John Piper Books For Free

John Piper has made many of his books available online for free

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/OnlineBooks/ByTitle/

Amongst those on offer, Desiring God and Don't Waste Your Life.

There is a stirring audio of 'Don't Waste Your Life'. I highly recommend that you take the time to listen to it.

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/MediaPlayer/1858/Audio/

Pursue God In The Secret Place of Intimacy

PURSUE GOD IN THE SECRET PLACE OF INTIMACY
DISCOVER YOUR TRUE IDENTITY AND DESTINY
2 Peter 1:10

Therefore, brethren, be even more diligent to make your call and election sure, for if you do these things you will never stumble.

God wants us to be clear about our destiny and calling. There needs to be something within us that will not settle for less than what He has called us to. God planted the seeds of destiny in our hearts before we were born (Proverbs 4:23).

How we grow and understand our destiny is in the place of intimacy and communion with God. This is where we will see destinies come alive to grow up and out of our lives. This is where we will discover our destiny determined before the foundation of the world.

Laying Hold From Birth

Genesis 25:26

Afterward his brother came out, and his hand took hold of Esau's heel; so his name was called Jacob.

Jacob was one who grasped at destiny from birth. From his mother's womb he was aggressive for the blessing of God on his life, grabbing for the heel of Esau. He did not have to be taught this. It was in him from birth to be this way. This desire for the blessing and inheritance of the Lord continued in his life to the point where He persuaded Esau to sell his birthright for nothing more than a bowl of soup (Genesis 25:33).

In this we see the difference in people. Esau was one who could be bought for a price. Jacob was one who would sell all for the inheritance of the Lord. Jacob knew what was valuable in God's sight and would do anything to get it. Jacob was a seeker of God (Psalm 24:6). He pleased God with his persistence and attitude, receiving the blessing that was meant for another. Esau acquiesced his authority and inheritance for a little more than nothing. Because he so belittled the blessing of God, he lost it all!

God's Blessing For You

Hebrews 11:6

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

Jacob was determined to have the inheritance and blessing of God. He had faith. He made the Hall of Faith in the Book of Hebrews. He knew it was for him. Do you know that the blessing of God is for you? Or do you think it is for someone else? Yes, it is for all. But do you realize that God is asking you if you believe it is for you?

Everyone who has been rubbed with the mud of religiosity and condemnation, where intimacy with God has grown cold, has a hard time receiving anything from God or believing that God would do anything good for them. They believe they are last on the Father's list. But the reality is that the Father wants to place His robe upon us, His signet ring of authority and have a banquet of celebration for our lives. See the story of the prodigal son:

Luke 15:22-24

But the father said to his servants, "Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet. And bring the fatted calf here and kill it, and let us eat and be merry; for this my son was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found." And they began to be merry.

The Father's inheritance is for all the sons of God. The older son represents one bound by the spirit of religion. He represents one who boasts in works and achievements but never finds true joy because of lack of intimacy with the Father. The older son was jealous and upset, not realizing the inheritance was always for him as well.

Luke 15:25-16:1

Now his older son was in the field. And as he came and drew near to the house, he heard music and dancing. So he called one of the servants and asked what these things meant. And he said to him, "Your brother has come, and because he has received him safe and sound, your father has killed the fatted calf." But he was angry and would not go in. Therefore his father came out and pleaded with him. So he answered and said to his father, "Lo, these many years I have been serving you; I never transgressed your commandment at any time; and yet you never gave me a young goat, that I might make merry with my friends. But as soon as this son of yours came, who has devoured your livelihood with harlots, you killed the fatted calf for him." And he said to him, "Son, you are always with me, and all that I have is yours. It was right that we should make merry and be glad, for your brother was dead and is alive again, and was lost and is found."

We need to know that the blessings of God are for us individually as His sons and daughters. Jacob was taught humility through process and through encounter with God (Genesis 32:24). Faith brought Jacob to the place of humility. Because of Jacob's insatiable desire for God, he opened the door for many others to come to know Him. Because he followed God and coveted the treasures of heaven, he triggered events in such a way that an entire nation of people was born.

Staying in His Presence

We all have dreams and God-given desires. It is His desire to see these fulfilled. Just like Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and Joseph, there is a process the Lord takes us through to see destiny fulfilled (Hebrews 11). But it is worth it all, and many will be blessed in the process. As we position ourselves to receive in His Presence, we then can pour out upon others. Staying before the Lord will transform us and usher us into our calls and destinies.

2 Corinthians 3:18

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 by the Spirit of the Lord.

It is in the place of intimacy with Him that we discover who we are and what He is calling us to. It is in this place that we lay our lives down. All of our ideas and agendas must be laid at His feet. In seeking Him and beholding Him, we become like Him. By staying in the secret place with God, we find our true identity and destiny. Don't compare yourself to another. The Lord's call is unique and specifically designed for your life. As you stay in His Presence, you will find clarity of mind and blessings that overflow into the lives of others.

In His Overflowing Love,

John Belt
Live In His Presence Ministries
http://www.liveinhispresence.com

As posted on The Elijah List
www.elijahlist.com

The key to doing greater things than Jesus did is to become more like Him. You become more like Him by spending more time with Him and learning His ways. The door is open, God has done His part, now it's up to you.

The Power of Proclamation

Decree and proclamation are powerful. When you speak out the words of God and pray Scripture you can be sure that God will watch over His word to perform it. He has promised that our words will not fail.

James Goll has written a powerful article about the power of proclamation. If you don't already pray Scripture, it's time to begin.

I pray that the Lord will speak to you as you read this article by James Goll

A HIGHER VISION - A HIGHER APPLICATION!

A word of the Lord came to me saying

"It is time to make a worldwide impact by calling forth the watchmen to the prophetic power of proclamation."

As Watchmen on the Walls - Isaiah 62:6-7

"I have posted watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; they will never be silent day or night. You who call on the LORD, give yourselves no rest, and give Him norest till he establishes Jerusalem and makes her the praise of the earth."

The task as a Prophetic Intercessory Watchman is to remind God of His Word, but not just any word. We remind the Lord of the proclamations of the Scriptures as well as the current promises that are in the Father's Heart for us today. Then we become a megaphone to echo that which is prophetic promise back to earth.

This is effective when it is based out of the revelation that the "Blessing" is greater than the "Curse" as found in Romans 12:14. It is by proclaiming the power of the blessing that we break the power of the curse.

The job of these prophetic watchmen on the walls is to pray the promises, praise the Lord with a whole heart, and then to release proclamations of prophetic blessing.

Testimonies of the Power of Proclaiming the Blessing

Through a vision of the Father’s blessing, I was shown an interchange where there was an infusion of security and identity released from receiving the Father’s blessing. Let us pray for this and pursue a revelation of this.

In a series of dreams, I saw the pronouncing of the blessing being done in public gatherings where people were delivered from various curses of darkness. The proclamation of the blessings broke the power of the devil. It was like turning on a light switch and the darkness fled.

When ministering in Cambodia and in Thailand, I saw this principle in action. As I proclaimed the power of the blessing of the finished work of the "Cross" of Jesus I saw many people delivered from demons and dramatically healed. The electric presence of the Lord went down the entire side of one lady and she was instantly healed of partial paralysis. The power of proclamation of the blessing is greater than the power of darkness.

Definition and scriptures on Proclamation

Proclamation defined:To proclaim, announce, declare, ascribe, call out, cry, invite, preach, pronounce, publish, read and to herald.

Primary Scripture Verses and Concepts

1. Deuteronomy 32: 3-4

I will proclaim the name of the Lord. Oh, praise the greatness of our God! He is the Rock, his works are perfect, and all his ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is he.

2. Isaiah 61: 1-3

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his plendor."

3. Wrestling with the concept of who or what do we address?

While in prayer and intercession, we clearly address God the Father through Christ Jesus; in proclamation, the rules change.

The power of proclamation isn't only released in an intercessory orientation as found in Dt. 32:3-4 of reminding and ascribing to God the greatness of His name.

Neither is the power of proclamation only ministered through praise warfare of ascribing greatness to His name.

In Isaiah 61, it is different. It is proclaiming liberty directly to the captives, freedom to the prisoners, proclaiming the favor of the Lord, a mantle of praise as oaks of righteousness. We release faith filled proclamations over people, congregations, cities etc, as the Holy Spirit directs.
4. Ephesians 5:19 and Colossians 3:16

These scriptures talk of singing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs to one another. The power to bless is in you and it is a privilege to be a mouthpiece of God to proclaim the power of the blessing and declare freedom to the captives. We are given the wonderful privilege to proclaim, to pronounce, to decree, to ascribe, to declare liberty, freedom to those in any form of bondage.

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURES FOR ADDITIONAL UNDERSTANDING

1. Matthew 10: 27

What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roof. The power of proclamation here is seen in declaring His great mercy from the rooftops, proclaiming the name of the Lord over your city.

2. Acts 26: 22-23

But I have had God's help to this very day, and so I stand here and testify to small and great alike. I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen, that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles".

Jesus declared, ascribed, released and pronounced light to the Jews and Gentiles. So in Paul's brilliant judicial defense before King Agrippa, he declared life where there was darkness, turning testimony into proclamation, even to those in authority.

3. Job 22: 21-28

Yield now and be at peace with Him; Thereby good will come to you. Please receive instruction from His mouth, and establish His words in your mouth. If you return to the Almighty, you will be restored; if you remove unrighteousness far from your tent, and place your gold in the dust, and the gold of Ophir among the stones of the brooks, then the Almighty will be your gold and choice silver to you. For then you will delight in the Almighty, and lift up your face to God. You will pray to Him, and He will hear you; and you will pay your vows. You will decree a thing, and it will be established for you; and light will shine on your ways.

The council given to Job shows a pattern in God’s purposes:

a. Confession of sin
b. Removing obstacles that are in the way
c. Establishing the word of God in your heart (vs22)
d. Having a heart of submission
e. Receiving instruction
f. Repentance and returning to the Lord
g. Revelation that God is to be your all (vs 24)
h. Removing, cleansing any other gods before you
i. Then God will be your delight (vs 26)
j. And then to pray to Him
k. What you decree (proclaim) shall come to pass

Further Examples of Prayers and Proclamations

The following are some prayer proclamations that work. Take these and proclaim them over your self, family and those within your sphere of influence.

By This I Overcome The Devil by Derek Prince

I testify to satan personally as to what the Word says the blood of Jesus does for me. Through the blood of Jesus, I am redeemed out of the hand of the devil. Through the blood of Jesus, all my sins are forgiven. The blood of Jesus Christ, God's Son, continually cleanses me from all sin. Through the blood of Jesus I am sanctified, made holy, set apart to God. My body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, redeemed, cleansed, by the blood of Jesus Christ. Satan has no place in me, no power over me, through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

Cleanses Ourselves With The Blood of Jesus - author unknown

Father, we cleanse our Hands with the Blood of Jesus.
We apply the Blood of Jesus to our eyes Lord, so that we might see into the Spirit realm clearly and with clarity.
We apply the Blood of Jesus to our ears, to cleanse our ears out of any defilement, wickedness, garbage, gossip or slander that has been poured into our ears so that we might hear clearly what you are speaking to us.
We apply the Blood of Jesus to our lips and to our tongue, so that you would be able to cleanse us of all those things that we have spoken that really hasn't been of you at all.
Father we apply the Blood of Jesus to our heart and our minds.
So Father we ask you to put the Blood of Jesus on our hearts, our thoughts, and our emotions and to cleanse our minds from the dead works so that we might serve the living God.
Father we apply the Blood of Jesus to our feet. Cleanse us from the corruption in this world and from the dust of the world. Father cleanse us of those places that we've walked in that really haven't been ordered of you.

Lord we receive the words of the Bible that say "the steps of a righteous man are ordered by the Lord." We will have holy steps walking on that Highway of Holiness. Praise you Lord and we ask that you cleanse us from the top of our head to the souls of our feet.

Thank you Lord. Amen

ADDITIONAL EXAMPLES FOR YOUR APPLICATION!

Finally, the following are some scriptural proclamations of blessings you may model and release:
A proclamation from the leaders to the people - Numbers 6:24-26
A proclamation from the people to the leaders - Ephesians 6:10-18
A proclamation over your family - Joshua 24:15
A proclamation over our cities - Psalm 24:1-2; Isaiah 25:3
A proclamation over Israel - Jeremiah 16:14; 30:3

Find more from James Goll at www.encountersnetwork.com

Please read this article again and put steps in place to make proclamation part of your everyday life.

Consider passing it on to your friends so that they can be blessed and empowered too.

Who Is The Holy Spirit? You Can Know Jesus And The Father And The Holy Spirit

GETTING TO KNOW THE HOLY SPIRIT HE IS MORE THAN A GHOSTHE IS THE THIRD PERSON OF THE GODHEAD
The Holy Spirit is the third divine person of the eternal Godhead, coequal, coeternal, and coexistent with the Father and the Son. It is His ministry to convict and convert man as well as to reveal the Son and the Father to the believer.

While growing up in church, we recited the Apostles' Creed each week. Following the minister, we would declare, "I Believe in God the Father Almighty, maker of Heaven and earth and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, conceived of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead and buried, and on the third day, was risen from the dead. I believe in the Holy Ghost...."

This was the only statement concerning the Third Person of the Godhead recited, "I believe in the Holy Ghost." He was presented as a "ghost" and to me, that was all I knew! Who was this invisible member of the triune God?

If we can fellowship with Father God, and know His Son Jesus Christ, don't you think it is time that we learn to know Who the Holy Spirit really is? After all, the Holy Spirit is God!

The Holy Spirit is the Most Overlooked Person of the Godhead

Of the eternal Godhead - God the Father, Jesus Christ the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit seems to be the most misunderstood and least appreciated. The Holy Spirit is the vital and intimate aspect of our personal conversion, growth in Christ, and the ongoing building of God's glorious Kingdom on the earth. Part of this misunderstanding and lack of appreciation of the Holy Spirit comes from the fact that His work is NEVER to call attention to Himself, but to exalt the Lord Jesus.

John 16:13-15 tells us,

"However, when He, the Spirit of Truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you. All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore, I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you."

The Dutch Reformed minister Andrew Murray stated:

"The Father is the eternal being - I AM - the hidden foundation of all things and fountain of all life. The Son is the outward form, express image, and the revelation of God. The Spirit is the executive power of the Godhead. The nature of the hidden unity is revealed and made known in the Son, and is imparted to us and is experienced by us through the agency of the Spirit."

The Primary Purpose -To Enjoy the Holy Spirit. To enjoy a person, you must first know them. Most believers do not enjoy a relationship with the Holy Spirit because they do not know Him. My purpose in this teaching is to bring us into a greater understanding and deeper intimacy with the person of the Holy Spirit, and through this union with Him, experience greater power, greater joy, and greater hope.

The Holy Spirit is the third divine person of the eternal Godhead, coequal, coeternal, and coexistent with the Father and the Son. It is His ministry to convict and convert man as well as to reveal the Son and the Father to the believer. Since the glorification of the Lord Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit in all His glorious operation is working through all who believe of the Father through the Son. This is why the present era is known as the age of the Holy Spirit.

THE HOLY SPIRIT IS A PERSON

The Holy Spirit is more than a mere influence as some suggest ... He is a real person with a mind and feelings and a will, just like the Father and the Son. The following are 12 Scriptural Points to help us know the Person of the Holy Spirit:

1 The Holy Spirit was sent by the Father to take the place of Jesus in the earth. Jesus said, "It is to your advantage that I go away..." (John 16:7-15).

2 The promise, "He will guide you ... whatever He hears ... He will speak ... He shall glorify Me ..." (John 16:13-14).

3 He speaks (Acts 8:29) (to Philip).

4 He strives (Genesis 6:3).

5 He can be lied against (Acts 5:3).

6 He can be grieved (Ephesians 4:30).

7 He can be sinned against (Mark 3:29).

8 He searches all things (I Corinthians 2:10-11).

9 He makes intercession for us (Romans 8:26).

10 He distributes gifts (I Corinthians 12).

11 He is called the Counselor (John 15:26).

12 He is called the Comforter or Helper (John 14:26).

THE DEITY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT

"The personality and deity of the Holy Spirit are practical teachings, for it is by the activity of this divine being that the Gospel of salvation in Jesus Christ is made clear to us and changes our lives. He is the key to a vital and truly personal religion." James Montgomery Boice

The following are eight diverse Scriptures depicting the deity of the Holy Spirit. Therefore, let us not treat Him lightly, but let us revere and enjoy Him just as we do God the Father and Jesus our Lord!

1 He is specifically called God (Acts 5:4; 2 Corinthians 3:16-17).

2 He is eternal (Hebrews 9:14).

3 He is omnipresent (Psalm 139:7).

4 He is the Spirit of Life (Romans 8:2).

5 He is the Spirit of Truth (John 16:13).

6 The Spirit participated in creation (Genesis 1:2).

7 He participates in regeneration (John 3:8).

8 Jesus was raised from the dead by the Spirit (Romans 8:11).

THE FIVE GREAT REDEMPTIVE ACTS

When it comes to blessing the human race, no Person of the Godhead is willing to be left out. In each of the five great interventions of God in redemption, each person of the Godhead is directly involved. Watch for the unique working of the Holy Spirit in each of these redemptive acts.

1 The Incarnation of Jesus. God the Father, by the agency of the Holy Spirit, incarnated Jesus the Son in the womb of the Virgin Mary (Luke 1:35; Matthew 1:20).

2 The Earthly Ministry of Jesus. God the Father anointed Jesus the Son with the power of the Holy Spirit. The result: healing and deliverance for humanity.

Acts 10:38,

"You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him."

3 The Atonement of Jesus. Jesus the Son offered Himself to God the Father through the Holy Spirit.

Hebrews 9:14,

"How much more shall the Blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered Himself without spot to God, cleanse your conscience from dead works to serve the living God?"

4 The Resurrection of Jesus. God the Father raised up Jesus, the Son by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Romans 1:4,

"Who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of Holiness."

Romans 6:4,

"Therefore we have been buried with Him through baptism into death, so that as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of God the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life."

5 The Gift of the Holy Spirit. At Pentecost, Jesus the Son received from God the Father the gifts of the Holy Spirit and poured them out upon His disciples (Acts 2:32-33). Likewise, the ongoing relationship of God to His people in this age, directly involves all three personas of the Godhead. The end purpose of God is that we come to Him as Father, but we have access to God the Father only through Jesus the Son by the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:18-19).

Similarly, God the Father indwells His people only in Jesus the Son through the Holy Spirit: Ephesians 2:22

"In whom you also are being built together into a dwelling place of God in the Spirit."

I trust this study will help you grow in your communion and fellowship with our precious Holy Spirit. He is the present tense God of today. He is waiting to spend time just with you! Blessings to each of you!

"Keep on coming Holy Spirit! More Lord!"

James W. Goll
http://www.encountersnetwork.com