Tearing Down Strongholds

In my last post I wrote about the need to “rebuild the foundation,” in my life, as it pertained to my loved ones. I could see the enemy laying the groundwork, for many years, and he had robbed us of so much. The Holy Spirit, revealed everything to me, through His discernment, in His given time.

I had been deceived. Angry. Bitter. I had fought, because of the years of hurt that I’d experienced. Every bitter seed sown into my heart. The enemy had used this. And this is why the Lord tells us to keep this from taking root. Because the enemy is so good at what he does. He will allow this to grow in soil and we have eyes that perceive something, but we are looking through a flawed glass. He loves this. To focus on something else, so that we are distracted from the truth. As long as there is discord. Division. Because the power is in unity. That has always been the Lords message to us.

So if you see contention and division, you can bet that the enemy is at work. Spinning lies, to keep you divided. But how does he do this? He is a master at his craft. He’s been at it since the beginning of time. In the Garden of Eden. Look at how he spoke to Eve. He posed a question to make her doubt her creator. He didn’t use a blatant deception. It was a question making her doubt the authority of God.

Satan uses enough truth mixed with lies, to make it acceptable. This is the world system. He rules the world system, until the return of our Lord. Now, our responsibility as believers, is to understand this and to realize that each day presents another day of warfare.

He uses the people closest to us to bring us down. So therein lies, the meaning of the words which Jesus spoke of when he said, “And do not think that I came to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be those of his own household. (Matthew 10:34) The warfare caused by the knowledge of this truth, is incredible, and the enemy will do everything possible to divide as a result.

Paul had spoken of this warfare in Ephesians. We skip past this in many teachings, and it is the most important aspect of a new believers life. I never understood what was happening to me in most situations, and I think that many believers are lost to the world, because they aren’t trained.

Christ taught His disciples to be spiritual soldiers and this is what is important. The Bride of Christ is a warrior Bride. We fight against spiritual forces of this world. As in any military, we need to understand our enemy. Paul said, “We are not ignorant of his schemes.”

In 2 Corinthians 10:4 “The weapons we fight with are not of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.” (NIV) Or in the New Living Translation, We use God’s might weapons not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of the human reasoning and to destroy the false arguments.

Now let’s look at the spiritual world versus the carnal world, for all the cynics out there. When you look at this world, you must admit, there is an order to it. There’s no denying this. Even the seasons, give reason to believe that there is some order to the universe.

Now, there is also an order in the spirit world, as there is in the natural world. Paul told us that “natural world speaks of things eternal.” So, we do know that the spirit world came first, and will exist after this.

We know that there is a heirerarchy, because our we are told of the greater and lesser beings. And He gave authority, even in heaven. He began this also in the Garden of Eden. It was important for everyone to submit to some authority and no one to be a law unto themselves. This is why Satan is referred to as, “the lawless one, full of rebellion.” It is also why the Lord said, that “He demands obedience above sacrifice.” And rebellion is as witchcraft.”

He wants us to know that He is a Father who loves us and protects us. That His discipline is not out of anger, but to keep us safe, from the enemy. He is full of love and compassion, as a perfect Father. The enemy’s lies are to keep us in fear and running from His love and protection, just as Adam and Eve did in the Garden.

The enemy will get a space, or foothold, in our mind,  and if it is anger, toward someone, he will spin a lie. Now our mind is like a battlefield. If this lie is not dealt with, it becomes a fortress, or stronghold. A stronghold is a belief system, by which we operate. Our basis for ‘truth,’ now comes from this position. This instead of God’s Word.  This is why the Lord tells us to “pull this down.”  We are told to “cast down every vain imagination, which exalts itself against the knowledge of Jesus Christ.”

I had a pastor preaching years ago about the meaning of Golgotha, and how appropriate. “The Skull.” For Christ to be crucified on the Mountain, and to have told us, in essence, put to death, every thought, which enters our mind, that doesn’t come from Him. I saw this place, when I went to Israel, and it gave me a shudder, to know, his blood ran down from this hill, for my sickening thoughts, which I refused to crucify. Every nail, that I placed in His flesh. Every thorn, I pounded into  His head, every time, I spit on Him. Every time, I mocked Him. Yes, that was me. And I wouldn’t dare think otherwise. All I could do was bow my head and say, forgive me Lord.

The enemy will go back and forth between two or more people. Hoping that they will not speak. He will continue to do this and build on this. The people get angrier and angrier. Sometimes not even realizing it is a lie. Terrible destruction happens as a result. As believer’s it is very frustrating. Even seem insane. Don’t forget. The enemy is good at what he does. Judas was a disciple. Just remember love each other, because the Lord loves all of us, and our one common enemy is doing this.

This is why the Lord says, “And if a brother offends another, go to this brother and speak to them.” Sometimes it has never even taken place. The enemy has lied about the whole thing. This is also why intervention takes place in families. Because the offending person, is spinning lies to everyone and keeping each person in their place. Hoping that no one finds out.

Why does a person do this? Because the enemy has this person so bound up in fear about their own sin, that they’re afraid, if anyone ever finds out who they really are, they will not be loved. But they have forgotten, that the Father knows all the secrets of our hearts. The hidden things. He loves us. The enemy has deceived them.  So, for the rest of their life, they live in bondage to the enemy. He holds the keys. He torments them. Satan is referred to as, “The Accuser of the brethren. He accuses us night and day before the Father. ” The Father wants repentance, and the enemy does not.

As long as we are in darkness, we are in prison. The Lord told us, “That they overcame him by the word of their testimony, and the blood of the lamb, and by not loving their lives unto death.”

 

The Skull

So, let’s tear down the strongholds together, and remember to love one another, as the Lord loves us!

Pure Grace

I have been waking up for nights on end. The voice of my father, whispering to me. Crying out in anguish at his unrest. I had made the final discovery at all that has been done to desecrate his wishes and his desire for me to right these wrongs.

He knows me, more than anyone, and this is why I believe, it fell upon my shoulders to make this right. Yet, he also knew, my immediate response would be anger. My brother, describes me as, “the pit bull.” I was born under, the symbol of the scales. Yes, justice is what seems right, but I also know that, it isn’t always in balance, without mercy.

If that was the case, there wouldn’t be a prison large enough, for mankind, as we all would be guilty as charged. Didn’t we all have a hand in the crucifixion?

To Be Forgiven

I sometimes find myself envious of those with no heart at all, as they are oblivious to the things which disturb me. I cannot turn off my feelings and at night, I hear the spirit world come alive. The crying of my father is unbearable to me. The pain which has been caused as a result of all of this.

About two years ago, I felt something happening which caused my feelings of hurt for him, to be resurrected. I didn’t quite understand it. I pulled out his Will. My girlfriend had come over to help me sift through documents. I said, “I don’t know what’s going on, but I feel he’s trying to tell me something.” Although he had been gone for quite some time, I felt as if I had just lost him. Something very unsettled in my spirit. I felt myself grieving in my spirit.

She certainly saw that his wife was unscrupulous, from the documents and as evil as one could be, but I couldn’t possible know what it was at that time. I just felt something in my spirit. And it seemed I was grieving his loss, and he wanted me to know something which had been hidden. Something unfinished. Something which needed closure.

Last week I found out. It was right in front of me all along. But it seemed the Lord had not wanted me to know until it’s proper time. Because He knows I would more likely have had a breakdown right then and there, or just been ready to go to the highest court in the land. Which wouldn’t do any good anyway.

No, because, when the highest court is corrupt, what can man do? My father’s blood is crying out for justice. He wants rest for his soul, and he has been deprived, and because of this, I have also been deprived of this rest. No man can understand this, unless they have experienced this very personal experience. To lie awake at night and listen to the painful whispers of a loved one asking for simple wishes fulfilled, so that they can sleep.

But I knelt before my Lord, after being told, “this is impossible,” by someone to remedy this situation.And He reminded me, “what things are impossible with man, are possible with God. You are going about this the wrong way. Nothing can be accomplished with a heart full of anger. Did I not speak to you that I will not move, “by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit?  So anger is not the answer. For this was not the heart of your father, nor is it the heart of your heavenly Father. If you want the answer, look at the attributes of the Holy Spirit. ” Well, I know the answer will always be found first in love. And this is a difficult lesson in the midst of my own pain. But it is in the measure which will be returned as it is given.

The Lord sends his ministering angels, nonetheless, as a friend came knocking at my door, in the throes of my pain, to bring me a shirt, she had purchased. It was almost a matter of urgency. I felt it was the Lord, sending someone to check on me, as I was in such crisis upon my discovery. Feeling such despair and there was my friend with her son. An emergency call from heaven. A lifeline that I needed when I was sinking.

A few days later the Lord began to remind me, that it was my father and mother who taught you the meaning of grace. An your brother did when he lay on his death bed. And I thought of my sweet, angelic brother, Chris. As he lay, dying of Aids, I never forget his words to me. I was so full of anger toward the person who had taken advantage of his childlike innocence. “I’m not mad at him,” he said.

After I accepted Christ, I understood, how Christ-like, those words, were. A lesson in true grace. Yes, if we were all held accountable for our deeds, we would be executed. I know.

My Heavenly Father tells me that there is nothing man has done, which cannot be fixed. And Christ already made the way. He has removed the obstacles and given me the answer. The answer is grace. He has shown me what must be done to solve this dilemma. Oh what messes, the enemy creates for man. “The thief comes, to rob, to kill and to destroy, but I am come to give life, and life more abundantly.”

Upon discovering this strange rumblings in the heavens, I began to pray. I knew there was warfare taking place, but didn’t understand. I thought it was related to many other things. But the Lord has brought clarity. He brought the angels to help me in my battle. I know who they are. Although I’m a human with a foolish heart, they’ve tried to redirect me. To get me refocused. The incredible pain is where the enemy wants me to reside. I refuse to allow myself to stay there. I cannot. My soul is in shreds and I hear the swords of the battle above me. That fire in my soul is passed down from generations and I have to put an end to this. It is a prayer I offer up to the Lord “deliver me from evil.” I remember Daniel and his battle.

“Do not be afraid Daniel. Since the very first day you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words, were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of  the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days.”

I know what this kind of attack is and I’ve lived it since I was a young girl. If people don’t believe in the spirit world, they cannot wage warfare. But, my father spoke to me, because he knows, I have spiritual ears, which can hear. It is like the undercurrent in a river. We see the water flowing, yet the raging current is what has the real power to carry anything away, without being seen. A person that says, “This isn’t possible, because, I don’t see it, is a fool. They will step into this calm water and be carried away by its pull, just as they are, every day.

My life has been full of pain. But I will not let this define who I am. I will not let this be a legacy of bitterness and unforgiveness. But I will choose to walk in grace, as I carry out my father’s will. I want mankind to know the Lord is a just and merciful God, anxious to forgive and not waiting to punish us.

The Scribe

Well, I feel as if I’ve been through a serious battle and recovering once again. It wasn’t quite as serious as the time the enemy had laid me out for two years. I had literally been frozen. Incapacitated, with fear, because of his lies. Post traumatic stress. It had me in a deep depression and panic attacks would come and go. At times I thought I would never function again.

I’d forgotten many of Paul’s words to believer’s and the battle which we are waging. That we must remember the battle begins in the minds of believers, and this is the stronghold, which we must protect. It is where the those lies must be ‘crucified’ or they will become the basis of a belief system, which opposes faith.

It reminded me of my trip to Masada, the fortress in Israel. I went last March.  What a story of holding this fortress. I feel as if this is an analogy to my life. And Paul had a similar message to us; “Hold every thought captive to Jesus Christ.” When translating this it is a military term. What a word picture I had on my visit to Masada

There is a saying, “Masada will not fall again.” This is something which I hold on to.

I was watching my brother this morning as I thought about the terrible last few days of warfare, I had been under. I let the battle wage against me. He would have no idea and was just as content as could be. This is how I should be and this is exactly what the Lord was trying to show me.

How many times did He tell us to be like the little children? And here he is. With the mind of a child. Perpetually frozen in time. A constant reminder for me. Yes, when I brought my brother home to live, I think the agencies in my state were even shocked as they had been duped by the paperwork, that he had been somehow capable of having faculties, that he did not have.

He is a little boy in every way. Yet, he sits with pen in hand when the Pastor’s speak on Sunday. He copies everything he hears on tv. With his children’s bible which I had given him. I have wondered at times, what he”s writing, so I will take his notebooks and look.

It’s beautiful to see his notes. The word of God displayed in childlike scrawl. Our Lord tells us that  ”The Word does not return void.”  Lord has also told us. And “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.”

I have to laugh at how upset I had been just a few days earlier and I thought of  a story in the bible. It was King David in one of his battles. I thought of one account in particular, where he was surrounded by his enemies. At fear of death, he literally began to drool and act like a crazy man. Here he was, the King of Israel, acting like he was out of his mind! They took one look at him and said, “Let him go. He’s clearly mad.” Now only chapter’s earlier, this same man had taken out Goliath with one stone! What had happened?

I thought of Elijah. He had confronted that prophets of that witch Jezebel and mocked them to their face. Telling them that the Baal gods, were probably asleep or on vacation and waiting for them to answer. While he dumped water on the altar again and again and God came down with fire!

Yet later, he was running for his life from Jezebel and hiding in a desert. It just didn’t make sense. But of course I know that this is what happens with warfare and the mind. In my own life I have seen the Lord deal with each and every person who has ever threatened me in one way or another. I know He protects me.

And I know that it is true, “deception destroys faith.” I got that message. So it’s important to eat the bread of His word and in The madness of this world will continue. And I felt sorry for those caught in the snare of their own devices.I pray for them to be set free from this deception. Perhaps in their own quiet places, they will climb the snake path all the way to the top, and take the fortress.

“Finally be strong in the Lord and in His mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes you may be able to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. (Ephesians 6:12-18)

Thy Will Be Done

I am watching the political race and I’m also experiencing something similar at my own place of employment. As I spoke to a friend the other day, only one word came to mind about all of this, ‘disillusioned.’  But the Lord keeps reminding me that everything is in His hands and this is all part of His plan.

My job is prayer and to take a stand for His righteousness. I have been grieved by so much pain which has been caused in my own personal life and the lives of so many other’s because of this greed.I don’t wage war for the material, or I would be like the people I am battling.  And it is the ultimate bully, of our souls, who pulls the strings of man. He drives men’s hearts to desire that which is evil. Again and again,we are told in scripture, “You do not war against flesh and blood. But against powers, principalities, and rulers of this ‘dark world.’” This is our chapter in spiritual warfare Ephesians 6) and it is extremely important that believers understand this Especially when we come up against these powers. They operate through people.

This is why Paul exhorted us to remember our battle.He says, “We are  not ignorant of Satan’s devices.” He’s tricky, deceptive as can be. Always trying to distract the real focus and goal in mind.  As frustrated and hurt that I may be, I constantly think of those people in the grips of the enemy’s hands. And I pray, “that they escape from the snare of the enemy who has taken them captive to do his will.”

This discussion is one which I had with a person the other day. I was told that this person “was in the real world,” and it isn’t pretty. As if I’m unaware for some reason. The impression seemed to be, that I was fighting for some kind of “pay-back,” for what I feel has been stolen. That feeling of giving anything back to me, is nonexistent. I’m not emotional about that. When it comes to injustice, I do get emotional. I see it as righteous anger. I know I’m impulsive and brash, at times. I’d say if I compared myself to any disciple, it would be a combination of Peter’s temper and Paul’s ability to talk. Yes, Peter cut off the ear of a guard at Jesus arrest, and His words, are constantly ringing in my own, “He who lives by the sword also dies, by the sword.” But hey, as much as Peter screwed up look at the Lords, love for him. And when I think of Paul and his preaching until a man fell out of the window and died, only to have him come out and have to resurrect him, I have to laugh. I know that’s been a fairly good description of me at times as well. But here again, the man used to murder Christian’s, and look at what God can do with a life consecrated to Him?

Of course, the Lord has told us that, “we are in this world, but not of it.” But this doesn’t  make me immune to it. In fact, I would dare to say, I’ve suffered more direct hits from the enemy than most. In his attempts to thwart my faith, I have endured the most intense suffering. But my faith has only grown stronger through it all. I can tell people that the enemy is real, he wants to rob you of your faith, kill and destroy you.” This is a reality. I’ve done hand-to hand combat with him. If you want to talk about what isn’t pretty, this isn’t. But how far are you willing to go to save the souls, that are being stolen by him? And let me tell you, if you are real about loving His people, you will be under spiritual attack. But the Lord has promised, “His ministering angels who minister to all the heirs of salvation.”

The injustice perpetrated upon people, is something which the enemy has done by using his strategy of corruption within the hearts of men. Those men are also captive. They may be at a higher level of income, but captives to Satan’s devices, nonetheless.

My lifetime has been a sacrifice of caring for the needs of others, and I don’t look for income to impress anyone. Because I don’t need this gratification, I don’t find myself striving for the same things as others. I feel a deep compassion when people are hurt, and the person I was speaking with made the valid point that people “above me only care about money, not us.” Of course I know this is true, generally speaking, but just as there are exceptions to every rule, I would say, I found someone above me, who had a soft heart. Full of compassion and by the same token, there are people in the lowest income bracket which are also full of greed. This is not isolated to levels of society. It is sin, plain and simple. But in the end, it is the One, above all, who gives me grace and supplies my needs, so that I have what I need for the battle.

The Lord is King of all Kings, yet He said that He had come to this earth “to serve, and not to be served.” Well, then why would we be more important than our own creator? No, you see, my eyes are not clouded by this world and indeed, I could say I probably see a clearer picture, than some who claim to be “in the real world.” The truth is that, “the real world,” is not this material at all, but the spiritual behind the scenes. This is where we, (kingdom people) do our battle. Interceding and going where the Lord sends us. I have the discernment of the Holy Spirit as my guide. He leads me into the dark places to shine His light of truth. It makes some very uncomfortable, and others are drawn to it.

But in the end, He is the only one who can lead the way out of darkness. Because as we know, light penetrates darkness and it is not the other way around. The true world is the one which our Lord has designed. It is not corrupted by man and his sinful desires. Which we know is ruled by the ‘god of this age.’ This present kingdom will have its conclusion and the Lord’s kingdom will supplant this ‘real world.” This is why “the government is upon His shoulders and His kingdom shall have no end.”

But He has placed His people on this earth with a commission from Him, and He has told us that He has anointed us for this task. So there is no place which He sends us, where He does not anoint us. The anointing comes from a life of surrender. You don’t seclude yourself from the world, but “go into all the world.”

I had a pastor who used to say, “If you pray for anything for me, pray for my anointing.” Yes, this is a worthy prayer. The anointing is what breaks the yoke of bondage. It is not something which one can get from teachings or sitting in church. Indeed, Christ, spent very little time in “church.” (temple) You will see, the anointing requires action. It is the ‘precious gift inside these earthen vessels.” It cannot be stolen nor, can it be given to others. You can pray for it though, and the Lord gives freely to all who ask. So, as the kingdom of darkness grows darker, continue to pray, His will be done, in your life and the lives of others. In this way, this laying down of your desires, is the beginning of receiving the most important gift of all.

“The name of the Lord is a Strong Tower”

The righteous run into it and they are safe. Proverbs 18:10

For many months the Lord has told me that a darkness was coming upon the earth. It is going to get worse. Of course it relates to a spiritual and natural darkness. It always has dual meanings, as it did when Christ spoke. When he gave gifts to His servants, He also gave the gift of prophecy, for those who have the ears to hear, and also the faith to walk in it.

I have always had the ability to see with spiritual eyes, and the Lord has known that I do not shrink back for fear of man’s opinions, so I speak. Of course, most of the time, I don’t understand in the natural what the full meaning of the picture or words really may be, but He tells me to speak. “What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight;what I whisper in your ear;proclaim from the roofs.” Matthew 10:27

This is what the prophetic means. To see future events and to know the heart of God. But one must be in total communion with Him. Surrendered to His will. Yes, it is laying your life down. And Paul tells us in scripture that we should “eagerly desire this gift of prophecy.” 1 Corinthians 14:39 

Look at what is written about The Day of the Lord in Joel 2:28, “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on ALL people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions. Even on my servants, both men and women, I will pour out my Spirit in those days

I will show wonders in the heavens and on the earth. Blood and fire and billows of smoke.The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and dreadful Day of the Lord.

And EVERYONE who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved!

Jesus Christ IS the spirit of prophecy. He IS the WORD made flesh. So as you can read, everything in this points to the signs of His coming. In the book of Revelation it also tells us that the Spirit and the Bride say come! When we are filled with His Spirit, we become His bride. We have accepted His proposal. We eagerly await His arrival. So the Holy Spirit in us and the Bride, (the body of believers) testify together and pray “Thy kingdom come.’

We continue to do the work of the kingdom as the Lord prepares the world. We have the gift of the Spirit to give signs to warn and encourage. This is how we know. There are others all around the world preparing for His arrival. The prince of darkness also knows who we are and he is alarmed, but there is nothing he can do stand against the Lord.  Nor can He stop the anointed ones. He does not have the gift of prophecy and he cannot understand the angelic tongues. At times I can almost hear swords of warfare above my head as I’m in prayer.

As the dark gets darker, the light will get brighter and the gates of hell shall not prevail against us.

The End of Your Story Has Yet To Be Written

Is this a cross or a sword?

I bought this figure of Jesus in Brazil at a flea market. I thought it was unique, with its crown of thorns and cross. I loved that it was a burlap cloth shaped into this figure.

One day I found it lying on the floor with the cross pulled forward. As I started to wonder what had happened, our cat, Benji, came running into the room, and as if he was claiming Jesus as his mouse, he grabbed Him by his paws and began to furiously kick and bite Him. A fierce battle was taking place between Benji and Jesus and I called my daughter in to watch this scene. We laughed as our cat was rolling around and trying to hold Jesus in his grasp. “No wonder that Jesus has taken His cross and turned it into a weapon,” I commented. As Benji became worn out from the fight, he finally let go and slinked away, as if defeated.

I tried to pick up Jesus and stretch His cross fashioned sword, to His back where it belonged, but to no avail. It would not budge, without my fear of tearing it off. I wondered at how this cat had transformed my Jesus like this.

Then I started to realize the analogy that the Lord was showing me. It was very clear when I thought of scriptures that the Lord had spoken involving ‘the sword.’ “Do not think I have come to this earth to bring peace, but a sword. This sword shall divide one from another.”

I also thought of the fact that the Lord shapes us in these battles. He reminds us that “our adversary, the devil, roams the earth to and fro, like a roaring lion,seeking whom he may devour.”

What a picture this is of those statements. Benji, a picture of the adversary and Christ taking the cross and making it a sword. The cross and it’s message is the sword that will divide. Truth from lies, light and darkness.

I remembered Paul telling the believers that the Lord speaks the spiritual truths, things eternal, through what is natural. Yes, if we have “the ears to hear what the Spirit is saying,” we shall have a constant dialogue with our heavenly Father.

I decided that I would not try to move the cross back into its original position, since it was the Lord that had been speaking through this, to me. I was in a battle and this is because of the cross and this is a constant reminder to me.

One day the “swords shall be beaten into plowshares,” but that day has not yet arrived, so I must be prepared to fight my enemy with my spiritual weapons, for as long as it takes.

Yesterday I had been asking the Lord why I had been unsuccessful in my pursuit of certain things in my life, even though it seemed I had the abilities needed to succeed. Others that had not been as gifted in some areas seemed to succeed where I did not.

At this moment I heard a song playing and I knew it was my answer. “The Lord will not give me anything that will come between us.” Yes, I thought, that is it, isn’t it? It may have become a distraction from my true calling.

The Lord reminded me that my accomplishments are not earthly, nor can they be measured by this worlds standards. They are often unseen and yet, He sees them.

I had a friend of mine over for dinner a few nights ago. He is someone who I met in the ministry that I was called to, years ago. He has become part of this family. As we talked he told me about the grief he experienced when he was first diagnosed with aids. He was living with his nephew and his nephew’s wife. They had shared all of the bills. When he became ill and found out that he had been told he had aids, he shared this with his nephew. At this point, he said, his nephews wife left the table and both his nephew and his wife told him, he would have to move.

He went to the hospital because he was so ill and he was in total despair. Having just been diagnosed and not having the money to live on his own, and now being told his own family was cutting him off, he felt he had nothing to live for. He told me that he had decided that the next day, when he was scheduled to be released from the hospital, he would go to the beach and wade into the water until he drowned.

Later the nurse came into his room. She was telling him about his treatment and he told her he didn’t care, since he didn’t plan on living anyway. She was very disturbed by this and called a doctor in. This doctor in an act of total sacrifice, had told him about the residence that took in people who had been diagnosed and had no income. He also took my friend to his apartment and helped him to move his belongings. I reminded my friend that the Lord uses people in every possible position to “minister to the heirs of salvation.”

It is in this residence that I met my friend. I would come in to visit and do bible studies and pray for people. He instantly bonded to me and my family and tells his mother, in Senegal, all about us. I feel as if I know her.

He would come with me when I entered the hospital rooms and hospice care, to pray with others that had aids. Every time we would pray, he would get very emotional.

As he reminded me of all of these things, he said, “You just can’t believe how much people need someone to come in and see them. What you do is so important. I just remember how I felt when I was all alone in that hospital and I think of that every time we went to visit someone else.”

When I listened to his story, I thought I wanted to do these things because it was the death of my own brother from this disease and my new found faith, that inspired me to give back to others. I never wanted anyone to die alone, and I was thankful that the Lord had answered my own prayer to be with my brother when he left this earth.

Yes, I thought that was the only reason, however, I found that the Lord was using my experience to bring people to the knowledge of Himself. To let them know that this is not the end.

Over the years, I saved notes and letters from the scores of people that I have witnessed to and many written by the people, whose hands have long since left this earth. These are gems to me.

When I questioned the Lord about my attempts at worldly endeavors and the idea that I had failed, He pointed out all of these souls. As my friend recounted the hands I held in prayer, in these lonely rooms, he stated, “I remember how these people would look at you with so much fear, and they knew that you were sent to them.”

Now I think of people in these places and it’s where I desire to be more than anything else. To show others, “the all, surpassing love of Christ and the power of His resurrection.” To my earthly, mortal mind, there is nothing greater than this.

No, the end of my story has not been written, but of one thing I am sure, “Blessed are the feet of those who bring the Good News!”

Why Should We Pray?

This is why I Pray

Spiritual Warfare

We have the powers that go above the natural and conquer the SUPER natural! Why wouldn’t you pray? It’s outrageous that the Lord has given us this power and not just to bless our food, and we keep it locked up inside. Of course your adversary would be perfectly happy if you never, ever learned how to use the power at your disposal. This is why his number one strategy is to make you think he isn’t even real. For those that believe that, I would say, Satan and all of those wicked spirits have already won the battle against you. It is why the believers are equipped and anointed to do warfare against the enemy of your souls. You don’t realize the battle taking place for your souls and the warriors that are fighting on earth and in the heavenlies, on your own behalf.

The Lord said that “since the beginning with John the Baptist, the kingdom of God has suffered violence, but the violent shall take it by force!” (Matthew 11:11) I love this scripture because I consider myself one of the violent. I have snatched people away from the jaws of Satan, right before their own death and this is the most forceful we can be! When it comes to warfare, take no prisoners. This is a persons eternal life at stake.

I remember when I became a new believer and I started to learn about spiritual warfare, it fascinated me. I didn’t have to be convinced that the enemy was real, because I had seen his devastation long enough. It was all around me. “The thief comes to rob, kill and destroy, but I come that they may have life more abundantly.”

This doesn’t mean that believers suffer no hardship. On the contrary. But we do have the perfect peace that the Lord was speaking of. When you are resting on the foundation of Jesus Christ, how can you be shaken?

This is the peace that Satan would never want you to find. He even uses a persons religion to blind them. False works and empty rituals. Hopefully he can engage a person long enough until it’s time to go. The empty life outside of Jesus Christ and the whole purpose of the cross. This is his goal and if you remember correctly, it was in the name of dead religion and pride that Christ was crucified. That just shows us the picture of death that religion itself bears witness to.

Yes, we know that Christ layed down His own life, only to take it up again. This was a perfect plan. Yet, the Lord showed us many other pictures and he used the corrupt hearts of men to bring forth the plan of salvation. God did not make these religious leaders prideful and murderous. Nor did he do this to Judas. However, he did know in advance that they were going to do what they were going to do and this would be part of the plan. But in the midst of evil comes resurrection power. This is the same power that Christ gave to us after He sent the Holy Spirit.

The greek word for this power is; Dunamis, it is explosive power. This is where we derive the word dynamite and it is just that. Explosive, miraculous, power. Although we cannot see what warfare takes place in the heavens, know that the minute you engage the enemy, it is a battle.

When you fast and pray, it is multiplying your power. Look at Daniel.  In Daniel 10:11-13, the angel of the Lord appears to Daniel and tells him, “from the very first day your prayer was heard, but the Prince of Persia resisted me for twenty one days. This was the length of Daniel’s fast. A battle was taking place and Daniel had crucified his own flesh because he understood the power in this principal. Of course we know that this was not a human king, because this was an angel that had appeared to Daniel.

We know that this was a demonic battle taking place and look at what the angel continues to tell him; “Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the prince of Persia. (a principality)

After this encounter we can see that Daniel received the amazing end time revelation that mirrors the New Testament revelation written by John. No wonder the demonic powers were trying to prevent this from occurring. But his fast broke through the enemies lines and this is another thing that Christ did as an example for us to follow.

Remember once again, he was fasting in the desert when Satan tried to temp Him. The first temptation, most obviously was food.

This is when Satan tried to tell him that He was God and should just go ahead and turn those stones into bread. Jesus, returned with,”it is written that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.”

Once again, pray hard, pray often and at times that you should fast. Most people do not fast for twenty one days, however. a short fast will bring power.

I had fasted for twenty one days, before I was being baptised in 1990. It was the only time in my life that I heard the audible voice of God. I was on a flight and returning home. As I was sitting in my seat, I heard a loud voice. It sounded as it was coming through a waterfall. The words were, “Prepare to die.” What in the world? I looked around as if the voice came across the pa system. No one seemed to notice but me. I immediately knew it was Gods voice, yet I thought everyone was receiving the same message.

Ok, I thought. Am I going down on this plane or something? Why would God want to tell me that? And what about everyone else?

Nope, it didn’t happen. So on my drive home I thought. Hmmm, this freeway is pretty dangerous. Perhaps this is going to be it. Nope, still nothing.

As I returned home, I told my ex- husband what had happened and I was incredulous. I was excited at the same time, since I had actually heard the voice of God. But the message wasn’t that great.

He started laughing and said, “don’t you really understand what that means?” “No!” At this I was a little irritated. How can he be laughing when I just got a death sentence?

He said, “you’re about to be baptised tomorrow and the Lord is telling you that you are going to die to your natural self and resurrect in new life.”

“Oh, yes, I thought. This makes perfect sense. Being a new believer, I still had much to learn. The sign of a new believer dying is baptism and it is part of the Great Commission. No, it’s not the one that happened when you were a baby. You must know what and why your doing it when you do it. So there’s another religious doctrine you can also crucify.

At any rate I’ll save that for another post.

But fasting and praying are the most powerful weapons in your arsenal and if you don’t use them, don’t blame God for His lack of concern. He’s given us the power and the weapons. Now we have to use them.

How Do We Pray?

I see you…

We had the G20 covention and all the world leaders coming together to try to solve the world problems. Most of them were pointing the finger and it seemed to rest heavily on the United States.

The strange thing is that not one of them had this word; Chronicles 7:14, “If my people, who are called by my name will humble themselves and PRAY and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their LAND!

Why are people making things so difficult? Most natural men do not know how to pray. Jesus gave a pattern of prayer to start us off. It is to be used as an example. It’s imperative to understand that we don’t repeat it over and over again, as the Lord told us that this is just vain repetition. We must learn how to pray in that manner.

Christ was showing the disciples how to enter before the Father’s throne of grace. Then to ask, that “His will be done.” Well, to ensure that the Lord’s will is carried out it would be clear that you should speak His own words. This is His divine  will and we know Jesus did this when the devil came to tempt Him in the desert.

Each time that Satan began his sentence, it was, “it is written.” So we know that Satan does know the words of God. Of course he does. He lived with the Lord  before being cast down. The problem with his delivery of the word to Jesus, was that he cast doubt on the deity of the Father. He did the very same thing in the Garden of Eden, by questioning Eve, about the God’s Word. Paraphrasing, “come on Eve, did He really say you couldn’t  eat of that tree?” Then of course Eve totally blew it, because not only did she quote the words but she added to them, which is equally deceptive.  Paraphrasing her, Yes, He said we can eat of all the trees, but that one we can’t eat from and we can’t even touch it! ” Hmmm, the devil got ahold of her tongue because she was already lying.

We can see that his schemes do not change. In fact Paul tells us as believers, “that we are not ignorant of Satans devices.” Jesus Christ, being, the living Word, repeated the Word of God back to him and struck down the lies and doubt that Satan was trying to entice Him with.  Now, Jesus didn’t tell him to go back to the place he came from. Nor did he kick his butt. So we must look at how Jesus handled Himself in the midst of spiritual warfare. You fight deception with the truth of God’s Word. You don’t add to it and you don’t take away from it. The Lord said, “the sum of thy Word is truth.”

After you’ve been studying the Word of God long enough, these words will become your everyday speech. You don’t have to quote scripture and verse, although I’ve always admired people that can do so. It is powerful when the enemy comes at you and the Holy Spirit brings the Word forth in your own spirit that strikes down every falsehood. This is why the Lord referred to this as the “sword of the spirit.” Paul said this is how we battle. Not against flesh and blood. Some people are under the control of these spirits and you should pray that they come out and escape the snare of the evil one.(2Timothy 2:26)

As I said, praying the Word of God is very powerful and a great book for anyone that wants to understand this principal is called      Prayers That Avail Much. I’ve had mine for years and it is small but carries a lot of power. Learn it and speak it. God’s Word does not return void. It is powerful enough to save a person’s soul.

Because God created man in His image, we must realize the power our own words carry. He created the heavens and the earth with the spoken word. Now we are in His same image and we know from scripture that there is tremendous power in our words. We can bless and curse, by the power of our own mouth. Scientists have already studied and found that there is much healing power in prayer, although they do not understand why. Well, of course it can’t be analyzed.

I would see how sacred this moment was when I would visit the aids ward in the hospital. People that were all alone at times and seemed to be gripped with the fear of dying. I knew that this was something I had committed to do after my own brother died. I saw miraculous things happening in those rooms. No matter what station of life a person is from, they are all reduced to one common denominator when they are about to meet their maker. One evening I went to see a girl that I had known and she was all alone. As I crossed the threshold I could see terror in her eyes. The oxygen mask on her face and her fear was heavy in the room. I felt the Lord meet me in that room as I grabbed her hands and pray for her comfort. The Lord brought her a peace as I sat with her.

Now when I meet people that have lost loved ones and they are upset because they think they died alone, I can reassure them. That is not always true. You never know what messengers the Lord sends to your loved ones and even at that, he says that the heavenly messengers are dispatched to them.

Prayer can change the course of God’s own plans and we can see this in scripture as well. In Numbers 14:13-19, Moses interceeded for God’s mercy and the Lord heard his cries.

Not only can we alter or halt God’s hand in circumstances by the power of prayer, we also are called, “co-laborer’s of the harvest.” Jesus told us “to pray and ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into the harvest field.” It is imperative that we do this before any work is done. “Unless the Lord build the house, we labor in vain.”

Also, before drawing close in prayer we must repent of our own sins. “The prayers of a righteous man avail much.” In the Old Testament the High Priest had to be ceremonially clean before entering into the Holy of Holies. He had to make sure he had no sin that he hadn’t accounted for.  A rope was tied to his ankle as he went about his duties and there was a bell on the rope. The priest’s outside the curtain, thereby knew if he was alive or dead. If he was unclean, the Lord would strike him dead and the priests had the job of pulling him out by the rope. Great job. He moves up to the top of the corporate ladder and steals one matzo and he’s vaporized! Don’t even mention the offering plate. Corporate management should get a lesson on this! Our whole country would change if this was the type of punishment inflicted. Thank God that Jesus Christ became the High Priest when he died on the cross and all of our sins were placed upon Him. This became the dispensation of grace. Yet, this unrepentant sin, still prevents our power in prayer.

Now the pattern of prayer is very simple. The Lord tells us that if we ask anything in His name it shall be given and He also tells us that where two or more are gathered together in my name I am there.  So you see He’s also telling us that since His own resurrection, we need to know that His name is above every name and the access to the Father. Also, He’s telling us that there is tremendous power in unity! This is what Satan most hates for anyone to understand. There is so much power in unity that God Himself took down the tower of Babel and confused peoples languages. He actually came down and saw this tower and said, “if as one people speaking the same language they have begun to do this, then NOTHING they plan to do will be impossible for them.” That is amazing to me! God stated this unity was so powerful that it had to be destroyed. It wasn’t the unity that was a problem, but just as today, they were trying to accomplish something without the need of God. Of course we don’t have to worry because you can’t get Democrats and Republicans to agree on the same things, let alone the whole world! Which brings me back to this summit meeting. The only unity that brings power, is the unity of the Holy Spirit. At Pentecost the Lord filled these men with His spirit and they spoke in different languages  and yet, everyone understood each other! (Acts 2)It was the opposite of what happened at Babel. Babel, was a form of paganism and left God’s plans out. Pentecost was the beginning of allowing God in, by the power of the Holy Spirit as He filled people.This happened because, as it states in scripture, they were in one accord.” Which again speaks to the power of unity.

 This is going to happen again and in a more profound way than at Pentecost. Three thousand people were baptised that day. But His promise is that the “latter house will be greater than the former house.” So as the world seeks answers, we pray and in unity for the power of the Spirit to fall on all men. We will pray that all men will come together and invite God as part of the plan. Then as we pray in unity, we will see the miraculous happen!

How Does God Speak?

12

In every hidden thing you can see His beauty

Search for Him in the stillness of the moment

Everything that I could learn packed into that ball

So many people marvel at this when true believers share what the Lord speaks to us, but really it shouldn’t surprise them. God did not stop speaking. Did the God that created the heavens and the earth and everything in it, stop performing miracles and speaking to His people? Absolutely not. If there is a problem then, it would be with the one hearing, wouldn’t it?

God speaks in many different ways. The prophet, Elijah had desired to hear from the Lord and told Him that he also wanted to experience His visitation. The Lord granted this and he told him to “stand on the mountain and wait.”

Well, of course, God being God, sent a powerful wind, tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks. But it says, “The Lord was not in the wind.”

Hey, I don’t know about you, but that would be just about enough for me. I might be saying, “you know Lord, I think I’m OK, with our little, whisper chats.”

But, Elijah just stood firm, and after that an earthquake. Then if that was not enough, a fire.

OK, there isn’t a Hollywood production big enough, sorry Mel Gibson, that could compete with that. Where was He?

It says, in I Kings19:12, “after the fire, came a whisper.”

What’s more interesting is what the Lord asked, “what are you doing here Elijah?”

Geesh! The poor prophet, already told the Lord, he was zealous for the Lord and wanted to be in His presence and now he had to have the crap scared out of him and the Lord asks basically, “what are you doing here?”

I think it’s really quite profound. The Lord wants to hear that we desire His presence and will do anything to be in His presence. Yet, if a person is not hearing His voice, what is the reason?

The Lord does not need you to go to church. He does not need your labels and rituals. He wants to hear what Elijah spoke to him and He asked him to reiterate it. “I’m zealous for you, Lord!”

I find it comical when someone claims to be a believer in Christ, yet they don’t have any relationship at all with Him. I think of what it states in James 2:19, “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that-and shudder.”

So I guess that just qualifies one to be a demon. Hey, the demons are pretty zealous, especially when a true believer comes walking into their presence! All hell breaks loose and they don’t want anything to do with a Christian that knows what power and authority that they carry when they walk into a room.  Because if you recall, the Lord stated, “all power and authority that I have, I give to you.” Oh, unless you thought that was just those 12 guys, in which case you haven’t been studying one bit, since there were a lot more disciples than that and lets not forget about Pentecost. Hmmm, challenging some religious code aren’t I???? No, that power didn’t die with those people way back then. Get out of your pews and find out. I dare you.

Now in trying to understand how the Lord speaks to us, we should explore our relationship with our earthly father. You share moments together and have dialogue. You have a desire to hear what your father has to say and if he is gone it is so important to look at his writings to you.

I was just looking at my own father’s notes and letters to me the other day and comparing the similarity of the Bible to this experience.

If God being our own creator, wants to convey a message of love to His own children, don’t you believe that this would be the most important way to build on your relationship, since He authored His own words?If you say that you believe in God to be great enough to have created the universe, then don’t you also believe He could have edited His own unique book for you. Something that is perfect and filled with His love?

 He says in His word that “faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.”(Romans 10″17)

Another way that the Lord speaks to us is through natural circumstances and they are signs of the spiritual. “The natural speaks of things eternal.”

If you have the spiritual eyes to see and the ears to hear, you should be able to discern what the Lord is telling you. Sometimes it is difficult when you’ve become inundated with the world and this is exactly what happened to me. The Lord used some very unique and extraordinary circumstances to speak to me.

He did not reveal this to me until much later, however, as some would say, it was similar to a proverbial “ton of bricks.”

I went to a ball last year for a fund raiser and had hoped that some friends were going to be able to come with me. As I saw that not one of them were coming along, I decided to go anyway. It was the “Discovery Ball.” The name itself should have been a clue, that the Lord was going to show me something, however, I was not walking strong with the Lord. I had been stumbling and stumbling hard. All kinds of darkness around me.

At any rate, I decided to go to this ball and it was to be the beginning of a nightmare unfolding.

A friend of mine let me use her house and she was out of town. I didn’t arrive at this ball until quite late in the evening. As I left, a couple told me that they would be happy to direct me to the ramp, back to my destination.

I started driving and as I was going back, all of a sudden traffic came to a standstill. I had no idea what was going on and all lanes were in complete hold. Everyone started beeping there horns and I was tired. It was about 3:00am.

We sat and sat, and no one seemed to know what was going on. Finally the woman in the car next to me, radioed someone ahead and found out that a truck jackknifed across the freeway and stopped all traffic. I was cold. In a long gown with just a jacket. To add to the whole mess, I thought these people sent me in the wrong direction.

I roll down my window and ask the woman, is this the right way to ‘such and such?” I could almost see her smirk, but she probably knew I would jump through the window, evening gown and all….”No” She says. You have to turn around.

Oh great, I’m wondering how long this is going to take. Well, I tried to get comfortable and sleep and so did everyone else. I tried to muster up the spiritual crumbs I had for my Lord and ask, “what is all this about?” I still couldn’t hear anything. I’m thinking, I have a nice house to stay at, and I’m sleeping in a car. I’m going the wrong direction, because a truck jackknifed on the road. Plus, I had a really sucky time at that ball! I was having a blown up temper tantrum!

Then I told my friend about it and she said, she never heard of anything like that and she’s lived there all her life. “Oh, well that makes me feel a whole lot better, I said!” lol

Shortly after that I had to take a leave from my job because of serious personal reasons. This is when the Lord started to speak to me. He started to remind me of this incident. That He allowed this and it was a visual picture for me. Because we are humans that need visual pictures. When I was stronger spiritually, He said, “now you can see that you were headed the wrong direction. I will take drastic measures to turn my loved ones around. Even when you are out of work, you are being protected and I have removed you for your own good and I will strengthen you.

The Lord’s voice could be heard by me once again, because it was in the midst of my own pain and suffering that I drew close to Him. This is when He showed me what my purpose was once again. Because His “gifts and callings are irrevocable,” I had lost my way, and He had to use some painful processes to bring me back. “Thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.” The shepherd is always prodding the sheep to keep them on course. They are not smart animals and prone to injury if the shepherd does not protect them.

Now there is another way that He speaks to us and that is through other believers. I have been meeting with friends and I have had the benefit of prayer to help me through my times of trial.

God speaks in dreams. I have had the most profound dreams in my life and I often call them my “God dreams.” I journal them and usually I know right away what the interpretation is.

One I actually had quite a few years ago, and He spoke a word in Hebrew to me. I had to check in my Concordance when I awoke, just to see if it actually had meaning and was most amazed that indeed, the word was ‘aras’ and it means to be engaged, espoused to, or betrothed. In the dream he had taken my hand and told me, “come, we must prepare for “aras.”

How awesome is that?

I had one dream about my brother that was so incredible, that he told me if I had any more, not to tell him again! Every bit of that dream came true in due time.

Now, I had a dream, neatly tucked into my Bible, and it was from 2001. But this dream was given to me by a very dear friend of mine. She is what is known as an ‘intercessor.’ A very powerful woman of prayer. Praying on behalf of the needs of others.

I knew that this dream meant something very deep, however, was never quite sure what, and when it would come to pass. That is, until now. In the last few months the Lord opened up it’s meaning to me and I was most amazed as I called my friend and told her. “I know what your dream means. Every detail!”

As we met together, I shared with her. I told her that the Lord revealed it’s meaning and she was fascinated. She remembered when she had given it to me and couldn’t believe herself that it had such significance.

The people involved do not yet even know what the Lord has in store for them. But some powerful people are in the battle for their very souls. And this is how God works. Calling in His army to battle for people that do not even understand they are in a battle, when their spiritual lives are at stake. Spiritual warriors. Often we are perceived as their enemies. Or more often, we are just crazy. But crazy or not, we pray and pray hard, that the enemy of these people’s souls do not stand a chance against the spiritual army of the Lord, “and the gates of hell shall not prevail against us.”

The ones that they enlist for support are sometimes the ones they need to fear. Remember, we do not war against flesh and blood.

Ephesians 6 makes this very clear. We are not just a physical body and every human being should realize that the flesh is a small part of who we really are. Feed the part of you that will continue on into eternity. When you do this you will hear the voice of God.

Now the Lord says, “my sheep know me. They hear my voice and they follow me. (John 10:27)

So, that being said, we are in a very real battle. As i sat with a dear friend just the other day, sharing about my trials, she wondered at how I could endure such pain yet have such strength. I told her if it weren’t for the Lord, I couldn’t.

At this, she stated that many times she had wanted to go to church with a friend that had invited her but didn’t feel she was ready. “Why not?” I asked. “Because, I don’t think I’m good enough yet.”

At this I laughed and told her that none of us is good enough and that’s like someone trying to save enough money to have a baby! lol

It’s never gonna happen. We’re all fallen beings and Christ came to redeem us.

“Look, you are afraid, because you know He can change your life. And this is what you want so why are you waiting?”

We sat right there and prayed and after that moment she looked at me with tears in her eyes and said, “I can’t believe it! When I saw your name on my caller ID, I knew it was something!”

“That’s because I’m the vessel and now God is speaking through me” 

I told her, “the Lord doesn’t pound down the door of your heart. He must be invited.”

And like Elijah, He wants to meet us right where we’re at, all the Lord wants to know is that we really want to meet with Him.