How Much Does God Love You?

Al Thomas: God Says, "You are Greatly Loved, More than You Could Ever Comprehend"

Al Thomas heard a powerful message on the Kingdom of God. The Holy Spirit began to speak to Him and he felt compelled to seek the Father concerning some of the revelation he had just heard. This is what God told him.

God said: "Many of My people are in bondage thinking (falsely) that they are failing Me. They pray, read My Word, etc., yet as the years roll on, discouragement rears its head, then guilt and shame become more than acquaintances, not to mention the harassment of the devil's condemnation. I have some powerful keys for My sheep to avoid this snare."

God Said: "Instead of Thinking You are Failing, Dwell on How Much I Love You"

"This is a truth that must be grasped by all of My children or they will never be able to truly be free. It saddens Me that many of My children say, 'God loves me,' but haven't truly accepted it. When you know you are loved by Me, there is a great freedom, a joy, and a sense of 'No matter what happens to me, I will be OK.' My Son did not say the truth will set you free. He said, 'You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free' John 8:32.

"You are greatly loved, more so than you could ever comprehend. Each of My children will enter their mansion (John 14:2) accepted in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:6). I have received you as a son/daughter, period. Stop looking at your imperfections and study My Word to see how much I love you (Romans 8:35-39). I think of you affectionately every day."

God Said: "Dwell on the Revelation that I Loved You First"

"There is this strong undercurrent in much of My Church that if you don't please Me in all that you do, then (you feel) in some way I simply don't love you like you think I would (because you had some kind of failure). Be careful, I am not saying you shouldn't be obedient or submit to Me and crucify your flesh. But, the work of sanctification is an ongoing process (2 Corinthians 3:17-18; Ephesians 5:26).

Yet no matter how much you do or not do for Me, I will love you the same —unequivocally. That doesn't mean you should be lazy, but who of you completely measures up? None of you, but that is why My Son came to die for you (Philippians 3:12)."

God Said: "The Devil Wants You to Think I Don't Completely Love You"

"Did you know that the devil can get you to think of a certain Scripture...to fool you? He tried it with My Son (Matthew 4:5-6), so he will try it with you. One of the Scriptures that he uses to condemn many of you is Revelation 2:4: "Nevertheless I have something against you, because thou hast left thy first love."

"In the two verses before this one, My Son highly compliments the Church for good works, patience, not putting up with evil people and for being strong and not fainting. But (and here is the truth many miss), you can work hard, be long suffering, resist evil, etc., and still miss the depth of My love for you. You see, I am not saying the fault is because you don't love me enough...My Son is saying, 'You don't know (or have forgotten) how much I love you!' He loves you first...and that is the first love! (1 John 4:19)."

God Said: "Dwell on My Son Being Your Husband, Not a Legalistic Tyrant"

"My prophet Hosea said, 'Therefore, behold, I will allure her, bring her into the wilderness and speak kindly to her. Then I will give her vineyards from there, and the valley of Achor as a door of hope. And she will sing there as in the days of her youth, as in the day when she came up from the land of Egypt. "It will come about in that day," declares the LORD, "that you will call Me husband, and will no longer call Me Baali (Master)"' (Hosea 2:14-16).

"Above all, My Son Jesus longs to be your Lover. Once you know you are loved, a great weight will be lifted, and then no matter what happens, you will always be convinced that I love you madly. Child, I will continue to love you. As you digest this great truth, then you will truly start to enter freedom and joy. You belong to Me and My Son, and we love you dearly. I loved you first. You will never be able to love Me more than I love you. So, just accept it. Once you do, you will automatically want to love Me back."

God Said: "Stop Feeling Guilty for Not Spending Quality Time with Me"

"Don't misunderstand; of course I want you to spend time with Me. But many think I am mad at them. So many of My children have simply forgotten how much I dearly love them. Instead of feeling guilty for not loving Me enough, firmly grasp how much I love you. Yes, some have distanced themselves from Me because of offences and false brethren, but they misunderstand that I have never stopped loving them (although My heart breaks and longs for them to return to Me).

"My greatest wish is for My children to get to the place where they grasp the revelation of the intense love I have for them. My love conquers everything (1 Corinthians 13). In the book of Galatians 2:6-9, My servant Paul speaks of Peter, James and John. If anyone had a special place in My heart it was these men.

"When My Son walked on earth they were His closest friends. Later they were called the pillars of the Church. Paul was speaking about Peter, and about all the leaders of the early Church, when inspired to write, 'Whatever they were, it makes no difference to me; God shows personal favoritism to no one.'

"I want you to tell yourself (some need to shout it, repeat it daily, and get it in their heart), 'The Bible says I am as loved and as important to God as Peter, James and John.' Never ask or think or doubt again how much I love you."

"Now, what did you say your problem was?"

Al Thomas Celebrating His Life Ministries http://www.celebratinghislife.com/

As posted on The Elijah List www.Elijahlist.com

God's love doesn't depend on what we do or what we don't do. He simply loves us regardless.

How To Overcome Fear

I have another guest on Tuesday. Christian life coach Janet Daughtry will be sharing strategies for moving past fear.

TUESDAY 8pm UK 4pm EST

Practical strategies to overcome fear

• Examine what you're telling yourself
• Identify the lies you believe
• Renew your mind
• Limit exposure to negativity
• Change your perspective
• Develop a develop a focused plan to move past fear

And much more

How much does this Christian life coaching teleseminar cost?

It is completely free, you can register here

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

What difference would it make to your life if you could live fear free?

Join us and discover for yourself that it really is possible to live a life free from fear.

Please feel free to tell your friends so that they can benefit too.

See you on the call!

Lynne Lee and Janet Daughtry

PS We will be recording the teleseminar and the audio replay will be added to the archive of the newly launched Christian Life Coaching Cafe.

You can register here

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

Replay of journaling breakthroughs

You will find the audio file for the webinar here

http://breakthrough777.com/

Have you tasted the Christian Life Coaching Cafe yet?

http://www.christianlifecoaching.co.uk/christianlifecoachingcafe.html

Here is the link for your 45 day free trial of The Journal software

http://lynnelee.com/journal it will help you to organise your life

Be blessed

Lynne
http://www.christianlifecoaching.co.uk

Please click on this share button to easily share this event with your friends.

Dialing God's Phone Number

John Belt: "Dialing God's Phone Number: P-R-A-I-S-E!"

"Then you shall see and become radiant, and your heart shall swell with joy..." Isaiah 60:5

Dialing God

As I was just soaking in the Lord's presence with praise music, I heard a touch-tone telephone dialing as I was listening. I was thinking to myself "How can this be? No phone is in here!" I then realized I was hearing this in the spirit of praise, which was coming from spontaneous praise from what I was listening to. These were like ultra-big touch-tone sounds I was hearing. Wow!

P-R-A-I-S-E is our Lord's phone number!

"Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name." Psalm 100:4

God is releasing a fresh sound of praise in the earth. The angels of God are being released in greater measure to break open the heavens over regions as we praise the Lord. There is too much worship music today that engages the head more than the spirit. You might as well be studying a book.

It is such that people never get beyond the veil of their natural minds that keeps them from having an encounter with God. But if we can enter into the simplicity of praise and worship, we can break through into a place of intimacy and encounter the Lord like we have never experienced before.

Worship in the Spirit

"But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him." John4:23

We must slay our intellect and learn to worship in the Spirit—from the spirit within us and out of the depths of our heart. God has glory to be revealed beyond the veil of your head. The mind is a good thing that God has given us, but it only operates correctly in submission to your spirit-man under the influence of the Holy Spirit.

The Holy Spirit is the Master of our hearts. He is the Director. We must submit to Him and lay down our natural understandings. Our theology is only as good as the reality of our intimacy, connectedness, and life with Him.

"If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you." John 15:7

This means we continue to come to Him in a living-life of worship and prayer, and then we allow His words to abide in us. If we only study His words without soaking them in our spirit and without knowing the power of an intimate prayer life, then His words are without life in our hearts. His word in us without the Spirit is like being constipated. This is where mean, cruel, critical and abusive religiosity sets in.

Childlike Simplicity

"But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ." Corinthians 11:3

It is important that we engage in childlike worship that is simple and not complex. It is this kind of worship that is foundational to our lives. We never outgrow simple praise. There is a place for songs that have a theological bent. But our devotional worship is experiential and foundational to our lives. We do not have the option of cutting the life-flow of God to us.

When we come to Christ, we come in simplicity of devotion. When we first dedicate our lives to Him we are simple, not theological giants. He never wants us to lose the simplicity of devotion to Him. If we do have lost connection to the Head, we must learn and grow in our understanding through our relationship with Him. But it cannot be without the Spirit of wisdom and revelation.

Much of what has gone around in religious circles is either revelation that has dried up or is rotted leftovers. It has become information-based learning, which is no different from the world's way of learning. One way the spirit of the world is manifest is when the ways of the world become commonplace in a people who used to walk with the Lord and have compromised or people who have never known Him.

"But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned." 1 Corinthians 2:14

The natural mind craves information where the spirit of man craves living revelation from God. The natural mind will bypass God and try to accomplish things by its own power—its soul power. This is just the worship of self. This points us back to the reason simplicity of praise is so important. Simplicity in worship tells the natural mind that it is not in control and must submit like a child. This is where humility is developed.

Jesus said that without childlike faith, we couldn't even see the Kingdom of God. It is faith that pleases God. Faith does not come from the intellect, but emanates from the spirit-man within us—the new creation. This is the new man that is created in God's image. This is how we are called to live— from the inner man. We can also see in the writings of Paul that he was very aware of this.

His Weighty Presence

"Immediately I was in the Spirit; and behold, a throne set in Heaven, and One sat on the throne." Revelation 4:2

This is a beautiful illustration of what happens when we truly enter into the spirit of worship. In our hearts and minds, worship takes us before His throne. The reason John was taken in the spirit is because his heart was already there. He was not pondering the theological and intellectual glories, but was soaking in the wonder of Jesus, His love and grace.

Go beyond your natural mind. Drink deeper. Ask the Lord to help you. Be encouraged into a life of simple worship. New songs are good because you have to depend on God in order to get one. It is a great habit. It will help release the Spirit of wisdom and revelation on your life. Be creative. God is creative. Ask the Lord to give you a new song. Worship God for the testimony of Jesus in the Spirit of prophecy. Then the prophetic is released when you worship God in simplicity from your heart. Keep it simple, don't make it complex and you will find a new freedom in your worship life as well as a deeper intimacy.

"...Those who seek Him will praise the LORD. Let your heart live forever!" Psalm 22:26

Be filled with the spirit of praise every day! Let the joy of God be your strength. Get connected to His life. He is your power source! Let your heart live forever! Let's make room for His wonderful weighty presence to rest upon our lives every day through the glory of perfect praise.

John Belt
Live In His Presence Ministries
www.liveinhispresence.com

You Can Hear God Clearly Every Day

Nothing in your Christian walk is as important as learning to hear Jesus' voice!

I'd like to invite you to join me and Dr Randy Peck for a free webinar

Journaling For Breakthroughs

You really can hear God every day for every aspect of your life and you will find it easy to hear God using your journal.

This is what you will take away from today's webinar

• 4 Keys To Hear God's Voice
  
• Faith to believe that YOU can hear God
  
• Practical help to use journaling to help your hear
  God, and plan and organize your life

I do hope you will join us, journaling is a powerful tool, it can transform your life. Just click on this link aned regiter for the call. If you can't join us live, we will send you a link to the recorded audio

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

When you register for the call you'll find a link to download the first chapter of Randy's newly launched book Uncommon Journaling For Breakthroughs for free.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

You are also warmly invited to become a charter member in my newly launched Christian Life Coaching Cafe.

Come and join us and discover how to successfully create a thriving and satisfying Christian life.

The first month is free and there is no obligation to stay beyond the first free month. Try it out for size and see for yourself whether this is the missing piece of the puzzle.

http://www.christianlifecoaching.co.uk/christianlifecoachingcafe.html

Please pass this invite along to your friends. They are welcome to join us too.

Be blessed

Lynne Lee
http://www.christianlifecoaching.co.uk/

A Dangerous Prayer

How Radical Do You Want To Be?

Are you ready to pray a dangerous prayer?

If you have the courage to pray this prayer out loud day after day, you will change and become more like Jesus.

A Dangerous Prayer

by the late Jill Austin of http://www.masterpotter.com/

God, tenderize my heart again so that I desire to return to You as my first love. Wherever my heart has drifted or gotten lukewarm, return me back to You. God, I give You permission to do whatever it takes to make me wholly Yours. Set my heart on fire for You. Send a holy ambush of your Spirit into my life to usher me out of the ruts that have hindered me from being a dreamer, a lover and a warrior.

Please forgive me for [here be as specific as you can be and take as long as you need]. Thank You for Your total forgiveness of my sins. That is such a precious gift to me.

How I ache to know You more! Draw me close and speak tenderly to my heart. I want to develop a secret history with You, Lord. Captivate my heart with the gazes of Your eyes. I want to see You face-to-face and not through the lattice, as your Word says. Put Your seal on my heart so I am fully Yours.

Now, Lord, I ask You to release the fiery whirlwind of Your presence with a fresh impartation of Your heart into my heart. I ask You to revolutionize my life from the inside out. Let an earthquake in my heart break up the fallow ground. Let the lightning of God strike me so that I become God-conscious instead of self-conscious.

Jesus, I am ready to give up control of my life and put You in charge again. Forgive me for thinking that I know what is best for my life. It is hard for me to let go; the warfare has been so intense and the storms of life so great. But I can see that my way is not working. I am heartsick about my life. I want to run to You and not from You. Give me grace and humility to accept Your timing in my life.

Burn in me a holy desperation and craving for You. I need a profound touch from You, a fresh baptism of fire from the Holy Spirit. I want a force field of Your glory surrounding me so I am dangerous for God. Will You radiate Your love and power through my life so I can do exploits as You promised?

I want to be a carrier of Your glory and go outside the walls of the church, touching people in every arena of life. Lord, I want to know the times and seasons we live in.

Let me see people through Your eyes and not my own; help me feel Your heart for those around me. Break my heart for the lost. Cause revival to burn so deeply in my spirit that others cannot help but be changed by coming in contact with me.

I do not want business as usual, Jesus! I want a radical visitation from You. I must have a visitation. I want an open heaven over my life. Will You help me to legislate Your mandates from heaven, to bring them to earth so I see things from Your perspective and not my own? I am asking You for divine strategies so Your Kingdom will come.

Open my eyes so that I can see what is happening in the realm of the Spirit. How I need keen discernment for the days I live in. I want to get Your plans, Your blueprints so I do not build on the "land mines" the enemy has planned for me.

I want my heart to bless Your heart and give You the love that You deserve. Awaken my heart to worship You. I want to be one who desires You only.

Lord, I want to give You my life no matter what the cost. Even as You died for me, help me to be willing to die for You. You are worth everything I have. All I am-my past, present and future-is at the foot of the cross. Take all of me.

Help me to be a big dreamer with You, dreamer God.

Help me to be an extravagant lover of You, my Bridegroom.

Help me to be a fierce warrior for You, my King. Amen.

If you'd like to learn more from Jill visit http://www.masterpotter.com/, there are lots of inspiring resources.

And if you'd like to have an adventure with God I recommend you discover how to have two way conversations with God, so that you can hear what He has to say for every area of your life.

You'll find helpful resources here

http://www.howtoheargodwithjournaling.com/

You'll find an immediately downloadable guide to hearing God here, just click on the link

How To Hear God

Be blessed on your journey as you discover how to have a closer walk with God.

Lynne

Experience God Through Journaling

There is nothing as important in your life as learning to hear God's voice

I know you want to grow in God, that's one of the reason's why you read my blog. God has led me to an amazing resource to help you do just that.

Last week, I was offered an opportunity to join a webinar titled, How To Journal To Hear God's Voice I jumped at the chance and subsequently linked with Dr Randy Peck of Jireh, who is offering a free webinar series Experiencing God Though Journaling.

The first webinar is TODAY. You can listen in live, for free online without becoming a member but my hope is that you will take advantage of Randy's amazing offer of a $1 trial membership.

Believe me when I say, it's worth the investment. There is no obligation to continue your membership, though I believe that many of you will want to when you see what's on offer and experience the power of journaling for yourself.

When you become a Jireh member you will have access to the recorded audio and many other valuable resources. You will find powerful keys to growing in wisdom, understanding and revelation for every area of your life.

I do hope you will join us and discover the keys to hearing God's voice for yourself.

Here is the link www.howtoheargodwithjournaling.com

I am so looking forward to the wonderful opportunities that are opening up, and very excited at the prospect of you growing spirtually as you discover how to hear God for yourself.

Here is the link to your trial membership again, www.howtoheargodwithjournaling.com do go and see what's on offer, there are some very powerful resources.

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