Five-Fold Today - The Inherited Problem - The Anointing To Love Others - The Reproofs of Instruction - Season Of Dryness - Let's Clean House! - Live The Call - Windshield Wipers
The Inherited Problem
By Robert I Holmes
There is, in the life of David, some object lessons on handling
inheritance. Some of us have received an inheritance that is bankrupt.
One might equally use the word barren, broken or destroyed. David
inherited a kingdom raped by it's previous king, a people plundered and an
inheritance essentially squandered.
One of the first, but also one of the enduring things David had to do was
overcome the rape of his nation. He was appointed king to a bankrupt
kingdom, his inheritance was largely destroyed by poor management. What
did David do? How did he respond? What do we do if we are the ones who
have raped, taken, destroyed someone else's inheritance?
The two kingdoms
The kingdom of Saul was marked by a common phrase, 'And he will take'
(c.f. 1 Sam. 8).
The kingdom of David was marked by a common phrase, 'The Lord gave David
victory everywhere he went' (c.f. 2 Sam 8).
Before we examine this, let us consider the contrast between David and
Saul:
Saul was -- David was
Called for by the people -- Called for by God
Saul raped the nation
In Isaiah ch 42 vs 22 we are told that the people of God were "a people
plundered and robbed". This is the inheritance of a Saulish man, a Saulish
family line, a Saulish ministry or church. Let us look at the seven things
mentioned in Scripture regarding this...
David restored the nation
David had a heart so very different from this, and he worked hard to
restore the land. In Galatians ch 6 vs 1 we read "You who are spiritual,
restore" and this was his inheritance. Let's look at the seven ways David
did this...
Application
The work David did to restore the nation is equally applicable to our
lives. Whether our personal inheritance has been stolen, our families
inheritance squandered, our churches life destroyed, our ministry left in
ruins, our city raped by sin or our nation ravaged by economic turmoil -
God can restore!
shm@storm-harvest.asn.au
The Anointing To Love Others
by Undrai Fizer
You cannot have an effective ministry without a genuine love for people.
It is more easy to fall in love with your "ministry format" instead of the
eternal destiny of God's people.
It is hard to witness and minister for the Father if there is not a love
for people in your spirit. You will find yourself doing the works
detailed on the business card and the vision statement, rather than from a
heart that weeps for the lost, and those who are not walking in their
destiny.
The pressures of life and the wounding from people can cause the love for
others to grow cold. Sure, we may exist everyday doing the "habits" of
ministry, and yet lack the intimacy of the Father and His people.
Ministry work that has become a habit (routine), can prove fatal in the
lives of the believers. It will camouflage the reality of our insincerity
toward God and people. It will keep us in denial and blind us to the fact
that we may have fallen out of pure love with God and the ministry to the
lost.
You cannot minister without loving people. You can fall in love with
teaching, and still be out of love with God's people. The enemy have used
the wounds and distrust of others in the past to keep us from loving one
another and other people. You can't love when you are busy protecting
your heart from hurts and other's treatment of you. You can't love
perfectly when you are "building walls" of protection. It will cause you
not to see the person because you are trying to detect their hidden
"weapon" against you.
We must allow the Holy Spirit to keep us from the dangers of ministering
without love. We will find that ministry will become just another
occupation that we will suffer in until a better job comes along.
Life has hurt us to the point that we're trying to "get what we can" while
we can. We must be redefined. We will find ourselves being ministers,
but yet being bitter and suspicious, and without friends.
We can't allow our love and weeping for the lost to grow cold. Remember
when you used to weep for those who were lost? Remember watching people
walk the streets and you said to yourself, "I wonder what he is thinking,"
" I wonder if he knows about God." Remember?
Our love can grow cold, and yet we can produce more ministry. How is
that? A lack of love will produce a void and a sickness that only being
busy will fill. So, we will find ourselves being incredibly busy, but
tired of who we are and where we are going.
You can't minister for Christ without loving like Christ. Christ did not
protect Himself from betrayal and misunderstanding. He did not allow His
mind and His time to be concerned those things. We have to learn how to
live with "Judas" and "Peter."
Offended ministers cannot love. They are busy trying to protect
themselves. Offended believers cannot be loved. They are busy trying to
discern every motive and everything spoken to them till they become
offensive to those who really want to love them.
The anointing to teach and the ability to love are two different things.
Your love for people will increase the anointing. But, not having love
will decrease your anointing and your usage by the Spirit of God.
We must be careful not to allow bitterness to rob us from love. The enemy
and our own fear of being hurt have caused us to hurt others first. It
has caused us to live a life proving, "you will not hurt me again!" The
ministry and the anointing must not be our own private boxing ring and
personal vindicating platform. It must not be used for that.
Love should be our platform and forgiveness our motivation. God has given
us an awesome task to teach, and live doing what we really love. But it
would be a shame not to love those, for whose sake we were given these
incredible gifts.
Lord, help us.
Help me....
Undrai & Bridget Fizer
Move in the Flow. Move in the Glory.
The Prophet's Perspective, The Reproofs of Instruction
Ira Milligan
I don't know of a single Scripture pertaining to the
prophetic ministry more misunderstood than I Corinthians
14:3 "He that prophecies speaks unto man to edification,
and exhortation, and comfort." Because Paul didn't
specifically include "correction" in this passage, many
Christians believe that any rebuke given by the gift of
prophecy is wrong. But, the idea that the spirit of
prophecy doesn't reprove and rebuke is ludicrous.
In fact, the Bible teaches that even ministering new
instruction to someone amounts to a "reproof". "For the
commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs
of instruction are the way of life." - Proverbs 6:23.
God's instructions reprove, and His reproofs give life.
When God exhorts us to change and walk in righteousness -
there's no way around it - it always rebukes us. But,
even God's rebukes are redemptive, and His corrections
edify! So it's not the content of a personal prophecy
(i.e., whether or not it reproves and rebukes) that
determines its source, but rather the way it is
delivered. Love edifies - never criticizes - nor does it
rebuke harshly. So, when we prophecy "the truth in love"
- Eph. 4:15, even God's prophetic rebukes edify.
When God reveals something critical or negative about
someone, He does so to bring change. He expects the one
ministering to use wisdom so that whatever He has
revealed will help not hinder the one being ministered
to. In other words, with few exceptions, when ministering
personally negative truth should always be ministered in
a positive way. When ministering correction, always ask
yourself, "If I were on the receiving end, how would I
like this ministered to me?"
Once, while I was ministering to a young man, God told me
that he was lazy. After meditation for a moment, under
God's direction, I said, "The Bible says, 'If you will
apply yourself, God will give you success.' " Then I very
gently admonished him to, "...be not slothful, but
followers of them who through faith and patience inherit
the promises." - Heb. 6:12. As one observant brother
later said, I 'spoon fed' him God's correction.
Now, before someone objects and cries, "You're
compromising God's word!", remember, "...the spirit of
the prophets are subject to the prophets" - 1 Cor. 14:32.
You can't beat up God's kids and blame it on God! God is
love, and love edifies. God wants his ministers to use
ingenuity. He expects us to "...warn every man, and teach
every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man
perfect in Christ Jesus." -Col. 1:28
Ira
Ira & Judy Milligan
SERVANT MINISTRIES, INC.
For we preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord;
and ourselves your servants for Jesus' sake (2 Cor. 4:5).
http://members.nbci.com/Servantminis/
Season Of Dryness
Ras Robinson
Breakthrough from being cut off and isolated is
coming your way. Expect it. This has been a season of dryness,
sometimes like a parched desert. You have felt like you have
been sent outside the camp for some kind of punishment. It is
difficult for you to even speak with Me about it. Not even your
closest friends know what is going on inside you because you are
just not sure about a lot of things. You have been keeping to
yourself, haven't you? Pain has visited again and again. But I
say to you that a turn-around is about to occur for you. You
are on the edge of a major breakthrough. And when you begin to
experience this breakthrough, you will say, "So that was what
the cutting off and the isolation was all about." And you will
smile and laugh and you will thank Me for these last days that
are about to come to an end. The skies are already forming rain
clouds. A dump of refreshment and blessing is on the way. The
heavens are about to open and oh the joy that is coming your
way. And just as you have been a somewhat quiet witness for me
in this cut off and isolated time, you will now become an
exuberant zealot for Me. Some will marvel at what I have done
for you. Breakthrough. No more being cut off and isolated for
you. Expect it. Springtime is here!!!
Zechariah 10:1 "Ask rain from the Lord at the time of the
spring rain-- The Lord who makes the storm clouds; And He will
give them showers of rain, vegetation in the field to each man."
Ras Robinson to Strengthen,
Fullness in Christ Church, Pastor
Let's Clean House!
By Doris Wagner
How well I remember spring housecleaning! I was born in the same house in
the early '30s that I left the day I was married. The setting was a dairy
farm in upstate New York and my dad and mom, two brothers, one sister and
myself enjoyed living there in the beautiful Mohawk Valley.
But every spring, without fail, we all pitched in and cleaned. The guys
took off the storm windows and stored them carefully to rest until late
October. We dusted and washed the windowsills carrying away dustpans full
of dead flies that somehow got between the windows and storm windows.
We washed the windows, inside and out, washed every curtain in the house,
stretched them on wooden frames with nails that caused them to dry without
ironing, and hung them back up only after every square inch of the house
had been mopped, scrubbed, and polished. The house was aired out, light
fixtures were washed (it was amazing how much brighter things looked) and
my mom inspected and approved until she was convinced that all dirt and
grime had been adequately removed. All of us gals worked in the house.
Then the whole family tackled the dairy barn. Armed with brooms and our
heads wrapped in bandanas, we swept down every beam, knocked off the
chipping whitewash and removed all of the cobwebs that had accumulated in
the cow barn, calf pens and horse stalls over the winter. We swept out
every corner and cleaned all of the leftover fodder, straw and whatever
else the brooms could find.
Then came the whitewash truck and sprayed everything gleaming white for
another year. Our last job was to clean the windows, and leave them
propped open a bit for fresh air to circulate until fall.
I remember we even cleaned the garage, the chicken coop, the pigpen and
the wagon sheds. Mom hung curtains in the garage windows and we planted
flowers all around the buildings after we had raked all of the winter
leaves, sticks and sundry debris that the wind had deposited. We then were
able to enjoy clean and fresh surroundings with a myriad of flowers all
summer long.
Spiritual Housecleaning
As I work with deliverance, of necessity, I need to understand the devil,
evil and the demonic. I am now convinced that Christian families need to
spiritually houseclean at least once a year. If you are doing spiritual
house cleaning for the first time, you will need to tackle it with a
vengeance. You will need to inspect every room, including basement and
attic as well as the outdoor surrounding area. Here are some suggestions.
When we spring houseclean, we go for dirt, dust, grime, and filth like
dead flies and mouse nests. When we spiritually houseclean, we look for
things that might defile our house or provide an opening for demonic
activity.
For example, has any family member brought home some item that might have
a "hitchhiker" attached? Often it wasn't done on purpose, but
it still should be cleaned out of the house. The question to ask as you
deliberate, is, "Does this glorify God?" If in doubt, dump it!
Take a Spiritual Inventory of What is in Your Home
I have lived overseas for much of my adult life. When we returned from
Bolivia, I was amazed at the stuff we naively brought home as "native art"
and put up on our walls. When I learned about not glorifying idols, we
did major redecoration quickly!
We had brought home many idols of the Sun God in the form of lamps,
jewelry, and leatherwork. We had items, such as masks and other trinkets
that were used in pagan religious ceremonies. We did, in fact, have a
good bit of negative spiritual activity going on in our house, but once we
destroyed these items, we were much better off and
slept a whole lot better.
For starters, any item that has been used in any religious ceremony needs
to go, no matter how lovely, expensive or how much it means to you.
Idolatry and the worship of other gods, is definitely out - check out
commandments #1 and #2. If you have items of superstition even if handed
down from previous generations, they can give place to the demonic and
they need to go.
Anything obviously demonic such as posters, tee shirts, incense, music and
videos should go. Any items from the occult must go.
Ouija boards, spirit games, Dungeons and Dragons, and items of astrology,
tarot cards, horoscope, charms, amulets, fetishes, or any other thing
having to do with witchcraft need to go.
Witchcraft is on the rise. Check out the prime time network shows that
try to deal with the subject in a cute manner, blowing off its
significance. Shun Harry Potter calendars, books, mugs and the like. If
they are in the house, burn or break them. Don't give away any of these
items. They need to be destroyed.
Any items that represent any other religion, such as Buddhism, Hinduism,
ancient Egyptian gods (Isis, Osiris, etc.), Freemasonry, and symbols of
fertility such as obelisks, and cute fertility god figurines from various
religions, should go.
Be on the lookout for anything that represents death, such as drawings of
skulls, mummies, and bloody or gory posters. You are better off without
them.
Is there anything in your house that you are keeping that you know you
should not have - photos of old girlfriends or boyfriends that you have
hidden, for example? Remove any item that represents a tie to anger,
bitterness, hatred or resentment.
Pornographic material has no place in a Christian home, nor do channels
that bring filth into a T.V., or Internet availability to porn, especially
where there are children or teens. To think that they will not "take a
peek" is far too risky, because there are
few things more addictive than porn and it can ruin one's spiritual life
and usefulness for the Lord.
Do not be guilty of bringing such things into your home. Steps must be
taken to clean it out. Get the Internet screened, and cancel
subscriptions to channels you should not have. Burn every piece of porn
and object you know that you should not have.
Check out the kids' toy box and your own jewelry box. Something may have
crept in that you should not own. Although expensive, gold items can be
melted down and once symbolism is destroyed, it can be fashioned into
something nice. God created gold and it was "passed through the fire" and
purified.
You will have noticed by now that I have said over and over again, "these
items need to go." Don't give them away. Take a stand and deliberately
do what needs to be done, but if items are burnable, burn them.
You may want to smash some first, if they are made of combustible
material. Ceramic, glass and porcelain items should be smashed. Wrapping
them in rags before smashing can help keep the job safer. Burn what can
be burned, smash videotapes and CDs. Deal a blow to the devil!
Josiah Declaration Sunday
This is what the Josiah Declaration Sunday is all about. II Kings 23:24
specifically tells about eliminating household gods and idols. It is
"spring housecleaning" in a spiritual sense. Sunday, September 9 is the
designated day and all cleaning should be done by then.
Some churches are asking people to bring items that they are destroying to
church to be smashed or burned. Some want to keep them wrapped up for
privacy's sake.
It may not be possible to burn publicly at the church, and fires may need
to be moved where permitted by the authorities.
After reading this, you may want to get going long before September to rid
your home of spiritual darkness. If you have not yet read Chuck Pierce
and Rebecca Sytsema's little book Ridding Your Home of Spiritual Darkness,
you will want to do that soon. It is available from our Arsenal bookstore.
This is spring. It's housecleaning time. And don't forget to look over
the basement, attic, garage, and other buildings. You'll be glad you did,
and God will have more room to be glorified in your home!
Source: Global Prayer News
Live The Call
Kristin Reeg
As I was worshipping the other night I felt the Lord say, "Go"
This is what followed. I believe there is a message in here for all of us.
"It's not about ability. It's about your heart. It's your willingness
to learn about Me that will enable you to teach. Trust in My love.
Trust in My ability to equip you.
Are you willing to become just another face in the crowd? Are you
willing to become just another body in the hall? Are you willing to
become a leader in this nameless, faceless, placeless tribe? Are you
willing for yourself to be known as Anonymous for Me?
Giving it all isn't about possessions, though that's a part. Giving
it all is about your heart. Are you truly willing to let Me rule and
reign over your heart, over your emotions, over every minuscule
aspect of your life? If so, come to Me. And I say to you this day you
will be a new person. You will gain all that I have in store for you
if you choose to walk the path with no recognition for yourself. This
is not about you. It's about Me. Day after day you cry out Lord, you
must increase and I must decrease. Are you willing to become like
nothing so that you can truly gain everything that I have for you?
You say you will die for Me -
Would you die if you had no name? If no one knew that you gave your
life because you loved Me? Would you still choose to follow Me?
Choose this day that your name means nothing to you. Choose Me over
recognition. Choose Me over fame. Choose Me over success, and I tell
you that I will use you in ways that you have not yet even dreamed.
Run after Me with reckless abandon. Run after Me and you will find
Me. Seek My face and know that I will not only extend My hand,but My
heart as well.
Trust in the words that I have spoken. You should pick up your cross
and follow Me.
Follow Me!
Follow Me and Me only. The call has been given. It's up to you to answer.
Live the call.
For whatever it takes to draw closer to You, Lord, that's what I'll be willing to do.
kristinreeg@strategicnetwork.org
Windshield Wipers
From the mouths of babes...........Hmmmmmm!!!!!
One rainy afternoon I was driving along one of the main streets of town, taking those extra precautions necessary when the roads are wet and slick. Suddenly, my son Matthew spoke up from his relaxed position in the front seat.
"Mom, I'm thinking of something."
This announcement usually meant he had been pondering some fact for a while and was now ready to expound all that his seven-year-old mind had discovered. I was eager to hear. "What are you thinking?" I asked.
"The rain," he began, "is like sin and the windshield wipers are like God, wiping our sins away."
After the chill bumps raced up my arms I was able to respond. "That's really good, Matthew." Then my curiosity broke in. How far would this little boy take this revelation? So I asked..."Do you notice how the rain keeps on coming? What does that tell you?"
Matthew didn't hesitate one moment with his answer: "We keep on sinning, and God just keeps on forgiving us."
I will always remember this whenever I turn my wipers on. Isn't it comforting to know that God does keep forgiving us. That all we have to do is ask Him to come into our lives and He will keep washing our sins away. Hope each of you remember this when you turn on your wipers and also remember to pass the message on - God does keep forgiving when we invite him into our life.
Author unknown
April 4, 2001
Guilty and remorseful -- Sorry and repented
Prone to hiding his sin -- Able to declare his actions before men
Controlled by popular opinion -- Controlled by the opinion of God
Given positional power 'throne' -- Given relational power 'people'
Demonized -- Possessed by God
Weak and resorted to the occult -- Strong and referred to the prophetic
Abandoned by God -- Beckoned by God
Narrowly focused 'my kingdom' -- Broadly focused on 'God's kingdom'
Goal focused 'defeat this enemy' -- Process focused 'Raise up Mighty men'
Short term focused 'my lifetime' -- Mid to long term focused 'For all generations'
Focused on the system -- Focused on people
Visit us online@ www.exploringthevision.org
Kingpriest@aol.com
ira@iamerica.net
Encourage and Comfort
http://www.fullnessonline.org
E-mail: fullness@airmail.net
FROM JOEL NEWS INTERNATIONAL
Forwarded by trumpet wind ministries
http://www.prophetic.net/
I asked Him, "Where?"
He said, "To the nations"
I said, "To do what?"
He said, "To teach"
I said, "To teach what?"
He said, "Me."
Follow Me in My suffering.
Follow Me in My death.
Follow Me in My resurrection.
Follow Me in My teaching.
Follow Me in My wonders.
Follow Me in My signs.
Follow Me in what I am doing.
Blessings,
Kristin
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