Is There Hunger?

Is There Hunger?

by | May 21, 2021 | Intimacy With God, Kingdom Culture, Prayer And Worship

Is There Hunger?

While reading about the Azusa revival that began in 1906, I was struck by how hungry the people were for God. There was a great eagerness to seek out the deep things of God. The people knew that there was more and they were willing to put in the time to search it out.   

William Seymour turned to God whenever there was a dispute. I believe that the trials that he encountered served to strengthen his pursuit of God. After being invited to Los Angeles he was locked out of the church over a disagreement of theology. With nowhere to go, a family from the church allowed him to stay with them. Seymour responded not with anger or retaliation, but by closing himself in the bedroom to seek God with prayer and fasting. Seymour spent three hours a day in prayer until a fellow minister gave him a word that God wanted him to increase that time to five hours. Even after revival broke out, Seymour continued to spend at least five hours a day in prayer. 

Seymour used a key that so many seem to lack today: hunger. He had a hunger to see what God had placed in his heart come to fullness. Specifically, he hungered to see the baptism of Holy Spirit fall as it did in the days of the apostles. Even before experiencing the baptism himself, Seymour preached and prayed for others to receive the baptism of Holy Spirit. Hunger had given him an insatiable desire for something that was yet to come. True hunger from God always produces a prophetic cry for something yet to come. It decrees salvation for the lost. It stands firm in the middle of persecution. In fact, trials produce the key components for glory. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18a states, “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.”   

When seeking God, neither time nor difficulty is of any effect, only hunger. Pursuit of God with hunger will cause every issue or obstruction in your life to give way for deeper realms of presence. Every issue or sickness must come into alignment with the word of God. As you hunger for God, even the biggest issues begin to fade into a place of lesser concern, replaced with a revelation of God’s heart.   

It’s in this place of transformed desires that our plans and concerns align with heaven. What does that alignment look like? Progressively, your concerns are replaced with God’s heart. What He is passionate about increasingly becomes your passion. You may find yourself moved for a city or nation. I have spent days in tearful intercession for the nation of Brazil and more recently, the state of New York. The Lord has given me dreams revealing His heart for these places. He has shown me the revival that will break out and How he will move across the nation and globe as a result of what He does there. As I press into His heart for these places, the mantle of intercession has started to rest on me.   

The concerns I had for my job, my health, and ministry shrunk away in light of the burning heart that I now had for revival. Every trial was producing in me a greater glory that has carried me to a place of greater anointing. I found myself praying what Isaiah prayed, “Here am I. Send me!” (Isaiah 6:8) Any true glimpse of God’s heart will force a realignment of priorities. As my revelation of God has increased over the past few years, my goals, ambitions, likes, and desires have shifted. As the glory has increased on me, my primary concern has been on hosting the presence and stewarding the heart of God well.   

Years ago, I began decreeing the words of Christ in Matthew 5:6, “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.” I didn’t know exactly what I was asking for, I just knew that hunger was the ticket for more. I can now attest to the fact that there is no greater satisfaction than following the heart of God. When you contribute meaningfully to what God is yearning for, your heart will overflow with the joy of heaven. The more you abandon to see His will accomplished the more your joy will be full. Hunger is the opening to release the satisfaction of heaven. Obedience is the vehicle to see it fulfilled. Hunger produces obedience. Obedience releases greater glory, and His presence releases fullness of joy. (Psalm 16:11)  

How will you respond to God showing you His heart for a city? Are you prepared to place His priorities above your own? Are you ready to intercede until the answer comes? God is calling for those who have a hunger for the harvest. I pray that He will send you into the field with a burning desire to see His agenda accomplished in the earth.    

 

Heaven Now: A Word For 2020

Heaven Now: A Word For 2020

by | Feb 3, 2020 | Prophecy

Heaven Now: A Word For 2020

As Brittany and I traveled to see family over the 2019 Thanksgiving break, I took the time to seek God about His heart for 2020. He has given me a simple but direct word for the past several years and I wanted to hear His heart for 2020. I have weighed and prayed into this word for a couple of months and feel increasingly that it is the heart of God for His church: not just this year, but for the next season of the church. As I listened, I heard the Lord say, “Heaven Now.” In my spirit, I sensed a longing from God to see His bride wake from her sleep and begin to walk in the greater things He has for them.

Heaven: This is what we in the church are longing for: an environment where sickness, heartache, bondage, burnout, and sin can not exist. It is a place where the manifest presence of God dwells and the evidence of His dwelling with us becomes apparent. Heaven Now denotes a closeness and intimacy with Christ that is a measure of heaven that can be known and experienced now. I testify to you, there is a measure of heaven that can be found at the feet of Jesus. This year is the beginning of a season in which we are being called to seek after and shepherd the calling of intimacy with Christ like never before.

Now if the ministry of death, carved in letters on stone, came with such glory that the Israelites could not gaze at Moses’ face because of its glory, which was being brought to an end, 8 will not the ministry of the Spirit have even more glory? 9 For if there was glory in the ministry of condemnation, the ministry of righteousness must far exceed it in glory. 10 Indeed, in this case, what once had glory has come to have no glory at all, because of the glory that surpasses it. 11 For if what was being brought to an end came with glory, much more will what is permanent have glory. 12 Since we have such a hope, we are very bold, 13 not like Moses, who would put a veil over his face so that the Israelites might not gaze at the outcome of what was being brought to an end…17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit. 2 Corinthians 3:7-12,17-18

Heaven Now Means Revival

We are in the early phases of another great awakening that will result in a great exodus from corporate religion. From the Carolina revival to Bethel, this revival is returning us to the fundamental, unfiltered truths of Christ and the Bible. It is a shunning of the religious-pharisaical spirit that has incapacitated the church. No longer is God satisfied with His people blindly falling prey to the enemy. He is raising up leaders who will unashamedly walk away from their place of comfortability into a place of intimacy. God is calling us to trade our degrees for decrees. Instead of operating in the strength of skill, there is an army moving in waves of the glory.

A few years ago while in a time of prayer, the Lord took me up in the Spirit. He showed me the region where I lived. Like a map, I could see the southeast United States. On the dark backdrop, I could clearly see a few flickering flames. The Lord said to me, “These are those who are pursuing my presence and crying out for revival at this moment.” In all, it appeared to be only about 15 lights that I could see. The Lord then took me higher so as to see the entire nation. I could now see about 50 bright flames on the black backdrop. I recall thinking that there were so few and spread out, but to the Lord, they were beautifully contrasted against the dark background. These were the ones interceding for their cities and country. It is these flames that are igniting the revival that is now starting to burn. This is only one of several visions I have had concerning the revival that I see now coming upon those who are hungry.

This is a revival of the intercessors: those who intimately pursue the heart of the Father. It will not rest on a man or ministry but will burn in the people. This revival fire is a correcting fire that will restore the strength of the church. The closer we are to the feet of Jesus, the brighter the fire will burn. Isaiah 60:1-3 states, “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and thick darkness the peoples; but the Lord will arise upon you, and his glory will be seen upon you. And nations shall come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.” As our nation seems to grow darker, God is increasing the light of His people. I know with complete certainty that God is breaking open revival in our land. The headwaters of revival have begun to flow. 

 “Behold, the days are coming,” declares the LORD, “when the plowman shall overtake the reaper and the treader of grapes him who sows the seed; the mountains shall drip sweet wine, and all the hills shall flow with it…” Amos 9:13

Since January, our church has experienced an unprecedented outpouring of glory, Spiritual gifts, and intimacy with Christ. Most in our group have a background in traditionally non-Pentecostal movements or no church history at all. I have been amazed at their hunger and eagerness to receive this great outpouring of Holy Spirit. It has become common for people after only attending only once or twice to be filled with the baptism of Holy Spirit with tongues. One young lady immediately began to move prophetically and laying hands on others. Her words sounded like they came from a seasoned minister. Mind you, she had never even witnessed the gifts of the Spirit in this way and within 15 minutes she was prophesying. I have to admit that I was struck with amazement and excitement. I am reminded of a prophecy from Bob Jones that there would be an acceleration of the prophetic clock.

This is a season of accelerated movements of Holy Spirit

God is moving swiftly to bring about a change in His church. He will no longer will He be defined by the dead religion that has strangled revivals of the past. This is a move straight out of God ‘s own heart. He has moved the fire of revival out of the building and into the home. More than ever, this is a revival of the people. God is looking for modern-day Obed-Edoms who He can trust with the ark of His presence. It is only in intimacy that He is pouring out His presence. His church will arise and become what it was always meant to be! We will walk in greater things as Jesus foretold. We will see signs and wonders. We will see manifestations of Heaven in our homes.

Pray until waves of hunger become waves of glory.

Over the coming days and weeks, I will release a series of posts that will continue to define “Heaven Now.” I encourage you to begin to press into the presence. Pray until waves of hunger become waves of glory. Start spending time daily in the word and take time to adore Christ. I pray that the atmosphere of heaven would fill your home, your car, and your workplace. Everywhere you go, allow the glory of His presence to go with you. A historic season of unprecedented access is upon us. Press into it!

“Jesus stood up and cried out, ‘If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” John 7:37-38

Winds of Change

Winds of Change

by | Jul 2, 2019 | Prophecy

Winds of Change

Sunday, June 30th marked the end of the first half of 2019. God spoke to me back in January 2019 that this would be a year of revival. So far, we have seen an increase of presence in our midst, but not what I would consider full-on revival. One thing God has had me do this year is to teach on Holy Spirit and worship. I believe that this focus, and this word, is a key to the revival that He is releasing. The word that God has given me affects not only us, but you as well.    

For the past few weeks, God has been speaking to me that the second half of this year would be important. Many have prophesied about what 2020 would bring for the body of Christ. With that in mind, God is using 2019 as a year of preparation and revival. We will not enter into the fullness of God’s plan for 2020 if we fail to prepare. I believe that the remainder of this year will be like a springboard for 2020. Below is what God spoke to me this past Sunday regarding the rest of 2019.  

As we opened the service in prayer, I sensed the presence of God fill the room. Instead of moving into worship, I felt led to stay in prayer. The Lord told us to focus on His presence. As we did that, there was a message given out by Holy Spirit and interpreted. The message spoke of a change that is coming. Specifically, Holy Spirit spoke of a “wind of change” that He is bringing. He said, “My Spirit speaks a better word.”  

I began to see a vision of two angels coming into the room. Their wings were outspread and I could visibly see the wind of the Spirit covering their wings. The Lord said to me, “This is a wind of change. I am bringing it now. Tomorrow begins the second half of the year. It will be a new season for you as I am bringing about this change even now.”  

A Change is Here

Holy Spirit impressed on me that He was changing everything about us, and everything about how we approach Him. For too long, our relationship with God has been defined by (and contained to) Sunday Mornings. Much of what happens on Sundays is actually religion, not worship. Like when Jesus came to the temple in Jerusalem, I believe He is equally disappointed in what we have done with this sacred time of worship and Sabbath. Prepare for “church” to be much more centered on intimacy rather than procedure. In this season, a greater glory will be seen, but it will not be found cheaply or without pursuit. True corporate worship is being birthed. There is becoming less of a differentiation between public and private worship. Moves of God will begin in the closet and explode in the open. That which we discover in private will be shouted from the rooftops.

God is bringing a “Wind of Change” to His church and to our lives. This will affect our private spiritual life more than anything. God desires a spotless bride that is not given to anything but His presence. He is calling us out of the distractions and sin that have been stealing our progress. No more will these ungodly habits rule over you. Genuineness will mark His bride. A wind of change has arrived! 

 

Renewal

Like someone pulling back the roof during our service, the wind of God’s Spirit began to restore and heal. As we pressed in, I could hear Holy Spirit speaking the word “renewal.” The Lord reminded me of the message He had spoken earlier, “My Spirit speaks a better word.” I want to encourage you: no matter what you have been going through, how you have messed up, or whatever darkness you have faced, God speaks a better Word! Scripture states, “…Jesus, (is) the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel.” (Hebrews 12:24) All fear, doubt, and shame must bow to His words. No devil in hell can overrule what the Lord is saying. Right now, declare that God’s word is better. Tune your ears to hear His words. 

This wind of change is not something that is coming in the future, it is already here. I hear the Lord saying, “This renewal is the revival that I have spoken of. The wind of change will bring about revival through the restoration and renewal of all things. Even now the winds of heaven have shifted.” That which Holy Spirit has declared will come to pass. A shift has been ordained amongst the heavens and angels are being dispatched with the winds of change on their wings.

 

A New Season

The weight of glory caused me to weep. I could actually feel the temperature shift in the room. The Lord was showing us that the season had shifted so dramatically and suddenly, we could feel it physically. I have felt shifts before but this was different. This was the most tangible change I have ever encountered, especially in a group setting. Several began to sense this presence as many began to weep and kneel in prayer.  

The Lord spoke to me, “Look around the room. Even now my wind is changing lives.” As I looked, I witnessed one accepting Christ for the first time. Those who were distracted began to worship. Not one person in the house was left unaffected. The wind was so strong that it became restorative and I felt a breath of fresh air fill the room. The mood shifted to light and airy, like stepping outside on a beautiful cool day. Burdens were visibly lifting and the change was tangible.  

I have no doubt that the winds of change have now moved us into a new season. The rest of 2019 will be a time of preparation, revival, and renewal. We no longer have time to waste. The time to focus and to set your face is here. Those who catch this wind will be renewed and will experience the power of an open heaven. A new season is upon us! Begin to walk in a new anointing. Seek after God until you also sense this shift. Holy Spirit has spoken a better word and the winds of change are here!
 

God says, “My Plan is Bigger!”

God says, “My Plan is Bigger!”

by | May 29, 2019 | Prophecy

God says, “My Plan is Bigger!”

If you have been experiencing an increase in struggles lately, this word is for you. It seems as though every time God gives a fresh word; it is met by a fight. We know this is a tactic of the enemy. Let me encourage you, God is not defined by the battle. He has already won the war!

To those of you who have been asking “why” and questing His response, I hear God saying, “Do not be led away from the place of intimacy because of hurt or brokenness. I know your struggle and have heard your prayers. My plan is bigger!”

We so easily get burdened down by the day-to-day struggles and hurts of life. Walking in victory can be tough when you have recently gone through a traumatic situation. But, pain is a normal part of life. We will experience sickness and loss and our loved ones will too. Grief will come; but our testimony must be, “God’s plan is bigger!’ In scripture, it was not uncommon for God’s people to experience tremendous pain and loss. From Job to Jeremiah to Jesus Himself, they all encountered hurt. Like them, we must never allow a situation to define our view of God. If we are not careful, that pain will sink in and steal your intimacy with God.

I am reminded of a message by Bill Johnson where he recounted the days following his father’s death. Bill received a strong impression to worship from Holy Spirit. He was perplexed by this seemly insensitive and out of place request. After all, who would be in a mood for worship following the death of a loved one? Holy Spirit simply responded, “Once you are in heaven, you will never be able to worship me through grief or loss. Let the grief season your worship. For the rest of eternity, you will never be able to give me this form of worship.”

What we often do not always see, is Holy Spirit’s desire to join with us in the pain. God desires to be intimately close to us in every aspect of our life. Even in grief, He is longing to share His heart with you. Like a loving father, God longs to wipe your tears and embrace you with His presence. Sometimes all we need is a shoulder to cry on, and Holy Spirit is the best at giving a comforting embrace.

 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Knowing Holy Spirit: Part 1

Knowing Holy Spirit: Part 1

by | May 25, 2019 | Intimacy With God, Kingdom Culture

Knowing Holy Spirit: Part 1

Stop for a moment and consider your relationship with Holy Spirit. Would you describe Him as completely transformative, or is He more of a passive observer to your life? I see so many believers who have a very complicated relationship with Holy Spirit or even none whatsoever. God is calling this generation to a greater knowledge and relationship with His Spirit. Let’s look at some ways that we can know Holy Spirit in a greater way!  

Holy Spirit leads us to Christ 

I used to struggle with understanding Holy Spirit for many years. I believed that He was present, but struggled to see how He connected to my life. I knew that He was part of the Godhead, but what is His personality? I once asked the Lord to teach me how to understand and interact with Holy Spirit. His response helped me and I pray that it helps you as well. God spoke to my heart, “You understand Jesus from scripture. Holy Spirit was in Jesus while on earth. All of the personality and nature of Jesus is in Holy Spirit.“ Holy Spirit is the gateway to Christ. Without Him, there is no way to know Jesus.  

All of the personality and nature of Jesus is in Holy Spirit.

This revelation set me out to understanding Jesus in a deeper way. I often tell people, “Want to understand Holy Spirit? Get to know Jesus!” The personality and desires of Christ appear much more defined to us because we can read His words in Scripture. God was showing me that this was Holy Spirit just as much as it was Christ. Jesus himself said “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19)

The Lord also brought this scripture to mind: “Nevertheless, I tell you the truth: it is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you… When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you. All that the Father has is mine; therefore I said that he will take what is mine and declare it to you. (John 16:7, 13-15) 

Jesus made it clear that it would be better for Holy Spirit to come. Realistically, what could be better than Jesus? As amazing as Christ in the flesh was, He did have limitations. We know that Jesus was tempted, He had normal human sensations such as hunger and grief. He also was limited in terms of location. A man can only be at one place and can effectively listen to only one person at a time. When Lazarus was sick, Jesus was unable to be reached for several days leading to Lazarus’ death; although Jesus easily raised him.  

Holy Spirit is every bit as powerful, loving, and passionate as Jesus; however, Holy Spirit is everywhere at all times. He indwells the believer and is literally everywhere we are at all times. Every temptation and even in grief, He is there. Despite failure and weakness, He is present. I bet the disciples wished Jesus was with them while they unsuccessfully attempted to cast out a demon in Mark 9:14-29. Holy Spirit is infinitely able to be present, heard and communed with. His agenda is heaven’s agenda. Often, we are the only obstacle to Him moving or speaking.

Holy Spirit is infinitely able to be present, heard, and communed with.

Holy Spirit is a Person 

Think for a moment about the way we approach worship services. While they may appear dynamic and spontaneous, often times, they are anything but. Especially in larger settings, services often are scheduled down to the second. A former ministry I was a part of took this to the extreme. We kept a countdown screen in the stage and one on the back wall just in case. In our service planning meeting, we would discuss even when or how the “spontaneous worship” would break out and who would lead it from the stage. Occasionally, we would even coordinate with certain people in the crowd to either stand or come up front. To the casual observer, they were in a great service. After all, that’s what we were targeting: casual observers who had children and paid tithes.  

This felt wrong to me for obvious reasons. Often, I would comment, “Where is Holy Spirit” and, “That’s not genuine.” After several objections, I gained the nick name “Old-Timer.” Apparently, that is the way things were done in days past. Now, we have a computer and a clock. Even our worship consists of backing tracks and a click metronome. Do not misunderstand me, I am not totally against such things, but the thought of relying on our program instead of Holy Spirit for direction turns my stomach.  

Holy Spirit is not always understood as a person of the Godhead. He is not seen as truly present, or at least active most of the time. In truth, He is more alive and active than the air you’re breathing. He moves on, in, and through the praise, declarations, faith, and prophecy of His people. Every day, He must be passionately sought and listened to. We can never break communion with Holy Spirit or we will be lost without His direction and anointing.  

Holy Spirit Speaks 

Our current ministry is a house church. The focus has been to give Holy Spirit room to move in every meeting. I have to admit, it took time for us to detox from a system of charts, agendas, and orders of worship. Everything from teaching, to singing, to giving can be used as a key to open the heavens. I often forego sermon notes and speak what Holy Spirit has laid on my heart. I have found, it is much easier to hear Holy Spirit when you aren’t reading bullet points. The further we move into spontaneous worship, the more we must depend on Holy Spirit. Search for what Holy Spirit is saying or doing and press into His impression and you will encounter breakthrough at every level.

I can promise, if you give Holy Spirit adequate room to speak, He will do that and much more. Imagine if Jesus was scheduled to attend your meeting next week. Obviously, the whole service would be structured around His presence. You would expect Him to not only speak, but to heal, deliver, prophesy, even raise the dead. People would come from miles around to see and hear Him. The truth is, we don’t expect Jesus to come and we plan accordingly. When He does come, we have a schedule to keep so He gets ignored.  

Our pastors aren’t conditioned to hearing His voice and the people aren’t trained to listen. I am ashamed to say, if Holy Spirit took a week off this Sunday, many churches wouldn’t notice a difference. The pastor wouldn’t either. He’s on part three of a six week series. This whole concept should scare and shock you. The church cannot continue in such a dead and lifeless state. We are the living fulfillment of 2 Timothy 4:3, “For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions…” 

We need Holy Spirit more than ever before. Get in your prayer closet and pray until you sense His presence. Listen until you hear His voice. Lead others to do the same and we will see a much needed revival in our land.  

Arise, shine, for your light has come,
and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
 For behold, darkness shall cover the earth,
and thick darkness the peoples;
but the Lord will arise upon you,
and his glory will be seen upon you.
 And nations shall come to your light,
and kings to the brightness of your rising. 

Isaiah 60:1-3