http://www.sermonindex.net/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=2428&forum=34
I thought I'd pass this along - I was really blessed by the account of the power of prevailing prayer, and their desire to gather the 2's and 3's...
Friday, April 30, 2010
Monday, April 26, 2010
Stand!
As part of our Friday Night Watch on 4/23, I felt the Lord give me a series of scriptures. As I looked them up, they all had a prevailing theme - stand! Each also had a secondary theme, which I will get into later...
The story of Mary in Luke 1:26-38 shows the angel of the Lord coming to visit Mary and making a promise to her - she would birth the Messiah. We're familiar with the story - quite crazy and extreme...unbelievable even. Her response, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. Let it be to me according to your word - this needs to be our response! The Lord has made some promises to all of us with regards to our own personal lives, our children, our communities, our cities, etc. We must stand on these words!
"Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for 'God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.' Be sober, be vigilant (watchful); because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you." (1 Peter 5: 6, 8-11)
First off, let me note here the importance of humility. This is the Lord's work, and not our own - so as we take a stand, we stand on His Words - they are His works and not our own. The devil "walks about like a roaring lion" - he tries to bully and scare us into doubt and unbelief. After we have suffered, we are strengthened and established - we can stand. We tend to avoid suffering and try to "stand" for something we can wrap our natural minds around - something easier to grasp...but that's not what the Lord is after. Peter says to be vigilant and sober minded, other translations say to be alert or watchful. Why?
"Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!"(James 5:7-8)
This was especially meaningful for us as the Lord has been reiterating how the watch is like plowing. When a farmer plants seed in the ground, he does so expecting a harvest. If he plants tomato seeds, he expects to reap a harvest of tomatoes. But he also should expect to have to wait patiently - for the season of the harvest. He may also have to water, for there maybe a dry season or drought to endure. There also may be many weeds popping up trying to choke out the plants and prevent fruit. It is much the same way with us. The devil claims a drought and things will look bleak, maybe even wither or look dead, or maybe doubt will creep in thinking you didn't plant those seeds at all, maybe you're just not a good gardener, etc., etc. - we must wage war against these things and take these thoughts captive. We must continue to work the soil, till the ground, water, weed and prune our "spiritual gardens".
"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. " (Ephesians 6:11-13)
We must recognize who and what we are warring against. We are not wrestling against flesh and blood - not people - but rather the spirit behind them at work. I find it interesting here in verse 13, "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand " - after having "done all" - stand. Keep standing! This is the faith the Father is looking for throughout the earth!!!
"So Jesus answered and said to them, 'Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses." (Mark 11:22-25)
Here we see again - "does not doubt!" This is so important - to stand on these things and not waver. But here we see the secondary theme behind all of these scriptures, which intrigues me - And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. Stand praying, seek forgiveness...
Each of the scriptures above had something to do with our relationships being in right order as we "stand". Jesus said when we're to stand praying, forgive. Peter said to walk in humility, but also stand in the faith, knowing our brotherhood endure these same kinds of trials - we're not alone, and we're not better than anyone else. Also, we see the humility of the younger to the elder - why? Chances are, the elder has lived through it - learn from it! We don't endure "super-trials" because we're these 'spiritual giants', better than every other believer. We need to submit to one another and learn from one another. James exhorts us not to grumble, while Paul wrote about the battle being spiritual and not flesh and blood. It seems so easy to fall into the snare of thinking more highly of ourselves then we ought, and grumbling about our brothers and sisters...if we are going to stand in faith, we need to stand together, expecting our adversary to come and subtly draw us into judgement, pride, grumbling, or isolation. Stand!
The story of Mary in Luke 1:26-38 shows the angel of the Lord coming to visit Mary and making a promise to her - she would birth the Messiah. We're familiar with the story - quite crazy and extreme...unbelievable even. Her response, “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” And the angel departed from her. Let it be to me according to your word - this needs to be our response! The Lord has made some promises to all of us with regards to our own personal lives, our children, our communities, our cities, etc. We must stand on these words!
"Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for 'God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.' Be sober, be vigilant (watchful); because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you." (1 Peter 5: 6, 8-11)
First off, let me note here the importance of humility. This is the Lord's work, and not our own - so as we take a stand, we stand on His Words - they are His works and not our own. The devil "walks about like a roaring lion" - he tries to bully and scare us into doubt and unbelief. After we have suffered, we are strengthened and established - we can stand. We tend to avoid suffering and try to "stand" for something we can wrap our natural minds around - something easier to grasp...but that's not what the Lord is after. Peter says to be vigilant and sober minded, other translations say to be alert or watchful. Why?
"Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!"(James 5:7-8)
This was especially meaningful for us as the Lord has been reiterating how the watch is like plowing. When a farmer plants seed in the ground, he does so expecting a harvest. If he plants tomato seeds, he expects to reap a harvest of tomatoes. But he also should expect to have to wait patiently - for the season of the harvest. He may also have to water, for there maybe a dry season or drought to endure. There also may be many weeds popping up trying to choke out the plants and prevent fruit. It is much the same way with us. The devil claims a drought and things will look bleak, maybe even wither or look dead, or maybe doubt will creep in thinking you didn't plant those seeds at all, maybe you're just not a good gardener, etc., etc. - we must wage war against these things and take these thoughts captive. We must continue to work the soil, till the ground, water, weed and prune our "spiritual gardens".
"Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. " (Ephesians 6:11-13)
We must recognize who and what we are warring against. We are not wrestling against flesh and blood - not people - but rather the spirit behind them at work. I find it interesting here in verse 13, "Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand " - after having "done all" - stand. Keep standing! This is the faith the Father is looking for throughout the earth!!!
"So Jesus answered and said to them, 'Have faith in God. For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea,' and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them, and you will have them. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses." (Mark 11:22-25)
Here we see again - "does not doubt!" This is so important - to stand on these things and not waver. But here we see the secondary theme behind all of these scriptures, which intrigues me - And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. Stand praying, seek forgiveness...
Each of the scriptures above had something to do with our relationships being in right order as we "stand". Jesus said when we're to stand praying, forgive. Peter said to walk in humility, but also stand in the faith, knowing our brotherhood endure these same kinds of trials - we're not alone, and we're not better than anyone else. Also, we see the humility of the younger to the elder - why? Chances are, the elder has lived through it - learn from it! We don't endure "super-trials" because we're these 'spiritual giants', better than every other believer. We need to submit to one another and learn from one another. James exhorts us not to grumble, while Paul wrote about the battle being spiritual and not flesh and blood. It seems so easy to fall into the snare of thinking more highly of ourselves then we ought, and grumbling about our brothers and sisters...if we are going to stand in faith, we need to stand together, expecting our adversary to come and subtly draw us into judgement, pride, grumbling, or isolation. Stand!
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Warfare in Hagerstown
I saw a vision Friday night as I was approaching the city. I saw two men, clothed in white/off-white robes with hoods, rising out of the land. The material was of a course material, looking like burlap, but white in color. The men were very old, having gray hair and long gray beards. They rose up from the outside of the city. They seemed to have great power. As they rose, lightning shot out of their hands, striking the ground in the city. Smoke billowed around them. I heard a voice say, "The north and south will rise again - brother against brother, mother against son, household against household, but the son/sun (?) will rise from the west."
At this point I have no insight or understanding to its meaning...please comment with any sort of leading!
At this point I have no insight or understanding to its meaning...please comment with any sort of leading!
Monday, March 1, 2010
The Orchard
In the Spirit, was taken by a man who performed the husbandry of the trees in this orchard. It was at night, just about the turn of the season from winter to spring. He took me through the trees and as we went along, he showed me the condition of the trees and which ones needed attention. Some of the trees were long overdue for some pruning. Others were uprooted because of storms through the winter, still others were diseased and needing to be cut down. There were also trees that didn't seem to belong in the orchard - dogwoods, maples, and others. There was something about the dogwood tree - I commented on the dogwood, and the man said that it needed to be cut down. Although it was pretty, it had no place in the orchard since it produced no fruit. The master was after the fruit. Many of the trees seemed crowded and overgrown. Unkept fruit trees are a scary site. These trees were no different. The man continued to lead me through the orchard, taking me to the very back. Up on a slight hill stood six trees in three rows of two. They were well pruned and well spaced. I could see that in the daylight, these trees received ample sunlight on all sides. I was fixated on these trees. I asked about why these trees were here. The man replied, "These trees are more fruitful, these 6, than all the other trees in the orchard combined." At that, the vision waned.
A few days later, I was driving along side an orchard. The trees had been recently pruned. I heard the Lord say, "They don't look like much, do they?" The trees were cut back to just a few main branches. The Lord was showing me we are to become "nobodies" - much like Jesus, not doing anything to draw attention to ourselves, just do the will of the Lord.
The Lord continued over the next few weeks, showing me about the mess in the orchard symbolizing much of the church - a lot of "stuff" that wasn't amounting to much fruit. He also showed me the six trees were significant, representing relationships within the body that we each need in order to push us along in our walk and our purpose - we won't achieve these purposes without identifying and surrounding ourselves with these "6 trees".
The Lord also prompted me during prayer to "name the branches". He was saying to identify ministries I am to focus on, and not let any distraction come in to steer me away from His purposes, being faithful in the "little things."
I share this because, although it had immense personal meaning to me, I believe it is a message for the body.
A few days later, I was driving along side an orchard. The trees had been recently pruned. I heard the Lord say, "They don't look like much, do they?" The trees were cut back to just a few main branches. The Lord was showing me we are to become "nobodies" - much like Jesus, not doing anything to draw attention to ourselves, just do the will of the Lord.
The Lord continued over the next few weeks, showing me about the mess in the orchard symbolizing much of the church - a lot of "stuff" that wasn't amounting to much fruit. He also showed me the six trees were significant, representing relationships within the body that we each need in order to push us along in our walk and our purpose - we won't achieve these purposes without identifying and surrounding ourselves with these "6 trees".
The Lord also prompted me during prayer to "name the branches". He was saying to identify ministries I am to focus on, and not let any distraction come in to steer me away from His purposes, being faithful in the "little things."
I share this because, although it had immense personal meaning to me, I believe it is a message for the body.
Sunday, June 21, 2009
Example of the Functioning Church
This is a lengthy passage, but I feel that it shows us some patterns to follow in the church and the body of Christ. I believe this passage is a reflection of how we are to operate. Because of the length, I have broken the passage up - the following is taken from 1 Chronicles 20:1-30:
It happened after this that the people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites, came to battle against Jehoshaphat. Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Syria; and they are in Hazazon Tamar” (which is En Gedi). And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. So Judah gathered together to ask help from the LORD; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.
A vast army was coming against Judah. Looking back to Genesis, Ammon and Moab represent some perverted sin:
So both of Lot's daughters became pregnant by their father. The older daughter had a son, and she named him Moab; he is the father of the Moabites of today. 38 The younger daughter also had a son, and she named him Ben-Ammi; he is the father of the Ammonites of today. (Genesis 19:36-37)
The men of Mount Seir (Horites, Esauites, and Edomites) made their homes by chipping away at rocks (Deut 2:12) in the mountainside, then the Ammonites and Moabites would come in and inhabit those openings. The same thing is happening to us today - the enemy is coming against us, trying to chip away at the rock of our salvation (bitterness, unforgiveness, pride), then trying to inhabit those areas with perversion, lust, envy, and whatever other sin that can come in.
Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, and said: “O LORD God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You? Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever? And they dwell in it, and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your name, saying, ‘If disaster comes upon us—sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine—we will stand before this temple and in Your presence (for Your name is in this temple), and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.’ And now, here are the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir—whom You would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them and did not destroy them—here they are, rewarding us by coming to throw us out of Your possession which You have given us to inherit. O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”
Here Jehoshaphat acknowledges who he is, and who God is. Truth is reality - their reality was they were doomed. So are we. Without Him, we can do nothing. We must come to Him as a child - it is His good pleasure to be our salvation! Just as Judah humbled themselves, we must humble ourselves and pray. "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (1 Chron 7:14)
Now all Judah, with their little ones, their wives, and their children, stood before the LORD.
Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the LORD to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel. You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you.”
They all met together and sought the Lord. I find it interesting the author noted "the little ones" - this is an aside, but there is a place for togetherness with family before the Lord. As they sought the Lord, the prophet spoke, giving a word of faith for victory. We have overcome - by faith we believe and hope for that which is unseen.
And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the LORD, worshiping the LORD. Then the Levites of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with voices loud and high.
After receiving the word of the Lord, the Levites lead the people in worship. They praised Him as if victory was already at hand! What overcoming faith!!! They didn't get bogged down or overwhelmed, they blessed Him and worshipped Him in the midst of their trial.
So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.”
They believed in what the prophet spoke. We need the prophetic ministry in our churches. I believe a time is coming when our very lives will be at stake - we must believe in the prophetic, we must desire to move in it, and we must trust in it. We are to "test all things." That doesn't mean discount all things. We need the prophetic ministry in these last days. The Lord is shaking us now to prepare us and perfect our gifts.
And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the LORD, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying:
“Praise the LORD,
For His mercy endures forever.”
Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. For the people of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. And when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.
Jehoshaphat selected a worship team. They entered the people into intercessory worship, and the enemy fell. Worship is a strategy for warfare. The Lord went before them and turned the enemies on one another.
So when Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude; and there were their dead bodies, fallen on the earth. No one had escaped.
When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away their spoil, they found among them an abundance of valuables on the dead bodies, and precious jewelry, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away; and they were three days gathering the spoil because there was so much. And on the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berachah, for there they blessed the LORD; therefore the name of that place was called The Valley of Berachah until this day. Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat in front of them, to go back to Jerusalem with joy, for the LORD had made them rejoice over their enemies. So they came to Jerusalem, with stringed instruments and harps and trumpets, to the house of the LORD. And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries when they heard that the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel. Then the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around.
As with seemingly all of the victories of His people, there was a great spoil. I don't believe we're going to go around killing people, but I do believe we are going to see spoils coming into the church as we begin to overcome in our spiritual warfare. The wealth of the gentiles is coming. They had watched until no one was left from the enemies camp - that is where we need to be - no toleration for anything not of the Lord. And as they enjoyed their victory, God gave them rest all around. That is His desire for us - let Him go before us, and as long as we are walking with Him, we will enjoy His rest and peace upon us.
It happened after this that the people of Moab with the people of Ammon, and others with them besides the Ammonites, came to battle against Jehoshaphat. Then some came and told Jehoshaphat, saying, “A great multitude is coming against you from beyond the sea, from Syria; and they are in Hazazon Tamar” (which is En Gedi). And Jehoshaphat feared, and set himself to seek the LORD, and proclaimed a fast throughout all Judah. So Judah gathered together to ask help from the LORD; and from all the cities of Judah they came to seek the LORD.
A vast army was coming against Judah. Looking back to Genesis, Ammon and Moab represent some perverted sin:
So both of Lot's daughters became pregnant by their father. The older daughter had a son, and she named him Moab; he is the father of the Moabites of today. 38 The younger daughter also had a son, and she named him Ben-Ammi; he is the father of the Ammonites of today. (Genesis 19:36-37)
The men of Mount Seir (Horites, Esauites, and Edomites) made their homes by chipping away at rocks (Deut 2:12) in the mountainside, then the Ammonites and Moabites would come in and inhabit those openings. The same thing is happening to us today - the enemy is coming against us, trying to chip away at the rock of our salvation (bitterness, unforgiveness, pride), then trying to inhabit those areas with perversion, lust, envy, and whatever other sin that can come in.
Then Jehoshaphat stood in the assembly of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, before the new court, and said: “O LORD God of our fathers, are You not God in heaven, and do You not rule over all the kingdoms of the nations, and in Your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand You? Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever? And they dwell in it, and have built You a sanctuary in it for Your name, saying, ‘If disaster comes upon us—sword, judgment, pestilence, or famine—we will stand before this temple and in Your presence (for Your name is in this temple), and cry out to You in our affliction, and You will hear and save.’ And now, here are the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir—whom You would not let Israel invade when they came out of the land of Egypt, but they turned from them and did not destroy them—here they are, rewarding us by coming to throw us out of Your possession which You have given us to inherit. O our God, will You not judge them? For we have no power against this great multitude that is coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are upon You.”
Here Jehoshaphat acknowledges who he is, and who God is. Truth is reality - their reality was they were doomed. So are we. Without Him, we can do nothing. We must come to Him as a child - it is His good pleasure to be our salvation! Just as Judah humbled themselves, we must humble ourselves and pray. "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." (1 Chron 7:14)
Now all Judah, with their little ones, their wives, and their children, stood before the LORD.
Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Jahaziel the son of Zechariah, the son of Benaiah, the son of Jeiel, the son of Mattaniah, a Levite of the sons of Asaph, in the midst of the assembly. And he said, “Listen, all you of Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem, and you, King Jehoshaphat! Thus says the LORD to you: ‘Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude, for the battle is not yours, but God’s. Tomorrow go down against them. They will surely come up by the Ascent of Ziz, and you will find them at the end of the brook before the Wilderness of Jeruel. You will not need to fight in this battle. Position yourselves, stand still and see the salvation of the LORD, who is with you, O Judah and Jerusalem!’ Do not fear or be dismayed; tomorrow go out against them, for the LORD is with you.”
They all met together and sought the Lord. I find it interesting the author noted "the little ones" - this is an aside, but there is a place for togetherness with family before the Lord. As they sought the Lord, the prophet spoke, giving a word of faith for victory. We have overcome - by faith we believe and hope for that which is unseen.
And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground, and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem bowed before the LORD, worshiping the LORD. Then the Levites of the children of the Kohathites and of the children of the Korahites stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with voices loud and high.
After receiving the word of the Lord, the Levites lead the people in worship. They praised Him as if victory was already at hand! What overcoming faith!!! They didn't get bogged down or overwhelmed, they blessed Him and worshipped Him in the midst of their trial.
So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa; and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah and you inhabitants of Jerusalem: Believe in the LORD your God, and you shall be established; believe His prophets, and you shall prosper.”
They believed in what the prophet spoke. We need the prophetic ministry in our churches. I believe a time is coming when our very lives will be at stake - we must believe in the prophetic, we must desire to move in it, and we must trust in it. We are to "test all things." That doesn't mean discount all things. We need the prophetic ministry in these last days. The Lord is shaking us now to prepare us and perfect our gifts.
And when he had consulted with the people, he appointed those who should sing to the LORD, and who should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army and were saying:
“Praise the LORD,
For His mercy endures forever.”
Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against the people of Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, who had come against Judah; and they were defeated. For the people of Ammon and Moab stood up against the inhabitants of Mount Seir to utterly kill and destroy them. And when they had made an end of the inhabitants of Seir, they helped to destroy one another.
Jehoshaphat selected a worship team. They entered the people into intercessory worship, and the enemy fell. Worship is a strategy for warfare. The Lord went before them and turned the enemies on one another.
So when Judah came to a place overlooking the wilderness, they looked toward the multitude; and there were their dead bodies, fallen on the earth. No one had escaped.
When Jehoshaphat and his people came to take away their spoil, they found among them an abundance of valuables on the dead bodies, and precious jewelry, which they stripped off for themselves, more than they could carry away; and they were three days gathering the spoil because there was so much. And on the fourth day they assembled in the Valley of Berachah, for there they blessed the LORD; therefore the name of that place was called The Valley of Berachah until this day. Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat in front of them, to go back to Jerusalem with joy, for the LORD had made them rejoice over their enemies. So they came to Jerusalem, with stringed instruments and harps and trumpets, to the house of the LORD. And the fear of God was on all the kingdoms of those countries when they heard that the LORD had fought against the enemies of Israel. Then the realm of Jehoshaphat was quiet, for his God gave him rest all around.
As with seemingly all of the victories of His people, there was a great spoil. I don't believe we're going to go around killing people, but I do believe we are going to see spoils coming into the church as we begin to overcome in our spiritual warfare. The wealth of the gentiles is coming. They had watched until no one was left from the enemies camp - that is where we need to be - no toleration for anything not of the Lord. And as they enjoyed their victory, God gave them rest all around. That is His desire for us - let Him go before us, and as long as we are walking with Him, we will enjoy His rest and peace upon us.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Tabernacle and the Meeting
To follow up on my previous post, I want to explore more fully the tabernacle and how it applies to our walk, the church, and the Sunday morning meeting.
As part of Old Covenant daily worship, there were two types of sacrifices: the sacrifice of animals on the altar of burnt sacrifices, and the offering of incense on the altar of incense. The burnt sacrifices occurred just inside the gate. The gate symbolizes our confession of Christ. Once inside the gate, we confess our sins on the altar of burnt sacrifices.
When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! (Hebrews 9:11-14)
Just beyond the altar of Burnt Sacrifice was the Laver. This is where the ceremonial washings took place. Today we'd say that is done as part of a water baptism. Once beyond the Laver, there was a tent which was divided into two parts: the Holy Place, and the Most Holy Place. The Holy Place contained the Altar of Incense. This is where as we enter into worship, we offer up praise to Him on the altar of incense. THe Table of ShewBread and the Seven-branched Candlestick was located here as well. The Altar of Incense was located in front of the veil. Here we see in the Holy Place, we walk in the Light, Jesus being the light of the world and the light unto our feet; and Jesus being the Bread of Life. But the veil was rented so we could enter in. As we are washed, sanctified, and filled with His spirit, and then the incense of our prayers are burning on the altar of worship in Spirit and Truth, it is then that we can enter in.
Then Aaron lifted his hands toward the people and blessed them. And having sacrificed the sin offering, the burnt offering and the fellowship offering, he stepped down. Moses and Aaron then went into the Tent of Meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people; and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown. Leviticus 9:22-24
Fire came down from heaven! We say that we want to see fire, or that we want to be on fire, or whatever, but if we all could corporately follow this pattern, the fire would fall just as it did for Moses and the Israelites! Now that is a meeting!!! This should be the goal for the meeting - for the fire to fall from heaven - to enter into God's presense beyond the veil! This is what John experienced in patmos - what the prophets of old longed and yearned for but couldn't enter in. We have that access, if we're willing to press in. But note here, fire fell because they followed the instruction of the Law in which God had given them - that's the tall order for us - we must press in and live by the Spirit.
Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command. So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. Moses then said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke of when he said:
" 'Among those who approach me
I will show myself holy;
in the sight of all the people
I will be honored.' "
Aaron remained silent. (Leviticus 10:1-3)
Here we see what happens when man tries to do it by his own way. By our natural reasonings, we try to enter in through soulish stirrings or entertainment, only to miss out on what God truly desires. Spiritually a part of us dies if we do it enough - if we habitually sin, and disobedience is a sin, we'll miss His voice of correcting, and we'll enter into death.
I believe the Lord is returning us to simpler things. We've become too rigid in our traditions and too "adult-like" in our thinking and reasoning. If we truly walk in the light, confess our sins one to another, break bread and seek His face continually through prayer and worship, then the fire will go before us just as Joel prophesied about the army coming in that great and dreadful day. Let's return to His house being the House of Prayer and Worship in Spirit and Truth!
As part of Old Covenant daily worship, there were two types of sacrifices: the sacrifice of animals on the altar of burnt sacrifices, and the offering of incense on the altar of incense. The burnt sacrifices occurred just inside the gate. The gate symbolizes our confession of Christ. Once inside the gate, we confess our sins on the altar of burnt sacrifices.
When Christ came as high priest of the good things that are already here, he went through the greater and more perfect tabernacle that is not man-made, that is to say, not a part of this creation. He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. How much more, then, will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself unblemished to God, cleanse our consciences from acts that lead to death, so that we may serve the living God! (Hebrews 9:11-14)
Just beyond the altar of Burnt Sacrifice was the Laver. This is where the ceremonial washings took place. Today we'd say that is done as part of a water baptism. Once beyond the Laver, there was a tent which was divided into two parts: the Holy Place, and the Most Holy Place. The Holy Place contained the Altar of Incense. This is where as we enter into worship, we offer up praise to Him on the altar of incense. THe Table of ShewBread and the Seven-branched Candlestick was located here as well. The Altar of Incense was located in front of the veil. Here we see in the Holy Place, we walk in the Light, Jesus being the light of the world and the light unto our feet; and Jesus being the Bread of Life. But the veil was rented so we could enter in. As we are washed, sanctified, and filled with His spirit, and then the incense of our prayers are burning on the altar of worship in Spirit and Truth, it is then that we can enter in.
Then Aaron lifted his hands toward the people and blessed them. And having sacrificed the sin offering, the burnt offering and the fellowship offering, he stepped down. Moses and Aaron then went into the Tent of Meeting. When they came out, they blessed the people; and the glory of the LORD appeared to all the people. Fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed the burnt offering and the fat portions on the altar. And when all the people saw it, they shouted for joy and fell facedown. Leviticus 9:22-24
Fire came down from heaven! We say that we want to see fire, or that we want to be on fire, or whatever, but if we all could corporately follow this pattern, the fire would fall just as it did for Moses and the Israelites! Now that is a meeting!!! This should be the goal for the meeting - for the fire to fall from heaven - to enter into God's presense beyond the veil! This is what John experienced in patmos - what the prophets of old longed and yearned for but couldn't enter in. We have that access, if we're willing to press in. But note here, fire fell because they followed the instruction of the Law in which God had given them - that's the tall order for us - we must press in and live by the Spirit.
Aaron's sons Nadab and Abihu took their censers, put fire in them and added incense; and they offered unauthorized fire before the LORD, contrary to his command. So fire came out from the presence of the LORD and consumed them, and they died before the LORD. Moses then said to Aaron, "This is what the LORD spoke of when he said:
" 'Among those who approach me
I will show myself holy;
in the sight of all the people
I will be honored.' "
Aaron remained silent. (Leviticus 10:1-3)
Here we see what happens when man tries to do it by his own way. By our natural reasonings, we try to enter in through soulish stirrings or entertainment, only to miss out on what God truly desires. Spiritually a part of us dies if we do it enough - if we habitually sin, and disobedience is a sin, we'll miss His voice of correcting, and we'll enter into death.
I believe the Lord is returning us to simpler things. We've become too rigid in our traditions and too "adult-like" in our thinking and reasoning. If we truly walk in the light, confess our sins one to another, break bread and seek His face continually through prayer and worship, then the fire will go before us just as Joel prophesied about the army coming in that great and dreadful day. Let's return to His house being the House of Prayer and Worship in Spirit and Truth!
Monday, June 15, 2009
Changes in the Church
There has been much talk of "the meeting," what Sunday morning should look like, and how the church should operate. Many of us look at the book of Acts as what the church needs to return to in order to be effective once again. Although I would agree with that statement, I also believe there is much more. Many of us know that changes are coming to the church, but I really believe "church" is going to look nothing even remotely like what we're doing now. Those changes are already starting:
For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God (1 Peter 4:17)
Just as in the days when Jesus came the first time, I believe He is begining to "turn the tables" in the church:
On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations?' But you have made it 'a den of robbers.'" (Mark 11:15-17)
If prayer is to be what His house is to represent - are we succeeding at this? Are we moving in this? Would anyone call His house a house of prayer at this time? We have quite a bit of work to do! So we see that is part of the ingredients to the meeting - prayer!
And He found in the temple those who sold cattle, sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!" (John 2:14-17)
It is interesting to note what they were selling in that day. Seems as though we are repeating exactly what the church in that day did. We come to church, basically to consume a "service" of worship songs and a teaching. To passify ourselves and our consciences, we put a little money in the offering plate. In essence, we are "paying our dues" to be a member of the club (the sheep), and using that money in order to "buy" us peace (dove). Now the cattle symbolism is a little trickier. In order to get a handle on what "the meeting" should look like, we should go back to Levitical laws to see what they had to do under the old covenant in order to come into His presence - after all, that should be the point of the meeting - experiencing an encounter with the Living God!
The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. (Hebrews 9:13)
The cattle were sacrificed and placed as a burnt offering for atonement of sin - purification and sanctification. That is the third thing we are "buying" and "consuming" as part of the "service" on Sunday morning. We need to move beyond the religious experience and into an experience with Jesus because, "He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption" which He did for us to be with Him. Another facet of this, too, is as "members" of the club, we have demoted ourselves to merely paying spectators of the "show" put on by the priests and pastors - we don't truly believe we can and should move in ministries of our own.
This is all about to change.
I will be following up with an exploration of the Tabernacle and how it relates to "the meeting" for todays church.
For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God (1 Peter 4:17)
Just as in the days when Jesus came the first time, I believe He is begining to "turn the tables" in the church:
On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations?' But you have made it 'a den of robbers.'" (Mark 11:15-17)
If prayer is to be what His house is to represent - are we succeeding at this? Are we moving in this? Would anyone call His house a house of prayer at this time? We have quite a bit of work to do! So we see that is part of the ingredients to the meeting - prayer!
And He found in the temple those who sold cattle, sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!" (John 2:14-17)
It is interesting to note what they were selling in that day. Seems as though we are repeating exactly what the church in that day did. We come to church, basically to consume a "service" of worship songs and a teaching. To passify ourselves and our consciences, we put a little money in the offering plate. In essence, we are "paying our dues" to be a member of the club (the sheep), and using that money in order to "buy" us peace (dove). Now the cattle symbolism is a little trickier. In order to get a handle on what "the meeting" should look like, we should go back to Levitical laws to see what they had to do under the old covenant in order to come into His presence - after all, that should be the point of the meeting - experiencing an encounter with the Living God!
The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer sprinkled on those who are ceremonially unclean sanctify them so that they are outwardly clean. (Hebrews 9:13)
The cattle were sacrificed and placed as a burnt offering for atonement of sin - purification and sanctification. That is the third thing we are "buying" and "consuming" as part of the "service" on Sunday morning. We need to move beyond the religious experience and into an experience with Jesus because, "He did not enter by means of the blood of goats and calves; but he entered the Most Holy Place once for all by his own blood, having obtained eternal redemption" which He did for us to be with Him. Another facet of this, too, is as "members" of the club, we have demoted ourselves to merely paying spectators of the "show" put on by the priests and pastors - we don't truly believe we can and should move in ministries of our own.
This is all about to change.
I will be following up with an exploration of the Tabernacle and how it relates to "the meeting" for todays church.
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