Holy Ghost and Fire

Isaiah 40:31
“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength....”

Each day we are in “The School of The Spirit” … Learning….. Learning to “sit still”… Learning not to “talk in class”… Learning “obedience”…..Learning to “wait on the Lord”… there is a “learning curve”. Learn to sit quietly in His presence with an expectant heart, not passively, but actively reaching out to Him with your inner man. Let the longing of your heart speak, rather than “many words”. As you quiet your mind and reach out from your heart, a heavenly prayer language will begin to flow. The natural tongue has fallen silent as the Spirit begins to make intercession. You begin to “hear” with the “inner ear” what the “spirit is saying”. He will speak to the issues of your heart that are the keys to your functioning in the Kingdom. This ministry touches the deepest needs within that are hidden to the “natural eye”. What have you given the Lord to baptize today? Your tongue ? Your eyes ? Your ears ? To baptize something means to completely immerse it. When you present your members as "completely available", He will baptize with “The Spirit” and “with Fire”.

Matthew 3:11 “……he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire”

Our Walk

Our walk with the Lord is hindered to the degree that we fall short of entering into the place of loving acceptance prepared for us in Jesus Christ. We end up striving for approval instead of believing in our God given standing in grace. We work hard instead of trusting much. We wear ourselves out trying to please a Father we’re not sure accepts us, even though He has made every provision for our complete acceptance. All of our life, whether we knew it or not, the Father has been seeking us. He has chosen us before time began and given us both purpose and grace. Grace calls us to walk with Him and delivers us from our fears. He gives us His righteousness and His holiness in this New Creation.

Ephesians 4:24
...and that you put on the new man which was created 
according to God, in true righteousness and holiness.

You are predestined, by Your Father’s eternal purpose, to be conformed to the image of His Son. As your mind is renewed to this New Covenant reality, you learn to walk in the righteousness and holiness that is already yours in Christ. When you truly see yourself united with Christ, the Holy Spirit bears witness that you are truly born of God. As you, by faith, thank the Father for what He says He has done the Holy Spirit witnesses with your spirit that it is Truth. This assurance grows and you are filled with thanksgiving and praise as you are overwhelmed by His goodness and grace.

John 4:24 (The Message Bible)
God is sheer being itself - Spirit. Those who worship Him must do it out of their very being, their spirits, their true selves, in adoration.

Two or Three are Gathered

Colossians 1:13-14 “Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son: 14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:

The first thing that happens once we decide to become a witness for the Lord is our relocation. As part of the “Witness Protection” program, we live in the Kingdom above and commute to earth. The message we bring with us each day as we labor in the fields of our life circumstance is given to us there. Our conversation is all about that unseen reality. This results in an anointing that “abides”.
Philippians 3:20 ‘For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: The Lord begins to sovereignly order our steps and “gathers” 2 or 3 at a time to “share” and “impart” …. “His Life”…. It is here in this “moment of unity”… “ in the spirit “ that we can “ask and receive” as “seeking hearts” that have been joined by the Holy Spirit we now stand under an “open heaven”

Law of Gravity

Romans 8:2 “For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus 
has made me free from the law of sin and death."

Just as surely as the law of gravity pulls us toward the earth there is the “Law of the Spirit” that pulls us out of “sin and death” toward a life of freedom in the Spirit. When we first begin our walk with the Lord this is very difficult because we “feel” the pull of the earthly. We seem to be traveling in circles. As we learn to partake of the “Spirit of Life” we are slowly released from the “gravity of the flesh”. As I properly relate to “The Cross” each day it holds my flesh nature in a place of death. Now I see that I am not going in circles but in an ever “higher orbit”. There is a point that I break out of an “earthly orbit” and begin to orbit the “Sun” (Son). Before it seemed easy to embrace the flesh. Now the gravitational pull of the “Law of the Spirit” has set me free. Whom to “Son” sets free is free indeed.

Two Become One

Prior to the fall, Adam and Eve were one. There was no need for authority and submission; it was swallowed up in simplicity and union. In order for authority and submission to operate, there must be two wills. One will must come under and submit to the other will. For that reason, we see that obedience in submission is not the ultimate goal. There is something greater. The highest order of anything is to become it! We are to come into union with “His will” ... “one will”. Jesus was the Pattern for this. He who was rich became poor. The Word was made flesh. He identified with broken humanity, and, as such, lowered Himself into a relationship of authority and submission to the Father. Prior to that, He and the Father were one. He lowered Himself even further and submitted to Joseph and Mary, and to the law. The truth of authority and submission was the only principle by which Jesus Christ walked out from under the curse, bringing us up and out with Him! One church will teach that authority and submission are all-important. Another will teach that authority and submission are not important at all. Guess where the truth is? The first group is killing people with legalism; the other is killing people quicker with license. Submission does not denote inferiority. The man is not better or smarter than the woman. There are wonderful differences that are meant to create dependency one upon another. A man and a woman rightly related reveal the image of God. It takes both. Two become one.

Our First Meeting

We first met Jesus as we bowed at the foot of His cross. There we received forgiveness of sins through His blood (Eph. 1:6-7). The Holy Spirit convinced us of our nature as sinners and our need of a Savior. We then sealed our conversion with water baptism in the Name of the Lord Jesus Christ for the remission of our sins and the circumcision of our heart (Acts 2:38; Col. 2:11-12; I John 5:8). He that believes and is baptized shall be saved (Mark 16:16). We were born again and baptized in water. But there is more. The new birth is but the beginning of our salvation. God has determined to save the whole man: spirit, soul, and body. We have been saved. Our spirits have been saved and have passed from death to life. We have been translated (transferred) out of the kingdom of darkness into the Kingdom of God (Col. 1:9-13). But we are also in the process of being saved. Our souls are being saved and transformed by the renovating of our minds. We have and are continuing to experience this exchange of minds, ours for His. Ultimately our bodies shall be saved. We shall not all sleep. There is a generation who will put the last enemy under their feet.

Is Your Glass Clean ?

Is your glass clean? I work retail, so a daily chore is to remove the fingerprints from the glass. If there are no fingerprints or dust on the glass, it’s just as if it isn’t there. So when people look, they don’t see or notice the glass, they look through it. If they see the glass it’s because there is something on it. But if there’s nothing there to distract then they look through it and see clearly the beauty that is within. Our lives are to be windows to the Kingdom of God. Most people won’t tell you that your glass is dirty but it leaves a lasting impression with them of the value you place on what is behind the glass.The dust on our glass is our love for the things of the world, the fingerprints are the pride of life. God is getting us ready for an “Open House”. Now is the time to prepare. Clean your glass so that your life might be a window into eternity through which “His Light “ can shine. Your life must decrease until you become the “voice of another”, a transparent expression of “The Way”, “The Truth”, “The Life”.

Garden of Choice

Romans 8:29 “For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.”

We are to be “conformed to the image of the Son”. This forming of His life must take place during our “lifetime”. It is “here” under intense pressure, trials, tests and temptations that this is accomplished. In eternity there won’t be a devil to tempt us or a circumstance to test us. That “only” takes place here in this “Garden of Choice”. We must “overcome” the world as “The Firstborn” did. He is the pattern. (1 John 5:4-5) That’s how we will be measured when we stand before the Throne of God. The most important time in all eternity is “Right Now”. When we step out of time that “finished work” will be released into eternity. Death merely releases us from this body. It doesn’t change what we have become “spiritually” during our lifetime. Eternity will be a place of “measure” not of “mixture”. Only those who have unconditionally submitted their lives to His Lordship and successfully functioned under divine authority will be given the “eternal reward” of being “seated with Him”.

Revelation 3:21 “To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.”

Signs

" I do not need or want an outward sign. I don't need to see an angel, gold dust or miracles. I do not need a dream, a word or a pat on the back. When you begin to rely on the outward to guide the inward, your journey inward ceases and you become reliant upon that which your five senses can prove. Your faith ceases to grow. Authentic relationship becomes moot. The result is catastrophic. This reduces faith to an outward event, not a Personal relationship. Fellowship is with "signs" and not the "Son". A seeking of signs and wonders replaces a Friendship with Jesus. For the outward will never cause the inward to be strengthened. Rather, the inward is proven by what flows outward. The visible outward reality should be the overflow of the inward. Life has its roots deep within. If you will nurture the inward the world will be transformed by what overflows out of that inward Life."

Work of HeART

The Lord is creating a “work of heART” within each one of us. 
Out of the abundance of this “divine storehouse” flow words of life.
By Faith we declare these unseen things to a lifeless world that bring 
moments of clarity and eternal perspective to those God has placed
in our lives. The anointing that rests on our lives is released at these
“critical moments” and is able to liberate “captive hearts” to make
“life changing” choices as they stand in the “light of eternity” that 
comes forth from our lives as we have become a transparent 
expression of “His Life”.

Colossians 3:16-17 (AMP) “Let the word [spoken by] Christ (the Messiah) 
have its home [in your hearts and minds] and dwell in you in [all its] richness, as you teach and admonish and train one another in all insight and intelligence and wisdom [in spiritual things, and as you sing] psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, making melody to God with [His] grace in your hearts. 17 And whatever you do [no matter what it is] in word or deed, 
do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus and in [dependence upon] 
His Person, giving praise to God the Father through Him.”

New Song

Revelation 5:9 “And they sung a new song….”

The Lord is making you a beautiful song. Your life is a sweet symphony that He is composing note by note. As you overcome, your weakness becomes His strength, your tears become His Holy water and your life becomes the expression of His life as a glorious harmony that will be sung in the heavens for all eternity. All your choices become notes written on your heart as an eternal arrangement that will be sung before the Lord. Each day is a walk in the rhythm of the Spirit that becomes an irresistible medley that fills the earth and draws all to The King of all kings and The Lord of all lords.

Quick Work

John 4:38 I sent you to reap that whereon ye bestowed no labor: 
other men labored, and ye are entered into their labors.

God is doing a “quick work” in this hour. It is the dawning of a new day. We have the opportunity to come into a “supernatural” relationship with Jesus. Many in previous generations have labored, planted and watered so that “today” we might enter in to a “fruitfulness” and an “increase” in the Spirit.
Even though the work is a quick one… “the price” is the same…. so there is an awareness of a greater intensity to the dealings of God in our lives because the time is short… there is a premium on “faithfulness” and “obedience” birthed out of a “love” that will cause us to lay down our lives and follow the Lamb.
Revelation 3:8 “..I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name.”
This door has been unlocked to the treasures of heaven. It is a door into the Kingdom. Into the presence and power of God. Where we move out of a “natural service” to God and begin to receive “His life”. A grace filled willingness is released that causes us to pay any price in “the day of His power”.

Fighting the Good Fight

I once believed in fighting the devil. But mercifully over time as God shined more light into my heart, I learned to "resist the devil" by "yielding to the Spirit" of God. When you yield to the Holy Spirit, you automatically resist the devil. The Son of God became the son of man and gave His life willingly.

Heb 2:14 “....he also himself likewise took part of the same; that through death he might destroy him that had the power of death, that is, the devil;

The devil “had” the power of death. It does not say the devil HAS it.
In the “now” of God, which is “right here, right now”, the light of revelation makes me see that the devil lost his power. Jesus says, “All power is given unto me….” He said, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.” (Matt 28:18) How much is all? 100%. How much power has the devil got? He only has what you and I give him back again. Because Jesus took it from him. We give him back the power through fear.
The only hope of the enemy of our faith is deception. His power is gone but not his wiles. Beware of the “wiles of the devil.” (Ephesians 6:11) The devil uses schemes, or wiles, to deceive us, to get us to believe lies about ourselves or others. This gives him back the power that Jesus took from him at Calvary. .......Let God be true… cast down the vain imaginations of a religious mind full of works and self effort and begin to cultivate a “throne relationship”. That’s where "ALL" authority is. Its in a “finished work” that allows us to enter into a rest … seated with our Lord in “heavenly places”

One Purpose

God has but one purpose ….that within this earth … this “garden of circumstance” will be produced under intense pressure a companion for His Son. A Bride, the Lamb's Wife. This Overcoming Bride who has taken on the identity of the Bridegroom both in name and nature is to share the throne with her divine Lover and Husband, our Lord Jesus. Christ and His Church are heirs together of the grace of life and are called to administrate the unending increase of His Kingdom as His life fills the earth. The Bridegroom's companion must be trained, educated, prepared and made ready for her place as a companion for all eternity. This Bride must learn the art of spiritual warfare, receiving the necessary training in overcoming the forces hostile to God. She must follow the footsteps of her Husband's life and ministry which is to actively destroy the works of the devil because The Spirit of the Lord is upon her and He has anointed her to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent her to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free...

The Word

John 1:1-17 In the beginning was the Word….And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us.

Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, … it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
The word is actually “ALIVE”…..”Its Alive”….the truth that is set before us in the written Word of God must become a practical part of our lives through personal experience before it is really ours. The Word is to become “flesh” … an experienced reality … within our spiritual life experience as we react to our life circumstance. As we rightly respond in this Garden of life circumstance, the world will see His life manifested through us. Each decision or choice that we make has a higher purpose behind it, which transcends its present effect. It is very important for us to understand this so we might rightly view the results of each step that we take toward spiritual maturity. The multitudes of “choices” that we are forced to make each day of our lives, which do not appear to us as having any eternal purpose or lasting value are viewed by the Lord as most important. From His eternal perspective these many and varied circumstances are purposely placed in our path so as to provoke us to make decisions concerning them. All of these “choices” register in our heart and become “ingredients” that form our “eternal expression”. The Lord is intimately concerned about our “heart reaction” and the choice it provokes because He knows how that will unfold throughout all eternity.
Psalm 119:105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

Freedom in Surrender

"In my distress I cried out to the Lord . . .
He heard me from his sanctuary;
my cry to him reached his ears."
Psalm 18:6

Many times I find myself fighting back tears when I am in pain. It is like I am afraid to release those painful places tucked in my heart. I hide them from God and hope they will just go away. My heart struggles to let my soul be cleansed with tears. Yet the truth is, crying out to God is like a spa for your soul. He tells us in His Word,

“Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy” Psalm 126:5 .

We will find the freedom we are looking for when we surrender our heartache to heaven, and allow our heavenly Father to handle our heart.
Pain is still a part of my life, as it is for everyone. The key to a heart at peace is not dodging or denying pain; it is learning where to run with your heavy heart. It is allowing God to enter into those dark places that only His light can heal.
If you are hurting right now, I want to encourage you to release your tears and let your Lord wash away the pain with His holy presence. He longs to run to you and give you comfort when you cry out to Him. He is a compassionate God, and He is waiting to heal your hurting heart.

Do You See What I See ?

I don’t know how many of you are seeing what I see. I see His hand in my life. He is preparing me for so much more. I’m not better than you. But I see it! The eyes of my understanding have been opened and I know that God has made me to see it that I might enter into it. What is “it”? It is a life of “preparation”. Jesus “waited” … learning obedience … at 12 years of age He spoke and all who heard Him were astonished at His understanding and answers but it was not His time so He “yielded” and “submitted” to His parents …. 18 more years passed …. He was tested in all ways.... Thirty years of “preparation” for just over 3 years of “demonstration”. This is our pattern, we can’t skip ahead. It takes time to “learn” obedience. We can’t claim it by faith. We are made to know that it only counts as obedience if it is instant! The word of God that is released in my life is most assuredly “encouraging” but that is where most people “stop” …. Never willing to “give” or “receive” a “quick and powerful” word that instantly divides the soul from the Spirit. I thank God for everyone He placed in my life that spoke the “whole council of God”… “Unfiltered” by our modern “tradition” to only be “encouraging”…. this voids the word of God in our lives and leaves us as “spiritual babies” as we are pacified by a spirit of “religious correctness”. Only a few will receive and give a pure word because the “cost” is great as this word is “Sharp” and is a “discerner” of the thoughts and intents of the heart…” Only this word liberates us...

Two levels of Prayer

1 Thes 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

There are two levels of prayer that should be part of our daily life experience. The first is an “ongoing” worshipful communion with our Lord throughout the day (“pray without ceasing”), as we maintain His abiding presence. The second are “set apart” times in which we “come apart” to pray. Our set-apart time of prayer should begin with a flow of pure worship to the Lord. (Proverbs 8:17) As we see His provision we offer thanksgiving for all He has done for us. We make any needs known only after we have confirmed that our lives are “fully submitted” to Him and to His will and purpose for us.(Luke 12:31) Our prayer life should be the expression of an ongoing communion with our Lord as “a branch” receiving life from “the Vine”… confirming of our dependence upon Him for every aspect of our lives. We invite the Lord to “abide” with us, and make His “manifest presence” known to us and through us to others as we go about our daily lives. The value of a prayer life that begins in the morning as we start our day making ourselves available to the Lord is “immeasurable”. When we step out of time into eternity we will be made to know that this was the “single most important” choice we made each day. In His house are “many mansions”… (Levels of spiritual experience) … “Only” as we make ourselves available each day can He prepare that place of “eternal habitation” and “expression”… some 30 fold …some 60 fold…some 100 fold… “the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” … eternity will be “very different” as we are "rewarded" for the choices we make each day..“emptiness” here is “fullness” there.

Witness Protection

God has placed you in the “witness protection program”. The Holy Spirit is progressively revealing your “new identity”. Your identification with Christ is “the key” to everything. Remaining “hidden” in your “new life” is the “only” place of safety. “Cast down” every vain word or thought that would attempt to “exalt itself” above this “new identity”. Christ’s Finished Work is the “new you”. Stay “in character” by walking “in the spirit”. This makes you a partaker of a “new name” and a “new nature”. Those that had power over the “old you” are still “looking for you” so don’t have any contact with the “old life”. No phone calls or letters to “old friends” that might place you in “harm’s way”. You have a “new job”, you are to be "a witness", to proclaim the Gospel of Christ’s glory. Tell everyone that He arose triumphant over death and the grave. That He destroyed the power of sin and defeated Satan and all his hosts. That He now sits in glory at His Father’s right hand having all authority in heaven and earth and that now you are "His witness" in the earth and that your “only job” is to "live a life" that proclaims and demonstrates the superiority of His Kingdom over all earthly kingdoms....for His Glory.