Living In and From our Spirit

Every living thing (plant, animal and human) begets after its own kind.  Natural science understands this law very well.  And it’s also true in the Spirit realm.  The source determines the fruit.  Our objective is to differentiate between our soul and our spirit, knowing that each one of them beget after their own kind.  So, our theme is learning to live ‘in-touch’ with… and live from… our spirit man.

Premise, pathway and goal
A high value that influences me in all of my serious discourses, is trying to ‘live, move and have my being’ in the Spirit.  This is my premise… my pathway… and my goal.  If I only converse around mental / brainwave exchanges, then I only begat the fruit of my brain: knowledge, data and basic truth.  And if I learn to converse in and from my spirit, I will begat the fruit of my spirit: spiritual life.  One begets knowledge and truth, the other begets spirit and life.  Both are good, but which will I choose? 

Simply put:

Body begets body – physical impact, offspring, etc
Soul begets soul – basic data and truth & soulish emotions
Spirit begets spirit – spiritual life-giving impartation

Any time we engage in serious discourse, we want to discern our thoughts and impressions.  Where are they from?  Are they from our soul or from our spirit.  Does what I’m sharing have the power to impart and awaken life?  Or is it just facts and data?

Did you know that believers actually have the ability to GIVE life?  Our elder brother Jesus (the Last Adam) was/is a life-giving spirit.  This is very different from the first Adam who was only a living soul.   

“The first man, Adam, became a living soul.  The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.” – I Cor 15:45

Since Jesus is “the firstborn of many brethren” (Rms 8:29) now we also have the ability to GIVE LIFE.  So, if we only ‘draw from’ our soul or body, then we only beget natural realm realities… like the first Adam.  But if we ‘draw from’ our spirit man, we have the ability to GIVE LIFE – spiritual life… like the Last Adam!

Learning to live this way will likely be a years-long learning project because most of us have not been trained to live from our spirit.  Most of religion teaches us about physical behaviors and our mental thoughts.  This of course, is reflective of our body and soul.  Even though Christianity references our spirit man and that it is ‘saved’, most of us haven’t been taught about connecting and communicating with our spirit.  So, this is a huge frontier.

Which one of each of these contrasts describes us?

Spirit originated versus flesh originated
Give spirit life versus give knowledge
Spiritual realm versus natural realm

Let me reiterate.  The reason this is important to us believers is that we want to do things for much more than just earthly impact.  We’re reaching for spiritual and eternal impact.  Imparting spiritual life from our spirits is very much in line with several passages in Scripture:

“Now we have received not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might understand the things freely given us by God.  And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.” – I Cor 2:12-13

“For you are still of the flesh… are you not of the flesh and behaving only in a human way?” – I Cor 3:3

“As we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.” – II Cor 4:18

This skill will require a disciplined effort from each of us, as we learn to differentiate between the sources of our thoughts and inspirations.  Are our inspirations from our soul or from our spirit?  And then we must use discernment as to when and how to share those thoughts and inspirations.

Activation
Try this prayer to ‘Align our triune self’ (click here and here).  Then speak to your spirit, acknowledge it, bless it, called it up to attention and full height, and commission it into its proper leadership position over our soul and body (under Holy Spirit, of course).  It’s amazing how our spirit begins to stir and respond when we acknowledge Heaven’s proper order for our triune being.  The Spirit of God and our spirit begin to resonate in harmony with each other and spill over into our soul.  Actually, this Song of Solomon passage describes it pretty well. 

“My beloved reached into me to unlock my heart.  The core of my very being trembled at his touch.  How my soul melted when he spoke to me!  My spirit arose to open for more of his touch.  As I surrendered to him, I began to sense his fragrance, the fragrance of his suffering love!  It was the sense of myrrh flowing all through me!” – SoS 5:4-5 TPT

We’re learning.  We’re learning how to become Jesus’ ecclesia – which is those who know how to speak from our spirit and by the Spirit of God and thus become confident authoritative called-out ruling ones.

O boy!  This is exciting.

— MLH

Bob Jones video clip: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Gmg5MuB2_4 (start at 3:45mins)
Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2Rx7LTWaZdU

Mama Church will always be loved

Father God is our Papa. Mama Church is our ‘mama’. Father dreamed up a wonderful plan, that we’d be birthed into a wonderful home called – the Church. ‘Mama’ raised us, nurtured us, fed us, and hopefully equipped us until one day, we could ‘leave and cleave’ to our Bridegroom, Jesus.

Now, when that time comes, we never stop loving mama, because she was our lifeline in the early days. But as we grow, we must enter into our own inheritance, find our own lands, till our own fields, have our own babies, raise our own offspring. This leaving and cleaving thing is healthy, natural and necessary.

At 5 years old we need mama to serve us dinner. But, at 30 years old, if we were still at mama’s table, it would be a sign of dysfunction on either our part… or mama’s part… or both. If we’re healthy and mature, we should be able to forage for our own food, our own life and livelihood. Everyone would say that something is amiss if at that age, we still needed mama to prepare dinner for us…that might indicate some level of dysfunctional co-dependency.

BUT, even when we leave mama’s table, we still love mama and honor her for the umbilical cord of life that supplied so many vital influences to us in our early days!! We call and visit mama and love eating at her table on special occasions. We send her cards, we brag on her… she will always have a special place in our hearts. Thank God for her… whether she was the best mama or less than perfect, she was crucial in our early years.

The fact is, we had a perfect Father who wanted to be more important in our lives than even mama church. Sadly, sometimes we allowed mama to take the place of Father… to be more important than Father. Then, when mama church didn’t treat us well, we not only got offended at mama, but Father too! Rather than looking to our perfect Father to make it all work out together for our good, we projected our disappointment with humans, onto our Heavenly Father! Sadly, we got offended at Him. O my! That just doesn’t make a lot of sense. Hmmmm.

Any thoughts coming to mind right about now? But let’s keep moving…

Those formative years in mama Church were invaluable. We’ll always honor those special times and the special people involved. But we’ve grown up now, and are ready to find our unique life with our Bridegroom Jesus and with the best oversight of our Perfect Father God!

It’s only natural and expected that you’ll hear the call to create another mama’s table… a mama’s home… for some new little fledglings who will need a nurturing and safe environment to begin their own life in God. Along the way, you’ll be good at preparing them for their time to leave and cleave to their Bridegroom whenever that time comes. You won’t build co-dependency into them. No! You’ll help them find the right timing and then with loving affirmation and appropriate follow-up support you’ll send them off into their own inheritances to begin their next ‘circle of life’.

And so the story goes on, from one generation to next! God’s ways are always good… and when followed, they make for a happy life!!! Thank You, Father!

— MLH

How do you spell S-H-I-F-T?

Have you felt it?  The ‘shift’?  And I don’t mean the uptick of diabolic happenings in the news.  Something has shifted in the Spirit realm.  And actually it’s been ramping up for quite a while now… with enough effect that one can begin to define and assess it now. 

I love how God is adjusting our values, our perspectives and our vocabulary.  He’s adjusting our prayer perceptions and prayer posture from plaintiff beggars… to confident sons and daughters who are more aware of what He is doing than what the devil is doing.  We used to be so conscious of all the ills around us, but His goodness is redefining what gets our attention.

Here’s a simple axiom to explain the fruit between these two polar opposite mental orientations.  

“If we focus on the evil that the devil is perpetrating in the earth, we create a culture of heaviness and fear in our hearts.  But if we focus on what God has and is doing, we create a culture of faith, readiness and empowerment.”

Our Good, Good Father is changing us.  The change is becoming more clearly discernable and it’s ‘marvelous in our eyes’. (Ps 118:23)  We’re starting to transition into realities of the Heavenly realm the likes of which have never been seen on earth, en masse.  If I was to make a comparison, I’d say that it’s something on the order of the transition from BC to AD.  The change taking place in our day is radical, dynamic and empowering.  Yes, I’ll even say that a new ORDER is being instituted in the Heavens and earth!   

To announce and initiate this SHIFT, there is a confirmed awareness of a ‘disturbance in the force’.  By the way, this is a good disturbance.  The shift has begun!  God is shifting everything.  But then that’s what He said He would do.  

“Once more, in a little while, I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry land.  I will shake all the nations, and they will come with all their treasures, and I will fill this house with glory...” – Hag 2:6-7

Did you see… He shakes the nations, but fills His house with glory!  Are you prepared!  A Door has opened in the Heavenlies… and it feels like Dan 7:21-22

“As I watched, this horn was waging war against the saints and prevailing against them, until the Ancient of Days arrived and pronounced JUDGMENT IN FAVOR OF THE SAINTS of the Most High, and the TIME CAME FOR THEM TO POSSESS THE KINGDOM.” – Dan 7:21-22

This is a time to guard over our eyes and souls because the devil is implementing his version of a shift, also… it’s called ‘the bait of satan’.  We must NOT get sucked into the political/global news… nor into the petty ‘skirmishes’ happening more locally around us.  There is NO life in those things!  They will violate our soul and leave us bruised and hollow, because those base things are largely the works of the devil!  And don’t you know, the devil would like nothing better than for us to be emotionally snared in the web of what he’s doing.

But we are not OF this earth… We are OF Heaven!  Our reality is defined by our view from the Heavenlies and our paradigm is ‘other worldly’.  We have chosen to ‘live, move and have our being’ in and from this higher realm – ‘above the line’… above the ‘snake line’.  😊

I feel a very sobering, but happy, confident expectation for good, in our lives!!  In fact, any thought that is lesser than that, is from the lower realm!  We are training our senses to discern good and evil (Heb 5:14)… the Heavenly things from the base things.  This qualifies us to be able to help others who are being tossed to and fro by all kinds of ‘fightings’ and fears.

This is a most amazing time.  It’s time to: 

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord is risen upon you.  See, darkness covers the earth and thick darkness is over the peoples, but the Lord rises upon you and his glory appears over you.  Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn.” – Isa 60:1-3

So don’t let your heart get discouraged.  Our day is dawning.  Believe it!

Be strong, my friends!  Be courageous!  Say “No” to worthless things… to things that have no Life of God in them.  Set your affections and orientation on things ABOVE!  Keep your heart full and you’ll be surprised at what you’re being qualified for.  And as it manifests, you will gratefully stand and thank Heaven for the grace to keep your heart uncluttered and uncompromised.

O why don’t we just go ahead and tell him now, “Thank You Lord!  Thank you for Your divine shift.  We welcome it.  You are doing marvelous things!”

— MLH 

Prayer Project: Six Weeks to Breakthrough

The following plan has been tried, tested and proven to work in my personal life, when I really needed a heart-breakthrough. 

Protocols and perspectives

Daily 30-minute prayer for 6 weeks
If you fail a day – push ‘delete’ and pick back up tomorrow

Walk while praying
This engages our body so that we don’t ‘go to sleep’ or ‘veg out’

Pray out-loud – nonstop, engaged, intentional and purposeful prayers – Isa 62:7; 64:7
This disciplines our brain and requires that it comply with the intentions of our heart
This develops our ability to speak our heart’s sentiments to God

It’s a workout – This will likely feel uncomfortable… even hard
But then, is any workout ever easy? – II Cor 4:17
Workouts are for development of something – I Cor 9:24
You’re fighting for your heart, your soul and relationship with God
You’re fighting for your survival, your future, your place of blessing with God and your callings in God
You’re fighting for your family and children’s futures
You’re fighting for your loved ones around you who are looking to you for spiritual stability
Whenever you think you can’t do this – just ask yourself if you have any better alternatives
Remind yourself what the alternatives and consequences are if you don’t connect with God
Ask yourself how much more pain is necessary to motivate you toward positive change

OK, Now that we’ve agreed that this project is vital – Let’s GO FOR IT!!

Tips and Tools

1. Find a place where you can be alone
Where you don’t have to think about anyone seeing or hearing you

2. Instrumental music may help – something very subtle – no words – no melody
This is to create atmosphere so that your heart can more easily be ushered into presence of God
If your first selection of music doesn’t have the effect you need today, try something different tomorrow

3. Remind yourself that there is no empowerment or ability to ‘be good’, apart from God – Rms 3:12
And so… “Here I am, Lord”
Lay aside any thoughts about how long it’s been since you’ve spent time with Him
This is where we receive forgiveness and mercy
Jump in – sincerely say “I’m sorry”, and move on in
Let’s “approach the Throne boldly to receive mercy and grace for help in time of need.” – Heb 4:16
You’re free of the past now – this is a fresh start

4. So tell God, “I’m coming to the ‘workout gym’ today”
Tell Him, “This may be hard for me, but I’m going to try my best”
Tell Him, “I’m desperate for a breakthrough!” – I Sam 1:10-16
Tell Him, “I will not be left behind this time!”
Tell Him, “I MUST have a fresh encounter with You!!!”

5. Ask Holy Spirit to bring to mind anything you need to repent of – Ps 43:3; Jn 16:13; Acts 3:19
Repent quickly and receive complete forgiveness – I Jn 1:9
Now quickly and confidently move on

6. Do whatever it takes to engage your whole being today – for example:
Feel free to gesture with your arms and hands as you pray – as another way to engage your whole being
Move your hands upwards to God as signs of surrender or ascending prayers
Lay hands on your head and heart to impart blessing – then speak blessing over yourself
Move hands and arms in gestures of pushing back your enemy and occupying your spiritual territory
Begin to breathe in the breath and favor of God – Jn 20:22
Literally breathe it in!!! – Gen 2:7; Ezk 37:6-10 – Be childlike
This is more real than we know – let Him come in through your breath
Can you ‘see it’ with your spiritual eyes?  Exercise your faith! – II Cor 5:7
Receive courage, He wants to encourage and empower us much more than we want Him to!

7. Expect that God is going to hear you and meet with you today
Remember that each time of prayer and each day with God is one more significant spiritual investment
You ARE laying up treasures in heaven – Matt 6:20
Ask God for tokens for good – signs to encourage you – Ps 86:17; Isa 7:11
Give God time to respond to your efforts – Gal 6:9
It is His prerogative as to when and how He wants to reward you – Heb 11:6

8. Keep two note pads handy – on a counter or in your pocket
1st note pad – Briefly take note when something comes to mind that you have to do today
This will insure that you don’t get distracted by trying to remember them while you are praying
This will insure that you don’t forget them after prayer
2nd note pad – Take notes about things you hear and learn while you pray
Keep notes on how tips and tools worked or didn’t work for you
Keep notes of new things that Holy Spirit led you into and inspired you with today
Use these notes to inspire and lead you in prayer tomorrow

9. Praise Him! – Begin to tell God who He is to you! – 3-5 mins
You’re my King, my Lord and Savior, my Shepherd, my Friend
You’re my Only Hope, my Peace, my Strength, and my Tower of Refuge
You’re my Defender, my Avenger
You’re my Life Source, my Daily Bread, and my Spring of Living Water
You’re the only and incomparable God – nothing compares to You

10. Worship Him! – Begin to tell God that you love Him – 3-5 mins
I REALLY love and want You more than anything else!
Be gentle, unhurried, heartfelt and sincere in your love expressions

11. Now begin to gently pray in tongues (no sweat allowed) – I Cor 14
Pray with and from your spirit man – place hands on stomach and ‘pull your spirit up’ to take leadership
Remember, when we pray in tongues we speak mysteries to God – I Cor 14:2
Holy Spirit is praying prayers that we don’t know how to pray – Rms 8:26
And we edify ourselves as we pray – I Cor 14:4
Just pray gently but consistently for 10-15 minutes – if you can
Picture Jesus/Father right in front of you as you pray
Fully engage your faith that Holy Spirit is praying through you to Jesus/Father

12. After 10-15 mins, ask Holy Spirit what He’s praying through you
Begin speaking in English what you’re hearing from Him – I Cor 14:15
If there is a ‘flow’, then stay in English… if not, then return to praying in tongues
With your understanding, agree with Holy Spirit’s prayers – I Cor 14:15
Continue this interaction with Holy Spirit on your journey in prayer

13. Be ready to do some battle with your internal thoughts, if needed – Eph 6:12
You are a king and priest unto your God… take rulership over your internal world – Rev 5:10
Don’t forget; you sit in the Heavenlies with Jesus – Eph 2:6
If necessary be like Jesus… get radical and aggressively vocal – loud cries and tears – Heb 5:7
Command your personal internal ‘mountains’ that resist you, to be cast into the sea – Matt 21:21
Demand that they obey in Jesus Name – Jn 14:13, 14
Persist unrelentingly until there is a clearing of the oppression or ‘fog’ in your mind or emotions

14. Thank Holy Spirit for helping you when you’ve finished your time
Be like the one leper who went back to thank Jesus – Lk 17:15-16
Express appreciation for this precious life-giving time with God
Ask Him for help to “expand your territory and not cause pain” – I Chron 4:10

15. Consecrate your time and that place, as holy unto God
Remember Jacob who set up stones to hallow the place of his dream of angels – Gen 28:18
Look for your own innovative way (‘stones’) that will activate your faith in your next prayer time – Gen 35:7
You are on a great journey toward personal awakening, renewal and empowerment of your life in God!!!

16. Express your eagerness to meet with Him here again, tomorrow 
Remember to put an ‘X’ on your calendar for today’s date. 
Those X’s will strengthen your faith and inspire you as you proceed.

Personal
Several crucial times in my life, this approach has been my pathway out of a desert-dry time.   And in my experience, in 6 weeks or less, I was feeling the grace of God to ‘leap and skip’ on my mountains again.  

I pray that your heart will also experience fresh hope and dynamic breakthrough into an exciting new grace-filled season of your life.  

–MLH

Seasons – What did you do with your season?

We’ve all experienced many different seasons of life.  Life comes and goes in seasons and cycles.  Some are for growth and some are for pruning, etc.

If we’re a son or daughter of God, then what we do with these seasons becomes very important, because each season is ordained or allowed by our Father.  He has a Heavenly ingredient that He wants to impart into the ‘recipe’ of our lives in that season.

Here’s a big example of a season! 

The global trauma of covid could be called a season?  Finding our way through covid created a very unique and definable time in our lives?  We might have different opinions about covid or we might use different descriptives to refer to that time period, but here’s the question: What did you do in that season?  If you had to quarantine away, did you capitalize on that down time?  Did you sign up for Netflix and binge-watch your time away?  Or did you say, “God I always wished I had some free time to spend with You and now I have the time!”  Whether you were ‘out of the saddle’ for a few days or a couple of years, how’s your heart now?  Are you a more hollow, listless and confused person?  Or are you a more happy and empowered person now?

I believe that God visits all of us in cycles of time.  He opens a ‘window’ to see if we’re ready and eager to walk through the door.  Covid was just such a season to see what we would do if we had more available free time.  But He’s such a good Father that, if we’re not ready, He waits and comes back around in another season.  He wants to see if we’ll find His grace in the middle of each season.

Have you ever had a season where somebody didn’t treat you right… a mother, father, son or daughter, wife or husband, pastor or church, teacher, boss or company, etc?  Of course!  We all have!  That’s life.  But you didn’t get crossways with God did you?  You know, it’s crazy, but sometimes people get mad at God when man lets them down… as if God caused it.  In response to that strange reaction, I heard one person say, “How dumb can people be and still breathe?”  When man lets us down, it’s kind of dumb to run from God or get mad at Him.  He’s the One with the answers.  We must run into God.  

Since God has a grace for every season of our lives, we must find the grace that matches that season and then walk in that grace.  We must find out what He’s doing in the ‘big picture’ and tap into that!

So what is God doing in this current season of your life?  What is the grace that He has for you in this season?  Are you maximizing that grace?  Don’t forget: There’s more than enough grace for you and your season, because He’s the more-than-enough God.    

– MLH

Did you learn to love?

Many of us were a part of… or were affected by… the Jesus People movement back in the 60s and 70s.  Watching the compelling movie The Jesus Revolution reminded us of how mainstream USA is being bombarded by fringe and crosscurrent people groups again, in our present day.  The $100K question is; “How well will we do this time when the current deviant culture begins to show interest in addressing their heart issues and responding to the love of God.  Will we be able to love them well?  Will we meet them with Heaven’s responses?”  We will likely be stretched as we embrace this golden opportunity to love well!

Case in point is found on a Sunday morning last year at The Well of Nashville where my bro-in-law and sister are pastors.  Three obviously-trans-people walked in, having been invited by a church member.  During worship, the Presence of God was so strong that they responded to the Love of God and found themselves sitting on the floor around the front of the room with copious tears and repentance.  They were saved, delivered and filled with Holy Spirit that morning.  Everyone rallied around them with prayers, prophetic words, hugs and lots of love.  And to top it off, later that day they asked to be baptized in a local river.  They were loved well.  What a story!  I think Chuck Smith and Greg Laurie would be proud. 🙂

On a relevant note, most of us probably remember that one of the times when Bob Jones died, he was asked, “Did you learn to love?”  He was sent back to learn to love.  And I believe he did!  As a most unusual indicator, he died on Valentines Day – ‘love day’ – 2015.  That same mandate and quest to learn to love, rests on us, too.

But as we mature, we realize that love isn’t always pleasant and nice.  We could quote many NT verses to make this point.  Real Heavenly-type-love must be able to offer a wide spectrum of responses.  This verse about two seemingly opposite virtues – Mercy and Truth – captures the point well.

“Mercy and truth are met together…” – Ps 85:10

Mature responses in the ‘harvesting’ process will require that we become skilled at a full spectrum of harvest tools.  For sinners coming in, we must discern the appropriate response for each person.  Different people could all have the same M.O. but they could be ‘acting out’ because of very diverse reasons.  Consider this:

Different responses for each ‘source problem’

1. For the immature… we must accept and gently instruct into a better way
   Jesus – “neither do I condemn you, go and sin no more”
2. For the insecure… we must fill up the lacking self identity with Father’s perspective
   Jesus – “Zacchaeus, I’m coming to your house today”
3. For the wounded… we must pour in the wine and oil and heal up the bruised areas
   Jesus – Good Samaritan parable
4. For the religious… we speak assertively and definitively
   Jesus – “you white washed sepulchers”
5. For the demonized… we must aggressively command the enemy to stop
   Jesus with Peter – “Get thee behind me satan”
6. For the mentally challenged… we must be tolerant and seek a miracle
   Jesus – the young man who threw himself into the fire

Obviously, there are more potential responses… and all are a part of God’s great big comprehensive expression of love to meet every person right where they are.

Most people wouldn’t say that “get thee behind me satan” and “you white washed sepulchers” are very nice or pleasant.  But since God is love, then everything He does is an expression of real love whether it feels good or not.  If it doesn’t feel good in the moment then it’s His intention that it will work good in us eventually.  For a real world example, consider the love-inspired ‘temporary pain’ that our child feels when we correct them.  That temporary pain was love-inspired because we believed in the improved character that they and everyone would appreciate later.

Knowing how to respond 1) above reactionism, 2) above sentimentalism, 3) above cultural norm, 4) without insecurity, and 5) not from our brain only, will be a huge learning process.  Our tool box is getting outfitted!!  It’s part of the mandatory growth process of becoming ‘God’s called-out ruling ones’ – His ecclesia.  We’re invited to become His equipped and skilled co-ruling ones!

Check your love tank… is it full?  Get ready for fun times ahead.

Tools for overcoming

So we’re facing some difficulties… Ask Holy Spirit which tool we should use.  Here are a few options…

Ask – Approach the throne boldly to receive mercy and grace – Heb 4:6
Rest – Stand still and see the salvation of the Lord – Ex 14:13

Warfare – “We are well able to go up and take the country” – Num 13:30

My faith – “YOUR faith has made you whole” – Mk 5:34

Have the faith OF God – Mk 11:22 YLT – Bob Jones 100 yr prophecy – 2010s

Prophesy – speak to that mountain – Mk 11:23

Get help – seek out counselors – Prov 11:14

Call forth those things which are not as though they were – Rms 4:17

Wait – with patience – the time is not yet – Heb 6:12

Engage angelic help – Heb 1:14

Long suffering – walk THROUGH the valley of the shadow of death – Ps 23:4, II Cor 12:9

Heavenly encounter – Tuck inside of Him – Col 3:3

Trust – “What time I am afraid I will trust in Thee” – Ps 56:3

Cast my cares – on Him – I Pet 5:7, Matt 11:28-30

DGU – Don’t Give Up – Heb 10:39

Give thanks – and praise my way out – Acts 16:16-40, I Thes 5:18

And more….

Rx – Doctor’s prescription: Print and keep handy

New Hallmarks of Christianity in the Kingdom Age

For many reasons we believe that we’re currently crossing an epic historical threshold into a new Biblical age.  So, what does this newly emerging age hold for us?

In a pointed prophetic word, God said, “I will change the understanding and expression of Christianity on earth in one generation” (Mike Bickle – 1982).  If you believe this to be a true word, what could possibly be substantial enough to make people have a different ‘understanding and expression’ of Christianity?  It has to be more than polished preachers, glitzier media, shorter or longer meetings… OR even more prayer, healings, miracles and a few more resurrections from the dead.  Here are just a few inspiring possibilities which would definitely change everyone’s perceptions of Christianity!

1. Our corporate gatherings meet in Heavenly places – with open-eyed engaging with Heavenly surroundings.
   a.     The first corporate ascension: “Then Moses went up with Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, and they saw the God of Israel. And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity… they saw Him, and they ate and drank.” – Ex 24:9-11
   b.     Other passages: Isa 2:2-3, Mic 4:1-2, Lk 9:28-35, Heb 12:23-23

2. Our corporate gatherings physically travel with Holy Spirit across the earth
   a.     “Then they willingly received Him into the boat, and immediately the boat was at the land where they were going.” – Jn 6:21
   b.     Ladies of the Gold – whole intercessory group ‘left’ for days and came back with artifacts

3. Participation of the saints in manifested form in our gatherings – guest speaking, encouraging, exhorting
   a.     Jesus the Pattern Son, modeled this with Elijah & Moses on the Mt of Transfiguration – Lk 9:28-31-35  – Jesus, Peter, James and John started the meeting and Heavenly guests began speaking
   b.     Paul is present among the Corinthians – I Cor 5:3,4
   c.     Sadhu Sundar Singh reports in ‘The Mystery of the Maharishi of Mt Kalish‘ that a 300-year-old Christian saint visits and intercedes for people around the world
   d.    Chris Reed prophesied in 11/21 – “John the Revelator is alive in Turkey and will help people understand his book of Revelations.” (see video)
   e.     Consider this possible church announcement: “Next week Abraham will be speaking to our gathering.”

4. Participation of angels manifested among us – with our open-eyed awareness
   a.     “Large army of angels” (stratia – Greek) appeared to the Shepherds heralding that “a Savior is born in Bethlehem” – Lk 2:8-15
   b.     Consider atypical angelic manifestations – wind, fire, horses, chariots: Heb 1:7, Acts 2:2-3, II Kng 2:11, II Kng 6:17, Zech 6:8
   c.     “There were many lamps (possibly angels) in the upper room where they were gathered together.” – Acts 20:8
   d.     There are nearly 300 mentions of angels in Scripture… overwhelming evidence deserving of our attention.
5. Transfiguration – Clothed in visible glory-light (Rms 12:2 and II Cor 3:16 – Greek word – metamorphoo)
   a.     Jesus – “His face shone like the sun, and his garments became as white as the light.” – Matt 17:2
   b.     “Arise shine for your light has come… and the kings of the earth will come running…” – Isa 60:1-22
   c.     Moses’ face shone – Ex 34:29-35 – Stephan’s face looked like the face of an angel – Acts 6:15
6. Victory over death the final enemy… immortality of the saints (I Cor 15:26)
   a.     “And now He has revealed this grace through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel… “ – II Tim 1:10
   b.     “For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” – 1 Cor 15:53-55
   c.     “To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, He will give eternal life.” – Rms 2:7

Ready for a mind bender?

Many POWERFUL revelations have been restored to the body of Christ in just the last century or so.  Here are some highlights.

Rediscovery of ‘the just shall live by faith’ – 1517
Baptism of the Holy Spirit – 1905 approx
Assurance of salvation by faith – 19xxs
Healing by ‘faith healers’ — 1940-50s
Prophets/Evangelists give words of knowledge – 1950-60s
Shepherds/Pastors find their voice again – 1960s
Teachers made the Word come alive – 1970s
Everyone can heal – 1970-80s
Everyone can prophesy – 1980-90s
Apostles reemerge in the earth – 1990s
Supernatural provision available – 2000s
The revelation of the Kingdom of God – 20xxs
Church begins functioning outside of the building – 2000s
God’s good identity is better than we thought – 2010s
Our new Kainos identity is better than we thought – 2010s
Learning to enter rest and have the faith OF God – 2010s
Access to the Heavenly realm – including angels and many other Heavenly realities!! – 20xxs

Can you believe this?  These are powerful!!!!  Jesus secured ALL of these at the Cross… and they were believed and practiced in the Early Church.  Sadly, we ‘lost’ them over the last 2000 years.  BUT they are being restored – IN OUR DAY!! Thank You, Lord!!

So what makes us think that this amazing restoration process would stop now?  Have we exhausted the full scope of Biblical realities that there are to rediscover?  Now that we’ve come this far, is this where God stops opening up the things we lost?  Hmm.

So, what’s left to be restored?  Well, there are still many realities, but here’s one to bend your mind.

Let’s go way back to the Cross where Jesus secured the possibility and right for us to rediscover and experience all of the previous points.  Well, another biggie is that He also conquered death at the Cross!  So, is it possible that just like the saints contended for each of the items in the list above, God is now waiting for believers to contend for victory over death and the full manifestation of everlasting life IN THE BODY!?

For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: “Death has been swallowed up in victory.” “Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?” – 1 Cor 15:53-55

O boy!  Now that seed has been sown, we’ll have wait for Holy Spirit to do His work!  This is SO much fun.

Think about it, we’re living in a day where ‘Life and Life more abundantly’ is more real than at any other time in ALL of history!!  And it’s only going to get better and better!  Wow, Wow, Wow!!  What a God!!!

For more on this topic.

–MLH

What if: Our words short-circuit our faith?

So many questions…

If we “ARE seated with Christ IN Heavenly places”… if we already “WERE raised”… if we “ARE hidden with Christ IN God”… if we “ARE blessed with all spiritual blessings IN the Heavenly places”… if we “ARE IN Christ”, etc… then, how relevant are words like: PORTAL, VEIL and THIN PLACE?

And let’s include a couple of common prayers, such as: “O Lord, that You’d come down” and “Let’s invite the Lord to come to our service today.”

But wait!  Didn’t Jesus already come down… 2000 years ago!!  And didn’t He obliterate the veil 2000 years ago?  And don’t we already have Christ the hope of Glory living IN us NOW?

Then, do these words and phrases create faith for now… or do they promote a mentality of distance and delay… distance from God… and delay before we can experience union with Him?

The truth is, those words and phrases were power packed for us, back in the day.  They’ve inspired us and put wind in our sails for many years.  But we’ve grown in our understanding, and now it seems that there may be some incongruency between our  vocabulary and Scripture.

Is it possible that the best narrative and revelation that we had yesterday, isn’t appropriate for today?  Is it possible that holding onto yesterday’s vocabulary could be creating an unbiblical reality in our minds and thereby preventing our faith from having experiential union and oneness with Him today?  And if our outdated vocabulary prevents us from experiencing union and oneness with Him, could we also be short circuiting our faith for walking in our inheritances?

What if we updated our vocabulary to reflect the union that Scripture says we have with God NOW?  What if we simply agreed with God’s word regarding our positioning with Him now, despite what we’ve been taught… or what we feel like?  Would that create a difference in our faith… would it mandate a change in the vocabulary of our prayers… and would it manifest in better experiential realities?

As good as they were in their day, PORTAL, VEIL and THIN PLACE (and related concepts) might have to be filed in the archives. 

Just musing….

Video – ‘No more willy-nilly auto-pilot mode!’ – 10mins

-MLH