In last week's blog, I stated: "I am convinced that what is read in the Book of Acts can be, should be, and shall be a part of the daily lives of our children. It is a day for the miraculous to be done. The timing of this launching of the signs and wonders is today!"
This week, allow me to use a story found in Acts 3 to establish the foundation for a signs and wonders ministry. You all know the story. Peter and John encounter the lame man at the Temple gate. In ministering healing to the beggar, Peter says, "I don't have any silver or gold, but I do have something else I can give you. By the power of Jesus Christ from Nazareth, stand up and walk!" Acts 3:6 (New Century Version) Instantly, the man received his healing.
When the Holy Ghost manifests His presence, there will always be a need for an explanation. When the Holy Ghost speaks and/or shows that He is present, it will put a kink in the natural mind. Peter and John's explanation is found in Acts 4. The Bible begins the explanation with "Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said unto them ..."
After Peter's anointed explanation, we find the reason for the manifest power of God. The demonstration of the Holy Ghost witnessed in the healing of the lame beggar came because:
"When the Council saw the boldness of Peter and John and could see that they were obviously uneducated non-professionals, they were amazed and realized what being with Jesus had done for them!" Acts 4:13 (The Living Bible)
Are you ready for the great revelation? “… being with Jesus”. The boldness to take the man by the hand and command him to rise up and walk came from knowing Jesus. They walked with Him and talked with Him. He wasn’t a casual acquaintance. He wasn’t Someone with whom they had spoken to occasionally. They knew Him and still communed with Him through the Holy Ghost.
Here’s the foundation for the supernatural. Our intimacy with Christ will give us the confidence and boldness to follow the Holy Ghost’s promptings which will bring about the exploits.
To substantiate this teaching, let’s prove it by intertwining Daniel 11:32 and Acts 4:13. “… the people who know their God shall prove themselves strong and shall stand firm and do exploits [for God]." (Amplified Translation) Because of Peter and John’s time with Jesus (know their God) they had a boldness (were strong) and were used by God (do exploits).
Start today establishing this foundation. Close your books. Turn off the teaching CDs. Push everything aside and go get into your prayer closet and get to know Him. From this will come the ability to "stand firm and do exploits."
Monday, February 28, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
Signs & Wonders
Can you sense what I am sensing? I have such a knowing in my spirit that this is the day of children supernaturally flowing with the Holy Ghost. I am convinced that what is read in the Book of Acts can be, should be, and shall be a part of the daily lives of our children. It is a day for the miraculous to be done. The timing of this launching of the signs and wonders is today!
Why do I say this? At the beginning of the year, I heard so distinctly the Holy Ghost speak to me the words from Daniel 11:32 which says, "... the people who know their God shall prove themselves strong and shall stand firm and do exploits [for God]." (Amplified Translation) As I meditated on His unction, I could sense the Holy Spirit saying, "... the children who know their God ..." Soon, the words "... the children ..." became “... my children ..."
Since that day, I find myself saying the words of this verse under my breath throughout the day and then at other times declaring it aloud to individuals and finally announcing it in our services. This word from the Holy Spirit is constantly rolling around in my spirit. The (my) children who know their God will be strong and mighty and see the power of God manifest in and through their lives. This is the year of exploits! This declaration isn't hype or a major case of wishful thinking. Without question, I can see in my spirit the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy with children prophesying, turning neighborhoods and schools and even churches upside down as they dare to flow with the Holy Ghost.
The reason for today's blog entry is to challenge you and the people from the 62 nations reading this blog to begin to declare and prepare for Daniel 11:32 to become a reality in your children and children's ministry. I sense such urgency for you to begin to declare that for those who know their God (which includes the children in your ministry) this is the year of the supernatural.
No longer will signs and wonders in children's ministries refer to the signs that hang in the church hallways or people having to wonder when the service will finally end. No, a million times no. Get ready for a supernatural visitation and habitation that will change the business-as-usual mentality of your children's ministry. Get ready for Holy Ghost interruptions in your Sunday school, children's church, and mid-week children's clubs. Get ready for it to be noised abroad telling of the exploits performed by children who have learned to work together with the Holy Ghost.
In the next few blog entries, I’ll share the key factors for the unveiling of God's presence and power.
Why do I say this? At the beginning of the year, I heard so distinctly the Holy Ghost speak to me the words from Daniel 11:32 which says, "... the people who know their God shall prove themselves strong and shall stand firm and do exploits [for God]." (Amplified Translation) As I meditated on His unction, I could sense the Holy Spirit saying, "... the children who know their God ..." Soon, the words "... the children ..." became “... my children ..."
Since that day, I find myself saying the words of this verse under my breath throughout the day and then at other times declaring it aloud to individuals and finally announcing it in our services. This word from the Holy Spirit is constantly rolling around in my spirit. The (my) children who know their God will be strong and mighty and see the power of God manifest in and through their lives. This is the year of exploits! This declaration isn't hype or a major case of wishful thinking. Without question, I can see in my spirit the fulfillment of Joel's prophecy with children prophesying, turning neighborhoods and schools and even churches upside down as they dare to flow with the Holy Ghost.
The reason for today's blog entry is to challenge you and the people from the 62 nations reading this blog to begin to declare and prepare for Daniel 11:32 to become a reality in your children and children's ministry. I sense such urgency for you to begin to declare that for those who know their God (which includes the children in your ministry) this is the year of the supernatural.
No longer will signs and wonders in children's ministries refer to the signs that hang in the church hallways or people having to wonder when the service will finally end. No, a million times no. Get ready for a supernatural visitation and habitation that will change the business-as-usual mentality of your children's ministry. Get ready for Holy Ghost interruptions in your Sunday school, children's church, and mid-week children's clubs. Get ready for it to be noised abroad telling of the exploits performed by children who have learned to work together with the Holy Ghost.
In the next few blog entries, I’ll share the key factors for the unveiling of God's presence and power.
Monday, February 14, 2011
Boldness of the Spirit
Here's a thought that I have been meditating on for the past few days.
The measure of my boldness will be determined
by the measure of my relationship with the Holy Spirit.
by the measure of my relationship with the Holy Spirit.
Consider this verse:
"And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness." Acts 4:31
When did their supernatural boldness begin? When they were filled with the Holy Ghost. In other words, being filled equals being bold. The flipside of this equation would indicate that if there is a deficiency in my boldness, there must be a deficiency in my time with the Holy Spirit. My time of communion with Him will intensify my boldness to work together with Him and be able to take on what would seem impossible to human reasoning or venture into areas where others would fear to go.
"And when they had prayed, the place was shaken where they were assembled together; and they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and they spake the word of God with boldness." Acts 4:31
When did their supernatural boldness begin? When they were filled with the Holy Ghost. In other words, being filled equals being bold. The flipside of this equation would indicate that if there is a deficiency in my boldness, there must be a deficiency in my time with the Holy Spirit. My time of communion with Him will intensify my boldness to work together with Him and be able to take on what would seem impossible to human reasoning or venture into areas where others would fear to go.
My admonition to you this week echoes Paul's instructions to the Ephesians. "Be filled with the Spirit". (Ephesians 5:18) In doing so, you will go where men dare not go and become a WMD (weapon of mass destruction) to Satan and his adversaries.
Monday, February 7, 2011
Ponderables #2
When I sit down to write this blog each week, I wrestle with two things. First, what to write. There's so much that I want to share. I struggle with which thought to pass along to you. I'd post a daily blog entry but reality tells me that my schedule is already too full. Second, how to limit what I write. A heart that is overflowing tends to create an overflowing blog entry. I struggle to keep this to just 300 to 400 words.
This week, I will eliminate part of the struggle by not giving just one thought. Instead, I'll pass along three quick ponderables. Though the thoughts are an easy, quick read, if meditated on they might challenge and/or alter your walk in the Spirit.
* Praying in and through the Spirit is a matter of our will. The Apostle Paul wrote, "I will pray with the Spirit". (1 Corinthians 14:15) Being in a certain location and/or having a certain kind of emotion should have no bearing on our praying in the Spirit. This isn't a being at church thing. Praying in the Spirit isn't something that is produced because of a certain song being sung or played. All that is necessary is our will.
* Praying in and through the Spirit is a matter of our discipline. Again, referring to Paul when he wrote, "I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all." (1 Corinthians 14:18). Evidently Paul had learned that praying in and through the Holy Spirit isn't a matter of convenience. It is a matter of necessity. The discipline of praying in the Spirit causes one to push aside the lesser (the busyness of a schedule) to obtain the greater (the benefits of flowing together with the Holy Spirit).
* Praying in and through the Spirit is a matter of our availability. Again, referring to Paul when he wrote, "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." (Galatians 5:25) While I readily recognize that the walk in the Spirit is far, far more than praying in our heavenly prayer language, praying in the Spirit is a part of our walk. To me, that means that throughout the day, utilizing my prayer language is a natural part of my lifestyle. While I am driving in my truck, I'll pray in the Spirit. At times while standing waiting in line, I can quietly pray in the language of the Spirit.
Meditate on these thoughts. I'll be back next week. Vickie and I pray God's richest blessings upon all that you do for Christ and His Kingdom.
This week, I will eliminate part of the struggle by not giving just one thought. Instead, I'll pass along three quick ponderables. Though the thoughts are an easy, quick read, if meditated on they might challenge and/or alter your walk in the Spirit.
* Praying in and through the Spirit is a matter of our will. The Apostle Paul wrote, "I will pray with the Spirit". (1 Corinthians 14:15) Being in a certain location and/or having a certain kind of emotion should have no bearing on our praying in the Spirit. This isn't a being at church thing. Praying in the Spirit isn't something that is produced because of a certain song being sung or played. All that is necessary is our will.
* Praying in and through the Spirit is a matter of our discipline. Again, referring to Paul when he wrote, "I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all." (1 Corinthians 14:18). Evidently Paul had learned that praying in and through the Holy Spirit isn't a matter of convenience. It is a matter of necessity. The discipline of praying in the Spirit causes one to push aside the lesser (the busyness of a schedule) to obtain the greater (the benefits of flowing together with the Holy Spirit).
* Praying in and through the Spirit is a matter of our availability. Again, referring to Paul when he wrote, "If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit." (Galatians 5:25) While I readily recognize that the walk in the Spirit is far, far more than praying in our heavenly prayer language, praying in the Spirit is a part of our walk. To me, that means that throughout the day, utilizing my prayer language is a natural part of my lifestyle. While I am driving in my truck, I'll pray in the Spirit. At times while standing waiting in line, I can quietly pray in the language of the Spirit.
Meditate on these thoughts. I'll be back next week. Vickie and I pray God's richest blessings upon all that you do for Christ and His Kingdom.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
