"Whole Women Lead Well! Be Released Into Your Creator's Destiny!"

James W. Goll, Franklin, TN

Years ago, by the providence of God, I found myself facing circumstances that confronted my ultra-conservative belief systems—including the mindset that "Women Belong in the Kitchen." The resulting radical shift eventually led me to become a coach, advocate, and champion for women in ministry and leadership. What a story of transformation it has been!


As I was unknowingly thrust into this arena, I was exposed to the controversies, adversaries, and abuses both in the Church and world-systems. I was confronted by the atrocities done historically as well as present day. I wept. I repented. I humbled myself and asked the forgiveness of my wife and others. I was forgiven by Papa God and cleansed from ungodly belief patterns; demonic strongholds were demolished—in me! I was transformed by amazing grace!

This new-found freedom eventually catapulted me into discovering the blessings that come when women are empowered and released into their Creator's destinies. After doing thorough Biblical and historical research, I was willingly forced into making major life adjustments because the Holy Spirit gave my wife wings to fly and transformed her from being a great Betty Crocker Homemaker into a World Class Lioness. Today I have the honor of being a consultant and adviser to some of the top women in leadership in various spheres of life. Transformation can take place. I know! (Photo via James Goll)

Empowered Women


Throughout Biblical and modern history, women have held key leadership roles in every facet of Church and Kingdom life fulfilling God's many purposes in their generations. The characteristics marking these Special Forces in the Lord's Army are security in their identity, not grabbing for a platform or attempting to make a name for themselves. God is their Father. They die to self and are recipients of the gifts and callings given by their Master by grace through faith.


This empowered company of secure women leaders are not in competition with anyone.

Unlike some flashy stars in the world, they are not "divas", self-centered or trying to act like men. They are not second-class citizens either. Whole women lead and lead well! Did you hear me? Well Women Lead Really Well!


So let's take a quick glance at the impact some empowered women in Scripture made especially in the prophetic ministry God entrusted to them.



Women in the Prophetic

Miriam—Miriam, the prophetess, stood alongside Moses and Aaron as one of the three main leaders of the Israelite nation as they left Egypt (see Exodus 15:20). (Photo via James Goll)


Deborah—Deborah stood as judge before God on behalf of Israel during this time and came alongside Barak, a military authority, to lead the Israelite army to victory against the Canaanites (Judges 4:4).


Huldah—Huldah was visited by the high priest, the scribe and a servant of the king so they could obtain the word of the Lord on behalf of young King Josiah (2 Kings 22:14).


Isaiah's wife—We are not given her name, but the wife of Isaiah was a prophetess (see Isaiah 8:3). What a team they must have made!


Elizabeth and Mary—This interchange between Elizabeth, the mother of John the Baptist, and Mary, the mother of Jesus, resulted in exuberant praise and prophesying concerning the destiny of Mary's Child within (see Luke 1:41-42, 46-47).


Anna—Anna was the praying prophetess present with Simeon the seer at the dedication of Jesus by His parents on His eighth day of life (see Luke 2:36-38).


Philip's Daughters—Philip the evangelist had four daughters who prophesied (see Acts 21:8–9). Four in one family!


A man, a woman; a seer, a prophetess: equal distribution with unique expressions of the same prophetic presence. As it was at the first coming of Jesus, so it will be at the Second Coming.




Other Secure Women Leaders in the Bible

Jael—She drove a tent peg into Sisera's head and delivered him into the hands of Barak (see Judges 4). Deborah had prophesied that the Lord would give Sisera to Barak. And God did it through the hands of a woman!


Abigail—As an advocate, she pleaded the case of mercy on behalf of her wicked husband to David, who was on the run from King Saul (see 1 Samuel 25).


Esther—She was the godly queen who saved the entire Jewish race through her bold intercession and fasting (see the Book of Esther).


Proverbs 31 Woman—She was skillful in household and business issues, bought and sold real estate, ministered to the poor and so much more.


Woman at the Well—Many see her as the first evangelist noted in the Bible, as she went forth proclaiming the Good News of the Christ (see John 4).


Mary Magdalene—She was one of the women who was first at the tomb, first to hear that "He is risen" and first to announce His resurrection (see Matthew 28:1-10).


Lydia—This wealthy businesswoman is noted as the first convert in all of Europe (see Acts 16:14-15). This could be considered apostolic in nature.


Priscilla and Aquila—They were probably a husband and wife teaching team explaining the Word of God with accuracy (see Romans 16:3-5).


Phoebe—She was a deaconess who washed the feet of the saints (see Romans 16:1) and came highly recommended by Paul.


Let's Do It Together

You can see through these many examples—if you needed any persuading—that secure, whole women have always been used by God to do exploits in His Kingdom. Women carry the gifting of the Holy Spirit with sincerity and excellence equal to that of men. As a spiritual father and leader in the Body of Christ, I want to declare that we need you! We need you to be healed, secure, and whole! Why? Whole women lead well! (Photo via James Goll)


So let's be grateful for each other. We need each other. Let's learn to defer to one another. Let's seek and pray for divine cooperation so that a clear, rather than discordant, sound will be produced. Let's receive and honor the giftings of His most precious Holy Spirit, so that the Church will be victorious and Jesus will be glorified.


Men, I challenge you as well to be an agent of love, honor and life, empowering the women that God has placed in your life. Husbands, you have the unique privilege of representing Christ to your wives—love them well!


Let's all allow the Holy Spirit to bring needed healing, empowering us to spread the Good News into every facet of Church and Kingdom life. Let's do it together!


Dr. James W. Goll

Founder of Encounters Network • God Encounters Training e-School • Prayer Storm

Email: info@encountersnetwork.com

Website: www.encountersnetwork.com / www.prayerstorm.com


Dr. James W. Goll is the President of Encounters Network, the International Director of Prayer Storm, and the Founder of God Encounters Training – an eSchool of the Heart. With great joy James has shared Jesus in more than 50 nations, teaching and imparting the power of intercession, prophetic ministry, and life in the Spirit. James is the prolific author of numerous books, includingThe Seer, The Lost Art of Intercession, The Coming Israel Awakening,Deliverance from Darkness, A Radical Faith, and many others. He has also produced multiple study guides and hundreds of audio and video messages (click here for more).


James and Michal Ann were married for 32 years before her graduation to Heaven in the fall of 2008. James has four adult children who are married and all love Jesus: Justin, GraceAnn, Tyler, and Rachel, and multiple grandchildren. James continues to make his home in Franklin, Tennessee.

The Python Spirit: What it's really after

I didn't realize how strong is the spirit of python's chokehold on my region until I started to personally experience the effects of its presence. One of the only named spirits in the Bible, the python spirit is a coiling spirit that works to squeeze out the breathe of life (the Holy Spirit) and cut off your lifeline to God (prayer).

To accomplish its deadly agenda, this spirit will remind you of wounds from your past, surround you with ungodly influences that tempt you to compromise the Word of God—or just barrage you with circumstances that knock the wind out of you.

Symptoms of a python attack may include weariness, a loss of passion to worship and pray, feeling pressured, overwhelmed, helpless and even hopeless. The severity of those symptoms depends on how long this enemy has been coiling itself around you and how much pressure it has applied.

Let me show you this spirit in the Bible. You'll find it in Acts 16:16 when Paul encounters a girl possessed with a spirit of divination. The word divination in this verse comes from the Greek word for puthon, which translates in English as "python." Vine's Dictionary explains how Greek mythology believed the Pythian serpent guarded the oracle of Delphi until Apollo slew it (and then took on the name Pythian). The word was later applied to diviners or soothsayers, inspired by Apollo.

Attacking Your Prayer Life

Python can attack anyone. You don't have to be in sin to find python trying to slide under your door. Paul was a man of prayer. The Bible says he spoke in tongues more than anybody else in the Corinthian church (1 Cor. 14:18)—and probably more than anybody else in the early church.

Despite Paul's relationship with Christ and a strong prayer life, he still had to wrestle against principalities and powers and rulers of the darkness of this age and spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places (see Eph. 6:12). Paul had to wrestle against python—and so may we. Let's look at Paul's encounter with the python spirit.

"Now it happened, as we went to prayer, that a certain slave girl possessed with a spirit of divination met us, who brought her masters much profit by fortune-telling. This girl followed Paul and us, and cried out, saying, 'These men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.' And this she did for many days" (Acts 16:16-17).

The python spirit had a stronghold in Philippi. When the man of prayer started heading for the house of prayer, this spirit launched its first attack against him—a distraction followed by a full-blown trial that aimed to take him out of his purpose. Python knows it has no authority in a city that prays in the presence of God, so it works to distract people from praying so they can't fulfill their purpose.

Python would rather watch you lick your wounds than pray to a healing God. Python would rather hear you complain or gossip than take your problems to a miracle-working God. Python would rather distract you with attacks, trials and persecutions than see you press into a gracious God for deliverance. Again, python's ultimate goal is to put you in bondage and thwart your purpose. You may be going through the motions but you feel dead on the inside because python has squeezed the life out of you.

Loosed From Python's Grip

When you rise up in your Christ-given authority against python, the battle ensues. Paul cast the demon out of the girl, which meant her masters could no longer profit from her false prophecies. "They seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to the authorities" (Acts 16:19). From there, they were falsely accused, had their clothes torn off, were beaten with rods and thrown into prison with stocks on their feet.

Paul and Silas were in physical pain. They had been publicly humiliated. They were slandered and maligned. And they were in the grip of the python spirit. At this point, they had several options: They could lie there and lick their wounds. They could complain to one another about their situation. They could meditate on the persecution and decide to abandon their purpose in exchange for being set free. But they didn't do any of that. Thank God, they left us a model for how to break free from the python spirit.

"But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone's chains were loosed" (Acts 16:25-26). Prayer and praise are what python is trying to stop, but prayer and praise will set you free.

In next week's article, we'll take a closer look at the python spirit and what it takes to combat it in a region. Florida has 43 houses of prayer across the state—more per capita than any other state—but the python spirit is so active that the Everglades are overflowing with these dangerous snakes. In a state known for prayer, why is python so dominant? More on that next week.

Meet God in Silence

Creativity is generated in a place of peace 

You have to be careful of the thoughts that you think and that on which you ponder. The Bible says think on those things which are lovely. Think on those things which are true. Think on those things which are honest. Think on those things which are pure. None of those things are supposed to be stressful. If it’s lovely, it’s peaceful. If you were violated, that is not lovely. Do not think on it. God wants your mind to think on things that bring peace. Isaiah 26:3 says, “I will keep you in perfect peace if your mind is stayed on me.” The mind has to be stayed, steadied in peace. The prophet comes to give you the right thoughts to ponder upon. Your personal prophecy guides your thoughts on those things that are lovely and the will of God. Silence is the place of creation. It is the place where you ready yourself. Your emergency does not move God. Your disaster does not hurry God. Your need does not get God to move on your behalf. Your desperation does not move God. This might be painful, but you have to be still and know that God has everything under control. However, the prophet can bring the interruption that will get you to a place of readiness to meet God and his peace, that peace found in that still small voice. Stillness readies the mind to receive the movement of God in you. Stillness readies the spirit for the movement of God in you as your personal prophecy creates a platform for God’s actions. 

All things will be so when the mind is ready 
You cannot find His presence in the noise. That’s why the prophet found God in the still, small voice. You can’t hear God in the noise unless you can find the stillness in the center of the noise. Whatever you are lacking, it is because you haven’t found the stillness in you. There is a point in the eye of the storm where it is safe. In the center there is safety. You have to get into the center of who you are. Your personal prophecy can guide you to this center. The center of your being brings you into the safety of God. When we look at the Lord’s supper, the disciples were in a relaxed position. As a matter of fact, one of the disciples had his head on Jesus’ breast. So, they were leaning and relaxing. In the Greek culture, when the people would pontificate, they would sit on the porch in a relaxed position, eating grapes, and receiving revelation. When you are in a relaxed state, knowledge flows. When you are protecting ideas and ideologies about yourself, you are in attack mode. But when you relax and are at peace, then all the universe will be at peace with you. Life meets you the way you meet life.
For this reason you want to meet your personal prophecy now as you begin to now come into peace and relax in the Lord like many prophets in the bible. God will not speak in the heat of your circumstances. He only talks in the “cool” of your day. Once the mind is in that state of relaxation that’s where we do our programming. That is the cool of your day— the cooling down period where you can relax and do your spiritual work in your sleep state of consciousness. You cannot relax in the heat.You can’t hear God in the heat. We must know how to enter into the silence. Don’t take offense when somebody tells you be silent. Let God speak, let the prophet speak and bring confirmation. When you let God speak within you, He will start talking through you and you will align with your personal prophecy at once. That is entering the divine silence. That is entering the divine silence

8 Keys for Holding Onto Your Prophetic Word During Times of Adversity

You must press through difficult places to reach your destiny.

During this season, many of God's people are standing in a place of great adversity. But the Lord says that you should not fear or run from it. Rather, you should run into the adversity. If you run into it, you will see a greater power of God released through you­—for this is a day of testing that will open the door to your destiny.

That destiny awaits. However, you must press through difficult places to get to it. Fear attempts to block your passageway. A desire to return to an old place tempts you to retreat. You must keep your focus on the promise of the Lord that can be found only on the other side of the door.

God is looking for covenant partners who are faithful to Him in the midst of difficulty. He wants us to be like the three Hebrew children who were not consumed in the fire and who came through it without the smell of smoke upon them (see Dan. 3:13-30). These are the ones the Lord is empowering in a new way for the next season. To reach the destiny God has for you, you must take several steps. First, war against wrong thoughts. Guard your mind from thoughts of doubt, unbelief, defeat, failure, guilt and condemnation. Let your mind be like a walled city that refuses to allow negative thoughts to penetrate.

Second, resist any temptation toward introspection. Only the Holy Spirit has the right to search the hearts and minds of men. When the Lord is ready to reveal an area of life that needs correction, He will. Do not play the part of the Holy Spirit and search for hidden things in the heart.

Third, war with the Word of the Lord. Let the rhema word, the God-breathed word, found in Scripture be your strength in times of weariness. Remind yourself of the prophetic words that have been spoken to carry you through this tight place.

Fourth, listen for the still, small voice of the Lord on the inside. God gives divine revelation of His will. He is not silent but is ever speaking to encourage His people on toward the victory that He promises.

Fifth, shift to a higher level of faith. Young David fought and defeated both the lion and the bear. When he stood against Goliath, faith to defeat lions and bears was not sufficient. He had to shift to a greater level of faith.

God's people today are not contending with lions and bears. Goliath is standing in front of us and challenging us. We must receive a new level of faith if we want to see the Goliath blocking our destiny defeated.

Sixth, get in proper alignment. God is aligning His people—putting those together who will stand as one on the day of battle. He is giving discernment about who can go to war together. Not every person will stand faithful to God and faithful to others in battle.

It is imperative to know who you can go to war with. You will discover who your real friends are in the day of difficulty. God not only is calling a people to walk in covenant with Him but also is aligning those who will walk in covenant with one another.

Seventh, during this time of testing, ask the Lord to bring understanding about the place you are in. Ask Him to cause you to be aware that you are in preparation for your destiny.

Finally, refrain from shrinking back in fear. Do not flee from the Lord or from your covenant connections. The promise of the Lord is on the other side of the door. Let God's strength cause you to press through and arrive at your God-given destiny.

Barbara Wentroble is the founder of International Breakthrough Ministries (international breakthroughministries.org) and the author of several books, including Prophetic Intercession.

Are We Pentecostals Losing Our Religion by Holding Our Tongue-Talking?

Praying in tongues is getting a lot of attention in secular media these days. The New York Times recently published an article called “Why We Talk in Tongues,” and the Associated Press is reporting “Messages in Tongues Down Among Pentecostals.”

Wait, what?

Can you even be Pentecostal—or charismatic—without praying in tongues? Isn’t it somewhat of an oxymoron to stumble upon a born-again, blood-bought, Spirit-filled believer who doesn’t speak in tongues? After all, the evidence of being filled with the Spirit is speaking in other tongues and prophesying (Acts 19:6).

I was shocked by the AP report about a small Assemblies of God congregation that looks just like every other Pentecostal church service—except nobody is speaking in tongues. The wire service positions Three Crosses Church as an example of a downward trend in tongue-talking—for the sake of moving into the mainstream.

Wait, what?

Squashing a gift of the Spirit to cater to the mainstream? Suppressing spiritual gifts to find acceptance in the mainstream?

God forbid Pentecostals and charismatics stop speaking in tongues at church for the sake of the mainstream! I mean, since when has true Christianity ever been mainstream anyway? We’re supposed to have a reputation for turning the world upside down (Acts 17:6), not putting God in a seeker-friendly box so churchgoers—wearing foam earplugs in case the music is too loud and duly caffeinated with lattes from the cafe—have a more comfortable experience.

"It's different now," Pastor Ken Walters of Three Crosses Church told the AP. "People don't like to stand out if they don't have to."

Wait, what?

Many churches have already conformed to the world, tapping into a spirit of entertainment to make the church more seeker friendly. Do we now have to conform to the world in our prayer life also (Rom. 12:2)? I mean, what’s next? Do we stop praying in church altogether and turn a worship service into a weekly Sunday morning motivational seminar with no mention of Father, Son and Holy Ghost, lest we make visitors uncomfortable and they don’t give an offering? God forbid! The Bible says, “Do not quench the Spirit” (1 Thess. 5:19).

I’ve shared in the past how the first time I saw people praying in tongues it completely freaked me out. Of course, that wasn’t in a church setting. Don’t get me wrong; I’m not suggesting that church folks should bust out in tongues in the middle of a service or get so carried away during worship that they distract the congregation, claiming, “The Holy Ghost made me do it!” Nor am I suggesting that the preacher should replace his Bible teaching with a message in tongues that no one understands (1 Cor. 14:1-12). Everything in church should be done decently and in order (v. 40).

But during prayer meetings, during worship or during an altar call, quietly speaking in tongues is a natural part of the Pentecostal/charismatic service. Putting a lid on tongues at church not only risks quenching the Spirit, but it may also grieve Him.

If the Spirit gives us utterance and we don’t release what He’s saying—even if that’s intercession in an unknown tongue—we could be hindering God’s purposes: “For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered” (Rom. 8:26). If we expect to see more miracles, we need to give the Holy Spirit free reign—and that means allowing people to speak in tongues when the Spirit gives them utterance (Acts 2:4). Again, decently and in order.

Speaking in tongues is one of the defining marks of Pentecostals and charismatics. So, are we losing our religion? And if we lose this aspect of our faith, what else are we ultimately giving up with it? Are we moving into an age of “don’t ask, don’t tell” if you are filled with the Holy Spirit and speak in a supernatural prayer language? God forbid!

"This is our power," Nick Farone, a pastor who runs a Christian center in Louisiana and a member of the Pentecostal Church of God, told the AP. "We shouldn't be ashamed."

Can somebody say, “Amen”?

By Jenifer Le Claire

Integration of the Apostolic & Prophetic Ministry in the Time of Reformation

Now therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone. (Eph 2:19-20)

One of the core values of the Kingdom is evidenced in the expression of men working together in team ministry. One of the greatest examples of this value can be found in God’s desire and design for apostles and prophets to synergistically work together in team concert.

One of the current challenges to a local community or a network community is understanding the benefits and functions of apostolic/prophetic ministry. With the resurgence of prophetic emphasis in the 1980’s and early 1990’s, it led many on a search for prophetic significance. Many began to desire knowledge about the ministry of prophet - how they functioned and what their purpose was. In our quest for more “prophetic understanding”, we sometimes became so prophetically oriented that it caused many to embrace the idea that the prophet is a “stand alone” office which needs no other influence.

During this season we began to discover that prophetic ministry was a function designed by God which was positive in attitude and beneficial in purpose. We began to understand that prophetic ministry was engineered by God to help bring purposeful mobilization (helping the Kingdom to advance), further integration (the necessity of correct alignment), divinely inspired information (the need for divine revelation for God’s patterns), greater maturation (the need to embrace not only His acts but His ways) solid stabilization (“no longer tossed to and fro like children”), and progressive restoration (the expectation for more).

Yet with all the fanfare and excitement about the “restoration of the prophet”, deep within this movement was a character flaw – the prophet was never designed as a loner or a “know–it-all”. Neither was their ministry intended to become a “blessing model.” Unfortunately, many called into prophetic ministry in the 70’s and 80’s experienced the demand “to come prophesy to us.” Due to this inaccurate thinking, the prophetic ministry was laboriously harnessed with false expectations. The prophetic was many times limited to one or two functions such as operating only in personal prophecy.

Today, the apostolic reformation is migrating and activating the prophetic to help build the Kingdom through deep and close alignment with apostolic anointing and grace. The prophetic understanding of the last 20 years “must decrease” in the time of apostolic emergence. Like John the Baptist, those called to prophetic ministry must align their ministries and their hearts to find apostolic linkage. This is causing and will continue to cause many to die to the “old prophetic frequency” and emerge into a more accurate pattern for apostolic/prophetic ministry. The good news is that many prophetic ministers sense the need for advancement. Many have been left frustrated at the door of the “prophetic movement of the ’80’s and ‘90’s” and are now seeking relationships which demand greater levels of prophetic understanding and participation in God’s global reformation.

In this time of apostolic reform, the fastening together of these ministries is paramount. Each ministry is realizing that their working together provides what is necessary for building a secure foundation and for under girding the other ministry gifts. However, like a steam train, the order in which they are fastened is important. The Bible clearly states, “And God has appointed these in the church, first apostles, second prophets . . . “ (1 Cor. 12:28) The ranking of the apostolic in this scripture clearly reveals to us that apostles have been given the wisdom and power to strategically realign the church into a Kingdom pattern. Following and closely linked to the apostle is the prophet!

Now, here is an issue – Because the prophet follows the apostolic, does that mean it is less vital, less important, and less potent? No, of course not! Returning to the illustration of a steam train, please allow me to expound further using this analogy. While a steam train utilizes a steam engine as the forerunner of the rest of the train cars, right behind the steam engine is a vital co-laboring car – the tender box car. This car holds the fuel which the engine needs to produce the power.

Throughout all the biblical examples of reformation (David, Nehemiah, Josiah, Hezekiah, John the Baptist, Haggai, Zechariah), we see the validity of the prophetic ministry “adding fuel to the fire.” Through their strategic actions, decrees, and prophetic revelations, they gave impetus to the apostolic strategy. They helped prepare the way!

In this hour, prophetic ministers who desire to embrace reformation must recognize the restoration of apostolic ministry. As a part of this recognition, they must realize their dependence upon apostolic grace and that that grace can bring them to more accurate levels of thinking and functionality. Conversely, the apostles who are emerging must recognize and intentionally walk towards interdependence with prophets. They must perceive that without prophetic input (both verbally and in anointing), their communities will lack a fundamental ingredient of the Kingdom. But as they do embrace one another, many benefits will be evidenced. I believe apostolic positions will experience more energy and greater enthusiasm will be released. At the same time, prophets will feel greater fulfillment and a greater sense of safety and confidence, new strategies will come forth, and a greater depth of prophetic ministry will be evidenced in people’s lives.

Because apostles and prophets are foundational in design, it is imperative that these two gifts co-labor together at a level never manifested before in this world. Reformation is given for the process of emergence to a more accurate level of function in the Kingdom. Prophets must enter this season with humility as their hall mark and fully embrace their team ministry destiny underneath the grace of the Apostolic.

A Prophetic Word for 2013: Make A Decision and Commitment for Christ

 

This is the year to make a decision and commitment! The decision brings us to commitment so we can commit our entire life this year. Then we will serve God and obey the written Word and the Holy Spirit in the way He directs our lives. When we make this commitment to God we will see the faithfulness of Isaiah 11:5. 

"And righteousness shall be the girdle of His waist and faithfulness the girdle of His loins." (Is. 11:5)

Through obedience to the written Word we learn righteousness; right standing with God. By developing relationship with God, we take on the divine nature of Christ and sanctify the imagination (thoughts). When we surrender our soul to our spirit we allow the spirit within us to rule over the soul. 

"And having been set free from sin, you have become the servants of righteousness (of conformity to the divine will in thought, purpose, and action)." (Rom. 6:18 AMP)

In this way our thoughts, purpose and action will be committed to God's will. And being led by the Holy Spirit of Truth, who leads us into all truth; we walk the highway of holiness. Then our entire bodily members will be in complete obedience to the Holy Spirit because we are obedient to the law of Love. (see Rom. 13:10)It's from the place of mature love the greater works flow. Then what is seen in our sanctified imagination we speak according to the will of the Father, bringing "on earth as it is in Heaven" into the natural realm. 

Christ was obedient unto His death on the Cross. Christ yielded all His bodily members to the Father so we could become the righteousness of God through His Son. Jesus lived His earthly life totally committed to the Father's will. Therefore the Father's will was being done on earth as it was in Heaven. "For God so loved the world, He gave His only begotten Son..." (John 3:16). This was the Father's greatest act of love, giving His Son to mankind.

It is in the DNA of every Christian to hear the voice of God and be led by His Holy Spirit. John 10:4 says His sheep hear His voice and follow after Him. His sheep commit to follow Him because they know the voice of the Good Shepherd. We must follow His voice and be totally obedient to what He tells us to do. Obedience leads to righteousness and righteousness leads to sanctification. Sanctification is the beginning of holiness and holiness is the beginning of the greater works. The greater works begin with unconditional love toward one another.

And He replied, "You must love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself." (Luke 10:27)

God is calling for us to conform to His way with all of our natural being; heart, soul, strength and mind. We are being called to walk the straight and narrow way, the road less traveled, or perhaps better known as the highway of holiness. We must surrender to Him the dictates of our own heart in order to walk according to His will.

"For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways," says the Lord. (Is. 55:8)

Make A Decision for Christ

When we make the decision to walk the way of righteousness and arm ourselves in commitment, we begin to walk in sanctification. Sanctification is the belt of truth we put around our waist and commit our mind, will and emotions to God in thought, purpose and action.

Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God," (Eph. 6:14 AMP)

You shall know the truth and it will set you free. The truth we gird our mind with is His Word. His Word will always tell us what to do. The real thing that we commit ourselves to is love. 

"Love does no wrong to one's neighbor [it never hurts anybody]. Therefore love meets all the requirements and is the fulfilling of the Law." (Rom. 13:10)

This is the word for 2013: make a decision for Christ that you're going to walk in righteousness. And make for yourself a commitment to obey the works of righteousness, which is our thought, purpose and action.

We live with the consequences of decisions we make, whether good or bad. Let's choose to make God the master of our life and let Christ ride in the saddle of our mind. Let us commit ourselves completely to Him this year! That which we have committed to God He is faithful to commit to us. Once we have made the decision to commit our whole being unto God and come into His righteousness, we must not stray from it.

"For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day." (2 Tim. 1:12 NKJV)

Bob and Bonnie Jones: Bob Jones is known as a contemporary prophet with a great love for the Lord Jesus and His truth. His prophecies have spanned over four decades as the Lord has enabled him to foretell earthquakes, tidal waves, comets, and weather patterns. Like Daniel who functioned at an incredible level, Bob has often told leaders their dreams and experiences, as well as the interpretation. After his death experience in 1975, God sent him back to minister to Church leadership and reach the multitudes with His love, truth and equipping the saints with understanding of the spiritual gifts. God promised Bob that he would see the beginning of one billion souls coming into the Kingdom in one great wave of the end time harvest. Bonnie has a great love for the Lord, the Word and the Cross of Jesus. She loves children and enjoys blessing them with a gift of joy, truth, love and encouragement. Bonnie moves in a seer prophetic gifting as well as healing and miracles. Her passion is to see women set free from the fear of man and step into their gifts and calling. She is a great advocate of women stepping forth into their rightful place beside their husband.

Spiritual Abuse, Christian Cults and Controlling Ministries

It’s irresponsible to loosely toss around emotionally charged accusations like “spiritual abuse,” “Christian cults” and “controlling ministries.” I wouldn’t want to stand before Jesus and give account for misspoken words that carry the potential to tear down what He is building.

On the other hand, it’s also irresponsible to turn a blind eye to spiritual abuse, Christian cults and controlling ministries. I wouldn’t want to stand before Jesus and give account for supporting ministries that are tearing down what He is building.

When spiritual leaders are caught in sex abuse scandals, the secular and Christian media alike pen stories that offer the detestable details and dogged denials. But spiritual abuse, cultish churches and controlling ministries are less often exposed than pastors who coerce teenaged boys and unsuspecting church secretaries to have sexual relations.

Victims of abusive church authority structures may not even realize what they are enduring until they escape its grip. Spiritual abuse is often subtle. Christian cult leaders don’t always operate like Jim Jones. Controlling ministries tend to hide behind the guise of spiritual coverings. And far too many outsiders are not willing to even question the messages and practices of such churches. It takes lovers of truth with spiritual discernment to recognize the sometimes-subtle signs of abusive churches. And it takes courage to confront it.

What exactly is spiritual abuse? Jeff VanVonderen, co-author of the classic book The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse, explains it this way: “Spiritual abuse occurs when someone in a position of spiritual authority … misuses that authority placing themselves over God’s people to control, coerce or manipulate them for seemingly godly purposes which are really their own.”

Spiritual abuse is hardly a new phenomenon. You can find instances in the Bible of spiritual leaders exploiting people to build their kingdoms. In Jeremiah 8, the Lord called out the abuse of prophets and priests, saying, “They dress the wound of my people as though it were not serious” (v. 11 NIV).

The root problems of people in the “church” were treated superficially. In other words, the pastor put a Band-Aid on the problem so things looked good from the outside but the wound was festering on the inside. The pastor’s prominence was more important than the legitimate needs of the congregation.

Today, this manifests as spiritual leaders recruiting volunteers to build their ministries while neglecting to minister to the real needs of hurting people. In such cases, churches become like businesses. The pastor is more like a CEO than a spiritual leader. Staff meetings center on marketing initiatives that will bring more people—who will bring more tithes and offerings—into the sanctuary. Church services becomes about external appearances, but the white washed tombs are full of dead men’s bones.

Jesus addressed spiritual abuse in His day. Beyond His warnings about the Pharisees, Jesus also pointed out ravenous wolves. These ravenous wolves look much like anointed prophets, but their motives are dastardly. Today, the spiritually abusive Pharisaical pastor has a long list of rules and demands and little grace for those who don’t rise to the occasion.

Entire books have been written on spiritual abuse. Those books will help you see spiritual abuse for what it is, how you got sucked into the cycle, how to break free from spiritual abuse, and how to recover from spiritual abuse once you’ve escaped its clutches. But for now, I want to leave you with some nuggets from Dave Johnson and VanVonderen’s book, The Subtle Power of Spiritual Abuse.

Power-posturing is a telltale sign of spiritual abuse. Power-posturing leaders spend a lot of time focused on their own authority and reminding others of it. Johnson and VanVonderen say this is necessary because their spiritual authority isn’t real—based on genuine godly character—it is postured.

In practical terms, this might manifest as a leader who likes to remind the congregation that he can excommunicate people or that any anointing you are flowing in comes from the head (him). This leader can never be questioned, and is usually not accountable to anyone. Those around him are usually mere "yes men" who do his bidding in exchange for delegated authority to lord over others.

Performance preoccupation is a sign of spiritual abuse. Johnson and VanVonderen note that obedience and submission are two important words often used in abusive church structures.

Don’t get me wrong. Obedience and submission are important. But spiritual abuse often shames or scares people into obedience and submission. True obedience is a matter of the heart. Spiritual abusers apply undue pressure that is not from God. That pressure is usually applied to get you to do the leader’s will, not God’s will.

Unspoken rules are common in instances of spiritual abuse. In abusive spiritual systems, Johnson and VanVonderen offer, people’s lives are controlled from the outside in by rules, spoken and unspoken.

“Unspoken rules are those that govern unhealthy churches of families but are not said out loud. Because they are not said out loud, you don’t find out that they’re there until you break them,” Johnson and VanVonderen write. It often seems these “rules” hold more power than scripture.

The “Can’t Talk” rule is seen where spiritual abuse is present. Johnson and VanVonderen explain that the “can’t talk” rule blames the person who talks, and the ensuing punishments pressure questioners into silence.

If you voice a problem you become the problem. If you question why the church no longer picks up the poor kids in the ministry van but has shifted its focus to more affluent neighborhoods, you are removed from your role as a volunteer driver. Others see your fate and decide they'd better not rock the boat. It's a form of intimidation.

Lack of balance and extremism is often present where spiritual abuse lives. This manifests as an unbalanced approach to living out the truth of the Christian life. Johnson and VanVonderen explain that in these systems it is more important to act according to the word of a leader who has “a word” for you than to act according to what you know to be true from Scripture, or simply from your spiritual-growth history.

The truth is prophetic words don’t carry the same weight as Scripture, and you can hear from God for yourself. When you rely on other people to tell you what God is saying, you open the door to control and manipulation.

It’s not possible to fully expose the inner workings of spiritual abuse, Christian cults and controlling churches in a single article. My goal is to raise awareness of a troubling issue and get you thinking—not to send you on a witch hunt for spiritual abusers.

If you think you are part of a spiritually abusive cult-like or controlling church, ask the Lord to break any deception off your mind and show you the truth. The truth could be that you are in a healthy church and you just need to die to self. But it could be that you are in an abusive system and you need to break free. If your heart is purely seeking the truth, the Holy Spirit will surely guide you there (John 16:13).

Jennifer LeClaire

http://www.jenniferleclaire.org

Pls read this letter from my friend. It will bless your heart as a true father.

WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A TERRIFIC DAD!

Do you take pride in the fact that you spend quality time with your family?

We’re all aware of the situation of Nigeria as such we all need to work very hard if we’re to survive in this beloved country of ours. Here are simple tips that I would like you dear dad, to ponder on today. Ask yourself a few questions and give yourself a pass mark as appropriate. If you’ve done very well, thumbs up!, if you feel you haven’t, you still have the chance to just put a few things in place and  simply adjust your schedule for your children and your family as a whole. How can I be a terrific dad? How can I be that super hero to my children? How can I ensure that the plan of  GOD for the lives of my children are actualized? Definitely not by going from morning till evening, you’re tired and fagged out and by the next morning, you’re ready to be on the move again. You’re not able to even locate where their clothes are kept, you don’t understand their feeding pattern, (mind you, I have dads who bathe, feed and even care for their children!)  all those are for mom! It’s okay but it doesn’t always have to be like that. How do you track what goes on in their lives, how do you get involved in what makes them children?  Before you know it, the years will fly very quickly and that little boy or girl will be all grown up and won’t need too much of you to manage him or herself because you were not so visibly there from the beginning. You work very hard because of them, it’s   important they understand why you get really tired and really can’t spare too much of your time sometimes.

 You can however make yourself very relevant and thereby assume the role GOD gave you fully. All the stress you pass through is most and always for them. So you have every right to be an active part of their growing up years. HOW?

Cherish your time with them. One thing that will amaze you is how quickly the years will fly. The time you have with them is short and precious — make the most of it. Spend as much time as you can with them, and make it quality, loving time. When you get home from work, often you’re tired and want to relax. But this is the only time you have with them especially during weekdays, try not to waste it. A few quality minutes spent together daily will go a long way in shaping their tomorrow. Take time to find out about their day. While you’re with them, keep your mind and attention focused on them, don’t let your mind drift away, as they can sense that. The biggest mistake that dads make is sometimes not being there for their children. Always, always set aside time each day and each week for your children. Don’t let anything violate this sacred time. On weekends, try to devote as much time as possible to them. And at those big moments in your child’s life — for example when they have programmes in school— do your very best to be there. It means the world to them.

  While work may be your passion, it won’t be long before they’re grown and no longer want to spend time with you. Take advantage of these years. The thing children want most from their dads is their time. GIVE YOUR TIME DADDY!

FUN THINGS TO DO? You may suddenly find out that you’re a better reader than mom! Read to them often, hear them read or picture read with them if they’re younger. Whether you’re a reader or not, reading to your children (from the time they’re babies onward) is crucial. It gets them in the habit of reading, and prepares them for a lifetime of learning. It gives you some special time together, and it will become a tradition your child will cherish. I read with all my children, from my 4+year-old to my 10-year-old, and I love every word we read together. Discover things together and engage in talk, you don’t need to sound babish as they’re getting older, but converse with them like they’re your friends. After all they’re everything to us.

REMEMBER THAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU THE POWER OF AN EAGLES FLIGHT! So you’re strong, agile and you can withstand their very agile nature too…

Engage them in active play. Oh that will really make dad a hero you know! Children love to play and have fun not with anyone else, but with you. You come first and just play your role and you’ll be amazed that there will be only one hero in their lives- and that is you! The more you get actively involved in their lives, the more you’ll get to understand your children.

Ask them questions. Young as they are you’ll be amazed that they know so much and can do a lot more than you can imagine. I advised yesterday that it’s okay to watch football together but getting involved can just be so much more fun than just watching all the time. Play ball together with your children: male or female, it’s fun. Do we still have time for that?  Teaching the rudiments of the game practically will make the watching together more interesting. Aside from football, there honestly are other interesting games for their age that can be carried out which you both can make up, you probably also want to teach them some games from your own childhood days and take pride in reliving them with your own children.

SHOW THAT YOU LOVE THEM. This one sounds corny, but it should be at the centre of your dad operating philosophy: above all, show your children love. As your children get older, sometimes the “I love you” gradually begins to fade away and is sometimes relegated to the background. This is however not intentional. Take time to tell your children you love them, care for them, think and know they are the best. This for me is important.  Let your children grow up with the pride that they know they are loved irrespective of when you have to discipline for negative behaviour, they know they are loved. Have you ever wondered why your children sometimes get really excited when they see their uncles and aunts? Because they make them feel so loved, they’re ready to listen the way you wouldn’t, they’re ready to play with them the way you won’t, they ready to do anything they demand of them (that’s if they just visiting anyway) Believe me dad, if you don’t let them grow in that knowledge today, as they get older, they’ll grow up believing that yes daddy works hard to feed the family but others love me more than he does. What are we doing in essence? We’re modelling the wrong attitude for them. MY DAD, MY SUPERSTAR! That is what you must be for your children. Let them know how much you love and adore them, it goes a long way.

MAKE YOURSELF RELEVANT NOW AND ALWAYS!

My father is a retired professor of education and yes am thankful to GOD for giving me such a learned father, what I still vividly remember most about my childhood years experience with my dad is that every time he travelled to attend conferences then, he’ll return with lots of clothes for me. I really can’t picture too much now. In almost forty years of my life, that is what I still remember the most (no hard feelings though) However I remember too much about my mum. My mum has always been there for me. (it’s not mother’s day, so I won’t start).It is important you make yourself very relevant at home to your children. Those memories are there for life. Those childhood years are far more important than any other, the teenage years is even more delicate. Give them a solid foundation of love now so nothing anyone will do or say to them during their teenage years will move them. If they feel unloved now and it continues till they’re older, the rippling effect will not be very pleasant, but if you feed them with sooooooo much love now and right from the womb, they’ll grow up to be confident, happy and emotionally stable individuals.

Learn the “firm no”. While I’m all for giving kids the freedom to choose, and for free play, and lots of other freedoms, there should be limits. That I want to show my children love and want to make myself relevant in their lives does not mean I’ll always say a yes! Parents who don’t set boundaries are going to have children with behaviour problems, who have problems when they grow up. And if it’s not good to always say “yes”, it’s also not good for the child to say “no” at first … and then cave in when they throw a temper tantrum or beg and plead. Teach them that your “no” is firm, but only say “no” when you really feel that it’s a boundary you need to set.

Stand together with mom. It’s no good to have one parent say one thing, just to have the other contradict that parent. Instead, you and mom should be working together as a parenting team, and should stand by each other’s decisions. That said, it’s important that you talk out these decisions beforehand, so that you don’t end up having to support a decision you strongly disagree with. Whichever way don’t contradict yourselves in front of the children. It’s not good. It may interest you to know that some of my children in school sometimes say things like “ my daddy shouted on my mommy and my mommy shouted back” they see, they hear, they’re watching and they have emotions! Without one voice, you’ll never train them the right way.

Model good behaviour.  It’s one thing to tell your child what he/she should do, but to say one thing and do another just ruins the message. In fact, the real lesson your child will learn is what you do. Your child is always watching you, to learn appropriate behavior. Excessive negative behaviors will become ingrained in your child’s head. Bad manners, inconsiderate behavior, sloppy habits, anger and a negative attitude, laziness and greed … all these behaviors will rub off on your child. Instead, model the behavior you’d like your child to learn and that will make you their first and best teachers.

TEACH THEM TO TAKE DECISIONS. While it is easier to be set the ground rules at home, don’t be authoritarian. What you will be teaching your children is to submit to orders no matter what. Instead, teach them to take decisions, and they’ll grow up much more capable — and happier. Children like freedom and decisions, just like any other human being. Your job is to allow them to take decisions, but within the parameters that you set. Give them a choices e.g between two healthy breakfasts, for example, rather than allowing them to eat a bowl of unhealthy meal if they choose to.

Let them be themselves. Many parents sometimes try to mold their children into the persons they want them to be … even if your children’s personality doesn’t fit that mold. Instead, instill good behaviors and values in them, and give them the freedom to be themselves. Children, like all humans, have quirks and different personalities. Let those personalities flourish, Love your children for who they are, not who you want them to be.

Teach them about finances. From an early age, you can teach your children the value of money, how to save money to reach a goal, and later, how to earn money and how to manage money properly. Each of them can have a piggy bank at home and you intentionally ensure that they save. It is expected that accounts are opened for them and if possible insurance policies where you can help plan for their future by GOD’s grace. Keeping the piggy bank at home and helping them understand that from this mini savings at home, my money is transferred to the bank, and that every naira counts- you will naturally be instilling some financial values in them.

TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF The moment you become a dad, you give up so much of yourself. You however shouldn’t give up your entire life. You need to take very good care of yourself. Rest, take care of your health, eat right, avoid certain types of food especially all the junk, soft drinks and alcohol. Too much fatty food, oil high in cholesterol and too much on your minds could trigger a lot in the body. Like I said yesterday, you MUST be there to see your children become achievers in life. You deserve to be there because you are sacrificing so much to ensure that all is well with them. The average life expectancy of Nigerians has reduced to 46 years. Meaning what? That it’s okay to die after or from that age? I reject it totally for us all in JESUS name! Amen.  Exercise will go a long way in keeping the heart healthy, exercise with your family. It helps for bonding.  Remember  that you can’t take care of your children if you’re ill, you also want to ensure you teach your children to eat healthy and above all you want to sit back later in life by HIS grace to enjoy your own grandchildren someday!

Limit TV.     Too much of everything they say is bad. Don’t overindulge them with T.V. Rather you can invest in different types of resources that will improve their level of thinking. T.V  keeps a child from doing more imaginative playing, from reading, from getting outside to exercise. I recommend  “media time” with limits and more active and engaging activities that will help their overall physical, intellectual and social development.

My long father’s day message will be totally incomplete if I don’t mention this. BE GOOD TO MOM ALWAYS! Are you raising an eyebrow? No of course not! Need I say that you’re blessed above all men to have the wife you have. You both made that choice to spend the rest of your lives together, so may nothing and no one separate you both! Did I hear a resounding AMEN? AMENNNNNNNNN! What you saw in each other originally must keep you going for life.  Take time today to just enjoy the day.  you should be good to their mom even when they’re not looking. Spend time together, show affection to her, give her little surprises. Because when mom’s happy, the kids are happy and dad will be happy too!

IN CONCLUSION....

GIVE THEM HUGS!. Dads shouldn’t be afraid to show affection to their children. Children need physical contact, and not just from their moms. Snuggle with them, hug them, love them and enjoy them.

Tell them the best things anyone will ever to say to them ahead of time so nothing will ever come new to them. Be your daughters’ first love. Cherish them, as they get older, say all the sweetest things any young lad may ever dream to say to them and ensure you beat them to it so your girls grow up confident that “my daddy is my friend and anything at all that comes my way, I must let him know because am sure he will guide me appropriately”. You’re in a better position to handle that. For your sons, be their best friend who is ever ready to guide them through the path of life and be their confidant too. This will ensure they don’t go looking for solace elsewhere.  They will be bold enough to turn to you when they need to talk and if their friends are keeping things away from their parents, yours will not even dream of doing that.

When you show them that you love and value them, when you praise the things they do, when you teach them  how to be competent, and when you reprimand but not discourage them, what you will be doing is building their confidence and ensuring they develop a very high sense of self. This will position them to be ready to face the challenges of life. This will help them learn to make important decisions in life this will help them weather any storm that comes their way. This in the long run will mean that you have succeeded as a TERRIFIC DAD!

Olufunmilola Olota (Mrs)

lolaolota@yahoo.com

WHAT IS PROPHETIC WORSHIP?

Today many Christians are asleep, in a coma. We hear the Word preached, but it is as if we are under anaesthetic, unaware of what is going on around us spiritually and in the world we find ourselves in.  The Holy Spirit wants to revive us because He lives inside of us.

WHAT IS PROPHETIC WORSHIP?

Prophetic worship is is Spirit-led worship – it is simple. We think if something is not complicated it is not good enough, yet the Lord tells us to be like children, to keep things simple.
Worship is going into the Holy of Holies. From the moment the worship service begins, we are on a journey towards that place. One of the words translated worship in Greek is “Proskuneo.” It literally means to “prostrate oneself in homage.” It is used in Matthew 2:2 “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him.” (my emphasis). But while it means to bow it also means to “Kiss towards”, to blow a kiss towards God!

Worship is like a bridge into the Spiritual realm. It takes us into God’s presence and to become aware of His presence is part of worship. We need to flow under the direction of the Holy Spirit because he has new things for us in every service. God is a God of variety and ever so original. Every sunrise is new and original, no two snow-flakes are the same, in the same way no two meetings with Him will ever be similar. He has something new to say to us whenever we stop to listen. The Holy Spirit is like the wind. We can’t see the wind, but the result thereof is visible:

“The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8)

Prophetic worship is catching the wind of the Holy Spirit for a specific service and flowing with it.
The main aim of the Holy Spirit is to focus us on Jesus. This is difficult for musicians, worship leaders and pastors alike. We all have agendas, programmes and egos to struggle with. There needs to come a time when a true death to self and all these other things come so that we may indeed be lead by the chief Worship Leader, the Holy Spirit.
“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life” (John 6:63)

During Prophetic Worship Some Things Happen

a. SPIRITUAL WARFARE:

This is reflected in the songs. One might find that the music starts to flow in the direction of sounds of war. The drums might start to feature. The worship leader should be sensitive enough to step out of the way and let the anointing go at this point and make room for the Holy Spirit to flow through the percussive instruments etc. to go to battle and lead the people in spiritual warfare.

“The Lord will cause His glorious voice to be heard, and show the descent of His arm, with the indignation of His anger and the flame of a devouring fire, with scattering, tempest, and hailstones. For through the voice of the Lord Assyria will be beaten down, who struck with a rod. And in every place where the staff of punishment passes, which the Lord lays on him, it will be with tambourines and harps; and in battles of brandishing He will fight with it.” (Isaiah30:30-32)

b. INTERCESSION:

Fantastic times of prayer and intercession may be released during prophetic worship. One needs to be open to the prompting to the Holy Spirit and ready to drop the agenda at a minute’s notice. We were in Bloemfontein doing a worship conference and the first session was about to begin. As we walked onto the stage we noticed that there was a massive atlas behind us. The musicians started playing but somehow we felt that we had to pray for the nations. To our surprise there were many people from other nations and yet more who were supporting missionaries or had children and families serving the Lord in foreign countries. We had a glorious opening session and ended singing our national anthem, black and white brothers hand in hand together, under the leading of the Holy Spirit, instead of teaching what was on the agenda for the first two hours of the conference programme.

“For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God” (Romans 8:14).

c. PROPHECY:

A word of prophecy is released. The Rhema (spoken word) is spontaneously dropped into your spirit. One needs to ask the question though whether this is a word for oneself personally or for the body. Prophesy is like creating, declaring the word for NOW. We can’t say “last week the Lord said!” That is old news. What is He saying now? This brings glory and life!
“They are created now and not from the beginning; and before this day you have not heard them, lest you should say, `Of course I knew them.’ “(Isaiah 48:7)

d. SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY IS RELEASED

“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel: `Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ says the Lord of hosts. `Who are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain!’”(Zechariah 5:6-7)

When the Lord speaks anything to you during the worship (especially if you are leading the meeting or are in the team,) and a spiritual determination comes to your heart as there is power in those words. In II Corinthians 6:16 (b) we read: “For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will dwell in them and walk among them. I will be their God, and they shall be My
people.”’ —- Like with Adam.

Too often we are doing all the talking so that there is no time for the Spirit to talk. For years we have only had a monologue with God. How monotonous and boring this must be for God and frustrating it can become for you, yet we do this with God, we do all the talking. Mostly asking, never taking the time to listen and then to verbalise what we perceive He is saying.

e. GOD WANTS COMMUNION WITH US

He wants to speak. Write down what He says. Pray in tongues, stop, listen, what comes to mind is God speaking. He speaks in the first person. We have to give over control to the Holy Spirit and trust Him. We are so afraid to risk. What if it is my imagination, what if it the devil. Where is your faith?! The Word says

“For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, if his son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will he give him a serpent? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask Him!”(Matthew 7:7-11)

In II Corinthians 3:17 it is written:

“Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.”
Where the Holy Spirit is allowed to be Lord, where He is given full right of way, liberty to do as He pleases, where His is not limited, He will bring Liberty.

The Fear of man keeps us locked up in jail. We are often more concerned with the opinions and approval of man than with doing the will of God. It is part of human behavior and needs to be brought to the cross. It happened already while Jesus was walking the earth:
“Nevertheless even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God”. (John 12:42-43)

Liberty is not license, doing as one pleases! We have to make sure it is the leading of the Holy Spirit. It is important to know that with every move of the Holy Spirit there is always flesh involved, excesses abound. The Lord is not fazed by this. It passes. It is part of our learning to discern the good from the best and the precious from the vile. That is why it is important to test everything and cling onto that which is good. To utterly dismiss something because it is strange or outside of our experience field is equally excessive and dangerous. The Pharisees accused Jesus of driving out Satan by Beelzebub and He said that that the sin against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven them, for you can not call that which is from God evil.

There is a fine line to be had when we “discern.” We have to make sure that we are not “judging” something prematurely. We can take a leaf from the book of Gamaliel who said the following of the apostles:

“Then one in the council stood up, a Pharisee named Gamaliel, a teacher of the law held in respect by all the people, and commanded them to put the apostles outside for a little while….”
“And he said to them: ‘Men of Israel, take heed to yourselves what you intend to do regarding these men. And now I say to you, keep away from these men and let them alone; for if this plan or this work is of men, it will come to nothing; but if it is of God, you cannot overthrow it lest you even be found to fight against God.”’ (Acts 34,35,38,39.)

We must invite the Holy Spirit to come and then, whatever we do, do not short circuit what He wants to do. (John 2:5 (b)-”Whatever He says to you, do it.”)

Paul instructs us in Ephesians 5:18-19: “And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; but be filled with the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord…”

The Holy Spirit is like a Dove. We need to get to hear His voice, follow His leading and make a friend of the Holy Spirit.