From Behind Enemy Lines

Generally when the people of the kingdom of heaven are experiencing a “dry spell” somewhere along the way finding within themselves the courage to recognize, admit, and discuss it with a brother or sister the response is, far too often, “oh, that’s normal it happens sometimes, God just wants you to trust Him even when you can’t ‘feel’ Him there.”

First of all maybe I agree if we are talking only emotional ‘feelings;’ however, when I talk of ‘feeling’ the Lord’s presence I am talking of something very real, tangible, and physical not merely emotional. Although I am not afraid to admit that when my emotions are in alignment it is even that much better.

I can ‘feel’ His presence in a practical tangible way. If that sense is missing from my day to day it tends to freak me out. As I believe it should. Not for one second do I believe it to be ‘normal’ for us to not have the sense of His presence. We ought ‘normally’ know His presence. Jesus says, ” . . . behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matt. 28:20

This is not some cute metaphor. He means what He says. So, if my Lover, King, Brother, Father, Lord, Friend, Savior, Healer, . . . . . . . . is not noticeable to me from every passing moment in which He has already declared He is with me in, what does that mean? Could it be that we have been led astray? Not the Lord pulling back, but rather, us being taken captive?

Brothers and sisters, “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.” HOW? “For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority.” Col 2:8-10 The HOW? is found earlier in Colossians chapter 2 verses 6,7 “Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.” What are we to be abounding in thanksgiving for? I am proposing that we are to be abounding in thanksgiving for the FACT that the fulness of the Godhead does now dwell in us bodily.

I do not believe for one minute it would be normal for us to not recognize the fullness of the Godhead that dwells in us bodily. For one thing He is so AWESOME, how could we miss the fact of His presence? Well, apparently we lost our gratitude which gave us a bad attitude. Am I suggesting that “dry spells” do not happen? Absolutely not. I am writing this on the heels of a so called “dry spell.” Which I in no way contend or agree with the idea that it is or in some way should be “normal.”

I hope this has helped someone else too, but I know for this brother I just had a revelation in the very writing of this post. I lost my gratitude somewhere along the last week, which made me weak. Why? I forgot that the fulness of the Godhead dwells in ME bodily because I wasn’t thanking Him for living in me.

In closing, PLEASE, join me on my quest for what is “normal” kingdom expression here on the earth, especially in the St. Croix Region. I believe we have barely even begun to experience the fulness of it. I know one thing for sure, we should continuously, in all circumstances, and in all places be aware of His presence. If that is not yet our experience we should continue striving to enter the rest. I want the fullness of it here on the earth. Remember, Heaven AND earth are FULL of His GLORY!

Humankind is familiar with the battle that comes from evil, attempting to steal the good that is ruling and reigning on the earth. The truth is . . . ‘heaven and earth are filled with glory.’ Light always overcomes darkness and light has already prevailed. So, why then does evil still have its influence?

Who are you? Have you ever asked yourself, and/or your heavenly Father; WHO AM I?

Let me enlighten you. The truest foundation of identity for ALL humankind is . . . ‘image bearer of God.’ YOU, yes YOU, yes EVEN YOU, yes EVERY SINGLE one of YOU are made in the likeness and image of God. ” . . . God created human beings in his own image. . . . God blessed them and said, ‘Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion . . . .’”

The truth about all things; YOU, our Creator, us, and yes even creation itself is written on our hearts [our spirits]. This is why the things written in this article resonate in your heart because they are truth. Even our sometime resistance to these truths prove them to be true. Yes, creation itself testifies to these truths.

You are the pinnacle of creation. You are a King, Queen, Prince, or Princess. YOU have dominion on the earth.

Back to the battle evil tries to bring against good in so, answering the question, ‘Why does evil still have its influence?’ Simple, we do not know who we are. Since we do not know who we are, how on earth can we accomplish our purposes?

YOU were made for glory, not just glory in the future, but glory on earth [NOW], as it is, in heaven. The kingdom of heaven is available NOW, on earth.

Therefore, when WE wake-up, rise-up, and realize who we are we will begin to act in our purposes. Not the least of which is to “Be fruitful, multiply, fill the earth, subdue it, having dominion over it. Dominion that includes the eradication of evil. YOU were made to rule over the earth. That is who YOU are.

Blessings;
T-Rev

Are you feeling Judged? Especially when you are heading into a situation where you need to seek forgiveness or are concerned that you will be judged? Do YOU assume you will receive judgement when you arrive? Have you ever considered that just possibly this judgement is coming from yourself? Is it possible that your judgement for others and yourself is being imposed on YOU by YOU?

Is it truly possible that when you go into the above situation you will be judged? Of Course it’s possible, however, it seems this prejudgement or “assumed” judgement you have in YOUR mind is actually Matthew 7 being played out “. . . by the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”

The big question here is “are you carrying judgement?” Or “are you carrying Grace?” Is it the LAW, judgement based on the LAW, and the punishment of the LAW that sets us FREE? Remember grace is getting and giving what is not deserved. May I remind us, it is better to give then it is to receive. However, if YOU do not receive than YOU have nothing to give. An old A.A. adage says, “You can only keep what you have by giving it away.” Do not worry, He will NOT run out. It is our Father’s good pleasure to give us the kingdom!

I would like to propose that if you are consistently concerned about other people judging YOU and YOUR actions, or circumstances for that matter, that YOU are actually judging yourself, people, actions, and the circumstances of others that surround you. This may be a hard word to swallow. But, EXODUS and I are here to call attention to the things that have held us captive and by the power of Jesus, set US FREE! So, how do we get out of the [w]hole of all of this judgement?

Let’s begin by taking a look at the downward spiral of judgement. The deterioration process of a non-judge bringing judgement. “. . . the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness,” Isaiah 58:9

First, “the yoke,” an unneeded, selfish, unrealistic, inconsistent, in-congruent, and/or “legal” demand on another image-bearer of the Creator, King. Even if their actions were “illegal” we are not called to determine, judge, or punish. We are called to bring life, restore, and love. We are brother or sister, NOT Father. He, Father, corrects those He loves, He does not ask the elder siblings to do it. But, YES! “save others by snatching them out of the fire . . . .” Jude 23. Which is what this blog and the ministry of EXODUS is all about!

Now the second slope down, “finger-pointing.” Simple matter this one is. You did not live up to my imposed “yoke” of demands and know because you “failed” I am here, appointed and anointed, to say “I TOLD YOU SO.”

The third piece to the downhill slide of amateur, out-of-order, judging rests in what I contend is the extremely dangerous sin of gossiping. When we “speak-wickedness” we are not edifiers of the body of Christ, but condemners, destroyers, and dividers. (Sounds like somebody else, and some other kingdom?) In Proverbs 6 the Lord reveals 7 things that are abominable to Him and one of those is ” . . . one who sows discord among brothers.”

Remember, before YOU speak, people cannot un-hear what they have heard. No matter if someone believes something, or disagrees with the judgement it can be extremely difficult to dismiss that judgement after it has been spoken. If you bring judgement to me about someone else I may even vehemently disagree and still have a hard time not doubting, or “hearing” it when I interact with that person in the future. I remind us to “Not cause our brother to stumble.”

Now we are at the (w)hole of our judgement(s). We made “our” determinations about how, who, and what YOU are. Then we condemned YOU when you were short of OUR expectations. Lastly, we told others about how much “less-than-US” YOU really are. Why do we bring our judgements?

Let’s get FREE of all this shall we? I should hope so. Jesus did not die and make YOU judge, NO He died, rose again, and our Father made Him the judge. There is therefore now NO condemnation for those that are in Christ Jesus, so let’s stop condemning each other TODAY! Look back at Isaiah 58, “If you take away the yoke from your midst, the pointing of the finger, and speaking wickedness, if you pour yourself out for the hungry and satisfy the desire of the afflicted, then shall your light rise in the darkness . . .” read on in Isaiah 58 take this promise to the Lord and be amazed.

So, we need to stop judging, pour ourselves out, and satisfy desires. But how? “. . . seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:33 Are YOU doing that? HOW? When WE, “. . . love the LORD [y]our God with all [y]our heart and with all [y]our soul and with all [y]our might.” Deut 6:5 then WE will be equipped, prepared, and able to “. . . love [y]our neighbor as [y]ourself.” Matthew 22:39

First Love God, Then Love YOURSELF, then love your neighbor. You cannot Love yourself if you do not love God, you cannot love your neighbor if you do not love yourself, and you cannot love God if you do not love your neighbor. God IS . . ., “[LOVE] . . . does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.” 1 Corinthians 13:6 The Truth is JESUS SET YOU FREE!

Now this judgement that you carry is not for others and neither is it for YOU. Why because of JESUS, He paid it ALL, the whole wrath and judgement of God went on Him. Stop judging, if judgement is condemnation. Jesus set us FREE from Satan, Sin, and Death. You have, in Christ, been judged. It has been determined because of Him that YOU waiver not. Does this mean that we can go on NOT determining between our actions to be godly and not godly? Of course NOT! We live in a culture of honor, and to honor the King is to walk in obedience. However, should you come up short of perfect obedience, there is one who has been perfectly obedient on your behalf and sits on the throne interceding and declaring YOU innocent. If YOU confess Jesus is THE Lord, and believe in YOUR heart that God raised Him from the dead. YOU are innocent, RIGHT NOW!

Why do you judge others, or even deeper, why do you judge you? Jesus, says, “trust Me and My righteousness is yours.” In case it has not been clear yet, YOU ARE NOT THE JUDGE! JESUS IS! Therefore, our good work as ambassadors of His “judgement” is to declare, “RECONCILIATION, GRACE, LOVE, FREEDOM, FORGIVENESS, HEALING, REST FROM SELFISH WORKS, LIFE, ABUNDANCE, and HEAVEN ARE AT HAND!” Why? This IS the “JUDGEMENT” that the Benefactor, King, and JUDGE has made. Therefore, this is the only decree we have at our disposal. Any other declaration would be a “false-judgement” because it is inconsistent with the true Judge’s order.

Papa, already forgave the sin of the whole world, what are YOU waiting for?

Papa mentioned something to me this morning during music worship, in the spirit, at our spiritual family’s (LWC Forest, WI) weekly Sunday gathering. I felt He would like me to share this WORD with ALL of YOU. Especially those of YOU that reside and labor in the St. Croix region for the kingdom of heaven on earth.

Father brought me to Joel chapter 3 specifically verses 5 thru 13. Those passages are pasted here from the ESV which is the translation I carry and read these scriptures from earlier today.

For you have taken my silver and my gold, and have carried my rich treasures into your temples. You have sold the people of Judah and Jerusalem to the Greeks in order to remove them far from their own border. Behold, I will stir them up from the place to which you have sold them, and I will return your payment on your own head. I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the people of Judah, and they will sell them to the Sabeans, to a nation far away, for the LORD has spoken.” Proclaim this among the nations: Consecrate for war; stir up the mighty men. Let all the men of war draw near; let them come up. Beat your plowshares into swords, and your pruning hooks into spears; let the weak say, “I am a warrior.” Hasten and come, all you surrounding nations, and gather yourselves there. Bring down your warriors, O LORD. Let the nations stir themselves up and come up to the Valley of Jehoshaphat; for there I will sit to judge all the surrounding nations. Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe. Go in, tread, for the winepress is full. The vats overflow, for their evil is great.

Now, I know, a great number of much more studious men and women than I have exposed these passages already. These great brothers and sisters have written, explained, revealed, and taught much as to their implications and meaning both at the time of Joel and the times forward from him. I neither have intention to take these words out of their context or am I attempting to disseminate what Papa was saying to and or through Joel in that specific context. Rather, I am revealing what Papa has revealed to me for our current context; in the St. Croix region. Father is saying something to us and He used this passage to illuminate and illustrate it. Should YOU have trouble with that approach than I suggest YOU go no further in this writing. My intention is not for division or distraction, quite to the contrary I desire to reveal this WORD, believing it to be a seasonal, regional WORD to us. So that WE the church and leaders of the church in this St. Croix region are on the same page as the Lord and each other.

Verse 5 starts out, “For you . . .” the Spirit made it clear to me that the “you” was the “kingdom of darkness,” the enemy of our souls. That they had taken much from us and in some cases had even taken us. Papa highlighted to me that since EXODUS has been standing against the spirits of lack and poverty in our region for the last several months that they have been formidable. However, clearly, as we will see as we go further into this WORD He is reassuring us that the time of their continued hovering over our region is extremely short. He went on to say that the people of His praise and worship, His people, have been even estranged from their body, the fellowship by religion, division, fear of man, and lack of understanding. We will be scattered no longer. Our regional lack and poverty are near their end.

Should we hold fast and stay our course, we will see a great harvest. NOW is a critical time brothers and sisters, DO NOT PULL UP SHORT IN YOUR TRIAL. Let the trial have its full effect for Joy and in turn perseverance. WHY? as the Lord said, to our enemy, “I will return your payment on your own head.” Lack and Poverty be ready to become Provision and Prosperity. Lack you are Provision in the kingdom of light and Poverty you are Prosperity. On earth, as it is in heaven, Provision and Prosperity are upon US. You are absolutely going to LOVE this, “I will sell your sons and your daughters into the hand of the people of Judah . . . to a nation far away.” Where? THE ABYSS! What has the Lord spoken to us? He is saying that the people of praise are going to “handle” the sons and daughters of darkness, the principalities and powers, you know the demons. We are going to “handle” them right out of our region and into the ABYSS! Hallelujah! Do YOU trust Him?

The Lord was quite stern about this next point and I am taking it very seriously myself. We have danced around, tiptoeing through the tulips for FAR too long. He was expressing to me that we have treated the devils, principalities, and powers as if they were not there and sin was the issue. But as we know we do not fight against flesh and blood, WHY? Simple Jesus took the penalty on the cross, WE fight FROM victory, not FOR victory. Nonetheless, our battle rages and is very much real in this present age.

We have multitudes more to be born in the likeness and image of our Father and born into His kingdom. Until they are all accounted for we wage on. The Spirit urged me to this point sternly as I said earlier, He said it is TIME! “warriors” it is TIME. They have beat up on the Lamb’s people for far too long and where were we? We were too busy shadow boxing deceased people. YOUR old has passed, YOU are a NEW creation. YOU must understand YOUR identity in Jesus Christ. WE, His people, are to crush the heads of serpents with our heals. Jesus is saying to us in the St. Croix region take your former planting, sowing, and pruning tools and beat them into swords and spears. For what purpose?

The harvest is COMING IN! No longer is it time to plow, plant, and water. NO its nearly time to reap. But, hold up just a minute. The ravens have come and are attempting to come and steal the Lord’s harvest. WE SAY NO! Warriors, stand with the Lord and SAY NO! This is why He needs your former agricultural implements beaten into the weapons of war. Certainly not to bring war unto the people of God’s image, by no means even your enemies of flesh and blood are made in Papa’s likeness and image and are to be LOVED. No these weapons He is crying out to us to bare are to wage upon the enemy of our soul. You see the harvest of the St. Croix is coming to tassel, but not yet ripe, hence we need to be vigilant “warriors” slaying the ravens that come to steal the lord’s harvest. As we destroy ravens, slay dragons, and squash the heads of serpents we will soon get the green flag to as the passage above says, “. . . Put in the sickle, for the harvest is ripe.”

Are you ready for the revival, renewal that is nearly upon us? The rumblings have begun, some of the early crops and plants have come to fruit. We must realize that served to bring in the dogs. Therefore, the call is to the “SWORD OF THE SPIRIT” which is the “RHEMA” (word) or “SPOKEN” word. Or “SUNG” as the case may be. There is huge power in the tongue of a child of the living God. We, as the “warriors” of the living God need to take up our one offensive weapon, “our voice” in the Spirit and put these principalities and powers out of OUR region on their ear once and for all. We have been charged NOW by the Lord of Hosts to be the protectors of the harvest that is near to fruit. This IS beyond what any of us thinks or imagines. We have seen nothing like this before. The St. Croix region IS having a “NO-TENT REVIVAL” What? yes, the revival is too big for tents to contain! IT is in the streets, schools, stores, houses, gas stations, bars, restaurants, everywhere, even in the churches.

In closing, this final piece is huge, “Go in, tread, for the winepress is full. The vats overflow, for their evil is great.” As the Lord stated at the beginning of the passage, ” . . . I will return your payment on your own head.” Their evil towards us has been great and therefore, our winepress is full, the vats overflow. Remember, and DO NOT ever forget that what the enemy meant for evil God will use for YOUR good. Hence, they have done great evil against us and the good we shall reap will be beyond what YOU can think or imagine, on earth, as it is, in heaven.

It was prophesied over EXODUS around one year ago that we were getting and going to have MOMENTUM. Well, I am happy to report IT IS HERE! We have MOMENTUM!

Lets have a lesson from our favorite science Guy Bill Nye, have a look about what he has to say about MOMENTUM

I mentioned earlier that MOMENTUM was prophesied over EXODUS approximately a year ago. That word came written on a paper restaurant napkin ring of all places. written out like the formula above. You just never know when, where or in what form the Lord will bring forth His word. PAY ATTENTION! His word surrounds YOU even right now. Praise the Lord.

EXODUS has been believing that word, nurturing it, working it out, calling it out, and trusting Him for it and NOW, IT’s HERE!

We are jacked! the Lord is giving us favor and the prophesied MOMENTUM is upon us. We are being thrust into new arenas. We are being invited to work alongside long standing churches and ministries in the region and it is exciting. We are just a 2 and something year old toddler right now, so WATCH OUT kingdom of darkness, because we are taking names and bringing heaven to earth in this region. The ST CROIX region IS an “addiction and affliction FREE ZONE!” Why because Papa said so that’s why. As it was said of Abraham, so shall it be said of EXODUS “. . . having patiently waited, [EXODUS] obtained the promise.” Hebrews 6:15

As the science guy said in his video, “. . . not enough MOMENTUM . . .” When he referred to the ping pong ball and bowling. As it relates to EXODUS we “were” a pin-pong ball. However, as MOMENTUM was prophesied around a year ago along with it was a confirming word the Lord spoke about PROMOTION. So, when you have MOMENTUM and the Lord gives a PROMOTION, you go from a ping-pong ball that bounces off the pins to a standard 3 KG bowling ball.

Therefore, as it is because of MOMENTUM and PROMOTION, EXODUS finds itself to be the 3 KG bowling ball right now. Mr. Nye upgraded to that 3 KG ball and as he did he said, ” . . . we can knock down ALL the pins at once; that is, if we hit it just right.” This is why I declared earlier to the kingdom of darkness WATCH OUT! We currently have the stricking power to knock down ALL the pins should we be strategically placed. And we ARE strategic and often strategically placed.

However, because of the principle of MOMENTUM, partnered with INERTIA ["the property of matter by which it retains its state of rest or its velocity . . ." simply put; an object in motion tends to stay in motion, and an object at rest tends to stay at rest] EXODUS will NOT remain a 3KG bowling ball that must be strategically placed, oh no. EXODUS will gain ground and grow into the 5 KG ball. Bill Nye said a 5 KG ball, ” . . . would have enough MOMENTUM to knock down EVERY pin EVERY-TIME.” Thank you Bill Nye for the G RRRR 8 science guy lesson. We LOVE MOMENTUM.

People, friends, family, brothers, sisters, princes, princesses, queens, and kings join with exod-US as we say line em up! Line up the pins and let’s BOWL! Go with US and label those pins! ADDICTION! ABUSE! RAGE! LACK! POVERTY! ACCUSATION! DIVORCE! DIVISION! REBELLION! SEXUAL IMMORALITY! DISHONOR! DISRESPECT! SUICIDE! SELF-MUTILATION! MURDER! ENVY! STRIFE! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . WATCH OUT; even though, right now we may have around a 145 avg; SOON, we will be acquiring the 5 KG ball. BAM! BOOM! POW! SPLAT! Then because of MOMENTUM, PROMOTION, and INERTIA we’re looking at a big 300 avg in Jesus name! We are going for the 5 KG ball which will yield a 300 avg. because just like Bill Nye said, “[a 5 KG ball] . . . would have enough MOMENTUM to knock down EVERY pin EVERY-TIME.”

LET’S GO BOWLING!

P.S. “In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish ALL the flaming darts of the evil one;” Ephesians 6:16 (emphasis mine) !That’s ALL! NOT some, sometimes, most, every other, occasional . . . !NO! that’s ALL! Hold YOUR faith up like the shield that it is.

Guess what it’s time for? The Lord has declared from the heavens it is time to SOW. We are standing opposed to LACK and POVERTY in our region and Papa says SOW! The funny thing about LACK is that it says, “YOU don’t have ANYTHING.” Big fat lie that is. Throw this big nuclear warhead at that puny little lie, “His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence,” 2Pet 1:3 and BLAM! Thank You Lord! We do have ALL THINGS!

Next up on the battlefield is POVERTY, so if LACK says, “YOU don’t have ANYTHING.” Then POVERTY says, “YEAH, and YOU NEVER WILL.” Pull the pin and let this rip that to smithereens in your life, “. . . whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to ETERNAL life.” John 4:14 (emphasis mine). And just for fun do yourself a big favor. Do your own word studies through the Bible, on ETERNAL, and EVERLASTING. Brothers and Sisters, we NEED to fill our armories with weapons like those.

LACK and POVERTY are certainly no slouches and their power is very real. However, that is all they have is power. In order to have ETERNAL significance you need both POWER and AUTHORITY! Remember ALL authority belongs to Jesus and He dispenses it to us, His sons and daughters. They may have POWER to make a show, but fortunately, it is devoid of AUTHORITY. It’s just like bark with no bite. US, on the other hand, we have BOTH, POWER and AUTHORITY, Praise God.

Are YOU ready to root out LACK and POVERTY? I AM!! Then SOW! ask the Lord What to and where to, but SOW. It is time to SOW! Tears for Fears we thank you for this contribution and we endeavor to take your words to our heart and act in faith! In their song they suggest we read the books! I say there are at least 66 that should be at the top of our lists. For what purpose should we read those 66 books? I propose that we NEED to scour those pages for TRUTH to combat lies, grabbing onto PROMISES from Papa that tear down strongholds!

SOW, . . . . . . . . . . . . . are YOU in?

We need to SOW our way out of LACK. Kingdom economy says, “As for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it. He indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty.” Matthew 13:23 We NEED NOW to be at His feet asking, what do You want me to SOW. Where do You want me to SOW and what should I be expecting to come to SOW in the future?

Brothers and Sisters certainly and without ceasing always being SOWING these things: LOVE, JOY, PEACE, PATIENCE, KINDNESS, GOODNESS, GENTLENESS, SELF-CONTROL, FORGIVENESS, AND I AGAIN I SAY LOVE

Are you perplexed when God does exactly what He says He is going to do? Or are you marveling at what He has done? Are you living in a state of expectant hope that ends in awe and marveling? Or are you not expecting much, low in hope even doubting and then when Father acts do you find yourself confused and perplexed? Being perplexed is confusion, it’s doubt, it is being left wanting, and it’s even being embarrassed. On the other hand marveling stands on the platform of admiration for what one has just witnessed.

Papa brought me to Luke 24 yesterday (06 Jan 2012) for His word at the Somerset EXODUS. He showed me something very powerful. Early in the chapter we find Mary, Mary, and Joanna headed to the tomb with spices to prepare the body of Jesus, doubting what Jesus had told them many times before. These ladies were expecting to find the body of Jesus yet in the tomb. However, when they arrived, as they were standing there PERPLEXED what they found instead was two men in dazzling clothes (angels) calling them to remembrance of what Jesus had already told them about His impending resurrection.

They went to the tomb doubting, expecting what was natural, not expecting the SUPERnatural, the very thing the Lord had revealed many times in the past. This doubt resulted in them being perplexed, (confused) God is not a God of confusion. Do we want to be perplexed when Father fills FULL His word and promises or do we want to be full of faith expecting He will? Let’s expect His word, promises, and plan IS and even HAS come to pass. Then we will find ourselves in awe, admiration, marveling, celebrating, and maybe even overwhelmed with what He has done, but not confused by it.

The two Marys and Joanna went back to tell the disciples of what they had seen and witnessed. The reaction from the disciples was even further away from confirmed excitement, admiration, celebration, and marveling as the information comes to then second hand they do not just have doubt but even unbelief, not just confusion, but denial as we find their response in verse eleven, ” . . . these words seemed to them an idle tale, and they did not believe them.” Except for Peter.

What is Peter’s response? Peter rises to the occasion, Perhaps He had stronger trust in the resurrection coming from when Jesus directly confronted his denial on this issue back in Caesarea Philippi when Jesus said in the direction of Peter’s denial, ” . . . ‘Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.’” Mark 8:33

Peter is EXPECTING this. When the ladies come back and the others are caught in unbelief he runs to the tomb in faith to do what? Not to go to the tomb for proof, NO! Peter was running to the tomb to “MARVEL” (verse 12) at what God had done, which is just exactly what Jesus said He would do. Out of relationship and intimacy Peter is EXPECTANT and when Jesus fulfills a promise He marvels, it does not confuse him.

So have you found yourself perplexed when Father answers your prayer? How about when He fulfills a promise of His? Or have you found yourself marveling at what He has done? The bottom line here is do you trust Him to do what He says He will do? He really is going to heal the sick, raise the dead, and cast out devils through YOUR hands. The more we EXPECT that the things He says to us in both His Logos and Rhema words ARE happening the less we will be confused when He does them. Therefore, we will most preferably marvel, proclaim, celebrate, and declare the fulfillment of our Father’s promises, and in turn we will be prepared for more. Being PERPLEXED causes us to stumble around, meanwhile, MARVELING propels us forward in what has been confirmed faith, hope, trust, and love.

Brothers and Sisters we NEED to be spending intimate time in communion with Papa, Brother, Friend, King, Lord Jesus in order to know what He is saying and then trust Him regardless of what we see. Even if everything appears to be DEAD. If He says resurrection, then resurrection it IS, rise up beloved RISE UP!

I am part of a pastor’s network on linked-in.com and decided to answer a discussion question that was posed. Should pastors focus more on evangelism or discipleship? I thought my response to the query may be helpful so take a look.

Disciple = learner.
Discipleship = the two way street of teaching / equipping and learning / receiving. Both facets going in both directions between those disciplining and being discipled. We should all have both more mature Christians in our lives and less mature Christians in our lives..

Ev-angel = Herald.
Evangelism = proclaiming the GOOD NEWS! In our case the proclamation is “The Kingdom of God is AT hand”, “IN MY HANDS!” “Do YOU want some?”

I see Jesus calling us to primarily be responsible to Love the the Lord our God, Love ourselves, and love our neighbors. Out of that pursuit and lifestyle of seeking first His kingdom and righteousness will flow from our hearts living water. This river of living water will result in evangelism and discipleship which are both about a demonstration of Papa’s kingdom and power rooted in who He is, not a transfer of some type of information exchange. It is not “about” God that we need it is “God” that we need.

So, I see the responsibility of the whole of the five-fold ministry to be equipping the saints for the “work” of the ministry. Therefore, from my perspective it is not so much a matter of importance as to which is primary; but, much more about deploying the saints on mission in both and so much more. Healing the sick, raising the dead, casting out devils, prophesying, providing, working miracles, signs, wonders, being hospitable, pouring out mercy, compassion, and . . . . . . . . .

All of these mighty “works” of the saints are the ministry of the Holy Spirit. When we are walking in Him in His power the love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control we possess will be the fuel those purposes of our Father. We ought only be doing what we see our Father doing. I am convinced that the absolute priority I need to maintain is being an excellent steward of His presence and equip others to the same.

We are to make disciples, Jesus will build the church.

I recently posted on my facebook wall. “FIRE, Holy Ghost FIRE! For this type of FIRE you need to forget all about Stop, Drop, and Roll.
New process: Lift up your hands, Praise the Lord, dance, sing, shout, heal the sick, prophesy, cast out devils, cleanse leapers, pour out love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, self-control, forgiveness, and oh yeah; RAISE THE DEAD!”

Have you ever lit a BBQ grill, fireplace, camp, or bon-fire? If you have, did it rage right away? How many times did you have to light a match or lighter before it even started? Was there ever any dampness in the materials you have tried to burn? How did that affect the starting of that fire? How about a breeze or wind? Did the fire ever burn for a while and go out? How many times did you have to re-start certain fires? Maybe you even had to use flammable accellerants? What are the ingredients for a physical, natural fire?

The elements of a Physical fire are: FUEL, AIR, A SPARK, and PATIENCE. Like many things the physical represents the spiritual and so it is that those same ingredients are needed for spiritual fire as well. I love Psalms 104:4, “he makes his messengers winds, his ministers a flaming fire.” I want to BE fire. I want you to be fire too. However, if we are not familiar with fire; its ingredients, how to nurture it, how to grow it, and how to preserve it, we won’t have it.

Cool HUH? We get to BE FIRE! If the fire that we are is strong enough when the angels blow their winds on it it won’t blow out, but rather it will spread all around us and what we will have is an out of control forest fire. “The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.” John 3:8 If you are born of the spirit you are dust, water {(which the Lord wants to turn into wine [that is His blood]) (dust and water [wine] combined is clay)}, and FIRE!

FUEL. You are the FUEL for the fire! ” . . . present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.” Romans 12:1 We need to place ourselves on the altar as a burnt offering before the Lord. And as we burn He will use the wind of His angels to cleanse the situations, circumstances, people, and world around us with this purifying fire. Have you been on the altar but been like wet wood? trying to hold on to or continue to contain the things of “old” that must be released? In order for you to burn you must be suitable for burning. Chopped, split, stacked, and dried. If you want a good, even, sustained fire you want HARDWOOD, that’s been CHOPPED, SPLIT, STACKED, and DRIED. Like the wood from an “Oak of Righteousness.”

AIR. The Holy Ghost He is the AIR. “But it is the SPIRIT in man, the BREATH [AIR] of the Almighty, that makes him understand.” Job 32:8 emphasis mine “Thus says the Lord GOD to these bones: Behold, I will cause breath to enter you, and you shall live.” Ezekiel 37:5 Without air you simply will not burn. You cannot have fire in a vacuum. You can offer yourself as fuel, you can be around blazing fire, you can be in the scriptures without rest, but if you are in a vacuum without the breath of the the Living God breathing on you, you are just dry bones.

SPARK. The scriptures, meditating on what is pure, right, and holy, seeking first His kingdom and righteousness, fellowship with the saints in the spirit, and ministering (serving) to others these are the lit matches. They are the SPARK. Being in the scriptures, meditating, fellow-shipping, and serving are fodder for the Holy Spirit. Flashes of flame (SPARK) to be combined the (AIR) Holy Ghost, and of course you (FUEL) cause combustion and after combustion you have FIRE!

PATIENCE. Seeking the Lord and waiting on Him and His timing is PATIENCE. “So Jesus said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, 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 5:19 This fire that burns within you needs to be tended and nurtured. Protect it from storms and continue to present it with the necessary ingredients for a proper fire. You want an all consuming fire that is transferable by the wind of His messengers. If the FUEL, AIR, or SPARK is lacking, their wind may just blow it out rather than spread it.

EXODUS Recovery Mission is interested in tending the fire in this region, The St Croix region. We are not satisfied with personal fire, and we are surely not satisfied with a fire that burns in only one little outpost in the region. We are believing for, expecting, and fueling a regional fire. We are coming alongside fellowships (churches and people in those churches) to help fan the flames. We are not trying to gather wood for “A” fire in our house, but rather we are pouring gasoline on the fires in everyone’s house that will allow us in.

PATIENCE has been a key issue for us and will continue to be for all of us in this pursuit. We truly can only do what our Father is doing. Have you ever seen a strictly paper fire burn? Well, it lights fast, burns really hot, and as a result burns out extremely quickly too. Unfortunately many revivals and renewals in the past have been these types of fires for far too many reasons to dissect here. This revival that is bringing about renewal in the St. Croix region is being built by the Lord to be an entirely different type of fire. This fire is growing slowly, it will burn long, and it will burn intense; it is a fire that will not easily be put out.

We are looking for logs from the trees that are the “oaks of righteousness.” This type of FUEL is going to produce a forest fire in this region that will not be able to be contained. This fire is going to burn steady, long, and intense. IF we arrange the FUEL in order, Give it plenty of AIR, and make sure we add sparks to the “NEW” FUEL being added our fire will burn for generations to come. AMEN