Author Archives: Dr. Greg Crawford

Unknown's avatar

About Dr. Greg Crawford

I'm a spiritual father, apostle, revelatory teacher, author and conference speaker. I have helped many leaders through transition into greater expressions of the Kingdom of God. I am on a quest to see ancient paths and ways of God restored to bring a more authentic expression of Christianity upon the earth. I have a heart for the emerging generations, and to help form a place for creatives to be free to have expression. I enjoy hiking, camping, exploring nature and off road motorcycle riding in remote trails.

Reformation Day

Posted on by
2

This is not a day a man saw the need for change it is the day a man decided there had to be action to begin change. Oct 31st 1517 Martin Luther took action! He saw the state of the church and the indulgences that were freely given out. He saw that no one wanted to live a holy life separated and set apart for God, but that they had determined their own way to be self-righteous. The very fact that they gave absolution for indulgences showed that they knew the indulgence was wrong. But there was more to it than the rich just having their way and paying for their sin. He saw it was a leadership problem, it was a doctrinal problem, and a theological problem that caused the state of the nation to be the way it was. Not only did Martin Luther nail his 95 thesis to the door, but he also attached a letter that is now called “Disputation of Martin Luther on the Power and Efficacy of Indulgences.” This letter though seldom read is the real basis for the actions that he took.

In His letter he was not confronting the church directly, but coming from a scholar’s point of view. His perception to church practices and his tone of writing was in accordance with a searching out more than a doctrinal perspective. The way Martin Luther wrote his letter had a challenge with it, to look at the attached points and engage in discussion. The 95 points of discussion he attached with this letter was not looked upon from the church as a perspective of discussion, but of accusation. Luther desired in his letter that open dialogue would be given and for those wishing to discuss they could even write by letter if they could not attend in person. He stated that: “Out of love for the truth and the desire to bring it to light, the following propositions will be discussed at Wittenberg, under the presidency of the Reverend Father Martin Luther, Master of Arts and of Sacred Theology, and Lecturer in Ordinary on the same at that place. Wherefore he requests that those who are unable to be present and debate orally with us, may do so by letter. In the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.” Little did Luther know his desire for change would cost him greatly. He would be ridiculed, defamed, considered a heretic, and be excommunicated. But all of this was Gods plan to birth many of the modern day church movements we have.

What we are needing is true reformers to come forth in the spirit of Martin Luther. Not attacking, but openly discussing the doctrinal points, allowing for all to give explanation of why they believe what they believe and how it aligns with the word of God. The truth of Gods word will always stand above men’s opinions. This is what Luther knew. With the Bible as the final judge, being the foundation for all belief systems, we must return back to it in its totality and not deviate from the principles that it is laid out for us. I do not believe we are in the same state of the day of Martin Luther, but we are in other ways in need of reform. With over 450 denomination setting in place with their own private interpretations of Scripture, it is no wonder that many unbelievers are confused about what to truly believe. What many do not understand, is that it took years afterwards before the transformation truly occurred.Many of the things Martin Luther desired to see happen occurred after he was dead.

What Luther saw was the social issues of the day needing to be addressed, and he knew they had to be addressed through the religious structure that was present. Not only did he point out where doctrine was flawed, but also the interpretation of that doctrine. Today we see the state the church is in, and for the most part what all are complaining about is how the church is functioning. Much like Martin Luther’s day the function is coming out of the wrong doctrine being expressed. I believe we are coming to the point of saying seeing some radical voices standing up  addressing the issues within own camp first before we truly see Reformation in society. I believe we will need to see some churches closed and maybe even denounced publicly as they are more cultic in nature than biblical based. For other churches they will have to shift out of man-made traditions that have been established for years and more of a kingdom expression that frees the people in their function.

Today Reformation Day is still a national holiday five states in Germany. In these locations, banks, stores, schools, and business are closed. It is actually called all Saints day and many churches celebrate Reformation Sunday following October 31. It is a day to remember the state from which we came from and the price that was paid so others could experience freedom to a larger degree. This is setting back in order the things that had been misplaced and privately interpreted, to a more pure correct doctrine. It also established a level field that all are sinners and all suffer the same consequences of their sin.

The Challenge

Aside

The challenge before many of us in this hour is to go deeper in the Lord. The urgency we feel in our Spirits is His urgency upon our life. What is setting upon us is more than just another good meeting, or another blessing. It is a history changing course being set in our hearts first so it will manifest out of our lives. It’s the game changer, the final play, the desire of all nations! For some they have no idea what I’m talking about . As I have recently looked over many of my notes of the revelation God has given me over the last few years, a few things stand out as must be, and needed to be fully grasped. In each of these areas I have done in-depth teaching and many of them I have series developed. Following is just a couple thoughts out of hours of teaching in each area. What I’m trying to do is show a pattern that God brings revelation that is connected in purpose and has a final result. For many of us we hear revelation and it is all we can do to absorb that certain truth. Is entirely different to see the connecting of many revelations is many true’s in a preset purpose in God. Following is some of the truth the Lord is given me and how I see them connected.

Ascending the Mountain – The Purpose

The revelation of building Gods house and ascending the mountain of the Lord. Issiah 2:2-3.  We have begun a process within this grace we steward of knowing his ways, (transitions of God) and walking in his paths (transformations of God). Without us understanding these two things many people abandon the process of God’s grace coming into their life to create the change that would enable them to ascend the mountain for greater revelation. God’s ways are indeed higher than our ways, and his thoughts higher than our thoughts. For most people you cannot even have a discussion of how God’s ways are or how his paths unfold. For many it seems a mystery, and for others the lack of understanding the depth of the vastness of God and God’s true concern over lives keeps us from embracing the process of ascending the mountain. I was recently given the word that my time in the Valley have now ended, and the Valley was now full. The Lord would take me up the mountain again to ascend before him as the Lord was taking me to the place of Mamre. Mamre means place of vision and seeing. Is also the place of Hebron, the place where alliances are formed. These two dynamics have both the ways and paths of God in them. They will have transitions and transformations. Let us create alliances with each other in the place of vision and seeing as we are upon the top of the mountain of the Lord.

Holiness – The Requirement

The almost non-talked about topic but yet is key to see God truly. Without holiness no man will see God. Holiness is a separation in the setting apart from the things of the world so God can use us more fully. Holiness is a dedication. It is a lifestyle. Is the way we conduct ourselves both in private and in public. This consecration is a consecration of the heart, then the mind, the body. Let us truly see the consecration in each other’s lives let us allow that dedication to draw us together having one heart and one purpose.

Melchesidec – The Positioning

In this hour of the Lord is trying to rise up mature sons and daughters. The maturity level will be a reflection of his heart upon the Earth and just how far the Lord can do a great work within a person. They will be the ones that will indeed steward the second heaven and inner the third heaven to give fresh revelation and visions from the Lord that will change the outcome of things upon the Earth. They will move with signs and wonders and with great power and authority that will cause demonic forces to even quake. It is a priesthood that is always existed but has been hidden. Right now the hiding of this priesthood is occurring, as God is forming from the inside out. When the process is complete in the individuals the outward signs will show the hidden work completed. This positioning with the Lord will enable these Melchizedek priesthood know the times and seasons and what the Lord wants to do with, and in those moments. Let us truly take our position as mature sons and daughters so we know the times and seasons and God can flow through us with great signs and wonders.

Stewarding Grace – The Authority

Stewarding the second heaven and engaging the revelatory realm is needed in this hour. The grace Paul administrated that released others or could hold others in the processes of God until change truly occurred. Some in this hour are in these processes of grace, as some maybe unknowingly have stewarded grace over their lives. I have lived in this place as my heart was right before the Lord and my motive pure. I saw God move so deep in what I released over individuals it was scary to see the outcome and your awareness of what you were doing carried great responsibility. This went so far in one case I asked God to take a major cult leaders life through imprecatory prayer and the man was dead in 24 hours. I could feel the weight of what my faith was holding to happen. There’s an apostolic grace that is released in this hour to understand the deeper things of God. God is not concerned that all would be convinced to come into this time, but God is looking for those who have a hunger for him and a desire to see his kingdom come forth upon the Earth. God’s long-suffering enables him to endure when so many turn their back and turn away from what he is offering. God’s foreknowledge allows him to know that there will be a few and a remnant that will embrace what he is willing to give. As we move from understanding the graces more than just something that saved us, or keeps us, or as a favor with God, but is truly something God gives to us not just to bless us but that we would partner with him in stewarding change upon the Earth. Let us take our rightful position of authority and rightfully steward grace that creates change.

Four Breaths and Seven Glories – The Encounter

We are now beginning to enter the breaths of God coming upon the Earth and into his people. These breaths found in Ezekiel will bring the life that so many are desiring. As a trumpet sounds with a certain breath, there is a certain breath and sound now going forth upon the Earth. Each breath that is released will move and shift the glory of God from one place to another. We are right now at the first breath moving us from the place of captivity into a new place in the Lord. This first breath will reveal the glory that we have not yet seen upon the church. I believe each of the seven glories that we see in Ezekiel and the movement of them is directly related to the Isaiah 11 seven fold graces of Christ. The graces enable us to have the change needed, but the breath is what brings the change. Right now many have experienced a force breath and even the second. They have seen the glory of God a new ways that was only setting present over us even in our captivity. This is the eyes of our understanding being opened and the beginning of spiritual awakening occurring. These encounters with the breath of God will empower us and invigorate us in ways we have not yet experienced. All God does this for his glory to be revealed in and around us. In this hour let us breathe in deeply the press of God and see his glory move us and take us from one place to.

Graces of Isaiah 11: 1-3 – The Enablement

Just as the breath of God brings new life, the seven fold spirits of the lord are actually graces of God to come upon our lives create change. We read Isaiah 11 we look at it is the sevenfold nature of Christ, when in reality it says the sevenfold Spirit of the Lord. As we look more in-depth we can see that these are actually graces or divine enablement to come upon people to do the work of God upon the Earth. The spirit of understanding being the multiplier of all other graces. The spirit of actually means the breath of God. We begin to read each of these we see it is the breath of the Lord, the breath of understanding, the breath of the fear of the Lord, etc. etc. Without understanding we see that these are not just the nature of God that we tried to attain but is the very breath of life of God that we’ve allowed to come upon us and flow through us. The outcome of that is a special grace that we rest in and move out of. The spirit of the Lord, and the spirit of the fear of the Lord, are the beginning and the alpha and Omega. All other graces fall between these two things. As Paul said he has learned to steward grace, let us learn to steward these graces as the breath of God is come upon us.

A New Birth of Freedom – The Outcome

All of these as a collective are leading us to a great awakening. It is leading us to A new birth of freedom. The church is currently bound by religious structures that don’t produce life but law and the unbeliever is longing to be free from the bondage and corruption of the world. Our nation as a whole is crying out for new leadership and new government. What we’re actually crying out for is a new birth of freedom to occur within our nation once again. Our first birth of freedom is nation came out of our religious values and beliefs. We fought for those believe stood up and had a great voice that the entire world recognized. Today we must once again be that voice and take our position of standing up. All the things the Lord has been showing me over the last few years are things to enable us to do this with great impact. My fear is that many have heard only portions of revelation and not full. Many are trying to attain things on old patterns. Pattern that God is bringing in this hour is a fresh pattern. It is something that will touch both the believers with in the current structures and the unbelievers as well. The underlying thing you can here in almost any heart and in any statement in this hour is I desire to be free. The problem is we have not model that were voiced it in the way that we should. Let us be the voice to proclaim a new birth of freedom both within the church and outside its walls.

Halloween, All Saints Day, All Hallows Eve, Samhain

Posted on by
Reply

Many Christians celebrate holidays, such as Halloween, without thinking about their origins or true meaning. It is hard enough to raise children these days in a Godly way without exposing them to Satan’s realm. Halloween used to be called Samhain, and is still celebrated as an ancient pagan festival of the dead by witches all over the world. Unfortunately, just giving the date a “holy” name like All Hallows’ Eve or All Saints’ Eve cannot change its grisly character. Halloween is an occasion when the ancient gods (actually demons) were worshipped with human sacrifice. The apostle Paul warns us: “But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils” (1 Cor. 10:20). We are commanded not to become involved with the unfruitful works of darkness (Eph. 5:11).. It is impossible to separate Halloween from the Druids because they originated the “holiday.” For several hundred years before Christ, the Celts inhabited what is now France, Germany, England, Scotland and Ireland. Celtic priests were called Druids. These people were eventually conquered by the Romans. Information about the Celts and Druids comes from Caesar and the Roman historians, Greek writings from about 200 B.C., and very early records found in Ireland. Greek and Roman writings about the Druids dwell heavily on their frequent and barbaric human sacrifices. The ancient Irish texts say little about human sacrifices, but detail the Druids’ use of magic to raise storms, lay curses on places, kill by the use of spells, and create magical obstacles.

Davies, however, a 16th century writer who traced his family lineage directly back to Druid priests who fought against Caesar, clearly describes the human sacrifices of his ancestors and the secret sacrifices still performed regularly by the Druids of his time. By 47 A.D., Rome finally defeated the Druids in England and outlawed human sacrifices. The few remaining Druids went underground. Today a growing group of people claiming to be of direct Druid descent, still practice their religion, including human sacrifice. Those in England still perform ceremonies at Stonehenge.

November 1st was the Celtic new year so October 31st was celebrated by the Druids with many human sacrifices and a festival honoring their sun god and Samhain, the lord of the dead to bring the new year in. They believed that the sinful souls of those who died during the year were in a place of torment, and would be released only if Samhain was pleased with their sacrifices.

Irish records tell of the fascination the Catholic monks had with the powerful Druids, and Druids soon became important members of their monasteries. Pope Gregory the Great decided to incorporate the Druids’ holiday into the church. He made the proclamation, “They are no longer to sacrifice beasts to the devil, but they may kill them for food to the praise of God, and give thanks to the giver of all gifts for His bounty.” Pope Gregory III moved the church festival of October 31st to November 1st and called it All Hallows or All Saints’ Day. Pope Gregory IV decreed that the day was to be a universal church observance. The term Halloween comes from All Hallows Eve. The founding fathers of America refused to permit the holiday to be observed because they knew it was a pagan holiday. Halloween was not widely celebrated in the U.S. until about 1900. In the 1840’s there was a terrible potato famine in Ireland which sent thousands of Catholic Irish to America. They brought Halloween with them. The modern custom of going from door to door asking for food and candy goes back to the time of the Druids. They believed that sinful, lost souls were released upon the earth by Samhain for one night on October 31st while they awaited their judgment. They were thought to throng about the houses of the living and were greeted with banquet-laden tables. People greatly feared these spirits and thought that the spirits would harm and even kill them if the sacrifices they gave did not appease Samhain. They carved scary faces into pumpkins or large turnips, placing a candle in them to keep the evil spirits away from their homes. The tradition of bobbing for apples and giving out nuts came from a Roman addition to the Druidic New Year’s eve. Apple bobbing was an ancient fertility rite. Black cats were believed to be reincarnated souls with specific psychic powers. The brooms and pointed hats of witches represents sexual symbols used in rituals to release greater psychic powers. The Romans worshipped Pomona who was the goddess of the harvest. They combined their harvest festival to Pomona with Halloween.

Very little archeological evidence of the Druids has been found, but there is excellent agreement between the Roman and Irish documents. Both clearly state that the knowledge of the Druids was never committed to writing but passed from generation to generation by oral teaching. This was to protect their secrets. In his writings, Davies indicates that he came under much persecution by his family for putting in writing his information about Druids. The same is true today. Nothing is put into writing. The Druids continue on secretly with much the same traditions. The widespread problem of harmful substances such as razor blades, drugs, poisons, needles, etc. being placed in the Halloween treats here in America is no accident. Testimonies of several ex-Satanists show that these children killed and injured by the “treats” are sacrifices to Satan (or Samhain). Satanists throughout the world continue to perform human sacrifices on Halloween. This is the darkest night for satan worship and satanist to gather in cemetaries and other meeting places.

President, A Father To The Nation!

Posted on by
1

The Role of a President

With the election coming upon us what are we truly voting for and do we understand the role a president plays to a nation? Here are some examples we might not have thought about.

First he is our head of state. This means he is an example and representation of our nation and its people to other nations.  A president’s role is a role of example and reflection. Their live reveals the nature, morality, and values of a people. This is done on how a president conducts themselves publicly and how they value the interpretation others see in them. They are a role model to their people and an inspiration to aspire to.

Second they are the chief executive. They are the boss for all governmental employees. They are to establish policies of how government employees conduct themselves with foreign governments and are responsible for the safety and welfare of all government employees. This includes international ambassadors and embassies The president is also responsible for how government employees treat and interact with the people of the nation.. They’re responsible for how the government conducts its business as a representation of the people, and with the people’s best interest at the forefront of all decisions. They choose the officials and advisers to help run the executive branch of the government. They make sure law is upheld by judges being dictated by constitution and not party affiliation, interest groups or preferences of private interpretation. Every president will appoint roughly 850 judges in all areas of power from supreme court down to district courts. As chief executive he is responsible for the government’s budget and the financial decisions he has made.

 The president is also the chief diplomat. He oversees and sets foreign policies of the United States. He also is to understand foreign policies of other nations and knows how best to respond to the policies of other nations. He establishes what is to be said by the representatives through ambassadors in foreign embassies representing the United States. He is only to make decisions in the best interest of ensuring that the current policies of the United States and its freedoms is upheld, and does not put his own personal interest or policies in place.

 

The president is also the Commander-in-Chief of all the armed forces of the United States. The armed forces is in place to protect our freedom and maintain our culture. As Commander-in-Chief is the final one responsible for all military decisions, mistakes, and victories. If there is military failure the Commander-in-Chief is the one who ultimately is to blame. He is to know all that is going on under his command is not exempt from not knowing as the ability to have full understanding is in place for him as Commander-in-Chief. He is to inspect and maintain our Armed Forces in a readiness to defend our nation, its Constitution, and his freedoms.

The president is also the chief legislator. Congress makes the laws of our nation but the Constitution gives the president power to influence Congress and its lawmaking ability. Since the president holds so many different places of influence and understanding within our nation he has the ability to veto new bills and laws that are not in favor of the People’s rights were not representative of the people’s wishes. As a chief legislator he addresses Congress and gives a state of the union address so Congress has a greater understanding of the course of the nation and events it may be experiencing. This is to help the Congress create laws or maintain the laws for the welfare of the people.

 

These are the main descriptions that we can find almost anywhere about what our president is to do and how he is to act. An underlying belief since our nation was founded as a Christian nation is that our president would represent a standard of morality and honesty as well. I like what Jim Hodges told me his wife Jeanne said, “We are really voting for a real father of our nation”. If we take that statement it means as president he has the best interest in all actions for his family, the citizens. He will look towards their future and building opportunity for them. He will not put them in a place of jeopardy, but will sacrifice to see them fulfill a destiny upon the earth. A father does not leave indebtedness to their kids but an inheritance. A father protects them at all cost and ensures ample provision is made to do so. A father tries and relieves current stresses by not creating new ones. A father will listen to all sides before making decisions. These were things our “founding Fathers” did as they looked at the nation as their family, so could they pledge their fortunes, their lives and sacred honors. To me this defines a leader, the one who sets their well being aside for the sake of others. I can say this will humility that this is what I have done repeatedly in the ministry. The complications it brings, the financial limitations it brings and the burdens you carry that others are not aware is the seasoning to be a father, and a farther to a nation. As we have heard it said so many times, the same courage it took to birth this nation is the same courage now required to save it. This courage only comes by value, valuing people over agendas, valuing principle over accolades and valuing God over systems.

Freedom, Visitation, Thoughts as I Journey

Posted on by
Reply

I thought I would write a little something since my visitation I had with the Holy Spirit last Friday night. I thought it would be a good idea to share some of the things the Holy Spirit spoke on, sure some things that seems to be the direction that God is leading us, and talk about a great desire and need setting in the body.

About two weeks ago the Lord spoke to me and said ” the 12 visitations that I promised you have still not been fulfilled, I am now bringing these back into light.” That is exactly what happened last Friday night when the Holy Spirit came and visited me. I am not going to get into the entire visitation, nor am I going to speak the message I shared this past Saturday night. I simply want to give some of the main points for those that don’t attend our meetings or don’t listen online. The first thing the Holy Spirit said to me was a question and it was post like this “you are running with freedom but is freedom running you?” When God asked you a question it’s best that you listen and not answer right away. The Holy Spirit went on to say that whom the son sets free is free indeed. It was repeated to me several times and then the Holy Spirit pointed out and separated the word in deed. Meaning that our deeds should reflect our freedom. The Holy Spirit also said “Real freedom has no passivity with it. True freedom is unreserved! True freedom is attractive. True freedom is something that cause others to seek out and desire.  You have been formed for this and no other purpose but to bring FREEDOM!“ The Holy spirit spoke and said to me that we haven’t allowed freedom to full be expressed. We have held back thinking many could not handle it, so they have become confused in what is being offered.

We have a promise given to us as a ministry of Lev 25:34 a perpetual inheritance.  The Holy Spirit spoke concerning this, “It is not people or things but Freedom that will be perpetual. It is freedom that is the inheritance I will create. It is freedom you offer to the people.”

The Holy Spirit said “Take hold of the openings and the hearts and You will open the way into authority in the city. And as you do you will bring them into an alliance not of reformation, not of awakening but of FREEDOM!’

As I reflect on this visitation I begin to see something of great importance the Holy Spirit is desiring to do in the hearts of men. I have been attending some meetings within our city for reconciliation between ministries. The first two seem to be going very good with many people airing grievances and asking for forgiveness between ministry leaders. Not only was it freeing them that it was freeing others in the room and beginning to ignite hope in the hearts of many people. The third meeting began to shift more into a time of the needs of the city and what structures and organizations are in place to meet those needs. In my opinion the meeting went from freeing more into a program showcasing the services within the city. The underlying thing that seemed to be coming forth as each person began to share what their ministry offered was the fact of the need is great but the laborers are few. Jesus said to pray that he would send forth, or “apostellos’ laborers into the field. This sending forth is in apostolic word of someone that is been sent forth with a purpose and has been equipped to fulfill that purpose with their gifts and calling. This seems to be the simple answer to lack of laborers in the field, but is directly related to the fact that people within the congregations of so many places are not truly free themselves to be able to feel the burden of others in need.

I had an hour long phone call today with a close friend out in the North East United States. We talked about some of these things and how people need to be empowered to be able to rise up and lead and find a purpose in life. We also talked about the fact of the need not just for apostolic networks, or structures to belong to, but true relationship driven God breathed connections between so many small pockets and groups throughout the United States. As we talked some of the words that came up was to form an alliance based on freedom. The word freedom fighters came forth. We talked about the fact that someone would voice a call that all would drop everything and rally around it is a single purpose. I believe this call is the first real visitation the Lord gave me of the 12 that we as a nation would experience a new birth of freedom. We are beginning to hear this voice in different places today it was almost 3 years ago when the Lord spoke this to me.

I am having a sense that God is about to connect people in a brand-new way. Not around doctrine, or networks, or functions. But is about connect people with the cause that’s greater than all causes, that is to see freedom come forth both in the lives of those who make up gatherings of people, but also in the very lives of leaders leading those people.

As I talked to my friend I was getting such an encouragement of an assignment that’s greater than even seeing things in my state occur. I remember the word that Dutch Sheets spoke over my life that not only would it connect people within the state but would connect people within the nation. I’m beginning to seek the Lord to see how we could form this type of freedom alliance to empower the people of God that are truly sold out in this hour.

Can Pastors Develope You Into Your Calling?

Posted on by
1

I’ve been thinking about the current pastoral model we see in the church and the future leadership it develops. I’ve come to one conclusion; it just cannot develop people into fulfilling their call into ministry. The pastoral model in its very nature is passive and not aggressive. Ministry requires aggressiveness to even be a self-starter. It also requires aggressiveness when situations arise that require an uncompromising position. I see so many that are sitting in a pastoral models frustrated with their life and with the call upon their life because no one knows how to fully develop them. The pastoral model has the ability to develop people into a helps ministry and serving ministry capacities. But how exactly does a pastor develop an apostle or prophet, for in the most part they don’t even understand that office or function nor recognize it.

Pastors are mostly focused upon the individual needs of a person, while the other four ministry gifts listed in Ephesians 4 are focused upon the corporate body as a whole, this brings a large limitation in the pastoral gift to develop the other fivefold ministry gifts. This is not saying there is not a need for pastors, as there is a need to minister to the individual constantly. Without the hope and vision that an apostolic oversight would bring a person may end up stuck in their current situation without a hope of the future.

The only way to truly develop the call upon a person is to be sitting under an apostle that has prophetic insights and prophetic people around them to be able to speak into the individual’s life. Apostles understand the corporate vision and the moment of time that God is moving in. They understand how to help align a person’s life to be productive in the current season. They also have vision to see what a person can be in God and how to develop the gifts that are setting dormant. Apostles are not concerned about mistakes an individual would make, very different from a pastor, but are concerned about the individual being developed to their full potential in reaching their ultimate destiny. For the most part many pastors lack an understanding of how to bring people into these dynamics, and thus the pastor becomes frustrated and so does the person sitting under them.

The biblical pattern of the New Testament is that apostles and prophets help develop the fivefold ministry gifts and release them into ministry. The apostles knew what gifts were needed and where they were needed to be sent. Apostles looked at not just the fulfillment of an assignment but also development at the same time a person was given an assignment. This on-the-job training is what set the early church in motion and caused an ongoing growth. Today in most pastoral models there is a length of time required before anyone is given a task.

I feel we are lacking very much in solid leadership due to the fact so many people are setting in pastoral models, frustrated, frustrating pastors, and living way below their potential. How many true apostles and prophets are sitting in these gatherings week after week and reaching the ceiling of growth that they cannot grow by. Eventually they would either have to leave these settings, compromise what they believe, or deny the call of God upon their life. I am not saying that needs to be a mass exodus out of churches, but what I am saying there needs to be a shift of people being committed to places such as kingdom centers and schools of ministry that can grow them up spiritually. They need to break soul ties and unhealthy commitments for the sake of the call. Many times decisions are made in which spiritual gathering to go to, or be committed to primarily, by humanistic and social relationships and not by Holy Spirit led God inspired relationships. Not all relationships we have are “fun” relationships but God has stated that “He has placed us in a body that pleases Him”. He knows what will bring us to the fullest potential. Thats why He also said to not deny the assembling together.  Many times we have not allowed God to place us or if He does try and place us, we decided differently through the means of justification.

For those truly with a call into ministry you do need a pastor in your life, just they are not the primary source of spiritual input. This has to be those who can truly develop you. Myself I have a pastor who I speak with when I need pastoral perspectives and counsel for myself personally. But my primary source of spiritual development is by apostles and prophets, then by teachers.

The Spirit of Council, Might and Knowledge…. Part 4

Posted on by
Reply

This time we look again to Isaiah 11:1-3 and look at the Spirit of Counsel, Spirit of Might and the Spirit of Knowledge. The spirit or grace or breath of counsel is beyond human understanding or reason. The word Counsel means purpose devised, advice. It is a counsel that comes only from being in God’s presence.  It is a counsel you can receive through others, but only once again if they truly have been in God’s presence.  This is a counsel that is not so much seeking the advice for our own lives, is seeking the advice to know what would please God’s heart. It is the place that prayer is formed, and from it is activated. It is the place team ministry is formed as teams come before the Lord to seek his counsel concerning doctrinal issues, direction, and the sending forth of ministries. We see examples of these in acts chapter 15, and acts chapter 13. This counsel eventually creates an oneness that Jesus spoke of in John 17. The union with Christ concerning his perfection, his word, his son, and his glory. This grace enables leaders to make wise decisions concerning their future because it is the future that God has determined and not ourselves. This is also the place that we receive our promises that God has given us and where those promises are birthed from as well. This counsel goes beyond the counseling of someone through their problems or issues of life, but is a special grace counsel that enables a person to step forward into their destiny and fulfill the call of God upon their life.

The spirit of might is beyond our human strength and abilities. The word might means a force, bravery, mighty acts and deeds. It is the place the spirit of God is released through the working and manifestation of great signs and wonders. It is where boldness comes from that enables us to go forth and proclaim and demonstrate the kingdom of God. There is a special grace that is beyond us moving in just an anointing, or an enablement of the spirit. This is the place where the Spirit of the Lord leads us not just on an adventure that has no meaning, but on a manifestation and demonstration of the kingdom. This is where we go forward in confident faith overcoming all obstacles in opposition and facing those things which we have never faced before in our life. It is the place where we make decrees. Is the place where we confront principalities and powers and demonic forces. It even gives us the enablement to face martyrdom in situations that put our life in peril. It is also the place of greatest reward and seeing God move in the greatest ways. Throughout history there’ve been men that were graced with this special grace and nature of God. The spirit of might comes to vessels that have died to self and selfish ambitions. The spirit of might also comes to those who have no concern for worldly gain or the affections and accolades that people would bring them. The spirit of might is a special grace that causes the activation of the creativity of God and sees the breath of God be manifest in the Earth. It brings results when results can be brought no other way.

The spirit of knowledge is not intellect, or intellectual assent, or human reasoning but goes beyond how we even define the word knowledge. Knowledge means the cunning ability to know the intentions. It means to know the times and seasons of God and what to do in those moments. Not only is it the nature of God but it is also a special grace that enables a person to hold fast to the promises they have received until they are fully manifest. By knowing the times and seasons a person does not have discouragement as they know that all things said will surely come to pass. It is also the ability to discern between spirits and what is clean and unclean. Is to know the real intentions behind a person’s motive and actions. This grace has the ability to rightly divide the word of God as well. You cannot have the spirit of knowledge without the fear of the Lord because without godly fear knowledge puffs up. Without the fear of the Lord knowledge will kill the life flow of God as a person eats from the tree of knowledge and not the tree of life. This spirit of knowledge is the tree of life. The spirit of knowledge of knowing the intentions and times and seasons has an effect on all of the others for spirits of the Lord.

The seven spirits of the Lord, or braces are the only true braces that will remain when all things have failed. The seven graces is what the Lord is endeavoring to do in building community amongst his people. The seven spirits of the Lord or seven graces are also the seven natures of God. They are not only descriptive but also reveal function as well. These seven graces allow our limitations to be removed once we are close with them. Jesus wore the seven graces as a garment as a coat of many colors that was woven by the hand of God into his very life and existence. The woman with the issue of blood reached out and touched the hem of his garment was actually touching the undergarment of Jesus as it hung down. The undergarment was a garment that was woven out of one single-strand and was what was covering in the hidden place. These graces that are coming upon the church or in the hidden place that not many see. But they are forming a single garment or mantle that we are to be wearing, the very nature of the Lord. We began to wear these breaths of God as part of our life it will be attractive to those that are in need and they were reach out towards us to have that touch that can heal and set them free. Let us endeavor not just to seek after the gifts of the spirit but begin to pursue the seven spirits, the seven breaths, and the seven graces of the Lord.

The Nature of God is Arising

Posted on by
2

Arise, Arise, Arise my church. Arise in my nature. For there is coming shortly an arising not of men and women, and not even of men and women who have died to selfish ambition, but there is coming an arising of my very nature upon the earth. For when my nature arises who can stand before its mighty depths. It has shifted nations and confronted the hearts of kings. My nature will contend without contending. It will cause hearts to repent without preaching. It will cause demons to flee without decree. The hiding of sin in hearts will be exposed and the freedom of my nature will cause a willingness in hearts to announce their need of me. Arise in my nature. Arise by my nature. Arise fulfilling my nature. But you say what of those who are dying to self in this hour. Are they not in a process of death that I can be seen through them? Yes, I am perfecting death, to perfect my nature. Just as my sons nature was perfected in death to manifest in life in resurrection. Don’t you know all who die in this hour will be resurrected in my nature? A power will be released through the cost of their lives that will set in motion the full manifestation of my nature upon the earth. This is what happened after my son’s death, a full manifestation then could be seen. There is coming an arising of my nature that has not been seen in this generation who cries out and longs for more than the simplicity of anointing. They are crying in their souls to be transformed and changed and to walk in what is divine and full. Don’t you hear the cry of hearts in this hour? Hearing this cry is the way into the death process. It is the doorway, it is the invitation. Without it the depths of death will not be realized or found. Who will go for me? Who will be my voice? Who will release my presence? Who will be my nature upon the earth? This is what is arising in this hour the seeds of my nature that have been nurtured in the secret place. For some they have held fast to these seeds for years. For others only a short while. But none is less or more. Don’t you know that when my nature arises that so many questions will be answered? So many concerned hearts will be met. So many things will fail in contrast to my glory. For my nature will be encompassed by my glory. This is how you will tell what is truly divine. So take heart this day that my nature is what is beginning to arise. It is truly what all seek.

The Spirit of Wisdom and Understanding … Part 3

Posted on by
Reply

Continuing on with the seven graces found in Isaiah 11:1-3, we now turn to what is between the book ends of the breath of God, and the breath of the awe of the Lord. We look at the spirit or, breath of wisdom. This is life experience to a degree but only a small degree. The word wisdom here actually means a skill for war and advancement. It is a word associated with spiritual battles and mobilization of others for conflicts to move the kingdom forward. It is almost like what we call an art form, of knowing how to bring people into their destiny.

The spirit of wisdom is seen in how we act out our lives before others. It is the reflection of our heart and what we truly believe. It is the place we make choices and decisions. We either believe God is victorious and can gain victory in all things or our lives will reflect the areas we don’t believe God has this power. It is also the place confidence comes from for the implementation of promises and prophetic words God has given us. We generally describe this grace this way as life experience gained to be shared with others. In reality that is what is produced after this grace has been allowed to function in a person life for a season.

Natural wisdom or intellectualism is the furthest things from the breath of God that comes from the throne in wisdom. With natural wisdom we can build anything. The tower of Babel is a good example of this as God said “Man could do anything his mind was set upon”. We also see this in the development of society, medicine, science etc. For the most part today we think people have wisdom as they have built large ministries but a good administrator can do that. How many large ministries are making a skillful advance of bringing the Kingdom of God into the earth to change the course of societies and cultures? Yet this is what Jesus did. This is what Paul and many others did.

This grace is the grace to receive the large plan of God. It is the rally call to come around and implement. Most are not willing to submit themselves to this, nor desire it and the lack of instruction from the source of change is hurting the advancement of the kingdom. Without this breath allowed functioning the body becomes disjointed. People abandon their post and lose heart in what God has promised.

The spirit of wisdom is also the place revelation comes from in a way. It is the connectedness revelation needs to be most efficient. It is the reason revelation comes and is needed. It is needed by teachers and other 5 fold ministry gifts as they must not only know the times and seasons (spirit of knowledge) but what to do in that season (Spirit of wisdom) to effectively equip the saints. It is the plan of God to be implemented upon the earth that all others things revolve around.

The spirit of understanding is different that the spirit of wisdom. As the wisdom is the plan of advancement, the spirit of understanding means to perceive and to discern by the spirit. It is the place of rightly dividing the word of truth and the intentions and motives that people display. It is the knowing in the spirit that goes beyond what you see with your natural eyes and hear with your natural ears. It is the place that true covenants are made between people, vision for others and their gifting is put in place and real community is formed with purpose. The breath of understanding is also required to lead gatherings into fullness. It is the fusing together of a people to be one heart and mind containing one passion and desire. It is the motive behind the instruction of the saints. It is to be protected and moves to hold true doctrine in place, and movesin discipline and correction when necessary. If a person lacks in any of these then the spirit of understanding is lacking. It was breathed out at Pentecost as they as a community, had discernment and covenantal purpose. It was what launched the early church to be fully dynamic. Without all these parameters in place the other breaths or graces have only a small impact. Most people right now have the spirit of the Lord, are coming into the spirit of fear of the Lord and a handful of forerunners are in the Spirit of Understanding.  You see this grace requires you to stand where others will not stand. To remain standing when others abandon, and to eventually pull others up into the place you’re standing so you can move on to other assignments.

The spirit of understanding is one of the greatest advantages as it multiples the other 6 giftings. It even deepens the spirit of the Lord and the spirit of the fear of the Lord. It brings great perception to the other graces. It allows the other graces to connect to purpose and motive. It keeps hearts in check before the Lord. It reveals wrong purposes and agendas as well. Without the spirit of understanding wrong or mixed doctrine is birthed. Functions are lacking and people are not developed in gift and calling. Overall the body is fragmented.

This breath and grace of God requires us to go deeper, to the point where deep calls unto deep (extreme to extreme). This is the place we truly know the intentions of the father and we become partners in safeguarding His heart.

But this grace has an ability to connect joint to joint. What most do not understanding in all these graces is when they “move on” from a body functioning in these they are abaondoning the grace upon that group. Thus like Paul said they frustrate the grace and make it of non effect. This is why some receive from a group or body because of that grace they stepped into. They then try and find grace in other groups and it might not be active or even be released. A person should find the grace upon a group and then engage in that grace. Even if it requires them to leave soul ties and structures carrying no life to a structure that has life.

Seven Fold Spirt or Graces … part 2

Posted on by
Reply

We will continue on the seven graces that Christ ministered fully in. We will now jump to the last one as without it we will never be able to move in the other five graces fully. The fear of the Lord is the other bookend that holds the rest of the graces in place. With the true spirit of the Lord on one end and the spirit of the fear of the Lord on the other end we end up with an open ended belief system. We also end up with graces trying to move in our lives but not being truly effective because the boundaries are not n place, thus God cannot allow these graces to fully flow.

Is 11   Isaiah 11:1–3 (KJV 1900) — 1 And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, And a Branch shall grow out of his roots: 2 And the spirit of the Lord shall rest upon him, The spirit of wisdom and understanding, The spirit of counsel and might, The spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord; 3 And shall make him of quick understanding in the fear of the Lord: And he shall not judge after the sight of his eyes, Neither reprove after the hearing of his ears:

The verse above also says God wants to bring a quick understanding of this grace. For God to add that in the description and focus upon only this one, it holds a great importance and key. The fear of the lord is not terror or dread. Nor is it even an emotional response of surprise etc. It is a holy reverence for God because of the awesomeness of seeing him for who He truly is. This ability to see comes from the depth of relationship of allowing or recognizing the spirit of the Lord is upon me. The awe of God allows us to see who we really are and what we have been redeemed from. It also brings great humility with it as well. A servant’s heart is formed by having the fear of the Lord and without this the other five graces will not really operate. This is the place obedience comes from. Not obedience by forced actions to be accepted or to feel approval, but because of heart condition and reverence. The fear of the lord is His delight says Isaiah 3:3. God does not delight in our terror of him but our respect of him. It is what brings heartfelt repentance and ongoing heart examination to see if our condition is right. Without the fear of the Lord people will live a mixed life and allow worldly things to be part of their makeup. We see much of this in Christian life as we have lost our reverence and awe of God. Proverbs also says this “Fear “will lead us to wisdom. It is not human wisdom proverbs is talking about but the grace of wisdom, the seven fold breath of wisdom.

This “breath of awe” comes down upon us and as it does so it brings a portion of heaven with it. It is like a portal placed upon our heart to treasure the eternal realm and thus we safeguard it. Without this in place we will never truly cherish the other graces as they come upon us. This second breath is the breath now coming upon the church. It is the breath that causes decisions and long term commitments to the assignments. It causes a resolve in current and future covenants. It causes a great strength to come forth upon those who breathe this breath in and allow it to come upon them. It also shifts us from having no natural fear of rejection, men opinions, and failure. It brings a convincing of complete victory and overcoming obstacles because of the awe of knowing the one who sits upon the throne. This shift allows the other graces to move freely and have their full effect as they bear down upon humanity. Faith is release through the other graces in full potential and impact. The fear of the lord is also an element that needs to be in place as it causes great faith to arise for the future and the assignments of the Lord.

There has been times the presence of the lord has visited me and great awe was upon me as I literally hid from God. Isaiah had this experience in Isaiah 6 as he sees himself as undone and a man of unclean lips. He saw that unless God determined he had come to the true point reverence for Him that he could not carry the breath God wanted to give Him. The spirit of the fear of the Lord would release the other graces for Isaiah, specifically, wisdom, understanding and might. God pronounced him clean and in that pronouncement he received the breath of those graces!

We also see Paul in his encounter on the Damascus road being confronted and having Godly fear. The outcome is God heals Paul’s physical eyes, which is a type and shadow of his spiritual sight. Paul steps into the eyes of his understanding being enlightened.

Ephesians 1:17–23 (KJV 1900) —  That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power, 20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places, 21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come: 22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church, 23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.

This again is not natural understanding but the spirit of understanding. The breath of understanding. Paul knew instantly the time and season of God and stepped into the functioning of those graces needed. I believe each person has certain graces assigned to them at birth to be engaged with through life. It is God’s plan of success for us.