Time & Chance

Ecclesiastes 9:11 “I again saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift and the battle is not to the warriors, and neither is bread to the wise nor wealth to the discerning nor favor to men of ability; for time and chance overtake them all.” 

It doesn’t matter how fast you are, how strong, smart, intuitive, or well able;  nor will it make a difference how many victories, triumphs, trophies, successes, or even compliments we receive, we all face time or better said, eternity.  And an eternity without Jesus, regardless of how “well” we consider that we did in life, is going to be hell.  What is any of it worthy otherwise?  All of those things will pas away if the don’t come as a result of knowing and loving Him and living to serve Him. 

I think it’s sad to hear a testimony of someone who has lived through cancer, believing that their determination and medicine sustained them.  This is detrimental thinking and it leads to a falsely security that if we can just defeat an illness, we have somehow defeated death. We can’t evade it!  There is a exit sign in all of our futures, over a door that opens only to eternity.  It’s appointed to us all.

But here’s the thing.  Not only are we reminded that time overtakes us but there’s this thing called chance.  When I read that word, immediately I want to assume that it means  situational, circumstance or happenstance.  But not so.  When you study this out in the Hebrew, the root work is paga,  to make intercession and it overtakes us!  That is extremely good news! 

 

The opportunity to pray about the race and declare who wins; to pray about the battle and prophecy the victory; to pray and with our words, create our sustenance; to pray for wealth and determine what we have and what we won’t; and to pray for favor, claiming what’s rightfully ours through the blood of Jesus…it’s afforded to all of us!  No one person has an advantage over another.  Not in God’s kingdom!  Swift or slow, strong or weak, smart or unlearned, discerning or simple, favored or disregarded…all of us have the same opportunity if we will just pray. 

 

 

The Power to Make Wealth

Deuteronomy 8:18 “But you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.” 

He has given us power to make wealth. So often, I have mistaken this to say, “get” wealth but friend, getting and making are two different things. One little word makes a huge difference. 

In order to get,  it’s understood that something must be pursued or achieved. When we are trying to get something, it becomes our focus. It requires strong involvement or deep interest. And when we get something, we wrongly believe that we have success or that we have attained to an end. And that’s just it! When we have to get, it becomes an end in itself and no more provision can come from that thing. 

But to make is altogether different. To make is to begin an action. When we make, we cause to happen, exist, occur or appear. To frame or formulate in the mind. To make is to regard as “being”. Knowing that it simply is.  And when something “is”, we don’t have to continue to try to get it to exist.  It just does.  

So the question is, how do we make rather than get? Thank goodness we have a great example.  Go back to Genesis.  God never had to get anything.  Never.  He is the Maker and He has given to each of us this same capacity.  

Genesis 1:1 says, In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. At this point, nothing was tangible yet it was created.  We know that it wasn’t tangible because verse 2 tells us that.  

And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters. 

How was it “created” then?  Well, that word create means to shape, form first and foremost in the mind.  You see, God had something in mind and He could see it.  The heavens and the earth were His vision.  But it wasn’t until He spoke that it had substance.  When He said, “Let there be”, it existed.  He answered what was already created.  

Let me just ask this.  What do you have in mind?  Whether good or bad, what is created in the mind will not be given existence or become until you have spoken it.  That’s the “maker” anointing.  You have the power to determine what will be or won’t be in your life.   

Here’s something I find quite intriguing as well, especially with the emphasis that has once again been placed on praying in tongues or glossalalia.  Make can also be defined as to turn into another language by translation. I encourage you again to go to Melissa’s blog and read on this subject.  There are a handful of recent posts that will give you insight and understanding concerning the work of Holy Spirit in our lives.  The address is www.definingwords.com.  But, what I am sensing and the confirmation in this is that the more time we spend praying in tongues, the more details of what is created in our minds come forth and the interpretation of it, which translates into spoken English words (or whatever language you speak), causing it to exist. 

In the book of Acts, chapter 2 verse 11, it says, “we do hear them speak in our tongues the wonderful works of God.”  Just imagine what they were telling them.  Just imagine what they were pointing out that God had created and placed in their hearts.  It was being confirmed and it’s existence was unquestionable.

Here’s another take on this idea…

Psalm 127:2 It is vain for you to rise up early, To retire late, To eat the bread of painful labors; For He gives to His beloved even in his sleep.

Reading this in this light, I am amazed at what God has revealed here. Rising up early and retiring late…even eating the bread of painful labors reveal the struggle of getting. And what is being stressed here is that the same result comes to us even in our rest. Making wealth is not strenuous. It’s believing that because God is, provision for our life is. It simply is and all we must do is say it. We make exactly as God made in Genesis. We speak it and it is and is fully functional in our rest, just as it was when God rested. 

Proverbs 10:22

The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

Now, this one is going to get you. Whoa. I can feel it in my toes. Change your perspective with me for just a moment. Don’t read that first part as though it’s for you. Turn it toward the Lord.

The blessing of the Lord…friend, this literally translates, the praise of the Lord. It’s our response to Him, our intentions, motives and agendas that determine the creative power in our lives. Perhaps in misunderstanding, we have fostered a sterile and unproductive environment.  To praise Him makes us rich! Declaring His Name, majesty, lordship, preiminence, goodess…it makes Him exist in our midst.  (Not that He can’t exist without us.)  But whatever is required…He is.  If someone is sick…Jesus is.  If someone needs peace…Jesus is.  If someone is lacking…Jesus is.  He just is and we make it known again and again and again! 

And when He adds no sorrow to with it…no work, toil or labor is required on our part. Isn’t that a relief?  No struggle.

Thank you Father for giving us the power to make wealth. Thank you Lord, for an end to the struggle.  All praise belongs to you.  A honor and glory and power are yours forever and ever.  Amen.

 

Appearance of Evil

Abstain from all appearance of evil.  1 Thessalonians 5:22

This verse has been ringing in my hearing for days now and as I’ve been meditating, I can’t help but to think, again, my understanding has been wrong concerning this. 

What is it we perceive to be evil?

Of course, there’s all the obvious.  

Exodus 20

Thou shalt have no other gods before Me. 

Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: 

Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate me; 

And shewing mercy unto thousands of them that love me, and keep my commandments. 

Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain. 

Remember the sabbath day, to keep it holy. 

Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: 

But the seventh day is the sabbath of the LORD thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: 

For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the LORD blessed the sabbath day, and hallowed it.

Honour thy father and thy mother: that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. 

Thou shalt not kill. 

Thou shalt not commit adultery. 

Thou shalt not steal.

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour.

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s.

Believe me when I say this, we must hate what God hates and must avoid it.  That’s wisdom.

But we are mislead and even deceived in thinking we are good if we fail to encounter what God hates and change it! 

The word says, abstain from the very appearance of evil. 

It’s evil not to reveal who the One True and Living God is to someone who has all their other gods before them.

It’s evil not to wade in ankle, hip, and dare I say it,  neck-deep through graven images to reveal His image!

It’s evil not to speak His name and demonstrate the power with which it was meant to be spoken, when we hear someone run off at the mouth with “%@#!?*& Jesus Christ!”    Do they realize they just called His very presence?  He wants to know them.

It’s evil not to decline to participate in the “goings on” and demonstrate His rest from having to “have” and “get” and “do”. Gasp!  Go ahead, judge me.

It’s evil not  to honor your Father and Mother and be a help to them.  For many, this is easy and I am well aware that this can’t be said of everyone and for that I’m sorry. 

It’s evil to physically kill someone yes but do we realize that we do this even when we gossip or by speaking of someone’s sin to someone else?  We are killing their reputation and whats worse, doing the devils work with him because that’s his plan.  To see us all dead. 

It’s evil to commit adultery but we do it every day.  It’s not just about “marriage” to our spouse.  It’s about loving only our God.  Jesus said in Matthew 10:37, “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.”  We have to love him more than we love our husbands, wives and children.  More than our sisters and brothers.  More than our fathers, mothers, father in-laws and mother in-laws.  More than our friends.  And most importantly, more than ourself.  It’s about His pleasure and not our own.  No husband wants a wife who takes more pleasure in herself than in Him. 

It’s evil to steal.  And we’re stealing from God with, “more for me” mentality. I’m not talking about “more of God” for me but I’m talking about the work of the thief.  He comes to steal, kill and destroy.  Robbing Him, when we don’t offer salvation, heal the sick, bring deliverance, offer forgiveness and extend grace.  Stealing opportunities for Him to LOVE!

It’s evil to bear false witness against thy neighbor (another person).  John Gill’s Exposition says it best I think, “by laying things to his charge that are false, and swearing to them, to his hurt and damage; nor privately, by whispering, tale bearing, backbiting, slandering, by telling lies of him, traducing his character by innuendos, sly insinuations, and evil suggestions, whereby he may suffer in his character, credit, and reputation, and in his trade and business”.  I have a gripe, I’ll admit.  We should not parent, lead, or minister based on what one child  or person says about another that has gone unwitnessed.  Neighborhoods were never meant to have fences where you have to chose to take one side or the other.  Our approach should be in this, love your neighbor as yourself.  Scrap the fence!  If when you discipline, you aren’t concerned for whether or not they are feeling loved, it’s not Word based.  Father corrects those he loves and I’ve never known anyone to make eye contact, hug, or embrace with a fence in between them. 

It’s evil to covet your neighbor’s (another person) anything.  We shouldn’t want what’s not rightfully ours.  Believe me, the Jones’ have to put their pants on one leg at a time too, take ibuprofen for their headaches, put camphophinic on their canker sores and put calimine lotion on their chicken pox!  They might have the best job, biggest house, the hottest car, the latest in technology, 2 kids, no pets (because their allergic and you shouldn’t have one either), etc, etc. but  they can’t get to heaven without Jesus, just like you.

I said all this to say more. I’m sorry. 

What is the appearance of evil to God? 

Does it look evil to Him when someone goes unloved, when it’s within our power to love?

Does it look evil to Him when someone goes unfed and there’s an empty seat at our table and plenty to go around?

Does it look evil when a man lives under a bridge and we don’t even slow down?

Does it look evil when we find that he’s a drunk and judge that he deserves it and put himself there?

Or, how about when we find out that she chose to live on the street and that she has money?  She could be helping herself.  Can she really?  Are we excused then to deprive her of Jesus?

Does it look evil when a child is laying in a crib for three years and no one touches that little one, except to change his diaper?  Does it appear evil, when I fail to reach out and hold them in my arms?

Does it look evil when a child orphaned, four years old, has never spoken and later his testimony is, “I didn’t have anything to say.”… Does it look evil when I’m the one who could be listening?

Help me Lord.  In all of this.  Help me.  I know it looks bad.  I look bad.  Even evil.  Help me.

 

Lackadaisical Dilemma

Strange title, I know but true nonetheless!  These are the very words that the Lord used when speaking to me last night upon my bed. I’ve been asking for definition.  I’ve been asking, What’s the problem? and now, I know. 

It was a toss up really…the title of this post, between Lackadaisical Dilemma or Holy Fervor because the former is where I have been operating from, is situational and let me emphasize, TEMPORAL!  In fact, as I write this and prayerfully as you read this, it’s a thing of the past!  BECAUSE, the latter, Holy Fervor, is a word of prohesy, breathed by Holy Spirit and is mine and yours if you want it!

Let me define some things for you.

lackadaisical: lacking life, spirit or zest.

delimma: an undesirable or unpleasant choice; a situation involving such a choice.

Recently, in my own personal time and in the church, there has been an emphasis placed on Holy Spirit and on praying in tongues.  I read and was greatly impacted by Francis Chan’s, Forgotten God: Reversing Our Tragic Neglect Of Holy Spirit.

Lisa, when leading in prayer two Sunday’s ago said, “We must not neglect praying in the Spirit!” (in tongues)

And Tuesday night, Melissa taught on the importance of praying in tongues.  (Read more on this subject from Melissa at
http://definingwords.com/2010/08/19/tongues-for-the-post-modern-saint/
)

I said all this to say, this lackidaisical dilemma is running rampant in the body of Christ and things are about to change!   It’s time for holy fervor to surface in the body of Christ.I declare buoyancy! 

God took me to Hebrews 10:37-39

³⁷For still a little while (a very little while), and the Coming One will come and He will not delay.

 ³⁸But the just shall live by faith [My righteous servant shall live by his conviction respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, and holy fervor born of faith and conjoined with it]; and if he draws back and shrinks in fear, My soul has no delight or pleasure in him.

³⁹But our way is not that of those who draw back to eternal misery (perdition) and are utterly destroyed, but we are of those who believe [who cleave to and trust in and rely on God through Jesus Christ, the Messiah] and by faith preserve the soul. 

Convictions…Recently, a prophet spoke into my life and said, live by your convictions.  Need I say more?

Holy fervor… This word holy means to be separate, set apart.  In my heart, I believe it’s to be reserved for the things of the Spirit.  Reserved for His presence. Knowing Him, seeing & hearing, feeling and experiencing Him.  Reserved for His power and authority.  Reserved for His goodness.  Reserved for His pleasure, purposes and plans.

But fervor, it has everything to do with expression of Him; releasing Him and all of attributes into this earth.   A relative word to fervor is wholeheartedness.  It’s passion!  There must be a releasing of  holy fervor now!  

If you want to know the words that left my mouth last night as I prayed to my God, it was this.  Take pleasure in me Lord and release your holy fervor in my life.  Forgive me for hampering it.  Release it again. 

There has been much prophesy over the years of twins.  I can’t help but read this passage in Hebrew and think of it. 

Conjoined:  being, coming, or brought together so as to meet, touch, overlap, or unite

Holy fervor is born of faith and conjoined with it.  One cannot be separate from the other!   

So, release us Lord from this lackidaisical dilemma! Let it be said of us that we pray in tongues more than you all!  Ha ha! Let is be said of us that whether we went in body or in spirit, we know not!   Ha ha!  Release us from the religious predicament we have put ourself in and loose the holy fervor! Thank you Lord!

 

Spiritual GPS

Thanksgiving is our spiritual GPS.  It reveals where we have been and leads us where we are going. 

Psalm 95:2  Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving...

Thanksgiving reveals where we are.  Thankfulness is  evidence of being in the Lord’s presence and everytime we open our mouths to say thank you, we acknowledge, God is in this.  Whatever gift I have just received, who ever has blessed me, wherever I am, whatever I am doing, God is here.

And thanking God when we pray, asking and believing, will put the things we have asked for in prayer on our GPS as a destination.  We will get there when we thank Him for it! 

We all know that please comes before thank you and that thank you comes before your welcome. 

But God, through Jesus, has already made the statement your welcome.   When we understand that, we say thank you and please has become knowing that it’s Father’s will and good pleasure to give it to us!

 

Brood of Vipers: Kim Clement

This past weekend, I was privileged to be a part of the services at Life Center, Harrisburg, PA  (www.lcmi.org) . They had invited Prophet Kim Clement (www.kimclement.com) to come for the weekend. 

It was an amazing time in the presence of God and much was spoken to my spirit personally but there was a corporate word for the church and America that I want to take a moment to share. 

Matthew 12:34 speaks of the brood of vipers.  “Brood of Vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”

Let me just insert here before I go any further.  I think it’s very important to note that evil people are perfectly capable of saying “good things”, not according to God but man.    The latter seems to be the world’s standard there is a spiritual flood about to break forth.  God’s standard is on the brink and about to break the ranks.

Much of the prophesy came from this passage.  Allow me to paraphrase.

There have been a brood of vipers released into homes, communities, regions and the nation.  They have been released into the places of government but there is a new anointing coming upon the church to cause them to scatter. An anointing to divide and conquer.  There is a commotion that has been taking place and the angels are awaiting to hear from the saints their direction.  Demons are awaiting as well.  What will the saints say?  The angelic and the demonic both wait upon the words of the saints because both must take their direction from them.  And there has been a commotion as the angels and demons alike have been warring over the Word. 

Prophet Clement had a dream that he shared with us on Sunday morning.   He had very little sleep the night before because he was visited by a viper.  This viper was large in size and it was in his face.  When it at first visited, Kim was in his room and fear came over him.  He felt he was not able to defeat this enemy.  He awoke.

When he fell asleep again, the viper came. This time, he was in muddy waters and it was so close but Kim feared he would drown if he were to try to take hold of it.  He also thought that if he were to extend his hand toward it, to grasp it’s neck, it would bite him.  God said, “Put your hand in it’s mouth.”  Kim struggled and said, “It will kill me.”  And God said, “Put your hand in it’s mouth.”  He awoke.

The third time he slept, he dreamed he was in a hospital on a bed, in cardiac arrest.  The viper was once again there and Kim, from fear was laboring for his every breath. His strength was gone.  God said, “Put your hand in it’s mouth, for it’s venom will have no effect on you.”  At God’s instruction, he put His hand in it’s mouth and took hold of it’s tongue.  It was paralyzed.

There is a Paul like anointing being released to the church. The venom shall have no effect.

ACts 28:3-6

And when Paul had gathered a bundle of sticks, and laid them on the fire, there came a viper out of the heat, and fastened on his hand.  And when the barbarians saw the venomous beast hang on his hand, they said among themselves, No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he hath escaped the sea, yet vengeance suffereth not to live.  And he shook off the beast into the fire, and felt no harm.  Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god.

It seems to me that it’s time for the church to turn up the heat and bring out the snakes.  The next shaking will be by our hand.  Into the fire.