Thursday, June 23, 2011

Great scriptures to fuel desire for power evangelism/healing/restoration



Ezekiel 34
 1AND THE word of the Lord came to me, saying,
    2Son of man, prophesy against the shepherds of Israel; prophesy and say to them, even to the [spiritual] shepherds, Thus says the Lord God: Woe to the [spiritual] shepherds of Israel who feed themselves! Should not the shepherds feed the sheep?
    3You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you kill the fatlings, but you do not feed the sheep.
    4The diseased and weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the hurt and crippled you have not bandaged, those gone astray you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought to find, but with force and hardhearted harshness you have ruled them.
    5And they were scattered because there was no shepherd, and when they were scattered they became food for all the wild beasts of the field.
    6My sheep wandered through all the mountains and upon every high hill; yes, My sheep were scattered upon all the face of the earth and no one searched or sought for them.
    7Therefore, you [spiritual] shepherds, hear the word of the Lord:
    8As I live, says the Lord God, surely because My sheep became a prey, and My sheep became food for every beast of the field because there was no shepherd--neither did My shepherds search for My sheep, but the shepherds fed themselves and fed not My sheep--
    9Therefore, O you [spiritual] shepherds, hear the word of the Lord:
    10Thus says the Lord God: Behold, I am against the shepherds, and I will require My sheep at their hand and cause them to cease feeding the sheep, neither shall the shepherds feed themselves any more. I will rescue My sheep from their mouths, that they may not be food for them.
    11For thus says the Lord God: Behold, I, I Myself, will search for My sheep and will seek them out.
    12As a shepherd seeks out his sheep in the day that he is among his flock that are scattered, so will I seek out My sheep; and I will rescue them out of all places where they have been scattered in the day of clouds and thick darkness.


 

 

Acts 8

Amplified Bible (AMP)

Acts 8

 1AND SAUL was [not only] consenting to [Stephen's] death [he was [a]pleased and [b]entirely approving]. On that day a great and severe persecution broke out against the church which was in Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles (special messengers).
    2[A party of] devout men [c]with others helped to carry out and bury Stephen and made great lamentation over him.
    3But Saul shamefully treated and laid waste the church continuously [with cruelty and violence]; and entering house after house, he dragged out men and women and committed them to prison.
    4Now those who were scattered abroad went about [through the land from place to place] preaching the glad tidings, the Word [[d]the doctrine concerning the attainment through Christ of salvation in the kingdom of God].
    5Philip [the deacon, not the apostle] went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Christ (the Messiah) to them [the people];
    6And great crowds of people with one accord listened to and heeded what was said by Philip, as they heard him and watched the miracles and wonders which he kept performing [from time to time].
    7For foul spirits came out of many who were possessed by them, screaming and shouting with a loud voice, and many who were suffering from palsy or were crippled were restored to health.
    8And there was great rejoicing in that city.
    9But there was a man named Simon, who had formerly practiced magic arts in the city to the utter amazement of the Samaritan nation, claiming that he himself was an extraordinary and distinguished person.
    10They all paid earnest attention to him, from the least to the greatest, saying, This man is that exhibition of the power of God which is called great (intense).
    11And they were attentive and made much of him, because for a long time he had amazed and bewildered and dazzled them with his skill in magic arts.
    12But when they believed the good news (the Gospel) about the kingdom of God and the name of Jesus Christ (the Messiah) as Philip preached it, they were baptized, both men and women.
    13Even Simon himself believed [he adhered to, trusted in, and relied on the teaching of Philip], and after being baptized, devoted himself constantly to him. And seeing signs and miracles of great power which were being performed, he was utterly amazed.
    14Now when the apostles (special messengers) at Jerusalem heard that [the country of] Samaria had accepted and welcomed the Word of God, they sent Peter and John to them,
    15And they came down and prayed for them that the Samaritans might receive the Holy Spirit;
    16For He had not yet fallen upon any of them, but they had only been baptized into the name of the Lord Jesus.
    17Then [the apostles] laid their hands on them one by one, and they received the Holy Spirit.
    18However, when Simon saw that the [Holy] Spirit was imparted through the laying on of the apostles' hands, he brought money and offered it to them,
    19Saying, Grant me also this power and authority, in order that anyone on whom I place my hands may receive the Holy Spirit.
    20But Peter said to him, Destruction overtake your money and you, because you imagined you could obtain the [free] gift of God with money!
    21You have neither part nor lot in this matter, for your heart is all wrong in God's sight [it is not straightforward or right or true before God].
    22So repent of this depravity and wickedness of yours and pray to the Lord that, if possible, this [e]contriving thought and purpose of your heart may be removed and disregarded and forgiven you.
    23For I see that you are in the gall of bitterness and in [f]a bond forged by iniquity [to fetter souls].
    24And Simon answered, Pray for me [beseech the Lord, both of you], that nothing of what you have said may befall me!
    25Now when [the apostles] had borne their testimony and preached the message of the Lord, they went back to Jerusalem, proclaiming the glad tidings (Gospel) to many villages of the Samaritans [on the way].
    26But an angel of the Lord said to Philip, Rise and proceed southward or at midday on the road that runs from Jerusalem down to Gaza. This is the desert [[g]route].
    27So he got up and went. And behold, an Ethiopian, a eunuch of great authority under Candace the queen of the Ethiopians, who was in charge of all her treasure, had come to Jerusalem to worship.
    28And he was [now] returning, and sitting in his chariot he was reading the book of the prophet Isaiah.
    29Then the [Holy] Spirit said to Philip, Go forward and join yourself to this chariot.
    30Accordingly Philip, running up to him, heard [the man] reading the prophet Isaiah and asked, Do you really understand what you are reading?
    31And he said, How is it possible for me to do so unless someone explains it to me and guides me [in the right way]? And he earnestly requested Philip to come up and sit beside him.
    32Now this was the passage of Scripture which he was reading: Like a sheep He was led to the slaughter, and as a lamb before its shearer is dumb, so He opens not His mouth.
    33In His humiliation [h] He was taken away by distressing and oppressive judgment and justice was denied Him [caused to cease]. Who can describe or relate in full [i]the wickedness of His contemporaries (generation)? For His life is taken from the earth and [j]a bloody death inflicted upon Him.
    34And the eunuch said to Philip, I beg of you, tell me about whom does the prophet say this, about himself or about someone else?
    35Then Philip opened his mouth, and beginning with this portion of Scripture he announced to him the glad tidings (Gospel) of Jesus and about Him.
    36And as they continued along on the way, they came to some water, and the eunuch exclaimed, See, [here is] water! What is to hinder my being baptized?
    37[k]And Philip said, If you believe with all your heart [if you have [l]a conviction, full of joyful trust, that Jesus is the Messiah and accept Him as the Author of your salvation in the kingdom of God, giving Him your obedience, then] you may. And he replied, I do believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
    38And he ordered that the chariot be stopped; and both Philip and the eunuch went down into the water, and [Philip] baptized him.
    39And when they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord [[m]suddenly] caught away Philip; and the eunuch saw him no more, and he went on his way rejoicing.
    40But Philip was found at Azotus, and passing on he preached the good news (Gospel) to all the towns until he reached Caesarea.

Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Ministry of Reconciliation

Listen to what The Spirit of God is saying. Pray that we will all see and hear what The Lord wants us to see and hear. The Body of Christ is being called upon to fulfill her commission at a much higher level in the days just ahead. Most of us sense a coming shaking like we have never seen. But we shall not be shaken. The Lord is saying that if we take upon our shoulders and pick up with our hands all he has given us and employ them in actively fulfilling The Ministry of Reconciliation to those who think God hates them,or is punishing them, or is mad at them, He will reach through us and perform signs and wonders in The Name of Jesus.


If you are one that doubts the importance of the power of God and the gifts of the spirit, operating in signs and wonders in this ministry we have been given: Then you doubt the continuing ministry of Christ and the Love of God.


What man is there that would allow his child to stay in the pangs of death and the grip of His enemy when He has it within His power to deliver them?


Are you better than God?

The Lord not only wants us to tell of His Love, He wants to demonstrate His Love, and demonstrate His Kingdom, by undoing all the devil has done in peoples lives.

 

Mark 16:15-20

New Living Translation (NLT)
15 And then he told them, “Go into all the world and preach the Good News to everyone. 16 Anyone who believes and is baptized will be saved. But anyone who refuses to believe will be condemned. 17 These miraculous signs will accompany those who believe: They will cast out demons in my name, and they will speak in new languages. 18 They will be able to handle snakes with safety, and if they drink anything poisonous, it won’t hurt them. They will be able to place their hands on the sick, and they will be healed.”
19 When the Lord Jesus had finished talking with them, he was taken up into heaven and sat down in the place of honor at God’s right hand. 20 And the disciples went everywhere and preached, and the Lord worked through them, confirming what they said by many miraculous signs.

 

Acts 10:34-48

New King James Version (NKJV)
Preaching to Cornelius’ Household
34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality. 35 But in every nation whoever fears Him and works righteousness is accepted by Him. 36 The word which God sent to the children of Israel, preaching peace through Jesus Christ—He is Lord of all37 that word you know, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, and began from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. 39 And we are witnesses of all things which He did both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem, whom they killed by hanging on a tree. 40 Him God raised up on the third day, and showed Him openly, 41 not to all the people, but to witnesses chosen before by God, even to us who ate and drank with Him after He arose from the dead. 42 And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. 43 To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.”
44 While Peter was still speaking these words, the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. 45 And those of the circumcision who believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also. 46 For they heard them speak with tongues and magnify God.  

 

2 Corinthians 5:19

Amplified Bible (AMP)
19It was God [personally present] in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against [men] their trespasses [but cancelling them], and committing to us the message of reconciliation (of the restoration to favor).

 

2 Corinthians 5:19

New Living Translation (NLT)
19 For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.

 

Romans 5:6-11

New King James Version (NKJV)
6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. 7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. 8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. 9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. 10 For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. 11 And not only that,

 

Ephesians 2:1-10

New King James Version (NKJV)
1 And you He made alive, who were dead in trespasses and sins, 2 in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience, 3 among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others.
4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

 

2 Corinthians 4:1-6

New King James Version (NKJV)
1 Therefore, since we have this ministry, as we have received mercy, we do not lose heart. 2 But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. 3 But even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, 4 whose minds the god of this age has blinded, who do not believe, lest the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine on them. 5 For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.

 

Proverbs 14:9

New Living Translation (NLT)
9 Fools make fun of guilt,
but the godly acknowledge it and seek reconciliation.

 

Romans 8:1-3

Amplified Bible (AMP)


1THEREFORE, [there is] now no condemnation (no adjudging guilty of wrong) for those who are in Christ Jesus, who live [and] walk not after the dictates of the flesh, but after the dictates of the Spirit.
2For the law of the Spirit of life [which is] in Christ Jesus [the law of our new being] has freed me from the law of sin and of death.
3For God has done what the Law could not do, [its power] being weakened by the flesh [the entire nature of man without the Holy Spirit]. Sending His own Son in the guise of sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, [God] condemned sin in the flesh [subdued, overcame, deprived it of its power over all who accept that sacrifice],

Monday, June 13, 2011

God is Speaking





There is a verse in ACTS that came to my heart as I began to write this. In ACTS 4:24-31 we read:

  When they heard this, they raised their voices together in prayer to God. “Sovereign Lord,” they said, “you made the heavens and the earth and the sea, and everything in them. You spoke by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of your servant, our father David:
   “‘Why do the nations rage
   and the peoples plot in vain?
 The kings of the earth rise up
   and the rulers band together
against the Lord
   and against his anointed one.
  
Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. 28 They did what your power and will had decided beforehand should happen.
Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.”
  After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly. 

This is such a short, but powerful  prayer. As the last days unfold, and the birth pains of war,disease,disaster and persecution  get closer and stronger, we must  always stop, and acknowledge  God and  The Sovereignty of The Lord!

The one thing that stood out to me on our recent trip to Joplin, was how everything we came across had prophetic significance. When I say prophetic significance, I mean that God was speaking through every situation.  Not only to us as a Mission Team, Not only to Joplin as a city, Not only to America as a nation, but to The Body of Christ in The World. 

I have learned to listen to The Lord as He speaks through things, not just His Word, although anything that He chooses to speak through will line up and  confirm His Word.  If we acknowledge The Lord in even the worst of situations, He will speak through that situation. He will bring His perspective and Power to it. And He will reach through us and perform signs and wonders in The Name of  Jesus.

Sometimes we say we are going to rise up as a church and do this or do that in these times. Sometimes we say we are going to go in and heal the sick and raise the dead. Sometimes we say we will stand against the onslaught of persecution and trouble. When all along, really we need to do what The Apostles did in these verse above. 

The Lord spoke to me very clearly in Joplin about preparation. Preparation of the heart and preparation of our focus. We certainly have to know who we are, and most importantly to whom we belong as children walking this earth. We saw in Joplin an army of Christians doing good work. We saw The Body of Christ answering the call to help in a time of need. And it was good.

However, The Lord was speaking about preparing, preparing for a different kind of outreach. He was pointing toward the fact that there are times coming where there will be no rebuilding of a lost city, only the salvation and restoration of the souls that survived. He was speaking to a time when the only way we will be able to reach those trapped in a fallen city, will be through miraculous signs and wonders.  He was speaking of a time when we will be lifting bodies and souls of men from the rubble, not to toss them in another pile next to the road, but to deliver to them the ministry of reconciliation which we have received.

Yes, of course He was showing us and teaching us how we can be a refuge and help in disaster, but, we do ourselves a great harm and those we are called to help, if we do not see the warnings He is giving us also.

There were two situations that made me angry in my spirit man in Joplin. I will not go into what, because again, just as in the verse above, these situations God ordained, and in doing so, spoke and confirmed what He was speaking all along during our time there. My natural man wanted to lash out at man, my soul wanted to pout a bit, but The Lord continued to speak to my spirit man, pointing at what He was trying to show us.

I will close with this. On the last site we worked, The Lord ordained that the home owner be a man that survived without a scratch, his yard was filled with every book on The Word,The Blood, The Spirit and Faith, that was ever written it seemed. On this same sight I met an evangelist, that when I met him my spirit leaped within me. On this same site the homeowner gave a testimony that gave witness to why we were there and The Goodness of The Lord, almost being interrupted by a complete misunderstanding of what The Lord was speaking to us, but that is okay,all ordained.

Prepare, Prepare,Prepare. Build yourself up with The Word and by Praying in Tongues much, as much as you can.  Read verses and declare them out loud that speak of The Power, Sovereignty and Authority of God! The earth is The Lords and The fullness thereof!! Jesus has been given all authority in Heaven and in Earth! We have been given authority by Him to trample over demons and devils. As we go forth we will heal the sick, raise the dead, take up serpents, and nothing by any means will harm us. And in the days to come we will speak The WORD of God boldly and He will reach through us and perform signs and wonders in His Name!!! That is the key, all that we will be called and commissioned to do in these last days, will always, must always be done while we acknowledge that they are only done by His Name, in The Authority of His Name and by Faith in His Name.