years of being in the Charismatic movement (or whatever you want to call it) there has been a large focus on impartation. Basically it is when some speaker with some type of anointing or message comes and lays hands on you and impart something to you. The process is usually an external to an internal thing. Whereas implantation is a process starting internal to then the external. Most things imparted were first implanted.
According to Roman 1:11, impartation is a gift given. A similar passage is 1 Timothy 4:14 which says,
Do not neglect the gift which is in you, [that special inward endowment] which was directly imparted to you [by the Holy Spirit] by prophetic utterance when the elders laid their hands upon you [at your ordination].
Timmy received something outside of himself via impartation. It was something not present in him but then was given or imparted to him. Impartation is huge in Charismania (term not used to offend). Graham Cooke talked about someone who went up for prayer and asked him, “I want everything you have.” Graham’s response: “To get what I have you need to go through what I went through.” It is like the microwave mentality. I want a quick fix without having to do anything for it. People will travel miles upon miles to see a speaker to “get what they have.” Now there is a time and place for stepping out in faith (whatever that means) and sacrificing time or money to see a good speaker and be under that anointing, which must be led by the Holy Spirit and not a soul frustration. However, if I am unable to make a journey to see someone of caliber then what do I do? Unpack what is already implanted.
Our soul is the life of God while our spirit is the light of God (See 1 Corinthians 15:45). We were born of the first Adam and born again of the Second Adam. We are children of light (See 1 Thessalonians 5:5). Light can be implanted with data. In the computer world we call it Fiber Optics. What I believe is that our spirit holds everything we need and all things that pertain to life and godliness (See 2 Peter 1:3). Second Pete says God has already given us, via implantation, all things that pertain to life and godliness. I’ve written about co-laboring before (See What On Earth Do We “Do”) and I want to highlight it again here. There is a working together with the Lord, call it growing up, where we work with the Holy Spirit to unpack what God has stored in our spirit. The protocol for doing this is using words. His Word became flesh therefore our word can become flesh. Things internal change things external. Philippians 2:12-13 says,
Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling for it is God who works in you both to do and to want.
Impartation works from out to in while implantation works in to out. Wouldn’t you want that which God has stored in you to be able to be imparted to others? Fruit is meant for picking. The Holy Spirit is not passive nor is our human spirit passive. Our spirit is light and carries data. And this data needs to have its perfect work so it can be unpacked and released. Did you know your spirit has the ability to sustain you in sickness? (See Proverbs 18:14) How does it know how to do this? Implantation. Did you know only your spirit really knows the things of you and this apart from your soul? (See 1 Corinthians 2:11) How so? Implantation.
You know the saying, “You need it to go from your head to your heart?” I’m leaning toward a different saying these days. And what is that saying? Glad you inquired and it is this! “You need it to go from your spirit to your soul…” However I want to make an addition. “…and your body.” Our spirit knows what the soul knows nothing of. How can we interpret the soul with the soul? Can we fix brokenness with something broken? I can’t grow in a vacuum….because I can’t fit in an Electrolux. Just kidding…comment below if you like my jokes or if you don’t but regardless jovialness is forte however don’t ask my wife if that’s true. Ok?
How does our soul grow? Gaining head knowledge. Our does our spirit grow? Letting it know who it is. I use “it” for lack of a better term because our spirit is not an “it” it(see I did it again) is our truest self. Our spirit is separate and totally different from our soul. Our soul grows via external stimulus but our spirit grows via internal stimulus. What we need is someone who can speak in the direction of our spirit and let our spirit know that we recognize the function and legitimacy of it. Sometime our spirit is like the 11th man in street ball. But the game is 5 on 5 and the team are already picked so our spirit man sits on the sideline defeated, rejected, and know how much it could dunk on the enemy and swish some three-pointers. It’s that we are so used to either behavior modification (soul) or denial (body) but never nature modification (spirit) (See 2 Corinthians 3:18 but in the Amplified Version because it’s the only one I know of which translated change into transfigure instead of transform) There’s a diagram I’ve been meaning to figure out how to make in order to illustrate the point better for those visual learners like myself but I haven’t gotten there yet.
So I hope I haven’t confused you in regards to the difference between implanting and imparting. Our spirit is a seed which contains the implanted word/data that God gave us when He created it. And like any good seed it contains all it needs in its DNA. And like any good seed it need a good seed bed. Soil! Soul! Our spirit needs our soul to express itself in the physical just like the soul needs the body to express itself in the physical. So in order for our full selves to be expressed all three parts of us need to be healed, cleansed, transfigured, and released.
This is not a thorough examination of this subject and horribly incomplete and possibly partially wrong. And that’s ok. It’s something very new but very beneficial. And like any of God’s beautiful children we first must crawl and stumble before we walk in total uprightness. So lets bless our/your/the person next you’s spirit
Soul of ____ steps aside for a moment. You, soul, are 1/3 of a beautiful puzzle. At this moment please step aside so we can speak to the other third. Spirit of _____ I call you to attention in the name of Jesus Christ your Maker, Developer, Troubleshooter. I bless you spirit and acknowledge your presence, role, desire, and the many thing implanted in you since before the creation of the world. You came from Jesus and were birthed from His thoughts and His thought outnumber the grains of sand on earth. He knows you better than you know yourself and has loaded data and His specific DNA for you. I speak to that data inside you, spirit, and I call it forth in Jesus’ name. I speak to those things imparted from God and I bless them and all things imparted that were not birthed from God’s heart we remove and ask You Father God to cleanse and demolish them.
Spirit, your Heavenly Father broke the mold when He designed and implanted His specific logos in you. You are unique and you have the biggest role to play in _____’s life. I am calling in for a permanent substitute in this 5 on 5 games. I call you out from the sidelines. You were not designed to be a bench-warmer but you are designed to score, assist, block, defend, heal, sustain, speak, not hold back, to be proactive in this life. I bless you and speak to the soil surround you and say rocks be removed, thorns but uprooted, crows be shooed away. Spirit you are meant to operate from inside to outside. You, spirit, are involved with the transfiguration process by partnering with the Holy Spirit via metamorphosis into someone absolutely breathtaking. Be release, spirit of _____, into all that you are. I bless each portion of you spirit. Prophet, Servant, Teacher, Exporter, Giver, Ruler, and Mercy I bless you all and call you healed, refreshed, up front and not hidden. I bless you spirit in the name of Jesus Christ.
So let us not be dependent upon impartations but press on to what God has already implanted in us. Inside to outside. Spirit to soul.
This is just a something I posted on my Facebook and thought I’d blog it. Take it or leave it 🙂
I am a person who believes in God and believes God (yes there’s a difference) but I am also a person who likes to validate truth. I sometimes find myself in the middle of the Charismatic fringe and the evangelical fringe. Some believe no matter what without checking or validating. Other will only believe with hard facts and even then won’t believe. I use won’t instead of don’t for a reason. I choose to stand in the middle ground (one fringe cringes at the word balance and the other loves it as long as it’s tipping in their favor). Two scriptures I use: Romans 14:4 and Acts 5:38-39. With these you can be safe(another word the fringe cringe at). You can take things at face value or not. It’s extremely freeing to be able to choose. Knowing that God gives bread makes me unafraid of getting a stone. But I know stones exist and they aren’t meant to be thrown. Eat the meat and spit out the bones as they say.
Yes you fell…we all have and most will again. But it’s not your end. A righteous person may fall 7 times but will rise again. Yes even in the midst of your fall you are still righteous. As the Apostle Paul said, “Such were some of you…but you were washed.” You may have fallen today or an hour ago but with each rising comes a washing. Yes you messed up. Admit it. Come to grips with your actions. Then move forward. If you ever think that God gets tired of you just remember Psalm 121:4, “He who keeps you will neither slumber nor sleep.” He isn’t tired of you and He will never get tired of you coming to Him. I release the truth upon you that you have the ability to go boldly before the Throne of Grace to receive the mercy that you need. Go! Boldly! Never cease going! He is available! He is watching and waiting with His eyes on the horizon! Don’t you see Him! Run! Run faster! Because He will overtake you with His grace. I see Him removing the stained clothes you wear. I see Him washing your feet. I see Him, in you, beckoning for bear hug. I see new clothes! Clean clothes! I see Him calling you to His table of abundance. “Kill the fatted calf! Bring the best wine! My child is here and My love is forever upon them!” You know what? I see Him offering His seat at the table for you. Take it! Is is Him that calls you precious. It is Him that says, “You are worthy of my love.” I understand this is contrary to all religions and religious activity. But it’s true. You are no longer defined by your past or even your present. You are defined by the Great Definer. It is His Word that stands across the ages and sands of time. What He says counts! Not the enemy, not your soul, and not the accusers. Go and so no more! This is declaration and not a warning. Know who you are, know who He is, and know you and Him combined. Get back up! Stop trying to get a grip on Him…rest in His grip on you. You may feel lost but He is never lost and has found you. He is leading you back to still and restful waters. Soak it up! Rest! Let His love take you to where you never thought was possible! Let His perfect love cast away all fear. Let. Let the love do it….and not yourself. Let. Allow His Love to do it apart from you ability to grasp it’s all consumingness. Yes you fell and have fallen. It’s time to get back up. Will you allow His grace, mercy, and love overtake you today? It’s available right now…and will be available for all eternity.
Balance. That’s not a popular word amongst some Charismatics. A real popular word amongst non-Charismatics and when I say Charismatics I mean those who don’t believe in cessationism. Charismatics, generally speaking, take the word “balance” as limiting and binding. There was an article written a couple of years ago by Anthony Bradley entitled, “The ‘new legalism’: How the push to be ‘radical’ and ‘missional’ discourages ordinary people in ordinary places from doing ordinary things to the glory of God.” You can Google the article if you want. This blog isn’t geared necessarily towards anything he did or didn’t say but the article brought up some things I’ve been thinking about and haven’t thought about for a couple of years.
I’m speaking from a guy who was raised in the Charismatic(if you like labels) church. Though I was raised in the Charismatic church, I did my own thing for several years and when I was 20 years old made my own decision to follow the Lord. I then went back to the Charismatic church. I also had a couple spurts in a Methodist and AG church, which had wonderful believers in them. Some of the things I’ve experienced were completely amazing and life changing yet at the same time I went through a lot of shame, rejection, and not being able to quite measure up to others around me. And this had nothing to do with sin but with Charismatic performance.
Due to the lack of freedom in many evangelical churches where you can neither dance nor raise your hands during worship, much less show any type of emotional responses or even read the Scripture for yourself, believers have been so hungry for more. Like the ability to express one’s own love for the Lord in ways that they feel comfortable like flag waving, dancing, lifting hands, prophetic art, clapping, shofar blowing etc. But now these actions have become performing, not to say the people themselves are performing to please God because that’s between them and the Lord. With these new sets of standards it opens the possibility that if you don’t do these things then you are labeled nominal or cold or lukewarm or quenching the Spirit. For example, when everyone stands up in church to sing the songs on the projector and you remained seated you may get a look or a “gentle” nudging from another to stand up and get excited about Jesus and you succumb to the pressure to perform all the while it could be the opposite of how your spirit connects with God.
Personally I connect better while sitting and being still. I love reading while laying down as opposed to sitting. Our spirits are Hand-crafted and designed on purpose and for purpose. We are living stones being fitted together. We have to let one stone be different from all others otherwise there might be a chink in the armor of the whole. We have so desired freedom that it’s become a bigger box than we were in before…but it’s still a box if you let it define what’s new and acceptable.
We’ve erred on the side where freedom becomes an activity instead of a rest from activity. Freedom means to dance…it also means not to dance. Freedom means to shout…it also means not to shout. Freedom means laying prostrate in front of the altar…it also means not laying prostrate in front of the altar. Freedom means me being me…it also means giving the Spirit permission to push me a little. Freedom means I can get slain in the spirit…it also means I don’t need to get slain in the spirit. Freedom means I can stand up and raise my hands…it also means I don’t have to. Freedom means I shake & bake by manifesting…it also means I don’t have to. Freedom means I can speak in tongues…it also means I don’t have to. Freedom means I can get drunk in the spirit…it also means I don’t have to. Freedom means I can live in Truth without conforming to someone else’s standards. Freedom means I can walk in my design without fitting into someone else’s design.
If a person knows what they know and knows what they don’t know and is secure in that and can allow someone else to know what they don’t know and can lean into that then maturity and balance can come. In order for balance to occur there must be two sides having equal force all hinging on a higher Truth that keeps both afloat. Jesus had a great nugget that I don’t think I’ve ever heard mentioned in a sermon and it’s in Matthew 13:52 and says,
He said to them, Therefore every teacher and interpreter of the Sacred Writings who has been instructed about and trained for the kingdom of heaven and has become a disciple is like a householder who brings forth out of his storehouse treasure that is new and [treasure that is] old [the fresh as well as the familiar].
There is nothing wrong with liturgy and there is nothing wrong with spontaneity. There is nothing wrong with hymns and there is nothing wrong with prophetic singing. It was for freedom that Christ set us free.
Several years back where I sat like a bump on a log in midst of others feeling overflowing joy and laughter and His Presence. They would shake & bake and feel great all the while I felt the sensitivity of a gnat. I felt somewhat devastated inside. If this is what freedom was then I wanted in and no matter what I did by mimicking, or getting prayer, or even doing a little fake it till you make it, I just didn’t get it. It was sin because I knew others had sin. What was it? It was even worse when it came for a prayer line when those who were shaking & baking would get more and more prayer and I would stand there in “receiving mode” and get a quick 5 second prayer. A common remark I’d hear about those “experiencing more” than me would be, “The Spirit’s all over him,” and then they would point their finger and the person would flail even more. Don’t get me wrong. I’m not one of those “strange fire” people. I have physically experienced God on several occasions and I fully believe God touches His children in amazing ways. I’ve been healed twice of sinus infections. It’s the box. It’s the “Freedom” box that I don’t care for.
We cannot set aside one set of rules in exchange for another set rules. We need freedom to and freedom not to. The Holy Spirit is wind and blows one way and you don’t see it and it blows another. You don’t know where it’s coming or where it’s going. So are those born of the Spirit. We are ingrafted into this wind and we must leave behind our belongings and step into sonship where you can do what He wants for you and not what others want for you. God’s wants for another may not be the same as His wants for you. His wants for me won’t be the same and His wants for you.
Oneness comes with diversity. In our soul this doesn’t make sense. By our spirit knows. Adam left sonship behind for his own belongings. And until we leave our belongings at the foot of Him we won’t have oneness but a certain longing for unity out of our grasp. I must leave my belongings, the things I use to belong, at His feet and enter into sonship with the One True King.
On a side note. One thing that has set me free from being fascinated by externals is Psalm 103:7 which says,
He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the sons of Israel.
For me personally, knowing His ways is tops. His acts are cool but I never want them to be a distraction. If my wife lauded my gifts and not my heart then I would feel…well used. I don’t get the ecstatic reactions to gems, glory clouds, or angel feathers. Whether they are real or not. It’s not my focus. Because for me, if it was my focus, I would not feel legitimate unless I was able to receive the same exact things. Unless I got a gem stone, unless I got an angel feather(though I joke I do get them when my goose down pillows expel them), unless a glory cloud fills my room I won’t feel up to par. All these things are great, fantastic, and utterly amazing acts of God. But for me, which won’t be for you too, I love His ways. I want to know Him.
Please mind my rant in the midst of the case I’m presenting. I wanted to provide the other side of freedom. The balance. The true freedom where my design can flourish in the midst of a person’s completely different design. Where both designs can be honored, legitimized, and celebrated. So here’s a blessing.
Spirit of _____ I bless you and call you forward and to attention. I bless you spirit with God’s completely different, one-of-a-kind, mold-breaking design. I bless you with the freedom to and the freedom to not to. Be free to be led by the Spirit into freedom. Not chaos but freedom where you can be you and another can be another. Spirit of ____ listen to God’s word for you in Psalms 103:7 which says, “He made known His ways to Moses, His acts to the sons of Israel.” Throughout the time Israel was in the wilderness there was a special thing Moses and God had going…something different that Israel’s status quo and box. I bless you spirit with knowing God’s ways without needing His acts as a legitimacy crutch. Be blessed and astounded and amazed by His acts but when they aren’t present know your Father has never left you. Absence of His acts never proves the absence of His Presence though His Presence may be known by His acts. Spirit I bless with you the balance of 100% Scripture and 100% Holy Spirit. I bless you with the freedom to have the soul or body touched by God and I bless you with not needing the soul and body touched. Spirit, all you need to do is go to the face of the Father in all situations, circumstances, problems, provisions, and applications and receive all you need from God. Receive all your directions from the Father’s face. May the Father’s face shine upon you and be gracious to you. May you shine, spirit. May you exude all the reflections, colors, rhythms, wavelengths, sounds, freedom to and freedom not tos that God has placed within you. May you walk in oneness with diversity. May all portions of you be blessed, healed, celebrated and rejoiced. You weren’t wrong in your design, in your feelings, or in your ways of connecting with God. God made you to connect with Him in certain ways and at certain times. There is no box over you spirit! You are free to go to the face of the Father so He may unpack all of your special and unique design features. He will unlock, in His timing, every He has place in you from the foundations. Be blessed spirit to ride the wind, be united to the wind, and to be excited for the wind.
I hope you get the gist of what my spirit was feeling and I hope your spirit caught it. The soul can get pretty wrapped up with a lot of things. One day our spirits will rule and reign in the rightful place it was designed for.
I want to share some highlights from my trip to Nicaragua.
First off I want to say thanks all those that gave of their prayers. I needed them and felt them. Secondly I want to thank God and those that gave of their money. All the funding I needed came in which was truly a blessing. Without a couple key supporters I wouldn’t have been able to make it.
One of the only real “fears” I had about going was the 4 different plane trips and dealing with possible anxiety/panic attacks. Thankfully that was not an issue…being tall and on a plane was another thing. Nicaragua is considered one of, if not the safest country in Central America so that wasn’t a concern. Not once down there did I have a panic attack which I was thankful for too. It must have been time off of work that all the stress left.
Our team of 5 had a wonderful translator who was the son of the Pastor of the church down there. One of the woman of the team was also very astute with Spanish. We were able to stay at a hotel on a coffee plantation (D’Santos Hotel Boutique). Our daily activities were to meet with the children of the project during their lunch time, play group games, and hand out simple but well received gifts. After they left to go to their home we waited some time and then left to meet them and their immediate family inside their
homes to present gifts provided by their sponsors from the U.S. After that we asked each family if they wanted prayer. Most prayers consists of health issues like arthritis, heart problems, a job or better job, and nicer house. The trip wasn’t geared necessarily toward evangelism but one woman became a new creation and one woman was still a pre-Christian. All in all those beautiful people enjoyed our visits and prayers and that someone actually cares enough for them and don’t think that they are just another notch on their evangelist belt. Personally I just wanted to hang out with them in their houses just to get to know who they are as people, their stories, passions, and what they feel God has for them.
The outright hospitality of them was very heartwarming. Most of them offered a seat and most only have the usual plastic yard chair as their main seating and me, being a man of girth, had to decline sitting on them. I need a hefty chair. What was so sweet is one of the grandmothers knew I couldn’t fit on their chair so she cleared off this end table, that was full of stuff, just so I could sit down in their house. It blessed me richly. Another house, where the father worked from home cooking, they had a fan, which was rare in the houses, and they turned it on for our team while we were there. Almost immediately upon entering the father handed us all a grape juice box and an artificial Chicharrón which we all declined but he was insistent so I took it and drank the juice box and ate the snack, both of which were tasty.
The only Scripture that was clear in my spirit during the trip was 2 Corinthians 4:7 which says,
But we have these treasures in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us.
Treasures. In the Greek treasure is thēsauros which means: the place in which good and precious things are collected and laid up, a treasury. And that is exactly who they are. You see we are all created in the image and glory of God. No matter what tribe and language and people and nation a person is from (see Revelation 5:9). When we speak to the light, when we speak to the promise, when we live without an agenda the power of God has so much more room to move.
Like most people who go to impoverished countries and go back to the U.S. there was a measure of shock and awe. The kids were flabbergasted to get a bouncy ball one day, a SFX deflating balloon another day, and water balloon game another. But I also realize that our frame of reference is what we have seen and lived and not another person. So for them life is different and for us life is different. And neither should be overly projected onto the other. But the contrast is stark. No iPads, smart phones, or constant mental stimulation. While those in the U.S., generally speaking, are not content but always wanting more, those in Nicaragua that I met are also wanting more though content and smiling genuinely. In the midst of the monetary poverty, the riches of intelligence and entrepreneurship were present. In the midst of the these “shacks” there are stores which I patronized while there. Poverty is a state of mind not a state of financial superiority.
What I saw in Nicaragua is heart. Strength. Endurance. Faith. Faithfulness. Honor. Preference. Love. Joy. Smiles. Lots of smiles. Pain. Heartache.
I saw people. Like you and me. People who go through the same internal struggles that we all go through. While looking at developing countries most people probably look upon the kids, family, housing, and poverty with pity. Or just feel sorry for them or not even give a lick. But then I see Jesus walking. Compassion comes to mind. It’s different from pity…very different. Compassion in Greek is splagchnizomai which means to be moved as to one’s bowels…gut wrenching comes to mind. In Hebrew it’s racham which means to love, love deeply, have mercy, be compassionate, have tender affection, have compassion.
I loved the people down there. I take that back…I love the people down there. Inviting, hospitable, generous, loving, caring people. Like I said earlier I just wanted to hang out with them. Chill with them and get to know them and their stories. Bring inner healing & deliverance to them. Bring Jesus more and more.
Will I go back? If God specifically wants me to of course. If God asks, “Do you want to go again because it’s all good with Me,” then yes. If He doesn’t then no. I’ve shared the dream about a prophet guy naming three countries, Nicaragua being the only one I remember, so I will see what the other two are and go there if God shows me and provides the way. Personally I love traveling anywhere. I would travel to every country if possible but only God could perform such a thing because I don’t have money for that. I must confess that I’ve been envious for people my age, younger and older than me as well, and how they have traveled to so many different places and seen so many different things. Some go for pleasure and others go to preach, teach, and evangelize. I would love to be involved with that more so we will see. I’ve seen myself preaching and teaching but so many things seem in the way. I don’t know how others do it or get to do it. But that is for another blog maybe.
Wrestled in Hebrew is ‘abaq which means to wrestle, grapple (get dusty), bedust.
Fighting in Greek is theomachos and the root word is machomai which means, to fight of armed combatants; or those who engage in a hand to hand struggle; of those who engage in a war of words, to quarrel, wrangle, dispute; and of those who contend at law for property and privileges.
The two Scripture that I’m pulling out for definitions are Acts 5:39 and Genesis 32:24-25.
I was watching the movie Exodus: Gods and Kings and there was a scene where Hegep tells Moses, “Let me tell you something about Hebrews. They are a conniving, combative people. Do you know what “Israelite” means in their own language? “He who fights with God.” Moses’ reply, “”He who wrestles with God.” There is a difference.”
This scene stuck with me for two reasons. Firstly because it just resonated with me I knew there was a difference. Secondly because I kept falling asleep during the movie…
Many of us fight with God or against God to be more apt. We fight against His how He does many things. I’m sure many would like to be on the Ways & Means committee: we want to dictate His ways and means. Fighting against God is what Saul was accused of on the road to Damascus. “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.” And in Acts 5:38-39 it says,
So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown;but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.
Gamaliel‘s spirit must have been impressed and brought to the forefront by what the Apostles were preaching. I think he stepped from fight to wrestling. More on that shortly. There have been several times in my life where I’ve fought God. Mano A Godo. I only fight when I forget He filters. Though I wholeheartedly believe there is an enemy that is here to steal, and to kill, and to destroy I also believe God allows by His wisdom what He could prevent by His power (Graham Cookeism). Things come Father filtered into our life ie. Job. Some may not agree with that and, without balance, can lead to fatalism but with balance we can take what comes at us as “training for reigning.”
When we live out of our soul, when it’s not behind our spirit, we just don’t get things a lot of the time, I don’t get things most of the time. We will continue to fight God in the midst of our trials or create more trials. We become like Israel in the wilderness only looking for His acts, while, like Moses, intimacy is there in the midst where we can know His ways (see Psalm 103:7). We focus on external sights and not internal vision.
Probably the number one question that leads to fighting God is, “Why?” But at the same time this can be where our wrestling match can begin. It all depends on our posture or position. Will we fight God in our soul or wrestle with Him in our spirit?
So what does wrastling with God look like? Yes I said wrastling! Where fighting can consist in long range warfare, wrestling can only happen within a person’s bubble. It’s a lot easier to bob & weave, run, deflect etc. while fighting but in wrestling you are all up in someone else’s space. Wrestling with God kicks up dust…you know the stuff we are made of. It takes the argument out of the soul arena and into the ring of the spirit/Spirit. It’s a place where we struggle to come to grips with things. Get it…coming to grips with things as in grappling during wrastling? Sorry for the lame humor :). But in all joyful seriousness, wrestling with God ends up in submission. Like in UFC fighting a lot of the fighting turns into wrestling and one wins by submissions or tapping out. Like the image above says, “Wrestling with God is a sign of intimacy. You can’t wrestle with someone you’re far away from.”
Now how to transition from fighting to wrestling… It may seem like a hard thing but I’m going to provide one simple act and prayer. It may be too simple for some due to other issues at play but that’s another subject. For several posts now I’ve transitioned a lot from soul work to now spirit work by addressing and speaking to your spirit or someone else’s spirit. Legitimizing, honoring, identifying, teaching our spirits their design, God’s intent, their ability and rightful place within a human being. On how God’s set up a human to be spirit, soul, body and not body, soul, and then spirit.
In order to transition, in my opinion, we must overtly hands over the argument or the “Why?” in our life from soul to spirit. A lot of the times it is hard because or spirits are so bedraggled that it can’t be transitioned. But as we build our spirit and edify our inner man the transition can be faster, smoother, and less painful. I will provide a simple but helpful prayer at the end on how to go about it but I’ll explain it here. We can take the “Why?” and acknowledge the soul’s fight and bring it to our spirit. More than likely our spirit already knows the fighting (see Proverbs 21:9) happening. We can simply hand it over to our spirit so that our spirit, which is directly in touch with God, can wrestling with God for whatever outcome the Father wants. Then we can give the soul a break. A rest. A refreshing.
Here is the prayer. When you see a _____ just input your name or the name of the person you are ministering to and blessing.
Spirit of _____ I call your spirit to attention in the name of the God of all peace. Listening with your spirit to God’s word for you in Acts 5:38-39 which says, “So in the present case, I say to you, stay away from these men and let them alone, for if this plan or action is of men, it will be overthrown;but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them; or else you may even be found fighting against God.” Spirit the soul of ____ is in a fight right now. It is trying to figure out the “Why?” It is fighting with God about _____ (input a current situation where you are finding it hard to trust God about). Spirit, go to the soul and ask for the “Why?” and Soul I bless you with the ability to hand it over to the spirit. Soul I bless you now with rest, faith, love, patience, and the ability for you to not know right now. Let the spirit wrestle with the “Why?” so you can go on forward. Now spirit I bless you with having a direct line and open access to the face of your Father so that you can wrestle with Him in the “Why?” Spirit of _____ this is a perfect opportunity for you to have an intimate face to face, mouth to mouth conversations with your loving Papa. Allow the dust to be kicked up. Allow the grappling and maneuvering to be a dance instead of a struggle. Calmly and purposefully tap out and submit to the Father’s answer or lack thereof. Get all up in His bubble and allow Him to get all up in your bubble. Let there be one glorious, intimate, close-knit bubble. And spirit if you do get an answer or resolution…let the soul in on it if the Father wants you to. Only say what you hear the Father saying and do only what you see the Father doing. I bless you spirit to mirror the Father and reflect His image into the soul and body. I bless you spirit is the name of the God who answers prayers and who is not slack concerning His promises.
I hope and pray this helps and if not then there are several other tools available. If this did bless you please comment, reblog, share on Facebook or Twitter, or like.
So I am going to Nicaragua in 5 days and will be there till June 22nd. I would really like all your prayers and intercession. I’ve been hit with a sinus cold and anxiety about flying, which I’ve never had an issue with until I started have anxiety/panic attacks two years ago. I’m on anti-biotics and my Doctor gave me something for the flying anxiety.
I would really appreciate prayers for the trip and for God to give me “marching orders” so to speak. I am going without any real expectations but with expectancy that God will move and I will move right along with Him…you know the whole CO-laboring thing. My inkling is about something with land. Either cleansing it, sowing into it, or receiving from it. No details. Sooooo if you feel led to pray or if you have a prophetic word of encouragements or knowledge or wisdom, I am in the receiving mode.
Blessings fellow bloggers, readers, and family.
1 John 4:17b declares,
…as He is, so also are we in this world.
PS: the main religion in Nicaragua is Santeria which is a demonic, perversion of Roman Catholicism mixed with paganism, witchcraft, and idol worship. That will be the atmosphere that I will be infiltrating with Light when I am there so….prayer points to consider 🙂
No, my wife and I are not having a baby yet(Update: My Wife and I are not expecting). Lets analyze the saying a bit.
First a quick foundation. Life begins at conception in regards to the soul and body. Our spirit, according to some theories or teachings, are pre-existent, according to Jeremiah1:5. That belief doesn’t really matter in regards to what I’m going to share but I thought I’d put it there for the sake of getting you to think more about our spirit instead of focused on the soul and body.
Scientists have determined that children in the womb cannot think until the myelination of the nerve sheath occurs. Some say it happens a month before birth or a month or two after birth. Either way Scientists agree that children in the womb can’t think via the organic or brain tissue. But. There was a doctor who would have pregnant women come to his office and use a sonogram to view the baby’s activity. He would speak quieter and calmer in order to bring a calm to the room and the baby until the baby became motionless. He would then tell the mother, “I’m sorry to say but you child is dead.” (This is horrible and should have never been done much less practiced) 100% of the time the babies would begin moving about with vigor letting the mother know, “I’m not dead but alive!” Though I object to this type of practice it does point to something interesting. How can a baby in the womb react to what the doctor said? Why would the baby react that way? If a baby’s brain scientifically doesn’t work why would they react, respond, feel, and hear? Because their spirit is alive and well and the spirit is not subject to the organic in order to be active and work.
In the Western world the popular phrase used once a husband and wife are pregnant is, “We going to have a baby!” or “I’m going to be a father!” As believers we know life begins at conception and abortion is murder because a baby is a human being beginning at conception not birth. So if a baby is a human being at conception and a baby’s spirit is fully active, grown, and responsive then what are we telling our babies in the womb when we say, “I’m going to be…?” Are we not sowing illegitimacy to them unawares? If we truly believe life begins at conception should we not say, “We have a baby!” or “I am a father?”
Without recognition of the baby’s spirit illegitimacy and even rejection has a way of creeping in. This is not to say that parents are rejecting their baby but by ignoring their current spirit’s presence is leads to rejection. Case in point, I’ve share this before but in High School whenever there was a new lunch period I never had anything to sit with. No one called out rejecting names but no one offered me a seat either…just being ignored brought illegitimacy.
There have been many who, while receiving inner healing and deliverance, have been able to recall memories of when they were in the womb. This seems far-fetched but since we are spirit, soul, and body and not the other way around then our spirit will carry what it was labeled as or if it was illegitimized. The biggest way rejection and illegitimacy takes hold in a person’s spirit and life is by others ignorance of their identity or existence. When we ignorantly declare that children in the womb aren’t children till birth then for 9 months they have no identity or true existence except for a future event. We are light. We are made of light. We are made from God’s Light. Light carries data. Think of fiber optics where light is filled with data and then sent somewhere for it to manifest. Our spirits are light and carry that which is put into them. Originally God, as Light, births other lights. Think of a candle where one candle lights another candle in which the Original candle’s flame is never diminished by lighting another candle. So our spirit carry the data in which God placed plans, purposes, revelation, everything that pertains to life and godliness. Then we are in the womb where believers know we are humans yet never speak as we are.
What if we reversed our course and started saying “We have a baby!” What would that do to the babies spirit? What kinds of seeds can we sow into that baby in the womb? Good seeds and bad seeds. Seeds nonetheless.
Most, if not all us, probably heard that saying in the womb. Most of our spirits still haven’t been legitimized. We talk about our spirits but we never speak to our spirits like we do our soul and body. But it’s not too late to gain back the ground that may have been lost. If you or you know someone who is pregnant or is looking to be pregnant then I would suggest Ministering to Babies in the Womb by Arthur Burk. God has given the spirit a 9 month head start on the soul. Why not take advantage and fill the beautiful spirit of a baby with legitimacy, identity, worth, value, the fruits of the Spirit, prophetically speak according to their bent, hope, even cleansing of generational stuff that may have not been dealt with in your own life, and the list could go on and on. Seek the Lord for wisdom and then sow those seeds into the spirit along with the data from the Father so that it may manifest is due time.
Now here is a prayer for those whose spirits weren’t legitimized in the womb. Fill in the blank with your name or another person’s name you’re praying for.
Spirit of _____ I bless you. Come to the forefront. Soul I ask that you step aside for a moment. Soul you are not bad and you are not being rejected. But right now it’s the spirit’s time for refreshing and acknowledgment. So spirit for so long you were never acknowledged nor anticipated. Spirit I want to address the silence and false views you received in the womb. You were never recognized. You were never legitimized. For 9 months or so you heard, “We’re going to have a baby” when you were already present. The soul and body may have been growing and subject to the restrictions to the womb and a growth period but you spirit were fully functional and fully the spirit of _______. You were ignored.
Spirit, receive the word of God for you which says in Jeremiah 1:5, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, And before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you…” Before God formed your soul and body you were present and God knew you and appointed you according to the bent He designed for you. Your earthly parents didn’t. Spirit, if you are able and want to, forgive your earthly parents for their lack of knowing you were there, present, and able to receive good and bad seeds. (Say out loud that you forgive your parents for not sowing into you when they should have or could have. Release them and ask God to cleanse your spirit from all defilement and illegitimacy)
Spirit of ____ I bless you. I acknowledge your presence and I bless you with sonship and legitimacy. I bless you with love, joy, peace, patience, goodness, kindness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. I bless you and speak to the data placed in you by the Father God and I agree with it. Spirit, turn to the face of God and receive all and everything you need and want from Him. He is your Maker and He loves you with an everlasting love. Spirit, you are worthy of worth and I bless with the worth of the Father. For so long you were at the end of the list if you were even on the list at all. Listen again to God’s Word for you in 1 Thessalonians 5:23 it says, “And may the God of peace Himself sanctify you through and through [separate you from profane things, make you pure and wholly consecrated to God]; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved sound and complete [and found] blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ…” I bless you, spirit, for being at the front of the list. You were meant to lead and one day God the Father will assign that position to you in this life. Keep after God’s face and receive instruction, directions, blessings, and worth.
Spirit of _____ I bless you in the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Be blessed as you stand before the face of God and receive more and more from Him as your Father and Creator.
This will be the first of a series of blogs about Wounds in the Womb. I hope this ministers to you. Some of it may seem far-fetched but I assure you it’s true. Go to God with it and see what He says.
There is a common teaching in Church today that says God doesn’t and won’t share His glory with anyone. I understand what they are saying and where they are coming from but it’s not the whole picture. Here are some scriptures I’d like to share that gives a broader picture.
John 17:22
The glory which You have given Me I have given to them, that they may be one, just as We are one
Matthew 5:16
Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven
Isaiah 60:1-3
Arise, shine, for your light has come,and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you,and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light,and kings to the brightness of your rising
Revelation 21:26
And they will bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it
1 Corinthians 11:7
For a man ought not to have his head covered, since he is the image and glory of God
2 Corinthians 3:18
But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transfigured into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit
I will elaborate on a future blog. You were created more then just to die and go to heaven. You were created to live.
I heard this is where the term ruwach came from. I like it. It’s awesome. It speaks of Life. It speaks of One present. It speak of movement and action.
John 3:8 says,
The Spirit breathes where He will, and you hear His voice, but you do not know from where He comes and where He goes; thus is everyone who is born from The Spirit.
I was engaging with that meaning “the sound of One Breathing” while at church several weeks ago. To tap into the reality that the God of wonderful power and awe reside in this temple. The resurrection power of God lives in me. The one that came with fire and clouds. The one that breathes things into existence. What if I truly walked in the realm of One Breathing? What if my breath synchronized with His Breath? What if I was in tune with His rhythm? To be in one accord? What would that feel like? What would that look like? What could be done? Amazing things I tell you….amazing things!
How does this image hit your soul? How does it hit your spirit? I know how it hits me. “Wait till your father gets home!”
There are many articles, blogs, books, videos, and messages with a myriad of lists with possible blockages to hearing God. I will speak on behalf of experience and expound somewhat on one thing in my life that blocked it or more correctly held me back from wanting to listen.
First the back story.
Like I’m sure many of us who haven’t walked with God all our life things were messy. We sinned and for a time loved it. I did. But then God came in His goodness…and the enemy with his badness. For me there was a daily struggle between condemnation, conviction, and correcting or whatever terms you like to use. I held a lot of shame in my spirit not the soul. Shame resides in the spirit of a person. Also being an introspective introvert didn’t make it any easier. I was constantly aware of my failures, character defects, etc. In my mind I had this constant sountrack playing that I kept offending and hurting and was a disappointment to my heavenly Father. Here was the agreement and inner vow: I have failed God so many times by sinning I dare not seek Him or else He will tell me to do something that I know I won’t do thus sinning and not being obedient again. How dare I seek His face and ask Him to speak when I know I won’t do it. See what shame does? See what demonically inspired introspection fueled by religion does? It cripples you. It crippled me. One of my only prayer for years was either “Bless this food to my body” or “God please forgive me and cleanse me.” What was weird is that I could hear for others just great. I could prophesy and have words of knowledge and they would be spot on in most cases. For me it was easy to do that when I wasn’t responsible for the outcome. A person could deliver mail all day without a worry until they receive their own mail. When I saw my mail all I saw was bills and junk mail. So what blocked me was I didn’t want to disobey God once again. Best way not to disobey is not hear Him speak because I always thought He would be directive. I never knew He just wanted to chill. Hang out. Enjoy ME for ME. I didn’t know God could and would enjoy the current version. I’m thinking of the digital age we live in where it’s all about the latest greatest version. New comes along and the old gets discarded. Thrown away. Worthless.
And then I found out a secret…God will not set you up for failure. That a test is not designed for your failure or to show you what you are not. But a test is a joyful exploration of my Father’s goodness wrapped up in my seeming frailty and taking life on together. God may set your unrenewed self up to fail or rather realize apart from Him you can do nothing. Know this: God wants you to come to Him warts, spots, and all because He’s already washed them away. Seeking His face is about knowing Him intimately not to get a to-do list. Jesus’ first and second commandment are to love Him and others as ourselves. Love doesn’t produce a project to be completed or a problem to be solved. Love produces an environment where the good, bad, and ugly can reside side by side until the Holy Spirit and man’s spirit come into agreement and start to bring redemptive death to those things in order for resurrection power to come forth.
The religious spirit will do all it can from keeping you from God just like the Pharisees did. In the Old Covenant condemnation was the ministry (see 2 Cor. 3:9) New Testament’s ministry is righteousness. Old Covenant death came by getting close. New Testament life comes by getting close.
If you’ve ever felt like how I felt then today is a new day. God won’t set you up for failure. Even if He does ask you to do something and you don’t do it then there is great grace abounding to you. That is what relationships are about. Walking together through the thick and thin. Blood is thicker than your inabilities.
Every great movie has a score. Every great life should have one as well.
I’m sure all of us have seen the slide shows, the trailers, the promo videos, and the like. All incorporating music to set the tone. Sometime you can see different scenes without music and they are pretty much…well, bland. No mood nor emotion. Then they can add all different types of sounds and tones and pitches to describe what is either being seen or what they want you to see. (I’m not musical in any way, shape, or form so pardon my ignorance on the technicality of the terms used or not used) Using this art form they can make something epic or make something calmer. Question is…what is the soundtrack to your story? What music, score, or sounds would describe your life currently?
We are all made of light, we are all made of sound. Hebrews 1:3a says
He is the sole expression of the glory of God [the Light-being, the out-raying or radiance of the divine], and He is the perfect imprint and very image of [God’s] nature, upholding and maintaining and guiding and propelling the universe by His mighty word of power.
All things are held together by His word or sound or score. Research has shown that even our DNA can be put into sound and music. So in the depths of who we are…the very fabric of our being is sound and light. Our spirit are creative light from the very substance of our Father. When One Candle lights another candle the Original Light is never diminished but produces another of the same kind. You ever wonder where the term, “they were in tune with each other” comes from?
What is your internal soundtrack? What is your external soundtrack? Internal soundtrack is the message we speak about ourselves to ourselves. It forms our emotions and reactions. It either gives or takes away from our spirit’s work in our life. The external soundtrack is what others say and what we allow to influence and affect us. It is the words we allow to land and take residence. Our soundtracks or scores are the resounding tune that portrays the emotion of our current state. Like I said above, in the same way we can be in the same situation and the score can determine how to feel, react, or respond in the given circumstance.
What I was originally getting at (lol) is what actual music or score would you use to describe your story? Lord of the Rings theme? Braveheart? The Notebook? Cinderella? The Last of the Mohicans? Sleeping Beauty?
Do you ever feel stagnant in life? How about in your walk with the Lord? I do….right now.
It’s funny how we lose what we have gain sometimes. You look to the horizon and see the light…then we realize we are facing west and the light is going away. And we wait for another dark night of the soul as they say. Why? Why do we lose what we gain? Sometime I think it is because we stop following. We set up shop and stay put. It’s interesting that Jesus said, “Follow Me.” How many actually follow? There is a dynamic aspect to our walk with God. There’s another term we use often yet never think about. Our walk with God.
There’s another interesting thing Jesus said is in John 5:17
My Father is working until this hour, and I am also working.
We need to be active in our life with God. Proactive. Interactive. Not passive or inert. It kinda goes back to the whole Inheritance or Entitlement thing. Are we active participators in with Jesus or are we just along for the ride. If I’ve lost sight of the horizon maybe I should keep following the sun(son). Maybe I’ve seen the signposts and forgot about them and am looking for other ones. Maybe if I don’t hear “Left” or “Right” then I should keep going straight. On a side note, personal prophecy is God’s desire for you but it will only be fulfilled if our desire connects with it. Co-laboring with and in His promises.
So all of this ^^^^ above is what I was originally writing then I was like, “What am I even writing about?” I mean, I know what I was getting at but was I even picking up what I was putting down? Am I going to pose or be real? Am I going to do what I think others need to do? To be honest I’ve been really….discouraged. Kind of lost sight of the bigger picture as well as the smaller picture I would like to see myself in. It’s weird because several weeks back I was full of anticipation and joy. I saw a horizon I could reach.
I was really looking forward to this Waterboyz Wild at Heart Boot Camp this past weekend but during the weekend I just felt….indifferent. Not to say God didn’t speak to me, because He did. Also I don’t want to diminished how blessed I was to see many other men’s lives were changed. There were many great things that happened like 15 men being baptized in the Chesapeake Bay. Four father and son’s hearts were radically turned towards each other. These were amazing things and I shed many tears of joy for these awesome God moments.
What did He speak? I felt He told me, “Well done, son.” I wept. I also realized how many times I’ve spoken negatively over myself in regards to me being overweight or stupid or being an idiot. I took that “Yellow Passport” and wrote all the names I’ve spoken over myself and others have spoken over me. I threw that thing away. I was no longer my identity or destiny. It’s been a week and I still feel….well shitty. Forgive my language but it’s how I feel. Nothing has really changed externally. All my circumstance are the same as they were previous weeks ago. Maybe I picked up on some critters? Maybe I’ve been sensing someone else’s stuff? It does happen.
I guess dreaming long is key where I am at now. People say you need to press through. What does that even mean practically? “Press in” they say. What am I pressing and how do I press? And what may be on the other side? I’m not trying to be negative or have a pity party but process out loud so to speak.
You know it can be very easy to reach out for the imitation. There’s a quote by Bruce Marshall (not Chesterton) which is
…the young man who rings the bell at the brothel is unconsciously looking for God.
Now this is incredibly true in all aspects. I’m currently ringing that bell at food. I also ring it at adventurous activity. Of course the brothel is never, ever a good idea and that bell should never be rung. But is food bad? Or marital sex? Or adventure? Or anything clearly within God’s character? It’s all about focus. What am I focusing on? What is my intention? Where is my validation coming from? What or who am I giving power to be the report card on my life?
I often look how behind I am in life. I’m 31 and have a crappy car…super thankful for that car though. I’m in a career field that I’m good at but not passionate about. I want to be in ministry and being able to support a family with that but that seems extremely far-reaching. I feel lost and confused…if that is where I am validated. If my currency and current(cy) is determined by my following something temporal then I’m set up for disaster or heartache. I need to learn to enjoy where I am. Moment by every precious moment. I can enjoy my beautiful God-breathed marriage. I can enjoy actually having a job and being able to pay bills. I can enjoy my times when I can do adventures. I can look and see God’s total provision for my Nicaragua trip. I can choose to acknowledge but refuse invalidation from dealing with anxiety/panic stuff. I can live with having Asthma and allergies and bad teeth. I can see external facts but live in internal truths. I can agree with the process of an outworking salvation, a grasping for a future growth into a present reality, and I can live, with God, moment by moment because I am a much-loved child of God.
I have what it takes. I am noticed. My heart matters. My Father adores me.
You have what it takes. You are noticed. Your heart matters. Your Father adores you.
P.S. I’m not going to lie and say I didn’t don’t feel dumb for this blog. It’s title has nothing really to do with the ending. I figured I will keep the title and the featured image.
The disciples belonged before they believed. – Bill Johnson
But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit…to another prophecy. 1 Cor. 12:7,10
Here we see three different gifts or charisma of the Holy Spirit. Root word is charizomai which means give or forgive as well as to do something pleasant or agreeable (to one), to do a favor to, gratify. The other word is charis which is the word grace which means that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech.
From what I’ve seen in the body of Christ is confusion or misinterpretation of these three gifts: Knowledge, Wisdom, and Prophecy. I would add interpretation of tongues but I’ve rarely heard corporate tongues and interpretation of tongues in Church. It may be a more Pentecostal thing but not so much so in Charismatic churches. Also discerning of spirits could be thrown in the mix too but I’ll focus on the three. On a side note, I would love to bring attention to the fact that the Apostle Paul saw that the gifts were being abused or misinterpreted and wrote this passage in the epistle to teach the Church…the Church and not the apostles. So in other words, the gifts weren’t given to prove the Apostles office or the confirm the canon or whatever opinion some believe. The gifts were given for the common good of the Church as a whole. Especially considering 1 Corinthians 14:5 which indicate Paul wanted the Church as a whole to speak in tongues and prophesy even more. And yes there are different tongues, not really different but tongues as a whole has different applications but that may be for another blog.
In my opinion based on what I’ve learned and been taught, is that the gift of knowledge tends to be more diagnostic or it gives a diagnosis which means the identification of the nature of an illness or other problem by examination of the symptoms. Word of knowledge coincides with the fruit of joy. Knowledge in Greek is gnōsis which means knowledge signifies in general intelligence, understanding. So God gives a word of knowledge, then what do we do? Immediately deliver it? Yes and no. While I firmly believe in the saying, “deliver the mail don’t interpret it,” there are times when we should sit back with this diagnostic word of knowledge and ask God to show us what to do with it. Let Him direct you with the word without you trying to understand the word. He may say to release it. For instance, I don’t remember who it was, a speaker got a word of knowledge and it was simply “macaroni & cheese.” ??? Really? So this person just spoke it out in faith without reading it and “macaroni & cheese” meant the world to an individual in the seats. This woman was praying for someone’s salvation or something like that and the person being prayed for drove a Kraft Macaroni & Cheese truck. This was the confirmation that woman needed to encourage her. More on confirmation later. But on the other side I recall a story from Graham Cooke where a man came up for prayer and Graham immediately saw a spirit of lust all over the man (this knowledge came from discerning of spirit mixed with word of knowledge). Graham didn’t release it but stepped back into his spirit and asked God what to do. In this instance releasing it could have cause a lot of damage, heartache, etc. What did God say? To proclaim the opposite (which would be prophecy) and to release what was needed to set the man free. Graham released something like this, “I see an incredible amount of purity coming upon your life. I see you loving you wife and cherishing her.” The man broke down in tears…beautiful healing and life-giving tears. There are some who probably would have said, “Thus saith the Lord God Almighty. You have lust all over you and you will burn for it unless you repent.” Not really life-giving nor seasoned with salt. Again God may have you say something like this to the person not using a microphone, “God showed me a spirit of lust operating in your life. You need to stop it otherwise your life will be in shambles. God is not into public shaming but public redeeming! They only public shaming Jesus did was against religion and the religious structure that promoted public shaming. So we receive a word of knowledge and step back into our spirit and ask God what to do with it. Next will come either a word of wisdom or the gift of prophecy may manifest.
The gift of prophecy is probably the most controversial amongst the three. The gift of prophecy coincides with the fruit of goodness. Prophecy in Greek is prophēteia which means a discourse emanating from divine inspiration and declaring the purposes of God, whether by reproving and admonishing the wicked, or comforting the afflicted, or revealing things hidden; esp. by foretelling future events. Most people when you say the word “prophecy” they only think of prophecy in the Scripture foretelling Christ or other events. But of course in New Testament there is both as we see in many epistle, gospels, and the book of acts. We also see prophecy in regards to day-to-day things like in Acts 21:11 which says,
And as we stayed many days, a certain prophet named Agabus came down from Judea. When he had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’” Now when we heard these things, both we and those from that place pleaded with him not to go up to Jerusalem. Then Paul answered, “What do you mean by weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Funny thing is the word of knowledge/prophecy pointed to a negative thing but the recipient, Paul, knew full well what would happen and accepted it. Almost like another confirmation for Paul. Personal prophecy is a beautiful thing. Truly beautiful. I call personal prophecy in a meeting a “public honoring.” God points you out and highlights you. He confirms in open what He has spoken to you in private. Beautiful! I love personal prophecy. It is a great thing. I would also like to note that personal prophecy is, generally speaking, conditional. 1 Corinthians 14:29 says
But let two or three Prophets speak and the others discern.
Even a large amount of Old Testament prophecy was conditional in regards to current day-to-day things. Do this and that will happen. Do this and that won’t happen. Some get a prophetic word and run with it. Some rely on prophetic words to know what to do. Both are imbalanced in my opinion. Yet some get a prophetic word that makes no sense and they toss it out which is also not a good thing to do. You won’t lose your calling or destiny by throwing out a word that doesn’t make sense but it may cause delay because there was a nugget in there you needed to get to the next step. There are some who have receive prophetic words 5-30 or more years ago that are just now coming to fruition. Personal prophecy is personal promise with conditional and relational involvement. When Scripture says we are co-laborers then we are co…laborers. We are saved by grace through faith yes, but our growth is determined by our plow.
So the gift of prophecy provides an expected end or expected signpost. A glimpse into the future you and the future space around you. I love Graham Cooke’s teaching “Bringing the future into today” which basically means you take your prophetic word and see the character that is needed to walk in it and start acting in that character now. Prophecy speaks the potential and possibilities. It will provide a future and a hope. It can also provided the prognosis of the diagnosis. Prognosis means a forecast of the likely outcome of a situation. I said it before, “do this and that will happen.” So what happens from word of knowledge to prophecy….?
A word of wisdom. This coincides with love. Wisdom in Greek is sophia which means wisdom, broad and full of intelligence; used of the knowledge of very diverse matters and the intelligence evinced in discovering the meaning of some mysterious number or vision. When I think of the word of wisdom I think of how to get from point A to point B and possible pitfalls in the middle. You get a word of knowledge to diagnose something then receive the prognosis by prophecy but now you need a word of wisdom in order to walk through it all. The word of wisdom can give you a course of action. The remedy for a situation. Supernatural wisdom they may defy logical action. Jesus told different people different things in order to get healed. He didn’t just say you have “this” or you have “that” but said go wash over here or here is some mud…put that in your eyes to help you see. I would say a lot of dream interpretation comes from the word of wisdom as well or even dreams are a word of wisdom, word of knowledge, and/or prophecy. Words of wisdom offer the prescription to get you from the word of knowledge to the prophecy.
I do hope this all makes some sort of sense. Biggest issue I have is getting what is jostling in my brain into something coherent. The illustrations I used hopefully explained the differences and similarities of the three gifts. Three manifestations or diversities of gifts but the same Spirit work in all. There can be much more taught, discussed, and experienced with these three gifts. Let all be done decently and in order, thinking of others before ourselves or platforms. Regarding one another more highly than ourselves. The fruit is always the foundation for the gifts.
Be blessed this Resurrection Sunday for without the resurrection we would still be in our sins and new life wouldn’t be possible. Check out my blog from last year about Great Friday!
How does the Kingdom work? By inheritance or entitlement?
Inheritance is Hebrew is nachalah which means possession, property, inheritance, heritage. It is also translated as heritage in Scripture. Another Hebrew word for inheritance is nachal which means to get as a possession, acquire, inherit, possess. Greek for inheritance is klēronomia which means an inheritance, property received (or to be received) by inheritance and what is given to one as a possession. Inheritance in Merriam-Webster’s dictionary defines it as money, property, etc., that is received from someone when that person dies, something from the past that is still important or valuable, and/or the act of inheriting something.
Entitlements in Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary is defined as the condition of having a right to have, do, or get something and/or the feeling or belief that you deserve to be given something (such as special privileges). Entitled means believing oneself to be inherently deserving of privileges or special treatment. As far as I’ve searched I cannot find the word entitled or entitlement(s) in Scripture.
How many of us, including myself, feel entitled to so many things in our walk with the Lord? I have. I do. But are we…entitled? In my opinion, entitlement is seeking inheritance apart from and before maturity. Seeking what is given to you and acting like it is owed to you. Perfect illustration is in Luke 15:11-32 which is the story of “prodigal son.” One could argue that the father was the prodigal but that’s up to your viewpoint. I would post the whole passage but we all know it. The son asks for his inheritance prior to becoming mature enough to handle it. He felt entitled to it and, as we can see, the father obliged and handed it over. Asking for your inheritance before maturity is an entitled mindset. Galatians 4:1-2 says
Now what I mean is that as long as the inheritor (heir) is a child and under age, he does not differ from a servant, although he is the master of all the estate; But he is under guardians and administrators or trustees until the date fixed by his father.
Here it says an heir or inheritor, present state of being, does not differ from a servant but is under those designed to mature the heir until the date fixed. Date fixed in Greek is prothesmia which means set beforehand, appointed or determined beforehand, prearranged.
This is no way conflicts with 2 Corinthians 1:20 in my opinion. All of the promises of God are “Yes” and “Amen” in Christ who we are joined with. Heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ. I was thinking about what would happen if we lived in full authority and inheritance without the fruit necessary for its foundation. Would I end up squandering it with my own will? Would I declare things that shouldn’t be declared? Would I command mountains to be cast into the sea when that mountain should stay put? Can we be trusted with our full inheritance before our set time? Will we demand it with a servant/slave entitlement mindset? Or will we be patient? He sure is patient due to Him not be slack considering His promises.
Proverbs 17:6 says
Children’s children are the crown of old men, and the glory of children is their fathers.
God is a God of generations. He works through others and through generations. The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. God of generations and a God of inheritance. If you don’t believe then throw out 1st Chron. and 2nd Chron. as well as Luke 3:23-38 and Matt. 1:1-17. I mean one of Jesus’ names is Son of David. Son of. Who are you a son of? That will tell you your inheritance or debt. Yes we are sons of God. Mercy and grace are blasting into our lives but there is a process.
Hebrews 7:7-10 says
But without any dispute the lesser is blessed by the greater.In this case mortal men receive tithes, but in that case one receives them, of whom it is witnessed that he lives on. And, so to speak, through Abraham even Levi, who received tithes, paid tithes, for he was still in the loins of his father when Melchizedek met him.
Here we see actions done by others are passed on to those who didn’t do anything. Look at Adam and Eve. They sinned and it passed on to us. Christ died and rose from the dead and now many are made alive. This was done 2000 years ago and is passed on to those that believe.
Some of us have inherited a positive inheritance and some a negative inheritance which I like to call debt. Most of us are a mixed bag. We have inheritance and debt. Not that we are indebted but we have to make up for what was either lost or not provided. For those who notice a debt then I would suggest reading Generational Deliverance to get a clean slate as it were.
1 Peter 3:9-12 says
Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble.Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult. On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.For,
“Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech. They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are attentive to their prayer, but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
So that you may inherit a blessing. So there is a way to inherit a blessing. There is also a way to create an inheritance of blessing. If you have debt, get delivered and cancel out that garbage. Get that clean slate and press forward. Sow. Water. God will give the increase. Proverbs 13:22a declares
A good man leaves an inheritance to his children’s children…
Inheritance. Generations. Children’s children. Three generations listed here which basically says leave something your grandkids can use and not something they need to break off. Sow into generations future. Believe you me this is spiritual and physical. Occupy till He comes. Heaven isn’t our eternal home. This earth will still be around for a millennia after Jesus comes back physically. What if we have to restore in the millennium what we blatantly destroyed prior? What if we can leave something for ourselves in the future? Lets give our kids and grandkids a break. Give them something to fight from instead of something to fight for. Lets get rid of our debt and create a surplus. Lets be patient in the waiting of our reaping. Wait for your appointed time when your inheritance will be opened up to you. Get out of entitlement. Get into patience and maturity. Grow. Get pruned. Do not despise when God works on you because it proves your sonship…it proves you do have an inheritance.
I am writing to share some exciting news with you. I plan to be part of a mission team traveling to Nicaragua June 16th through June 21st. Nicaragua is the second poorest country in our hemisphere (Haiti is the poorest). I’m going to sow into the land and the people. I have felt called to go ever since I had a dream with a well known prophet. In the dream this prophet named three names, two of which I don’t remember but Nicaragua is the one that stuck with me so I’m going!
My church, Harvest Christian Fellowship, in Frederick, Maryland, in partnership with Cristo Centro Church of Diriamba, Nicaragua, sponsors TrueHope4Kids, a ministry outreach to school age children in Diriamba. The children who participate in TrueHope4Kids would, were it not for this outreach, likely not attend school at all, but would be out in the streets begging or scavenging the local dump for “treasures” to sell to help keep food on the table at home. In exchange for their caregivers agreeing to keep them in school, TrueHope4Kids provides a nourishing meal and high-quality vitamins every school day, along with Bible studies and other educational activities. The children receive help with uniforms, and receive backpacks filled with school supplies every year. Over the years, many of the children and their families have surrendered their lives to Christ, become active church members and productive members of their community.
Our team will be serving and ministering to these children and their families each day, not only at the TrueHope4Kids location, but also visiting in their homes, hearing their stories, encouraging them and praying for their needs. We will likely do some street witnessing as well. And because we will be there during Cristo Centro Church’s 30th anniversary, we will get to join the congregation for their celebration, where we will have opportunities to serve and encourage them as well!
I am asking for your help to make this trip possible. First, I covet your prayers for success in raising funds and for productive ministry and safety for our team during the mission trip. I know that much prayer is vital for success, and I would be greatly encouraged if you would agree to pray for me and the whole team.
Second, I cannot make the trip without financial partners. I need to raise $1,320 to join this mission team, half before April 15th and the remainder by June 2nd. If you are able to help with the finances, I would be richly blessed. You can use the PayPal donate link below. Donations done that way will not be tax exempt unfortunately. To receive a tax deductible, receipt use https://giving.onthecity.org/hcfchurch/uauth_giving/new and put “NIC Missions 1 John 4:17” as the memo.
Thank you for your friendship, prayers and any financial support you are able to provide. I plan to provide a follow-up report to you when our trip is concluded.
Free Generational Deliverance course online. It used to be $100 but is now free on Aslan’s Place website. Thought I’d share it with those who are interested. Have a blessed weekend!
A good name is to be more desired than great wealth, Favor is better than silver and gold.
Ecclesiastes 7:1a says
A good name is better than fine perfume…
I recently thought of the saying “_____, it’s my middle name.” You know the saying people say, “You’re dangerous!” And the reply, “Danger is my middle name.” You can put in whatever thing or name you want in there.
So I looked up my middle name to see what it means and this came up: free man. But a couple of sites had their little spiel about what they believe the name means. This is what they said,
People with this name have a deep inner desire to use their abilities in leadership, and to have personal independence. They would rather focus on large, important issues, and delegate the details.
People with this name are excellent at analyzing, understanding, and learning. They tend to be mystics, philosophers, scholars, and teachers. Because they live so much in the mind, they tend to be quiet and introspective, and are usually introverts. When presented with issues, they will see the larger picture. Their solitary thoughtfulness and analysis of people and world events may make them seem aloof, and sometimes even melancholy.
The latter paragraph is me to a T…or whatever the saying is. Names means a lot. Some people are named by their parents while others are named by Facebook polls. Some ask God what to name their children. Then there are times where God changes the name given to them by their parents. But why would He change their name?
Abram to Abraham
Sarai to Sarah
Jacob to Israel
Naomi wants it to change to Mara
Simon to Peter
Some had different names for the culture they were in,
Joseph to Zaphenath-Paneah
Daniel to Belteshazzar
Hananiah to Shadrach
Mishael to Meshach
Azariah to Abednego
Hadassah to Esther
Saul to Paul
Back then, names meant something. These days we name people for coolness factor, not that there is anything wrong with that, but I believe names carry something in the spirit. A name has authority. A name has power. God changes names because He wants them to carry something they didn’t know they could carry before. No one knew they would carry it so God had to change their name. They needed something to carry it. They needed a name that others could look at and realize God’s fingerprint.
Look at Jabez. His name meant sorrow. But I believe God totally redeemed that name and that person. His prayer (see 1 Chron. 4:10) is one of the most popular prayer today. There are whole books on it. Sometimes a name carries a stereotype. “Oh look at Mr. Smith. I know another Smith in town who is related. Got to watch out for those Smiths.” Sometimes you are called to break the pattern of a name.
We can also be called names. Bad names. A popular rhyme we say is, “Sticks and stone may break my phone but words will never hurt me.” Wrong! I’ve been called names and it wasn’t a pleasant experience. Names carry something. Isaiah 65:15 says something interesting
You will leave your name for a curse to My chosen ones, And the Lord GOD will slay you. But My servants will be called by another name.
Isaiah 48:9 says
For the sake of My name I delay My wrath, And for My praise I restrain it for you, In order not to cut you off.
Name is Hebrew is shem which means name, reputation, fame, glory, memorial, and monument. Greek for name is onoma which means everything which the name covers, everything the thought or feeling of which is aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing, remembering, the name, i.e. for one’s rank, authority, interests, pleasure, command, excellencies, deeds etc.
We use our name to make covenants with people. We use our name to sign things and agree to terms. Our future is determined by the fact that our name is written in a book (see Luke 10:20). In our western thought, names are but something on a birth certificate. But in the Hebrew mindset names are everything. It denotes calling or past. It indicates situations or outcomes.
What does your name mean? How have you used your name? How have others used it? What names have you been called? How has a name labeled you? How has a name defiled you? How has a name influenced you? How has a name confused you or others around you? When have you been called by the wrong name? When has your name been confused with another name?
I’m pondering, as I’m typing, about the possibility of blessings and curses attached the names we have been given. Is there a blessing that comes with a name? Is there a curse or defilement? Obviously when someone labels us or calls us a bad name then, yes, there is defilement. That can be broken off easily by simply saying this
I reject all names I have been labeled with and called by. I do not receive them, nor the spirits attached. I call those name null and void and command all labels and names to fall to the ground and turn to dust. I pray for the anointing of the Holy Spirit to be smeared all over me and that all things spoken over me, not of God, would bead off and have no affect. I receive blessings and God’s labels and names over my life in Jesus’ name!
I want a good name in my life. I want my name to be an inheritance, to leave an inheritance. I want God to guard my name. I want my name to point to His Name! I want my name influenced and possessed by His Name. I want my name cleansed of all defilement and ungodly labels. I want His Name to rule over my name. I desire a good name. I want a name better than the choicest of perfumes. I want a name that cherishes other names and calls those names into blessings. I want His name for me. And I can’t wait for that stone with my new name (see Rev. 2:17 , Isaiah 62:2). I embrace my name.
Do you embrace His name over you? Do you know His name over you? Ask Him and He will give it in His timing. I waited and got it. He said my name means and is Possessor, and that is what I will do. I will possess all He has for me by saying “Yes!” to Him. He will work on me when I say “no” because He is faithful. I choose the good report and that the land is for the taking. As the river Jordan was held back to Adam (see Joshua 3:16) so I pray all things holding us back will be held back to Adam…the first Adam.
Soul ties. Are they real and do they exist? Some seem to think they don’t exist but I lean towards their existence so hopefully I can explain, with maturity and humility, why I believe them to be true. Check out Generational Deliverance for more Inner Healing & Deliverance information.
So what are these so called soul ties? I think the term “soul” ties can be somewhat misleading. I believe soul ties are at the spiritual level more so then the soulish level but they are on both levels even affecting the physical. So for the sake of a general term I will say “soul” ties.
There are good/Godly soul ties and there are bad/ungodly soul ties. So you don’t agree and say “soul ties” isn’t in the Scriptures. Well neither is “Trinity” or “rapture” or “Calvinism.” I’ll be talking about ungodly soul ties. But know that there are very godly soul ties.
One Scripture that indicates soul ties is I Sam. 18:1-4 which says
Now it came about when he had finished speaking to Saul, that the soul of Jonathan was knit to the soul of David, and Jonathan loved him as himself.Saul took him that day and did not let him return to his father’s house.Then Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself.Jonathan stripped himself of the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, including his sword and his bow and his belt.
Hebrew for knit is qashar which means to bind, tie, bind together, league together, conspire, to bind to oneself. So the soul of Jonathan was bound together with the soul of David. Now, because of this knitting together Jonathan made a covenant with David. Covenant in Hebrew is bĕriyth which means covenant, alliance, pledge. The deeper meaning is to cut or a cutting. Due to our connectedness with God He created a covenant with man. A human makes almost daily covenants with others. Whenever we sign our name we make covenant. It’s a legal transaction. There are other references to soul ties in the Old Testament. Some of those are: Judges 20:11, 1 Chron. 12:17, Psa 119:6.3, Gen 34:3, Num. 25:3, Hosea 4:17, and Gen. 2:24.
Some make soul ties out to be some sort of mystic thing that floats around…it is but it isn’t, if that makes sense. How the bonds work I don’t know (maybe like Quantum Entanglement). As there are many things in the world we don’t know, but is being researched in Quantum Theory, so there are many things in the spiritual realm/dimension that we don’t know. Paul Cox says that being as the physical world is so very complex then we are very naive to believe that the spiritual world is so simple as we like to make it out to be (that is for a future blog possibly). I believe, as we practice discernment, we will understand more and more about the other realm around us(see Hebrews 5:14).
How else do we form these ungodly ties? Among many the biggest culprit is sex. Mostly sex with someone other than your spouse. Like I said, there are many good soul ties we make like with our parents, spouses, siblings, and friends through godly ways. But we also make many ungodly soul ties with people we attach to in ungodly ways. Key verse for this is 1 Corinthians 6:16 which declares
Or do you not know that the one who joins himself to a prostitute is one body with her? For He says, “THE TWO SHALL BECOME ONE FLESH.”
Joins in Greek is kollaō which means to glue, to glue together, cement, fasten together. Prostitute in Greek is…yep pornē which means a woman who sells her body for sexual uses and unlawful sexual intercourse, whether for gain or for lust. So, yea, that is where we get the word “porn” from.
Sex was made to be the holiest thing a married couple would experience. Sex is worship and it involves sacrifice (see Rom. 12:1), hence the prevalence of temple prostitutes in Corinth and many other pagan cultures including the worship of Molech where they would pass their kids through the fire (see Lev. 18:21). Having sex, outside of God’s design brings you into alignment with the enemy’s perversion. Sex is covenant and brings attachment to the spirit behind it. This include porn, lust, fantasy, voyeurism, ghost sex (Nephilim), premarital sex, Satanic Ritual Abuse, etc. I’m been pondering this the past week and I feel that ungodly soul ties are like a by-product of improper relationships perverted by cosmic or demonic beings. I also feel, but not 100%, that ungodly soul ties are not only between two different people but one person can get tied to a group of people and also tied with the cosmic or demonic being behind it. This is my theory. Soul ties give the enemy a foothold in one’s life. It causes demonic entanglement (see Heb. 12:1).
A womb is a gateway for authority on the earth. Abortion has defiled this gateway for far too long. Abortion is not about a women’s right to choose but about an agenda by the fallen angels to sacrifice God’s image in order to distort His image, plans, and purposes. Look I may be far off on this but I’m thinking that soul ties can be as far-reaching as they are deep reaching. I believe Mephibosheth was saved due to David and Jonathan’s soul tie. Believe me, I’m not a darkness, demon behind every rock kind of person but the enemy is slick so we need to not be ignorant of his wiles. So due to the enemy not having authority on earth but through people he persuades, deceives people to come into alignment with himself and each other to form far-reaching bonds which give more authority and power for the enemy to act on earth. It’s like his lifeline on earth to spread his dis-ease everywhere. If we can entertain angels unaware we can also entertain fallen angels unaware as well. We must repent and remove ourselves from this network of soul ties. Soul ties may even be transferred generationally.
So what are some indications of soul ties that need to be severed? Good question! Some may include
Pictures in your mind that you are unable to bring into captivity
Unable to forget and leave behind a past crush, girlfriend/boyfriend, spouse
Thoughts of others when intimate with spouse, even when you don’t want them
After divorce, your heart is feels torn and ripped (this is normal and not ungodly but soul ties should be severed nonetheless due to the relationship not being binding or divorce due to abuse and adultery)
Family member/spouse/siblings/children who have passed away
Generational defilement
Demonic or Fallen Cosmic interference with relationships
Continue to feel drawn to a person even when in a bad relationship and you know you don’t like/love them
Codependency issues
Pre-marital sexual relationship(s)
Cohabitation with someone you are not married to
One night stand(s)
Abortion (soul ties with child aborted whether you are the father of mother) being as it is a child they do have a spirit, soul, and body and soul ties must be severed due to the shedding of innocent blood and trauma involved
Miscarriages
If you received an organ transplant
Unequal yoking together of two people or parties
People holding you back from going forward spiritually, physically, and/or emotionally
Anyone who manipulates you or exudes their power over you
Involved in pornography, prostitution, or other sexual sin
Unable to cleave to your wife/husband due to parental manipulation or inability to leave parents for spouse
Ungodly pacts, covenants, agreements, vows, etc make with another person or group of people or the enemy(see Prov. 17:18,22:26)
I’m sure there are several different avenues for soul ties to form. I even experimented with breaking a soul tie with my Grandfather being as I get called by his nickname by my father. I don’t really like being called by his nickname personally, I just don’t like it and I wonder if because of a soul tie my father senses something and somehow relates to him through me. I’m thinking that a soul tie with someone else can attract others to us and because of it, others attempt to reach out to the person we have a tie to. Just a theory so we will see fruit if true and if not then let that idea either fall to the ground or be put on a shelf.
Best Person to ask is the Holy Spirit to see which ungodly soul tie you have. He will definitely guide you. Breaking and severing spirit, soul, and body ties is very important to gain freedom and Generational Deliverance. It was for freedom that Christ set us free. Galatians 5:1 declares
Christ has set us free to live a free life. So take your stand! Never again let anyone put a harness of slavery on you.
So here is a general prayer one could pray to sever soul ties. In the first two ____ put in an action that may have or definitely caused a soul tie ie. abortion, sex before marriage, porn, Freemasonry, SRA, codependency etc. Then the rest of the ____ put in the name(s) of individuals or group(s) you may have ties to.
Father, in Jesus name, I come to You asking for the Holy Spirit to lead and guide me. Father, with what I heard from the Spirit, I now repent for ____ and ask forgiveness for _____. I ask that any spirit, soul, or body ties I have with ____ be severed by the Sword of the Spirit, which is the rhema/spoken word of God. Father I sever all ties in Jesus name. Base upon my repentance and Your just and righteous forgiveness I come boldly to the Throne of Grace asking for mercy and for You to move on my behalf. Now in Jesus’ name I sever all spirit, soul, and body ties with ____. I ask that You, Father, would restore back to me anything that was stolen or given away in this tie and I ask that you would restore back to the other party(s) anything and everything that I took from them. Father it was for freedom that Christ set me free so I agree with freedom right now! I ask for freedom, I seek freedom, and I knock on freedom’s door. Thank You, God, for giving me freedom. I now put the blood of Jesus, the Cross of Christ, and the empty tomb and ascension of Jesus between me and _____. I dispatch angels to minister to me and _____. Father, remove all labels, signs, attachments, entanglements, footholds, and wiles in the spirit realm from me. I remove all ties to the demons involved and command them to leave in Jesus’ name and I ask that, You Father, would rebuke and send away all cosmic beings involved. I choose not to slander angelic majesties (see Jude 8 and 2 Peter 2:10-11) instead I refer to Your judgment and authority, Almighty God. Father, now, in Jesus’ name, I ask You to fill all vacant and empty spaces with your Holy Spirit and Fruit. Fill me with light and the abundance of Your goodness. I call my spirit to attention to receive all the goodness and fruit of God. From now on, Father, guide me in choosing who I get knit together with. Lord I choose Godly soul ties in my life and reject all ungodly ones. In Jesus’ name Amen and Amen
I would also suggest praying the prayers linked to below
I want to talk about generational deliverance which includes but is not limited to generational curses. I know there is a large group within the Church, including some Charismatic and Pentecostals, that don’t believe in generational deliverance. I will address two main points they use to argue against it.
1. Jesus died to reverse the curse so there is no longer any curses to break not deliverance needed.
Correct, Jesus died to reverse the curse and ransom us. The curse is reversed but there some traveling to do until it goes back all the way. Jesus did away with the works of the enemy and flesh, if we believe in it and agree with it. So Jesus did it all. But there is an activation or appropriation that needs to happen. As in salvation, a person doesn’t just get saved but they need to believe and come into agreement with what God has done. Death is still around along with painful child-birth and thorns and thistles while working the ground and sweating (see Gen. 3:16-19).
2. Deuteronomy 24:16 say, “The fathers shall not be put to death for the children, neither shall the children be put to death for the fathers; only for his own sin shall anyone be put to death.” Also Ezekiel 18:20 says, “The soul that sins, it [is the one that] shall die. The son shall not bear and be punished for the iniquity of the father, neither shall the father bear and be punished for the iniquity of the son; the righteousness of the righteous shall be upon him only, and the wickedness of the wicked shall be upon the wicked only.“
Here people say that a person will only pay for their own sin. True. Now in New Testament Jesus paid for all our sins…but the consequences are still there. If someone sins sexually and God forgives them they may still suffer the consequences. So even though God forgives me currently there may still be consequences for the actions that my ancestors did that were not repented of and therefore myself and my kids may inherit the consequences unless I break them. Ever heard of the phrase, “It runs in the family?” If or when you came to Christ did you find that when you got saved you were delivered from many things easily yet others seem to hold on for dear life? You just can’t seem to get free from it?
So now I’ll explain, in my opinion, what Generational Deliverance is and what it is not. I am not an authority on the subject and this blog will be very limited in information because there is so much out there and so much more to learn. There are several others who have wayyyy more experience than me so I always seek guidance with them if need be.
Luke 11:47-51 says,
Woe to you! For you are rebuilding and repairing the tombs of the prophets, whom your fathers killed. So you bear witness and give your full approval and consent to the deeds of your fathers; for they actually killed them, and you rebuild and repair monuments to them…So that the blood of all the prophets shed from the foundation of the world may be charged against and required of this age and generation.
Generational sin comes from corporateness. Through our DNA we are corporate with all those in our generational line. Generational curses is a common word used but does not explain everything about generational deliverance. A curse, generally speaking, is a thing spoken. One of the Hebrew words for curse is qĕlalah which means curse, vilification, execration, imprecation. Vilification means a defamatory utterance. Execration means the act of cursing or denouncing or the curse to uttered. Imprecation means a formulated set of words by which a curse is invoked (see “Come Up Higher” by Paul Cox Chapter 11). Greek for curse is kataraomai which means to curse, doom, imprecate evil upon. Another Greek word is anathematizō which means to devote to destruction and to declare one’s self liable to the severest divine penalties (see Acts 23:12). Another in Greek is epikataratos which means accursed, execrable, exposed to divine vengeance and to call down curses upon. So curses and cursing play a big role in generational deliverance but it is not all there is.
Ever hear someone say, “It runs in the family?” Well that’s because it does! The biggest red flag you’ll see is recurring issues in the family line which includes, but not is not limited to: health issues, addictions, poverty (not just material), predisposed to the same sin habits of parents or grandparents(“You’re just like your father” or “Your just like your mother”), trouble with the law, always being wronged no matter your innocence, and/or seeing darkness in the spirit without your permission.
There are many more I could list. Point is, if there is a pattern then there is a curse or iniquity on your generational line…and it doesn’t just come through the blood but also relational authority. For example, I know a man who went for ministry and was asked what nationality were his ancestors. He said he was 100% Polish there both parents were Polish. Both ministers looked at him and then each other and both heard “Swedish.” Turns out this man was raised with a Swedish step-father and needed things broken from that side as well.
Iniquity has many attachments that need to be broken off. Iniquity in Hebrew is `avon which means perversity, depravity, iniquity, guilt or punishment of iniquity. It also means a guilt contracted by sinning and anything unjustly acquired. Iniquity in Greek is anomia which means the condition of without law and contempt and violation of law, iniquity, wickedness. Another word in Greek for iniquity is adikia which means a deed violating law and justice, act of unrighteousness and injustice, of a judge as well as unrighteousness of heart and life. Acts 8:22-23 says
Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.”
I’ve read as well that iniquity is unfairness or unequal. So iniquity is deep-rooted sin. James 1:15 says
And this desire becomes pregnant and gives birth to sin, but sin, when it has matured, gives birth to death.
Sin is paid for by the blood of Jesus and iniquity is dealt with by the cross, yet we can still reap what we sow. We can reap what others have sown whether good or bad (see Gal. 6:7-10) but we can destroy and cleanse and stop the unrighteous reaping we are receiving.
So what brings ungodly iniquity in our generational lines and how do we cleanse, stop and destroy it?
Here’s a list of what brings demonic attachments to our generational line
Freemasonry/Masons – Daughters of the Nile, Eastern Star, Rosicrucians, Druids, Kabbalism, Knights Templar, Job’s Daughters, Shriners (I was a waiter/server for Shriners once and they paid with a check that had their name listed as “Mystic Order of the Veiled Prophets of the Enchanted Realm”). Having this in your generational line can bring sickness, premature death, financial and relational problems. Within Mason’s, oaths and vows are made and Acts 8:22-23 come into play and makes one bound by iniquity. As the degrees go up so does the iniquity. They make vows and oaths to pagan deity and fallen angels and even curse themselves verbally. I could go on and on but I would definitely research more if you feel this is in your past. I have more information if you desire and specific prayer points.
Cults – Mormons, Jehovah Witnesses, Sacred Name Movement, Black Hebrew/Black Israelites, some Christian denominations can be labeled cultish if they use manipulation/witchcraft to deceive their people and hold them in bondage, Tony Alamo Ministries, Church of Bible Understanding, The Way International, Movement for the Restoration of the Ten Commandments of God, Raelian Church, Scientology, Heaven’s Gate, Christian Science, Unification Church, The Nation of Islam, United Pentecostal Church, Westboro Baptist Church, and many more.
Occult activities – oaths, spoken demonic creeds, ungodly covenants, idol worship, Ouija boards, Tarot Card readings, Horoscopes, Palm reading, reading tea leaves, Freemasonry, idol worship, worship of Baal, Mediums, alchemy, automatic writing, astral projection (practiced by Freemasons), Voodoo, mirror-gazing, bloody Mary chanting, Clairvoyance, Satanism, Sorcery (drug use), Illuminati (Freemasonry), Wicca, Witchcraft, and so on.
Sexual sin – pornography, masturbation, fetishes, lust, sodomy, necrophilia, Fifty Shade of Grey type stuff, molestation, incest, and so on and so on.
Abuse – sexual, physical, and emotional can all leave lasting trauma on people, which in turn brings iniquity and bitter root judgments in which many get defiled, cutting, and other things to abuse one’s self.
Addiction – drugs, alcohol, prescription drugs, overeating, man pleasing, co-dependency, and any other addiction that we get overpowered by.
Covenants/Agreements – this would include many of the above but also agreeing with any lie of the enemy, selling soul to the devil, eating from the true of the knowledge of good and evil, unequally yoked to others and/or organizations (like joining clubs, secret societies, and the like), finding wisdom and authority from anyone other than God Himself. (see Prov. 27:12-14)
Second-hand defilement – ever heard of second-hand smoke? It’s kind of like that. We or our ancestors got too close to ungodly things and let ungodly things happen instead of either leaving or rebuking/preventing it from happening. Rev. 18:4 speaks of coming out from among something as to not share in their sins. Also 2 Peter 2:7 speaks of Lot being distressed and had to leave in order to not be subject to the judgment of Sodom and Gomorrah. This is in regards to current or past second-hand defilement that can attach to your generational line. I must also add that this doesn’t mean we will automatically be defiled by our surrounding because, as mature believers, we are called to change our atmosphere and our surroundings. But it can happen. Immaturity is the key here. Mature believers can handle themselves and have discernment about these things. If the Spirit says “leave” then get out of there but He may say “cleanse it” or “rebuke it.” Be lead and not lead.
Willful, deliberate sin – any sin that is willful, deliberate, and repetitive will transfer over, generally speaking, unless dealt with and repented of. You don’t want to carry your ancestor’s baggage and you surely don’t want your kids to carry your baggage.
So I’ve listed several different things that will bring defilement on your generation line/bloodline. Defile in Hebrew is tame’ which means to be unclean, become unclean, become impure sexually, religiously, ceremonially. It also means to be polluted. Greek for defile is koinoō which means to make common or unholy and another word in Greek is phtheirō which means to corrupt, to destroy.
Generational deliverance involves getting out of denial of your past/present and your ancestors past. The rug will continue to get lumpier and lumpier until you stop sweeping things under it and pull that rug up and deal with the junk there. It’s scary but, with God, you have nothing to fear unless you don’t want to be free and I know what it’s like to walk in new freedom. It can be very new and different. Prisoners find it hard to adjust to freedom and so we will need to adjust to liberty. But liberty is what we must walk in.
There is freedom! There is liberty! There is healing! There is a God who loves you despite the junk! There is a God who will visit that iniquity and destroy it by His righteous wrath (see Ex. 20:5-6)! We must come into agreement with His blood, cross, resurrection, and ascension and appropriate it to us and our generational line so our kids and future generations can live in liberty and fullness and not have to deal with what we have not dealt with. Exodus 34:6-7 says
“The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.”
Due to our standing in Christ and His finished work, forgiveness is here and it is ours. We need to stand in place of our ancestors and repent for their involvement in order to break curses, attachments, and defilement. We renounce what they said. We forgive them for what they did. We break covenant by the blood of Jesus which speaks louder than all over covenants. Repenting on behalf of ancestors is not making you responsible for their sin and iniquity. You won’t be judged for their sin because that is their sin but we have the opportunity to make things right. To cleanse and purge away what others have done. To redeem time. To redeem land. To redeem because our redeemer lives. Jesus opened the way and completed it so we just stand in agreement and speak that forth over our generational bloodline.
So to cleanse our generational line we must first be saved or get saved. Save in Greek is sōzō which means to save, make whole, deliver, and heal. Submit therefore to God and resist the devil. Get baptized in the Holy Spirit. Get out of denial and face the facts of your own sins and iniquity. Repent for them and reckon them dead. Get the log removed from your eye so that you can see the specks along your generational lines which include Father/Step-Father, Mother/Step-Mother, and long-term foster parents. Look for patterns. Looks for defilement. Look for involvement of the things list above. Repent on behalf saying a prayer like this,
“Father I acknowledge the sins of my ancestors and I stand in the gap and repent on behalf of them(list the sins and involvements/covenants etc). I forgive my ancestors for what they did to allow curses and defilement and I ask for You to cleanse and wash away their sin/consequences by your precious blood and I bring to death their iniquity by your cross. I call forth the resurrection power of God over my life now. Cleanse all defilement, Jesus. Cleanse land and time, Jesus. Father, dry up these demonic rivers in Jesus’ name. I take all authority away from the defilement and demonic by the name above all other names, Jesus who is called Christ, the Messiah. Father I ask that You, God of all Gods and the God of the spirits of men to sweep away everything that is not of You. By my repentance and your justice of forgiveness (see 1 John 1:9) I declare this aspect of my generational line cleansed, purified, and dead. I now call forth the resurrection power of God to redeem that which can be redeemed and now the riverbed that has dried, I ask Father you flood it now with Your blessings as a replacement. According to 2 Corinthians 7:1 I am purifying all of myself and by generational line from all things that contaminate so that holiness is perfected in the reverence of the Lord. Father, I now ask that you hide me in the shadow of Your wings. I declare my life is hidden with Christ is God. Now, in Jesus’ name, I send away all familiar spirits that have been following my generational line. I send these demons to the feet of Jesus never to return back to me. Your authority is broken by repentance, the blood, and the cross. Now, Father, release all generational blessing. I receive all blessing stored up for me in my generational line. God I pray that You, God, would rebuke all cosmic beings that are playing a part in this. I do not come against them myself but I ask You, Father, to take care of them. In Jesus’ mighty name. Amen and Amen!
This prayer can be used for several different things but there are others things that need different types of prayers. If you have something specific let me know and I can find it for you. Email me at onejohn417@yahoo.com.
After praying this, then ask it to be sealed by the Holy Spirit. Call forth the blood of Jesus to cleanse yourself once again. Call forth angels to protect what was prayed and to protect yourself. Place the blood of Jesus around you and others by just saying, “I place the blood of Jesus around myself and family.”
If you have read to the end than kudos to you. Many will see the word count and pass it up and that’s fine. But to those that have read to the end…there is hope, there is freedom, there is Light, there is He who died for the whole world ready to assist and bring deliverance.
For other reference see Nehemiah 9, Daniel 9, 1 Peter 3:9 (inherit a blessing), Leviticus 26:40-42, Hebrews 7:5-10, Romans 5:12, Numbers 14:18, 33.
For many other prayers for generation deliverance I highly recommend Aslan’s Place.
In the Messiah, in Christ, God leads us from place to place in one perpetual victory parade. Through us, he brings knowledge of Christ. Everywhere we go, people breathe in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, we give off a sweet scent rising to God, which is recognized by those on the way of salvation—an aroma redolent with life. But those on the way to destruction treat us more like the stench from a rotting corpse. This is a terrific responsibility. Is anyone competent to take it on? No—but at least we don’t take God’s Word, water it down, and then take it to the streets to sell it cheap. We stand in Christ’s presence when we speak; God looks us in the face. We get what we say straight from God and say it as honestly as we can.
Greek for sweet scent or fragrance is osmē which means a smell or odor diffused and euōdia which means a sweet smell, fragrance. So we are a sweet-smelling fragrance God diffuses among this world and goes up to God and rising to His satisfaction.
We, as believers, are a walking fragrance designed to diffuse His Presence to those around us. We are a sweet-smelling perfume, poured out, diffused to those around to awaken the spiritual senses of people.
Spirit of _____ I call you to attention in the name of Jesus Christ. Rise up and take dominion over the soul and body. Receive what the Scripture has to say over you today, “Everywhere you go, people breath in the exquisite fragrance. Because of Christ, you give off a sweet scent rising to God.” I call forth that sweet-smelling perfume that you carry. Come forth and diffuse to those around to experience the Father in all that He is. Bring life to those things that need life and bring death to those things that need to die. Your worship, being poured out upon the feet of Jesus, is a vehicle in which the Holy Spirit travels to others. Know what is right in the soul and body and bring all into alignment.
______ you are blessed and highly favored of the Lord. Your life rising up to God and enters his nose and He loves it. He cherishes your particular fragrance. You offer a sweet odor that is particular to you and I bless that in you. I bless you with keeping that fragrance going. Like a lamp constantly being filled, I bless you as an alabaster box being filled and broken, filled and broken. Fragrance comes from oil in biblical times. I bless the anointing in your life that brings fragrance. I bless the anointing, the fragrance you have received from the Holy One.
Spirit of _____ you are a sweet smelling fragrance and I bless you in that. You are life-giving. You are salt. You are light. I bless you in the name of Jesus the Christ, the Messiah.
How many of us can live in mystery? I have a hard time with it sometimes. I want to know things. I have an inquiring mind. Maybe that is why I am first a listener and then, if needed, a speaker. In our age of Science we want to know things. We don’t like mystery. Nothing wrong with Science because I believe Science is God’s magnifying glass on our world. Most Science classes in High School were my favorite. I also believe God gives mystery so that we can find out what is hidden or not known yet. Adventure and pioneering. I believe there are mysteries and books that have been shut up for our time. Interesting term to be shut up because the Greek word for mystery is mystērion which derives from muo which means to shut the mouth.
Deuteronomy 29:29 says
God, our God, will take care of the hidden things but the revealed things are our business. It’s up to us and our children to attend to all the terms in this Revelation. (MSG)
I like this version because it says God will take care of the things we don’t know about. But what we do know about belongs to us and is our business. When it says “business” I don’t think it means “mind your own business” but “we mean business.” This is why I don’t always like revelation hunters because they hunt and seek the next best revelation without doing business with the current. We, I, haven’t attended to what is already revealed. I haven’t walked through my current step to reach the riser of the next. We can overextend ourselves in the spirit and life but taking on too much. Knowledge with the label, “Revelation” can puff up.
So I am learning to live in the mystery. Graham Cooke talks about living in the question. Walking with God in mystery knowing He has got it covered. Covered in both aspects: covered as in hidden for time being and covered as in it is under His care.
But why are things covered, hidden, and mysterious? That which has already been revealed has been twisted, stolen, misused, slandered, and altogether refused in different sects, cults, and denominations. I say this in love but maybe God is not casting His pearls before swine. Not saying people are swine but when mystery is not attended to, the enemy(swine) can steal it. Maybe mystery is looking for a landing pad where it’s can be known and still covered? Maybe mysteries will be given when they can be attended to or cared for? Maybe mystery is looking for a house to live in that is secure? Not easily broken in to? I’ll get off my soapbox in regards to this aspect of mystery. I didn’t plan on writing about this particular side of it but I felt led to add that. So back to living in mystery.
If we could figure out God and how He does things then He wouldn’t be God but just another figment of our rationalism. Mystery involves the freedom of trust when the future is in the hands of Someone greater than your ability to comprehend the present. Rationalism leads to a cold bed without covers, while living in mystery offers warmth. It offers freedom of expression. It meddles with theology and offers the comfort of new things above the sun. God wasn’t meant to be in a box. The ark was used due to lack of relationship. The same as our boxes. How many have their own personal arks where He is locked in? How many of us go back to basics time and time again because we can’t live in not knowing something (see Heb. 6:1-3). Basics are good but are elementary. But if you don’t have them down then stay there until the foundation is laid and set.
Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of – throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself. – C. S. Lewis
God is building a mystery within us to be revealed at His timing (see Rom. 8:19). It is our job to attend to what we already know. Like what C. S. Lewis said, we thought He was building a cottage but the mystery shows that He is building much more. The much more will be revealed when we are trusted with and can attend to it.
When we can’t understand, we trust. We ask, seek, and knock and it will be revealed but in His timing. Live in the mystery. Live with the mystery. Live in seeking the answer. Live in not having the answer. Live in not needing the answer. Live in Him where all mystery hides and belongs. If you have had a mystery revealed then attend to it because it now belongs to you. Tend to it like a garden. Keep it and cherish it. If you have received a pearl then keep it safe. If you see a pearl then maybe you need to sell all to buy it. .
Live in mystery. Live with mystery. Live with answers. Live without answers. Live without needing an answer. Live knowing that God holds it all and you are firm in His grasp along with it.
Here we see another glimpse into the spirit of a person. Our spirit is the lamp God utilizes for us to know ourselves. The Hebrew word for lamp is niyr which means to break up, freshly plow or till and make glisten or fiery. The word for inmost being in Hebrew is two words: beten which means womb and cheder which means chamber. So it means the chamber of the womb or womb of the chamber. I am pondering if our spirit or the inmost being is the secret place spoken of in Scripture. For now that will be a half-baked potato as Arthur Burk says.
The human spirit is an amazing part of us. For the sake of not being redundant please read the previous blog, Blessing Your Spirit, linked to above. I believe many Christians are walking around with a crushed spirit, an alive spirit but a crushed spirit. Proverbs 18:14 says
A person’s spirit can sustain him when ill, but a crushed spirit — who can bear it?
Hebrew for crushed is naka’ which means broken, stricken, wounded, or afflicted. So we see that our spirit can sustain us when ill but when afflicted it barely can or not at all. How does our spirit get afflicted or wounded? Word curses, slander, gossip, backbiting, bitterness, sin around us (see 2 Pet. 2:7-8), and other ways. A lot of the time our spirits are crushed by our soul. Our spirit is bullied by our soul. This is why the spirit should now be our primary way of relating to the world and each other (see 2 Cor. 5:16). The soul is very needed and very legitimate but should never rule, because when it does bad things can happen due to improper protocol.
So we need to build our spirit. Bless our spirit. Call that part of ourselves into fullness and rightful dominion and rulership. One great way is speaking in tongues (see Jude 1:20). Again I will refer to the book, Blessing Your Spirit by Arthur Burk & Sylvia Gunter, as an excellent resource of crafted prayer.
So in order to fully know ourselves, not in a self-analysis judgmental way but a healthy and Godly way, our spirits must be built up in order for our spirit to be built into a stronger and more developed man than our soul. The bigger and brighter the spirit, the bigger and brighter the Lord can work in yourself. Our spirit is the lamp of the Lord searching the innermost parts. The inner, spirit man is the gate the Lord works through in order for healing to be accomplished and for relating to the world and ourselves and each other. We must build it up so here is another prayer to pray out loud. Place your name or the name you are praying for when you see _______.
_____ I call your spirit to attention and to the forefront. I call your soul and body to get behind your spirit. Listen to what the Word of God says to you, “the human spirit is a lamp of Adonai; it searches one’s inmost being. (Prov. 20:27) Spirit of ____, you are the lamp of the LORD and were never meant to be put under a bushel. I remove the bushel and call you into proper rulership and relationship with my soul and body. You are blessed of the Lord and I call forth your original design and intent according to God’s will.
Far too long you have been subservient and bullied by your soul. You have been cursed, wounded, crushed, afflicted, and seen, for far too long, the sin and iniquity of current and past generational junk. I now remove that off of you, by faith, and take the Sword of the Holy Spirit and sever all ungodly ties and corruption from what the enemy has crushed you with. I call you forth, spirit of ____. I lift off all things that are crushing you and choking you the life and light out of you. Holy Spirit breath upon the spirit of ____.
_____ listen again with your spirit to what the Scriptures say, “The spirit of a man can endure his sickness, But as for a broken spirit who can bear it?” I call into you the power endued by the Holy Spirit to take dominion over sickness of soul and body in order to bring about Kingdom rule and Divine health. I call you forth to administer the stripes of Christ to that sickness. Spirit of ____ come into alignment with God’s will for you in all areas. Where you have been bullied and maligned I ask forgiveness. Where you have been dwelling in the corner of the housetop due to contention I ask you to come down and clean house. I call you glistening. I call you blessed. I call you the head and not the tail. I call you above and not beneath. Spirit of ____ I bless you with the Presence of a loving Father and I bless you with zoe life. Bring forth rivers of living water into my soul and body. In the name of Jesus, the life-giving Spirit. Amen and Amen!
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (NKJV)
The word “completely” in Greek is holotelēs which means – perfect, complete in all respects. The word “whole” is holoklēros which means – complete in all its parts, in no part wanting or unsound, complete, entire, whole.
So there is a sanctification that needs to happen in our pneuma, psychē, and sōma. From my experience in the Church most preachers/teachers refer to believers as body, soul, and then spirit. I believe this is incorrect and that Paul referred to us as spirit, soul, and body for a reason. I believe, and am persuaded by Scripture that Man was created spirit, soul, and body, spirit being the predominant part, then soul, and lastly body. Many neglect the body, many neglect the soul, but most neglect the spirit. Most inner healing and deliverance deals with the soulish realm. I must add that the soul or soulish realm is not evil…I repeat it is not evil. God wants our souls to prosper (see 3 John 1:2). But a lot of inner healing and deliverance doesn’t build the spirit but a growing number are being to focus on building the spirit. Jesus may have said, “Blessed are the poor in spirit,” but that doesn’t mean He wants our spirit poor.
I’ve been working through the book Blessing Your Spirit and is really helping me in building my spirit. It is my belief that a person’s spirit can be bigger than their body. I also believe when our spirits are fully mature we will transfigure according to 2 Corinthians 3:18. When the curse is reversed in full manifestation then we will once gain walk as Adam walked prior to the fall and will walk in full glory and unhindered relation with our Father. That which was, will be according to Ecclesiastes 1:9.
What many do is clean house. Get rid of all the moldy carpet and drywall. Strip out the tiles and rotten wood until there is untouched, clean, and undamaged material. That is where many of us stop. We’ve renounced and repents of sins. Asked God to cleanse the bloodline and break generational curses. We have cut soul ties (but should also call back what was stolen from us and be restored back to us and whatever we took from the person would be restored back to the person we had ties to) and released people by forgiveness. We’ve rid the garbage and trash lying around. All of these are a great starting point and the first steps. But a person doesn’t strip their house of all the junk and then blow up their air mattresses and hunker down on a construction site. We want to re-furnish the house! Build back up! Rebuild! We need restoration! Apokatastasis is the Greek word here and it means – restoration of the perfect state before the fall and of a true theocracy. Another interesting passage is in Acts 3:20-21 and it says
For the time being he must remain out of sight in heaven until everything is restored to order again just the way God, through the preaching of his holy prophets of old, said it would be.
Depending on the translation it says He must remain in heaven until all things are restored or He must remain in heaven until it is time for all things to be restored. I lean towards the former but this is my opinion. All in all, all things will be restored no matter what and you and I are involved in that process. How about we begin now? I’ll also note something that may step on the toes of eschatologists but I will say it cautiously. What if we have our eschatology wrong just like the Pharisees had the first coming wrong? What is we are looking at things from a wrong or irresponsible (as in escapism, let the earth go to hell) way? John the Baptist came and prepared the way for what Jesus would finish. Likewise, what if the Bride were given the ability to respond to the Holy Spirit and start restoring all things now and taking her rightful place as the ekklēsia? For this to happen we must build our spirit man or inner man. We must do it. We must focus our attention to the strength and ability our spirits have. We must speak to our spirits and call them to attention and that our souls and body get behind our spirits. Even though we are born again and our spirits have been roused they still must be nourished and built up.
I am going to post some prayers to pray out loud that will help to encourage and build our spirits in order to walk after the spirit because our spirits are where we most experience God. They may not be in succession because I tend to blog what I’m thinking about at the moment…lol I would encourage you to by the book I linked to above. I’m obviously not going to post the ones in the book but will ask the Holy Spirit to come up with some O(o)urselves. So here is a good prayer for a starting point. Pray it out loud and where you see a _____ just put in your name or the person you would pray it over with them listening. This is like a multivitamin for your spirit.
______ listen with your spirit to the word of God for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:23 declares, “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” You are meant to be sanctified and preserved complete and without blame. You are the point of contact where God speaks to you and dwells with you. You are meant to be built up and nourished and for too long you have been in the background and the soul and body have taken precedence. But now it is your turn.
I call my spirit to attention and call you blessed and holy. I call you clean and powerful. I call forth the authority you have in the spirit realm to manifest in the physical. I call forth your rightful place in the relationship between my soul and body. I call you to headship along with the Headship of the Holy Spirit. I removed, in Jesus’ name, all defilement, slime, grim, dust, rust, moths, and weeds from you and I replace them with all fruits of the Spirit including love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,gentleness, self-control against such there is no love according to Galatians 5:22-23. I call you out of all slumber and captivity and proclaim freedom to you. Spirit of _____ I call blessed and highly favored of the Lord. Shine forth in your design that was given to you before I was born and before creation.
Holy Spirit I ask You to seal my spirit, ____’s spirit with Your seal in the name of Jesus of Nazareth.
Before I was following my Father, I hated reading. It was the ultimate kill joy of summer when I had a “summer reading list” as a child. I may have only read one or two books and did only one book report out of all of high school. Then, when I starting following my Father at the age of 20, I loved reading. I can’t get enough of it. I don’t have an exuberant amount of books…but I wish I did! It is probably because I am an introvert by nature and a Teacher Redemptive gift. I just felt like sharing the books I love and, if you haven’t read them, maybe you would get out of them as much as I did. This list is in no particular order and consist of both fiction and non-fiction.
The Bible by Holy Spirit and men moved by Him – Prefer NASB, AMP, and NKJV
The Shack by Wm. Paul Young
The Shack Revisited by C. Baxter Kruger
Wild at Heart by John Eldredge
Captivating by John and Stasi Eldredge
Love & War by John and Stasi Eldredge
Normal Christian Life by Watchman Nee
Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis
Messy Spirituality by Michael Yaconelli
This Present Darkness and Piercing the Darkness by Frank Peretti
The Auschwitz Escape by Joel Rosenberg
Being With God series by Graham Cooke
Permission Granted by Graham Cooke
The Case for Faith by Lee Strobel
The Problem of Pain by C. S. Lewis
The Ragamuffin Gospel by Brennan Manning
The Pursuit of God by A. W. Tozer (had dream where I was in a huge library and climbed one of those old school library ladders and picked the book off the top shelf. So I bought it)
Boundaries by Henry Cloud and John Townsend
The God Chasers by Tommy Tenney
Victory Over the Darkness by Neil T. Anderson
What’s So Amazing About Grace by Philip Yancey
Visions From Heaven: Visitations to My Father’s Chamber by Wendy Alec
The Jesus I Never Knew by Philip Yancey
This Day I Was Crucified by Gene Edwards
Transported by the Lion of Judah by Anne Elmer
The Circle Series by Ted Dekker
Come Up Higher by Paul Cox
Exploring Heavenly Place Volumes I & II by Paul Cox
Defeating Dark Angels by Charles Kraft
A Celebration of Sex by Douglas E. Rosenau
Spiritual Revolution by Patricia King
For Men Only by Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn
Developing Your Prophetic Gifting by Graham Cooke
Deadly Emotions by Dan Colbert M.D.
The Stronghold of God by Francis Frangipane
Agenda 21 by Glenn Beck
Beautiful Outlaw by John Eldredge
Fathered by God by John Eldredge
For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn
Elijah House Prayer Ministry materials
And now here are a few I look forward to reading in the future
Prophetic Wisdom by Graham Cooke
Dissociative Identity Disorder: Recognizing and Restoring the Severely Abused Volume One by Tom Hawkins, Ph.D. with Diane W. Hawkins, M.A.
Multiple Identities: Understanding and Supporting the Severely Abused by Diane W. Hawkins
The Weight of Glory by C. S. Lewis
These are among a few I still want to read along with many, not yet written books. If you know of other book, fiction and non-fiction that have touched your life please comment below and I may add them to my list.
This is a continuation of the my previous post: Paradigms. I could have made this into one blog but I try to keep them short…though I am thinking of writing a book at some point where I can go into further details about certain things.
Lets take a gander at Romans 8:28 which says
We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work togetherand are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose. (AMP) (emphasis mine)
Many, me definitely included, tend to focus and perceive one thing going on in life. My paradigm can be paralyzed by my current perception due to the emotion I am feeling. Feeling, of course, are neutral, neither good nor bad but they point to something deeper. Emotions generally point out the roots.
I spoke to my dad a few nights ago and he gave me an eggcellent demonstration of paradigm and it goes perfectly with the above picture…get it now…eggcellent. He took an egg and turned it on its side and said you see a circle and that’s what you believe about it. The next person sees an oval and that’s what they believe about it. I though about that and I took it a step further and God sees the inside of the egg. God sees the inside or the good that comes from all things working together. Also in my previous blog I said how the Paradigms are locked into the soul and only by the spirit/Spirit can you step away and see it as it is. Last night I was talking to my wife about it and this scripture jumped into my mine which was 1 Corinthians 2:11 which says
For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man who is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God.
So here we see that the spirit of a man is the part of us that can see the whole of us. This is why we must nurture and care for our spirit. I am currently reading Blessing Your Spirit by Arthur Burk and Sylvia Gunter. We nourish our bodies and souls but how many nourish their spirit? There is a difference between soul and spirit and that is clear in Scripture (see 1 Thess.5:23, Heb. 4:12). We need to do as 2 Cor. 7:1 says
Therefore, since these [great] promises are ours, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates and defiles body and spirit, and bring [our] consecration to completeness in the [reverential] fear of God.
Our spirits can be crushed, defiled, wounded, captive, slumbering, etc. So without being nourished and healed we cannot properly see all things working together. So when I can only see the one thing happening without a proper heavenly/spirit perspective we get locked into our current emotional response because we are still in the soulish realm. I must indicate here that the soul/soulish realm is not demonic nor evil but a vehicle in which the spirit relates to the earthly realm along with the body being the agent by which we have authority on earth. Scripture even indicates that our souls should prosper (see 3 John 1:2).
The only way for our paradigms to shift is if our spirit is well enough to see all things working together. I believe our spirits are currently seated together in heavenly realms with Christ Jesus (see Eph. 2:6). We truly can see all things working together because it is possible due to the heavenly realm being outside of time where time is not relative and the eternal realm and unseen things are visible and can be relayed to our soul and walked out through our body.
So next time we see a thing happening, let us drop into our spirit to see all things working together for our good. As we are in the Spirit so let us walk after the Spirit aligning ourselves with all things working together instead of our current thing seemingly holding us back and keeping our paradigm paralyzed.
Have you ever wondering why bad things happen in your life? I do. Why are these things in my life crumbling and shaking? Why are things falling apart? A thought recently popped in my head about this. I’m not saying this is true or whatever but I ponder things like this. Again this may be true and this may not be true but only my thoughts. Eat the meat and spit out the bones.
Sometimes if the enemy is wrapped up too much in our life and the wrath of God against the enemy comes sometimes we get burnt. Some OT references would be Lot and several of the prophets. They were righteous people walking in their destiny yet suffered in the midst. When God judge Israel, as a whole, both righteous and unrighteous succumbed to His dealings whether they deserved it or not. Again I want to be careful here and not generalize anything but sometimes are life needs to be shaken so that which remains is only Kingdom. If we are a little too close to our enemy we can very well experience the chastisement of the Lord. It’s not a good feeling but oh how the enemy scatters and leaves us in His lap. I just had the thought of when I was spanked as a child. My dad would put me over his lap and spank me…then console me. Both happened on his lap…how much more our Heavenly Father. Hebrews 12:5-8 says
…and you have forgotten the exhortation which is addressed to you as sons,
“My son, do not regard lightly the discipline of the Lord, Norfaint when you are reproved by Him; 6 For thosewhom the Lord loves He disciplines, And He scourges every son whom He receives.”
7 It is for discipline that you endure; God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom his father does not discipline?8 But if you are without discipline, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.
It’s the grace of God that makes our spirits and lives fireproof though parts of us may crumble and burn. 1 Corinthians 3:13-15 says
each one’s work will become clear; for the Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14 If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15 If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.
Sometimes the mercy of God is getting a little of what you deserve. Consequences for actions are a good motivator if not done in fear. The wrath of God is against all ungodliness and unrighteousness. Notice He is against the “ness” and not the person. If God is for you then He is against everything that is against you. Until we give it all up and let God arise in ourselves the enemy will not be scattered. The Holy Spirit is a Gentleman…except when He isn’t. He will patiently sit there waiting in love until you are ready and He will determine when you are ready to deal with the baggage. The longer you don’t deal – let Him deal with it – the harder the burn or the shaking will be. He is a jealous God and will not accept things between you and Him. Isaiah 42:3 says
A bruised reed He will not break And a dimly burning wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice.
We should welcome his correction for a wise men loves it. We should welcome his hand on our life. Psalm 19:9-10 says
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether. 10 They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
Judgment is not the same as condemnation. There is no condemnation in Christ Jesus!
We must let His light so shine before us so that we can see ourselves and run into His arms as He is running to us. He has His robe and ring for us and a fatted calf roasting on the pit but we need to recognize the slop of the enemy and get away from it. If you are in sin, get healed, healing, deliverance, etc. I currently am reaping what I sown and it hurts but it is the mercy of God. I’d rather feel the heat of the burner on my hand and get burned a little then not feel pain and lose my hand in the process. Pain can be a wonderful thing. C. S. Lewis put it best
We can ignore even pleasure. But pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our conscience, but shouts in our pains: it is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.
While looking at the above picture how many of us have felt this way? Not in regards to the hand but our flesh?
Phantom Flesh Syndrome
There are a couple of definitions for flesh and carnal in the Scriptures.
sarx – flesh (the soft substance of the living body, which covers the bones and is permeated with blood) of both man and beasts and the sensuous nature of man, “the animal nature.”
sarkikos– having the nature of flesh, i.e. under the control of the animal appetites
I’ll be talking about the fallen, carnal nature aspect of the word. But first I will briefly explain Phantom Limb Syndrome
Phantom limb syndrome is the perception of sensations, including pain, in a limb that has been amputated. People with this condition experience feelings in the limb as if it were still attached to their body. This is because the brain continues to receive messages from nerves that originally carried impulses from the missing limb. (http://www.med.nyu.edu/content?ChunkIID=96857) There are many different articles about it but one I found interesting stated that while talking a person would gesticulated(talk with their hands) with a phantom arm. They still operated, or so they thought, out of something that was cut off and removed. It still felt like they had something even though it was removed. In their mind they thought they still had this limb….and now we come to Phantom Flesh Syndrome.
How many of us operate thinking we still have a “flesh” problem. “I just need to crucify my flesh more” or “this darn flesh I just can’t seem to kill it” are just a couple of things we’ve heard or said about ourselves. The Scripture declare the flesh dead, cut off, and removed from us yet we still think and appear that we are operating out of our flesh. But this is not the case. Romans 6:6 declares:
We know that our old (unrenewed) self was nailed to the cross with Him in order that [our] body [which is the instrument] of sin might be made ineffective and inactive for evil, that we might no longer be the slaves of sin.
“Know” is Greek is ginōskō which means to learn to know, come to know, get knowledge of, perceive, feel. It is also a Jewish idiom for sexual intercourse between a man and a woman. And Galatians 5:24 declares:
And those who belong to Christ Jesus (the Messiah) have crucified the flesh (the godless human nature) with its passions and appetites and desires.
I love the past tense here. “Have” and “was.” Crucified in this passage is systauroō – to crucify along with!!!! Strong’s Concordance has a gem in the explanation of this word: utterly estranged from former self. If you just skipped that over read it again: utterly estranged from former self. This revelation is astounding me as I type. Utterly means – carried to the utmost point or highest degree and estranged means – to arouse especially mutual enmity or indifference in where there had formerly been love, affection, or friendliness. But how many of us feel or know that deep inside. We look at our action and figure it isn’t dead yet and there is more that we need to do. We look at our actions as proof to our nature instead of the other way around. We don’t know who we already are.
I could go on and on but I want to keep this simple and to the point because sometimes we can get cloudy by many words. So how do we learn, come to grips with, and perceive that we are not in the flesh anymore? Now comes the astonishing fix which isn’t astonishing really but after by Mirror, Mirror post it blew me away. How does one get free from Phantom Limb Syndrome and Phantom Flesh Syndrome? Mirrors! Yep that’s right, mirrors! If you can, read this article: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-mirror-cure/. The epiphany came and I was like wow!
It should be clear that a person doesn’t need a fallen nature to miss the mark. ie. Adam sin while in complete perfection and relationship with Abba. I mean Adam literally walked with God in full Glory and out of Adam’s full spirit man and still missed the mark. We all know the saying, “We aren’t sinners because we sin but we sin because we are sinners” and to use a term very loosely, “our nature is not dependent on our actions but our actions are dependent upon our nature.” Death came to all based on one man’s action regardless if you sin in Adam’s likeness(Rom. 5:14) In both fallen and redeemed natures we can sin and miss the mark and/or act righteously (Rom. 6:20-22).
We are designed to become what we focus on and believe about ourselves. Out mirror must be not only the graphe(Scriptures), which is very important, but also the logos(Jesus) and rhema(God’s spoken word). When we see things happening in and around us and when we act out of this phantom flesh we continually need to wash our minds with the Word(rhema) and renewing our mind with the truth of our redeemed nature and the glory He has given and shared with us. We behold as in a mirror the glory of the Lord(2 Cor. 3:18). We reckon that false image of ourselves dead and our new and true image alive to God in Christ. When we see ourselves walking in sin we must look to see where our mirror is. Are we focusing on sin and weakness or our glory and heavenly seat? I also need to note that you can’t wipe a dirty mirror(old self) with a dirty rag(own righteousness). The Lord Jesus gives us a clean mirror that will never get dirty…we just need to keep our eyes on it because as soon as we look away and walk away we can get confused and dismayed (James 1:23). We must listen what the rhema is telling us to do and believe it. We live in a finished work and we need to believe that it is finished. Amen?!
Let’s pray…
Father, forgive me when I look away as Adam did and missed the mark. Thank You for ransoming me from that fallenness of mind and nature and setting me free. Continue to cleanse my vision of myself and You so I can reflect You in all our fullness together. I am one spirit with You so today I choose to believe it and act on it. I keep my eyes on my Mirror and reckon all false reflection void and destroyed. Transfigure me, Father, into the same Image and Glory I see in You. Help me to live in my current glory in order to build the foundation for the next glory.
We could all meditate and take in this song! We Dance!!! Twirling, resting, the Father throwing us in the air and catching us in only the way He knows how!
Thought I’d share that I recently received my Elijah House Prayer Ministry 202 certificate of completion! A year prior I completed the 201 class and received a certificate for that as well. It is my desire to get into this type of ministry.
Inner healing & deliverance is a passion of mine and I believe all of us could benefit from prayer ministry/counseling in our lives. It’s good to appropriate all He has done for us through the Five R’s:
Recognize
Confess and Repent
Release through Forgiveness
Reckon as Dead
Resurrect (bring to life)
I also believe in the Sozo ministry and Sapphire Leadership ministry along with Aslan’s Place ministry and Restoration in Christ ministry. I know there a many more out there but I only have exposure to the above listed. I believe that I should utilize as many tools as possible. It’s my desire to get into this type of ministry and am currently semi involved in Sozo and am in a part of a local Healing Rooms.
All of these are based off the finished work of Christ and shed blood from the garden of Gethsemane to the Cross and the resurrection and ascension of Christ. I believe Inner Healing should, generally speaking, be done prior to deliverance. Remove the garbage and the flies leave by default. I do not believe there are demons under every rock….but sometimes they are under every other rock.
May I rest in Your new mercies. Thank You that I don’t need to ask You to come for You haven’t left since I first time I asked You to come. Thank You for the ability to forgive today. Thank You for the ability to respond today out of my spirit and not react out of my soul. Thank You for being my Comforter. Thank You for being Another of the same exact kind. Thank You for leading me into all Truth and revealing the Father and Son to me. Continue to cause the scales on my eyes to fall so I may see the salvation You offer to me. Thank You for being the Wind that blows away the dross and the Breath that breathes Life and Vitality into my whole being. Thank You for making my soul to prosper and my spirit to grow and my body to be healed. Thank You for giving me the language of heaven and angels in which no darkness can listen to or comprehend. Thank You that You are God and I do praise and worship You, Holy Spirit. You are Lord and I give You Lordship over me. Come and enthrone all thrones of my soul. Expose those thrones that are occupied by darkness. Thank You for the gift and ability to repent. Smear me with all You are. Thank You for being in me and with me. Thank You for being a Person and for being personal with me. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You for coming with the mother heart of God. Thank You for being a Father to the fatherless and a Mother to the motherless. Thank You that Your gifts and fruit are available to me when needed. Thank You for stepping into me and bringing Life and renewing me and making me born again by Your will.
18 That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God’s devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it];
19 [That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!
To experience the fullness of God one must experience the all-encompassing Love of God. Love is fullness. I love His love. It breaks shame. It breaks hopelessness. I utterly destroys fear. It fills the heights of Glory to the depths of the grave. It shatters hate. It extends to lengths of life and breadth of our experiences. It is true that he who has been forgiven much loves much… I’m going to get a little transparent here.
I’ve experienced a lot of brokenness brought on by my own actions and the actions of others…and I have wounded others. I hate when I wound others. I hate it. I hate when my issues transfer to others. Sometime I wish my weapons were carnal because I feel like I would have a better chance at winning(I’m a big dude). I try to beat my body into subjection (1 Corinthians 9:27) but fail. Dirty rags becoming even dirtier. Filthy rags. I can’t wipe a dirty mirror with a dirty rag can I? I feel broken waiting for mending…like a piece of cloth in a basket for God to get around to mending me. My soul hurts when exposed and faced with itself. I love in light yet hurt in darkness (Eze. 8:12). Hurt people hurt people.
I recently just completed my Elijah House 202 Prayer Ministry training. I’m very happy to have been able to go through that training…because I need it. I need inner healing and deliverance. Sometimes daily. I hate looking in the mirror and seeing who I am in Christ yet walking away and forgetting who I am. It’s like walking around Two-Faced(Batman reference) and I don’t have control over the coin flip. I just thought of that coin and what it looks like. It’s two-sided and the good side is clean and the other side…marred, wounded, damaged.
I love God with everything I have. Some says you either give God 100% or 0%. I disagree. God honors whatever percentage we give Him. Despite my pain, hurt, sin, and damage I’ve caused others I hope in God. This scripture has one of the most beautiful pictures that touch the depth of me…it’s Zechariah 3:1-7 and it says
1 Then he showed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to accuse him.2 The Lord said to Satan, “The Lord rebuke you, Satan! Indeed, the Lord who has chosen Jerusalem rebuke you! Is this not a brand plucked from the fire?”3 Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments and standing before the angel.4 He spoke and said to those who were standing before him, saying, “Remove the filthy garments from him.” Again he said to him, “See, I have taken your iniquity away from you and will clothe you with festal robes.”5 Then I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.” So they put a clean turban on his head and clothed him with garments, while the angel of the Lord was standing by.
6 And the angel of the Lord admonished Joshua, saying,7 “Thus says the Lord of hosts, ‘If you will walk in My ways and if you will perform My service, then you will also govern My house and also have charge of My courts, and I will grant you free access among these who are standing here.
God cloths him with clean clothes. God told those who were there to remove the filth and replace it. I see so much hope and the depth of love in this passage. Often times I see myself as Joshua and asking God to remove the filthy garments. I love what Graham Cooke says, “In the moment of your greatest failure, God kisses you.” To be kissed by God! To be clothed in light and wrapped in a cocoon of love. It’s amazing how tears of despair can alter into tears of love’s depth. Even though a person is being sifted God has interceded for them. God has interceded for me. He corrects me like a son by kissing me like His beloved. Truly the goodness of God leads to repentance. He RUNS to me. Embracing all that I am and all that I am not. John 6:37 says
All whom My Father gives (entrusts) to Me will come to Me; and the one who comes to Me I will most certainly not cast out [I will never, no never, reject one of them who comes to Me]. (AMP)
Father, Jesus, Holy Spirit I come to You. I…come…to You and find You already there. I come to my senses while Your gaze saw me senseless. I saw my dirt and you saw Your light. I saw myself and You saw Yourself in me. You ran while I walked. You were slain before I ever fell. I only have the ability to love based on Your love for me. I love You with all that I can give and I plan on giving more and more until I come to the full experience and expression of Your love. Give me clean clothes and a clean mirror so I can see You. I admit full responsibility for my actions. Help me to walk like who I really am. Help me to fully express myself to you so I can be fully known and fully loved.
So it appears that there was some issue with the idea of having or walking in someone else’s anointing or mantle. This is what tend to believe about that…
I was watching a YouTube and the person shared Hebrews 11:39-40 which says
39 And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised,40 because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect. (NASB)
The above picture show Elijah passing his mantle to Elisha. 1 Kings 19:19 says.
So he departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shaphat, while he was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. And Elijah passed over to him and threw his mantle on him.
Mantle in hebrew is ‘addereth which means glory or cloak. 2 Kings 2:9-14 says
9 When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, “Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you.” And Elisha said, “Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.”10 He said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.”11 As they were going along and talking, behold, there appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire which separated the two of them. And Elijah went up by a whirlwind to heaven.12 Elisha saw it and cried out, “My father, my father, the chariots of Israel and its horsemen!” And he saw Elijah no more. Then he took hold of his own clothes and tore them in two pieces.13 He also took up the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and returned and stood by the bank of the Jordan.14 He took the mantle of Elijah that fell from him and struck the waters and said, “Where is the Lord, the God of Elijah?” And when he also had struck the waters, they were divided here and there; and Elisha crossed over.
So Elisha picked up Elijah’s glory. He picked up where Elijah left off. It’s a beautiful picture of the Scripture in Hebrews above. I also love the picture of Elisha taking that mantle and trying it out. He struck the waters and beseeched the Throne of God and asked where God was…and God showed up and the waters parted!
Even in Jesus’ time John the Baptist came with that same mantle. Luke 1:17 says
It is he who will go as a forerunner before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers back to the children, and the disobedient to the attitude of the righteous, so as to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”
There is yet and I believe now is, a generation with the anointing, mantle, spirit, and power of Elijah to prepare the way for Christ’s second coming. I know Elijah was a man just like us (James 5:17). Jesus was a Man too. He is also the Son of God as Adam was also (Luke 3:38). The anointing is the same but different. We have an anointing from the Holy One. We receive it from Him because He decides what type of anointing. Remember what Elijah said to Elisha when Elisha asked for the double portion? Elijah said, “You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, if you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so.” The ball was in God’s court in regards to that double portion. Now is there a difference between the mantle or the double portion. The mantle was passed on but the double portion was subject to Elisha prophetic experience.
John the Baptist came is spirit in power of Elijah and Elijah has come to restore all things (Mark 9:12) and, in one of my previous blogs, heaven has received Jesus until the restoration of all things. There is still work to do. I think we get wrapped up in vocabulary(I do) and forget the spirit behind things. We have an anointing whether we call it healing, prophetic, this person or that person, etc. Christ is the Anointed One and He is the one that smears us with it! So when I said I felt like God say I have a Lincoln anointing it means there is a spirit and unction that Lincoln walked in and was not yet perfected and needs someone else to walk in it to fulfill it so he can become perfected for apart from us that wouldn’t come to completion. Don’t get me wrong I’m not running for President LOL. I have this picture of a relay race where there are many racers in one race. As one person runs there heart and finishes their race they pass on the baton to the next person to complete it. I also sense Malachi 4:5-6 is speaking about Hebrews 11:39-40 and it says
5 “Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord.6 He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse.”
Hearts of the fathers to the sons could also speak of past and current/new generations coming to together and, if I may borrow the term Dutch Sheets used, the synergy of the ages. Standing in agreement with previous prayers and adding on so that bowl of incense may be poured upon earth for perfection.
I went on a little bit of a rabbit trail but I think I clarified. I know some will still disagree but it’s all good! I love you guys who read and comment and like my blogs! We are in this together, Amen!? We need unity amongst diversity for there are many gifts but One Spirit!
I’ll end again with Hebrews 11:39-40
39 And all these, having gained approval through their faith, did not receive what was promised,40 because God had provided something better for us, so that apart from us they would not be made perfect. (NASB)
Last week or so I felt that I heard in my spirit, “You have a Lincoln anointing.” Never heard of it but I have always liked Abraham Lincoln and have done papers in school about him. FYI I believe we have an anointing from the Holy One and when people talk about the anointing of so and so I think it more of picking up the reins or carrying on the mission of the person who either dropped it or has passed into full Glory. Anywhoo I did Google it and found one article about it on Elijahlist.com by Bill Yount. I have asked others and they have had the same word over them. I have ideas about what it is but not yet fully (Prov. 25:2). Has anyone else heard about this?
In the spirit of Thanksgiving, which was only 5 days ago BTW, I must say I am thankful for our Father’s Voice. For without it, I would still be in my Stockholm Syndrome.
12 His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ’s body (the church),
13 [That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ’s own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him.
Matthew 8:20 (NASB)
20 Jesus *said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
Fullness (plērōma) – the state of being filled to capacity or that which is (has been) filled or the body of believers, as that which is filled with the presence, power, agency, riches of God and of Christ
Knowledge (epignōsis) – to become thoroughly acquainted with, to know thoroughly and precise and correct knowledge
Mature (teleios) – wanting nothing necessary to completeness or brought to its end, finished
What I believe is happening and needs to happen is that the Church (https://1john417.wordpress.com/2014/11/28/what-does-the-term-church-mean/) needs to create a place for Christ’s Head to rest. Far too long…centuries upon centuries the Church has been disjointed and far removed from His Head. We hear message upon message of the same things. Milk (1 Cor.3:2). We need meat. We need to consume His Flesh and drink His Blood. We must focus and behold Him in order to go from glory to glory (https://1john417.wordpress.com/2014/10/13/mirror-mirror/). If we keep focusing on our current glory we will never grow and never transfigure into something greater and fuller is measure. There is hidden wisdom reserved for us to walk in…there are book waiting to be opened for us to read (1 Cor. 2:7, Dan. 12:4) We must focus where we are seated in order to influence where we stand. To say it literally, the world depends on it and us to walk as He is in this world (Rom. 8:19, 1 Jon. 4:17)
Hebrews 6:1-3 (AMP)
6 Therefore let us go on and get past the elementary stage in the teachings and doctrine of Christ (the Messiah), advancing steadily toward the completeness and perfection that belong to spiritual maturity. Let us not again be laying the foundation of repentance and abandonment of dead works (dead formalism) and of the faith [by which you turned] to God,
2 With teachings about purifying, the laying on of hands, the resurrection from the dead, and eternal judgment and punishment. [These are all matters of which you should have been fully aware long, long ago.]
3 If indeed God permits, we will [now] proceed [to advanced teaching].
Jesus is our Savior, not death. If we are waiting for death to be free from sin and imperfection than death is your savior and not Christ. We must stop living body, to soul, to spirit and start living, as we were originally created, spirit, to soul, to body. I am of the believe that our spirits are not subject to the limitations and parameters of our body (see Acts 5:15, Acts 19:12, Col. 2:5). Our soul, on the other hand, must be more and more subject to Him and sanctified and prosperous (3 John 1:2). We truly are seated in Heavenly dimensions or places.
Christ needs shoulders and a body not defined by denominations or labels but by His placement. Knit together in unity of the Spirit. His rule comes through man’s agreement with His purposes. A true co-labor and co-work and co-creating with Him (https://1john417.wordpress.com/2014/02/17/what-on-earth-do-we-do-2/). Seek His face and thus become His face on earth. Creation groans together by our unveiling which brings His headship back to original intent. (https://1john417.wordpress.com/2014/10/13/mirror-mirror/)
We need to hold fast to the Head as Colossians 2:18-22 says
18 Let no one defraud you by acting as an umpire and declaring you unworthy and disqualifying you for the prize, insisting on self-abasement and worship of angels, taking his stand on visions [he claims] he has seen, vainly puffed up by his sensuous notions and inflated by his unspiritual thoughts and fleshly conceit,
19 And not holding fast to the Head, from Whom the entire body, supplied and knit together by means of its joints and ligaments, grows with a growth that is from God.
20 If then you have died with Christ to material ways of looking at things and have escaped from the world’s crude and elemental notions and teachings of externalism, why do you live as if you still belong to the world? [Why do you submit to rules and regulations?—such as]
21 Do not handle [this], Do not taste [that], Do not even touch [them],
22 Referring to things all of which perish with being used. To do this is to follow human precepts and doctrines.
Father, we need You! Father us in this new thing and time and season. Father us to completion. Reveal Yourself to us so we may be revealed to ourselves. Creation is waiting Father. May we succumb to your relentless love and transfiguration process in whichmetamorphosis (metamorphoō) happens and we change into fullness and a mature man able to support and bring down your authority in order to make your enemy your footstool and things are restored for Your coming.
According to Strong’s ekklésia (church) means an assembly, congregation, church; the Church, the whole body of Christian believers. Now from what I recently learned this is the most basic definition. In other words the church or ekklésia means a group of people together. But what else does it mean? I will attempt to explain what I recently heard from two different minsters on two different occasion unrelated to each other.
According to ancient Greece the ekklésia was the senate of the government. It legislated what was allowed or forbidden or may I say bound or loosed (Matt. 16:19).
The ekklesia‘s powers were almost unlimited. It elected and dismissed magistrates and directed the policy of the city. It declared war, and it made peace. It negotiated and approved treaties and arranged alliances. It chose generals, assigned troops to different campaigns, raised the necessary money, and dispatched those troops from city to city. It was an assembly in which all members had equal right and duty. As the Roman Empire rose and supplanted the Greeks, the Romans adopted the term into Latin.
The concept that distinguishes biblical usage from classical Greek usage is the emphasis that it is God’s assembly. Ekklesia, therefore, means God’s people, called together by God to listen to or act for God. The emphasis is on the action of God, which has the force of a summons (as from a judge). The biblical ekklesia, the church, is a body of people, not so much assembling because they chose to come together, but assembling because God called them to Himself—not assembling to share their own thoughts and opinions, but to listen to the voice of God. – John W. Ritenbaugh
This should totally change your view of what Church means. Ritenbaugh also says about where the term “church” comes from:
Perhaps the best place to begin answering these questions is by tracing the etymology of the word “church” itself, and then looking at the way it is used in context. Many have assumed that it derives from the Greek ekklesia, but this is not true. The English word “church” descends from an Old English word cirice, akin to an Old High German word, kirihha. Both words derive from a Late Greek word, kuriakon, which comes from the Greek kuriakos, the possessive form of the word kurios, the term for “lord.” Kuriakos thus simply means “lord’s,” showing possession, or “belonging to the lord” (Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary, 1985, p. 240). It can denote anything that belongs to the Lord. – John W. Ritenbaugh
When I think of ekklesia I also am directed to 2 Cor. 5:20 when it speaks of being ambassadors of Christ. We bring the current rule and reign of Jesus to this earth as His representatives. We legislate Heaven’s directives upon earth. Far too long the enemy has ruled and run this world but with Christ’s FINISHED work we bring what He brought. Didn’t He pray, Your kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in Heaven? Let us create the footstool for our Lord and bring the restoration of all things so we can hasten His coming (Heb. 10:13, Acts 3:21, 2 Pet. 3:12)
We need His directives and wisdom to establish His kingdom. He is coming back for a BEAUTIFUL Bride and not a disjointed church. He is still looking for a place to lay His head…
I do not believe in the escapism that is preached by pre-trib eschatologists. I do believe there is a light that is and will shine brighter and brighter upon His Bride as she continues to make Herself ready. Isaiah 60:1 needs to happen and I believe it will be a literal shining according to Matt. 17:2 and 2 Cor. 3:18. If Moses received a lesser covenant with a glory so strong he had to cover his face then how much more will the greater shine forth on and through us! I’ll end with this scripture:
Romans 8:30Amplified Bible (AMP)
30 And those whom He thus foreordained, He also called; and those whom He called, He also justified (acquitted, made righteous, putting them into right standing with Himself). And those whom He justified, He also glorified [raising them to a heavenly dignity and condition or state of being].
Graham Cooke’s Maintaining Your Inner Compass Part 1 notes from:
Unfortunately the whole sermon is not on YouTube. These notes are directly from Graham Cooke’s Part 1 teaching. I took these notes for a meeting I was a part of. It was very enriching to intentionally listen and take notes. I could have written out 6 or more pages but this totaled 2 1/2 pages. Be blessed! As He Is So Are We!
Graham starts with Psalm 121: I WILL LIFT up my eyes to the mountain from whence shall my help come. My help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip. He who keeps you will not slumber. Behold He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper the lord is your shade on your right hand. The sun will smite you by day not the moon by night. The Lord will protect you from all evil. He will keep your soul. The Lord will guard your going and coming in. From this time forth and forever.
David had a brilliant devotional life because he connected with God no matter where he was not matter what he was going through. He knew how to connect with God devotionally. :23-24 the steps of mans are established by the Lord. And He delights in his way. When he falls he will not be held headlong because the Lord is the one who holds his hand.
The great thing about journeying with the lord is that He knows how to keep us. Day after day in every kind of situation. He can turn every circumstance and situation around for our good and prosper us. In all the ups and downs in life God is the one remaining constant. Holy Spirit is teaching us to be constant and faithful because according to 1 John 4:17, as He is, so are we in this world. Because God keeps us we can learn to be as constant and consistent as God is.
What God wants from you He first gives to you. Because God delights in us we can delight in Him. Whatever we are facing it’s important to face with a real enjoyment of who God is for us. Our journey may take us to the vineyards of fruitfulness or the desert where there is no growth. But God will be the same to you in both places. Sometime God is a blazing sun but other times a candle in your hand. You get to walk with God and know him in both extremes. In warfare you get to know the God who laughs at His enemies. God can surround who you are and who you are not. We discover who God wants to be for us in every circumstance. Sometime we need stand long enough in His presence to see the Glory that is there because we are being changed from one degree of glory into another.
Graham Cooke talked about wanting a relationship with God more than just ministry. Devotions should be designed for relationship and not ministry. In personal devotions and relational times we stand before God as a much-loved son. Sometimes we come to God and say Father and other times Daddy and other times Help!
We accept the fact that we will have human and demonic opposition and stress involved with walking with God. But we can find out who God is for me when these things happen. Who is God to me right now? That is the joy set before us. We need not be worried about anything. We are not frustrated because that is a construct that is not birthed in the kingdom. Truth is we get to walk in grace and mercy and peace and love and goodness and rest and gentleness and delight and abundance and power and majesty. We get to walk in those things.
We are being changed from one degree of glory to another. We need to consider the possibility of something glorious happening at least this week if not today. We need to take all our responses from heaven and not from earth. The bible says we can be blessed under persecution. You have to rejoice and be exceedingly glad. The basis of this is moving in the opposite spirit as a preservation thing and as warfare. We get to spank the enemy. Out journey is into an experience in the Spirit so profound that we become as Jesus is because as He is so are we in this life and world. We live from the inside to the outside. All of life in the Spirit is internal. We learn to step back into our spirit and live out of that place. We learn to live in the spirit as opposed to the soul.
We are learning to maintain our inner compass. Our direction comes from inside, our inner man. Guidance is relation and not functional. Guidance is a byproduct of relationship. Too many decisions are made by external evidence rather than internal proof. In order to grow into this we have to develop and maintain our inner compass so when we stop spinning we know where God is because He is our True North. There are three questions we should ask ourselves in all new situation or circumstance. Who am I? What am I? and Where am I?
When life explodes and interferes we must ask Who am I in this? I believe all our journeys begin in the heartbeat of God and that’s where you rest right now. I can have an understanding and experience with the nature of God. I can know what he is really, really, really like. I don’t want to be intimidated by the enemy but be fascinated by Jesus. We try to get faith outside of the heartbeat of God. God lives in you and he has no problems believing. Faith comes from your focus. When focusing on God faith is there. God is faithful that means we can be full of faith.
All revelation of God must be specific to His nature and explicit to your identity. When He shows you something about himself his reason for this is because he wants you to become that next. Your identity gets an upgrade. God is not messing around and nothing casual. Everything about Him is utmost intention so we need to pay attention.
We get to wage war with peace and inflict our rest upon the enemy. Rest is a weapon. We are partners in His nature. David was a man after God’s own heart because he was always discovering his own identity in the face of God who was totally for him all the time. We are learning in the context of that on how to practice opening our heart to revelation and saying yes to God’s love.
Who is God for you right now? What specific part of His nature are you meant to fully experience at this time? When you know you learn to direct yourself toward God in that. We don’t define by our circumstance but by the nature of God being released and revealed to us. God loves us to ask questions but don’t allow your lack of answer to disrupt your internal communion with Him. Sometimes he doesn’t give us answer right away. He wants to teach you to live in the question with Him. What’s more important God or the answer? We don’t need an answer what we need you God. God likes the dialogue. Sometimes there are better questions for us to ask Him. Living in the question makes our life happy in the process. There are times where God allows our life to come into a place of uncertainty. Why? God wants to be your certainty. God is jealous and he is not apologizing. He wants to be your all in all. He wants to have that number one place in your life.
Don’t stop believing until you get an experience. When you get it you longer have to believe. Faith is a temporary thing, not permanent. Faith becomes knowledge. Faith is present to give you an experience. You no longer have faith that Jesus is Lord, you know Jesus is Lord.
Knowing opens you up to the reality of the truth. That you may know what is the hope of His calling. That we may know the things freely given to us by God. You begin to declare things from Heaven instead of praying for them. It’s your inheritance. Faith is the introduction to Hope. It leads you to confident assurance.
What do you need to be confidant in regarding who God is for you right now? The particular circumstances in your life should be leading you to an experience into a particular aspect of God’s nature? What was your last real experience of God? Did you become established in that as a behavior, did you learn how to abide in that? What is your current uncertainty? What do you have permission to ask God for?
In your current situation ask the Holy Spirit this: What is it that God wants to be for me now and who am I in a response to that?
As He is...so are we 