Thoughts from an Awakened Heart

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Thoughts from an Awakened Heart

Here is a portion of my book “The Awakend Heart”.

…. In this visitation, God woke me up at 3:30 AM . He had been preaching to me while I slept and then gave me these points to share with others. He also gave me the Scriptures to go with each section.
1. Expectation releases the supernatural deposit within us. It comes from within the vessel be it a vessel that is unsaved or saved Acts 1:1-7— 2:1.
The Lord showed me that saved or unsaved, that he had deposited expectation within every vessel. That we did not have the ability or the expectation within ourselves to seek him or hunger after him before we knew him. That this expectation deposit was what enabled us to experience salvation. This expectation enabled us to understand our need for God. He had put that expectation within every man, woman, and child to know God. Like David, every person has a hope within them. Even the vilest person has this deposit of hope or expectation abiding within. God showed me that no matter what a person says, excuses they make, or actions they display, deep within, is his expectation for himself that he deposited. The Lord showed me this is a key to unlocking any person’s heart.

2. Fresh expectation always will produce the suddenlies in our lives. Mal 3:1, Acts 2
Lord showed me that every ‘suddenly’ in our lives did not just occur but was the result of the release of expectation within us. He showed me that expectation also had creative ability within it that released the suddenlies that we see in Scripture. He showed me that as we walk in life, we always have an expectation of the day. That expectation is releasing things around us and putting them in motion towards us. But he showed me that a fresh expectation is what releases the suddenly. Fresh expectation is a collision of our faith with God’s hope.

3. Expectation sometimes comes for a service as people begin to gather, that is why messages sometimes do not come until the last moment. Acts 3:5
The Lord showed me that many times messages must change at the last moment before being presented. It’s due entirely to people’s expectation that they release. He showed me that leaders must be willing to change their message at any given moment because people’s expectations are shifting. He showed me that when everyone’s expectation becomes the same that is when His glory can invade. This synergy is when everyone’s faith and hope collide, allowing God to descend in a certain way to meet with everyone as if they were one person, body, or voice.
4. When expectation shifts from an event to a daily lifestyle then revival has come to the people of God. Some can be in revival while others are not. Acts 3:5
The Lord further expanded this by this statement. He showed me that revival, awakening, or reformation is depended upon a daily expectation more than a weekly event. The reason we are not seeing the results that we are looking for in the Church is because most of the Church only has an expectation for a single service each week. Revival, awakening, or reformation all has the makeup of daily expectation. The Lord showed me Paul’s daily expectation and how he walked in it. The release of daily faith caused the revival, awakening, and reformation of the early Church to occur daily not weekly.
5. Awakening is the when the expectation of the Church exceeds the unbelief of the community. Acts 12
The Lord showed me a community that has been completely changed because of the Church. He made the statement above and spoke to me that the Church’s expectation has to exceed the unbelief of the community. He showed me that when we realize the expectation is not from us but from him, he would change our perspective of what we would believe could really happen within a community. The awakening in a community is not about unbelievers getting saved at the church, but the Church coming into her realization of who God really is. He showed me how Peter was put in jail but that the Church’s expectation of God was greater than what held him. Even then, unbelief was rampant in the Church. He showed me expectation of the few gathered to pray exceeded the unbelief of the many. He told me not to worry about the numbers. But to make sure that the few were in unity and had the same expectation.
6. Expectation is hope. Faith is putting expectation in fullness. This is why expectation releases revival. The Church’s hope in God and His ability to perform His covenant exceeds the world’s state of hopelessness. Heb. 11:1
The Lord showed me that expectation carries the same dynamic and power as faith. He showed me that when we activate our faith we are actually putting in motion the expectation that he already has ownership of within our heart. This great hope exceeds the hopelessness of the world. Hopelessness carries a certain degree of power but expectation released is as if the power is doubled because faith is involved. He showed me that expectation is based upon our understanding that we know He is about to perform His covenant. The Lord showed me that many understand the covenant but many do not understand how the covenant goes into action. He spoke to me that it is about faith and expectations are the keys that unlocks covenant……

Light of Genesis

The following is from my book “Return to Eden” available on amazon and Kindle.

…….Both of these lights are called great. But He said one was greater light. The word great means large in magnitude and extent. But what is interesting is these lights were set to rule. Light has a rulership. The word rule means to have dominion. Now at first glance, we would assume the greater light of day would be the sun, and the lesser light would be darkness. But he also speaks of making the stars. He does not say the lesser light is void of light but is lesser. The lesser means younger, smaller, or less important. What is important is that both lights are ruling, one rules the day and one the night. Both have dominion. This began the rule or reign of light. It was set in motion that light would always rule, and the lesser light would always submit to the greater light. This is further explained in the following verse.

Psalm 136:7–9 (KJV 1900)7 To him that made great lights: For his mercy endureth for ever: 8 The sun to rule by day: For his mercy endureth for ever: 9 The moon and stars to rule by night: For his mercy endureth for ever.

The earth is ruled by something in Heaven and is always under its rule which is light, be it greater or lesser. This light rules all creation in the heavens. Now we all know that what is lesser is always submitted to what is greater. So, what is void of light submits to the smallest light. The smallest light is swallowed up in ever-increasing brighter light. It is progressive submission to what has the ultimate rule.

Matthew 13:43 (KJV 1900) 43 Then shall the righteous shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.

The Garden was a place for the righteous. It was also a place to rule from. The original design was for us to “shine forth” as the sun or the greater light. That all other lights would be submitted to this light, the light of righteousness. The word shine in the original definition is made up of two words. Ek Lamp0. Ek means the origin point at which actions proceed and Lampo to give light, to radiant brilliance or to give light, something attractive and richly colorful. Again, this light is from the origins of the same light of creation shining upon Eden, the place of the righteous. This ruling light is directly connected to our righteousness and also to creation and the Garden of Eden being set aside for the righteous or for the shining lights. That light is Christ and the Father.

We are an extension of that original light. The Bible says that light is dwelling in us and that “light” is Christ and he is the light of all men. He is the supreme light, the greater and greatest light which means all other lights have to come under His lordship. Even a sinner has a degree of light. It’s just that darkness is crowding or overshadowing the light within. When we come with greater light, the darkness has to submit to our light and the light of Christ begins to penetrate the heart of the sinner. Our light encourages and engages the light within the person and empowers them to step into greater light. Eventually, that light grows and pushes the darkness out and the person makes a conversion to allow the rule of greater light to take place.

This transformational process is present in natural light. It’s amazing that even natural light has such power of transformation. Natural sunlight hits our bodies and takes what is dormant in us and transforms it into Vitamin D. Sunlight doesn’t carry vitamin D as we think but has the power to produce or make it. This same sunlight also can touch a plant and allow photosynthesis to occur. Taking different elements and bringing life from them. If God can transform our natural bodies and all plant life with the light he created we call the sun. He can also transform our spiritual bodies and all life around us with the SON. 

Ways of God

This is an excerpt from my book “Return to Eden”

Isaiah 55:8-11 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD. 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts. 10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater : 11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

This has two things to pull out that helps to unfold the understanding of the mind of Christ. The two words are thoughts and ways. The word ‘thoughts’ is defined as a device or plan that is being calculated and it is intentional and inventive. It comes from a root word which means to esteem value and to imagine. It actually holds three meanings. The first is a general thought such as most of us understand the Word of God. It is deductive reasoning and understanding the words that we are reading. The second meaning is how we process and come to conclusion of what a person’s heart is. It is focused upon the heart of God towards us. The third meaning is the ability to be a skilled craftsman that is seeking a result. It is the overall understanding of the intention of God concerning what we are focused upon in front of us.

The word ‘ways’ means a road, journey, correction, and a manner of life. The root word which means to lead or guide, to tread upon, to tread down or to march forward. It is focused upon a meaning to set foot on territories and regions and the journey, as if you are on a main highway that is taking you to a destination. It means the actions of men whether they are righteous or unrighteous.

To know God’s thoughts, we must be able to hear His voice transferring His intentions. To know His ways, we must know the beginning, middle and end of a thing. Words we are hearing should complete a picture and not be an extension of our personal preferences or lack of understanding. We are clearly hearing and clearly seeing the hand of God at work even though it may not appear the way we want it to appear. There is a destination, but the journey may not be the way we wanted it to be. But God’s thoughts and ways always complete cycles of life. Because God thinks in circular, there is always a finish line and a bringing of something to completeness. The highway we are on always brings us to the beginning point or the origins that God has for us. God thinks multidimensional. Look at it like this, that God’s Word is His thoughts but sending forth His Word to accomplish, are His ways.

Psalm 23:3-43 He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. 4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

The circular motion of how God does things is found throughout the Bible. In this verse, that we have quoted many times, the word ‘paths’ means a track or course a circle or something that is round. The circle or the course of righteousness is always connecting to itself. We see Moses returning to Egypt to return to the Promised Land, a circular motion. We see Israel wandering around in circles for years before entering the Promised Land. When they entered the Promised Land, they went in circles around Jericho. Everything that God does is a circular motion. And He is more concerned about us completing the journey, than the hardships we might have along the way. This is the mind of God.

We can see this pattern very clearly as we look at the Old Testament holistically and the New Testament holistically. In the Garden of Eden, there was a tree of life. And man has been given a position of authority over the earth and all creation. At the end of the Book of Revelation, it speaks of the tree of life once again and man having that position restored. We are actually beginning to run the Old Testament in a backward sense or circular sense back to the beginning of the original intention in the Garden of Eden. We also see this in the New Testament in the Book of Acts. The Early Church experienced an outpouring and then the apostles came into the scene to manage the outpouring and the Church was birthed into the earth. Today the Church that is born into the earth, is coming more into an apostolic governing of the Kingdom so we can have one final large outpouring upon the face of the earth. These circular patterns are seen throughout the scriptures and throughout people’s lives. These are the ways and thoughts of God.

We get caught up looking at the valley, or low points in our life, and not the circle that God is doing in our life. We walk the linear path and try to interpret in a single dimension. We believe the valley could possibly be part of our destination when in reality, it is something we are going through that takes us to the destination. The cycle of God’s paths is actually a cycle of seasons in our life. God is thinking in times and seasons and not events. Each season has thoughts of God that we need to find and embrace for the next season that is coming upon us. Most of the time we think in the present, while God is thinking in the future. We think revival, He thinks harvest. We think Upper Room outpouring, He thinks marketplace ministry. We think reformation, He thinks awakening. God’s thoughts are not so much on right now but on the next step!


Isaiah 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD . 9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

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God says His thoughts are higher. The word ‘higher’ means to be high and exalted, to be made higher, dignity, majesty, an elevated position. It is that is beyond general thinking. In order for us to engage into this, we must be in the spirit and have a revelation from the Holy Spirit of how God is thinking concerning a matter. There are many questions that we have like why was that person’s life taken at a young age? Or why was that person going through all that suffering? We try to explain it away based on promises because we don’t understand the ways and thoughts of God are higher than our ways and thoughts. Perhaps the person that dies a premature death is the closest they will ever be to God, and God knows that because He has foreknowledge. Perhaps in their death, they will reach more people than how they would have lived their whole life. Perhaps the person with sickness or suffering that seems to be upon their life has created opportunities for them to minister the love of God or even the hope of God to others in the same predicament. We must be looking beyond what we see to understand the mind of God concerning the matters at hand. What is He creating that I cannot see? How is He dealing in a person’s heart that is creating the nature of Christ within him?


Isaiah 2:2-3 And it shall come to pass in the last days, that the mountain of the LORD’S house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and shall be exalted above the hills; and all nations shall flow unto it. 3 And many people shall go and say, Come ye, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, to the house of the God of Jacob; and he will teach us of his ways, and we will walk in his paths: for out of Zion shall go forth the law, and the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.

Looking at this verse that is at the beginning of Isaiah, we see that it is God’s desire to teach us His ways and also to walk in His paths. The word ‘walk’ means to proceed, to live and die, to lead and carry, and cause to walk in the manner of life. God always starts in our life with His intentions and ends with His intentions as well. It is simply a decision on our part if we will go up to the mountain and be taught His ways and walk in His paths. As we do, we end up having the mind of God or the mind of Christ concerning life. To know the mind of God requires intimacy with God.

Protocols

I want to briefly touch on protocols. The spirit realm operates based on rank and protocol. Rank is attained by promotion based on stewardship of the call. Protocol is based on understanding spiritual law and principles at work and how to engage them. Even demonic forces understand these protocols and principles, perhaps more than most believers. The same spiritual laws of approach and engagement, they must also follow. Many times, the enemy does not seem to give way and it is because they test us to see if we truly know the principle or protocol. Sometimes we might be violating a principle by implementing it wrong or for the wrong motive. When we violate spiritual protocol, we may not get the desired results and may have results we were not intending.

Here is the definition of a protocol:

Protocol = the official procedure or system of rules governing affairs of state or diplomatic occasions. The original draft of a diplomatic document, especially of the terms of a treaty agreed to in conference and signed by the parties.

It is really an official agreement of how things are to be done governmentally. Men were given protocols that we read right past and do not recognize. God told Moses: Take off your shoes for this is Holy Ground… a protocol. Jesus said, ‘when you pray believe and you will receive ‘…. a protocol. David said ‘who can ascend but he who has clean hands and a pure heart’… a protocol. What Jesus did was reset the true protocols in place again, erasing the laws men had created to control and bring grace to understand how the spiritual realms work. Jesus’ whole life was a model of engagement of protocols for every need of mankind. 

There are protocols in the Body of Christ, especially how we gather in our own individual church houses. We have protocols of how things are to be done in a service. We also have protocols of how we assign leaders and how we receive prophetic words, and how they are to be delivered. We have protocols concerning involvement in the worship team and protocols how we do altar ministry. We expect those to be followed to be able to have the desired results. The protocols of the spiritual realm in heaven are no different. They are a guiding outline that God himself has determined would not be violated. These protocols have been given to maintain order, set boundaries, and to allow freedom to be walked out in the midst of the atmosphere these protocols have created.

1 Corinthians 14:40 Let all things be done decently and in order.

‘Order’ here means an arrangement, a fixed succession, observing a fixed time, observing a fixed orderly condition, the rank you hold in civic affairs. It comes from a root word meaning a certain order, a certain arrangement, something assigned, placed, and appointed. Something that has mutual agreement. Paul was saying it was not just a casual thing of having an order but actually had substance to why it exists and the outcome it could produce. Paul was telling the Corinthians that there was a way of doing things. It also refers to the unseen that there is an incorrect way of doing things. We can see this brought out as he addressed the Corinthian Church in how they did certain things.

There are protocols that cover almost all areas of life and godliness. There are protocols for how we have relationships with each other and should be conducting ourselves in honor, one towards another. The Bible in Matthew 18, very clearly spells out a protocol for correction and addressing issues in the Body of Christ. This one is seldom seen and even understood. There are protocols of how we are to teach and instruct and to build and develop people. There are protocols of how to deal with demonic forces and powers. There are protocols on how to administrate healing and deliverance to people’s lives. And yes, there are protocols of how to access eternal realms and the heavenly realms themselves. Some of these are interactions upon Earth. Some are interactions in corporate gatherings. Some are interactions in spiritual plains or dimensions.

Demonic forces recognize authority and observe protocols as well. They are “subject” to protocols. The protocol that they are subject to is the Name of Jesus. The second one is our faith and our understanding of the principles and protocols of God found in His Word. The third one is our position that we have been given and the assignment that we have on the Earth. They are all things that Adam had in the Garden of Eden. Then when the Last Adam came, He restored our authority to not just engage in some spiritual promises, but to understand the spiritual protocols and principles by which all things must submit. The deeper you go in your understanding that the spiritual realm is more real than the realm of the earth, you come to a conclusion about what your authority really is and how far reaching it can go. You also will discover for yourself how the spiritual realms operate and the protocols that exist.

Authority

This is an excerpt from my new book coming out “Return to Eden”. I felt it could help some people understand spiritual authority and to recognize it when they need to move in it. There are 3 levels of authority that we move in. I’ll briefly cover these in this writing.

Delegated Authority –Exousia

The first level of authority is delegated authority. It is the legal right or power behind the legal right to exercise authority. It is the word exousia which is one of the definitions of the word ‘power’. It means the power of authority or influence. The right given to exercise authority. Delegated authority comes from being responsible, committed and submitted. It comes with accountability and responsibility. In the New Testament, we see this statement in Hebrews 13.17 talking of those who have rule (authority) over you.

Hebrews 13:17 Obey them that have the rule over you and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

Delegated authority is over structures that have been formed to govern. It means you have been given the necessary authority to accomplish the task of your assignment. It has been transferred to you. We see in the New Testament that the Early Church operated in delegated authority. Jesus passed authority to the early apostles, and they passed the authority to the elders. But we also see this in the position of Adam in the Garden of Eden. He was given delegated authority to oversee the structure of Earth and creation. He had been given that because he was committed and submitted to El or God. He had the legal right or delegated authority given by God to subdue the earth and bring it into dominion. He was God’s appointed authority for the earth and creation. When Jesus came, he restored this delegated authority back to us to the same degree that Adam had before he fell away.

Spiritual Authority – Dunamis

The second authority that we all carry is spiritual authority. Spiritual authority is the nature of God residing within us. It is the dunamis power we talk about in the New Testament. It is authority residing within us because the creative abilities and empowerments of God are greater than any other created being or resistance. It is spiritual authority over demonic forces, over sickness and disease. It is an authority based on truth and the understanding of the highest spiritual dimensions are the ruling dimensions from God. That they rule over all created things. It is ruling from the spirit realm and the spirit man together. It is the spiritual life force. Probably of all the authorities that we talk about, we talk about spiritual authority the most. This is where giftings and spiritual life comes from. It is the expression of our faith and what we believe. It is how our actions are determined and how we sustain daily life.

Again, this same spiritual authority was sitting inside of Adam. He had the very nature of God and the creative authority of God residing within him. He had the ability to exercise authority and even create what was needed for that authority to be fulfilled. He was actually living in that authority as his body was not aging nor was there any sickness or disease in his life before the fall. Jesus restored this same spiritual authority back to us, but we do not connect it back to the origins of the Garden of Eden.

 Positional Authority –Kratos

The third level of authority is positional authority. This is authority that is being given because of the position you have attained in God and in His government. It is from the word kratos, which is a word we seldom see in the New Testament, yet it is there. We do not define the word ‘power’ and we missed that there is a power that is for dominion rule. The word kratos means the governmental rule, the supreme power, perfect strength, final authority, power to overcome all resistance. This is a governing authority that is connected to the establishment of God’s rule and reign over all things. It is an authority that positions us in our assignment and in our mission. It is an authority that can displace principalities and powers over regions. Since it is governmental, it encompasses the other two levels of authority. It is the final say in spiritual matters and creative order.

Matthew 16:19 What you bind on Earth, is bound in Heaven. What you loose on Earth, is loosed in Heaven. 

The actual Greek translation says, “What you bind on earth, is what is already bound in Heaven. What you loose on earth, is what is already loosed in Heaven.” This greatly changes the order of things. It is not that you bind something demonic here on Earth and then it becomes bound in Heaven. No, you are acting as a divine administrator binding on Earth what has already been bound in Heaven.

Acts 19: Many of them also which used curious arts brought their books together, and burned them before all men: and they counted the price of them, and found it fifty thousand pieces of silver. 20 So mightily grew the word of God and prevailed.

The greatest place to see the power of kratos and governing authority is found in the above scripture. At first, as we read it, we believe the Word of God prevailed because it grew in the hearts of people and understanding. But when we begin to look at the word structure, we see a different meaning begin to unfold. A meaning that is very key.

The words ‘curious arts’ refer to being under a spell by enchantments. It was a way in that day, to get information from people to use against them. It was a very demonic way of control. The word of God grew and prevailed. The word grew’ means to increase in the extent of or in the instances of an activity or state— ‘to increase, to grow, to spread, to extend. It is associated with a process that once started keeps growing on its own. And it also prevailed. Prevail means to wield power, to show power by deeds, strength to overcome, strong in body and mind, the ability to have force. These are both extreme outcomes. But do we see these same outcomes today when we preach and teach the Word of God. We may see some results because it is the Word. But it appears from this text that something extreme happened when they burned witchcraft paraphernalia that was of great, value. The spiritual realms had been confronted.

I did this in the early stage of the ministry, when about sixty people got saved one summer that were all practicing occultisms. They were not just playing around but had real results and experiences. They were yogis, holy men, teachers of occultism, practicing witches and all kinds of things at very high levels. One woman had studied under one the world’s leading warlocks in England and had ancient magic books of spells. As we burned these things in a fire, demonic faces came forth out of the fire and we captured them on film. The book of spells would not burn as it was covered with human skin. I had to turn it page by page to burn it. I have experienced this very verse in Acts 20 firsthand.

But what causes these kinds of shifts? Let us look at one more word in this verse, the word ‘mighty’. Might is actually the word kratos! Kratos authority or sovereign authority. A power to overcome resistance. What grew the word and caused it to prevail? Kratos! When this authority is released, then nothing can resist it. It causes the Word to prevail and multiply.

Adam had this authority as he was God’s representative or “ambassador” upon the earth. He had sovereign authority and divine rule. He had been given the position to have the final say. He named the animals and God gave him this privilege because of his position. After all, he would govern all things upon the earth. Jesus also carried this same sovereign rule, defeating sickness, disease, religious structure, and even death. Now we have this restored to us like Adam had in the Garden.

The degree of your authority is based on your Lordship, assignments, and mission you are on. The one who occupies a higher spiritual rank will command a greater degree of authority. As we are called into not just redemption of humanity, but also creation, we are called to a higher dimension. This will require deepening commitments and also understanding of spiritual principles.

So how you begin to move in authority is simply begin. You already are probably moving in delegated authority begin a son or daughter of God and spiritual authority because the greater one is inside of you. Authority is knowing promises and principles and then using faith to decree and speak to them into existence in your life. Start by finding promises and scripture that are answers to situations in your life that are contrary to your well-being. Speak to those things by the promise with the knowing you have been given authority to shift whatever it is. You will be surprised how far you can go in influencing things around you because you know whose you are and the authority, He has given to you.

Pursue

I wanted to take a moment and address all the words that come out as one-year ends and another begins. Being in this for 45 years and seeing and hearing this pattern repeated regularly at this time of year, I feel it pertinent to say something. This is the time of the year every one is suddenly a prophet and hopes “their word” will give them notoriety.

I have seen such a cycle repeated over the years. Depending on what the year rhymes with you can almost guess the theme for the next year. To me these words don’t carry much fruit over the years, and many are actually contrary to sound biblical faith and belief. 2005 and you will thrive. 2007 is an open heaven. 2008 its open gate. 2009 it’s the right time. I think you see what I’m talking about. A good example is the open door in 2004.  I don’t know how many open doors we are supposed to experience but I thought the door, Christ was always open to us. All these things are actually truth that we experience now, not in the future.  To me these words are strictly encouragements. They don’t set any real direction nor really confirm. They would come under the gift of exhortation and not prophecy.

Prophecy is forthtelling and foretelling. Words the whole body is to engage into. They hold mystery, revelation, challenge, grace and a sense of destiny and purpose. They activate great faith and require study, prayer and fasting to understand. They carry more weight than a cliché.

Many times, words are a reflection of people’s personal preferences. Sometimes the word is a reflection of a ministry’s overall direction, and they want more people aligned with them. What makes things very hard is it takes discernment, which is lacking in much of the body of Christ today. The mixture makes things seem believable. When you couple that with a desperation to hear something fresh without doing the work of seeking, you embrace a lot of things and begin to shift your belief system to make it fit into your spiritual life. Words that are judgmental or have wrong doctrine should be set aside as well.

Words sometimes come with a lot of mixture. A measure of truth but not the fullness of truth. Part from a person and part from Gods spirit. I would say we have had several of these brought out as “national words”. Of all the words called prophecy these are probably the most detrimental. The reason is these words can still be put in motion because of our faith activating them. It distracts the body of Christ and diverts a lot of spiritual energy, finances, time and focus. We rally meetings, conferences and travel to try and see these words fulfilled. We look for fulfillment and can even accept things that are false finish lines. This makes it even more confusing to understand why some of the most unbiblical words seem to have some measure of success. This is one of the great end time deceptions. It’s not the word was going to produce anything, but the faith people put into it did!

A true word from God should fit the entire body of Christ and not a certain camp. We should not just judge the word given to see if its biblical but also the person giving it if they have integrity and maintained it. We should be hearing God for ourselves and listening to the Holy Spirits voice. Jesus is the spirit of prophecy and the closer we get to him the surer word of prophecy we have. How I look at a lot of things is can I see Jesus saying to the disciples the things we say to people. Can you see Jesus saying now this year we will be just in time, this year there is an open door, this year there is an open heaven. Peter, make sure you get your social media presence up because then you will be affirmed that you carry something. The future direction he gave was “wait until you are endued with power from on high.” Pretty straight forward word. As they did, we see the immediate outcome.

You may think I am not a believer in prophecy. Actually, the opposite. I started ministry for the first 10 years as a strong voice and seer prophet. I could discern other prophets, demonic forces, people’s thoughts and knew when the phone would ring and who was calling before it happened. I know what it takes to hone the gift and release the grace. Time without distraction. I just want to have the authentic. I do follow some seasoned prophets. Some are more regional and unknown and carry a stronger word that national voices. Others are in other nations than the United States, and don’t have all the fan mentality we have.

Some have asked me if I have a word for the year. I know many are listening to some national voices but still ask me. Something they are hearing is not bearing witness, so they are seeking to hear what their spirit knows to be true. I have heard words for the next season and have already posted them. They came in the spiritual Kairos of God and not the chronos time of man.

I did hear 2 single words at 2 different times recently for the next year. The first word came when someone was saying I need a word for the next year. I heard “Jesus”. The second time I asked God and heard one word for the year. “Pursue”. Pursue your walk, your faith, everything in your spiritual life. Come out of complacency by your pursuit. Put the 2 together…. PURSUE JESUS! Now that’s a solid word.

Books of Heaven

Today I want to speak briefly to a little known and even less talked about subject. That is the books of heaven. Yes, I did say books plural. As far as I have studied it out there are actually 10 different types of books being penned concerning our lives. When I first got saved, I was only told of 2 of these, the bible of course and the Lambs book of Life. But as I started looking into how heaven operates and what is really going on I found it fascinating that God is so fascinated about us He has angels constantly scribing about our lives, the history we are making, and the unfolding of creation. I want to briefly touch each of these to perk your interest.

We begin by knowing the entire bible was written under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit through men who were moved by the Spirit. The end of the gospel of John says: John 21:25 (KJV 1900) — 25 And there are also many other things which Jesus did, the which, if they should be written every one, I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that should be written. Amen.

Book of tears

Psalm 56:8 (KJV 1900) — 8 Thou tellest my wanderings: Put thou my tears into thy bottle: Are they not in thy book?

Beginning here with the book of tears we experience all kinds of things in life. Sorrow, pain, suffering, burdens, headaches and even tears of joy and excitement. We have tears in prayer and intercession and tears of concern. These tears are collected by angel and placed in a bottle, which is a wineskin, a new wineskin to be exact. Then these are put into a book. I believe that book is read at a future moment and the words of it put into motion.

Psalm 126:5 (KJV 1900) — 5 They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

The reaping of Joy is directly connected to tears. There is a transformation in heavenly realms not just reading the sorrow or sufferings but reading the answers and outcomes the tears will produce. No tear is lost or without meaning and impact.

Book of the living

Psalm 69:28 (KJV 1900) — 28 Let them be blotted out of the book of the living, And not be written with the righteous.

The word living means to have life, remain alive, sustain life, live prosperously, live forever, be quickened, be alive, be restored to life or health. David writes this in the midst of a prayer of imprecation against his enemies. He knows there is a book that lists those who lived. It has the names of every person ever created. Every baby aborted. It says that this list has within it those who are looked as righteous. They are mingled in the list. As it is an all-inclusive list. His prayer is not as if they never existed — being blotted out — but would show denial of existence. This is strong language. But what’s important is there is a book of those alive and that have lived.

Book of remembrance

 Malachi 3:16 (KJV 1900) — 16 Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: And the Lord hearkened, and heard it, And a book of remembrance was written before him For them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name.

This book is a book remembering all we have said about the Lord and spoken concerning him. Notice it says those who feared and spoke to each other or the conversations we had. It is a book of the words of believers. The word book here means written order, commission, a legal document that has been penned. The word remembrance means memorial record or mention.

This is a legal document that was written before the Lord or in His presence. Angles are scribing our words and even our actions being produced. It will be read later at judgement concerning our words. It also is read by the Holy spirit as He brings all things back into remembrance in the selfsame hour, we need them.

Book of days or Destiny

Psalm 139:16 (KJV 1900) — 16 Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; And in thy book all my members were written, Which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.

The word Substance means embryo which is our origin in God upon the earth. This is a book about our physical makeup and the destiny of our life. It holds how God has fashioned us, sees us and the processes we are in. it also has the plan of God for us and destiny we are to become. This also has your giftings and desires come from, they were first in This book. Every aspect of us God has recorded! Each day upon the earth is a day of destiny!

Book of House of Israel

Ezekiel 13:9 (KJV 1900) — 9 And mine hand shall be upon the prophets that see vanity, and that divine lies: they shall not be in the assembly of my people, neither shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, neither shall they enter into the land of Israel; and ye shall know that I am the Lord God.

This is a book about citizenship. It is about those who are spiritual Israel and Old Testament Israel. Philippians 3:20 (KJV 1900) — 20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ:

The word conversation means the constitution of a commonwealth, form of government and the laws by which it is administered. The commonwealth of citizens.

Ephesians 2:19 (KJV 1900) — 19 Now therefore ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints, and of the household of God;

This book is about how we conduct our kingdom citizenship and governor upon the earth. It probably has listed all the rights and privileges we have and the authority that has been given to governor.

Books in the Court for Judgements 

Daniel 7:10 (KJV 1900) — 10 A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: thousand thousands ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the judgment was set, and the books were opened.

Daniel saw these books. Here multiple books are used here. Probably made up of the ones we are talking about. These books are associated with the judgement since it was set then the books opened. So, these would be books of accusations against us but not in the typical sense. But in showing the potential of what was intended and how far we missed opportunities.

Book of General Assembly (Ecclesia) and first born

Hebrews 12:23 (KJV 1900) — 23 To the general assembly and church of the firstborn, which are written in heaven, and to God the Judge of all, and to the spirits of just men made perfect,

This is a book about 2 groups of people. First the General assembly, which is a public festival of all created beings. Second the Church or Ecclesia    of the first born, which means the first in place or time, to bring forth a son, new order. It is about the collective body. This book again is being written in heaven. It contains the names of those qualified. Notice it even states the qualifier, just men who have reached perfection.

Book of life of the Lamb

Revelation 13:8 (KJV 1900) — 8 And all that dwell upon the earth shall worship him, whose names are not written in the book of life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.

Revelation 21:27 (KJV 1900) — 27 And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.

The book is about the lamb’s life and the activity of His life through ours. This is not the book of life but the lamb’s book of life. It holds all the attributes of Jesus and how he conducted his life. This book is a standard by which all other things will be measured, so it has been written down so there is no dispute.

Book of Life

Philippians 4:3 (KJV 1900) — 3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

This book is for the elect of God to be written in, those who labored in the gospel. This is a book about separation. Wheat from chaff. Those who know God and those who did not. Those who deserve access and those who don’t.

Revelation 17:8 (KJV 1900) — 8 The beast that thou sawest was, and is not; and shall ascend out of the bottomless pit, and go into perdition: and they that dwell on the earth shall wonder, whose names were not written in the book of life from the foundation of the world, when they behold the beast that was, and is not, and yet is.

Revelation 20:11 (KJV 1900) 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.

Revelation 20:15 (KJV 1900) — 15 And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.

The Little Book

Revelation 10:2 (KJV 1900) — 2 And he had in his hand a little book open: and he set his right foot upon the sea, and his left foot on the earth,

Revelation 10:9 (KJV 1900) — 9 And I went unto the angel, and said unto him, Give me the little book. And he said unto me, Take it, and eat it up; and it shall make thy belly bitter, but it shall be in thy mouth sweet as honey.

The final book I want to speak about is called the little book. It is not little in value or importance but little in size compared to all the other books. This little book the Lord revealed to me is the Bible. It is a condensed version we read connected to the vast thought behind every word. The Lord told me there is a book written about every verse. In our eyes is a large book, but in Gods eyes it is little. If you think of all these books being written about us a vast library that is incomprehensible has been written and continues to be written. I believe we will read the stories of each other for all eternity.

This study I did on the books here is short. I have written much more on it and taught on it as well. But what this study did challenged me to live my life differently knowing it was being recorded. It also made me see how much God is involved in our lives that he would have our lives scribed from so many different angles. Blessings.

This book has an entire chapter to this subject….

Apostolic Burden of the Lord Part 2

Last time we covered what is the Burden of the Lord. If you didn’t read it go back so you have a foundation to launch into part 2. In this writing we will see how burdens from the Lord come. For the most part they are not our ideas or extensions of ideas of ministry we have. Many times, they are contrary to our plans and maybe even our desires. They will take us off our typical course into a course of Gods ultimate plan unfolding. We will look at Nehimiah, an apostolic builder and restorer. A mobilizer of workers and one who sets things in order.

Nehemiah 1:3 (KJV 1900) — 3 And they said unto me, The remnant that are left of the captivity there in the province are in great affliction and reproach: the wall of Jerusalem also is broken down, and the gates thereof are burned with fire.

The first thing is he heard. He heard a report. But it was not just idle talk but factual and not with speculation or assumption. Something in this report pricked his heart having a profound effect upon him. Many times, we hear things, and the hardness of our heart keeps us from really hearing. Sometimes something catches our spirit, and we react. This was what occurred to him.

Nehemiah 1:4 (KJV 1900) — 4 And it came to pass, when I heard these words, that I sat down and wept, and mourned certain days, and fasted, and prayed before the God of heaven,

The words were heard by others but no one else responded. The words were actually reserved to have an effect upon one person and that was Nehemiah. The others had become accustomed to hearing reports. But probably because of hardness of heart and loss of faith and hope accepted the state of things. But the words caused Nehemiah to take time to process as he sat. the more he processed the more he wept. A burden doesn’t accept the current situation but has come to change the situation. His weeping went to mourning and mourning turned into fasting and prayer to find the solution.

Nehimiah 2: 11-16   The burden will cause you to evaluate the true conditions firsthand. Burdens take us from secondhand knowledge to first-hand experience. He went by night to examine the assignment. What he saw was different from what others saw. He saw through promise not circumstances. He did not deny what he saw but looked beyond and saw the ramifications. He sees how it affected Gods glory and Gods people. He was seeing with his spirit.

He then is burdened with reality. The reality the burden has within it is holy. It bears the weight of Gods glory and the work that must be accomplished. He sees beyond the natural. Part of this reality is the personal responsibility that comes with burden. Those with a burden see not only the problem, but the role they play in the solution. The only solution or answers that work is from God and you must hear clearly. Because very burden for God will have those who are critical coming from your own camp. Nehemiah 4:10–11. He is able to share the reason for the burden.

Nehemiah 4:14.  (KJV 1900) — 14 And I looked, and rose up, and said unto the nobles, and to the rulers, and to the rest of the people, Be not ye afraid of them: remember the Lord, which is great and terrible, and fight for your brethren, your sons, and your daughters, your wives, and your houses.

Every burden form God is also connected to Legacy.Moses was burdened for the people of Israel. Others had burdens as well like David, Paul, Samuel, all the ones we talk about doing exploits, but seldom do we talk of their burden. Without Gods burden our faith is in vain. Our prayers are lacking, and our impact is greatly diminished. A true burden form God cannot be stopped. It is fulfilling a plan that is required. To me the burden is the key to active faith that produces results. We really only see spiritual changes when we tap into the burden of God, or we get burdened for people where we finally fully engage ourselves. Burden is about transferring. Transferring people from the power of darkness into the kingdom of His son Jesus.

Every burden will create your apostolic vision. Without a true burden then vision is hard to define, and mission is even harder to operate. We see Ezra in chapter 10:1-4 having a burden before he had vision. We see Nehimiah as well in Chapter 1:3-4. Daniel prayed and fasted for 3 full weeks. What God is looking for is not anointing, which is borrowed from him, or giftedness, which is birthed by him, but the greatest need is who will carry His burden. What is your burden today?

Those who carry a God given burden are the ones who will do exploits. There may be suffering but the suffering will bring greater glory. Paul was driven by apostolic burden. Building is also coming from burden. Burden touches almost all things we do and reforms values. The burden just has to be from God to be effective. Jeremiah 20.8 says it was like fire in his bones and he had no choice but to respond. Burden brings you into service. Burden makes you go.

In Galatians 6:1 it says we carry each other’s burdens which the word means heavy crushing loads. But in verse 4 it says each man is to carry his own burden. This burden is “phorton” and is used to designate the pack a marching soldier carries. It also means carrying the ships cargo, which has connotations of being connected apostolically. Paul says you must prove your work, or it must be authenticated to see if it is genuine. He was speaking if your burden is from god or just a good idea.

Then as we look at spiritual fathering, we also see Sons and Daughters are to carry the burden of the Lord spiritual fathers carry. Many times, we seek spiritual fathering, and we only pick and choose what that fathering is carrying and offering. But we neglect that there is more than the positive fun side of spiritual fathering. In Phil. 3:10 Paul speaks of the “manner of Life”. Paul was saying what Timothy received encompassed how Paul carried and exercised his burden as well. The activation of Paul’s burden in Timothy’s life brought him into his own apostolic journey. Timothy as a son was not disjointed from Paul’s burden but embraced it with the assignments given to him.
Paul said he was like-minded in Phil. 2:20. That like-minded was also concerning how  the burden would be completed.

Burden will create a message in you. It will take you on a mission as well. It will give others a vision, so they qualify to have their own. Burden will take you from a second hand knowledge to a first-hand experience. Burden summons us into the destiny we are longing for. Burden has a sense of urgency. It has a sense of responsibility. The size of your burden will also determine your impact on the earth. But because you have a burden doesn’t mean everything is automatic. It requires your response and others as well.

In the book I wrote “Awakened Heart” has a prophetic word coming from Habakkuk. It encompasses an entire chapter. As I was researching for this blog, I found the word burden spoken 45 times in this prophetic word. It seems it must be important to God.

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Blessings

Apostolic Burden of the Lord Part 1

I want to speak on the to topic of burden. Having the right burden will activate your faith, allow you to find purpose, bring you into your destiny and create your future. Without a true burden from God you will go through life and ministry aimlessly wandering.

Jesus was burdened for what would become the church. Paul was burdened for the church. A burden is not pity or feeling sorry for someone. A burden for the Lord is an extension from heaven. When you have Gods burden you will give yourself to it, both like Christ and Paul.

2 Corinthians 11:28 (KJV 1900) — 28 Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.

Paul said daily this burden was present. The words come upon is associated with pressure, anxiety and comes from a word describing the force a riotous crowd carries. Without a burden for something you don’t have the perspective to speak into it. Paul was burdened for the church so he could address the issues. Today we move out of need-based perception and seldom burden focus. We have a lot of good suggestions but little change. Burdens from the Lord are catalyst for change.

For myself I am burdened to see Gods people in fullness, I am burdened to see stronger leadership come forth. I am burdened to see those who are disillusioned about God, be shifted.  I am burdened to see us live at a higher spiritual life. You see the message you carry, the way you minister, the things that drive you all come from the true Burden of the Lord you’re stewarding.

Paul was also burdened for his family, and especially his fellow Roman kinsmen. Romans 9:1–5.  He also was burdened for Israel to find salvation. Because of these burdens his teaching reflected upon it and also his energy in travel. Romans 10:1–4. His burden influenced his prayer life. Romans 1:8–12 . And even caused internal conflicts with himself. Colossians 2:1–5. But those burdens would active him into great faith, passion, and spiritual determination. Maybe today what we lack is not more teaching but a real God given burden we are to accomplish with our lives.

Your burden will cause a motivation in your faith to occur. It is actually where true ministry occurs and how new ministries are to be birthed. Burdens from the Lord have the Love from the Lord within them. Without the love behind it there is no sacrifice. Without love there is not willingness to suffer. But with love you will to do extreme faith things.

The burden and the love within it are what forms vision. A vision that has no burden is a religious structure. I feel today we have a lot of structures based around ideas or seeing needs but no real burden. We may have compassion, or sympathy but that is not the burden I’m talking about. The burden is the why you do things and defines the motivations behind actions.

Answering the call is really answering the Burden. A calling without a Burden has no destination. But when burden is acted on it will also release Grace … the ability of God to create change. Think of how many times a burden in prayer receives an answer. It’s because Grace was released. The fullness of grace is present were burden is being nurtured. This is why some do exploits and others don’t. Colossians 4:12–13, 1 Thessalonians 3:10. Burden is a pure form of activating grace!

Burdens will cause us to come out of complacency. We will come into new depths. We will study to find answers to the burden. We will take action, whiles others don’t. We will bring new truth to open ears. We may even find those of like faith, which is really finding faith that is active in the same burden we carry. Burdens always create and build for longevity. The burden of the Lord takes us on a fantastic journey! A journey of apostolic building.

Part 2 we will cover how to acquire the Apostolic Burden of the Lord.

What Are You Carrying?

Romans 11:29 (KJV 1900) — 29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.

The question many people have is what do I have to offer? We think we need to have developed to some grand place of spiritual power and knowledge before we actually have something to give to others of value. Yet we have the Holy Spirit and Jesus present with us all the time. We actually are never in lack of resources to draw from.

All of us are called to be conformed to the image of the son. This calling is a reflection of Christ living in and through us. We have a mission to the world to display this wonderment of Christ in us the hope of glory. We have been graced for this display and empowered to show forth His glory working in our lives. This is the highest calling and most important. Now for some they will be given assignments and task that seem small and insignificant, but God uses them to form us and see how we steward opportunities given. For others they will be given specific functions in the body that come with a lot of responsibility. To whom much is given much is required.

So, we all are carrying calling. Many are called but few chosen. The choosing is the hand picking of God for a specific task. We have confused calling and chosen. We all have been invited to produce what has been given for us to carry. But many believe unless they have been recognized, titled and positioned they are not able to produce. The fruitfulness of what you carry is seen by those you influence in thinking and actions. How you release your passions and how they affect things others value.

What you’re also carrying is your giftings. Gifting is natural and spiritual. They are deposits of potential or enablement to do something supernaturally by Gods empowerment. Gifts come not for us, but again to serve the body of Christ. They come to empower us for acts of service and not for us to feel good about ourselves. That will come because we see lives changed and know we had a part to play in it.

Giftings are always given to help fulfill the ultimate call with your life. Giftings will actually point to your call and will give you a hint of what your calling might really look like. If you know your calling likewise you can then see what giftings it may require as well.

Both calling and gifting activated is what opens opportunities for you to be asked to do certain ministry assignments or roles. Your ministry is how you serve others in your calling and gifting. Calling and gifting both require obedience. Your obedience is what creates the ministry you will have. Ministry is the expression of both calling and gifting. It becomes the fruit of what both combined will produce.

 Ministry is when you have been chosen. It is the divine enablement of God. Many may be called to do ministry yet never seem to get there. The reason is the gifts and calling are without repentance. What does that mean? God has determined a set way to be chosen. It is by activation of what we carry, specifically calling and gifting. Repentance means not so much sorrow but a change of mind, metanoia. God is not changing his mind how he has determines a set order of roles and responsibilities. But we need to determine to change our mind! You see repentance, changing of the mind is directly connected to calling and gifting. We have to decide to reflect and serve. We have to decide to activate and do. We have decided to be obedient. Because we know what we’re carrying.  

When you know what you’re carrying you are no longer striving. You relax into what is inside of you and operate from it. You work your faith towards perfecting it. And like Peter you can come to rest, even in a prison cell, know that the circumstance is not the end, because what I’m carrying will get me out of the situation.

When I was in the hospital in Sept of 2018 it did not look good. I was losing weight. My entire colon was infected. It looked like I was dying, and I probably was. Thousands of people were praying but I kept getting worse. God then spoke clearly to me and said, “Stop having them pray for you but pray for the message inside you that your carry will live. Your temporal but the message is eternal.” I told people to pray for the message inside me to live knowing I would have to live because I was carrying it. 3 days later I left the hospital. A valuable lesson indeed. But that’s also the power residing inside of us that we are carrying.