Press In To Be Filled

Press In To Be Filled

by | May 13, 2019 | Biblical Studies, Kingdom Culture

Press In To Be Filled

Want to be filled with gifts of the Spirit? Desire greater anointings? Want to speak in tongues and prophecy? Press in!   

So often I see people struggle to receive the gifts of the Spirit, especially tongues. Eventually, they usually conclude that tongues or prophecy is just not for them. Possibly you speak in tongues but struggle to operate in other prophetic giftings. I want to encourage you, God has greater things for you! Paul directed us to “earnestly desire the higher gifts.” (1 Corinthians 12:31) and to “earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy.” (1 Corinthians 14:1) He put a priority on the pursuit of the prophetic and I encourage you to do the same.   

Paul states, “Now I want you all to speak in tongues, but even more to prophesy. The one who prophesies is greater than the one who speaks in tongues, unless someone interprets, so that the church may be built up.” (1 Corinthians 14:5) His challenge is to seek out the higher levels of the prophetic because these are the gifts that affect others the most. Paul never states that tongues is a weak gift, or that it should not be desired. In fact, he encourages everyone to speak in tongues. But, Paul desired most of all to see growth, especially the growth that enables one to edify the whole church.  

“We will not accidentally lay hold of the highest things God has called us to do. We must press into them, knowing that the devil presses back.”

Earnestly Desire

The reason so many lacks spiritual giftings is simply because they are not earnestly desiring them. What does that look like, exactly? The phrase “earnestly desire” in 1 Corinthians 12 comes from the Greek word “zéloó” literally meaning “to be jealous.” It speaks of a deep desire, pursuit or longing and is where we get the word zealous. Would you describe your pursuit of the prophetic as zealous? Mike Bickle stated, “We will not accidentally lay hold of the highest things God has called us to do. We must press into them, knowing that the devil presses back.” 1  

Herein is the issue that so many struggles with, they simply lack the motivation and/or discipline to press into what God has made available. Like any manager who has entrusted a great deal to their employee, there is a level of responsibility that must first be presented. God tests those with whom He has entrusted with a powerful anointing. I truly believe that many avoid contending for a higher gift simply because they fear the scrutiny that will be associated with it. “…everyone to whom much was given, of him much will be required, and from him to whom they entrusted much, they will demand the more.” (Luke 12:48)   

In full disclosure, operating in greater anointings will test your relationship with God. Every time I have gone up a level, God has required a greater commitment from me. He is patient and kind, but He is just. Those to whom he gives much authority to will be expected to make great steps of faith, and at times, great sacrifice. Think of the disciples. They were anointed greatly and tasked with taking the gospel to the ends of the earth. All but one would give their life for Christ; and yet, they planted the seeds of faith that bloom still today. At times they were powerhouses of faith, other times, they were filled with fear or doubt. Jesus taught them to pray and fast, to go expecting all needs supplied, and to take authority in His name. We must do the same. I know there are those who hunger for more at any cost and I pray this speaks to you.

Resist The Devil

Mike pointed to a second issue, the devil will resist any attempt you will make towards a more powerful anointing. I don’t mean to scare you, but Satan will cause any pebble to seem like a mountain. He very well may throw the kitchen sink at you and your family. I can’t overemphasize being ready to go on the offense.   

Recently, as we cried out for a greater anointing in our church, we were hit with all kinds of obstacles. A family member was diagnosed with a severe illness, we were psychologically strained, even three of our pets became ill. Bella, our boxer took a high fever for three weeks. After repeated Vet trips and medications, she was none better and close to death. God revealed that this was a demonic attack on our family and Brittany and I was led to take authority. You may think it is silly to pray for a dog, but we did. I wasn’t willing to give that devil even an inch! Within hours, Bella’s fever was gone and she has made a remarkable recovery.  

We prayed and decreed until God spoke. He gave fresh revelations about our ministry that breathed in a new life where it was needed. We decreed healing and continue to do so! Be ready to use those gifts that you are seeking. Anything worth having is worth fighting for. Satan fears a strong and fearless bride. When you operate the anointing, no devil in hell can stop you. Draw the blood-line where the enemy cannot cross. Release God’s words from your mouth and take dominion from the enemy. Boldly go before the throne and fearlessly proclaim the name of the Lord!   

Press In!

Never underestimate the power of pressing in. When you pray and fast, God hears. He is drawn to those who are searching after Him. Trust me, God is hungry for us to begin calling out with desire. He is searching for those who are set apart for His glory. Do not think that you are disqualified from a certain gift. I have noticed that Satan is the only one mentioning how unqualified I am. God has never responded with disappointment or disproval when I seek Him with a hungry heart.   

We have all seen ministers fall and misuse anointings. Should this dissuade you from seeking more? Absolutely not. Satan counts on a weak, ineffective, and ignorant church that has no response to his tactics. I would much rather be on the side that spreads the Kingdom of God with authority. Jesus prodded, “He that has ears, let him hear.” Of course, they all had ears, but would they use them? God has given you the tools to spread His kingdom. These gifts were bought with His blood. Will you press in?   

  

  1. Bickle, Mike. “After God’s Own Heart.”  Charisma House, 2009. p. 99

Discerning God’s Voice

Discerning God’s Voice

by | May 7, 2019 | Intimacy With God, Prophecy

Discerning God’s Voice

I have heard God’s voice in the most unexpected circumstances. You may laugh, but I often get a word while in the shower. Occasionally, I have been awakened at 4 a.m. with a strong urge to grab a pen and paper. Some of the most important words of my life have come in this fashion. We must discern when He is speaking and listen for the voice of Holy Spirit at all times.   

God is Speaking  

I want to establish two things that the prophetic moving of Holy Spirit centers on: hearing God’s voice and having God’s mind. First, God is speaking and His words are power. Jesus said, “These things I have spoken to you while I am still with you. But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.” (John 14:25-26) Jesus never wrote a book that we know of. He often spoke in parables that were convoluted. Occasionally, He concealed His true identity as the Son of God. More often, He relied on one’s heart to lead. In response to Nicodemus’ inquiry on salvation, Jesus finally states, “You must be born of the Spirit.” (John 3:1-6) His expectation was that something would come alive inside the person as a response to hearing the truth. Jesus taught with the understanding that the Holy Spirit would fill in the gaps.  

Jesus had faith in the power of Holy Spirit to speak and so should we. Holy Spirit is powerful because He speaks at the deepest part of the person; to the soul. The sense of affirmation or caution that rises from inside us is most often Holy Spirit speaking. Don’t listen for words but for impressions and simply a “knowing.” Have enough faith to give expression to the impression. Faith pulls and transforms the impressions into a declaration and the word of God is made active. In this way, we speak the heart of God and creation responds. In this way the sick are healed, the lame walk and the dead are raised. All power springs from proper response to that voice.   

The Mind of Christ  

Second, God desires to impart His mind to us. “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind…” (Romans 12:2) The most transformative aspect of salvation is the renewing of one’s mind. From this springs forth all fullness of the Spirit. Without the mind of Christ, we are void of any true power from heaven. The strength and power of Christ are displayed in the believer only to the degree in which they have conformed to the mind of Christ. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts…” (Isaiah 55:8-9)   

All of us have struggled with one sin or another. Freedom is only found in the person of Christ. Many people struggle with freedom and are saddled by guilt and shame. It’s only with a transformed mind that we can actually begin to think and live like royalty. Need to break a sin or overcome shame? Change your mind! You are a child of God and heir with Christ. You are His body and bride. Jesus takes pride in His church. He longs for a spotless bride who has no guilt of sin but is only fascinated with His beauty. Walk boldly bearing the identity of Christ. Let His thoughts, desires, and emotions fill your mind.   

The reason I bring up the mind of Christ is that, without His mind, we are unable to perceive or follow His voice as we ought. The fleshly mind scoffs at the word of God. What kind of person would find peace at the end of a spear?  Who would leave their family to evangelize a lost and remote people group? Only those who have seen and know Jesus. The reality of His existence is transformative enough to change a person, city, and nation. I have often said, “You will not overcome sin until you fully realize how ugly sin is and how abstrusely beauty Christ is.” A sinful life pales in comparison to the overwhelming peace of knowing Christ. Only in Him will you find freedom and peace for your soul.   

Defining the Voice  

Recently, I was listening to a popular Christian artist. I began to think on some very unflattering information that had recently come out about them when the Lord convicted me. Prophetically, I could see what looked like two ribbons coming from the radio. The first represented the music itself, and second represented the spiritual. As I began to focus on the second ribbon, I heard the Lord say, “These words are still true and I will speak through whomever I will. It is your job to listen to me, not to judge them.” The more I focused on the second ribbon, the more I felt and heard Holy Spirit. Beneath the music was an entire symphony of the supernatural that I had never seen before. It was not limited whatsoever by this performer’s failures. We miss so much by limiting how we hear God’s voice.  

God’s voice is not defined by what is conveying it. Let me explain. In scripture, the voice of God came is several unusual ways. It came in the stillness, a tornado, a dark thundering cloud, a burning bush, and even a donkey. We must learn to listen for His voice at all times. This is especially important now that Holy Spirit indwells us. 

God’s voice manifests in more than just words. He speaks through emotional stirring, faith, and impressions as well. In fact, we can become so intertwined with Holy Spirit that even His thoughts and feelings are constantly streaming to us. This is much more than conversational, He becomes joined to us emotionally and physiologically. Mentally, we have the mind of Christ. (1 Corinthians 2:16) We are actually being emptied of ourselves and filled with God! “…It is not I who live but Christ who lives within me.” (Galatians 2:20) Likewise, we are commanded to “put to death” any aspect of our old sinful selves. (Colossians 3:5) Always seek to hear the Lord and follow His voice. When His voice speaks to a transformed mind, great acts of the divine are sure to follow!  

Pray this prayer with me. “Lord, remove my old, dead, and lifeless thoughts. Fill me with that which is fresh, living, and prophetic. Let your thoughts be my thoughts. Let what moves you move me. Let me love how you love. Give me the mind of Christ at all times. Open my ears to hear whenever you speak. I declare that the spirit of religion will not silence your voice in my life. In Jesus name open the heavens and speak! Amen!  

Is God Enough For You?

Is God Enough For You?

by | May 2, 2019 | Intimacy With God

Is God Enough For You?

Today I was reading a great book by Michael Lombardo titled “Immersed in Glory” in which he shared about God’s sufficiency. God struck him with a simple question: “Am I enough for you?” Take a moment to ask yourself, is God really enough for you?  

To answer the question honestly, we must look at the foundation for everything in our life. I would also say we should look at every strength and weakness in our walk with God. Is Christ the Lord over not only beautiful places in your life but the places of lack as well? What areas are left only partially surrendered to His will?  

Maybe it is better to ask: what exactly is God calling you to? Your level of abandon to His voice will give you a quick answer to the question of “Is God enough?” Follow along with me on this exercise. Take a sheet of paper and make 2 columns. On the left write, “My Calling.” On the right write, “My Steps.” List what God has called you to do and your vision statement on the left. In the right column, list every sacrifice and every step of faith. Now, honestly assess if the steps you have taken are sufficient to achieve your call. Is this all that God requires of you? If not, you may not be trusting God like you need to.  

Live Like He is Alive

I firmly believe that God will not abandon you in your calling. Great moves of God rest on great acts of faith. Live like Jesus is alive and that Holy Spirit is actively living within you. If God has given the assignment, He will see it through. If He has commanded it of you, He has also commanded it in the heavens and of the heavenly hosts. “Truly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 18:18) Don’t be mistaken, you are not calling the shots in heaven, but you are coming in alignment with it! When you are aligned with the will God, no devil in hell can resist God’s word in you. In the words of Reinhard Bonnke, “God’s words in your mouth are as powerful as God’s words in His mouth.” Speak with heavenly authority and make great leaps of faith. Not one word will return void. Even the angels are tasked with seeing the word of God accomplished, yet we never hear of them struggling with faith or obedience. This is simply because they know and have seen the power of God first hand.

Following your calling is an essential part of the equation. God has allotted resources and commanded authority on your behalf. Speak with the authority of the King, heaven is also fighting alongside you. “For I am God, and there is no other, I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish my purpose,’” (Isaiah 46:9-10)  

Think about what God is calling you to do for him. It is so easy to waste time or not even start in His calling. I have been guilty of waiting for just one more thing before I was ready to follow God’s direction. In reality, if God has said go, just those words by themselves are enough to start moving. The fear of loss is often our greatest obstacle to following God extravagantly. What is at risk of being lost? You’re flesh is. Our flesh desires comfort, familiarity, and security, none of which Jesus promised to His followers. Following God with abandon will always leave your flesh behind. Jesus said, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” (Matthew 16:24-25) He is saying in essence, “Following me is trading your life for mine.”  

When God becomes enough, you will not fear following His voice but will follow without hesitation. Jesus commanded His disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they?” (Matthew 6:25-26)  

Live free of fear and follow His voice with abandon. Give God an opportunity to prove Himself true and you will be amazed. When God becomes enough, you will lack for nothing! “Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him!” (Psalm 34:8)

Understanding Worship

Understanding Worship

by | Mar 20, 2019 | Prayer And Worship

Understanding Worship

In a recent conversation with a friend, he revealed that he often feels awkward during worship. He pointed out that some people seemed sad and were crying, while others seemed happy and were rejoicing. To be honest, he makes a lot of sense. For those new to prophetic worship, the whole experience can look a bit strange. 

Let’s start by defining prophetic worship 

What exactly makes worship “prophetic”? Simply, it is worshiping in response to what we hear and see from heaven. You could also call it “Throne Room Worship.” Jesus said to the woman at the well, “…But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” (John 4:23-24) I have found that in my own worship, anything short of worshiping in spirit empty. Worshiping in this way is more about us than Him. But, when we worship in spirit, we are open to hear and see the heart of the Father. Jesus taught, “the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise.” (John 5:19b)  

 

Truthfully, I too have felt embarrassed in worship many times, especially when I first began lifting my hands and expressing myself. While some seem to worship freely with no inhibitions, it took me quite some time to open up. So, if you identify with this statement, that’s ok. The beautiful thing is that God is more excited to see you in this process than you can even imagine!  

 

Recently, I recall seeing people lining up to meet Queen Elizabeth. I was taken with the range of emotions on the people. She moved through the crowd surrounded by her entourage, she greeted everyone with her characteristic smile and wave. Every step and turn were clearly marked and planned in advance by her team. Children stood with flowers, timidly approaching to present them to their queen, no doubt a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Some were giddy with excitement while many stood with somber respect. Several children were overcome with emotions and were seen with tears on their cheeks. All eagerly desired a personal glimpse or smile from the queen. I couldn’t help but think, if all of this is perfectly normal in the presence of such a significant and poignant figure, why would we expect any less emotion in the presence of our King?  

What are we Reflecting?  

Ask Yourself: “Does my response genuinely reflect the greatness of who God is?” The more we tamper with our response, the less genuine it becomes. Some sing, some laugh, some cry, some rejoice, still others wilt with heaviness. In my own life, I have experienced nearly every range of emotions in God’s presence. We often ask, “does it matter how we respond?” The answer is mostly no. What matters is that we DO respond. The most genuine response will be one that arises out of our spirit, almost unexpectedly. Our flesh can only serve to distract from our spirit’s natural response.  

 

  Think for a minute about what worship actually is. As a bride betrothed to be married, worship is time with our bridegroom. It’s a time to grow closer and more familiar with one another. It’s where we feel and express love for each other. Without this time, we are left unaware of our savior’s true nature. We cannot relegate our relationship with Jesus to just reading the scripture or even singing a song. Often, He has asked me to turn off the music and turn my attention to just Him. It was in the moments that I experienced the greatest times of His presence.  

 

I am often struck by a range of emotions that I didn’t have coming in to worship. This often signals to me that I am entering into His presence. Fear may leave or heaviness lift. Other times, He may impart a feeling to pray for something or someone specific. One thing is certain, there is always a shift away from what’s on your mind to what is on His mind. In worship, the Holy Spirit is literally imprinting the heart of Christ into us. Every genuine encounter with the King should change us to think, feel, and love more like Him. Worship makes us more like Christ. If that is not happening, you may need a checkup.  

 

What is on your mind when your worship? Are you thinking about the activities of the day or of what is going on around you? If so, you are missing the key. Worship is all about the position of the heart. Without a true heart response, you will get nowhere. Actually, whatever we focus on during our worship will ultimately fill your vision. If you focus on the music, it will grow to be your main concern. If you’re appearance is the concern, how you look will become the main concern.  

 

Just one word, when sung with the right mindset will usher you into the presence of God. In fact, simply turning your mind to God without speaking at all is often enough to sense His presence. Stillness seems to have become a fear for most churches. I believe it is in the stillness that truth is revealed. If Jesus is in the room, you will sense Him; if not, it will be obvious. Take some time to genuinely worship the King of Kings and let the Holy Spirit sweep you off your feet. He is waiting for you!