Charismatic Dualism

Charismatic Dualism? Lets talk about that.

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.

 

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Learned Helplessness: Signs and Freedom

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.

 

This blog is a continuation of sorts from my last blog, Learned Helplessness. I was spurred on to creating a continuation with more examples, causes, and tools for healing. I hope this helps bring comfort, healing, deliverance, and ultimately a fuller experience of our Heavenly Father and your worth to him and others. God wants us whole spirit, soul, and body.

Watch this:

Potential Causes of Learned Helplessness

• SRA/RA (Satanic Ritual Abuse/Ritual Abuse-Christian or non-Christian) – This usually occurs as a child and consists of persistent religious, physical, emotional, and sexual abuse
• PTSD – Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
• Futility – doing things over and over and never resulting in anything and things designed to keep someone busy yet stuck in one place
• Extreme Stress – Death of love one(s), losing a job and unable to find another, debilitating illness, etc etc
• Prolonged Stress – Constant abuse, horrible home life, horrible work life, doing something you’re not designed for, etc etc
• Self-Pity – I am not ____. I will never be able to _____. (fill in the blanks)
• Rejection – Perceived (speculation) and Actual (opposite sex ended relationship, opposite said “no” to going out with you etc)
• Lack of Control – always being pushed around, have decisions made for you, and never being able to think or act for yourself either due to oppression or lack of resources
• Non-Constructive Criticism – Critical words that bring to aspect of building up or encouragement despite areas of weakness
• Trauma – Physical, Emotional, Sexual, Car Accidents, Loss of loved one(s), etc
• Failing Marriage – a marriage where no matter what you do to save it, pour life into it, or revitalize it the spouse refuses to change
• Addiction – addictions either wanted or unwanted, wanting to be free yet never able to
• Literal Imprisonment – includes those guilty and not guilty yet imprisoned and also those released from extended incarceration
• Government Assistance – this one is controversial however please hear me out. This is not a political or economic issue but a mindset issue. When an able-bodied person is dependent upon government assistance like food stamps, Section 8, Welfare, and the like it binds people. Some are helpless now that they are in the system and are unable to succeed even slightly because then their benefits will go away. In some areas government assistance is a generational thing where Grandparents, parents, children, and children’s children are all in the same place. To offer the other side there are many who are on government assistance who absolutely need it, and are due it. The issue is a poverty mindset and not just impoverished circumstances
• Serving Two Masters – this is shown oftentimes in unions. A worker will have a union boss and the job boss and they have to please both at the same time and it become a helpless situation when one boss gives you contradictory orders compared to the other boss. It can come to a point where you could be out of a job regardless what you do. Also unions can force you not to work and if you choose to work anyway they will force you out and cause you to not be able to find work in the field again
• Patriarchy – where women are held to a lower class, unable to excel in anything substantial, have no say in anything, demoralized, and a less-than citizen
• Matriarchy – where men are held to a lower class, unable to excel in anything substantial, have no say in anything, demoralized, and a less-than citizen
• No Parental Structure – This is a very complex issue with many variables. However, studies show that without a strong Father and Mother (and marriage) in the home, children succumb to what is modeled to them. Fatherless homes and Motherless homes each have unique issues that can carry on to the children.
• Losing Your Voice – never being asked for your opinion, advice, and not acknowledging what you say
• (place your own situation where you have learned helplessness and are unable to break free)

Potential Results of Learned Helplessness

• PTSD
• DID aka Multiple Personality Disorder
• Clinical Depression
• Suicidal Thoughts/Intentions
• Degenerative Diseases
• Heart Disease
• Obesity
• Heart Attack
• Low Self-Esteem
• Chronic Failure
• Fear of Success
• Feelings of Lack of Control
• Sadness
• Premature Aging
• Poverty
• Domestic Violence
• Addictions
• Poor Parenting
• Marriage Issues
• Academic Achievement
• Self-Pity
• Generational Fatherless (and sometimes Motherless) Homes
• Panic Attacks
• Mental Disorders
• General Anxiety Disorders
• Feelings of Being Out of Control
• Never Able to Offer Your Opinion
• Loss of Voice

Both lists could go on and on. You may have noticed that certain Causes and Results are interchangeable. I suppose it would all depend on the logistics of your life. Notice I used the word “potential.” I think that could be a crucial mindset to have in the midst of Learned Helplessness. Oftentimes, with the proper perspective, the things we go through can cause us to grow, seek God’s face more intentionally, and leave us less scathed. Not unscathed but less scathed.

If you have experienced these causes and results know that you are not alone. Millions if not Billions experience the same things. I personally have had about 20 or so of the above happen and let happen to me. It is not a fun road to travel on or be dragged on. You may have had many instances, whether outside of your control or self-induced, where you’ve experienced and learned helplessness…but there is hope. There is freedom. There is healing, There is deliverance. Not many quick fixes or physical deliverance but paradigm shifting and mindset renewing that can utterly revolutionize the pain you’re going through. Now that we’ve talked about and listed the junk let us gaze upon the beauty that Jesus paid for. As the Scripture says in Galatians 5:1,

In [this] freedom Christ has made us free [and completely liberated us]; stand fast then, and do not be hampered and held ensnared and submit again to a yoke of slavery [which you have once put off].

Healing and Wholeness

All around us we observe a pregnant creation. The difficult times of pain throughout the world are simply birth pangs. But it’s not only around us; it’s within us. The Spirit of God is arousing us within. We’re also feeling the birth pangs. These sterile and barren bodies of ours are yearning for full deliverance. That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy. – Romans 8:2-25 (MSG)

Such an apt description isn’t it? We know we are not what we should be yet in the midst we can press forward, unhindered with a mind fixed on Him.

Healing provides wholeness. Wholeness provides healing. God wants more than our healing. He wants wholeness and He will get what He wants! There is a slight paradox in the Scripture when we speak of healing, wholeness, difficulties, trials, fire, issues, redemption, salvation, adoption, grace, truth, correction, and love. There are two main types of pain in the world. Redemptive pain and destructive pain.

• Redemptive Pain – is fueled by God and the mindset that He corrects whom He loves and He trains whom He trusts–which is you! Healing and wholeness for the whole person spirit, soul, and body
• Destructive Pain – is fueled by satan to defeat, destroy, kill, maim, and obliterate God’s image on earth with the mindset designed to destroy a human’s spirit, soul, and body

I would highly suggest seeking the Lord either by yourself or preferably with another trusted believer to find out, based on the specifics of what you are dealing with, to see if the pain involved in redemptive or destructive. Destructive pain is much easier to figure out. Is what is happening producing the fruit of the Spirit and God’s glory or is it destructive in nature and diminishing God’s glory? Is there a redemptive quality where you would become a more whole person because of it. Redemptive pain is a little more tricky to ascertain.

In my previous post, Learned Helplessness, which you should really read because it gives much more explanation on the subject, I highlighted only one key aspect of healing and that was willingness. God’s willingness to heal which can break through learned Helplessness and for a person being willing to step into a person’s life to help bring healing and wholeness.

Potential Tools for Healing

• Willingness – know that God is and will always be willing to heal, and to pray for a person to be willing to walk with you in the midst of Causes and Results. Also if you are a person who knows someone else with Learned Helplessness being willing to step into their pain and walk with them gingerly and Holy Spirit and human spirit led
• Breaking Generational Sin/Curses/Covenants/Agreements – learned helplessness could very well be generational junk passed down and attached to you giving you a predisposition to walk in it. see Generational Deliverance
• Releasing and Walking Through Generational Grief – also a passed down issue that, with the Lord, you can walk out of grief healthily
• Releasing and Walking Through Unresolved Grief – grief that has been pushed aside, stuffed, denied, or buried
• Breaking Word Curses – “You’ll never amount to anything”, “You’re just like your father”, “You’re just like your mother”, “Why do you even try anymore” are all word curses spoken over us and we speak them over us ourselves
• Renouncing Inner Vows – see I’ll Never Do That Again
• Breaking Soul/Spirit Ties – see Soul Ties – Legitimate or Illegitimate
• Renewing the Mind – see Paradigm Shift
• Worship – this opens up our spirit and soul to receive from the Lord in intimate ways
• Choose Something to Do That You Have Control Over – whatever that looks like to you. “No” can be a very anointed word. I used to always say “Yes” and resented it. I started saying “No” and felt much more in control and my own person because of it
• Live to God and For God –  see An Audience of One
• Pick Up a Hobby – I love reading and writing. You may love the same or collecting things. Maybe knitting, Legos, building model planes, word puzzles, or jigsaw puzzles are more suitable to you. What would make you feel alive? Do that! Part of the 2nd commandment Jesus gave was to love our neighbor as ourselves. We need to love ourselves
• Individuate – meaning to form into a distinct entity or become your own person. Individuation is a key childhood function and provides the backdrop of adulthood. Those who are unable to individuate as children still need to as adults. This usually occurs via “mid-life crisis.” If you’re married have time with your friends (guys night or ladies night). Do something apart from your spouse, siblings, or parents.
• Nurture and Develop Your Spirit – this one is key. Blessing Your Spirit, Blessing Your Spirit Part 2, and Blessing Your Spirit Part 3 are great prayers to pray and have prayed towards you. My resources for this is Nurturing Your Spirit, Developing Your Spirit, and Blessing Your Spirit: Beloved Son (free) or Blessing Your Spirit: Precious Daughter (free)
• For Those With PTSD and other Trauma Issues – see PTSD Healing
• For Those with DID – see the above Nurture and Develop Your Spirit and also Tools for Freedom Parts I, II, III
• Fight Futility – see Fighting Futility by Arthur Burk
• Begin Building an Altar of His Goodness – what this means is replaying His goodness in your soul and spirit. What has He done for you in the past. Visit that and revisit that. Build a mindset of His goodness, faithfulness, and love. Neurological Scientist have found that the more times you recall a memory the more ingrained it become in your mind and the stronger the path to that memory. Philippians 4:8 is a great Scripture on what to think about
• Submit to God then resist the devil – First submit to God. Confess you are a struggling and need help. His ears are always attentive to His beloved children. Resist the devil. Bind, renounce, rebuke. Spiritual warfare is good but if you can’t do it by yourself get someone else who can do with led by the Spirit
• Receive – begin receiving from people. Where you have walked out in a little bit of false humility (“I don’t deserve it” “It’s all of Him and none of me” are common replies when someone wants to bless you), instead receive. If someone wants to pay for your meal, pray for you, clean your house, or whatever. I often joke that I am in the ministry of receiving because how can someone be blessed to give unless there is a receive  🙂
• Laugh – I mean deep down belly laugh. Laugh with yourself. Laugh at yourself. Laugh with others. Take it easy. Stop being so serious.
• God is For You – believe God is for you and not against you. see Mephibosheth
• Simple Prayer – Father, father me. Amen see Why a Father?
• Get Help – meet with a friend, talk to a trusted prayer minister or counselor. Get those Blessing Your Spirit resources for free
• Do What Makes Your Spirit Come Alive – some love being around water, some silence, still other loves crowds. Maybe its walking your dog or swinging in the local park. Maybe it’s taking your camera outside and going on a picture-taking walk (my wife and I do this). Where do you feel alive?

A couple of prayers from my previous post:

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 God.” 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 and pray that this has helped and will help. Please like, comment, share, re-blog if this has helped or you know someone who may need to read this.  Each one of our lives is unique and is never pre-packaged. What works for one person won’t work for the other. Because our Learned Helplessness is unique so will our healing be unique.

 

101 things I…

…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.

1. I like predatory birds hence my feature image
2. I have had a couple prophetic dreams of said predatory birds
3. I would love to try by hand at falconry (It’s a lost art form)
4. 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.
5. I would love to study Quantum Physics
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. When talking about God or praying almost always using the word “Father.” To me it seems much more relational and put things into perspective.
9. 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)
10. I’m a son and not a slave
11. 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?
12. I want to write a book. Two or more to be precise. One novel and one non-fiction.
13. Also want to try my hand at writing a short story on this blog. I’ve done one poem (See Awake)
14. Sometime God’s mercy is getting a little bit of what you deserve (See Galatians 6:7)
15. I believe I am Teacher Redemptive Gift (See this link and this link I can’t vouch for anything else on these sites)
16. I struggle with dream interpretation however I can be very prophetic at times
17. I firmly believe Jesus is coming back for a beautiful, overcoming bride and not a struggling fearful church
18. If I go to the Scriptures to find out who everyone else instead of myself my agenda is skewed
19. 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.
20. 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.
21. God won’t set you up for failure…unless that is what you need.
22. We live for an Audience of One where the praises at our right hand and criticism at our left meaning nothing
23. However if I shun the voice of my family I may set myself up for that failure in #21
24. A wise man loves the taste of his own medicine
25. 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
26. The Kingdom of Heaven is like a polished stone
27. God has not only given me grace but has lavished it upon me and you. (See Lavished!)
28. 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
29. Problems are a prerequisite for a revelation from God
30. Shame is a dirty mirror. Never let it determine the image you see
31. I am not wretch but a saint
32. Romans 7 is not the life of a Christian battling sin but a believer who doesn’t know they are dead to the law
33. I love useless knowledge. It sometimes actually helps but most of the time is works in jokes
34. I wished I lived in NYC…but at the same time I wish I lived in a log cabin in the woods
35. When it comes to intercession I lean towards undercover sniper style and not front line in your face style
36. I am curious as to the spiritual implications of the “Baby Witching Hour”
37. The biggest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he doesn’t exist – The Usual Suspects
38. 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.
39. I curious as to why after God changed Jacob’s name to Israel, He still referred to him as Jacob at times
40. 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
41. 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
42. I sometimes think the same way that Walter Mitty does
43. God allows in His wisdom what He could easily prevent by His power – Graham Cooke
44. I feel called to teach in front of churches but am terrified of public speaking
45. I used to write Rap songs 5 years ago (they can still be found online) and still want to write more at times
46. 1 John 4:17 is my life verse. Still learning and pondering the implications of it
47. I love language. I would love to learn more of Spanish. Also Polish, Hebrew, Greek, and Mandarin
48. 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!
49. I would love to be in full-time inner healing & deliverance ministry…not the “demon under every rock” kinda deliverance
50. Some times I play both sides of the field and by taking both sides of an argument and try to find middle ground.
51. There is a difference between wrestling with God and fighting against God
52. 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
53. There is more to us than meets the eye – Transformers
54. I want to travel the world. I love cultures and I believe God created many different cultures
55. I’m not a fan of the term “counter-culture”
56. I believe that when Jesus said He only does what He sees the Father doing that He meant it…including going to the cross
57. I believe soul ties are real…and have recently learned about spirit ties
58. I love Pit Bulls and I don’t believe in breed discrimination
59. I also believe in generational deliverance and blessing
60. 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
61. I wonder if this is true
62. I’m not a big Old Testament reader however my usual bible reading, when I do regularly read, includes Psalms and Proverbs and New Testament epistles
63. I’m finding it hard to come up with 101 things…
64. Forgive me for making my denomination the denominator and not the numerator – from Please Forgive Me
65. Triangulation is a relationship killer (See He Said She Said)
66. I don’t like the term “God wants to use you”
67. God’s desire and your necessity are co-laboring in your problem to manifest His promise
68. Never assume tone in text, social media messages/comments, or emails. Only an emoji can determine somewhat of the tone
69. I believe God came as a Father because a Father is what was/is needed most (See Why A Father?)
70. God is making Josephs, fathers to Pharaohs and making Moseses like God to Pharaohs
71. 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
72. I am learning what Church is all about and what is it’s meaning
73. I find it hard to recognize people no longer after the flesh…especially when driving
74. I’m tired of the Schisms in the Isms
75. God’s wisdom is truly multi-colored and multi-faceted
76. 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.
77. Fruit is the foundation for the gifts to have their full and safest expression
78. I’m frustrated that I don’t know what my recurring dreams mean
79. The stories of Mephibosheth and Joshua the High Priest bring me to tears
80. 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
81. Past anointing and mantles are simply taking the baton and fulfilling and perfecting what God is already doing or wanted to do
82. 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).
83. 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
84. I love living in mystery…except when I don’t
85. 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.
86. I always wonder why my name, Jordan, meant. Then God told me. Possessor
87. I believe in Presence before and over Promise no matter how hard life can be
88. Inner vows can be a hard pill to swallow
89. Speaking life is much better than speaking death…even to speaking death to bad things. Life is much better
90. I firmly believe God shares, is sharing, and will share His glory
91. 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
92. 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
93. God gave me an incredible wife that has seen me through darkness, sin, and despair. I’m a better man because of her
94. I’m an athletic man in a fat man’s body…#4 get in my way too many times
95. I feel much younger than 31 years old
96. I may move to Philadelphia next year in which #4 may get in my way too since Cheesesteaks are my favorite
97. I’m bad with keeping up with old relationships or any relationship that isn’t right in front of me
98. My favorite music is rap
99. I’ve been sober for 11 years
100. My dream car is a Subaru WRX STI
101. 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

100th blog!!!

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.

 

Impartation vs Implantation

Impartation vs Implantation

So what’s the difference? Glad you asked!

Impart by definition is to make known; tell; relate; disclose

Implant by definition is to put or fix firmly; 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.

Believing God and Believing in God

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.

Get back up!

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 – The Other Side Of Freedom

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.

It’s not your fault

This clip is from Good Will Hunting. Just a word of caution. This clip shows a real issue and real emotions. If you’ve been abused this may bring up emotions or flashbacks. My aim is for healing, redemption, and to let you know that it’s not your fault. Please pardon the language:

 

It isn’t! You didn’t do it. You didn’t bring it on yourself. You had nothing to do with it. You weren’t being punished for who you are because who you are is a beautiful person God personally designed, thought about, and put together. You were not a mistake. What happened was caused by someone else and their sin, frailty, and wounding. They did it, not you. You are free from being responsibly for someone else’s actions. God can, and will, and is freeing you from the past. Remember that it is not your fault. You are free to be everything God created you to be. Do me and God a favor today. Take time off. Be you and be comfortable with you. Be who you are. It’s not about performance but about freedom. Truth was meant to set you free not keep you in bondage. I may not fully understand each one of your hurts, wounding, betrayals, abuse, or defilement but God understands. Jesus said, “Come to Me all of you who are burdened and heavy-laden and I will give you rest.” Receive His rest today. Let it go from mind to heart and from spirit to soul. Let His love wash over you like a hot shower. Cascading over everything you thought you weren’t. Let the ocean of His love and the waves of His grace come and speak to you. Let Him speak to you the thoughts He has that outnumber the sands of the sea. Open up your heart once again to Him who will never, NEVER hurt, wound, or betray you. He longs to hear your voice. He longs to hold your hand. He longs to be with you right in the middle of everything.

I apologize for any emotions or past experiences it may have brought back. Please don’t stuff or neglect emotions because they point to something and it can bring a chance for healing to come. Many of you need to watch it and receive the words and affirmation you’ve so longed to hear and believe. Some may not need to hear this but you may know someone who does. Pass it along. Share it, post it, like it, re-blog it not for me but for someone else.

We Have These Treasures In Earthen Vessels – My Time In Nicaragua

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.

Thanks again for the prayers and support.

Jordan

How to turn fighting into wrestling

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.

Going to Nicaragua soon!

View my original post here: https://1john417.wordpress.com/2015/03/19/going-to-nicaragua/

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 🙂

 

Does God share His glory?

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.

1 John 4:17 declares

As He is, so are we in this world

Is = present tense

That is all 🙂

 

 

The Sound of One Breathing

The sound of One breathing

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!

 

A Blockage to Hearing God

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.

 

What is the soundtrack of your story?

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?

Personally I love bagpipes. They are epic!

Follow Me. – Jesus

Matthew 4:19 says

Come, follow Me…

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

 

Wisdom, Knowledge, and Prophecy – The Same Or Different?

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!

 

Free Generational Deliverance Course!

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!

Shalom

I’ll never do that again!

Yes, that is an inner vow. We all make inner vows at some point in life, more often when frustrated, hurt, or rejected. What is an inner vow? Here is the perfect commercial to watch. When I watched it I looked at my wife and was like, “That’s a perfect commercial about inner vows!”

Let me be clear. I believe that Jesus’ death, burial, resurrection, and ascension is a finished work. Jesus’ took back authority from satan and has given it to us. It is a finished work, plain and simple. But we play a part. We co-labor with Christ. God hasn’t finished working and neither do we finish working till our revealing as the sons of God. Again, this is a finished work….we just walk in it and appropriate it in our life.

An inner vow is a self-made promise a person makes to themselves usually during or after a traumatic experience or situation in which one is rejected by peers or parents etc. For example

A person’s best friend lied about them behind their back and their reaction is, “I’ll never trust anyone again.”

A Wife catches her Husband watching pornography and her reaction is, “My husband is dirty and I can never trust him again.”

A child was sexually abused and the reaction which is more subtle, “I can’t trust those in authority anymore.” On a side not: this issue is far more complicated and can involve many other issues and possible dissociation especially for repeated abuse. No shame or condemnation at all for this because this is actually a natural defense mechanism that protects children but as an adult can keep someone in bondage. Professional help would probably be necessary.

A son watches his Mother verbally berate her Husband/his Father in public and private and reaction is, “I’ll never get married or trust women in relationships. Better to stay single where I am safe.”

Like I stated above and inner vow is often followed by a bitter-root judgment and bitter-root expectancy which is formed from a foundational lie. The inner vow is, “I will never” or “I will always.” While the bitter-root judgment is, “because all women are manipulative” or “all men are abusive” or “those is authority are controlling.” “I will never trust a Pastor again because my last one hurt me by rejecting me and manipulating me so all Pastors are the same.” “I will never” is the inner vow. “because my last one hurt me by rejecting me and manipulating me so all Pastors are the same” is the bitter-root judgment. The bitter-root expectancy is all women will manipulate and all pastors will control and reject.

Inner vows are motivated by bitterness and self-protection and they end up putting walls in our lives. An inner vow is a flesh empowered, self-righteous determination. They prevent us from operating properly is situations. Bitter-root judgments are how we judge something or someone and bitter-root expectancy is how we except things to happen regardless of the situation. Bitter-roots cause us to become like the one we judge by the law of sowing and reaping. Bitter-root expectancies predetermine our responses to situations. Resentments cannot produce righteous deeds. These all generally occur in childhood by age 8 or so but can also happen in adulthood if a situation is very traumatic. Inner vows in children can create spiritual slumber in which spiritual life is minimal or not present at all. Spiritual slumber is when cannot experience the joys of God or of life in others or themselves. Each case is different, of course, so I speak in generalities in these things.

I tend to not like certain individuals evangelistic prayers like, “God, if you will save me, I will serve You the rest of my life.” It sounds great and can be. I don’t want to be dogmatic here but sometimes we vow to God things that we either won’t do or haven’t done. I still believe God honors that prayer but have we honored it? “God, I’ll never do that again!” we say, I’ve said, but how many times do I do “that” again? God knows and honors us in the midst of it all! And that is beautiful news! I also must honor it or break that vow so I can walk forward in freedom and act according to the Spirit without making vows or promises.

Ecclesiastes 5:3-7 declares

If you make a vow to God, don’t delay in discharging it. For God takes no pleasure in fools, so discharge your vow! Better not to make a vow than to make a vow and not discharge it. Don’t let your words make you guilty, and don’t tell the temple official that you made the vow by mistake. Why give God reason to be angry at what you say and destroy what you have accomplished? For [this is what happens when there are too] many dreams, aimless activities and words. Instead, just fear God! (Complete Jewish Bible)

Proverbs 20:25 says

It is foolish and rash to make a promise to the Lord before counting the cost.

Matthew 5:33-37 says

 “Again, the law of Moses says, ‘You shall not break your vows to God but must fulfill them all.’ But I say: Don’t make any vows! And even to say ‘By heavens!’ is a sacred vow to God, for the heavens are God’s throne. And if you say ‘By the earth!’ it is a sacred vow, for the earth is his footstool. And don’t swear ‘By Jerusalem!’ for Jerusalem is the capital of the great King. Don’t even swear ‘By my head!’ for you can’t turn one hair white or black. Say just a simple ‘Yes, I will’ or ‘No, I won’t.’ Your word is enough. To strengthen your promise with a vow shows that something is wrong.

Wisdom doesn’t say, “I’ll never do that again.” Wisdom is not doing it again. Talk is cheap, as they say. Inner vows can be the same as word curses. There are many times I’ve said, “I’ll always be fat” or simply “I’m fat.” And guess what? I am overweight at the moment. So instead of me continuing on fulfilling that vow I need to break it and ask God to forgive and loose me from the vow…I have lost 10 pounds now and on my way losing more.

This inner vow, bitter-roots thing isn’t some dark room we need to strain to see into in order to fix ourselves. Introspection won’t bring freedom. It is simply asking God to turn the lights on in the room to clean house. I’ve said it before and will say it again, “Seeking darkness will not produce light and vice versa.” We acknowledge these things in order to break their power over our lives. Here is a sample prayer, not to be confused with a formula. God is into protocol, not formulas. In place of the ____ put the inner vow you believe(d). In the other ____ put the bitter-root judgement and/or expectancy. ON the fourth ____ put the lie you believed that provided the foundation. Fifth ____ put the Truth. Lastly put the name of a person who was involved in the vow, judgment, and/or expectancy.

Father, in Jesus’ name, I come boldly before Your throne of grace seeking Your mercy. Holy Spirit show me, in Your grace and truth, areas where I’ve made inner vows to myself or about people along with the vows I have made to You in which I have not fulfilled them, either in childhood or adulthood. Father, reveal the vows I made either consciously or unconsciously. Father, forgive me for vowing _____. Forgive me for forming a bitter-root judgment concerning ____. Forgive me for forming bitter-root expectations by expecting ____. Father forgive me for believing the lie that ____. I repent for that lie and I choose the truth that ____. Forgive, me and cleanse me. Father go back to those childhood times of trauma and enter into them and show me that You were there and precisely where You were. Heal the trauma, rejection, bitterness, and wounds I received. I choose to forgive ____ for what they did or may have done, whether intentional or unintentional. Forgive me how I reacted in the soul. Today, I choose to respond to the Spirit and respond in my spirit. Father I ask you to release me from the inner vows, bitter-root judgments and expectancies from generations past, including my parents, whether step parents, foster parents, or adoptive parents and the those I made myself. I now address any demonic beings, if they haven’t left by now, and command them to be removed by the authority and power of Jesus’ name. I bind, renounce, and rebuke all demons attached to the inner vows, bitter-root judgements, and expectancies that I made and those done in my generational line. Father God, Almighty, I ask that You would deal with any cosmic beings that are involved as well. I ask that You, God, would rebuke and led away those cosmic beings. I submit to God’s authority in this area.

I now, by faith and experience, receive your faithfulness and justice to forgive me. I stand under the Blood, Cross, and Resurrection of Christ and declare myself white as snow. Father loose me from these vows that I have said, agreed to, and/or lived out in my life. Take the Sword of the Spirit to these roots and sever them from myself. May all ungodly fruit drop to the ground and be no more. Thank You, Father, for turning on the light. I receive Your light as armor and guidance and glory. I now put on the Lord Jesus Christ. I put on the armor of light. I put on the new man who is led by the Spirit and not my former vows. God empower me to say “Yes” and “No” to things. I now rely on the Holy Spirit on how to respond to situations in my spirit and not my soul. Holy Spirit, lead and guide me. In Jesus’ name. Amen and Amen!

Father, I ask that You would seal the work done with those who read this. I call forth righteous fruit and righteous roots to take hold. I pray love would fill their hearts, minds, and actions. I pray you fill all empty spaces left with your Spirit and that You would enthrone the thrones of their souls. In Jesus’ name. Amen and Amen.

 

Soul Ties – Legitimate or Illegitimate?

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

Here is good prayer for breaking ties. Also breaking ties to incubus and succubus spirit.

I think I’ll continue to share more about Inner Healing & Deliverance subjects in the future as the Lord leads or gives insight.

 

Blessing Your Spirit – The Fragrance of God

2 Corinthians 2:14-17 says

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.

Blessing Your Spirit Part 2

Proverbs 20:27 says

The human spirit is a lamp of Adonai;
    it searches one’s inmost being.

This is a continuation of Blessing Your Spirit.

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!

 

I Love The Prophetic – Part 2

I love the Prophetic!

I was at a Sunday evening meeting at a Church in a town just north of mine. There was a speaker by the name of Darby Slaton who shared. I went with an expectancy of God confirming things in my life. What I have found out is when I go and am asking God for confirmation regarding certain things He shows up and confirms other things. Come to think of it, if He isn’t speaking to those things maybe that is a confirmation in and of itself…I probably need a better grasp of what He is saying now…anyways. The Lord did speak through the person and was straight on, along with many others who had words that were straight on too. He spoke Isaiah 61:1-3 over me which says

The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
Because the Lord has anointed me
To bring good news to the afflicted;
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
To proclaim liberty to captives
And freedom to prisoners;
To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord
And the day of vengeance of our God;
To comfort all who mourn,
To grant those who mourn in Zion,
Giving them a garland instead of ashes,
The oil of gladness instead of mourning,
The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting.
So they will be called oaks of righteousness,
The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified.

At first glance this is a very general word but to me it spoke with volume. This confirmed by desire and calling as an inner healing & deliverance minister along with traveling and speaking and confirms another vision in which I saw myself on a stage preaching and people coming to the front to get saved and healed(after I saw that vision I wept and asked God, “Is this me?” and “Can I do this?” I wept because it is my heart’s desire and want to be walking in my full birthright and destiny). This goes along with what the speaker said about how I lost my voice as a child and have been regaining it. Regaining because it was stolen. The speaker also spoke about my desire for evangelism as a healing evangelist. I know there are probably several images that come with that title but I’m not talking about selling spring water or gems on TV. Healing is 100% gospel. If we are cleansed by His blood then we are healed by His stripes.

I think the image above is prophetic in itself because the Eagle’s head is turned and looking at you. God most definitely takes notice of His children. I love it because I’m not following a prophetic or a word but what God has already placed inside me. I do love the confirmations though. They are like sign posts letting me know I’m going in the right directions. The Eagle is one of the faces of God. I’ve had dreams of eagles and hawks too and they were very interesting.

He also spoke about God giving me ideas on how to make money in order to provide for my wife and I and future children. This is more of a “Hey, maybe start thinking about this and seeking the Lord to see if this is legit.” I’ve been wondering how a person like me with no credentials, except for Elijah House certificates, or super super-natural experiences can get involved in ministry. I don’t really know anyone involved in itinerant ministry in my circles and how to even do that….which is awesome because it will have to be God’s doing. Plus I am deathly afraid of public speaking…which is part of regaining my voice. I literally tremble when I have spoken from a microphone. I had a dream where they was a line of people going up to a microphone and I was the next person up and then woke up from the dream. Also, during a Sozo, I was in this open field where most of my walls have been destroyed and there was one section with a small section still up. I asked God to remove it and a microphone was on the other side. Some of this is on my previous post but I’m sharing again 🙂 I also had a word from a women at my church about God giving me understanding but soon He will loose my tongue and start speaking (which I will share at my local Celebrate Recovery meeting the second Monday of Feb.) Firstfruits maybe?

Currently I do I.T. Help desk work, which isn’t my passion, and I know in order to provide for my wife and I and future family it takes money. Lets be honest here. It takes money and I don’t want to live ‘In Gov We Trust’ but ‘In God We Trust.’

So these are just my thoughts and processes I go through when balancing my heart’s desire and reality. Receiving confirmations like I did are like a defibrillator for hope by keeping it alive. In the meantime I must focus on my Father and choose Presence over promise at all times.  I place where my soul rests in Him. A place where fruit is my foundation as opposed to gifting or service.

I’ve been walking with God for going on 11 years and I’ve gotten words before I was a Christian that haven’t come to pass yet. I need to do what Graham Cooke says and

Bring my future into today. See the character I need in the future that will sustain the gifting and bring that character into today.

Receiving confirmation via prophecy is a beautiful experience where God openly honors you among His children and world. Prophetic words are promises where we must co-labor with God for their fulfillment ,generally speaking.

The speaker looked at my shirt and it said New York City on it and mentioned about how God is moving in NYC and there was a meeting of business men where the Holy Spirit fell on the meeting. I personally love going to NYC and can’t wait to visit again.

I love looking back on the words I have received directly from my Father and through my brothers and sisters. It tells me that we are in this together. There are many of my readers who I would to meet but may never until Jesus returns or in heavenly glory. I look forward to that day. A time where, along with our older Brother Jesus, we as sons and daughters are fully known and loved by God and ourselves.

 

Phantom Flesh Syndrome

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).

I’m really trying to keep this post short… I would encourage readers to read: Kainos Ktisis New Creation and What You See You Become. Also read: Don’t Hold Me Back Both are fuller explanations of my quick summary that I will do.

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.

In Jesus’ precious and fiery name,

Amen and Amen

Elijah House Training completed!

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.

That is all 🙂

 

Good morning, Holy Spirit!

Good morning, Holy Spirit!

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.

Amen

Past anointings and mantles?

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)

 

 

Thanksgiving

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.

A Place to Lay His Head

Ephesians 4:12-13 (AMP)

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 which metamorphosis (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.

In Jesus’ name, Amen!

 

What does the term “Church” mean?

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].

We are the Throne of God on earth!

Graham Cooke Notes

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?

Excuse Me, But Do I Know You?

2 Corinthians 5:16

Therefore from now on we recognize no one according to the flesh; even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him in this way no longer.

Interesting scripture I must say. From now on we recognize no one according to the flesh. I’m sure we all of read that and maybe thought about it but quickly finished our bible reading for the day. Forgive my sarcasm :). I’ve read it plenty times but I love when God highlights the scripture. Holy Spirit Sharpie Highlighter! Anywhoo… So what does Paul mean by this? I immediately think of 1 Cor. 6:11 which states: “Such were some of you; but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the Spirit of our God.“ Paul was recognizing them for who they are and not what they were doing. How many of us are trying to crucify the flesh or die to self? And no matter how much we do, we aren’t reflecting that truth. Ever hear of Phantom Pain or Phantom Limb Syndrome? Get this: people are operating out of something that isn’t there. Something that has been cut off. Something that is no longer a part of them. I researched(if you could call it that) phantom pain/limb syndrome and there are reports of people still feeling the limb and even gesticulating with the phantom limb while talking. I mean in no way to offend amputees btw so please don’t think I’m making light of actual people experiencing this. I say this because the thought occurred to me that if humans can walk and operate like they still have a limb that isn’t there that Christians still operate in something that isn’t there. This is what I like to call Phantom Flesh Syndrome. Now I’m getting off track…which happens when I blog. More on Phantom Flesh Syndrome on a later post.

Back to what I was saying before. The Kingdom is an inner man, spiritually discerned, God breathed life and outlook. We cannot recognize others based on what is dead. We need to call to life or call to a realization of what is already alive. Kingdom looks beyond the veil of flesh into the inner man created in God’s image(read previous Mirror Mirror post). I do not mean we do not acknowledge falling short of our brothers and sisters but we do not recognize as that action because it is no longer the core of who they are. There may be some root issues to deal with but at the core it is not who they are. Paul was pointing out these issues but countered it by saying, “such were(past/dead) some of you but you were washed/sanctified/justified.” You are no longer what you were.

I like how Paul thinks. Grace upon grace. He didn’t recognize them according to the flesh but spoke on their identity. That is why New Testament prophecy is about one who prophesies for edification and exhortation and consolation. That is directed at the same church! How many of us prophesy our words of knowledge? Did you know there is a difference? That is also for another post. Where is the light in an individual? The Divine spark present? Are you mirroring back the negative dead stuff or the alive Kingdom stuff? Are you calling people higher or just exposing what the blood has covered/washed away? No matter the person Christian or Pre-Christian they are created in God’s Image. Are we muddying up the mirror or washing it for people to properly see the image of Him who create them? How do you recognize people? By their sin or by their Redeemer? These are all question we need to ask ourselves when relating to people. Most importantly how did Jesus see those the religious deemed Image-less?

 

 

Dream Long

I was in a meeting a couple weeks ago and the speaker was a Pastor’s son from India. As usual, he spoke on what the ministry in India is doing and wants to do etc. The usual missionary type sharing from a pulpit. But something really jumped out at me. His father, during a sermon, was speaking on dreaming. He said, “Many can dream big, but few dream long.” Few dream long.

I need to dream long.

Based on previous blogs I spoke on Presence and Promise and how Presence is key to open Promise. Dreaming long is the same thing. I know for me to dream big is emotional suicide but to dream long is sustained expectancy. I can dream the biggest dreams and despite my doubt or unbelief I continue to dream big…but now I know I need to dream long.

Who knows when a big dream will manifest? Where it will? How it will?

Living in the journey with God is so important. Dreaming big but dreaming long. I’m learning to trust Him for the outcome. I’m learning that living in expectancy is better then living with expectations. Expectancy is choosing to live in the moment with faith in a secure future. Expectancy is dreaming long while enjoying the journey.

How many of us stop to smell the roses, if I may use that term we’ve all heard? Dreaming long and living in expectancy forces us to walk with God and not run ahead of Him. Great quote about dreaming from one of the Wright brothers.

I got more thrill out of flying before I had ever been in the air at all – while lying in bed thinking how exciting it would be to fly. – Orville Wright

They dreamed big and learned to dream long. Dreams are but the desires of your heart. “Everything that you will ask in prayer and believe, you will receive.” – Matthew 21:22

I confess that in 1901, I said to my brother Orville that man would not fly for fifty years. . . . Ever since, I have distrusted myself and avoided all predictions. –  Wilbur Wright

It is not really necessary to look too far into the future; we see enough already to be certain it will be magnificent. Only let us hurry and open the roads. – Wilbur Wright

Dream big, saints and dream long! Live in the expectancy of today! Believe you will receive! May God grant to us the desires of our hearts!

The Secret Place

Psalm 139:15Amplified Bible (AMP)

¹⁵ My frame was not hidden from You when I was being formed in secret [and] intricately and curiously wrought [as if embroidered with various colors] in the depths of the earth [a region of darkness and mystery].

Psalm 91:1New King James Version (NKJV)

91 He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

The secret place. Hebrew word: cether meaning: covering, shelter, hiding place, secrecy. The Hebrew word is the same in both scriptures. He formed us and protects us in the secret place. The place of protection is the place we were made.

Another interesting scripture is Colossians 3:10 and it talks about our inner man or spirit being renewed in the image of He Who created it. This is out there but when 2 Corinthians 5:17 talks about a new creation. Not necessarily a recuperated inner man. Why does Ezekiel 36:26 speak of a new heart and a new spirit. Revelation 21:5 says He makes all things new. New in Greek is kainos meaning: recently made, fresh, recent, unused, unworn, of a new kind, unprecedented, novel, uncommon, unheard of. The same word for new creations. The first Adam was a living soul and the Last Adam a life giving Spirit (1 Corinthians 15:45). Two different Adam and two different creations. We are of the latter.

Colossians 3:3New American Standard Bible (NASB)

For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

Our zoe life is hidden with Christ in God. The secret place. Our inner man escaping notice being formed in the belly of the Father. You see Presence fashions us for Promise. When we live where we are seated we live from a place of Presence, rest, and hiddenness. We walk in authority and dominion from a Presence standpoint hidden in the Secret Place where we are continually formed by Him Who made us. And when we live out of the Presence we are like clumps of clay seeking identity outside of the Potter’s Hands. Anyone who has worked with clay and a potter’s wheel you know that, at first it’s formless and needs air bubbles etc. removed. Then by applying water it softens to be able to be molded into the vessel it was designed for in the Potter’s mind and heart. The water of the Rhema Word comes to bring the forming…and how gentle He does it. In the forming process it takes delicate hands and patience. How we feel like we are spinning in the process. We seem confused when our world system constructs get removed and we enter the Spirit and His forming process.

We need to behold Him! To observe Him! How did Jesus walk? With Him. He did only what he saw or observed what the Father was doing…including dying on the cross (2 Corinthians 5:19). 1 John 3:2 Aramaic Bible in Plain English:  Beloved, now we are the children of God, and it has not been revealed until now what we are going to be, but we know that when he has been revealed, we shall be in his likeness, and we shall see him just as what he is. I believe the Bride will be transfigured by observance of Who He is in them. Observance not of principles or laws are scriptures reading but literal observance…the same way the Apostle Paul received his revelation. No I don’t believe in “new” revelation as in new scripture but there are new things God is revealing which are in line with what scripture declares.

The Apostle John receive The Revelation of Jesus Christ because he was positioned on His chest. He laid there and made that place his home. Revelation came from that Secret Place. That is my desire. To be so close to His Heart that mine becomes His and His becomes mine and I adhere and stay glued to Him by the Spirit. There are secrets He wants to share but they are found in the Secret Place. Secrets are always from the heart.

Even so, come Lord Jesus and be revealed in us.

Amen!

When Needs Overcome Wants

I don’t know about you but I tend to get frustrated with life at times. How many of us can relate to our needs overcoming our wants? Needs come and come and must be met and met. Wants seldom show up and when they do we rarely get to fulfill them. Now I know what scripture says about needs and wants. Psalm 23 etc. But how many of our wants or desires come to pass…or come to…pass and not stay. I was thinking about how many things I want to do in life and how I don’t see much possibility of them happening. I know with God all thing are possible but how? I want the Promise so bad. So bad I can taste it…the taste of milk and honey.

I have so many wants: traveling, speaking, counseling, inner healing and deliverance sessions along with Sozo sessions. I desire to set people set free and walking in who they are. Not head knowledge but heart knowing.

Then I listened to a Graham Cooke teaching…

He spoke on living with God in the question. Walking with God in the midst of waiting. I think of the difference between Promise and Presence. God promised Israel a land flowing with milk and honey but His Presence was there in the journey. An arduous journey to boot. Moses had the proper perspective. Even with the Promise near he wouldn’t go with Presence.

My needs need to transfigure 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.

I think that is where I am getting it wrong. Why I’m frustrated. Why I feel like Promise is the carrot on the end of the stick. Interesting scripture in Psalm 103:7 is says God made know His acts to Israel but His ways to Moses. Moses had a backstage pass to what was going on. Sure Moses clearly didn’t get it all right but God trusted Him. I want and need my own Tent of Meetings. A place where perspective is birthed and clarified. A place where I can see God mouth to mouth. A place where Presence sustains while the Promise waits for my arrival. God has given me a name. That name is Possessor. I plan to possess first Presence and then Promise.

Mirror Mirror

Mirror Mirror on the wall, who is the fairest one of them all?

How many of us do this every day? We continually seek our identity and validation on other people and things. We look at the Photoshopped world of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, or Pinterest and judge our lives and worth based on other people. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen someone’s post or picture get several comments or likes, while I post the same exact thing and get nothing. How many times have I judged my worth on someone’s recognition or lack of recognition. I started my blog several months ago and someone else I know just started theirs…and theirs has blown up(in a good way). They get all these likes and comments and promotion but I hear or see crickets on mine. I had to check my heart…and my reflection. What part of me am I seeing when I react out of my soul instead of responding out of my spirit. I see myself blocking the post so I don’t have to see it or unfollowing them so my hurt and unresolved rejection isn’t confronted. To be honest I did unfollow. I was envious and jealous. The room of rejection yelled, “SEE NO ONE LIKES YOU!” And I accepted it… Until I dropped back into my spirit and responded with thankfulness that someone is being recognized for their gifts and attributes. There two cents are being heeded and honored and I love it!

I’m going to share something that Jesus showed me a couple weeks ago in a vision(mind’s eye). I was at a Waterboyz for Jesus Boot Camp (based of John Eldredge’s Wild at Heart Boot Camp) and there was a mandatory code of silence to reflect on life and to ask Father God to father me. So I had this picture, vision whatever you want to call it, I was standing in the entrance to my High School’s Cafeteria on my lunch period and surveying the cafe…but first the backdrop. I was never a popular person in High School. I didn’t have a good solid friend or group of friends but I had several acquaintances. I feared every new lunch period because I was never invited to sit with anyone. Never. It was a room screaming rejection and “you don’t fit in.” Frozen with rejection and aimless. So I either sat at the “nerd” table, where one of my acquaintances sat, or some other obscure area. It was awkward. So back to the vision. I saw myself at the entrance to this same cafeteria with rejection screaming “you’re not invited.” Then I saw Jesus…waving me over to his table. He said, “You will always have a seat at my table.” It broke me in the best possible healing way. I have turned to a greater mirror! A mirror that displays goodness and acceptance and redemption and kindness. I love Jesus and how He speaks to our wounded and applies his healing balm. It soothes and replenishes. He is my mirror! He is my reflection! A river that never runs dry and a fragrance that never dissipates. In fact I’m his odor to a rejected and lost world. 2 Corinthians 2:15 says, For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.

I’m going to share several scriptures that speak to mirrors or mirroring and the effect. I’m not going to quote them all but for your reference.

• 2 Corinthians 3:13-15,18
• James 1:23-24
• 1 Corinthians 13:12
• 1 John 3:2
• 1 John 2:6
• Roman 8:18
• 1 John 4:17
• 1 Corinthians 6:17
• John 17:22
• Acts 3:21
• 2 Peter 3:12
• Philippians 2:5-8
  
• Ephesians 1:22-23

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit. – 2 Corinthians 3:18

Unveiled faces. We are not like Moses who HAD to cover his face with a veil. Noticed when I talked in the Ten of Meeting he took the veil off. Now with Christ and Him renting the veil in two from top to bottom He, not only gave man access to God, but He gave God access to man! We are image bearers. We carry the image of God on this earth. We are the image of God.

Beholding as in a mirror. What do mirrors do but reflect what is put before them. They don’t make up their own image. We don’t make up our own image. Where do we receive our reflection from? Who do we receive our reflection from? 1 John 4:17 says as He is(currently. not past but now) so are we in this world. The glory given to Jesus by God is transferred to us.

We are being transformed into the same image… What? The same image? “Same” in Greek is autos meaning: the same, himself, in itself it signifies nothing more than again, applied to what has either been previously mentioned or, when the whole discourse is looked at, must necessarily be supplied. “Image” in Greek is eikōn which means: the image of one. Also this verse says we are transformed into the same image. Transformed in Greek is, get this: metamorphoō to change into another form, to transform, to transfigure. To transfigure! The same exact word used to describe Jesus when he metamorphoō on the mount with Elijah and Moses.

1 John 3:2 says, “Beloved, now we are the children of God, and it has not been revealed until now what we are going to be, but we know that when he has been revealed, we shall be in his likeness, and we shall see him just as what he is.” Seeing God, like Moses, has a uncovering of glory that is already within us, locked up in our blood since before Adam fell. Originally we were covered with glory and the radiance of God. Man sinned and that glory was shut up in the body and dwindled to embers…until Jesus breathed upon the disciples thus provided the Oxygen of God upon the ember to ignite and begin the transfiguration process. The more He is revealed the more we will be revealed. Creation is groaning for us Church! We will be like Him because we will see Him. FYI this is pre Second Coming in my opinion according to Acts 3:21. The Beauty of the Bride is in the union with her Husband and Head! We can, by our communion with the Father and submitting to the glorification of us by our seeing Him. We are one spirit with Him – 1 Corinthians 6:17. Co-Heirs. Brothers of Christ. Kings and lords under the King of kings and Lord of lords! Seated together with Christ!

For too long the image I saw was the image I walked out. When I interpret the image incorrectly it will only result of living incorrectly. By the water of word and the Holy Spirit, He can clean our mirror so we can see, unveiled, the Glory of the Lord so we can begin to walk in original design and our original selves.

Prayer:

Father, in Jesus’ name, I ask You to clean our mirrors and remove our veils so we may fully see you and then fully see ourselves. We repent for dismissing our glory, the glory you gave us. We cast our crowns only to have them returned to us purified to then cast them again on your feet. Let us remain in worship at your feet while also communing at your chest in which the revelation of Jesus Christ comes through us so we may truly walk, as Your body, the fullness of You who fills all things in every way. Let us walk as the fullness of You on earth and re-present you to this world. All with the spirit of agape love and true humility, a partner, associate, comrade, and companion of the Divine Nature. Let our mind be the same that was in You, Jesus, according to Philippians 2:5-8. And Lord we know you are the Author and Finisher of our faith and You are the Substance and Hope by which we seek you with all that we are. Thank you for reversing the body, soul, and spirit to spirit, soul, and body. In Jesus name we give you the glory and receive the glory you have given us. We worship and honor You, Almighty God, our Friend. Amen!

He Said She Said

He Said She Said

I am sure we have all gone through this in different relationships. “Tony is very offended at what you said and wants you to know that.” “Stacy wants to know if you can help her with this situation she is in.” We have all heard things like these from 3rd parties. Elijah House calls it Triangulation. It’s where one person speaks through another person to get information passed. And it is usually done for negative reason.

The reason I am blogging about this is because I had a dream last night. In the dream I was talking with an person who told me that another person was offended at what I said of did to them. Then I woke up and immediately thought about that term Triangulation and how I have experienced it in the past and even recently. It can be very damaging and hurtful.

As I lay awake after the dream I was being flooded with thoughts concerning they way Triangulation works within relationship and the harm that can occur by these actions. I believe these thoughts were God’s voice showing me things about Triangulation.

Triangulation – He Said She Said

Triangulation is very harmful. It is damaging and is a breeding ground for suspicion, speculation, bitterness, lack of trust, and dishonesty. I’m sure we all know the game where a bunch of people line up and the first person is told a short story and then they have to tell the next person what they remember and the next person relays the information…that they remember. Then by the time the last person hears the story it is nowhere near the original. This is a perfect example on how it works. It almost always tell only one side of the story as well. It is also been called “the grapevine.”

Triangulation itself is used to locate a GENERAL area but never SPECIFIC area. In cell phone tracking it takes three cell towers and triangulates to create a triangular area where a particular cell phone is located. We could call it a gray area. There is a lot of gray area when triangulating. He said this and she said that. Meanwhile the 3rd party can easily fall into preference over one story. I believe a lot of the times triangulating is used because a person is so offended that they don’t want to reconcile or talk things through but just to vent/gossip/find someone to back them up.

This can be a sketchy situation with the 3rd party individual. If the 3rd party is mature they will take Proverbs 18:17 into consideration. Also Matthew 5:23, 18:15. If someone is emotional unstable or something like that it can be understandable. It’s one thing to have someone say, “so and so is hurt and you should pray about it and go talk with them,” then to have someone say, “so and so is hurt. Tell me what you did and I’ll talk with them.” It is always better to work out something with the person involved instead of involving someone else especially with family because it is hard for that 3rd to not take sides.

Triangulated

In my case I had several people talking amongst themselves about me and another person. First off, I had no idea this was happening and once I did the 3rd party person was totally in line with the other person without ever coming to me to see if what they said was true. It was very damaging and trust was very broken. It hurt so bad it felt like my gut was punched and fell on the ground for over two weeks. It was horrible. Plus the other person along with me was never, to this day, asked for their side of the story. Trust and honesty was broken all because people wanted to triangulate their issue to someone other than the person who “offended” them.

As believers we need to grow up. I say that with utmost love but also utmost earnest. We need to go to the person we have the issue with whether they like it or not and if by all means attempt to make peace. Lets find the truth is situations by doing it together with maturity and not immaturely going to other people to find solace and for someone to take our side without ever having the other person’s side to the story. If you’ve been hurt go to the person that hurt, not right away, but when you are ready. Please let the person know that. Let them know you were hurt but need time. I will say this: if you are hurt go to someone for prayer, counseling, encouragement, and healing. But don’t go to trash and attempt to reconcile through someone else. We can’t trust the grapevine. Stories can get very convoluted using triangulation. If you need another person to be with you when you talk to someone then that is fine. Go for reconciliation. God loves reconciliation. He reconciled with us. Do we not know that we will judge the angels and the world. (1 Corinthians 6:1-7) Seek Him in all things regarding offense, hurts, and hang-ups. Let us love one another and talk things out with one another directly.

If you have read this to the end, thank you. Forgive me if my grammar, spelling, and sentence structure isn’t the best. I hope you hear my heart on the matter. We, definitely including me, have triangulated in our relationships. Let us rise higher and become mature and solid food eaters! Hebrews 5:14

 

Does God “Use” People?

God Use Me

We’ve all heard the Christianese term, “God used me” or “God wants to use you.” I don’t know about you but I don’t and have never liked being used. Why do we use these phrases? Does a son look to his father and hope to be used? Does a father look to his child and say, “I can really use you.”

We are not tools. We are not objects. We are much loved children of God. We are Jesus’ friends and brothers.

Now I know what 2 Timothy 2:20-22 says. Vessels of honor fit for God’s use. I understand what is it saying. We need to be vessels of honor so we can do what God wants us to do. What I am trying to get at is the way the word is used.

Like I said before no one, that I know of, has ever felt good about himself or life after they have been used by someone. You know the reactions we have: “I just feel used” or “he/she used me” Its always apart from relationship. Its about laboring for someone’s gain without receiving anything in return.

God doesn’t do this, in my opinion, Religion does. Whenever God wants something to be done on earth He finds someone who will come into agreement with Him in order for His will be to accomplished…and the one co-laboring with Him gets blesses as well. It’s not about God “using” you but its about what you and God want to do together, as a team, as co-laborers. You are not a means to His end. You are the end! Everything about this world is about us. The Bible is about us and how much He loves us and how much we love Him!

I know some may not agree but that is okay. I choose to believe that I am God’s friend and we are in this together. I mean, I am seated with Him in heavenly place. Jesus sits on the Father’s throne and I sit on Christ’s throne. That, to me, doesn’t indicate being used but being in relationship with God. I mean God even says I don’t do anything unless I tell my servants, the prophets. Amos 3:7: Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. And in the New Testament He says this in John 15:15: “No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you.”

Just being honest but…the church uses people. I’ve felt used in the church. I ushered and served etc. but I never felt apart of anything really. I mean I had a group of friends but as far as the bigger church was concerned I wasn’t one to fit in. Now Jesus on the other…He makes you fit right in. He declares us all living stones fitting together into a holy dwelling place.

You fit! You fit in! You are a part of something glorious and wonderful! You are truly unique and one of a kind and God doesn’t want to use you and then put on a shelf or leave you on the ground to rust like some tool. He highlights you! He points you out to His angels and say, “Boy do I love that person!” “Together we are going to change the world!” “There’s no stopping him in Me and Me in him!”

God doesn’t use…He cherishes!