Praying Home The Prodigals - Prayer Storm

I hope this excerpt from Jim Goll's newsletter stirs your heart and gives you renewed hope and inspiration. Be blessed.

Praying Home the Prodigals Revival in the Church - by James W. Goll www.encountersnetwork.com

This week I thought I would share a visionary encounter that I had years ago and allow it to become our weekly prayer focus. This week's prayer will take the form of prophetic intercession. Do you have some friends or relatives who aren't walking with the Lord as they once did, or to the greatest measure they could? Then this week might just be the key for them. Join with us as we Pray Home the Prodigals.

I encourage you to view our weekly Prayer Storm web cast below called Praying Home the Prodigals, and pass it on to others. Also, remember to download our free audio messages which are posted new every two weeks on our web site.

These media tools are designed to equip and renew you in your prayer journey. We also have free downloads of the first lesson of each Study Guide available on our web site! Go visit today and access these great teachings aids today!

In the United States, this week we celebrate Thanksgiving. So let’s offer up our prayers with a grateful heart full of giving thanks for all He has done for us!

Praying Home the Prodigals...

Several years ago when our children were small, Michal Ann and I were standing on our back deck watching our kids play on their playground equipment, which included a swing set and an attached slide. We were enjoying watching our miracle children just enjoy life while swinging.

In an instant, I was catapulted in to an open vision where a spiritual vision was superimposed upon my natural sight. The swing set and the kids playing were still there, but suddenly, I saw a grown adult man gliding down our kids' slide on his back headfirst. Next thing I knew, this man had landed in a round swimming pool at the foot of the slide and a big splash was made. (Note: neither the swimming pool nor the man existed in the natural. This was a supernatural open-eyed spiritual vision layered over what I saw in the natural.)

I pondered and wondered what had just happened. I actually remember saying to the Lord, “What was that?” Instantly an answer from the Holy Spirit came. “I will restore the backslidden man into the pool of my purpose.” Wow! What a great vision and great interpretation. I wish all the interpretations came so quickly!

This vision has been a guiding light for me for years whenever people share how they are Praying Home the Prodigals in their lives. Perhaps this vision will help impart faith, hope and love to each of you in our global PrayerStorm efforts this week in praying home prodigals in your life.

Let’s pray for revival in the church. Let’s intercede for the greatest youth awakening the world has ever seen. But let’s put faces and names to our prayer burdens in a very personal way. Let’s bring names before the throne of grace as we call the prodigals back home into the pool of His great purposes. Pray with a sincere heart and with faith that they should again return to their first love!

Remember, one of the greatest cries that comes before the Lord’s throne is the cry for mercy. Stand in the gap and lift a cry for “Mercy” upon your family members, upon your friends and acquaintances. Intercede in an ambassadorial manner with a clean heart. Do not pray in a judgmental or condemning manner but pray with the heart of Christ.

So let’s call forth the prodigals in Jesus name into their destiny and appointment in God. Pray for them to be healed, cleansed and restored. Remember, we need them to be restored as fully functioning members of the body of Christ.

And remember, together, in Jesus, we make a great team!

James W. Goll & the Prayer Storm Team

Click Here to ENLIST in Prayer Storm NOW

Prayer Storm - How do you pray in the Spirit?

I thought you would like to see James Goll's newsletter and be inspired to pray in the Spirit.

This is the first part of a “teaching” based on James Goll's book Prayer Storm.

It will help you to engage in Spirit Led, Spirit Empowered Prayer.

I hope it will encourage you to enter into thanksgiving and then practice “praying in the spirit.” It is such a blessing to pray with the Holy Spirit’s help.

So join us, learn to focus on praying in the spirit and see what He places in your heart to pray, then pray it!

What is Spirit Empowered Prayer?

A. Letting the Holy Spirit Lead

1. Romans 8:14 states,

“For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are the sons of God.”

2. Just like in a great waltz or dance, you want another to take the lead and gently nudge you in the direction you are to go. Follow the lead of the Holy Spirit and He will guide you into a prayer power that is strong and effective.

B. Letting the Holy Spirit Empower

In Spirit empowered prayer, as it was on the Day of Pentecost (Acts 2); the Holy Spirit will light upon you and give you power that you previously did not know. When you add the Holy Spirit’s power to the force of prayer, it is like getting a booster to your missile or rocket. A burst of energy that is not your own will come upon you or even through you and your prayers will hit the target!

There are various forms of Spirit Led and Spirit Empowered Prayer. Let’s take a look at a few of them.

PRAYING IN THE GIFT OF TONGUES

A. Praying in the Spirit through the Gift of Tongues

While there can be many expressions of Spirit empowered praying, praying with the gift of tongues is one of the foremost ways. The following are some key points concerning this type of prophetic intercession.

1. Praying in the Spirit is your spirit communicating directly with God. It is primarily for use in your devotional prayer life for intercession, praise, and worship.

a. 1 Cor. 14:2 - For one who speaks in a tongue does not speak to men, but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries.

b. 1 Cor. 14:28b - ...let him speak to himself and to God.

2. Praying in the Spirit is a Perfect Prayer.

a. Rom. 8:26-28 - And in the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words;

b. 1 Cor. 14:14 - For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful.

c. Since you do not always know how or what to pray in a given situation, you can bring the need before the Lord by praying in the Spirit. The Holy Spirit, your helper, enables you to pray as you ought thereby praying in the Lord’s will.

d. Praying in the Spirit is a means by which the Holy Spirit intercedes through your spirit. This is where we get the term “prayer language.”

3. Praying in the Spirit has Definite Meaning

a. Although you do not understand what you are praying, God does. He who inspired it also comprehends it.

b. 1 Cor. 14:10 - There are, perhaps, a great many kinds of languages in the world, and no kind is without meaning.

4. Praying in the Spirit Edifies the Person Praying

a. As you use this prayer language consistently, you become built up, strengthened, and encouraged. You then have the refreshing ability to continue on in your intercessory warfare task.

b. 1 Cor. 14:4a - One who speaks in a tongue edifies himself...

c. Jude 20 - But you, beloved, building yourselves up on your most holy faith; praying in the Holy Spirit.

5. Praying in the Spirit has the Authority of Heaven Behind It!

a. There is no way you could know in the natural when satan and his demonic forces will launch an attack. But the Holy Spirit will prompt you at the strategic, opportune time and keep you on the alert.

b. Jas. 5:16b - The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.

c. 1 Cor. 14:15 - What is the outcome, then? I shall pray with the spirit and I shall pray with the mind also; I shall sing with the spirit and I shall sing with the mind also.

d. Like Paul, you can pray in the Spirit and praise and worship Jesus. As you do this, you regain territory from the demonic kingdom in the lives of those for whom you are praying.

e. This perfect prayer and praise weapon is powerful and always on target. Praise and prayer in tongues is God’s secret anti-ballistic missile!

B. Diversities of Tongues

1. 1 Cor. 12:1, 4-7, 27-28 – blockquote>Concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant... Now there are diversities of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. And there are diversities of operations, but it is the same God, which worketh all in all. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal... Now ye are the body of Christ, and members in particular. And God hath set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, diversities of tongues.(KJV)

2. There are Different Types of Tongues.

There is more than one kind of tongue. In 1 Cor. 12:28 (above), the word translated “diversities” is the Greek word genos, which means “kin” or “offspring”. It is a term that is used to refer to a collection of different things belonging to the same group or family. In other words, diversities of tongues are heavenly utterances that are all different from each other, yet all are related to one another by the same Spirit.

3. Examples of Diversities of Tongues

a. Tongues at the filling of the Holy Spirit - Acts 2:1-4; 10:44-46; Mark 16:17.

b. Tongues for interpretation - 1 Cor. 12:7-10; Isa. 28:11.

c. Tongues of edification - Jude 20; 1 Cor. 14:4.

d. Tongues as a sign to the unbeliever - 1 Cor. 14:22.

e. Tongues of intercession - Rom. 8:26. - The word groanings in this verse can be translated “inarticulate speech”. It refers to speech that does not originate in the intellect or with the understanding. It is speech that is not related to race of nationality. Inarticulate speech includes, but is not limited to “other tongues.”

f. Tongues of Warfare

There is a place where the Holy Spirit goes on the offensive. He battles through us. Sometimes there is a coupling together of the gift of faith with tongues. A rising within occurs and a push or urge to launch out against the demonic forces happens. Sometimes it is the wedding between discerning of spirits and tongues. You combat or attack the dark force, commanding it to flee. In these situations, you are operating in a “militant tongue” or “warring with the gift of tongues.”

When you pray in this type of tongue, you are attacking the powers of darkness. You are taking authority over the power of satan. You are rebuking the enemy and rejecting his plans for your life, by the power of the Holy Spirit who dwells within you. This is the tongue of intercession engaged in warfare. Deliverance, healing, and liberty can come through the power of warring in the gift of tongues.

BEING TENACIOUS !

A. Never Give Up!

Never Give Up! Passionately pursue God and tenaciously pursue your enemy until you prevail! Love never quits and as intercessors to are called to prevailing prayer motivated by the love of God – not just sporadic praying! Be constant in your prayers. Never Give Up!

B. The Watchmen’s Anointing

In Spirit empowered prayer, an anointing of a watchman can be granted to you. You are watching to see in the Spirit what the enemy is doing and what the Holy Spirit desires to do. You take the keys of the Kingdom and bind up darkness and welcome the opposite Spirit of the Lord’s presence. Watch! Be alert! Be vigilant! Be on your guard!

C. The Words of Jesus’ Word from Matthew 11:12

The kingdom of heaven suffers violence and the violent take it by force. (NKJ)

Such will be the Holy Spirit empowered intercessors in a last generation! Will you be among them? Will you volunteer freely?

Father, I want to make a difference! I want to take the Kingdom by force. Teach me Spirit empowered and Spirit led prayer. Anoint me with a prayer power that goes beyond my natural mind. Take me further than I have ever been before for Your Kingdom’s sake. In Jesus name, Amen and Amen!

Watch James W. Goll as he shares on "Spirit Empowered Prayer"

Right click, Save Target/Link As

May His Kingdom come and His will be done in our nations as it is in heaven!

James W. Goll

If the ministry of James W. Goll and Team has blessed you, consider joining his subscriber list so that you will get regular updates like this.

To Enlist for Your 1-Hour PrayerStorm Time Slot click this link

Do you want to know how to pray effectively for an hour?

click on this link http://www.prayerstorm.com/1hour_outline.html

I highly recommend James' books. Be blessed as you read:

The Beginner's Guide to Hearing God by James W. Goll - $12

The Lost Art of Intercession - Restoring the Power and Passion of the Watch of the Lord by James W. Goll $16

The Lost Art of Practicing His Presence by James W. Goll - $13

The Prophetic Intercessor Releasing God's Purposes to Change Lives and Influence Nations by James W. Goll $14

Angelic Encounters by James W. & Michal Ann Goll - $15

Prayer Storm

The Vision of PrayerStorm is to restore and release the Moravian model of the watch of the Lord into homes and prayer rooms around the world. Web based teaching, prayer bulletins and resources are utilized to facilitate round the clock worship and prayer to win for the Lord the rewards of His Suffering!

Right click to download

Listen to James W. Goll vision for this worldwide prayer movement.

Be Led By The Holy Spirit

Be Led by His Spirit - God Will Direct Your Ways

"You also gave Your good Spirit to instruct them, and did not withhold Your manna from their mouth..." Nehemiah 9:20

Who leads, instructs, and daily teaches you? The Lord gave His Good Spirit to instruct the children of Israel. God's good Spirit, by Moses, instructed them fully, and as they followed the Lord's guidance, they could always be certain of provision and assured of His very best.

The Lord gives us His very best in the Person of the Holy Spirit to instruct us. The word "instruct" in Hebrew means to have success, to have wisdom, to make wise, to guide wittily, or to give understanding. Jesus expounds on the sentiments of this verse in John 16:13 when He shared:

"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."

And the apostle Paul said in 1 Corinthians 2:9-12:

"But as it is written: 'Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor has entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.' But God has revealed them to us through His Spirit. For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. For what man knows the things of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so, no one knows the things of God except the Spirit of God. Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God."

Tune into the Spirit of Truth!

Wow! How the Lord blesses us with such a wonderful gift in the precious Presence and Person of the Holy Spirit who will instruct us in such ways that we will live our lives wittily for the Lord! The Spirit of truth will lead us and teach us about truth. Truth is not a philosophy nor traditions but a wonderful Person named "Jesus"! He identified Himself as the Truth, the Way and the Life in John 14:6.

The Holy Spirit searches out the deep counsel of God for our lives, reveals and teaches it to us. We are not in tune with the spirit of the world, but with the Holy Spirit who knows the things of God! He wants to teach, declare, and reveal to us all that the Lord has freely given to us!

Is that a great and mighty blessing or what? We have received not the spirit of the world but the Spirit of truth who searches the deep things of God. The deep unto deep things of God! But that's not all, He reveals those deep things to us, instructs and teaches us by them, and guides us by His Eye.

"I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My Eye" (Psalm 32:8)

The context of the word "instruct" in this verse means to be prudent, be circumspect, wisely understand, prosper, to have insight, to teach to act prudently, act wisely, to have success.

"Teach," here means to throw or shoot, to point at or like an archer shooting an arrow. To "guide" here means to advise, consult, to give counsel.

Do You See Your Circumstance Through God's Eye?

The fullness of the careful choice of these words in this verse gives us the sense that with His instruction, teaching, and guidance, we will be able to "see" through God's Eye the beginning from the end and the end from the beginning. Joshua saw it so that he could say at the end of his life:

"Behold, this day I am going the way of all the earth. And you know in all your hearts and in all your souls that not one thing has failed of all the good things which the LORD your God spoke concerning you. All have come to pass for you; and not one word of them has failed" (Joshua 23:14).

Inevitability and Certainty

Inevitability and certainty stands for generations when God counsels, instructs, teaches, and guides us, "Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure'" (Isaiah 46:10).

When you let God's Good Spirit, the Spirit of Truth's counsel guide and reveal to you how to have insight, how to act and live wisely, how to be successful, and how to prosper, you'll be as a well-tuned arrow that hits the mark often, and this will happen in succeeding ages, even to the end of the world.

May the Lord release a fresh grace and anointing upon you to direct your ways!

Lord, I pray in the mighty name of Jesus that every person who reads this would be in tune with Your precious Holy Spirit. We thank You for deep, deep communion with the Holy Spirit, such that we can live, move, and have our being in tune with the wise broadcasts of Heaven for our lives. Help us to adjust our ears to hear so that there is no interference. Help us to adjust our receiving mode so that we are in a receptive mode for the downloads of the Holy Spirit for our lives. Lord, thank You for the grace to live each day in tune with You.

Copyright Keith Miller Stand Firm World Ministries http://www.sfwm.org/
As posted on the Elijah List
Used with permission

If you would like to discover how to hear God more clearly I have a guide How To Hear God available for immediate download.

Just click on this link to get your step by step guide to hearing God more clearly

Rediscovering Spiritual Deposts

My prayer is that this word delivered through John Belt will help to awaken that which God has deposited within you.

"Spiritual Deposits Will Be Rediscovered!"

"Awake, my glory! Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn." Psalm 57:8

We are in a season of the culmination of anointings that have been deposited through the years. It is time to stir the well within and see God's glory released in power through us.

"...that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power which He worked in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places..." Ephesians 1:17-21

Spiritual Deposits Rediscovered

Many of us have experienced various anointings and deep experiences with the Lord in our personal history with Him. These are places where the Lord has met with us in significant ways and made spiritual deposits in our lives. But over time, sometimes either these experiences have worn off, or died out and/or are no longer fresh, alive and real in our lives.

I would like to encourage you to come into a place of spiritual tenaciousness that you may engage in consistent hunger in your pursuits to see these giftings, anointings and mantles resurface and open up in your heart. God desires to awaken these treasures inside of us in this new season of restoration and fulfillment.

"Therefore I remind you to stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands." 2 Timothy 1:6

Impartations of the Spirit come through both vessels of God and through God Himself by spending time with Him - all of which are gifts that never leave us, but many times lay dormant within us. Therefore, there is a need for us to stir these gifts and anointings in the wells of our hearts so they may be released once again.

Divine Quickening!

Can these bones live?

"And He said to me, 'Son of man, can these bones live?' So I answered, 'O Lord GOD, You know.'" Ezekiel 37:3

Over the process of time, it can become hard for us to believe that these things could be rekindled in us. But the Lord says, "Nothing is too difficult for Me" (see Mark 10:27).

In our journey of life, revelations, experiences and anointings that have come in rich seasons with God can be diminished and even completely forgotten to a great degree - if not completely. Just like the children of Israel had forgotten the works which God performed, we too can easily forget if we don't renew our minds and enter into an experience with God on a regular basis.

Through religious shutdown, difficult relationships, bad relationships or aligning with the wrong thinking, these life-giving experiences and gifts from God can become, as it were, "covered" with what would be like an "iron lid" over the spirit. But these heavenly deposits are still within us. God is ready to quicken these gifts and anointings and make them alive again to take us to a new place in Him.

God is ready to blast off these lids by the power of His Spirit (see Romans 8:11). He is ready to break them apart so that all of the glory, anointing, giftings and mantles will converge within our hearts in this season. This will enable us to fully enter into our destinies as the sons and daughters of God!

His House of Glory

He is also calling forth these hidden, dormant giftings and anointings now for the purpose of seeing His House of Glory built in this day and hour (see 1 Chronicles 22:7).

Just as David was given the blueprints for the House of God in His day, there are anointings that have been deposited and released within men and women that are ready to be revealed again in this hour. In the same way Josiah rediscovered the words of the Lord, so we will again see and experience the glory of the intimate things that God has deposited in us over the years to culminate together in this hour (see 2 Chronicles 34:29-31).

White Seats in High Places!

I recently had a vision of being in a very nice church where everything was perfect, clean, ornate and you could also tell had quite a bit of money invested into it to make it as nice as it was. Then a man came in that I respected in the Holy Spirit. He cringed in the atmosphere of this place saying, "Yuck! Religious!" Obviously he did not like the way things felt there.

Then I was taken up into a place very high in the sky where there were white seats suspended high in the heavens like bleachers in the highest place of a stadium. There was not as much to lean on. It was a very vulnerable place. I was walking around these empty seats as I felt God offering invitations for the Body of Christ to come take their places in these seats.

Holding On to Him in High Places

Heavenly places in the glory of God are for the people of God. He wants us to be seated here because this is where we have been destined and designed to live. This is a spiritual reality that is available to us - a place of true spiritual authority and dominion. In this place we find freedom from religious constraints and living by a list so we can live by the power of His Spirit. Our intimacy with Him must lead us to a place of dominion over the religious lethargy, the comforts of this life and the seductions of this world.

It is in the place of ascension where we can exercise the authority of Christ in our lives and in the earth. It is also in these high places where we are the most dependent upon God and His power, provision and promise. Victory is guaranteed when we live in this realm.

"Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to an idol, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is Jacob, the generation of those who seek Him, Who seek Your face." Psalm 24:3-6

These high places are also the realm of purity. Not one of us can ascend to the Hill of God except we have clean hands and a pure heart. That means that we walk in a place where our heart is in continual pursuit of the heart of God. This is why the seats were "white." White is symbolic for "purity." The air gets cleaner the higher and higher we go. God does not allow contaminants in the atmosphere. Thanks to the blood of Christ we can ascend and live there!

God is calling for pure trust and obedience to Him. This is the place where we learn to lean upon Him and not our own natural understanding. It is here that we are holding on to Him! Come and take your place in these seats suspended in His glorious heavens!

Worship in the Glory!
John Belt
Live In His Presence Ministries
Email: admin@liveinhispresence.com

As posted on the Elijah List

How to Hear God - Discover How To Hear God For Yourself

Do you long to be able to hear God more clearly? Come and join us and discover how to hear God, it's easier than you think

I'd like to invite you to listen to the replay of my first ever Christian life coaching teleseminar. You don't need to travel anywhere, you can join us from the comfort of your home!

Here are some of the questions we answer

• What do you mean by Hearing God's voice?
• What are some of the ways that God speaks to us?
• What does God sound Like?
• How can I hear God more clearly?
• How can I make sure that hearing God is part of my daily life?
• Do only super spiritual people hear God?
• Does God speak to non-Christians?
• How can I know that what I hear is really God and not just my own thoughts?
• How do I know that I'm not just making it all up?

And of course, much more.

www.christianlifecoaching.co.uk/christian-teleseminars.html

I have a guest speaker, Marilyn Parmelee, author of Hearing God's Voice For Yourself.

We will be recording the teleseminar so that you can benefit whatever your plans.

If the day and time don't fit your schedule, you can still join in! I can hardly wait to meet you and share keys to hearing God more clearly.

The recording of How To Hear God is available for immediate download

You'll find all the details here

www.christianlifecoaching.co.uk/christian-teleseminars.html

Why don't you also check out How To Hear God - A Step By Step Guide You'll find it here

www.christianlifecoaching.co.uk/how-to-hear-god.html

God's Transforming Power

We have much to learn from nature. It is one of the many ways that God speaks to us. Ask the Holy Sprit to speak to you as you share in what the Lord has been speaking to Kathi Pelton.

The Transformation of the Passionate Believer

by

Kathi Pelton

"I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in Me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from Me you can do nothing." John 15:5-6

There has been much talk about a transformation or metamorphosis occurring in the Body of Christ throughout the world. As I pondered what this transformation looks like, the verse in John 15:5-6 kept coming to my mind.

I know that God is drawing us into a deeper and truer intimacy and passion for Him. Abiding in this passionate relationship is bringing a restoration to true Christianity and Bridal intimacy. During this journey of transition, a friend of our family told me the true story of the life of the "the passion vine butterfly."

Looking at the Life of the Passion Vine Butterfly

Here are the facts regarding this amazingly prophetic little insect:

Entomologists study insects. Etymologists say that the word "butterfly" was originally "flutter by," but over the centuries it metamorphosed into its current form. The butterfly was once called a "flutter by," because as any amateur entomologist will tell you, this is what butterflies do.

However, not all butterflies exhibit this in-flight behavior. The "Passion Vine Butterfly" (Heliconius), flies in a slow, serene, straight line. This butterfly is so named because of its special relationship with the plant called the "Passion Vine" (passiflora).

The Passion Vine produces a cyanide releasing chemical that makes it inedible to most insects. But the caterpillars of the Passion Vine Butterfly are able to process the chemical without harm and voraciously eat the leaves of the passion vine. Not only do the caterpillars suffer no ill effects, but they store the poison in their bodies, thus becoming inedible to birds of prey and other predators.

This protection is retained when they metamorphose into butterflies. Since the Passion Vine Butterfly is unpalatable to birds, it does not need to fly in a "rapid and erratic fashion to avoid being eaten." Instead, it slowly flies in a straight, purposeful path from flower to flower.

There are mimics of the Passion Vine Butterfly that, due to coloration and general body shape, look very much like the Passion Vine Butterfly. These look-alike butterflies do not have the protective toxin in their bodies and therefore can be eaten by the birds - though most birds leave them alone as they are "fooled" by the mimicry.

However, there is one tropical American bird, the jacamar (galbulidae), that is able to distinguish between the inedible passion vine butterfly and the tasty mimics. The jacamar sits up in a tree and observes how the butterflies fly. If the flight pattern is slow and straight, the jacamar knows that even though it would be easy to catch, it would have a bitter taste and be inedible.

If the butterfly has the rapid, erratic, typical "flutter by" flight pattern exhibited by most butterflies, it knows that it is not a Passion Vine Butterfly despite the colorization, and it swoops down for a meal.

I believe that God is calling us to eat and drink of our "Passion Vine," Jesus Christ

We are to commune with Him and be partakers of His Blood and His body so that we might live. We are to feed upon the Bread of Life. We are to abide in Him, our Passion Vine, and as we abide in Him we will be like those caterpillars that can digest this "cyanide" and metamorphose into a butterfly that is not susceptible to the predator (the enemy) that would want to take our lives. We will also be distinguished by our "flight pattern"...rather than moving in a rapid (frantic) or erratic pattern, we will move in a serene, slow and straight pattern (the rest of the Lord).

The Passion of Christ

I found this story of a Jesuit priest in Peru during the 1600's who saw the Passion Vine and the Passion Vine Butterfly as a symbolic picture of the Passion of Christ. Here is what he wrote:

"The crown of thorns, the nails, the color of Jesus' robe, the whips for scourging, were all seen in the complex structure of the flower now known as the Passion Vine Flower."

This plant contains cyanogenic glycosides which release the poison cyanide. When the caterpillar of the Passion Vine Butterfly eats the leaves of this poisonous plant, it then has the ability to form a cocoon and become a butterfly. So too, when we accept the work of Christ's Passion; when we 'eat His body and drink His Blood,' we have the ability to be transformed into a new creation.

"And just as the Passion Vine Butterfly takes a straight flight path as it need not fear predators, so too, we have 'Christ in us, the Hope of Glory' and are now able to walk the 'straight and narrow.'

Indeed, if we try to walk in our own strength, we will only be 'faking it' and the mimicry will not fool the prowling lion who seeks one whom he may devour - just like the jacamar looks for the butterfly that can't fly straight.

"Entomologists say that the mimics of the Passion Vine Butterfly use about 20% more energy in flight than the ones they mimic. Are we weary? Let us return to the One who says that His yoke is easy and whose burden is light...light as a butterfly."

What a wonderful picture of our metamorphosis. Through the Blood and Body of our crucified Christ, we are a new creation that now can fly straight and slow...and serene, not fearing our predators that seek to devour us. We have taken the communion of the "passion vine," Jesus Christ, and now we can enter into His true rest.

To Know Christ Alone

"For I resolved to know nothing (to be acquainted with nothing, to make a display of the knowledge of nothing, and to be conscious of nothing) among you except Jesus Christ (the Messiah) and Him crucified." 1 Corinthians 2:2 (Amplified Bible)

Recently, I was enjoying a conversation with a man that I highly respect. For years now I have watched in awe the journey of this man's life and witnessed his involvement in decisions that not only affect individuals but also nations; he is a man who moves straight and steady...always watching and waiting to see what the Father is doing. He has always had a deep intimacy with the Lord that causes him to "hit the mark" and to make wise decisions.

During our conversation, he began to tell me about the "plumb line" that he lives his life by. He said that each day (and in every circumstance and decision) he looks for the plumb line that Paul spoke of in 1 Corinthians 2:2, "To know Christ alone, and Him crucified."

He proceeded to explain to me how he is always searching for where Christ is and what He is doing and then he aligns himself as closely as he can get to that. Christ alone (through the power of the Holy Spirit) is his compass, his delight, and the wisdom that he lives by.

As he spoke, I entered into a deeper understanding that I cannot put my confidence in any knowledge that I may have gained, nor anything that I have been acquainted with; but instead, I need to daily find where Jesus is in each moment and every decision and then get as close as I can to Him. To only do what I see my Father doing...because that is where Jesus will be.

But the verse goes on to say, "...and Him crucified." Through the Cross of Christ, we have been reconciled to God and filled with the Holy Spirit who will lead us, not with the wisdom of man, but instead with the wisdom that comes only from God alone.

By the power given to us through our crucified Christ, our weakness and dependency on His Spirit becomes the threshold for many to be carried into salvation, truth and relationship with the invisible God. The Cross is the threshold that we crossed to obtain eternal life, and it is the power that comes from the Cross that enables us to walk in confidence...slow and steady and fruitful.

Dependency on the Vine

We know that Christ is the true Vine, and just as the Passion Vine Butterfly depends upon the chemical that comes from the passion vine to keep it from harm, so we need to continually depend upon and feed upon the fruit of our true Vine to keep us from harm.

Apart from the chemical imparted to the caterpillar (that will become the Passion Vine Butterfly), it is not protected from predators, but as it feeds upon this vine it is infused with a protection that allows it, after becoming a butterfly, to fly slow and straight. No longer does it need to flutter up and down, here and there, trying to escape the predator that seeks to take its life.

As we abide in Christ and seek to know Him, we are infused with His precious Spirit that allows us to fly slow and straight, because we know that even our greatest enemy will recognize His Spirit who is within us.

I have to admit that much of my Christian walk has been spent "fluttering" rather than flying straight. I have walked in too much fear of the "predator" who seeks to devour our lives; forgetting that I have been infused with the Holy Spirit who is also like cyanide to the enemy. Our authority to fly slow and straight comes from the power of the Cross...from our Savior and Friend, the crucified Christ. As we remain in Him and go only where He is going and do only what He is doing, we will be kept from the "fearful fluttering" that attracts our predator's attention.

Ask the Lord to give you the confidence that the Passion Vine Butterfly moves in. We no longer want to live our lives "fluttering" in fear, but instead we want to live and move slow and steady, knowing that His Spirit is our shield and rampart. We want to abide in and near the Vine to keep our lives filled with His Spirit. If we are truly spiritual "Passion Vine Butterflies," then why do we fly as if we are imposters? Only the mimics have to flutter because they are not filled with the true chemical that makes them inedible to their predators.

A New Level of Surrender

"'For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways,' declares the LORD. 'As the Heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.'" Isaiah 55:8-9

Since the very beginning of 2008, I have personally felt as though I was in a refiner's fire where all the "precious" in my life is being purified and all the worthless is being burned away. The interesting thing is that much of what I thought was precious has been burned away as worthless. Many things: thoughts, beliefs and even personal convictions, God has burned away because they had become "laws written in stone" by me rather than by the wisdom of His Spirit.

I have been challenged again and again to walk in every circumstance by the leading of His Spirit of grace rather than by what knowledge I have gained through past life experiences...making laws from past successes.

There is a spirit of surrender coming upon many that is causing them to allow the Holy Spirit to rid them of all of their own ways...even things that seemed good. I believe it is the making of the new wineskin so that the new wine will not be spilled out as God pours it forth. We have seen that God is pouring forth new wine, but it cannot be contained in old wineskins.

In God's mercy, He is exposing all that would cause a bursting and spilling of His new wine. Though some exposures are quite high profile, I believe that all of God's people are going through personal exposures of the areas in their lives that have become brittle and old...or where we have strayed from abiding in the true Vine. Remember as we pray for one another that where sin abounds, grace abounds even more. We pray for grace for those that have fallen and for our own fallen places.

"God's law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God's wonderful grace became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God's wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Romans 5:20-21

God is removing the stumbling blocks that are in the way of His Kingdom being established. He has called us to prepare the way for a great harvest and for His Kingdom coming to earth. He is preparing the way for the fullness of the Gentiles and the opening of the eyes of the Jews.

God longs to restore those who are bruised with sorrow for their sin. This is a time to pray for true repentance within all of the Body of Christ...for all of our wanderings and for all the areas that we have strayed from the purity of knowing Christ alone, and Him crucified. Let's look at Isaiah 57:14-19 from the Amplified Bible:

"And the word of One shall go forth, 'Cast up, cast up, prepare the way! Take up the stumbling block out of the way [of the spiritual return] of My people.'

"For thus says the high and lofty One - He Who inhabits eternity, Whose name is Holy: 'I dwell in the high and holy place, but with him also who is of a thoroughly penitent and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble and to revive the heart of the thoroughly penitent [bruised with sorrow for sin].

"'For I will not contend forever, neither will I be angry always, for [if I
did stay angry] the spirit [of man] would faint and be consumed before Me, and
[My purpose in] creating the souls of men would be frustrated.

"'Because of the iniquity of his [Judah's] covetousness and unjust gain I was angry and smote him. I hid My face and was angry, and he went on turning away and backsliding in the way of his [own willful] heart.

"'I have seen his [willful] ways, but I will heal him; I will lead him also and will recompense him and restore comfort to him and to those who mourn for him.
"Peace, peace, to him who is far off [both Jew and Gentile] and to him who is near!' says the Lord; 'I create the fruit of his lips, and I will heal him [make his lips blossom anew with speech in thankful praise].'"

These verses are of great comfort to many of God's people in this hour. This is His promise of healing for not only the one who falls, but also for all those who mourn due to his fallings. We are learning as a people to rejoice with those who rejoice and to mourn with those who mourn. If we are one in the Spirit, then when one falls we all must own it and come to a place of corporate repentance. And when one is restored we can all rejoice in a corporate celebration.

God is calling us to abide in Him (the True Vine) and to drink of Him so that we might be those who fly slow and straight. No more fluttering, no more mimicking, no more fearful or frantic behaviors. It is a time of surrendering to the grace of His discipline and His transformation.

Will we allow Him to create in His Church the new wineskin that will hold the new wine? My white flag of surrender is raised and I want to go and drink from our Passion Vine.

Kathi Pelton Light Streams Ministries Email: jkpelton@sbcglobal.net

as posted on the Elijah List http://www.elijahlist.com/

Hidden For A Pupose - You Are God's Secret Weapon

You are God's secret Weapon

by

Victoria Boyson

"My frame was not hidden from You when I was made in the secret place." Psalm
139:15

At the Verge of Breakthrough

Have you ever felt forgotten by God? Do you feel invisible? Does God seem to be blessing everyone except you? Do your expectations of God seem to meet with cold indifference from Him?

If your answer is "yes," then rejoice, because you are at the edge of a miracle! You are on the verge of a breakthrough! The door to your destiny is about to swing open!

The most difficult time of any birth is the few moments right before you deliver your baby into the world. You are exhausted beyond what you can even endure...you cannot stand it anymore. You have pushed and pushed and have exhausted all your strength.

You want to scream, "I can't do this...I can't!" BUT you must! It is at this moment that you must push the hardest and exert yourself the most. You are crying, "I can't," and everyone around you is yelling, "PUSH!"

Then, somewhere deep inside you, strength arises! You have a determination now, where a hopeless feeling used to dwell. Now you cry from the depths of your heart, "I can," and "I will!"

You are at the verge of a breakthrough and perhaps you are tired of believing, but only you can break through to your miracle. Only you can give birth to your destiny! Only you can fight through to your dream's fulfillment. Your God will give you His strength when you have none of your own. When you fall short, He will pick you up because,

"He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak" (Isaiah 40:29)

Hidden Miracles and Butterflies

I have felt this way - I have felt forgotten by God. I wondered if the promise would ever be fulfilled - if God would ever open the door. I had been teetering on the edge of a breakthrough for so long that I began to doubt. "Would it ever really happen? Maybe God has changed His mind?"

I was tired of waiting, of praying, of hoping in faith! I felt like a butterfly in a cocoon, hidden and forgotten. During that time I wrote this poem:

Someday, I'll Fly...

I've not been myself lately or for some time for that matter. I'm
not sure who "myself" is anymore.

I feel like a caterpillar inside the cocoon. I'm neither a
butterfly nor a caterpillar anymore.I'm not what I used to be nor am I what I'm
going to be.

I cannot go back to what I was,or what was familiar to me. I can't
rush forward and be what I have not yet become.

It's a miserable place to be. It's much like a baby in the womb;
you have to wait it out and stay where you are.

I hope every day will bring the end; I know God is almost done
working.I rejoice because the end is near, but still the pain increases.

It's become too easy to not be anything, just a cocoon. I want to
give up, but You won't let me.

I'm not the caterpillar I used to be and I'm not the butterfly I
know I am becoming.

Becoming a butterfly is scary, painful and exhausting.

I guess I don't want to remain a nothing, so I'll endure the
torturous path out of this cocoon.

And I know, someday, I'll fly!

Years ago, we lived in a house with dozens of trees around it. In the fall, the trees were covered with cocoons. We would walk by them all the time without taking much notice of them. A miracle was taking place before us and we paid little attention to it.

But in the fall, our trees were covered with hundreds of beautiful butterflies. Our children would run through the trees and the butterflies would all take flight. It was a glorious sight to see hundreds of butterflies fill the air, sunlight reflecting off their wings.

Caterpillars are ugly little things, but butterflies are gorgeous. God loves to make something beautiful out of something ugly. God loves to take the ugly things of our past that satan meant for our destruction, and turn them into a powerful weapon He can use for our construction.

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose." Romans 8:28

Death Gives Birth to Life

God takes you through "ugly" situations only to turn you into something beautiful. The Cross looked like the end of a dream to the disciples. They expected their Messiah to come, overthrow the Romans, and establish His Kingdom on this earth. The death of Jesus looked like the end of all their dreams.

Christ tried to warn the disciples of His impending death, but when He spoke of dying, Peter declared, "This shall never happen to You!" (Matthew 16:22). Christ knew that this must happen. Like a seed planted in the ground must cease to be a seed in order to become a plant, He knew that His life on earth, as it had been, must end or He could not bring forth the gift of eternal life for those who would believe in Him.

"In a little while you will see Me no more, and then after a little while you will see Me, because I am going to the Father." John 16:17

His death gave birth to life! "Jesus said to her, 'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies'" (John 11:25).

The "cocoon" that you are in right now is the "death" that will give birth to your destiny. The painful situation you are enduring right now could be the launching pad for your future.

If you feel as though you are invisible, rejoice that you are. God has hidden you away to change you in secret, but soon He will pull you out like a secret weapon and show you off to the world.

"Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in Heaven." Matthew 5:16

Your Heavenly Father will declare, "Look at what My grace has done!" The world will praise Him because they can see what He has done in you. You are His trophy! His reward!

Some may argue then, that you have no right to be where God has placed you. But the voice of your accusers will not even reach your ears, because you have paid the price; you have endured and you have overcome.

And "You will soar on wings like eagles" (Isaiah 40:31), and yes, you will fly!

This Could Be the Day

When the expected due date for each of my children neared, I would awaken each day with the expectancy that today could be the day that I would deliver this child. Each day I would think, "Today could be the day.

I never thought to myself that it just could not happen today, because I knew my time was coming and that this day could be the day that I would give birth.

As each day ended without seeing the birth of my baby, I would feel somewhat disappointed. But once again, another morning would come and I would arise with hope from Heaven, remembering that this day could be the day. And I was prepared to go at any time; I had my bags packed and gas in the car.

Each day that you serve God and wait on His timing for your destiny's fulfillment is one day closer to its birth. As you near your time of delivery, you feel in your spirit that the time is near.

Perhaps today is the day! You look around and see your Christian brothers and sisters receiving the promises of God in their lives - you are happy for them.

But when is it your turn? When will your destiny come forth in the way God promised it would? Each day we must prepare our hearts to believe that, "this could be the day He fulfills His promises to me," and then suddenly He does.

The longer you serve God, the deeper you will trust Him to bring the promise to pass for you. As you near the time of receiving the fulfillment of His call on your life, you can know that every day will bring you one day closer. Today could be the day you receive a great blessing from God.

Today could hold the answer you have been waiting for.

Wait in faith through each day as a woman waiting to give birth. God does not bring you to the time of birth just to stop the whole process. He did not bring you this far to leave you now. He will not forget you! It will happen! And remember that "He who began a good work in you will be faithful to complete it" (Philippians 1:6).

"God is not a man, that He should lie, or a son of man, that He should change His mind. Does He speak and then not act?" Numbers 23:19

If He's promised it, He will do it!

Say this with me: God will do what He has promised. He has not forgotten me, for I am constantly in His thoughts. God is waiting to fulfill His Word through me. It will happen! This could be the day! God cannot lie; He will not change His mind. I choose to believe what God has told me and not the lies of fear and doubt.

He has you hidden for a purpose - you are His secret weapon!

Victoria Boyson Speaking Life Ministries Email: victoria@boyson.org
As posted on the Elijah List http://www.elijahlist.com/

Will you resist change or embrace it?

If you want to grow in the things of God you need to be ready for change. To be able to walk in the new thing that God is wanting to do in your life you will probably need to let go of something.

Embracing change ususally involves letting go.

John Paul Jackson said

"If you allow God to move in your life and do what He wants to do, you’ll enjoy the change. And if you don’t … then you won’t, for obvious reasons. In this e-letter, I would like to talk to you about something that goes hand in hand with transition. It is the hardest part of change, actually, and is what makes change so often difficult.

Jesus said that whoever loses his life will find it (Matthew 10:39). Growing spiritually is possible only if you’re willing to let go of the old in order to gain the new. In other words, you gain by losing; you give up your life in order to find it.

But there’s a secret in that. What you need to give up is the thing that’s holding you back. You might think it is good, but it is actually keeping you from your destiny."

To read more of this newsletter go to

http://www.streamsministries.com/index.php?cat_id=27&page_id=119

Going Through The Mill? God is Preparing A Bride Without Spot or Wrinkle

A Bride Without Spot or Wrinkle

By Kathi Pelton

"...so that He might make it holy by cleansing it, washing it with water and the word, and might present the Church to Himself in all its glory, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind, but holy and without fault." Ephesians 5:26-27

Ironing the Wrinkles

Have any of you felt as though you've been placed on God's personal ironing board and the heat of the iron has been moving across your life to get the wrinkles out? If so, you are not alone! I have personally never been as aware of the spots and wrinkles in my life as I have been in the past six months.

Although this can be disconcerting at times, the good news is that the "pressing of our lives" is a sovereign act of God, not a work of our flesh or personal strength. It is also the confirmation that we indeed are part of His beloved Bride who is being prepared for Him.

Since the beginning of 2008, it seems as though God has taken a bottle of "Shout" (the stain remover) in one hand and a very hot iron in His other hand and has been applying both to every area of our lives and hearts. But, like the commercial for the stain remover says, we indeed want the Lord to remove every stain in our lives and "Shout it out."

Though it is a joint effort between God and His Bride, it still is a sovereign work of grace. It is all about His shout and our surrender, His authority and our submission, and His grace and our dependency. It is not a shout of bitter anger, but a holy anger against all that has kept His Bride from being fully His. He is shouting over our lives, "She is mine and she will have no other gods beside Me!"

A Time of Preparation

Our God is preparing His Church to be presented to Him in "glorious splendor" (see Ephesians 5:27). Though we have longed to be holy and clean, often we have tried in our own strength to prepare ourselves. God has been stripping all the masks of holiness and disguises of religion off of His Bride. He is dealing with that which is both internal and eternal - her heart! It is as though all of our old "wineskins" have burst in and we are being prepared for the new wineskin, but the time from the old to the new has been a time of nakedness and exposure.

There are choices we have in this time of nakedness - run, hide, and find a "covering" such as Adam and Eve did in the garden. Or, we can stand naked before God in absolute dependency on His mercy and grace and allow Him to cleanse and wash us from all our filthiness. We can choose to sew together an apron of fig leaves or we can come and allow the grace freely given to us through Christ to clothe us and take away our shame.

This process is not to cause us shame but instead free us from the shame that we have hidden under these masks we wear. It is important to understand that with every deep work of the Spirit there is also a great battle that contends against it. During this time of preparation from the old to the new (which involves the exposure of everything that is not covered by grace), the enemy has sought to shroud God's people in a heavy weight of guilt and shame. God, in His great wisdom, has come to wash us with pure water and the truth of His word.

We cry out like David in Psalm 42:1-2, "As the deer longs for streams of water, so I long for You, O God. I thirst for God, the living God. When can I go and stand before Him?"

God longs for us to stand face to face before Him, clothed in the righteousness of Christ alone. He does not want us to come with any manmade coverings or hidden shame. He is overjoyed to cover our shame and remove our iniquity as He quiets us with His love. Stop reading for a moment and take a deep drink of His cleansing water.

Gracious Living

A number of months ago, my husband and I went down to the historic center of our city to have breakfast together. We parked our car in front of a shop that had recently gone out of business and I noticed two things that prophetically stood out to me. The first was the address of the business. The numbers on the window were "111."

When I saw the numbers on the storefront window, I instantly had a vision of God with a stopwatch in His hand. As He clicked the watch to reset it, instead of the triple zeros ("000"), I expected to see, I realized the display read "111." God spoke to me that He was giving His people a fresh start, but we weren't starting from "zero" or "nothing." Our starting place is the Triune God, the "three-in-one."

"There is one Body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all." Ephesians 4:4-6

Then I noticed the name on the storefront window: "Gracious Living." Right away I heard the Spirit of the Lord speak to me and say, "If I were in the business of 'selling' grace, I too, would be out of business."

The whole message of grace is that it is "freely" given, therefore God is still in business! As we entered this year we entered a year of the manifestation of His amazing grace. His grace alone is what we are to be fully dependent upon. There is one God and one God alone and He is the only one that saves by grace. He has invited and continues to invite us into "gracious living" - the place where we live by grace alone.

We do not need to look for a covering because our covering has been provided through the righteousness of Christ! He is our covering. We can let go of the guilt and shame of the manmade masks and disguises - of hiding from Him, and we can know that we are fully received, fully loved, fully accepted and fully covered!

He has reset the stopwatch for those who are running this great race. The numbers are at 111 and they will remain there throughout the race because it is He alone (Father, Son and Holy Ghost) who will carry us to the finish line.

Paul, in Philippians 3:9, wrote, "...(I want to) be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith."

Face to Face

Now that we are reminded that we can stand before God, face to face, through the grace given to us and through the righteousness of Christ, we can let go of any belief that we have agreed with concerning guilt and shame.

I know a young man who has recently become engaged to be married; he is American and she is Canadian. Due to the process of immigration, they cannot be married for another year. The separation is agonizing for this young couple who are so deeply in love. They decided that the young man would leave his home in America for a few months to be near her in Canada while she works on her immigration status.

This young man's parents were a bit alarmed at this because during their engagement, the wise thing to do seemed to be to stay in the U.S. and work in order to save money for their upcoming marriage because he cannot work in Canada. When his parents asked him about this, his response was this, "I know that it doesn't make sense, but I must be face to face with her!"

This is a beautiful picture of the Lord's longing for His Bride. He too left His home to be face to face with her and to redeem her to Himself. Still today He is longing for the face to face intimacy of feeling the breath of her love in His senses. I believe that there will be a lot of things that the Lord asks of us in the near future that will not make any sense to the wisdom of men in even greater measure than in the past. It is all about His longing for intimacy and to be face to face with His Bride.

There is a place of leaving the confinement of what we have "known" and even what we have learned, and entering the place of living according to the moving of His longings. Yet to know the longings of the Lord, you must get very near because they are whispered in moments of intimacy.

Holy and Acceptable

"I therefore urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercies, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices that are holy and pleasing to God, for this is the reasonable way for you to worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but continually be transformed by the renewing of your minds so that you may be able to determine what God's will is - what is proper, pleasing, and perfect." Romans 12:1-2

Finally, I want to encourage you to allow the Lord to do even a greater work of transformation within you through the renewing of your minds. I think that even those who consider themselves intimate lovers of God can fall into a rut in which they begin to walk by what they have learned rather than by the leading of the Spirit.

We can become so accustomed to the Christian life (by walking in all that we have learned) that we begin to initiate on His behalf because our minds have once again taken the lead. Though these thoughts and ways may even be based in Biblical truths and Godly teachings, knowledge apart from the Spirit's leading can cause us to move in a direction that the Lord may not be going.

We want to know the will of God that is proper, pleasing and perfect! We do not want to assume the will of the Lord can be discerned by past experiences or teachings, but instead by walking in the face to face intimacy that goes beyond every mental exercise or natural thinking. Personally, I want to live in the place of His "longings."

I want to be the answer to His longings as He is the answer to mine. I want to hear and move from the place of hearing His whispers. We are being invited into this kind of face to face living that prepares us as that Bride without spot or wrinkle.

"The Spirit and the Bride say, 'Come!' Let everyone who hears this say, 'Come!' Let everyone who is thirsty come! Let anyone who wants the water of life take it as a gift!" Revelation 22:17

Drink Deeply!

Kathi Pelton Light Streams Ministries Email: jkpelton@sbcglobal.net

as posted on www.elijahlist.com

Do you really trust God for everything? Grow your faith

The Bible clearly says that you will have trials and that God allows them to test your faith.

There are times when life is hard and it seems that nothing is going right and times when everything goes your way.

God wants you to trust Him in the bad times as well as the good.

Each time my husband has suddenly found himself without work, I have had to remind myself that God is our provider. And even though Tim has sometimes had long periods of unemployment, we have never lacked anything.

When my children have been seriously ill, or when we have been misunderstood and shunned, when it has seemed as though there isn't a way forward, God has always been there and many times He has made a way where there seemed to be no way.

I've learnt not to look at the cirumstances, but instead, to look at God and who He is, and keep my attention focused on His goodness and mercy and loving kindness.

God's promises are true. God is faithful. Our job is to believe Him. Only believe and not doubt, whatever the circumstances may say.

So if you're flagging today, and if your faith needs a boost, try putting these faith filled words on your lips and reminding yourself of the truth of God's word.

"Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God"
You can build your faith by reading and speaking God's word. The Bible tells you that you will be transformed by renewing your mind.

You renew your mind with the word of God

If you're feeling deflated or defeated, it could be because you've been listening to the lies of the enemy.

"You shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free"
If you want to grow in faith, let God's word tell you who you are and what you have, and don't give any attention to anything that tells you differently. God's word is true.

I strongly encourage you to acknowledge, agree with, recognise, and speak, the word of God.

Choose to see yourself as God sees you and speak out these truths even when you don't yet see the reality in your life. As you put faith filled words on your lips you will find that what you already have in the spiritual realm becomes a pyhysical reality.

When God called Gideon a mighty warrior there was no evidence to suggest that it was true. God saw and spoke what Gideon would eventually become.

Discover what God says about you and agree with God's opinion of you. Believe what God says about who you are in Christ and you will become what you are in Him. By faith, believe the truth and act on what you believe.

You will build your faith as you remind yourself of who you are in Christ

Biblical Confessions To Build Your Faith

Apart from Jesus, I can do nothing; but in Jesus I can do all things. I choose to see myself as He sees me according to His living Word. My life is hid with Christ in God. I will say the same things that God says in His Word. How can two walk together if they don't agree?

I choose to trust God. His Word will be the final authority in my life. I base my entire life upon God and His living Word. Because I meditate upon His Word day and night and carefully do all that is written in it, I will prosper.

I'm not just an ordinary person; I'm a child of the living God. I'm not just a person; I'm an heir of God and a joint-heir with Jesus Christ. I'm not just a sinner; I'm a new creation in Jesus. I'm part of a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation. I'm one of God's chosen people.

Jesus has declared me not guilty. I refuse to be discouraged. God is the God of all encouragement. There is no condemnation for me because I'm in Christ Jesus.

Satan is the father of lies. I won't listen to his accusations. I am cleansed by Jesus' blood. No weapon formed against me will succeed. I will disprove every tongue that rises against me in judgment.

My mind is being renewed by the word of God. I will pull down strongholds and cast down imaginations. I will bring every thought captive to the will of Christ.

I am accepted by God. If God is for me, who can be against me? Greater is He that is within me than he that is in the world. Nothing can separate me from the love of Christ. As the Father loves Jesus, so Jesus loves me. I have the righteousness of God through Christ. I am not a slave of sin, I'm a slave of God and a slave of righteousness.

I will continue in God's word. I know the truth and the truth has set me free. I am free indeed because Jesus has set me free. I have been delivered out of the kingdom of darkness. I'm now part of the kingdom of God.

I will submit to God. When I resist the devil, he has to flee. No temptation will overcome me which is not common to man. God is faithful. He will not let me be tempted beyond my strength. With any temptation He will also provide me with a way of escape, so that I can endure.

Jesus always causes me to triumph. I'll reign as a king in life through Christ Jesus. The Word of God lives in me. I am more than a conqueror through Christ who loves me. I am an overcomer. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. God gives me the victory through Jesus Christ my Lord.

I am a success to the glory of God. All His blessings will come upon me and overtake me because I obey the voice of the Lord, my God. I am confident that those who seek the Lord will lack no good thing.

I will not live by bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Speak God's word daily. Believe it. Allow the living and active Word of God to build your faith, renew your mind and transform your life.

For more Scriptures to build your faith download Biblical confessions to build your faith

Click this link for more on

Who you are in Christ

Your faith will grow as you continue to agree with God and put His word on your lips. The word of God is living and active, be assured that God's word will accomplish that for which God sent it.

And just so you know that I face real issues every day and that I walk through these things myself. My eldest daughter is in hospital having surgery today. She's expected to be in theatre for around 3 hours. My husband finishes his job in two weeks time and doesn't yet have another one, and there are other things happening that I'm not free to talk about here.

God never did promise us a smooth ride, but He does promise that He will always be with us and that we are never alone. Jesus Himself intercedes for us. Now there's a thought...

Be blessed

Lynne

How To Hear God - The Secret to Answered Prayer

How To Hear God

Have you ever felt like God wasn't answering your prayers?

Do you know how to pray in a way that gets answers?

Being able to hear God clearly is a key to lining your life up with God's plans and living productively.

Jesus didn't do anything without hearing from the Father first; hearing God is an important key to getting your prayers answered.

Secrets To Answered Prayer - How To Get your Prayers Answered

God Does Answer Prayer

If you want to see more answered prayer you first need to truly believe that God wants to give you the desires of your heart. He loves you and wants you to have faith that what He says is true. He wants you to agree with Him - how can two walk together unless they be agreed?

Do you believe God when He says that He will reward those who seek Him? The Bible makes it clear that God will hear and answer your prayers when you come to Him in faith:

"Ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. Don't let that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord" James 1:6-7

Without faith it is impossible to please God

Do you pray and ask God for something without really believing that He will answer your prayer? If you believe that God will only answer your prayers if you pray in a certain way, you need to think again. Answered prayer is not about any formula you might use, it's simply about having faith in a loving God and praying in the way that He leads you.

Obstacles To Answered Prayer

There are things that can hinder your prayers. One of those things is getting too focused on how you think God should answer your prayer. When you do that you can be the obstacle to having your prayer answered. God does answer your prayer but He doesn't always choose to answer in the way you expect Him to.

Something else that can get in the way of answered prayer is unwillingness to forgive other people. If you harbour unforgiveness you block God from answering your prayers.

Another obstacle to answered prayer is praying your own will without any htought to what God wants in teh situation. Answered prayer idepends on lining your will up with God's will.

Do you ask God how He wants you to pray?

Do you listen to see what God's will is before you begin to pray?

How To Get Your Prayers Answered

The next time you pray, try asking God to show you how to pray first. When you've heard God and know His will you will be able to pray in faith, knowing that He will give you what you ask for.

The Bible gives lots of guidelines for how to pray. If you follow God's instructions you will have your prayers answered. But if you ignore God's directions don't be surprised if your prayers remain unanswered.

When you are willing to do things God's way you will see amazing answers to prayer.

If you'd like to hear God more clearly, check out my new immediately downloadable step by step guide to hearing God

How To Hear God

I've kept the price low for now because I want to make it easy for you to have the keys to hearing God more clearly.

A Renewed You

I also have a very affordable 16 week coaching program delivered by email.

If you would like someone alongside while you transform your life but don't want the expense of one to one coaching, this is for you. Take a look and see if this is what you have been looking for to help you get unstuck.

You can get started in minutes - click here for details of A Renewed You

Awake O Sleeper and Christ Will Shine On You.

For Dreams to Come True - You Must Wake Up!

Spiritual Drowsiness

Just because we walk and talk does not mean we are truly awake. Zechariah was not sleeping when an angel roused him "as a man who is awakened from his sleep" Zechariah 4:1

Perhaps we too need to be shaken from our slumber to possess the promises of God! Amazingly, in spite of all the signs, wonders, and warnings announcing that we are truly in the last days, Jesus also said there is a mysterious drowsiness that we have to overcome. Indeed, immediately after highlighting the various evidences of the end (see Matthew 24), He compares the Church to virgins who "all got drowsy and began to sleep" Matthew 25:5

Virgins sleeping at the end of the age: this seems incomprehensible with all the signs in the Heavens and wonders upon the earth, not to mention the increasing presence of Christ. Yet this phenomenon is something we each battle: the tendency to become spiritually drowsy and lose our focus as we wait for the Lord's return.

There is a subtle activity of the enemy that dulls our perception and seduces our zeal. Our vision takes a backseat to other less important aspects of life. From the beginning, the voice of satan has had this lulling effect on mankind. Eve's excuse for disobedience was, "The serpent hath caused me to forget" Genesis 3:13

This sense of spiritual forgetfulness, of drowsiness, is the cloud of blindness that we each must discern and overcome. It was in regard to this that the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart through the following dream.

"If You Want Your Dream to Come True, You Have to Wake Up"

There was a temple standing in an open field. My view of the temple was from its side, about 200 yards away. I could not see its front, yet it must have been completely open because great light flashed out from the inside; it pulsed like lightning, yet was solid like sunlight. The block of light issued straight out, and I knew this light was the glory of God.

The temple was so close that I knew that with a little effort I could enter the glory of God. His holy presence was clearly within my reach. There were also others directly in front of me that I recognized as people from church. Everyone seemed very busy. And while the temple and its light were visible and readily accessible to all, every head was bent downward and turned away from the light; each was occupied with other things.

I heard one person say, "I have to do laundry." Another said, "I have to go to work." I could see people reading newspapers, watching televisions, and eating. I was sure everyone could see the light if they wanted to - even more sure that we all knew His glory was near.

There were even a few people reading the Bible and praying, but everyone maintained the downward thrust of their gaze; each had a mental barrier of some kind between themselves and the place of God's presence. No one, in fact, seemed capable of standing up, turning, and steadfastly walking into the very near glory of God.

As I watched, suddenly my wife lifted her head and beheld the temple in the field. She stood and walked without pausing toward the open front. As she drew closer to the light, a garment of glory formed and thickened around her; the closer she went, the more dense the light surrounding her became until she stepped in front of the temple and turned completely toward the blazing face of God.

Oh! How jealous I felt. My wife had entered the glory of God before me! At the same time I realized that there was nothing stopping me from approaching God's presence - nothing except the pile of things to do and responsibilities that, in truth, ruled my life more than the voice of God.
Pushing the weight of these pressures from me, I determined to rise and enter the temple myself. But, to my great regret, in my dream as I rose up, I suddenly woke up!

The longing and disappointment within me seemed unbearable. I had been so close to entering God's presence. How I wanted to enter the temple and be swallowed up in His glory!

I cried, "Lord, why did You let me wake up?"

Instantly, the word of the Lord responded to my cry. He said, "I will not have My servant's life fulfilled by a dream. If you want your dream to come true, you have to wake up."

Breaking Passivity - Setting Priorities

Beloved, today, God is awakening us to the reality of His presence. The promises the Lord gives us in the Scriptures must become more to us than dream-like realities only reserved for the hereafter. Moses frequented the glory of God! Israel's seventy elders ate and drank in God's resplendent glory (see Exodus 24:9-11). Jesus unveiled God's glory on the Mount of Transfiguration! Paul says that we all can behold the glory of God and be transformed by it, 2 Corinthians 3:18

For this reason, the Scripture says, "Awake, sleeper, and arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you" (Ephesians 5:14). If we truly want Christ to "shine" upon us, we must arise from the distractions that entomb us in lethargy and spiritual darkness.

Right at this moment, the presence of the living God is near enough to hear the whisper of your heart. But if we want our dream of standing in the presence of God to come true, we must wake up.

Copyright Francis Frangipane

http://www.frangipane.org

Heaven and Hell Are Real - watch this amazing video of one man's brush with hell and experience of heaven

Watch the story of how Mickey Robinson came to know God. He was killed in a plane accident and saw Hell and Heaven.

His story is compelling and well worth the nearly ten minutes it will take you to watch.

It's truly amazing! I hope watching it encourages you to look with spiritual eyes and come to appreciate the reality of the spirtual realm.




The man here died as a result of a plane accident and was on his way to hell. But the amazing grace of God gave him the opportunity to cry out to God to save him.

God did save him and he's sharing his experience of and heaven and hell. Heaven is real. Listen to this compelling story and be blessed.

God Is Waiting For You To Spend Some Time With Him

I really enjoyed John Paul Jackson's post Love and Humilty - Keys To Living a Prophetic Life

Here's a quote

"Life is all about intimacy with God. We were created for that. Everything we do should be done with that in mind. If it’s not, we’ll find ourselves burned out, broken, lonely and empty — because it’s not good for man to be alone. We were created for relationship, specifically with our heavenly Father. Nothing in this world, or in the next one, is as important as our relationship with God. "

I couldn't agree more. it's so easy to get busy, I hope you'll stop long enough to spend some time with your heavenly Father. He's waiting...

Nothing in this world is as important as your relationship with God. And when you spend time with God everything else will flow better. Time with God is time well spent.

Who Do You Believe?

I have some questions for you...

• Are your eyes on the circumstances and what you hear on the news?
• Have you asked God what He thinks?
• Who do you believe?

Are you acting on what you believe?

Where is your hope?

I was encouraged by these prohecies brought through Kim Clement. I hope you wil be too.

Kim Clement: "There Will Be No Recession as PROPHESIED and PREDICTED...as Long as there are Warriors that Have Faith Unusual"

Prophesied on March 14, 2008 - San Jose, California

"No limitations." God says, "Why have you limited Me? Why have you placed veils and walls and said, 'This is as far as we can go'? Who told you that? Who told you that you've got the best that you've got? Today, I'm tearing a veil of limitation. I want you to come in.

" God says, "I'll take you to a far greater place than you've ever been before; I'll break the power of the persuasion of your enemy that's lied to you and told you, 'So far and no more.'"

God says, "Who told you that? Who told you that you can do no more than you're doing right now? I've broken something this year that's held you back, but somebody has to see it, somebody has to say it. Who told you that you've come so far and no further? I've broken the barrier, I've broken the persuasion of your enemy. I tell you run, run, run, run, run, for there is a greater dimension for you," says the Lord.

"Warriors, rise up," says the Spirit of God, "for I have desired of you. What I have prayed for has already opened up. Look no further, search no more. For I have searched for you, I have searched for a resting place. I have searched for a place where I can rest My head on the pillow of faith. I have searched for a place where I can put My feet on the sounds of praise. I have searched and I have found a people that would not hold back. For this is the year of triumph, this is the year of triumph; this is the year, for you will search no more. I have searched and I have found you. Now," says the Lord, "run, for the sound of abundance has now become the rain of abundance," says the Spirit of God.

There's No Loss in the Kingdom of God

Do you know what that means? It means you've been walking on ground for too long. God wants to give you a taste of the air; He wants to get you a taste of height. He wants to take you to the highest place you've ever been. Guess what? You've got to have a little bit of wind to get to a higher place. Kites don't fly "without" the wind; they don't fly "with" the wind; they fly "against" the wind. Who's ready to fly? No limitation; I've been persuaded I can fly.

The enemy has put up barriers and lies and persuaded you. Why are there always boundaries, why are there always laws, why does the enemy always come and restrict us? God's saying, "If you can just break beyond the veil of limitation, you'll see a place that you've never seen before." If we don't break it this year, the Church is not going to get to the place it's supposed to get. I've got a good feeling that the cloud of abundance that we've dreamed about has actually become the rain of abundance. Stop believing the persuasion that there's going to be a recession. Stop being persuaded that there's going to be a recession. Stop being persuaded that there's going to be something that's going to hold you back.

Everybody say, "No limitation at all. I've been persuaded by the Lord God Almighty that I can go to a higher place. I will fly, I will accomplish it. I will do what I didn't do last year. What was stolen from me--I will take a hold of. There is no loss in the Kingdom of God. Everything that was taken goes back to God, then He gives it back to me. When He gives it back to me, it's with one hundred fold."

God says, "There's something you've got to attain this year, and you know that you know you can do it." I have been persuaded that there are no limitations; the treasure chest has been opened up; the scroll has been opened. What stops you from accomplishing what you did not accomplish last year? What is stopping you from taking back from God's hand what the enemy stole from you? Say with me, "There is no loss, there is no loss. If it was taken from me, it was given back to God, because it all belongs to Him. He will give it back to me--and with so much more." Take it back, take it back.

Prophesied on February 16, 2008 - Detroit, Michigan

God says, "Let Me speak to Zimbabwe now." God said to me, "I want to bring judgment upon rulers of nations that have suppressed; caused genocides. I want to bring judgments." You say, "God doesn't do that." If He must, He will. If He has to send a king to eat hay for seven years--if He did it then, He can do it again. What I'm hearing is upon the ruler of that nation, "Dementia, dementia, complete and utter madness to where--removal, suddenly." You say, "Doesn't God want to save him?" Absolutely! God said, "I'm taking the families there. I'm going to protect them and I'll give them property; I'll give them freedom. Because of your prayers, I'll raise them from wheelchairs," says the Lord of Hosts.

The Spirit of God says, "There's a brand new realm of boldness that is coming to My people. No more shall there be fear. There is a boldness coming to you: a level and dimension of faith that will bring a boldness upon you; not only to come into My presence, but to stand before your enemy with boldness."

The Sound of Warriors

"Listen to the sound; listen to the sound, for," the Spirit of God says, "this sound that is coming is not a sound that I am acquainted with. The sound that I am hearing comes from a boldness, a prophetic insight from revelation; from understanding grace. The sound that I hear coming from the soil of Michigan is a sound that I am not acquainted with," says the Lord. "I am acquainted with many sounds that come from the earth that come as an aroma, but many times as a stench--a religious stench."

"I have waited for the sound of Daniel again. I have waited for the sound of David again; of Miriam again. 'I will sing unto the Lord for He has triumphed gloriously and mightily over my enemies.' I wish to hear the sound; I've been waiting for the sound of David; not the sound of David on the throne, but David in a cave in a mountain, declaring, 'My heart is fixed on God, my heart is bold, I will sing praises. Yes, I will sing praises.' That's the sound that I am waiting for."

"I've been waiting for the sound of those that were in captivity. I'm waiting for the sound of those who were taken captive. Was it not so in the days of David and in the days of the great saints that the Babylonians took them captive and they required of them a song? They said to them in Babylon, to the children of Zion, 'Sing us one of the songs of Zion.' They said these words: 'We cannot sing the Lord's song in a foreign land.'"

My God says to tell you, "You have been chosen to sing a song in a foreign land. You have been chosen to sing a song in a foreign land, for the song of the Lord and the declaration of God will not be captivated in the four walls of religiosity."

God said, "I am releasing this sound, the sound that I heard when Samson brought down the pillars, the sound that I heard when David brought down Goliath, the sound that I heard when Miriam sang a song of victory, the sound that I heard when Moses struck the rock, the sound that I heard over and over and over; that sound shall be released. That same sound that I heard on the day of Pentecost." God said, "That same sound will infiltrate the nations of this world, and I will rise up at the sound of the warriors," says the Lord. "I will rise up at the sound of the warriors."

"What I'm Doing is Taking Charge"

Men shall say, "We've waited for the miracles. We've waited for the miracles of Katherine Kuhlman; we waited for the miracles of yesterday." God says, "There are no miracles that will be captivated and taken from yesterday into today; only better, only greater. This is the year of unique miracles; this is the year of unusual miracles. This is the year where things that could not be brought to the fore, things that were not understood, shall suddenly be understood. There is a rapidity, a movement being raised up by dissatisfied saints."

God said, "Dissatisfied saints have pushed Me, and now I will manifest and bring times of refreshing, times of restoration. This shall be the year of unique and unusual manifestations. Watch out for them, look for them, for they shall come to you," says the Lord, "only by your perception. Let not the enemy blind your eyes, for those who are in this house, you have tapped into a sound that will release joy, celebration, boldness, and scare the hell out of the forces of darkness that have tried to intimidate you."

"My nation waits; 'Who shall be upon the throne? Who shall reside over the populace? Shall it be Democrat, shall it be Republican?'" God said, "This day I say to you, it matters not, for where are the conservatives?" God says, "Listen, the questions that you have shall not be answered by those that sit at the top. I'm going to shock this nation." "God, are You saying that You can take a donkey and speak through him?" "Yes, indeed."

"What about the authority that is given in the White House, men are praying?" "Men have prayed, but not in vain. My ways are not your ways. My thoughts are not your thoughts. Yet My thoughts you will understand; sometimes men who know too much about Me, know too much about Me, therefore they cannot allow Me to do what I want. Let Me take that which seems ridiculous, crazy, and show you how I can put a hook in a mouth and do exactly what I want. Rejoice, rejoice for it is not your political power now, but the sound that is being raised up from those who are about to tap into a new dimension of spirituality."

"Young men and young women shall rise up in the next four years and come to the knowledge of the truth; like Daniel did, like Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego did. They shall go into the power, the force, the capital, the White House and shall make a difference." God said, "No recession, no recession. I'll raise up this country and make it great again," says the Lord.

"Do not say, 'We shall not have a man who is colored in his skin; we shall not have a man who thinks like us.' I put Saul in command and look what he did. He was right, he looked good, he was head and shoulders above everyone else, and yet look what he did to My priests." God says, "Do not always say we need a Christian in power." The Spirit of God says, "This may be a dangerous thing, for there is a Saul that I've prevented from coming into the White House." Listen to what the Spirit is saying, "I have prevented a Saul in the White House--you think and work it out as you want."

God said, "What I'm doing is I'm taking charge. I'm taking charge Myself. When I do what I'm going to do, you shall look back and say, 'This is the way I know God; He can turn things around in one day.' So it shall be in one day I'll turn it around," says the Lord.

God told me this is going to be the most unusual election and the most unusual reign. "When you prophesy, there will be unique miracles and unusual manifestations that have never taken place. Watch how I work this out. America, you have been set aside once again to pioneer a sound to the nations of the world." The religious rhetoric and the religious nonsense will be taken care of by what God calls the impossible thing. Watch Him work it out.

February 15, 2008 - Detroit, Michigan

Get back, people, get back to it. God says, "I'll give you a double portion and a kingly anointing to deal with the same thing that chased you away in fear. America the great." The Spirit of God says, "So many people have asked the question, 'Where do we go from here? What is happening to our country?' Forget that now; I'm sorting your country out. It is the salt of the earth and it is the light of the world."

The Spirit of God says, "People will say, 'It's taking too long.' There are swift changes that will happen and bring delight to My people. Watch for the cloud, watch for the cloud, it is already here. Most of you haven't seen it," but God says, "Look now through the eyes of holy people and you will see it. I will bring a rain, a rain upon this nation for you and your families and your businesses, so that you will prosper. You will not walk; you will run," says the Lord. "You will have strength to go on to the next place and obtain your testimony today," says the Spirit of God.

God says, "What are they saying about a recession? What is this they are speaking about, this recession? They pinpoint Michigan, calling you one of the worst cities in America." God said, "I defy that through the mouths of the prophets. There will be no recession as prophesied and predicted. As I told you before, the Kingdom of God is not moved by the wealth of men, but the Kingdom of God is intricately woven into one thing and one thing only--the faith of men, the faith of women. I'm looking for faith; I'm looking for unusual faith. I'm looking for a faith that will turn the tide and stop the prognosticators, and that which they say will not happen as long as there are warriors that have faith unusual."

The Spirit of God says, "Once again, the city of light has allowed My prophet to prophesy. From this region they have degraded you; they have said you are nothing. Not according to the strokes given and written by the Lord's pen, Himself." God says, "Hear Me. Hear Me, O Michigan. You are about to have God's signature."

Kim Clement
www.kimclement.com
As posted on the Elijah List www.elijahlist.com