Have you ever heard someone say, "There's just something about them."? People sometimes say this when they can't quite put their finger on what it is that makes a person stand out from the crowd. I like when I hear it said about someone who's a Christian. Because when we are led by the Holy Spirit and God's love flows through us, there is something that just draws attention—something beautiful and unique.
I believe the following is a biblically 'safe' statement to make: when God acts in the earth, the Holy Spirit is the source of power that makes what happens take place. When Christ said: "the Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed me to preach," He was defining the intrusion of God's authority and action into human affairs - to bring back into order what was out of order (Lk.4:18-21). By this, He demonstrated the kingdom of God. Furthermore, Jesus said: "I must preach the kingdom of God" and about 'The 12' it says, "He sent them to preach the kingdom of God" (Lk.4:43; 9:17).
On August 14, 2023, while I was in a personal time of worshipping the Lord, Holy Spirit spoke the following word to me for those of the Body of Christ who are standing (or soon to be) at the doorway of transition. It's a time of choices. It's a time of digging up the former wells that were never meant to be buried and forgotten in the first place. It's time to get back into the race and run with the horses. If you've been finding yourself being drawn back to something you laid down on your own accord and not by the instructions of the Lord, then this word is for you.
One common misconception among Christians is that man cannot understand God's ways. We often hear people use the phrase, "God's ways are not our ways" referencing the verse in Isaiah 55:8–9, which says: "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts." People will misinterpret a verse like this and then draw a conclusion. This particular Scripture has been used to explain the reason we can't know why things happen in life.
The wind is a funny thing. We do not know where it comes from nor where it goes. We cannot see it, but we can see and feel its effects. Wind can be gentle and refreshing, cold or hot, strong, and dangerous, and everything in between. When the wind blows, we must decide our stance. Will we stand and face it, turn against it, or get out of it altogether? It depends on the behavior of the wind. We know that we cannot control it as it will blow where and when it pleases. There is also a spiritual wind of which we should be aware.
As we walk alone with the LORD in the cool of the day, we ask Him to show us His Ways, so that He can conform us into His image and likeness. What does it mean to be in His image and likeness? It is to allow Him to reflect His character through us that others can get to know and love Him. If we don't allow His Glory to radiate through us, we are depriving others of knowing His Presence.
There is a key weapon in spiritual warfare that many believers don't know. This weapon activates alignment in the spirit. It releases blessings and favor in the Courts of Heaven. You find the key weapon in Genesis 12:3: "I will bless those who bless you, and I will curse him who curses you; and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed." There is a secret spiritual warfare weapon that believers in Christ don't understand. Anytime you're standing or dealing with Israel, you have an alignment issue–you can either be in or out of alignment, depending on your position with Israel. I'll explain to you what I mean by that.
Shout for joy to God, all the earth! Sing the glory of his name; make his praise glorious. Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds!" Psalm 66:1–3 NIV As we take time to sing, worship the Lord, sing in the Spirit and shout for joy, we will be drawn closer to the Lord. There is a special anointing and power of the Lord in worshiping, praising and joy. This will continue to increase as we press in and don't give up. It will also help us if we recount the good things the Lord has done for us. It is important to stay encouraged and to encourage others. Stay in a place of prayer, reading the Bible and worshiping the Lord. The joy of the Lord is your strength!
Because you have made the Lord, who is my refuge, even the Most High, your dwelling place, no evil shall befall you, nor shall any plague come near your dwelling. Psalm 91:9-10 When I was a student, I took on a part-time job in a factory that manufactured refrigerators. Like any teenager, I had just wanted to earn some extra pocket money. It wasn't a complicated job. I was part of an assembly line and all I had to do was use an electric drill to create an opening and to fasten a condenser securely onto the back of each refrigerator. I would be buzzing away on the power drill all day, earning my keep.
When you are building a house, you don't build the roof before you build a foundation, and THEN you build the pillars for the roof. Then you build out the rooms. Many church "rooms" are very bare and sterile, which can be fine for some things, but they are not LIVED IN. We do need those different kinds of places for different functions, but we also need life things for living life. We need rooms to worship, seek and pray, (and where are the altars today?) and we need rooms for learning and teaching, we need places for activities and group events, and even God will say to clean things out for His Visitation.
