Month: June 2015

“Will You Marry Me?”

I recently heard the Lord say the words, “Will you marry me?” I sensed in my spirit that this was a very weighty and loaded question—a question embedded with the Lord’s desire for absolute surrender for the journey ahead and a new level of consecration to Him. I heard the Lord saying “Consecrate yourselves, times are about to accelerate, the cloud is preparing to move.”   Marriage is two becoming One, in body Mind, heart, spirit and soul—and with Christ it is also a marriage of ways and purpose within the context of LOVE—love for Him and the world He gave His life for! The Last two decades an accelerated work of preparation has been taking place in the Body of Christ to get ready a Bride for union with Christ—a Bride through whom He will complete His purposes and His Father’s Will on earth. The Holy Spirit has been growing us up IN LOVE to the fullness of the stature of Christ (Eph. 4:13).

Three times in the Songs of Solomon we are warned not to ‘Awaken love until He desires.’ In chapters 3:5 and 8: the image is of one of a bride who has been prepared and perfumed in the wilderness coming out leaning on her beloved. The Lord must have a Mature Bride who has learned His ways of love! On the journey of sanctification, God, with our willing submission fashions us, and instructs us in our ignorance to His ways, for the removal of the arrogance of our ways. On this journey His ultimate goal is that we are transformed in love to become channels of His agape Love.

Love is attained within the context of unity!

Unity begins within the individual in body, soul and spirit, hence the need for HEALING & DELIVERANCE. From the person who is whole, it naturally flows corporately in the local family in the form of HONOR. The natural progression of unity in Christ will then move from the local, to our cities and nations producing THE BRIDAL PARADIGM.

During a powerful praise & worship service, where everyone was caught up in worship, pouring out their love and adoration to the Lord, I heard the gentle voice of the Holy Spirit say, “I love that you welcome My Presence and love me with such passion! However, I would say to you…will you love the person on your left with such passion, will you honor and celebrate the person on your right. Will you honor My Presence in their lives and celebrate the destiny I have called them to?” The disciples were together, united in one place and of one accord when the Father commanded the blessing and the Holy Spirit fell upon them. The Greek word for one accord implies A TOGETHERNESS THAT WAS FIERCE AND PASSIONATE…it is in that place He commands the blessing! Jesus gave His life for a Bride, that all—Jew and Gentile, rich and poor, male and female might become ONE body—THE BEAUTIFUL BRIDE HE WILL RETURN FOR.

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious oil upon the head, running down on the beard, the beard of Aaron, running down on the edge of his garments. It is like the dew of Hermon, descending upon the mountains of Zion; FOR THERE the LORD commanded the blessing— Life forevermore.” Psalm 133

AGAPE LOVE

THE BODY OF CHRIST IS PRESENTLY CAMPING OUT ON THE BORDERS OF THE MOST POWERFUL AND HISTORIC MOVES OF GOD TO HIT PLANET EARTH SINCE THE CROSSING OVER OF ISRAEL INTO THE PROMISED LAND AND THE COMING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT AT PENTECOST.  With understanding of the dynamics of this move we can then begin to have insight into THE CAUSE OF THE DELAY! The central focus of this coming move is the Harvest and the central component is the Agape Love of God—for the world!

“For God SO LOVED THE WORLD that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16

peopleOne of the chief intentions of the Holy Spirit in our lives is that in Him we become so saturated in the precious Agape Love of God, that it might then be shed abroad to others THROUGH US, impacting and transforming lives and communities!

Ministry, revelations, crowds, gifting and anointing, eschatology, prophecy and the best of Christian living CAN BECOME INTOXICATING and cause us to forget that the One whom we follow laid down His Life for His friends…this is love!

 “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters.” 1John 3:16

 “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” John 15:13

“If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen? And this commandment we have from Him: that he who loves God must love his brother also.” 1Jn 4:20-21

AGAPE LOVE is the highest form of love, sublime and transcendent in its attainment, YET FULLY ACCESSIBLE BY THE INDWELLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

What the world needs now is Love! Always has, always will!

Jesus came and Gave His life in love—LOVE was the central focus of the Cross! Love still remains the central dynamic in the summing of all things in Christ and will be poured out through a people who have been prepared in Fire to carry it. They are united with Christ in Mind & heart and prepared to become a Bride, prepared to reap and care for the Great Harvest of the world in Love. God is looking for a people prepared in love...to love!

Why were the Disciples told to wait in Jerusalem for the Promise of the Father? Having been trained by Jesus for three and a half years…what was still lacking?—the Power of the Holy Spirit to fulfill God’s purposes, and the Agape Love of God through which the power flows. Both Power & Love are divinely united in the Holy bundle that is THE PROMISE OF THE FATHER. In God’s wisdom His Power must be married to His Love! The disciples were still filled with much prejudice toward Samaritans and Gentiles, and needed a Baptism of love and Fire. Baptized in love on the day of Pentecost, these men were transformed and became new men. Their focus shifted from power and competition to releasing the Good News to a Harvest that included all cultures.

The great Outpouring that we are longing for, that will be the precursor for Jesus’ return, will not be a second Pentecost, it will be the removal of the log jams of judgment, criticism, cold hearts, religion, religious pride, self-righteousness, selfish ambition and demonic hatred causing division, that has damned up the first! The powerful current of the Holy Spirits will allow the River of His Love to be released once again to flow to its FULLNESS. God is looking for a people like the apostle Paul, who will travail in love for His Bride to come forth. As Paul stated Love is the ultimate virtue and without it we are nothing and all our works are in vain! As the Lord once told Jill Austin, “The key to apostolic authority is Love. If people want to move in signs and wonders and miracles, if they want to see heaven breaking in to take whole territories, then they need to discover My heart and My compassion. Then I will give them power to set captives free and the anointing to see the sick healed and the dead raised.”

The Way of Love

If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don’t love, I’m nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate.
If I speak God’s Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, “Jump,” and it jumps, but I don’t love, I’m nothing.
If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don’t love, I’ve gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I’m bankrupt without love.
Love never gives up.
Love cares more for others than for self.
Love doesn’t want what it doesn’t have.
Love doesn’t strut,
Doesn’t have a swelled head,
Doesn’t force itself on others,
Isn’t always “me first,”
Doesn’t fly off the handle,
Doesn’t keep score of the sins of others,
Doesn’t revel when others grovel,
Takes pleasure in the flowering of truth,
Puts up with anything,
Trusts God always,
Always looks for the best,
Never looks back,
But keeps going to the end.

(1 Corinthians 13 The Message)

The Bride Makes herself Ready! Its Time to Awaken Love!

The trumpet is sounding continually, warning us to get ready! Get the house in order! Prepare our hearts! The Bride must make herself ready! Our true condition is usually exposed in the tests when it is too late to reverse the consequences. It would be wise to now ask the Holy Spirit to rate the condition of our hearts and corporate houses to show us its true condition and the quality of our relationships and fellowship. Ask Him to give us strategies for breaking down areas of offense and cold hearts.

The River of Love that was initiated at Pentecost will be completed at Tabernacles timed with the arising army of the Headstone generation—a people who have ascended to the place of union with the Bridegroom—married to Him in mind & heart, willing to lay down their lives in love for the Cause of Christ. A New Mature Man in whom pride has suffered a great blow, the jealousy of Cain is annihilated; competition, comparison and criticism are exchanged with love, friendship, family and the preferring one another. Where the Agape Love of God is unblocked and judgment swept away by the River, and the Love of God flows freely, breaking forth from hearts broken by the Love of Christ. As we fix our eyes on Christ we must do so with arms linked in cords of Love—ON SUCH AN ALTAR, ON SUCH A SACRIFICE, THE FIRE OF GOD WILL FALL! On a people who will pick up their crosses, not afraid to die, who love God with all their heart, soul mind and body and also love their neighbor as themselves—the two greatest commandments:

AND YOU SHALL LOVE THE LORD YOUR GOD WITH ALL YOUR HEART, WITH ALL YOUR SOUL, WITH ALL YOUR MIND, AND WITH ALL YOUR STRENGTH.’ This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR AS YOURSELF.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31

couple-559429__180God is looking for a sacrifice that is a sweet savor, a sacrifice of praise in the midst of pain, a sacrifice to choose love and forgiveness instead of anger or revenge; a sacrifice to lift up someone else when you are waiting your turn! It is easy to worship God and to love Him, but God is looking at the motivations of our hearts, for hearts willing to love others. The trumpet is sounding and His call to us is: “Consecrate yourselves, prepare your hearts and get ready to ride the wave of Love.” To the Bride who has willingly allowed the Holy Spirit to prepare her in obedience for such a time, to be made one in body, mind, heart, soul and purpose, the Bridegroom approaches to ask, “Will you marry Me? Its time to awaken love!”

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Contending For The Dream!

Take Ownership!I am Ready to Perform My Word!

I recently attended a significant Elijah List conference at the River Church in Hamilton, Canada. Steve Schultz & Doug Addison both spoke very unique and powerful words related to ‘contending.’ My heart was very moved as God had been stirring me in this direction in the days prior to the conference as the Holy Spirit brought to mind certain revelations He had given me on aspects of this particular subject. Contending is clearly a now word for the Body of Christ and imperative to the advancement of the Kingdom of God in this important hour of history. God is awakening our spirits to rise up to contend for our breakthrough, the dreams He has given us, for our family’s and communities, cities and nations, and for His intentions to come forth.

The Lord usually speaks to me through scripture then over time will unpack the revelations embedded within it as it unfolds at opportune times. Ezekiel chapter 36: 36-37 is on e such scripture He has been highlighting over the years. This chapter speaks powerfully of Israel’s restoration to the land and the abundant outpouring of blessings God makes clear He plans to release to them—as we are grafted into Israel, these blessings and promises are for us also. Each blessing spoken of is with intentionality as something He has predetermined to do as the One with whom, “…there is no variation or shadow of turning” (Jam. 1:17). I was therefore baffled when the Holy Spirit highlighted verse 36 and 37, the first revealing His determination, “… I, the LORD, have spoken it, AND I WILL DO IT,” the second revealing the condition: “Thus says the Lord GOD: “I WILL ALSO LET THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL INQUIRE OF ME TO DO THIS FOR THEM…” The Hebrew word for inquire means also to seek continually, ask and pursue.

As I prayed and sought the Lord about this, I received an understanding that God was looking for a people who would be willing to TAKE OWNERSHIP of His dreams, desires and intentions. A people who would tend the dream and travail in union with Him to bring it forth; a people that would unite with Him in mind and in heart for the promise to be realized and the Kingdom enforced & advanced. The example that came to mind was of a father who owned an empire and had two sons; to one son everything came on a silver platter—everything he asked for he was given, he did not have to exert himself for anything. The other son went to work with his father in the company at an early age. He started at the very bottom and worked his way through every department learning every aspect of the business. He spent time getting to know all the people who worked for his father, building relationship with them. He listened to His Father’s heart for the company and not only understood his vision for it, but united with his father to see his dream come forth. When the time comes to hand over the company to his sons, which son will the father put in charge? The one who will protect the company and pursue the vision and contend for its success; the one who paid the cost and travailed for its achievement with his father!

In Ezekiel chapter 36 the Father clearly lays out his intention, places it before Israel and challenges them to rise up and own the vision. The implication in verse 37 is that if they take ownership and contend for it—it would be theirs! God’s dreams are guaranteed for the contenders…the reason why He raises up those with a spirit to contend to inspire others to contend—to give Him no rest until He fulfills what He has promised! I once was heard a leader share a related story; he promised his children that after church he would take them to their favorite restaurant, the children were very excited! After church he was asked to attend a leaders meeting and told his children the outing would have to be cancelled. However, his children refused to accept this. He was pummeled over and over with statements of, “You said,” “You promised!” until finally he had no choice but to give in. At that moment he heard God say to him, “I wished that my children would hold me to my promises the way that your children hold you to yours!” Our Heavenly Father is looking for those who will not only believe his promises, but who will hold Him accountable to his Word.

The Lord once gave me a vision for something He wanted to do. I was not to thrilled at the idea and was wrestling in my spirit about it, but I said I was willing. As I sat in prayer over it He reminded me about Ezekiel 36:37 and I understood. I not only agreed to be willing but I began to pray and ask Him for the vision as though it were mine. As I did that a supernatural exchange took place and I receive joy and passion for this vision to come forth. However, time passed with no breakthrough in that direction. I soon stopped praying and actually forgot about it. One day the Lord spoke clearly to my spirit and said, “That was very easy for you to drop the vision.” I was very convicted as understood that Ezekiel 36:37 meant to pray, ask and contend for the vision until the breakthrough came! That is the spirit of a contender who will birth the purposes of God on planet earth! To knock, seek and ask until the door is opened!

After teaching this word for many years, and I must say faltering at many times to stand on its truth, the Lord brought to my attention a most powerful commentary on this same passage in Ezekiel that again began to stir me to contend again! It is so potent that I am putting it in point form that no one will miss anything, he said:

1. God’s promises are given not to restrain, but to INCITE TO PRAYER.
2. They SHOW THE DIRECTION in which WE MAY ASK,
3. And THE EXTENT to which we may EXPECT and answer.
4. They are the SIGNED CHEQUE MADE PAYABLE TO ORDER
5. Which we must endorse and PRESENT FOR PAYMENT.

The day must come when we leave the wilderness and begin to take the promised land of God’s intentions. The world is daily descending into dark times. The light of the Glory of His Presence will rise upon those who have broken through in contending for the Glory. These are the ones being called forth to do exploits in His name; they have travailed with the Father and carry His burden for the lost and for the world. Those who have travailed with Him will enter into union with Him; they will carry His authority and the strategies to complete His will to save and transform nations and people groups. God does not exclude any who are willing!

According to Ezekiel 36:36-37, first we must ASK—we must desire what He desires and receive it in our spirits as our own. Second we TAKE—we endorse the cheque and present for payment. We put our finger on His promise and say, “As you have said Lord.” We hold God to His promises as David did: “You, my God, have revealed to your servant that you will build a house for him. So your servant has found courage to pray to you. You, LORD, are God! You have promised these good things to your servant” (1Ch 17:25-26). FAITH IS CONFIDENT ACTION IN WHAT GOD HAS MADE KNOWN TO US—God cannot bless us beyond our belief and belief will lead to action—to contending!

Job chapter 22:28 states, “YOU SHALL DECREE A THING AND IT SHALL BE ESTABLISHED FOR YOU.” To decree a thing is to contend for it! The Hebrew word for decree also means to decide, to make a firm decision, one where we will not waver, and the Hebrew word for establish means to rise. This verse closes with, “…light will shine on your ways.” The word light means to be illuminated, the word shine means to glitter and ways also means the road. A mature Christian will have learned the discipline of contending through much trial and tribulation and will see the rising of the vision and the dream. The illuminating Light of God will light up the road ahead with the glitter of His Glory. It is time for the sons of God to TAKE the Promised LAND – Time to declare and Decree. Esther & Mordecai prayed, they fasted then they decreed the deliverance of the Jewish people.

I hear the Lord saying, “TAKE OWNERSHIP! The Kingdom of God is yours! All that I have belongs to you, invest in it. With the currency of your faith purchase stock in it! Set your focus on the eternal not the temporal.The dividends are magnanimous and superlative!  Ask large! I am a great and mighty God, greater and mightier than you could ever imagine, though you may try. Bring all you’re your appeals and petitions before the court of Heaven, the time of fulfillment has come. Show your faith, give Me something to work with. I am ready to perform My word!

God is preparing vessels of Glory to stand in the last days having the fortitude of spirit to withstand the demonic assaults, and like the mountain tree, to thrive in the midst of the swirling and violent winds of change.

mountain tree

“A Mountain tree if it would see
The far horizons and the stars
May never know a sheltered place
Nor grow symmetrical in grace.
Such a tree must battle doggedly
The blasts and bear the scars.”
(Lloyd Marion Thompson).

“The mountain tree is the price of those ascending to the realm of intimacy with God. It is a lone tree jutting out from the crest of a very rugged, windswept mountain, far above the peaceful forest beneath. There is truly a reward for its singular loneliness and struggle to survive. It has unobstructed vision to see, ‘the far horizons and the stars.’ Abiding in an unpolluted atmosphere, this lonely, battered tree can view the distant skyline or look up into the glorious expanse of the heavenlies in all their glory…But there is a price—such a tree has been set apart from all others” (Wade E. Taylor).

“Your name shall no longer be called Jacob, but Israel;
for you have struggled with God and with men, and have prevailed.”