Worthy to Receive Power

Rev. 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for
thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

We know when we worship and serve God that we are giving Him the glory
and bring honour to His Name. But how does He who is all Powerful, receive Power
from those who are impotent without Him?
God is a God of multiplicity. The devil subtracts, man adds, but God multiplies.
It's not that God needs to receive power, because He is omnipotent but He is worthy
to multiply His Power. And that is exactly what happens when we press wholeheartedly
to desperately seek and worship Him in Spirit and Truth. As we abandon ourselves, and focus all our attention on glorifying His name in deep, intimate worship--we are magnifying (extoling .lauding) His Presence and consequently; He is magnified (enlarged, increased)  in the heavens and earth. His immediate Presence travels and expands as it breaks out on the north, south, east and west. Though God is  not limited to time and space, He funnels His power and inhabits vessels that occupy both realms-- and the more vessels He inhabits --the more He receives power, honour and glory.  Just as sound and light travel, so as His people revel in prophetic sounds of declaration, prophecy, throne worship accompanied with instrumentals --so the Light of God's presences prevails and displaces darkness. This is how God's people take over the spiritual atmospheres of neighborhoods, cities, states, nations and manifest God's Kingdom on the Earth.  As we invoke the Lord of Host to arise-- God's  light devours darkness.  He flexes His spiritual muscles, and He receives power. We revel with Him in His Victory and  His Power! We receive His power too---Christ in us--the Hope of Glory!!

Crying out for others:Holy Spirit Empathy Results in Holy Spirit Victory

For we have not a high priest which cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities....(Heb4:15a)

Contrariwise, He was touched with the feelings of our infirmities. And His heart is still throbbing today for His people that are spiritually and physically  infirmed--He longs for the victory that He won to be received and manifested --for His Body (the Body of Christ) to be completely whole---spiritually and physically whole!  We know that Jesus was our vicarious sacrifice. He paid the price that we deserve, taking our place as a substitutionary sacrifice in judgment; so that we can have life and life more abundantly in and through Him.
As Believers, filled with God's Holy Spirit, we are the members of His Body, and as a whole, we are the Body of Christ and Christ is the Head.

Just as every member of our individual physical bodies operate and  flow together as one living organism, so we are called to be ONE spiritual  living organism as the Spiritual Body of Christ on the Earth; flowing and functioning together in unity.
If one member hurts, the other members feel the pain. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are able to emphathize with the needs of our spiritual family members, as we take time to intercede for others.  The deeper we go into the heart of God seeking His intervention on the behalf of our brothers and sisters in Christ; the deeper the need becomes our own.
Just as Jesus gave Himself as a substitute; taking our place before God, so we will find ourselves standing in desperation for others.  Through the power of the Holy Spirit, the love and commisseration for our spiritual brothers and sisters dire needs to be met, is much stronger, than mere human sympathy.  Because  this heavenly, sacrificial love from the Father's heart already proved to gives it's all when it flowed through the wounds of our Savior. It's God's Love for His own; through the residing power of His Holy Spirit, that moves us to intercession so that His victory can manifest within His whole Body.
The urgency of the need will become as if  it's our own and the Holy Spirit will lead us to intercede: plead, groan, mourn, travail and wail on behalf of others.
As Jesus laid down His life for others, so we are callled to do the same. As Jesus gained the victory for others in the spiritual realm;  so we called to do the same
through intercessory sacrifice. This means denying ourselves and carrying the cross that's  laden with burdens and agonies of others---carrying it all the way to Calvary
where the Finished Work manifests in resurrection power that brings spiritual and physical Victory.   Every member will feel the victory.

Anointed Aroma Permeates Generations

Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious
ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this
waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why
trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.
For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. Verily I say unto you, Wheresover this gospel shall be
preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her. (Matthew 26:6-13)

The fragrance of this women's heart still permeates as this account is retold accompanying the Gospel, because she displayed the key revelation of the Gospel. That key revealtion is: salvation is through an anointed death---- that rises victorious in resurrection life. The disciples focused on the monetary value of the ointment, because they didn't understand that Jesus was called to be the firstfruit of the resurrection, so that a harvest could come forth. 
The culmination of the Gospel was at hand and  would result in multitudes hearing and receiving salvation through Jesus' anointed death, burial and resurrection.
Jesus' retort about the poor remaining was not an expression of blantant disregard for their condition, but rather was an
acknowledgement of the abiding needs of the poor, while He was focusing on the imminent spiritual solution. Jesus knew that the "set time anointing " to die would result in victorious resurrection, offering redemption to the poor.
    
We all should treasure this same anointing, because through Christ we are called to die daily or pick up our cross daily, denying ourselves, so that through our anointed deaths, we can live in the resurrection power of Christ. Just as the disciples called the spilled-out ointment on Jesus' head a "waste", so others may consider our completely abandoned, spilt-out lives  "wasted" while they vocalize their assessment of  other more benefitable things we could be spending our energies on to help others. But just as Jesus knew the importance of his anointing to die; we too understand that there will always be an opportunity to help others--but the most effective way for us to help anyone is to die to self and expend our lives for God--even die to our best benevolent intentions --because anything we would offer on our own will doesn't come close to comparing to the true benevolence and salvation that we can offer multitudes by allowing Christ to live and shine through us---His resurrection power allows us to have life and life more abundantly. God is a God of multiplicity. The devil subtracts, man adds, but God multiplies. Just like he took this woman's account of her free will  offering, and preserved the savor of it for future millennials; so He will do with our lives. As we die to ourselves and abide in Christ's power,  the same anointing will permeate and emit from our lives with an aroma that permeates ages to come. Our personalized accounts may not be preached, but the impact of a surrendered life will waft into future generations--and a harvest will come forth. "Verily, verily I say unto you Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone; but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit (John 12:24).

For Such A Time As This!!

Purim, which was celebrated by many today*,  is the commemeration of the victory of God's people when Esther found favor in the sight of the King, the main enemy of God's people was destroyed and the dictate to annihilate the Jews was
rendered powerless with a new dictate for their defense.
Through Christ we have received favor in the sight of the Most High King. Because of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus'--divine forgiveness so gloriously lavishes all of us who receive Him.  Jesus won the approval that we needed from the Father.  Symbolically and spiritually, the high and lofty One has stretched out His royal sceptre in acceptance of us-- so that we can boldly come into His Presence, be filled with His Spirt and fellowship with Him. How amazing the Father's love was demonstrated for us--that He would allow His Son to sucuumb to a cruel death so that we could be received into His courts with favor and make petetions of Him
Esther was a prophetic foreshadow of the Church who intercedes before the king, because she was called to the kingdom for such an appointed time of deliverance.  Likewise we, as the Bride of Christ, are called for such a time as this...to bring judgment on the enemy; cancelling his agendas and ushering in great deliverances for ourselves, families, and multitudes.
Through Christ, the prophetic antetype is capable of being fulfilled in the Spirit realm which results in the victory both spiritually and physically.  Because it's through Christ that we are made priests to intercede on behalf of others. The anti-semitic and anti-christ spirits are on a  mission to annihilerate God's remnant in both the natural and the Spirit, and during certain seasons they plot more deliberately. Though, unlike Esther, we can rest assured that we are accepted into the Kings courts, however just as it was for her--it's still imperative for us, to deny ourselves and fervently beseech the King's invention for those appointed to death. Through corporate fasting, heart rending petitions, and exposing the enemy's agendas, we will prevail and reach the heart of the One who will save us. Though today* was a  powerful time to commemerate God's  intervention, the template of intercession and deliverance is certainly not limited to today*. For I believe the more we engage in our priestly role to cry out for others, the more frequently we will celebrate in joyous
victories.   Little prayer, little power, More prayer, More power, Great Prayer, Great Power!!!

* Today refers to Thursday March 8, 2012

A Heavenly Rendezvous!

Back in my colleges days, my friends and I, had a weekly allocated party night. We often revised night to night(s) plural. But regardless,every week, we had atleast one "going out" night.. and when that day rolled around it was time to get ready to party. Apart from some legal and few moral boundaries, pertinent to our capacity to drink, and as long as it was night--we didn't have many limitations. To explain, we didn't have a curfew or a quota, just a mission to have fun and that meant drinking and drinking and drinking until we were drunk (and perhaps then some).We partied, and we partied hard!Though disguised as fun at the time, looking back, by the Grace of God, I can see what a counterfeit that was...exceeding healthy boundaries to travel into deeper paths of darkness. But now I rejoice at the opportunity to exceed traditional and manmade (including self made) boundaries to travel deeper into the heartof God. Ofcourse, it's most likely much less consequential for a student to dictate their own schedule and evade responsiblity , but in a demandingwork world, with financial and family obligations, it almost seems impossible to consistently find time to escape--- and this applies to even finding adequate time to spend with God.That's why the one or two hour weekly church service is most fitting for society; for those who do attend. What if apart our daily devotions and short church services, we dedicated one night a week to "go out" with God without a curfew attached. Even if there is not a house of worship open; we all need the intimacy of time alone with God. So to "go out" we don't have to leave our houses or even prayer closets--because we're really just "going up." We can still party!!  We can crank up some anointed worship music and party hop from song to song- jumping, shouting, clapping, and singing His praises---all in celebration of Him who sits upon the Throne and the Lamb with seven eyes and seven horns. And perhaps, because the night is still young, we may even assail deeper into heavenly worship--the Heavenly disco lights will flash with multipy colors as we're imbibed with particular glorious manifestations of God's Presence. And if we move from outer court praise to inner court worship as we adore and long for Him; the smoke of His glory is likely to descend.  And if we keep drinking deeply; a fierce longing for love may stir in our hearts. Instead of a fling, or a fleeting romance we will discover a love that is beyond ourselves and is relentlessly sacrificial. As we delve deeper, deeper into seeking Him--His heartbeart will manifest and when it does--the night is no longer about us---but this LOVE-- so true, so amazing, so overwhelming will envelope us. The Lover of our Souls will escort us into His Bridal Chambers where we will dance with our Bridgegroom and revel in His eternal beauties; as He heals, cleanses and makes us more like Himself. What encounters we may have--what visions we may see--God has things in store for us beyond what we can think or imagine!! And if we are desperate enough to continue to pursue the intimacy of His heartbeart -- we may find ourselves vehemently longing for others to know such sweet holy romance. Because, in the holiest of holies of God's heart--is where we will conclude this sacrifical love is the resolve for all--He is the Desire of the nations!!! Our love language is subject to expand and resonate throughout heaven with magnanimous wails; as the worldwide vision because so clear in our hearts and we see the dire need that only He can fulfill individually and globally. The redemption of the nations--the deliverance of the hurting and the salvation of the lost- may become such a passion that rends our hearts with a groping that can't be uttered with words. We may just become smitten with His love that manifests with His desire for the lost, the hurting, the needy. What miracles He may wrought, what multitudes he may save,heal, and deliver!Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we're subject to wax strong in vehement travail, groaning, gasping and pleading with birthpangs for the man child to be born (Rev. 12:5) for HIs Kingdom to manifest!   What nations may shake, what trumpets may blow and what thunders may sound!!!  (..the Kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ and He shall reign forever and ever Rev. 11:15.) Finally, when our energies are spent and we're waxed to nothing-ness- then He will wrap us in His wings of Love and envelope us with His surpassing Peace, confirming in our hearts that He is our Lover; and His pleasure has truly become ours too---what a pleasure to be drunk on True Love; to be consumed with a Love Stronger than Death---  such a Heavenly Rendezvous!!

Is Living for God Boring??? Or Awesome???

I remember when I was college, someone came up to me and gave me a word from the Lord. I went back to my dorm and said a prayer and thought maybe I would start getting involved in a bible study on campus and focus on church more. But the more I was around my boyfriend and friends, the more I saw how incompatible that would be with my lifestyle. Because not only was any suggestion of it, decisively confirmed by my  friends that I wasn't get their encouragement , nor would they accompany me. But even to me, the thought of a sober "Bible study" life seemed so boring and dull, and in the midst of such wild and crazy fun we were having--what teenager would want to do that? 
I didn't consider myself rejecting God, because I still claimed to be a Christian, it was more just like... "deferred".  I knew in my heart that the Bible was God's book and I certainly had plans to read it, so I tentatively planned to do that down the road when I had grey hair. My image of Christianity did include some good times at church camps in my even younger days, but ofcourse even there  it was more so the social aspect, which paled to my current social life.  And I did recall having some heart touching moments at church where faith arose and I definitely believed in Jesus' and was encouraged to live uprightly, but majority wise, my church experiences were quite boring.  So, as for my bleak idea  of possibly attending a campus Bible study, well I wasn't movtivated to put much effort into finding one, especially if it meant having to adjust my social life. Consequently, that thought soon dissipated.  Frankly --it just wasn't going to be fun!

But by the Grace and Power of God, within two years, I found out the Truth.
And the Truth  is that there is No One More adventurous than God who rides on the clouds by His awesome name YaH. God is amazing and He has made a way for us to be empowered with His amazing, adventurous, extremely glorious, creative and beautiful Holy Spirit.
Through faith in Christ, we receive the indwelling of the Holy Spirit--as a matter of fact, we can be  baptized with the Holy Ghost and Fire!!
Notice He comes with Fire--that's how passionately extreme His desire burns with love for His people--yes, He ardently desires to dwell and fellowship with us.
Yes, He provides extreme living ----to the max because God's Spirit Himself actually comes to live in and through us. Abundant and exciting life truly begins with a dose of Holy Ghost! Mind altering drugs have nothing on God's power!!  There is No High like the MOST HIGH!!  He's power will surge  through your body and fill you to the brim, instead of surpressing hurtful emotions, it lifts them away. The Holy Spirit is being being poured out  from on High--if we open our hearts and minds to God He will fill us to overflow.And no, the intensity is not fleeting--it does not have to go away--as a matter of fact, the outpouring is getting greater and greater! God wants all of us to be people filled with His Holy Spirit. In the Book of Joel it says that In the last days I will pour out my Spirit upon all flesh (Joel 2:28)  The Holy Spirit is so Real and He is so Powerful. The Holy Spirit is not just to be acknowledged as an  intregal of the Trinity that makes our doctrinal creeds replete, but the Holy Spirit is  to be received and yielded to wholeheartedly. The Holy Spirit is diety who comes to reside in believers to remind us of what Jesus' said, lead us into all Truth and show us that which is to come. The Holy Spirit always glorifies the Son and as we surrender to the promptings, unctions, and guidings of the Holy Spirit, we will respond with emotions that reflect God's heart and  bring pleasure to Him.  We will delight in what He delights in,so His  pleasure become our pleasure when we are one with Him. As you give your all for God, He won't ever cease to amaze you with mighty superventions, opportune answers, and unique manifestations.  

This doesn't mean that you will always be high on happiness, but it does mean that you will be enveloped with  His love that's always sweeter than wine and stonger than death. And when you align your heart with God's heart you will tap into astronomically high emotions as you flow in the characteristics of His passion.
We are not talking about a remote, austere Diety aloof from His creation, but  He is the Bridegroom Lover, the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, the Lamb with
Seven eyes and seven horns. You might be overflowing with joy one season and then soon find yourself steaming with righteous indignation, or gasping in heart wrenching intercession. But whatever manifestation, you encounter--it doesn't just disappear leaving you with emptiness or a ponderous hangover.
The encounter will have  produced an abiding work that trenched out a greater capacity in your heart for God's love--allowing you to have even more abundant, fulfilled life. With God you will see things you never thought you would see, learn things you couldn't have imagined, and impact lives you never thought you would --with God your daily life becomes a mission laced with divine appointments and miracles. The Most High God is truly AWESOME- -He who stretched out and adorned the heavens, does all things elaborately!  How boring life is without HIM.

Preparation Tips for Morning and/or Evening Prayer

Preparation Tips for Morning or Evening Prayer!(From the rising of the sun
to the going down of the same,
the name of the Lord shall be praised. Psalm 113:3)

There is not one special ritual or formula for break through prayer and if none of these things are feasible, then certainly don’t allow anything to stop you from praying. But hopefully, these tips will help you have easier access on a daily basis.
We so often find ourselves bogged down from morning sleepiness or our busy day that we don’t have an ounce of energy (or desire because they seem to become sapped synonymously ) to pray until we are delivered from sluggishness and/or worldly oppression.

It’s a good idea to change clothes—though certain garments are not a necessity like they were for the priests of the Old Testament---they still drape us, thus pertinent to our immediate atmosphere (and very symbolic too).
For example, if it’s morning and you keep yawning in your sleep-filled pajamas or if it’s evening and you have 50 peoples cologne and 5 peoples cigarette smoke lingering as a oppressive stench in your shirt (even if you can’t smell it anymore doesn’t mean it’s not there); an easy fix in both cases is to rid the plagued garment and clothe yourselves in a crisp clean garment—what a relief!!
(More intensive cleaning and perhaps awakening for some can be accomplished through a shower or bath—but if you’re one who will get stuck soaking right through your prayer time then just splash some water on your face and/or just stick to a clean heart).
The next step in your transition from the Bed/Babylon to the heavenly Throne is drinking a picker upper; if need be. I’ll spare you the legend of God creating coffee by sending rain to the prophet’s coffee beans, and I’m not trying to get you to be an addict or stay up all night—but needless to say, coffee has been known to to assist in shaking some somnolent and carnal spirits off. If you’re too healthy for coffee, hot tea or another refreshing drink may suffice. Thirdly, lighting candles can add that special element of Fire to the room. No, you don’t have to be Catholic to light candles; after all He is the God of the Burning Bush. Furthermore, music has an amazing impact as it ushers your mind and soul into the Presence of God; fulfilling your created purpose to worship Him. This is of course, assuming it’s anointed worship music (make sure you have some on supply beforehand, so you don’t resort to commercial ridden radio or oppressive tunes) You are almost ready, to enter in….but first…….turn your cell phone off. Yes, there actually is an off button on it. A beautiful way that we can convey love to others is through…Undivided Attention. Jesus asked His disciples aghast, “Could you not tarry One hour? God Himself is worthy of our Undivided Attention!! We should worship, pray, and meditate on Him without interruption. That’s probably why Jesus called it a prayer closet (Matt 6:6). Enclosure allows us to escape the influx of distractions so that we can focus on the God of Glory!! Worship, Pray, and Enjoy His Presence---allow Him to be the Lover of Your Soul as You breakthrough to His heart!