I Fasted A Total Of Sixty Days ~ 40 Days On Water~
~Last Year In 2008 ~ Sept-Oct~Nov~
It Was One ~ Of The Greatest Experiences Of My Life!
~A Time Of Discipline & Intercession & More Discipline~
Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2008 5:51 PMTo: James FulkersonSubject:
~PRAISE GOD~40 DAY & NIGHT WATER FAST COMPLETED~
Greeting's To The Children of God;
I would like to share the following experience in my life~
I Hope This Will Bring Encouragement~To Some Of You...
Who Are Called To Times Of Extended Fasting In The Future.
I Know That It Was All Totally By The Grace of God~For Me To Complete This Fast.
I was able to complete my extended ~40 Day Water Fast~ at Midnight on Nov. 17th.
Pastors Brad and Ronda B. ~Came by my house earlier that evening and we took Communion Together~To Celebrate!
I started the fast on Sept. 23; in preapration for The Call ~ San Diego on Nov. 1, 2008. Most people around the State and Nation~
Were starting on Sept 24; but we in Lake County House of Prayer started on Sept. 23rd.
I had always wanted to do a 40 Day Water Fast~ But due to working conditions~ I was only able to make it ~10 Days a couple of times in past years.
But since I was able to semi~retire in Aug~ from my job of 25 years service~
I Felt Led By The Holy Spirit To Do My Spiritual Part & Fast~ As Well As Continue To Increase The Amount of Intercession I Was Involved In!
Lou Engle of "The Call" ~ Called for A Corporate Fast For The State of California and Our National Elections~ On www.God.tv When he was in San Francisco at The Solemn Assembly on 08-08-08. Lou asked that all the God.tv viewers from around the World to start praying and fasting for California ~~~ Starting Sept. 24th~thru~Nov 2, 2008.
This Date Of ~08~08~08 ~ Would Prove To Be ~A Significant Turning Point ~
Of Great Importance In My Life~
As I was able to attend this Solemn Assembly Event in San Francisco~ I really got shaken by God~ And I Started To See More Clearly ~ The Effects Of The Deep Rooted Issues Of Abortion & Same Sex Marriage ~That Were Adversely Affecting Our State and Our Nations Future~
Our Nation Was & Is ~In The Balance~ For The 50 Million Babies Aborted Since Roe vs Wade!
If these "ISSUES" were not Defeated in the "Spiritual Realm" ~ And they were allowed to take place & proceed without Spiritual Resistance Through Extended Fasting & Acts Of Increased Intercession By God's People On Earth~ Repenting & Standing In The Gap~ We Would Not Be Held Blameless On The Day Of Judgment~ This Was Our Watch~&~We Had Allowed These Acts Of Murder ~ With The Shedding Of Innocent Blood ~ These Abominations In God's Eyes~ To Continue On Our Watch! ~God Have Mercy On Us~
Multitudes Of Intercessors Had Already Been Praying and Interceding Intensly For Many Months... Before This Solemn Assembly~ Especially For The Proposition "8" Marriage Amendment To Pass~ On Election Day. That Marriage Is Between One Man & One Woman.
Initially I was going to do the the 40 Day Fast with (8) Days of Daniel~(8) Days of juice~(8) Days of water~(8) Days of juice~ and finish off with (8) Days of Daniel (fruits & vegetables). (5x8=40)
After eating vegetables/salads for (8) Days~(Sept. 23~Sept. 30th)
I Then Drank Juices for (8) Days~ (Oct. 1~ Oct. 8th)
Then I began (8) Days of Water~ (Oct. 9th)
A few days before the water fast was to end ... and I was to go back on juices...
I felt Led By The Holy Spirit ~To continue with water and go (21) days on water until Oct. 29th.
I had known others who had done this in past years... and I was inspired by them.
There was A Lot of Grace on me to do this~ I think it was probably due to the corporate anointing of so many Intercessors and Saints around the State and Nation and even The Planet ~Who were involved during this time of Fasting and Spiritual Warfare... With Regards To The Call ~In San Diego On November 1st, 2008.
As I approached the (21) Day mark~ And Again I felt the Leading of The Holy Spirit to continue on Water for as long as I could~
The Call took place on Nov. 1st~ But I Felt Led To Continue My Fast Beyond The Elections On Nov. 4th...
There were many difficult days that I had to endure in the coming weeks that led up to the end of my Water Fast on Nov. 17th, 2008.
Without The Corporate Anointing Of Many Others Fasting With You~ (Most people completed their fasts on Nov. 2nd) ~It got very difficult & tough at times for days on end!
Some days were so intense with the soul and flesh acting out... That at times I wasn't sure if I could keep going another day.
Then I Experienced A Rhema Word of God~ One Morning After ~ A Long Night Of Struggling~ "I can do all things through Christ~Who Strengthens me" (Philippians 4:13)~
I was out of my despair and feeling Great... for many days after I received that Word from God in my Quiet Time!
Anyway I want thank everyone who has been Praying for me during this time~ I know your Prayers were effective on my behalf!
I especially want to thank my Fellow Intercessor and Sister Valerie H.~ Who continued with her Times of Fasting of (3 on ~ 3 off) ~After The Call and Elections Were Over~ She Was A Great Support & Encouragement To Me~ Toward The End Of My Fast. ~God Bless You~ Dear Sister!
I was able to learn Discipline In A Much Greater Measure; In My Life~Something that I know God has wanted me to work on for years. During This Extended Fast ~I Experienced Many New Relams of Deliverance~ Far Deeper Demensions Than I Had Already Gone Through And Been Dealing With In My Own Life ~During The Past ~Two and A Half Years. Praise God!
Our Flesh is such a barrier to The Realm of The Spirit~ Food is such a comfort to the Flesh~
Take away false god of Food~ The Flesh Dies ~&~ The Spirit Lives. It Is Very Healthy For Your Body Also!
I had never personally known anyone who had done a 40 day water fast~ to ask questions of~ So I just kept on going by Faith.
Since yesterday I have been drinking diluted juices for the most part; alittle vegie soup broth and of course lots of water.
Your digestive tract shuts down when fasting everthing except water... so you have to slowly introduce food into your digestive system... for it to start working again.
If you start eating the wrong things too soon or too much you can create health problems~that you don't want to experience. So in the coming days I will slowly continue to rebuild my strength and stamina.
If anyone ever decides to go on an Extended Water Fast~
And gets concerned about the symptoms and difficulties you will experience...
Please feel free to contact me and I will gladly support and encourage you.
I believe in the coming year ~2009~ Many of us will be called into Times of Extended Fasting and Intercession~
If there were Another Commandment~ After The Greatest Commandment To Love God~ And Then Love Your Neighbor As Yourself~ I Believe It Would Be Something Like This...
"Listen To God~Hear His Voice ~(His Written Word & His Rhema Word's) And Then Be Quick ~To Obediently Obey!!!"
~GLORY TO GOD~
~Father~Son~&~Holy Spirit~
Blessings
Bro. James Fulkerson
Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Subject: Faith.....and.....Works
The Following Is An Email That I Received From My Friend~Street Evangelist Tom K.
Tom Travels Across The USA~ Interceding And Praising God~Carrying Signs~
And Handing Out Tracts~ At Different Cities And Locations~
Such As Washington DC~ San Francisco Castro Distric~ Colorado Rocky Mtns~ etc...
Dear Jim, With all this emphasis on prayer I see, everywhere I go, who is doing the work ...... that everyone is praying will get done ? Everyone of us who knows Christ as his Savior has a light to shine and a cross to carry. As Christ lights our way, we are to light the way for others. How so? How are we to shine it? Here's how, according to the Master: "Let your light so shine before men that they may SEE your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." I wonder how it is that the homosexual community, that doesn't seem to believe in God, and certainly doesn't pray, is winning on all major fronts ? I'll tell you how --- they're working their butts off (pardon the expression) !!! And they're finding out that good hard work, and lots of it, is trumping our prayers ........ prayers not backed up by EQUALLY COMMITTED work !!! So James in James2:18 says: "Someone may well say, 'You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.' " I have become overburdened by all the work God has given me to do. On some days He tells me that I am to go and help the homeless, or something else, but I just go home and rest, I am so weary and tired from all the labor I do, and I wonder, why isn't someone else doing it too -- maybe some of those people in their nice comfortable prayer meetings who, as far as I can tell, narry lift a finger, other than in prayer ? How noble is it to say, "Oh God, please see to it that this gets done, or, that gets done, they need You so badly?" ........ But never say, "Oh God, here am I, SEND ME." ??? I know that prayer is good, and necessary, and we should seek God for grace, guidance, provisions and many other things, but our real purpose and mission-in-life will be missed without good works ...... "for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." -Eph.2:10 I know you are pouring your heart into your ministry, Jim, and I am glad you are --- it seems that is what God has called you to do, and I sense that you are doing an outstanding job ......... fighting the good fight ,,,,,,,,, but somewhere along the line, the church-as-a-whole seems to have lost sight of the work ethic and settled into a comfortable sideline position. I know, Jim, that you are well versed in scripture, and that you know the value of work, and that it must accompany faith, to make it complete. So why am I writing? I think that it's to encourage you to remind the troops that the battle is only begun in the prayer closet, and that we need to "come out of the closet" (where have I heard that before?), and start marching in the street . We need to take back the ground we have lost by default. We need to hit the streets and start marching as an army. I don't know what else to say now --- but I hope you have been blessed , or edified, by this letter. Take care Jim -- love ya! Tom
The Following Is An Email That I Received From My Friend~Street Evangelist Tom K.
Tom Travels Across The USA~ Interceding And Praising God~Carrying Signs~
And Handing Out Tracts~ At Different Cities And Locations~
Such As Washington DC~ San Francisco Castro Distric~ Colorado Rocky Mtns~ etc...
Dear Jim, With all this emphasis on prayer I see, everywhere I go, who is doing the work ...... that everyone is praying will get done ? Everyone of us who knows Christ as his Savior has a light to shine and a cross to carry. As Christ lights our way, we are to light the way for others. How so? How are we to shine it? Here's how, according to the Master: "Let your light so shine before men that they may SEE your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven." I wonder how it is that the homosexual community, that doesn't seem to believe in God, and certainly doesn't pray, is winning on all major fronts ? I'll tell you how --- they're working their butts off (pardon the expression) !!! And they're finding out that good hard work, and lots of it, is trumping our prayers ........ prayers not backed up by EQUALLY COMMITTED work !!! So James in James2:18 says: "Someone may well say, 'You have faith and I have works; show me your faith without the works, and I will show you my faith by my works.' " I have become overburdened by all the work God has given me to do. On some days He tells me that I am to go and help the homeless, or something else, but I just go home and rest, I am so weary and tired from all the labor I do, and I wonder, why isn't someone else doing it too -- maybe some of those people in their nice comfortable prayer meetings who, as far as I can tell, narry lift a finger, other than in prayer ? How noble is it to say, "Oh God, please see to it that this gets done, or, that gets done, they need You so badly?" ........ But never say, "Oh God, here am I, SEND ME." ??? I know that prayer is good, and necessary, and we should seek God for grace, guidance, provisions and many other things, but our real purpose and mission-in-life will be missed without good works ...... "for we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them." -Eph.2:10 I know you are pouring your heart into your ministry, Jim, and I am glad you are --- it seems that is what God has called you to do, and I sense that you are doing an outstanding job ......... fighting the good fight ,,,,,,,,, but somewhere along the line, the church-as-a-whole seems to have lost sight of the work ethic and settled into a comfortable sideline position. I know, Jim, that you are well versed in scripture, and that you know the value of work, and that it must accompany faith, to make it complete. So why am I writing? I think that it's to encourage you to remind the troops that the battle is only begun in the prayer closet, and that we need to "come out of the closet" (where have I heard that before?), and start marching in the street . We need to take back the ground we have lost by default. We need to hit the streets and start marching as an army. I don't know what else to say now --- but I hope you have been blessed , or edified, by this letter. Take care Jim -- love ya! Tom
Here Is My Response To My Friend Tom's Email~Above
IF GOD TOLD YOU TO DO SOMETHING~ THEN YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE TO DO IT... REGARDLESS IF ANYONE ELSE COMES ALONG SIDE TO HELP YOU.
I myself have had to learn this principle and lesson many times; especially over the course of the last four years; concerning 24 Hours of Worship & Intercession.
I cannot tell you how many hundreds of hours that I have spent alone... during these times of Building The Fathers House Of Prayer... Often Feeling Forsaken By Many...
Whom I Felt Were Suppose To Be There... But they Chose To Do Other Things... Like Staying Home In Their Comfort Zone; Watching TV; Or Times Of Recreation etc...
If My Heart Attitude Is Wrong... Towards Those People For Their Choices... It Is Not Pleasing To God... And My Worship To God... Is Meaningless.
And God Has Disciplined Me... Time & Time Again... Until Eventually I Have Had To Mature And Grow Up... Concerning This Subject.
God Has Revealed To Me... That Much Of My Problem Was Centered In "Spiritual Pride" ~
As I Would Faithfully Remain The Entire 24 Hours Every Month... During The First (3) Years... Alone In The Church Building Much Of The Time. (While Working 60-80 Hours Or More Every Week)
God Has Since Taught Me To Delegate To Others~ As Jethro Spoke Into Moses' Life... The Need To Delegate Or Burn-Out; Get Sick & Eventually Die From Exhaustion.
The Number Of People Involved In A Ministry~ Is Not Such A Big Deal To God~ Like It Is To Men. God Only Needs A Few Who Will Be Faithful~ & Obedient In Their Callings.
Paul Tells Us In~ (1 Corinthians 12: 12-31); How God Has Set The Members; Each One Of Them, In The Body; Just As He Pleased. Many Members; Yet One Body.
Some Of Us (Our Ministries & Congregations) Are The (Eyes, Hands, Feet, etc...). We Cannot Say That "I Have No Need Of You; To Any Part".
God Says That; (We Need All The Parts Of The Body ~ Working Together In Unity). And Those Parts Of The Body Which We Think To Be Less Honorable; On These We Bestow Greater Honor.
That There Should Be No Schisms/Divisions In The Body; But That Members (Whatever Their Giftings)~Should Have The Same Care For One Another.
This Includes (Apostles, Prophets,Teachers, Miracles, Healings, Helps, Administrations, Varieties Of Tongues)... Desire The Greater Gifts; And Yet I Show You A More Excellent Way~LOVE~
Without Our Love ( Toward God & Men)~Being Our Motivating Factor~ No Matter What We Are Called To Do (Ministries)~ It Will Profit Us Nothing~ In Our Godly Account!
"The Key To Happiness & Fulfillment In Life~ Is Not Being Loved~ It Is Having Someone To Love~ That's What Makes Life Exciting"~ "There Are People Not Very Far From You~ Who Need Your Love."
I Read This Quote In A Book By Derek Prince... This Morning~ And I Thought It Was Profound. Not Only Spouses, Children, Family & Friends; But Also~ To Those Who Are Not Very Lovable.
Those Who Are Bitter And Angry Towards God And People In General. Your Love Can Make The Difference In Their Lives. I Know You Are Living This~ Bro. Tom~ God Bless You For Your Heart.
(OK I kind of went off on a Rabbit Trail~ Let me get back to responding to your email).
Works of Faith~ Are Not Just Witnessing~ Handing Out Food~ Healing The Sick~ Bringing Deliverance To The Captives~ Handing Out Tracts~ etc... Which Are All Very Good Works.
But Good Works Also Include Acts Of Faith~ Such As Noah Building The Ark; Abraham Offering Up Isaac~The Child Of Promise~ Or Abraham Interceding For Sodom & Gomorrah~
It Also Is Praying And Interceding That The Lord Of The Harvest Would Send Forth Laborers/ Not Only Men/Women; But Also His Holy Angels To The Heirs Of Salvation~ It Is To Intercede For The Lamb Of God To Open The Seals Of The Scroll And Release The End-Time Events Of The Book Of Revelation~ Or The Women Worshipping Jesus~ With The Alabaster Box Of Fragrant Costly Oils~ Or Acts Of Going Into The Secret Place Of Intimacy ~With Extended Times Of Fasting And Communication With Our Bridegroom And King; When All The Others Leave; For Whatever They Feel Is More Important ~You Remain! The Greatest Commandment Is To Love God With Every Part Of Our Being~ Then Love One Another. So Actually Our Greatest Responsibility Is To Love And Worship God~ Before Anything Else. I Believe the Third Commandant Would Be To Listen; Hear And Obey What God tells You To Do. Otherwise You Will Not Have Understanding Of What It Is He Is Wanting To Do... And We Will Build Our Own Programs/ Ministries~ Instead Of Hearing The Lord's Strategies; Being Less Effective.
In Reference To The Book Of James~ It Is Said By Historians~ That As The Chief Apostle In Jerusalem~ James; The Half Brother Of Our Lord Jesus Christ~ Was Called "Camel Knees"; Because Of All The Time... That He Spent In Prayer/Intercession!
Maybe Prayer Could Be Classified~ As A Good Work Of Faith? Prayer Without Faith Is Dead Prayer. Show Me Your Works And I Will Show You (God's Works) By My Faithful Prayers.
Many Times Jesus Admonished / Commanded The End-Time Saints; Of Our Generation~ That We Should Always Watch And Pray~ Whenever He Described The Things That We Will Be Facing In Last Days.
We Have (4) Scheduled Outreaches For The Children And Youth In Lake County This Summer~ To The Unsaved~ We Are Well Into The Planning Stages And Gathering County Wide Laborers.
We Are Hoping For 700 plus Youth to Give Their Hearts To God~ Through These Outdoor Park Venues. It Is Gaining Momentum Throughout (14) Churches In The County~ Plus We Are Bringing In Ministries From Other Areas And Regions Of California. Please Pray For This Event And Join Us As The Lord Leads You. (I will be sending out future emails with the details~ Date~Locations~Ministries~etc..)
Believe me ~ I can Understand your Frustration and Weariness in Well Doing~ Every Minister Is Challenged With The Same Sort Of Feelings~ As God Clearly Spoke To Me About It~
The Lord Said To Me~ "Ministry Is Lonely~ Get Over It~ And ~Get Used To It". I Thank God For His Word~ And Discipline~ It Has Helped Me A Lot Over The Years. :)
Make Sure You Are Only Doing What God Tells You To Do~ Not Burdening Yourself With Just "Good Works".
Keep Up The Good Works~ As God Directs You ~ Dear Brother~ In These Latter Days~ There Will Be So Much Going On~ We Can't Be Everywhere And Do Everything~ We Must Hear & Obey God.
I Might Possibly Be Going To San Francisco This Friday Afternoon To Join Some House Of Prayer Folks ~In The Castro District~ For Evangelism & Then Staying The Night For Worship & Intercession.
My Intercessor Friends Valerie & Terry House Are Leading Worship From 12 am - 3 am~ It Will Be A Great Time Of Prophetic Worship And Intercession~ They Are A Powerful Ministry In Lake County.
I Believe It Is Going To Be A Great Time In The Presence Of The Lord~ So If Your Knees Aren't Too Calloused ~ :)
We Would Love To Have You Join Us~ If God Puts It On Your Heart~.
Blessings & Love
Bro. Jim
IF GOD TOLD YOU TO DO SOMETHING~ THEN YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE TO DO IT... REGARDLESS IF ANYONE ELSE COMES ALONG SIDE TO HELP YOU.
I myself have had to learn this principle and lesson many times; especially over the course of the last four years; concerning 24 Hours of Worship & Intercession.
I cannot tell you how many hundreds of hours that I have spent alone... during these times of Building The Fathers House Of Prayer... Often Feeling Forsaken By Many...
Whom I Felt Were Suppose To Be There... But they Chose To Do Other Things... Like Staying Home In Their Comfort Zone; Watching TV; Or Times Of Recreation etc...
If My Heart Attitude Is Wrong... Towards Those People For Their Choices... It Is Not Pleasing To God... And My Worship To God... Is Meaningless.
And God Has Disciplined Me... Time & Time Again... Until Eventually I Have Had To Mature And Grow Up... Concerning This Subject.
God Has Revealed To Me... That Much Of My Problem Was Centered In "Spiritual Pride" ~
As I Would Faithfully Remain The Entire 24 Hours Every Month... During The First (3) Years... Alone In The Church Building Much Of The Time. (While Working 60-80 Hours Or More Every Week)
God Has Since Taught Me To Delegate To Others~ As Jethro Spoke Into Moses' Life... The Need To Delegate Or Burn-Out; Get Sick & Eventually Die From Exhaustion.
The Number Of People Involved In A Ministry~ Is Not Such A Big Deal To God~ Like It Is To Men. God Only Needs A Few Who Will Be Faithful~ & Obedient In Their Callings.
Paul Tells Us In~ (1 Corinthians 12: 12-31); How God Has Set The Members; Each One Of Them, In The Body; Just As He Pleased. Many Members; Yet One Body.
Some Of Us (Our Ministries & Congregations) Are The (Eyes, Hands, Feet, etc...). We Cannot Say That "I Have No Need Of You; To Any Part".
God Says That; (We Need All The Parts Of The Body ~ Working Together In Unity). And Those Parts Of The Body Which We Think To Be Less Honorable; On These We Bestow Greater Honor.
That There Should Be No Schisms/Divisions In The Body; But That Members (Whatever Their Giftings)~Should Have The Same Care For One Another.
This Includes (Apostles, Prophets,Teachers, Miracles, Healings, Helps, Administrations, Varieties Of Tongues)... Desire The Greater Gifts; And Yet I Show You A More Excellent Way~LOVE~
Without Our Love ( Toward God & Men)~Being Our Motivating Factor~ No Matter What We Are Called To Do (Ministries)~ It Will Profit Us Nothing~ In Our Godly Account!
"The Key To Happiness & Fulfillment In Life~ Is Not Being Loved~ It Is Having Someone To Love~ That's What Makes Life Exciting"~ "There Are People Not Very Far From You~ Who Need Your Love."
I Read This Quote In A Book By Derek Prince... This Morning~ And I Thought It Was Profound. Not Only Spouses, Children, Family & Friends; But Also~ To Those Who Are Not Very Lovable.
Those Who Are Bitter And Angry Towards God And People In General. Your Love Can Make The Difference In Their Lives. I Know You Are Living This~ Bro. Tom~ God Bless You For Your Heart.
(OK I kind of went off on a Rabbit Trail~ Let me get back to responding to your email).
Works of Faith~ Are Not Just Witnessing~ Handing Out Food~ Healing The Sick~ Bringing Deliverance To The Captives~ Handing Out Tracts~ etc... Which Are All Very Good Works.
But Good Works Also Include Acts Of Faith~ Such As Noah Building The Ark; Abraham Offering Up Isaac~The Child Of Promise~ Or Abraham Interceding For Sodom & Gomorrah~
It Also Is Praying And Interceding That The Lord Of The Harvest Would Send Forth Laborers/ Not Only Men/Women; But Also His Holy Angels To The Heirs Of Salvation~ It Is To Intercede For The Lamb Of God To Open The Seals Of The Scroll And Release The End-Time Events Of The Book Of Revelation~ Or The Women Worshipping Jesus~ With The Alabaster Box Of Fragrant Costly Oils~ Or Acts Of Going Into The Secret Place Of Intimacy ~With Extended Times Of Fasting And Communication With Our Bridegroom And King; When All The Others Leave; For Whatever They Feel Is More Important ~You Remain! The Greatest Commandment Is To Love God With Every Part Of Our Being~ Then Love One Another. So Actually Our Greatest Responsibility Is To Love And Worship God~ Before Anything Else. I Believe the Third Commandant Would Be To Listen; Hear And Obey What God tells You To Do. Otherwise You Will Not Have Understanding Of What It Is He Is Wanting To Do... And We Will Build Our Own Programs/ Ministries~ Instead Of Hearing The Lord's Strategies; Being Less Effective.
In Reference To The Book Of James~ It Is Said By Historians~ That As The Chief Apostle In Jerusalem~ James; The Half Brother Of Our Lord Jesus Christ~ Was Called "Camel Knees"; Because Of All The Time... That He Spent In Prayer/Intercession!
Maybe Prayer Could Be Classified~ As A Good Work Of Faith? Prayer Without Faith Is Dead Prayer. Show Me Your Works And I Will Show You (God's Works) By My Faithful Prayers.
Many Times Jesus Admonished / Commanded The End-Time Saints; Of Our Generation~ That We Should Always Watch And Pray~ Whenever He Described The Things That We Will Be Facing In Last Days.
We Have (4) Scheduled Outreaches For The Children And Youth In Lake County This Summer~ To The Unsaved~ We Are Well Into The Planning Stages And Gathering County Wide Laborers.
We Are Hoping For 700 plus Youth to Give Their Hearts To God~ Through These Outdoor Park Venues. It Is Gaining Momentum Throughout (14) Churches In The County~ Plus We Are Bringing In Ministries From Other Areas And Regions Of California. Please Pray For This Event And Join Us As The Lord Leads You. (I will be sending out future emails with the details~ Date~Locations~Ministries~etc..)
Believe me ~ I can Understand your Frustration and Weariness in Well Doing~ Every Minister Is Challenged With The Same Sort Of Feelings~ As God Clearly Spoke To Me About It~
The Lord Said To Me~ "Ministry Is Lonely~ Get Over It~ And ~Get Used To It". I Thank God For His Word~ And Discipline~ It Has Helped Me A Lot Over The Years. :)
Make Sure You Are Only Doing What God Tells You To Do~ Not Burdening Yourself With Just "Good Works".
Keep Up The Good Works~ As God Directs You ~ Dear Brother~ In These Latter Days~ There Will Be So Much Going On~ We Can't Be Everywhere And Do Everything~ We Must Hear & Obey God.
I Might Possibly Be Going To San Francisco This Friday Afternoon To Join Some House Of Prayer Folks ~In The Castro District~ For Evangelism & Then Staying The Night For Worship & Intercession.
My Intercessor Friends Valerie & Terry House Are Leading Worship From 12 am - 3 am~ It Will Be A Great Time Of Prophetic Worship And Intercession~ They Are A Powerful Ministry In Lake County.
I Believe It Is Going To Be A Great Time In The Presence Of The Lord~ So If Your Knees Aren't Too Calloused ~ :)
We Would Love To Have You Join Us~ If God Puts It On Your Heart~.
Blessings & Love
Bro. Jim
Friday, March 6, 2009
~LOVING GOD~ THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT~
LOVING GOD~ THE FIRST AND GREATEST COMMANDMENT~
Mike Bickle Is The Director Of Kansa City, MO. ~International House Of Prayer ~ IHOP ~
I Follow This Website More Than Any Other www.ihop.org (once you are there open the RESOURCE icon) And You Too Will Receive A Lot Of Revelation Concerning The Bible & The End-Time Events Described In The Book Of Revelation~ That We Are Living In~ This very Hour~
~All Spiritual Blessings ~ To The Remnant Saints Of God~
The Following Teaching Is From Some Of Mike Bickles Notes~ On Our Passion For Jesus~
Loving God: The First and Great Commandment
I. THE CALL TO WHOLEHEARTED LOVE FOR GOD
A. The Shema Israel: Shema is the Hebrew word for ‘hear’. God called Israel to hear His heart. Jesus’ most repeated exhortation in the NT was, "He that has an ear, let him hear" (Mt. 11:15; 13:9, 43; Mk. 4:9, 23; 7:16; Lk. 8:8; 14:35; Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22; 13:9).
4 Hear (Shema), O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. (Deut. 6:4-5)
B. Jesus interpreted what they were meant to “hear”. Namely, that loving God is His first priority and what He considers the greatest way to live. We must press to the limits of what the words “first” and “great” imply. Do not apologize for your intensity in your vision to love Jesus.
37 You shall love the Lord…38 This is the first and great commandment. (Mt. 22:37-38)
C. The Shema reveals the “why” behind the “what” of creation and redemption. God's ultimate purpose for creation is to provide a family for Himself and an eternal companion for Jesus who would be equally yoked to Him in love. Jesus’ inheritance is a people He fully possesses in love.
8 I (the Father) will give You (Jesus) the nations for Your inheritance… (Ps. 2:8)
1. Mandatory obedience: God will cause all creation to obey Jesus (Phil. 2:9-11).
2. Voluntary love: God will raise up a people equally yoked in love. He wants us to love Him with all of our heart and mind because He loves us with all of His heart and mind.
D. As a King, Jesus will be obeyed, but as a Bridegroom, He will be loved. A king’s inheritance is to rule over obedient subjects. A bridegroom’s inheritance is partnership with a loving bride.
E. We must continually realign our life and ministry to make the First Commandment our first priority. By the very definition of love, we must invite Him. He will not force us into a relationship of voluntary love. He waits until we invite Him in the matters of our heart.
F. God’s purpose is to select and train a Bride who would be prepared by voluntary love to reign with Jesus. The First Commandment will be in first place in the Church when Jesus returns.
7 For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. (Rev. 19:7)
G. He will supernaturally empower us to love Him this way. It takes “God to love God”.
5 The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit… (Rom. 5:5)
H. Jesus prayed for His people to be supernaturally empowered to love Him with God’s love.
26 I declared…Your name…that the love with which You loved Me may be in them. (Jn. 17:26)
II. LOVING GOD IS THE FIRST COMMANDMENT: IT IS WHAT GOD WANTS FIRST
A. Loving God is the first priority to God. Jesus did not call it the first option, but a commandment. This is the first emphasis of the Holy Spirit. Loving God is a glorious end in itself, however, it never ends with loving God, but always overflows with loving ourselves and others.
B. The Song of Solomon has two main sections. Song 1-4 is focused on the Bride receiving her inheritance in Jesus. Song 5-8 is focused on Jesus receiving His inheritance in the Bride.
C. Since loving God is His first priority, we must plan our ministries with this as our first goal and measurement of success. Numerical growth is good, but that is not the litmus test of God’s favor. I ask the Spirit to mark all of us so that this is our top priority in our ministry mission statement.
D. God has everything yet He is searching for something. What does God search for? What does He want most and first? It is love that He is after. He is after our heart. He wants our voluntary love. When we find what God is looking for, then we will find the answer to what we are looking for.
23 True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him…24 Those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. (Jn. 4:23-24)
E. Many are searching to know God’s will. The first issue in God’s will is to love Him. The mystery of our life is found in this truth. He wants us. We cry, “Lord, what are You doing in my life? Why are You allowing certain things?” He is after our heart. God does everything for love.
F. Christianity is an on-going encounter of love with a Person. A deep sense of mission to change a city or nation will not keep us steady unless we encounter Jesus in love. The labor of ministry makes us weary without the small but consistent stirring of love in our emotions by the Spirit.
III. LOVING GOD IS THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT, CALLING AND LIFESTYLE
A. Loving God is the greatest thing we can do. It has the greatest impact on God’s heart and ours. Our greatest calling is to move God’s heart and to be moved by God’s heart. We touch Him by every movement of our heart to show love to Him by obedience. It is the most extreme lifestyle.
B. Do you know the way that you move Him? Each time we repent of compromise it moves Him. We move His heart by sitting before Him (Lk. 10:38-42) and by doing small acts of service for others because of love for Him (Heb. 6:10; Mt. 10:42).
C. Our greatest satisfaction is to know and feel His love, to love Him and to overflow in love for others. Our identity is found in this. I confess, “I’m loved (by God) and I am a lover (of God) therefore I am successful”. This is what we look like to God.
D. Loving Jesus has the greatest reward in the age-to-come and thus, it is the only way to enter our greatest destiny. You can be one of the greatest people in history by loving God (Mt. 5:19).
IV. LOVE IS DEFINED BY OBEDIENCE
A. Jesus defined loving God as being deeply rooted in a spirit of obedience (Jn. 14:21; Deut. 6:1-9). There is no such thing as loving God without seeking to obey His Word. Loving God requires more than singing to Him or having sentimental feelings about a “god we make in our image”.
15 If you love Me, keep My commandments….21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me…23 If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word… (Jn. 14:15-23)
B. What does Jesus command us to do? He commands us to love Him, ask Him for things, be near Him, and enjoy His glory with His liberating holiness. His commands are related to loving Him.
3 This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. His commandments are not burdensome. (1 Jn. 5:3)
C. “Affection-based obedience” is obedience that flows from experiencing Jesus’ affection for us and giving it back to Him. It is the strongest, deepest and most consistent obedience. Why? Because a lovesick person will endure anything for love.
D. “Duty-based obedience” is our commitment to obedience even if we do not feel God’s presence. God’s Word requires that we obey God without feeling inspired to do so.
E. “Fear-based obedience” is obedience motivated by the fear of negative consequences. It is biblical to appeal to shame and fear to motivate people. Scripture has many “do’s and don’ts” such as do not commit adultery, steal, etc. We sin when our heart is unsatisfied with God.
F. Obedience based on affection does not need the pressure of added difficulty (God’s discipline), shame (being caught), or to be watched to avoid dishonesty with money, laziness, porn, etc.
V. REVELATION OF THE SUPREMACY OF THE FIRST COMMANDMENT
A. We need revelation of the supremacy of the first commandment. It is the standard of evaluation at the Judgment Seat of Christ. God measures life differently than man because He has all the money, wisdom, fame, influence and time. What will matter is whether we grew in love for God.
B. We are not left guessing as to what God considers greatest. In seeking to stay up with popular ministry trends, some regularly change directions in their ministry. We must not get our ministry focus from the latest trend, but from God’s Word. God is raising up forerunner messengers to call others to define love as God’s highest purpose. They will make the First Commandment their primary focus for their life and ministry.
C. Our greatest strengthening is found in affection-based obedience” that flows from experiencing Jesus’ affection and responding back love. It is the most consistent obedience because a lovesick person will endure anything for love. People in love are untouchable. We set our heart to live as extravagant lovers of God without getting trapped into bitterness toward those who mistreat us.
D. What is your greatest dream for your life? The anointing to love God is our greatest possession. The reward of love is found in possessing the power to love. No sacrifice is comparable to what He gives us in His love. Anyone can quit, but a person in love.
E. The church of Ephesus was a great revival center in the early Church (Acts 19-20), yet, they did not sustain the freshness of their love for Jesus. They became workers for God more than lovers of God. Lovers will always out work the workers.
4 I have this against you, that you have left your first love... (Rev. 2:4)
F. When we work without intimacy we work as a slave or a hireling. The heart of a bride is refreshed as she labors. Service without the foundation of devotion leads to burnout, disappointment, and wounding. Thus, the service is not sustained over decades.
VI. A NEEDED PARADIGM SHIFT: MAKING THE FIRST COMMANDMENT FIRST
A. Our first loyalty and preoccupation is to a Man, then secondly to His mission and our role in it. It is common to be preoccupied with the mission because it is deeply tied to our role and identity.
24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority…28 When all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him (the Father)…that God may be all in all. (1 Cor. 15:24-28)
B. The power of martyrdom is found in being preoccupied with the First Commandment. The Book of Revelation is Jesus’ plan to fill the earth with the First Commandment.
2 I saw…those who have the victory over the beast…standing on the sea of glass. (Rev. 15:2)
11 They overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. (Rev. 12:11)
C. We must make a determined decision to set our heart to make loving God our first priority. We must establish a vision to go deep in God. This will require much focus and continual effort. It also requires that we must be focused on pursuing it more than gaining things and influence.
14 Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him… (Ps. 91:14)
D. The power of articulating our love and gratitude to Jesus is often overlooked. It will change our life to regularly say out loud, “Jesus, I love You, I thank and trust You”.
2 Take words with you, and return to the LORD. Say to Him, "Take away all iniquity; receive us graciously, for we will offer the sacrifices of our lips. (Hos. 14:2)
15 One of them…returned…16 giving Him thanks…17 Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed?...19 He said to him, "Your faith has made you well." (Lk. 17:15-19)
E. See three prayer lists on www.IHOP.org: F-E-L-L-O-W-S-H-I-P (prayers to be strengthened); A-R-K (applying the descriptions of Jesus) and T-R-U-S-T (fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit).
Mike Bickle Is The Director Of Kansa City, MO. ~International House Of Prayer ~ IHOP ~
I Follow This Website More Than Any Other www.ihop.org (once you are there open the RESOURCE icon) And You Too Will Receive A Lot Of Revelation Concerning The Bible & The End-Time Events Described In The Book Of Revelation~ That We Are Living In~ This very Hour~
~All Spiritual Blessings ~ To The Remnant Saints Of God~
The Following Teaching Is From Some Of Mike Bickles Notes~ On Our Passion For Jesus~
Loving God: The First and Great Commandment
I. THE CALL TO WHOLEHEARTED LOVE FOR GOD
A. The Shema Israel: Shema is the Hebrew word for ‘hear’. God called Israel to hear His heart. Jesus’ most repeated exhortation in the NT was, "He that has an ear, let him hear" (Mt. 11:15; 13:9, 43; Mk. 4:9, 23; 7:16; Lk. 8:8; 14:35; Rev. 2:7, 11, 17, 29; 3:6, 13, 22; 13:9).
4 Hear (Shema), O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one! 5 You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. (Deut. 6:4-5)
B. Jesus interpreted what they were meant to “hear”. Namely, that loving God is His first priority and what He considers the greatest way to live. We must press to the limits of what the words “first” and “great” imply. Do not apologize for your intensity in your vision to love Jesus.
37 You shall love the Lord…38 This is the first and great commandment. (Mt. 22:37-38)
C. The Shema reveals the “why” behind the “what” of creation and redemption. God's ultimate purpose for creation is to provide a family for Himself and an eternal companion for Jesus who would be equally yoked to Him in love. Jesus’ inheritance is a people He fully possesses in love.
8 I (the Father) will give You (Jesus) the nations for Your inheritance… (Ps. 2:8)
1. Mandatory obedience: God will cause all creation to obey Jesus (Phil. 2:9-11).
2. Voluntary love: God will raise up a people equally yoked in love. He wants us to love Him with all of our heart and mind because He loves us with all of His heart and mind.
D. As a King, Jesus will be obeyed, but as a Bridegroom, He will be loved. A king’s inheritance is to rule over obedient subjects. A bridegroom’s inheritance is partnership with a loving bride.
E. We must continually realign our life and ministry to make the First Commandment our first priority. By the very definition of love, we must invite Him. He will not force us into a relationship of voluntary love. He waits until we invite Him in the matters of our heart.
F. God’s purpose is to select and train a Bride who would be prepared by voluntary love to reign with Jesus. The First Commandment will be in first place in the Church when Jesus returns.
7 For the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready. (Rev. 19:7)
G. He will supernaturally empower us to love Him this way. It takes “God to love God”.
5 The love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit… (Rom. 5:5)
H. Jesus prayed for His people to be supernaturally empowered to love Him with God’s love.
26 I declared…Your name…that the love with which You loved Me may be in them. (Jn. 17:26)
II. LOVING GOD IS THE FIRST COMMANDMENT: IT IS WHAT GOD WANTS FIRST
A. Loving God is the first priority to God. Jesus did not call it the first option, but a commandment. This is the first emphasis of the Holy Spirit. Loving God is a glorious end in itself, however, it never ends with loving God, but always overflows with loving ourselves and others.
B. The Song of Solomon has two main sections. Song 1-4 is focused on the Bride receiving her inheritance in Jesus. Song 5-8 is focused on Jesus receiving His inheritance in the Bride.
C. Since loving God is His first priority, we must plan our ministries with this as our first goal and measurement of success. Numerical growth is good, but that is not the litmus test of God’s favor. I ask the Spirit to mark all of us so that this is our top priority in our ministry mission statement.
D. God has everything yet He is searching for something. What does God search for? What does He want most and first? It is love that He is after. He is after our heart. He wants our voluntary love. When we find what God is looking for, then we will find the answer to what we are looking for.
23 True worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him…24 Those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth. (Jn. 4:23-24)
E. Many are searching to know God’s will. The first issue in God’s will is to love Him. The mystery of our life is found in this truth. He wants us. We cry, “Lord, what are You doing in my life? Why are You allowing certain things?” He is after our heart. God does everything for love.
F. Christianity is an on-going encounter of love with a Person. A deep sense of mission to change a city or nation will not keep us steady unless we encounter Jesus in love. The labor of ministry makes us weary without the small but consistent stirring of love in our emotions by the Spirit.
III. LOVING GOD IS THE GREATEST COMMANDMENT, CALLING AND LIFESTYLE
A. Loving God is the greatest thing we can do. It has the greatest impact on God’s heart and ours. Our greatest calling is to move God’s heart and to be moved by God’s heart. We touch Him by every movement of our heart to show love to Him by obedience. It is the most extreme lifestyle.
B. Do you know the way that you move Him? Each time we repent of compromise it moves Him. We move His heart by sitting before Him (Lk. 10:38-42) and by doing small acts of service for others because of love for Him (Heb. 6:10; Mt. 10:42).
C. Our greatest satisfaction is to know and feel His love, to love Him and to overflow in love for others. Our identity is found in this. I confess, “I’m loved (by God) and I am a lover (of God) therefore I am successful”. This is what we look like to God.
D. Loving Jesus has the greatest reward in the age-to-come and thus, it is the only way to enter our greatest destiny. You can be one of the greatest people in history by loving God (Mt. 5:19).
IV. LOVE IS DEFINED BY OBEDIENCE
A. Jesus defined loving God as being deeply rooted in a spirit of obedience (Jn. 14:21; Deut. 6:1-9). There is no such thing as loving God without seeking to obey His Word. Loving God requires more than singing to Him or having sentimental feelings about a “god we make in our image”.
15 If you love Me, keep My commandments….21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me…23 If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word… (Jn. 14:15-23)
B. What does Jesus command us to do? He commands us to love Him, ask Him for things, be near Him, and enjoy His glory with His liberating holiness. His commands are related to loving Him.
3 This is the love of God, that we keep His commandments. His commandments are not burdensome. (1 Jn. 5:3)
C. “Affection-based obedience” is obedience that flows from experiencing Jesus’ affection for us and giving it back to Him. It is the strongest, deepest and most consistent obedience. Why? Because a lovesick person will endure anything for love.
D. “Duty-based obedience” is our commitment to obedience even if we do not feel God’s presence. God’s Word requires that we obey God without feeling inspired to do so.
E. “Fear-based obedience” is obedience motivated by the fear of negative consequences. It is biblical to appeal to shame and fear to motivate people. Scripture has many “do’s and don’ts” such as do not commit adultery, steal, etc. We sin when our heart is unsatisfied with God.
F. Obedience based on affection does not need the pressure of added difficulty (God’s discipline), shame (being caught), or to be watched to avoid dishonesty with money, laziness, porn, etc.
V. REVELATION OF THE SUPREMACY OF THE FIRST COMMANDMENT
A. We need revelation of the supremacy of the first commandment. It is the standard of evaluation at the Judgment Seat of Christ. God measures life differently than man because He has all the money, wisdom, fame, influence and time. What will matter is whether we grew in love for God.
B. We are not left guessing as to what God considers greatest. In seeking to stay up with popular ministry trends, some regularly change directions in their ministry. We must not get our ministry focus from the latest trend, but from God’s Word. God is raising up forerunner messengers to call others to define love as God’s highest purpose. They will make the First Commandment their primary focus for their life and ministry.
C. Our greatest strengthening is found in affection-based obedience” that flows from experiencing Jesus’ affection and responding back love. It is the most consistent obedience because a lovesick person will endure anything for love. People in love are untouchable. We set our heart to live as extravagant lovers of God without getting trapped into bitterness toward those who mistreat us.
D. What is your greatest dream for your life? The anointing to love God is our greatest possession. The reward of love is found in possessing the power to love. No sacrifice is comparable to what He gives us in His love. Anyone can quit, but a person in love.
E. The church of Ephesus was a great revival center in the early Church (Acts 19-20), yet, they did not sustain the freshness of their love for Jesus. They became workers for God more than lovers of God. Lovers will always out work the workers.
4 I have this against you, that you have left your first love... (Rev. 2:4)
F. When we work without intimacy we work as a slave or a hireling. The heart of a bride is refreshed as she labors. Service without the foundation of devotion leads to burnout, disappointment, and wounding. Thus, the service is not sustained over decades.
VI. A NEEDED PARADIGM SHIFT: MAKING THE FIRST COMMANDMENT FIRST
A. Our first loyalty and preoccupation is to a Man, then secondly to His mission and our role in it. It is common to be preoccupied with the mission because it is deeply tied to our role and identity.
24 Then comes the end, when He delivers the kingdom to God the Father, when He puts an end to all rule and all authority…28 When all things are made subject to Him, then the Son Himself will also be subject to Him (the Father)…that God may be all in all. (1 Cor. 15:24-28)
B. The power of martyrdom is found in being preoccupied with the First Commandment. The Book of Revelation is Jesus’ plan to fill the earth with the First Commandment.
2 I saw…those who have the victory over the beast…standing on the sea of glass. (Rev. 15:2)
11 They overcame him (Satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death. (Rev. 12:11)
C. We must make a determined decision to set our heart to make loving God our first priority. We must establish a vision to go deep in God. This will require much focus and continual effort. It also requires that we must be focused on pursuing it more than gaining things and influence.
14 Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him… (Ps. 91:14)
D. The power of articulating our love and gratitude to Jesus is often overlooked. It will change our life to regularly say out loud, “Jesus, I love You, I thank and trust You”.
2 Take words with you, and return to the LORD. Say to Him, "Take away all iniquity; receive us graciously, for we will offer the sacrifices of our lips. (Hos. 14:2)
15 One of them…returned…16 giving Him thanks…17 Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed?...19 He said to him, "Your faith has made you well." (Lk. 17:15-19)
E. See three prayer lists on www.IHOP.org: F-E-L-L-O-W-S-H-I-P (prayers to be strengthened); A-R-K (applying the descriptions of Jesus) and T-R-U-S-T (fellowshipping with the Holy Spirit).
Friday, February 27, 2009
THE FORERUNNER MINISTRY~ARE YOU A FORERUNNER?
Forerunners Are Messengers Who Prepare The Way Of The Lord; By Preparing The Nations… And the Remnant Church For Jesus’ Return!
John The Baptist Was A Forerunner Before Jesus’ First Coming And Ministry. John Was A Burning And Shining Lamp. Jesus Described John As The Greatest Man In History. No One Ever Obeyed God More Consistently; Nor Prepared More Diligently For Ministry; Than John The Baptist. “Among Those Born Of Women; There Has Not Risen One Greater Than John.” (Matt: 11:11) John The Baptist Is One Of Our Best Examples~ Of How To Be A Forerunner.
Forerunners Are Messengers Who Prepare The Way Of The Lord; By Preparing The Nations… And the Remnant Church For Jesus’ Return!
John The Baptist Was A Forerunner Before Jesus’ First Coming And Ministry. John Was A Burning And Shining Lamp. Jesus Described John As The Greatest Man In History. No One Ever Obeyed God More Consistently; Nor Prepared More Diligently For Ministry; Than John The Baptist. “Among Those Born Of Women; There Has Not Risen One Greater Than John.” (Matt: 11:11) John The Baptist Is One Of Our Best Examples~ Of How To Be A Forerunner.
Daniel The Intercessor And Prophet~ Is Also Another Amazing Forerunner~ But We Will Look At His Life In A Future Blog.
At A Very Young Age; John Knew Of The Call Of God On His Life. Before John Was Even Conceived; John’s Father; Zacharias… A Priest; Was Visited By An Angel. The Angel Explained To Zacharias The Ministry That His Son John ~Would Perform In His Life. (Luke 1: 11-17)
John Knew From His Youth; That He Was A Forerunner… Because His Father Zacharias… Retold Him The Story Over And Over… Of His Angelic Visitation And The Call Of God On His Life… ~Yeah~ Even Before He Was Miraculously Conceived… In His Mothers Barren Womb!
John Knew From His Youth; That He Was A Forerunner… Because His Father Zacharias… Retold Him The Story Over And Over… Of His Angelic Visitation And The Call Of God On His Life… ~Yeah~ Even Before He Was Miraculously Conceived… In His Mothers Barren Womb!
This Is A Lesson For Fathers To Teach Their Children About Their Destiny In The Kingdom Of God~ Over and Over; To See The End-Time Forerunners Emerge In This Age!Surely His John’s Father Revealed the Scriptures To Him; Scripture That Foretold~ That He Was To Be Prepared In The Wilderness~ Separated (set apart) For The Kingdom Of God; As Declared In The writings Of Isaiah. “I Am The Voice Of One Crying In The Wilderness; Make Straight The Way Of The LORD,” As The Prophet Isaiah Prophesied. (John 1: 22-23)
John Prepared For About (20) Years; For Only (2) Years Of Public Ministry.
Today~ In Our Lifetime~ God Is In The Process Of Raising Up Many Forerunners… To Prepare The Way; For Jesus’ Second Coming!
Today~ In Our Lifetime~ God Is In The Process Of Raising Up Many Forerunners… To Prepare The Way; For Jesus’ Second Coming!
Forerunners Make Known God’s Plans So That People Will Understand The Paradigms Of God’s End-Time Prophecies; That Are Seen Throughout The Scriptures; Especially In The Book Of Revelation.
Then Why Is It; That So Many Saints~ Refuse To Study~ Nor Are They Even Willing To Casually Discuss The Book Of Revelation?
Undoubtedly In My Humble Opinion; There Must Be Spiritually Demonic Forces At Work. Including ~The Fear Of Man~ ~Hidden Sin~ ~Complacency In Their Kingdom Walk~ ~Slothfulness~ ~Selfish Pride; That They Would Not Lose Face Because Of Their Previously Believed And Taught ~False Doctrines~ ~On End Times~.
~Whatever Their Excuse Is~ It Doesn't Fly~In God's Eyes!
It Wasn’t Written To The Unbelievers In The World. “The Book Of The Revelation Of The Lord Jesus Christ; Was Obviously Written To The End-Time Church!
It Wasn’t Written To The Unbelievers In The World. “The Book Of The Revelation Of The Lord Jesus Christ; Was Obviously Written To The End-Time Church!
Is The Book Of Revelation Important? How Important Is It? Then Why Should We Just Ignore It And Write It Off As; Not Relevant For Today?
Jesus Himself; Told Us To Take Heed; And To Watch And Pray When We See All The These Things That We Are Seeing In The Earth Today. It Is Totally Amazing To Me; That “His Church” Would Not Be Willing To Even Study The Book Of Revelation! What Is That All About? Let Us Continue This Subject At A Later Date; When I Have Some More Time. GOD BLESS YOU!
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
~ALABASTER WORSHIP~
~Extravagant ~Costly~ Worship~
~Extravagant ~Costly~ Worship~
There Are Very Few People… Who Truly Experience The Heart Of Worship. Many Say… “For What Purpose Is This Waste?”
Six Days Before Jesus Was To Be Crucified And Buried~ Mary Showed Her Love And Worship For Jesus~ When She Broke Open The Alabaster Flask & Anointed Jesus’ Feet With One Pound Of Expensive Spikenard Oil~ And Then She Wiped His Feet With Her Hair. And The House Was Filled With The Fragrance Of The Oil. Then One Of His Disciples, Judas Iscariot, Said “Why Was This Fragrant Oil Not Sold For Three Hundred Denarii (A Years Wages); And Given To The Poor?” This He Said; Not Because He Cared For The Poor; But Because He Was A Thief; And He Held The Treasury Box Of Money… And He Used To Take What Was Put Into It. Then Jesus Said “Let Her Alone; She Has Kept This ~(Expensive Fragrant Oil)~ For The Day Of My Burial.” “For The Poor You Have With You Always; But Me You Do Not Have Always.” (John 12:1-11)
There Is Also Another Account Of Jesus Being Anointed With Oil; On Another Occasion; Just Two Days Before His Burial. (Matt.26: 6-13). The Scriptures State… And When Jesus Was In Bethany; (Just Outside Of Jerusalem) At The House Of Simon The Leper…
A Woman Came To Him Having An Alabaster Flask Of Very Costly Fragrant Oil, And She Poured It On His Head; As He Sat At The Table.” But When His Disciples Saw It; They Were Indignant, Saying… “To What Purpose Is This Waste? For This Fragrant Oil Might Have Been Sold For Much, And Given To The Poor.”
It Is Hard To Believe That It Had Only Been (4) Days Since Jesus Had Told Them To Let The Other Woman Alone~ For Worshipping Him In The Same Manner! It Must Have Been Difficult Even For Jesus~ To Have Faith In These Guys At Times. But We Should Not Judge Them~ Until We Get All The Logs Out Of Our Own Eyes. Where Are Our Hearts When We See Someone Who Radically Worships Before God?
So We See… It Was Not Only Judas Iscariot; Who Complained And Murmured About The Cost Of This Woman’s Extravagant Worship. But In Fact; Even “His Disciples” Did. Then We Also Know… That Jesus Rebuked Them… Saying~ “Don’t Trouble The Woman… She Has Done A Good Work For Me… You Have The Poor Always… Pouring This Fragrant Oil On My Body; She Did For My Burial… Wherever This Gospel Is Preached In The Whole World… What This Woman Has Done Will Also Be Told As A Memorial To Her.”
Other Women Came To Anoint Jesus; Only (5) Days Later. They Brought Expensive Spices With Them To Anoint His Body; (3) Days After The Crucifixion.
~
But The Tomb Was Empty~ The Power Of Death Could Not Hold Him~
~Jesus Christ~ Has Risen From The Dead~
~Believe On The Son Of God~ And You Too~ ~Can Receive Eternal Life~
~Believe On The Son Of God~ And You Too~ ~Can Receive Eternal Life~
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Praise To The ~King Of Kings~ You Are My Everything…
~24 HOURS~ OF~WORSHIP AND INTERCESSION~
“A Vision Of Unity ~ In The Body Of Christ~ Through Worship And Intercession.”
To Worship The Father In Spirit And Truth: Is Much More Than Just Playing Instruments And Singing Beautiful Songs To The Lord God Almighty… That Is Only The Beginning!
Worship Is Having A Heart… That Searches For The Heart Of God. King David Was A Man; After God’s Own Heart. We Want Our Hearts; To Be Like God’s Own Heart. It Is When We Spend Time… In The “Secret Place”; Of His Presence; In The Intimate Chambers Of Our Bridegroom And King; Our Hearts Grow Deeply In Love With Him.
As A New Creation; You Have Been Called To Present Your Bodies As A Living Sacrifice; You Have Been Created To Love And Worship God. You Have Been Chosen To Go Into A Much Deeper Level Of Intimacy With Him. When All The Others Leave… You Choose To Remain In His Presence! He Loves You… Oh… How He Loves You!
Extravagant Worship Is Costly… It Will Cost You Everything… And There Are Very Few Who Are Willing To Pay That Price. Obedience To God’s Word… Is Greater Than Any Earthly Sacrifice We Might Offer Him. The Greatest Commandment Is To Love… The Lord Your God… With All Your Heart; Mind; Soul; And Strength… And Then Also Love Your Neighbor; As You Love Yourself. Until We Have Obediently Fulfilled The First Part Of This Commandment; We Will Never Be Able To Fulfill The Second Part.
~THE 24 HOUR WORSHIP HISTORY~ (Despise Not Your Small Beginnings)
This County Wide Event… Started Over (4) Years Ago In October 2004. When One Man Believed That He Heard God Asking Him To “Set Apart” A 24 Hour Sabbath Time… On The Last Friday Of Every Month. It Would Be A Time For Him To Be Alone With God. It Would Allow Him To Worship; Fast; And Pray; While Studying The Scriptures. This Would Take Place At The Church Building To Help Eliminate Many Of The Distractions Of Daily Life. During The First Few Months; Most Of The 24 Hours; Was Spent Alone In Fellowship With The Holy Spirit. The Desire Of His Heart And His Prayer To God… Was That He Would Faithfully Be… 100% In The Kingdom Of God… 100% Of The Time.
It Is In Our Times Of Aloneness; That We Will Find Our “Oneness” With Him. Each One Of Those “Faith Heroes” In The Great Cloud Of Witnesses; All Had To Learn This Basic Spiritual Truth In Their Lifetimes. Every Person That Is Mentioned By Name In The Bible; From Enoch In The Book Of Genesis; To The Apostle John On The Isle Of Patmos In The Book Of Revelation; Often Experienced Times Of Aloneness During Many Seasons Of Their Lives. If You Are Truly Going To Serve God In Your Life; There Will Be Many Times When You Feel Forsaken By Others. Our Attitude Must Always Be; That If God Told Us To Do It… We Will Be Obedient; Regardless If Anyone Else Comes Along Side Us.
It Was After A Few Faithful Months; Alone In The Presence Of God... That This Mans Pastor; Had A Vision Of Unity For The Churches Of Lake County, CA. It Would Be A Time Of Gathering Churches Together For 24 Hours Of Corporate Worship; With Only One Agenda; To Worship The Lord! All Of Our Denominational Doctrines Were To Be Left Outside The Doors Of The Church Buildings. We Would Come Together For “One Thing” To Pour Out Our Love… And Our Worship… Upon The Only Worthy One!
~The Vision Continues~
The 24 Hours Of Worship & Intercession; Has Now Become A County Wide Vision. Through Our Times Of Extended Corporate Worship; We Have Experienced; An Unprecedented Degree Of ~Unity~ & ~Love~ In “The Body Of Christ” In Our Region Of Lake County, CA. We Have Become One Big Family In God; As Brothers And Sisters; Growing Together In Our Love For God & Each Other! Every Month The Family Grows; As New Churches Link-Up. We Are Experiencing An Amazing Work Of Grace And Unity; Through The Power Of The Holy Spirit. PRAISE GOD!
~Five Wise And Five Foolish Virgins~
~Now Is The Time To Purchase Your Oil~
Awake… Awake: Get Yourself Ready For The Bridegroom Is Coming… The Bridegroom Is Coming!!! Are You Prepared For His Return?
Either We Are Ready… Or We Aren’t Ready. Are We Burning Passionately… In Love With Our Jesus… Or Has Our Lantern Gone Dim? How Is Our Oil Reservoir? All Ten Virgins Had Some Oil In Their Lamps To Trim… But Only Five Had More Than Enough. The Five Foolish Virgins; Had The “Get By” Mentality Of Thinking That They Had “Just Enough.” You Can’t Get Your Oil From Another Person… You Have To Get It For Yourself!
We Should Never Buy Into “Status Quo” Christianity… Of Comparing Our Walk With God; To That Of Others Who Are Around Us. We Should Run To Win The Race… As Forerunners… With Perseverance; Diligence And Endurance In Our Daily Pursuit Of God… Anything Less Is Mere Compromise.
The Extended Time That You Spend In The Presence Of Your Bridegroom King… The Greater Your Oil Reserve. It Is Only In This Place Of Intimacy… In The Secret Place Of Our Beloved; That You Will Know And Share His Heartfelt Desires. Jesus The Bridegroom Is Longing For His Bride... Don’t Keep Him Waiting For You... Enter In… And Experience The Beauty Of His Holiness! He Loves You… Oh How He Loves You! ~
http://www.worship24hours.com/
~24 HOURS~ OF~WORSHIP AND INTERCESSION~
“A Vision Of Unity ~ In The Body Of Christ~ Through Worship And Intercession.”
To Worship The Father In Spirit And Truth: Is Much More Than Just Playing Instruments And Singing Beautiful Songs To The Lord God Almighty… That Is Only The Beginning!
Worship Is Having A Heart… That Searches For The Heart Of God. King David Was A Man; After God’s Own Heart. We Want Our Hearts; To Be Like God’s Own Heart. It Is When We Spend Time… In The “Secret Place”; Of His Presence; In The Intimate Chambers Of Our Bridegroom And King; Our Hearts Grow Deeply In Love With Him.
As A New Creation; You Have Been Called To Present Your Bodies As A Living Sacrifice; You Have Been Created To Love And Worship God. You Have Been Chosen To Go Into A Much Deeper Level Of Intimacy With Him. When All The Others Leave… You Choose To Remain In His Presence! He Loves You… Oh… How He Loves You!
Extravagant Worship Is Costly… It Will Cost You Everything… And There Are Very Few Who Are Willing To Pay That Price. Obedience To God’s Word… Is Greater Than Any Earthly Sacrifice We Might Offer Him. The Greatest Commandment Is To Love… The Lord Your God… With All Your Heart; Mind; Soul; And Strength… And Then Also Love Your Neighbor; As You Love Yourself. Until We Have Obediently Fulfilled The First Part Of This Commandment; We Will Never Be Able To Fulfill The Second Part.
~THE 24 HOUR WORSHIP HISTORY~ (Despise Not Your Small Beginnings)
This County Wide Event… Started Over (4) Years Ago In October 2004. When One Man Believed That He Heard God Asking Him To “Set Apart” A 24 Hour Sabbath Time… On The Last Friday Of Every Month. It Would Be A Time For Him To Be Alone With God. It Would Allow Him To Worship; Fast; And Pray; While Studying The Scriptures. This Would Take Place At The Church Building To Help Eliminate Many Of The Distractions Of Daily Life. During The First Few Months; Most Of The 24 Hours; Was Spent Alone In Fellowship With The Holy Spirit. The Desire Of His Heart And His Prayer To God… Was That He Would Faithfully Be… 100% In The Kingdom Of God… 100% Of The Time.
It Is In Our Times Of Aloneness; That We Will Find Our “Oneness” With Him. Each One Of Those “Faith Heroes” In The Great Cloud Of Witnesses; All Had To Learn This Basic Spiritual Truth In Their Lifetimes. Every Person That Is Mentioned By Name In The Bible; From Enoch In The Book Of Genesis; To The Apostle John On The Isle Of Patmos In The Book Of Revelation; Often Experienced Times Of Aloneness During Many Seasons Of Their Lives. If You Are Truly Going To Serve God In Your Life; There Will Be Many Times When You Feel Forsaken By Others. Our Attitude Must Always Be; That If God Told Us To Do It… We Will Be Obedient; Regardless If Anyone Else Comes Along Side Us.
It Was After A Few Faithful Months; Alone In The Presence Of God... That This Mans Pastor; Had A Vision Of Unity For The Churches Of Lake County, CA. It Would Be A Time Of Gathering Churches Together For 24 Hours Of Corporate Worship; With Only One Agenda; To Worship The Lord! All Of Our Denominational Doctrines Were To Be Left Outside The Doors Of The Church Buildings. We Would Come Together For “One Thing” To Pour Out Our Love… And Our Worship… Upon The Only Worthy One!
~The Vision Continues~
The 24 Hours Of Worship & Intercession; Has Now Become A County Wide Vision. Through Our Times Of Extended Corporate Worship; We Have Experienced; An Unprecedented Degree Of ~Unity~ & ~Love~ In “The Body Of Christ” In Our Region Of Lake County, CA. We Have Become One Big Family In God; As Brothers And Sisters; Growing Together In Our Love For God & Each Other! Every Month The Family Grows; As New Churches Link-Up. We Are Experiencing An Amazing Work Of Grace And Unity; Through The Power Of The Holy Spirit. PRAISE GOD!
~Five Wise And Five Foolish Virgins~
~Now Is The Time To Purchase Your Oil~
Awake… Awake: Get Yourself Ready For The Bridegroom Is Coming… The Bridegroom Is Coming!!! Are You Prepared For His Return?
Either We Are Ready… Or We Aren’t Ready. Are We Burning Passionately… In Love With Our Jesus… Or Has Our Lantern Gone Dim? How Is Our Oil Reservoir? All Ten Virgins Had Some Oil In Their Lamps To Trim… But Only Five Had More Than Enough. The Five Foolish Virgins; Had The “Get By” Mentality Of Thinking That They Had “Just Enough.” You Can’t Get Your Oil From Another Person… You Have To Get It For Yourself!
We Should Never Buy Into “Status Quo” Christianity… Of Comparing Our Walk With God; To That Of Others Who Are Around Us. We Should Run To Win The Race… As Forerunners… With Perseverance; Diligence And Endurance In Our Daily Pursuit Of God… Anything Less Is Mere Compromise.
The Extended Time That You Spend In The Presence Of Your Bridegroom King… The Greater Your Oil Reserve. It Is Only In This Place Of Intimacy… In The Secret Place Of Our Beloved; That You Will Know And Share His Heartfelt Desires. Jesus The Bridegroom Is Longing For His Bride... Don’t Keep Him Waiting For You... Enter In… And Experience The Beauty Of His Holiness! He Loves You… Oh How He Loves You! ~
http://www.worship24hours.com/
Monday, February 23, 2009
Time~Time~Time
In This Earthly Realm
We Have Been Given A Lifetime
When It's Over & All Is Said & Done
It All Comes Down To This Simple Question
What Things Have We Spent Our Time On?
Life Is Time~Time Is Life
When Life Stops~Time Stops
When Time Stops~Life Stops
How Will You Spend Your Life~Time?
When Our Earthly Life~Time~Ends
Our Spiritual~Eternity~Begins
Therefore The Concept Of The Value Of Time
Is Beyond Any Carnal Earth~Bound Cognitive Mind!
Time Is Our Greatest Resource In Life~Use it Wisely !
Time~Time~Time
So It All Comes Down To How We Spend Our TIME
Our Most Important Time Is Spent With The Godhead
This Allows Us To Move Into A Deeper Relationship
Of True Intimacy With The Father; Son; & Spirit...
What An Awesome Priviledge We Have Been Given!
Now Is The Time
To Truly Know God~To Truly Know Ourselves
To Increase In Our Knowledge & Authority
As New Creation's In Christ Jesus
~ALL GLORY TO GOD~
We Are Engaged In Spiritual Warfare
Against The Principalities & Powers
Against The Rulers Of The Darkness Of This Age
Against Spiritual Hosts Of Wickedness
In The Heavenly Places.
Releasing His Angelic Hosts
While Displacing Principalities
(Remember Daniel's ~ 21 Day Fast & Intercession)
The Spiritual Kingdom Of Heaven~Suffers Violence
(Satan is the prince of the air~in the second heaven)
And The Spiritually Violent~Take It By Force!
(The Prophetic Intercessor's & Worshipper's)
~We Are The Called Out Congregation~
We Are Spiritually Seated With Christ Jesus
In The Heavenly Places~Of The Third Heaven!
To Whom Much Has Been Given
Much Will Be Required.
The Lord Of Hosts Is Sounding The Alarm
He Is Calling Forth His Forerunner's & Watchmen
Those Who Are Faithfully Watching The Biblical Signs
With Eyes & Ears~To Discern The Hour Of This Age
We Are The Saints Of The End~Time Generation Of
~The Book Of Revelation~
www.ihop.org
The World Goverment Systems Have
Refused To Acknowledge The Lord God Almighty...
...Our Nation Is In A Critical State...
Because As A Nation & As A People
We Have Not Obeyed God!!!
"You Have Forsaken Me" Says The Lord.
"You Have Walked After Other gods; And Served Them and Worshiped Them... And You Have Forsaken Me; You Have Not Listened To My Voice Or Obeyed My Word. "
"You Have Done Worse Than Your Fathers;
For Behold; Each One Walks According To
The Imagination Of His Own Evil Heart;
So That No One Listens To Me"
(Jeremiah 16: 11-12)
Where Are The Watchmen On The Wall
Those Who Are Called To Stand In The Gap
For Our Nation And The People.
"If My People Who Are Called By My Name;
Will Humble Themselves;
And Pray; And Seek My Face;
And Repent And Turn From Their Wicked Ways; Then Will I Hear From Heaven And Forgive Their Sin And Heal Their Land".
"Now My Eyes Will Be Open And My Ears Attentive To Prayer Made In This Place".
"For Now I Have Chosen
And Sanctified This House: That My Name May Be There Forever; And My Eyes And My Heart
Will Be There Perpetually".
(2 Chronicles 7: 14-16)
IT IS TIME... TO RUN TO THE BATTLE
WITH THE HEART OF DAVID
IN THE NAME OF THE LORD OF HOSTS
TO DEFEAT THE SPIRITUAL GIANT'S
WHO HAVE DEFILED OUR NATION.
(1 SAMUEL 17: 36-51)
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
In This Earthly Realm
We Have Been Given A Lifetime
When It's Over & All Is Said & Done
It All Comes Down To This Simple Question
What Things Have We Spent Our Time On?
Life Is Time~Time Is Life
When Life Stops~Time Stops
When Time Stops~Life Stops
How Will You Spend Your Life~Time?
When Our Earthly Life~Time~Ends
Our Spiritual~Eternity~Begins
Therefore The Concept Of The Value Of Time
Is Beyond Any Carnal Earth~Bound Cognitive Mind!
Time Is Our Greatest Resource In Life~Use it Wisely !
Time~Time~Time
So It All Comes Down To How We Spend Our TIME
Our Most Important Time Is Spent With The Godhead
This Allows Us To Move Into A Deeper Relationship
Of True Intimacy With The Father; Son; & Spirit...
What An Awesome Priviledge We Have Been Given!
Now Is The Time
To Truly Know God~To Truly Know Ourselves
To Increase In Our Knowledge & Authority
As New Creation's In Christ Jesus
~ALL GLORY TO GOD~
We Are Engaged In Spiritual Warfare
Against The Principalities & Powers
Against The Rulers Of The Darkness Of This Age
Against Spiritual Hosts Of Wickedness
In The Heavenly Places.
Releasing His Angelic Hosts
While Displacing Principalities
(Remember Daniel's ~ 21 Day Fast & Intercession)
The Spiritual Kingdom Of Heaven~Suffers Violence
(Satan is the prince of the air~in the second heaven)
And The Spiritually Violent~Take It By Force!
(The Prophetic Intercessor's & Worshipper's)
~We Are The Called Out Congregation~
We Are Spiritually Seated With Christ Jesus
In The Heavenly Places~Of The Third Heaven!
To Whom Much Has Been Given
Much Will Be Required.
The Lord Of Hosts Is Sounding The Alarm
He Is Calling Forth His Forerunner's & Watchmen
Those Who Are Faithfully Watching The Biblical Signs
With Eyes & Ears~To Discern The Hour Of This Age
We Are The Saints Of The End~Time Generation Of
~The Book Of Revelation~
www.ihop.org
The World Goverment Systems Have
Refused To Acknowledge The Lord God Almighty...
...Our Nation Is In A Critical State...
Because As A Nation & As A People
We Have Not Obeyed God!!!
"You Have Forsaken Me" Says The Lord.
"You Have Walked After Other gods; And Served Them and Worshiped Them... And You Have Forsaken Me; You Have Not Listened To My Voice Or Obeyed My Word. "
"You Have Done Worse Than Your Fathers;
For Behold; Each One Walks According To
The Imagination Of His Own Evil Heart;
So That No One Listens To Me"
(Jeremiah 16: 11-12)
Where Are The Watchmen On The Wall
Those Who Are Called To Stand In The Gap
For Our Nation And The People.
"If My People Who Are Called By My Name;
Will Humble Themselves;
And Pray; And Seek My Face;
And Repent And Turn From Their Wicked Ways; Then Will I Hear From Heaven And Forgive Their Sin And Heal Their Land".
"Now My Eyes Will Be Open And My Ears Attentive To Prayer Made In This Place".
"For Now I Have Chosen
And Sanctified This House: That My Name May Be There Forever; And My Eyes And My Heart
Will Be There Perpetually".
(2 Chronicles 7: 14-16)
IT IS TIME... TO RUN TO THE BATTLE
WITH THE HEART OF DAVID
IN THE NAME OF THE LORD OF HOSTS
TO DEFEAT THE SPIRITUAL GIANT'S
WHO HAVE DEFILED OUR NATION.
(1 SAMUEL 17: 36-51)
<<<<<<<>>>>>>>
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